Featured artist: Krize

How is your day so far my lovely readers? Mine is quite nice, the weather is great, looks like summer time already :-)

For today's featured artist I have chosen a Lithuanian Children's book illustrator living in Tui, Spain. Entering Kristina's shop is like opening the door for a wonderland garden. Filled with special characters that you can wear to adorn yourself, others that you can frame to decor your walls & others to play. Every piece seems to have been made with a special care given the beauty of the final result.

Krize shop is open on Etsy since 2008. Are you curious? Let's find out a bit more about Kristina & her creative life



1. Is it easy to be creative every day?
For me it is easy. I like to be creative not only with the art I make, but also in other areas of my life, so it makes every day different and happy. I like to be creative in the kitchen while preparing the food or simply inventing new song to sing! I think the creativeness is the style of life! I always was a creative child and this was and still is my best way to communicate what I feel or how I see what is happening around me.



2. What's the best part of your day?
It is about 5 p.m… after I took a walk with my dog Chino and when everything is calm in my house, when I prepare my green tea and sit in the terrace just to meditate in my creative process or to observe the nature. It seems that the time stops and when the time stops the great ideas come to my head.
{that's amazing when we have time to meditate}



3. The first time you sold something to someone who was not a friend or a relative what did you feel?
I felt happiness! It is really great to make something and to have person who really wants to have it! And when you can live from what you really love and have people that want to wear your handmade, this is the best!
{I' know what you mean, the feeling is overwhelming}



4. Is there anything else you can imagine yourself doing for a living?
Actually I combine illustrating children’s books with my handmade activity. I am very happy to work full time on both. I give thanks to the Universe for this gift and possibility in my life!



5. Is there anything in particular that fuels your creativity as an artist?
I feel a big inspiration on animals. I love observing animals, their texture and their sweetness. They make me smile and they inspire me.
{I have to confess that I'm in love by your rabbits}



6. What was the best strategy (in case you tried any) to increase your sales?
Taking good and funny photos and also making treasuries (I have to say that now I have no time to make one, but there was a time when I was really addicted to treasuries!)
{I also believe that photography is half the way to make a sale}



7. Tell us something random or quirky about yourself.
I love Tea very much, I have a lot of different types of teas and can´t stop to buy more…
And also I speak with cats. Don´t ask me how but I think they understand me
{I can't stop myself from buying vintage buttons, I'm almost sure that's a disease :-) }

I hope you enjoyed Kristina's interview & shop. Make sure you pay a visit to her wonderland shop.

{ Thank you so much Kristina for this lovely interview }

Featured artist: Feltik

If you love felt you have to love Magdalena's work. It's so unique, bold & simple at the same time.

Although she's polish she now lives in Norway with her husband. What a gorgeous country to live in, I think!!!

Feltik is up & runing since January 2009 & it's full of beautiful felt necklaces & other accessories. The prices seem quite affordable.

Let's find out a bit more about Magdalena & her creative life


1. Is it easy to be creative everyday?
I think the hardest is to have time for being creative. To actually make things. This is the nature of everything handmade, it takes time to make your ideas come to life. I'm sure you all know that from your experience. I also think that doing different projects helps a lot to maintain my creativity. For example during one day I felt, knit, crochet I take photos, so I don't get tired or bored with things that I do. But of course I have days, when I don't know where to start, or when I'm not very productive or creative, then I usually step back and do something else like baking.
{I share your opinion, doing different things helps you mantain a good level of creativity}


2. What's the best part of your day?
I like mornings a lot, drinking morning coffee while reading my favorite blogs. There is also feeling of a fresh start, that you have whole day before you. I like to cross out things from my to-do list. It is really nice feeling when I accomplished my small goals.
{I do that. I love to cross goals that I've reached :-) }


3. The first time you sold something to someone who was not a friend or a relative what did you feel?
I was a little surprised actually, but of course very happy. It is wonderful feeling when somebody wants to wear things that you crafted with your own hands, something that took good few hours to make. It is always great feeling, very rewarding.


4.Is there anything else you can imagine yourself doing for a living?
Few things but all within creative field and flexible working hours. I could be freelance graphic designer (my previous work), I could be photographer (dream job) I could be a travel destination critique (if there's is something like that, it is a dream job but connected with experiences and my passion). But I'm sure I would make jewelery anyway, as I really love it.
{I like the idea of flexible working hours even if it is just a concept, because when you work for yourself you work a lot more hours}


5. Is there anything in particular that fuels your creativity as an artist?
I don't know if there's anything in particular...maybe some old/vintage wallpapers and patterns. I find watching some fashion shows inspirational as well as albums, pictures of nature or drawings.


6. What was the best strategy (in case you tried any) to increase your sales?
I'm definitely not an expert as far as sales are considered. I have to find my strategy to improve my sales first! I think that listing new items as often as you can is very important though.


7. Tell us something random or quirky about yourself.
Hmm that's a hard one because I know myself, so all things about me are obviously quite casual.

For example some people find it interesting that I'm Polish, my husband is Slovak, we met in Ireland and now live in Norway, and that at home each of us speaks our own language, which may sound funny.

Also I can easily eat two pints of Ben&Jerry's during one movie and I'm telling you not everybody can do that!
{I wonder if you understand each other languages!?!}

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I hope you enjoyed Magdalena's interview & shop. You really should pay a visit to her shop. I'm sure you'll find very interesting pieces beside the ones shown in the interview.

{ Thank you so much Magdalena for this lovely interview }