Artfire Artist Feature - ImpressionArt

It is important to show the world the charms of handcrafted items, and I plan to do this one artist at a time. Today I feature impressionart. Below you can find her interview:

1. What is the first memory of crafting that you can recall?

I made a paper chain in Kindergarten and from then on I was always creating things. When I took Home Ec in the 9^th grade, I learned some sewing. Then I taught myself to knit and to crochet. In my twenties, I was making clothes for myself and the whole family.

2. What are some of your favorite past times?

I enjoy hiking our National Park System, I’m a Disney freak, and cruising is the very best.

3. What do you specialize in?

Right now, I am a jewelry artist specializing in one-of-a-kind, original designs. I like to create pieces to match outfits and individual tastes. I also spend an equal amount of time and effort in knitting and crocheting fashion scarves. I really enjoy trying new materials.

4. What made you decide to open up a shop on Artfire?

I was looking for a website to post a few creations without paying a listing fee. I liked the ‘feel’ of ArtFire and the ease of creating an online presence.


5. How did you choose your shop name?

I was already using ‘impression art’ on twitter and had an email address, so it was a natural extension. I like the saying ‘making a good first impression’ and am fond of impressionist painters.


6. What are your hopes for the future?

I want to make a living [earn an income] and work from home for the rest of my life.

7. How do you feel about custom orders?

Custom orders are the best. You know you are giving the person exactly what they want. I always think about who will be wearing what I am creating. I like to put some TLC into every stitch.

8. Try to sum up your workspace in as few words as possible.

I have a 6 ft jewelry table in my bedroom and I knit and crochet in bed.

9. Is there anything else you would like to add?

Creating beautiful art pieces isn’t really work, it’s what you have to do.

Please feel free to check out impressionart's Artfire Studio for upcoming items:

http://www.artfire.com/users/impressionart

And also check out her blog:

http://impressionart.wordpress.com/

You can contact impressionart:

via email at impressionartphoto@yahoo.com or phone 561-798-9733

Thank you so much for reading.

-
Christina
CM Designs dba 1337 Art
[Elite Art for the elite at heart.] Featuring jewelry for men and women, awareness items, bookmarks, brooches, cards, cell phone charms, clip on earrings, cuff links, hair accessories, wine charms, and more!

You can also find _1337 Art on:

Twitter / Myspace / Live Journal / Deviant Art / Etsy / Artfire

Silkfair Artist Feature 1 - madeformebyoaklie

It is important to show the world the charm of handcrafted items, and today I wanted to introduce a new feature for artists selling their handcrafted items on Silkfair (an online venue to buy and sell.) Today I feature Anne of madeformebyoaklie. She currently resides in Saint George, Utah. Below you can find her interview:

1. What is the first memory of crafting that you can recall?

I was very young and my Grandmother was teaching me to embroider... I was working on a pillow case and rolling right along... I stood up to got to the kitchen to show her and discovered I had embroidered the pillow case to my night gown! Real bummer but quite funny!

2. What are some of your favorite past times?

I love to play piano and watch movies. I can create and work on my scarves with the Movies... I am afraid my piano playing has taken a back seat lately though!

3. What do you specialize in?

Knitting and crochet - Scarves is my biggest items followed by baby booties.
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4. What made you decide to open up a shop on Silkfair?

Affordable and great Admin Team. They are very supportive and the other shop owners are very friendly too!

5. How did you choose your shop name?

That was tough! My 1st few choices had already been taken (discovered when setting up my website) so I ended up with Made for Me by Oaklie. A nickname given to me many years ago by my brother.

6. What are your hopes for the future?

Health for myself, family and friends... and of course - success with my new business!

7. How do you feel about custom orders?

I think they are great - I take custom orders upon request. They may be a little tough at times and take a little longer to produce but the end product is truly Unique!

8. Try to sum up your workspace in as few words as possible.

Small, Full of on-going projects - and Mine all Mine!

9. Is there anything else you would like to add?

Buying hand made is truly a great way to find special items for that special someone. Your items are truly Unique and the odds of finding another one like it is rare!

You can contact madeformebyoaklie via her website:
http://www.madeformebyoaklie.com

or her email:
info@madeformebyoaklie.com

Thank you so much for reading.

-
Christina
CM Designs dba 1337 Art
http://1337art.etsy.com
http://1337art.silkfair.com

Elite Art for the elite at heart. Featuring jewelry for men and women, art collage, awareness items, bookmarks, cell phone charms, hair accessories, key chains, kilt pin brooches, wine charms, and more.

Custom orders are accepted.

Have you signed up for our newsletter? Sign up here!

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Featured in this post:

"Cheetah" Fluff Scarf
African Safaria Scarf
Gumdrop Fluff Scarf

These items can be found for sale at madeformebyoaklie's Silkfair Shop: http://madeformebyoaklie.silkfair.com

Etsy Artist Feature 17: creativehook

It is important to show the world the charm of handcrafted items, and we plan to do this one Etsy Artist at a time. Today we feature CreativeHook from Norwood, North Carolina. She has an amazing crochet talent.

Below you will find her interview:

1. What is the first memory of crafting that you can recall?

I was about 7. My grandmother had just taught me to knit. I was enthralled that I could create from strands of yarn a swatch of knitted fabric! Some time later, a crotchety great aunt came to visit, and I guess I wanted to show off my "grown up" skills. "What are you making?" she asked of my current work-in-progress. God! I didn't know that I had to have a NAME for it. So I just quickly mumbled: "handkerchiefs", because it was the first square item I could think of. She laughed and laughed. I grabbed my needles and yarn and went outside and wept in total humiliation. (I was a tender hearted soul). I quit knitting for a while, then learned to crochet from my mom. I've been on and off with the fiber arts for many years. Somehow -- in spite of the crotchety old aunt -- I manage to carry on. And in spite of the crotchety aunt, I sometimes have no real "name" or purpose -- other than to create, and hopefully, to give someone else a smile in the process.


2. What do you specialize in?

I am an artist and an art teacher to children grades kindergarten through 8th grade. I did my time in art school, workshops, etc. But nothing speaks to me like the fiber arts. Crochet is my medium of choice these days. I love making market totes and purses more than anything. I love my monsters too, but they're more of a challenge, because I have to be "inspired" to make one. My "Shiddy" doll, who is giving the finger, was born because of a really "shiddy" day I was having. I just wanted to flip off the world. :)


3. What made you decide to open up a shop on Etsy?

Oh my god! I had given away so many blankets, purses, scarves, totes, etc. to everyone in my family and friends to the point of redundancy! My house started filling up with stacks, piles of crocheted items! I just simply could not stop making things... An art teacher friend of mine told me about Etsy. It was not only love at first sight, but a profitable answer to my "overstock quandry".


4. What are your hopes for the future?

To continue teaching, and to crochet to my heart's delight as relaxation.

5. What are some of your favorite past times?

I like running. Try to keep in shape that way when I don't have injuries. I love to read. And photography has become a new love and obsession. I also paint murals. I painted one last year, which took me most of the 2 months of mu summer vacation to complete, and I have another mural commissioned for this summer. This one is a nursery room mural.

6. Try to sum up your workspace in as few words as possible.

Chaotic, unorganized and colorful.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you!

How can people get in contact with you?

http://www.creativehook.etsy.com



How do you feel about custom orders?

Love 'em!

How did you choose your shop name?

Sort of a play on the phrase "literary hook", I kind of liked the sound of a creative hook.

You can find Creative Hook's lovely creations for sale at her Etsy Shop:

http://creativehook.etsy.com

Thank you so much for reading! We hope you enjoyed it.

Christina
CM Designs
http://1337art.etsy.com
Elite Art for the elite at heart. Featuring jewelry for men and women, art collages, awareness items, bookmarks, cell phone charms, key chains, and more! Customs are accepted.

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Featured items (as pictured):


Bathtime monster scrubbie mitts for mom and baby
(sold)

Geometry experiment purses
Purple and blue
Tan Octa-Hex

Earth from Space Market Tote/Beach Bag
(sold)

Shiddy, the Monster
(sold)

Wanda Ho - Native Island Beauty

Items can be found at http://creativehook.etsy.com

Etsy Artist Feature: Jeaneb48

It is important to show the world the charms of handcrafted items, and I plan to do this one Etsy artist at a time. I chose to feature Jeane first because she was one of the first Etsy Artists I have purchased items from (on more than one occasion).

She resides in the state of Illinois offering a variety of handcrafted goods. She loves to accomodate custom orders to help people receive exactly what they are looking for. I've personally asked her to make me a couple of mini tote bags to use for Christmas gifts. She happily did so. You will find some images of her lovely creations below:

Her words of advice:

I am my worst critic as most crafters are I think, but never get discouraged, just try a little harder next time to make it perfect.

Below you will find some interview questions Jeane kindly answered for me:

1. What is the first memory of crafting that you can recall?

I remember my very first project at about age 13, was a pair of flannel tiger pajamas for my nephew that even included the tail that was not part of the pattern, it was an add-on of my own creation. That was the start of my obsession.

2. What do you specialize in?

I guess if I specialized in anything it would be simple fabric quilts and crochet afghans, when I make one of those there is a family member that snatches it right away, they are usually created with a special personality behind it.

3. What made you decide to open up a shop on Etsy?

I have crafted for many years, I did the craft show and flea markets for a few years, but due to a health disability it became to difficult to take my craft outside the home. My niece introduced me to Etsy and it is a wonderful way to continue to do what I love in the comfort and convenience of my home.

4. What are your hopes for the future?

My hopes for the future would be a continued slow progression for my disability so I can enjoy and share all aspects of life with my family especially my grandchildren.

5. What are some of your favorite past times?

Favorite pastimes..wow..besides crafts, I love reading, my favorite authors has to be Stephen King and Dean Koontz, sometimes I cheat and get audio books and listen while I craft. Country music and old movies, the 2 box kleenex type, and cooking, the kitchen is my second favorite place to be in.

6. Try to sum up your workspace in as few words as possible.

My workspace is cramped but cozy, cluttered but a neat clutter. Quiet and relaxing, my first favorite place to be in.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Not a lot to me, I'm just a simple little grandma that adores my grandkids and likes to keep the hands and fingers working.

You may contact Jeane through Etsy @ http://www.jeaneb48.etsy.com or at her flickr account:

http://flickr.com/photos/mamajeansfamily/sets/72157603595824878/

or you may email her at jeaneb48@yahoo.com.