What Goes Around...

I always enjoy featuring other etsy artists on my blog, and this week someone did the same for me!  Check out this really cool blog at http://www.mindlesspursuits.com.  It's a lovely feature, and a beautiful blog!

Featured Creator- Robin Lynne

Today's featured creator is quite the Renaissance woman! Robin Lynne lives in Savannah, GA and creates jewelry, photos, and soaps.  She has three etsy shops- savannahsoapkitchen, takenbyrobinlynne, and byrobinlynne.  Woah!  I was so impressed with each of her shop's photos, banners, and creativity.  Check her out!

Your mother was a photographer, and your photos are full of color and excellent composition. Other than learning from her, have you taken photography classes? I've never taken a photography class in my life. Beyond seeing what mom could do, my "learning" has been mostly trial and error.. (Thank goodness for digital cameras; I'd waste a TON of film!)  Which is your favorite art- photography, jewelry, or soap making? Why? Or if you don't have a favorite, what is special to you about each of your mediums?  I think my favorite would have to be photography. I can really express feelings and emotions through photographs, not so much with soap and jewelry. Describe your creative environment. My environment is a naturally beautiful city, covered with blooming azaleas and moss hanging from the trees. It's so inspiring to see so much beauty that wasn't made by man or machine. In our home, my environment consists of a comfy sofa and a cozy kitchen. I spend most of my time in either place, concocting new soaps, designing new jewelry or editing photographs. The photography in your shops is excellent. What photography advice could you give to other etsians?  You don't always need to have your eye behind the view-finder. I often "shoot from the hip" or place the camera on the ground and point it upwards to see what comes out. Try all the angles!  Do you etsy full time? If not, what is your "day job"? I'm a full time Etsian. Thankfully, I have plenty of time on my hands to pursue 3 separate "hobbies" and business ventures. It's fantastic!

getting some squares ready...

I just felted some squares that will soon be necklaces in my shop. Here they are drying on my coffee table!

Featured Creator- Intertwingle

Up next is etsy artist Intertwingle. She is a creator from New York state, and I was drawn to her shop because of her unique medium, cool banner, and excellent photography. Have a look at her shop and blog:

http://www.intertwingle.etsy.com/

http://www.choice-designs-online.com/

Your primary medium is paper. How did you come to this precise craft?
I often wonder that my self because I am also a painter and ceramicist. Paper craft is a passion of my mother's so I guess it just rubbed off. But the great thing about paper is that it is everywhere, it is a simple everyday object that has endless possibility. You can make paper be just about anything. It is, to me, the greatest invention, a perfect and plentiful raw material not to mention reusable, renewable and recyclable.

What are the inspirations behind your work?
I love pushing the boundaries that we may see for paper. I want to explore ways to create form from it - to make it dimensional. I love creating images using the simplest forms and techniques. By making lamps I am creating something that is beautiful in both the positive and negative space. When the light is off you see the positive space of the design but when it is on you see the negative spaces as the lights shines through. I achieve the same thing more subtly with my cards.

What is your creative environment? Describe the sounds, sights, times, and happenings!

My studio is in my house and it is such a mess right now, it is in flux. I have moved my office and created a studio in a room that was formerly the "catch-all" room in our house. It is coming together and I plan to paint, or should I say, have my husband paint it this summer. Our house is surrounded by lots of trees so there are lots of birds chirping, I like to listen to music but it has to be during the right time of my creative process. If I am designing something new usually it is just the wheels in my head and the birds outside my window that I hear. When I am cranking out products namely my cards and lamps I'll have various music on from The Art of Noise to Jack Johnson to Bolero. I am a little loosey-goosey about studio time, I need to get a bit more regimented. I can get frustrated with myself when I don't spend as much time creating as I think I should. But I have to remind myself that probably 60% of my creative process happens when I am out in the world, that is where the inspiration comes it doesn't come from the wall of my creative work space.


Do you have a "day job"? How did you come to have your etsy shop?
I work one day a week doing visual merchandising for a local fair trade gift shop. I used to work there full time as a manager. I gave it up to pursue my calling as an artist and to hopefully establish myself so I can be able to work from home and be a mom to my daughter that I am waiting to adopt from China. It was the most deliberate plan I have ever made in my life but now our wait is stretching to be 2 years longer than we expected. I mainly do graphic design for things like book covers, logo design, web graphics, etsy banners. But I have always wanted to pursue "get your hands dirty" art. I have a lot of down time with the graphic work so that is where etsy came in. When I finally found it via a friend, I bought something not understanding or realizing what etsy was. I went back a couple times and then one day was like "hey, wait a minute this is exactly what I have been looking/waiting for! An easy encouraging artist community through which I can get my work "out there". It gave me an excuse to put years of ideas and sketches into physical form.

Your work has a style of simplicity and clarity- how did you come to this "look"?
I have training as a graphic artist and I am deeply influenced by Asian aesthetics (I lived in Vietnam for a while)and art forms, modern architecture and I love plants. I think all of these things have led me to be very attuned to clean lines and the shapes of spaces, both positive and negative. They are all about the "less is more" credo which is how I try to live my life. Since, right now, I am doing a lot of paper cutting there really is no choice but to have simple clean lines. The knife and my hands are the limits of the art form - it forces me to edit detail down to something I can cut. I like limitations it pushes me creatively.

Hookers in Treasury West!

Please have a look at the treasury I got last night in Treasury West! If you haven't ever checked it out, you should. It is just like regular treasury, only it is easier to get into, and sometimes disappears for a short while because etsy uses it to test different features and servers. I've had three treasuries there, and never actually been able to get one in the regular one!

Anywho, the address for treasury west is:
http://www.etsy.com/treasurywest.php
(there is no link to it, you just have to know how to get there)

Here is the link to my treasury! All of the items are from members of the Etsyhookers team.
Please have a look-
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=9559

My newest creation!

I just finished and photographed the newest addition to my etsy shop, and I am so in love with it! The colors just fell into place (I was a littly wary at first because I generally don't like yellow) and it makes me yearn for summer. I'll have to make one for myself in green and blue (my favorites).

Featured Creator- MadeWithLovebyZoe

Here is another great artisan from etsy! MadeWithLovebyZoe knits and crochets. I was drawn to her pieces because of their craftsmanship, simplicity of design, and beauty! Here she is!

You have knitted and crochet items in your shop. Do you prefer one technique over the other? Why?

My Mum taught me to knit and crochet when I was a little girl, and I have been knitting ever since. Now my love for knitting and crocheting is so strong, it is almost an addiction!
As I am not working I spend most of my time either knitting or crocheting, both of which I love equally and I hope that is reflected in my work.

What kind of yarns to you like to work with?

I like to knit and crochet different things using a variety of yarns. My favorites are natural fibers and hopefully one day it will be the only type of fiber I will work with. But for now, I am enjoying the process of experimenting with natural and man-made fibers, styles and new ideas.

Where do you get the inspiration for your work? Do you plan ahead and have a vision before you start, or do you just go for it?

I am inspired daily by many things and I love to browse the internet, blogs and paper magazines for inspiration. I also love to check out what other people are creating on Etsy. I find I can easily spend hours browsing all sort of things there - the site offers such a fantastic platform and community for people who love arts and crafts. All my items are carefully designed, planned and sketched before I begin the process of creating. And, I am perfectionist! Some times I will start over until I'm completely satisfied that item is perfect. My philosophy is always to create something as if I were making it for a dear friend or for a member of my family. That's how I work - and I will only sell what I have truly produced as a labor of love. My stepdaughters are also a great source of inspiration. We very often exchange ideas, magazine clippings, or simply brainstorm together on anything they've seen that they like or has inspired an idea, then I will sketch it out until I have a design to make.

A new pattern

Last week I spent days designing my first crochet pattern. It's a wonderfully huggy bunny wearing a fuzzy T-shirt! It took a lot of time, but I have the pdf for sale at my etsy site. Here is a picture of my creation! Right now, I'm working on a little kitty with different outfits. Come back to check her out!