Red and white crochet hearts by HeloiseV
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art. Show all posts
Folksy Friday: Comic Relief 2011
All these lovely Folksy sellers are donating to Comic Relief/ Red Nose day this year, so why not pop along to their shops to show your support.
Red and white crochet hearts by HeloiseV
AuntyJoan is also donating to Tsumani relief, so there's a double reason for getting beautiful cards or ACEOs like this one from her shop...
A tea cosy, or you can wear it on your head! By Hippo House
Release your inner terrier with this fabulous ACEO by Stone Soup
Red and white crochet hearts by HeloiseV
Folksy Friday: Comic Relief 2011
All these lovely Folksy sellers are donating to Comic Relief/ Red Nose day this year, so why not pop along to their shops to show your support.
Red and white crochet hearts by HeloiseV
AuntyJoan is also donating to Tsumani relief, so there's a double reason for getting beautiful cards or ACEOs like this one from her shop...
A tea cosy, or you can wear it on your head! By Hippo House
Release your inner terrier with this fabulous ACEO by Stone Soup
Red and white crochet hearts by HeloiseV
BESTeam feature October54Gallery on Etsy
Beautiful, isn't it? This is an example of the stunning photos you can see at October54Gallery on Etsy, this week's BESTeam featured shop. Anne from Whispering Pines, NC (I bet that's a lovely place!) is responsible for these works of art, and it's no surprise to learn that her work is on display at many local venues too.
I've chosen just three of my favourites from this shop, so as to have them shown to best advantage. Regular blog readers will be able to see the themes of nature in the ones I've picked. Click on any of the photos or captions to go directly to the shop and see more.
Anne says that art has always been a part of her life, and living all over the USA as well as time in Costa Rica, has also influenced her artist's eye. Anne also makes block prints and writes.
Anne's work has a strong positivity for me, so it was a pleasure to find this quote from Walt Whitman in one of her listings:
Happiness not in another place, but this place...
not for another hour, but this hour.
"The afterthought is good, but forethought is better."
(Norwegian saying)
You can visit Anne's blog here:
http://october54gallery.blogspot.com/
BESTeam feature October54Gallery on Etsy
Beautiful, isn't it? This is an example of the stunning photos you can see at October54Gallery on Etsy, this week's BESTeam featured shop. Anne from Whispering Pines, NC (I bet that's a lovely place!) is responsible for these works of art, and it's no surprise to learn that her work is on display at many local venues too.
I've chosen just three of my favourites from this shop, so as to have them shown to best advantage. Regular blog readers will be able to see the themes of nature in the ones I've picked. Click on any of the photos or captions to go directly to the shop and see more.
Anne says that art has always been a part of her life, and living all over the USA as well as time in Costa Rica, has also influenced her artist's eye. Anne also makes block prints and writes.
Anne's work has a strong positivity for me, so it was a pleasure to find this quote from Walt Whitman in one of her listings:
Happiness not in another place, but this place...
not for another hour, but this hour.
"The afterthought is good, but forethought is better."
(Norwegian saying)
You can visit Anne's blog here:
http://october54gallery.blogspot.com/
Ode to the Artist's husband
by Kelli Pope
Every year, around late August, early September, my dear husband Steve has to hear those dreaded words...."art show season is about to begin". What this means is he won't see much of me until Christmas. It means other than working full time and sleeping, I make jewelry. If I'm not making jewelry at a show, I'm at home making jewelry. It means he cooks a lot more, and cleans a lot more. He gets to help load and unload my Explorer at least a dozen times with my tent, tables, displays, etc etc etc. And, he's even begun oxidizing components for me. (Oh, the smell of Liver of Sulphur in the Fall!!!) He becomes a massage therapist, working on achey shoulders, and the giver of pep talks. He must often listen to hammering late into the night. He becomes my number one fan and supporter. In short, I could not do what I do without him.
Every year, around late August, early September, my dear husband Steve has to hear those dreaded words...."art show season is about to begin". What this means is he won't see much of me until Christmas. It means other than working full time and sleeping, I make jewelry. If I'm not making jewelry at a show, I'm at home making jewelry. It means he cooks a lot more, and cleans a lot more. He gets to help load and unload my Explorer at least a dozen times with my tent, tables, displays, etc etc etc. And, he's even begun oxidizing components for me. (Oh, the smell of Liver of Sulphur in the Fall!!!) He becomes a massage therapist, working on achey shoulders, and the giver of pep talks. He must often listen to hammering late into the night. He becomes my number one fan and supporter. In short, I could not do what I do without him.
So, to reward both of us, and bring a little normalcy and calm into our lives, we grab our 2 furry kids and head for the Smokey Mountains between the October shows (which is where we are now). We try to plan the trip around peak leaf week, so we can hike among the majesty of the Fall colors, and enjoy the beautiful Fall sunshine, and cool breezes. Soaking in the hot tub doesn't hurt either!!! :)
The boys will hike with us, and play in the river. The joy of watching them play in the water is therapy in itself.
Sunsets from the hot tub are magical. And mountain views breathtaking.
All in all, we will come home rested, relaxed and ready for life to get crazy hectic all over again. Thanks honey for all you do for me.
Fruits of My Labor...
Handwired Button Rings - Oh What Buttony Fun!
As I promised myself, I spent some time in the studio. Here is what I came up with! I made a fist full or rings (pictured above), and created another button princess length necklace with matching earrings. I beadwove around the buttons and created a piece based on the components I made.
Close-up of the pendant part of the necklace:
Close up of the earrings:
Oh, and I played around with altered pages. One of my favorite blogs is Jane Campbell's Altered Pages. Well, her creative pages inspired me to try my own. Believe me, folks, these pages are not as easy as you think! You may have to click on the picture of the page to bring up a larger image to see it better:
So, that's what I was up to all weekend. But I think you already knew I would be :)
Studio Tip Tuesday...
My tip for Tuesday:Don't Run With Scissors!
No matter how tempted you are, even if you are in the studio all by yourself. This poor lad ran with scissors, and look what happened to him! Learn from young zombie boy!
By the way, this image is a poster by Fizzgig. To purchase the poster or a print, click on the image :)
There. Now you have your tip. Have a great day!
By the way, this image is a poster by Fizzgig. To purchase the poster or a print, click on the image :)
There. Now you have your tip. Have a great day!
Friday's Featured Artist - Meri GreenLeaf!
One of my favorite parts about being an on-line seller is that I make all sorts of wonderful friends! Susan (who goes by Meri on-line for the most part) has fast become one of those friends. We have many of the same interests and spend a lot of time talking on plurk! So it is my great pleasure to introduce her to you as this week's featured artist :) Click on any of the pictures you see below to be taken to the listing.
1.What type of art work do you do?
Name it, I probably do it. ;) I crochet, make jewelry and chainmaille, sculpt, paint (usually on fabric) and draw, make dreamcatchers, spin (and sometimes dye) yarn, and sew (handsew- I don't know how to use a sewing machine). My main one is the crochet, though; even a lot of my jewelry is crocheted. Most of what I make is fantasy-
related, but I also make things inspired by nature.
2.How did you get started doing art work?
I've always been into art; in elementary school I'd stay in at lunchtime to help in the art room, and in high school I stayed after school almost every day to work in the pottery classroom (pottery was my obsession back then, but I haven't had a chance to work in it since). I also used to make a lot of plastic jewelry when I was a kid. For the things I do now, I started crocheting about four years ago all because I wanted a Hufflepuff scarf from Harry Potter, and I haven't put down my hooks since. The rest of the art I do I've picked up in the few years since, mostly teaching myself
and winging it as I go along.
3.Do you do any other crafts?
I think I already answered this- yes, I do a lot of them. :)
4.Is there a story behind your shop name?
Both “Elfling Creations” and my Etsy shop “Elbit Enterprises” (although I may be changing that one to match at some point- I just haven't done that yet) come from the race of my alias/persona (and old roleplay character) who is a half elf/half halfling (or hobbit); I combined those races and got “Elbit” originally, but lately have switched over to using the combined “Elfling” instead. I go by “Meri Greenleaf” online (and sometimes in real life, as well); that was the name of my old roleplay character that has become my alter-ego (nope, I'm not a Legolas fangirl, just a huge fan of Mirkwood; “Thranduiliell” [the original second part of the name] would have been too hard for people to find me with. Besides, “Greenleaf” fits me well because I'm obsessed with the color green and forests).
5.What's your favorite piece in your shop right now?
Oh geez, that's a hard one! I love making everything I do! I think it may be Wynmaeg, my crocheted renaissance wench plushie.
(featured at the top of the post)
She's one of my older plushies, but I had so much fun making her and coming up with all the accessories for her outfit- and I love dressing up for the Renfaire, so it was fun getting to make a costumed doll.
But then again, my favorite could be this faerie cat, named after my own black kitty Clarabell. (featured to the right)
That doll isn't perfect (it was my first attempt at making an animal pattern), but I think it's adorable. Then again, I may be biased because it's based off my fur-baby. ;)
6.Where do you sell your work?
I'm on a few random online craft selling sites, but my two main ones are Artfire and Etsy:
My website is http://elflingcreations.com but I don't actually sell on that site; I use it to link to my other shops.
7.Do you blog?
Yup- I love blogging! My art blog is in two places- the main one is on blogger (http://merigreenleaf.blogspot.com) but I also crosspost most of the entries to my art livejournal (http://elbit-blog.livejournal.com).
8.Are you on any social networks you'd like to share?
I'm on a whole bunch, but Plurk is my favorite. :) These are the ones I use most:
9.Do you watch or listen to anything while you work? If so, what?
A lot of the time when I'm working I'll listen to audiobooks (literature, mostly- I love http://librivox.org because that site has free audiobooks that are in the public domain) or comedy (usually Eddie Izzard- I love him!) on my iPod, but sometimes I'll also try to read at the same time (that one's a bit hard to do, lol) or watch tv (also distracting). When I'm listing and editing photos I'll often listen to music- usually Blackthorn, Enter the Haggis, Hanson, Spin Doctors, Jimmy Eat World, Goo Goo Dolls, and Tonic, as well as the occasional filk or video game song (yeah, my playlist is pretty eclectic). I've recently started streaming Pandora Radio, too, so I get to listen to all sorts of fun Celtic and Celtic rock bands that I hadn't heard of before. :)
10.Tell us one random fact about your self *wink*
Just one? Hmm... well, besides being an artist, my main goal in life is to become a professor of British Literature, hopefully being able to focus on the Renaissance- I have a thing for Renaissance plays. Besides art, books are my obsession.
I recently won a cartilage chain earring like the one you see above from Meri in a blog contest! Pictures will be coming soon :)
Friday's Featured Artist - Spirit Essence Art
This weeks artist is a gal with not only incredibly talent - but a huge heart! Arlene of Spirit Essence Art has been a huge encouragement to me, and I hope that you love her art work as much as I do!
1. What type of art work do you do?
Right now, I am a painter using watercolors and oils. I also enjoy creating pages in my art journal, which sometimes in which I use paints, collage techniques, and the use of markers, pens, and a bit of stamping.
2. How did you get started doing art work?
I started doing crafts many years ago, from macramé to pottery, and stained glass. I even had my own brick and mortar stained glass supply and gift shop for several years. It was during this period that I decided to take a drawing class, so I would feel more secure about drawing up my own custom designed stained glass patterns for clients. The class I took was divided into two sections. The first section, that I was in, consisted of people taking the drawing course. The second one had the students that were taking painting.
I learned a lot about drawing, though I was intrigued with what the painting students were doing and I kept walking over to the easels to see what those people were doing. The following semester, I signed up for the class again, but this time signed up for the painting segment! That’s how I learned to paint with oil paints, and I have loved painting ever since. This past year I have been teaching myself the use of watercolors, and am fascinated with how different they are from oils.
3. Do you do any other crafts?
Well, I still have all my stained glass gear and am actually teaching beginning stained glass at the local community college. I also have spent years creating glass treasures by fusing it in glass kilns, including jewelry and other, larger art pieces. I am not doing any new glass creating these days, though I still have a lot of pieces that I created last year, and that are in my Artfire shop.
4. What's your favorite piece in your shop right now?
Of the glass pieces, I would say it is my Rainbow Border Square Glass Bowl because I just love the spectrum of clear colors or the Red Starfish Dichroic Glass Pendant because of the sparkly glass in it and the starfish is a special symbol to me.
Of the paintings in my shop, my favorite one is my Underworld Fantasy Watercolor because it was so free and spontaneous, and I love the colors in it.
5. Where do you sell your work?
Right now I only have a shop on Artfire.com though I am looking for more venues for my paintings, especially ones that will offer the possibility of prints. http://www.artfire.com/users/SpiritEssenceArt
6. Do you blog?
Yes I do! I love to blog now, though it was difficult at first for me to post regularly, since I couldn’t conceive in the past that anyone would be interested in what I was doing. Now, I especially like to post in my blog since I am creating so often, to share what I have created as well as any of my “process” – both my internal process and some of how and what I use to create the paintings. I realized that I just love reading others’ blogs with this kind of information, so I want to share my own so others might also enjoy what I am learning and experiencing. For me it is a way to reach out to others and share myself, something that I am making more of an effort to do lately. For anyone who is interested, my blog is http://www.SpiritEssenceArt.com and I love to have new viewers as well as comments.
7. Are you on any social networks you'd like to share?
Yes I am: I am on Twitter (www.twitter.com/arlenemh), Facebook (www.facebook.com/arlenemh), Plurk (www.plurk.com/spiritessenceart) and a few other smaller networks.
8. Do you watch or listen to anything while you work? If so, what?
Sometimes I listen to music while I work, often some New Age kind of music or motivational music, but more often than not, I love the silence of my studio and enjoy just hearing the birds singing or my own thoughts in my head.
9. Tell us one random fact about your self *wink*
Though I am a US citizen, I lived for 10 years in New Zealand and am a permanent resident there. I went there because I had met and fell in love with my husband at an international spiritual / personal growth retreat in Australia, and he was from there. I went to join him in the South Island of New Zealand where he lived, and we were married there eventually. They were wonderful years and I grew a lot as an individual and loved the natural surroundings and lovely people there.
Friday's Feature - Robyn's Art!
Last night we had a great show and interview with Robyn of Robyn's Art! If you'd like to hear the show go here. Click on any of the pictures you see in this post to go to their etsy listing. Here's a little bit of what we learned about Robyn last night :)
Robyn is an artist with many talents. She loves photography and said that she always takes her camera with her! Recently she's taken up hiking as both a fun exercise, and a way to find even more incredible photo opportunities.
One thing that was a lot of fun for me in interviewing Robyn is the fact that we're from the same area! So many of her photos are of my favorite places - like the above photo of Multnomah Falls.
Do you ever go searching for the perfect journal - but get frustrated with the over-priced and impersonal selections that can be found in the local stores? Well, Robyn also sells journals! Not only can you find some fantastic one's in her shop now - she told us of her plans to continue to expand and improve her line of journals :)
Want to get to know Robyn better? Here's where you can find her!
Robyn's Shop
Robyn's Blog
Follow Robyn on Twitter!
Robyn is also a part of the Pluggers United Team and the Bookbinders of Etsy Street Team.
Robyn's Shop
Robyn's Blog
Follow Robyn on Twitter!
Robyn is also a part of the Pluggers United Team and the Bookbinders of Etsy Street Team.
12 Days of Christmas - Part 2
Continuing on from yesterday's post, here's the second half of The 12 Days of Christmas - etsy style!
"On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me - seven swans a swimming..." Isn't this swan incredible? Bellacrochet has incredible talent and she's selling the pattern to make this swan for only $6.95!
"On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me - seven swans a swimming..." Isn't this swan incredible? Bellacrochet has incredible talent and she's selling the pattern to make this swan for only $6.95!
"On the eight day of Christmas my true love gave to me - eight maids a milking..." I love the detail on this vintage ornament that smalls4utoo is selling for $15 dollars!
"On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me - nine ladies dancing..." I saw this card by paulapaula and just knew I had to feature it, not only are the ladies adorable in their whimsy, I love the fact that they aren't skinny! *wicked giggle* And only $3 for such fun? That's a steal!
"On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me - ten Lords a leaping..." I'm one of those crazy artists who always loves learning new crafts - and so I love seeing the different "make it yourself" kits that show up on etsy! Isn't this $3.95 card kit by popupcardmaking cute?
"On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me - eleven pipers piping..." Talk about innovative - this piper is painted on an old eyeglass lens! I don't know where lowercaseg came up with this, but I can't believe it's only $10 for something so detailed!
"On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me - twelve drummers drumming..." Ok, so this drummer is from the "Little Drummer Boy" song...but that's one of my favorite songs...so hey! Who cares right? $65 for this lovely piece by Mysweetpumpkins :)
12 Days of Christmas - Part 1
John Denver - Muppets Christmas - The 12 Days Of Christmas
I heard a version of this song on the radio when I was driving with my Mom the other day and it got me thinking, which as you all probably know by now, can be dangerous! :P You see, Mom had heard people talking on the radio about how much actually doing the 12 days of Christmas would cost in today's dollars, and then someone called in and said, "Well here's a more inventive way to do it cheaper..." And of course my brain immediately said, "How about the ETSY way of doing the 12 days of Christmas?" So, without further ado, here's the first 6 days of Christmas, with an etsy twist :) I'll post the next 6 days tomorrow!
"On the first day of Christmas my true love game to me - a partridge in a pear tree." Here's a lovely mixed media collage of just that! Made with italian Stationary - it's only $6 right now in sushipot's shop!
"On the first day of Christmas my true love game to me - a partridge in a pear tree." Here's a lovely mixed media collage of just that! Made with italian Stationary - it's only $6 right now in sushipot's shop!
"On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me - Two Turtledoves..." These lovely ornaments by GriffinCircle are made with silk, velvet, real feathers, and seed beads! Aren't they gorgeous? And only $25 for such lovely work!
"On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me - Three french hens..." By kikibonan - At $16, this is the perfect shirt to relax in this holiday season :)
"On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me - four calling birds..." Wouldn't you just LOVE to have this ornament by 00sarahelizabeth00 on your tree? I'd gladly pay the $9.95 for such beautiful work...now if only I had a tree...
"On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me - 5 golden rings..." This lovely print by TempestStudios is only $5 - and is part of a larger Christmas series! I love the colors in this piece!
"On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me - four calling birds..." Wouldn't you just LOVE to have this ornament by 00sarahelizabeth00 on your tree? I'd gladly pay the $9.95 for such beautiful work...now if only I had a tree...
"On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me - 5 golden rings..." This lovely print by TempestStudios is only $5 - and is part of a larger Christmas series! I love the colors in this piece!
"On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me - six geese a laying..." Ok, so there's only one goose on this stocking by devzbagz - but it's so cute! And only $14 for a handmade Christmas stocking? That's a steal!
I'll be back tomorrow with the rest of the song!
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