Monday, March 29, 2010

The Mad Alchemist and Grassroots Artists: Banjo Bay Soaps

The Mad Alchemist and Grassroots Artists: Banjo Bay Soaps

The Mad Alchemist and Grassroots Artists: Meet The ARTIST

The Mad Alchemist and Grassroots Artists: Meet The ARTIST

JaBbErWoCkY

in CELEBRATION of my NEWEST bar of soap....
The Jabberwocky Bar
a tribute, a party, Collooh, Callay!!!!





`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves


Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:


All mimsy were the borogoves,


And the mome raths outgrabe.










"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!


The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!


Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun


The frumious Bandersnatch!"




He took his vorpal sword in hand:

Long time the manxome foe he sought --

So rested he by the Tumtum tree,

And stood awhile in thought.




And, as in uffish thought he stood,

The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,

Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,

And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through

The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!


He left it dead, and with its head


He went galumphing back.




"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?

Come to my arms, my beamish boy!

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'

He chortled in his joy.






`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.



Lewis Carroll
(from Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, 1872)












Monday, March 22, 2010

Meet The ARTIST


The Mad Alchemist and her creations...
My Etsy Shop



*~*~*MEET THE ARTIST*~*~*

SO, i have my uber favorites. If i want to eat one of there products that is completely
un-edible...yup, that is an uber favorite.


Hodge Podge at Pam's
YES, Vintage IS AN ART!!!!!




The more i meeet people that deal and dabble in Vintage, the more i realize it is a TRUE artform, with so many dimensions and complexiy to it. 
I would like to introduce you to my freind, Miss Pam!!! I met Pam in an etsy chat room, and something drew me to her. and INTO her shop where i was BLOWN AWAY with all the different vintage goodies from dolls to shoes to jewlery to books to hats...she has a definte eye for taste and a defintie eye for colour. I even think she has cured me of my fear of dolls...so Pam is magic in my book. Would you like to meet her? Well, here we go....

Your shop is SO diverse, how did you get into it, and what is your favorite kind of art/vintage?
 
I think I first got interested in Vintage in the 80's. I couldn't afford a lot of clothes in High school, but was always looking to be different. I didn't really fit into the high school 'clicks', so I figured I would just GO with being different & with being me. Vintage was a great way to be unusual & ,at the time, was fairly inexpensive - think Molly Ringwald in the movie "Pretty in Pink".


DO you have certain qualities you look for when picking out vintage items, like colours or textures?

I believe in surrounding yourself with things (& people) that you love. So, when I become interested in something, I tend to dive in pretty hard. I started buying vintage online without knowing much about it. Unfortunately, vintage sizes are VERY different from modern sizes. So, sometimes, I received items that didn't fit. I also had to learn what to look for online. Sometimes, it is hard to know what you're getting when you can't: touch the fabric, try on the shoes, see how the hat looks on you, guesstimate the size of the knick-knack, etc. So, I began to have a collection of great items, but some of which I couldn't use. THAT'S when the Vintage-lover & collector becomes the Vintage-seller. I think this is probably true for many of us Vintage Vendors here on Etsy.

I adore happy colors - orange & yellow. Jewel-tones, like turquoise blue & lime green, are also my favs. But, then again, I love 'Victorian' colors, too - like pale pink & sage green.



I'm very drawn to novelty prints. These were big in the 60's & 70's. How can you NOT smile, when you see a silly 70's Disco shirt with a huge photo print of the Sphinx & pyramids on the back? My love of novelty prints is how I learned about Vested Gentress clothing. Vested Gentress was a clothing manufacturer from the 60's to the 80's. They had the silliest, cutest & wackiest prints of ALL! (I'm currently starting my new Blog with a collection of V.G's prints.)



I think that anything that makes me laugh, is my new favorite thing! There is SO much great kitsch and camp is vintage. It really is a lot of fun.


"my two cents? CAMPY ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Mad Alchemist"

The other side of vintage that draws me is the class. I can't stand the idea that it is considered "o.k." to go out in public in p.j.'s or house slippers. UGH! Our Grandmothers took their time to put themselves together when they left the house. There is something to be said about taking pride in one's appearance. I love being girly & it is so much fun to put on a dress with heels & a hat. And it is REALLY fun to go dancing in a huge puffy crinoline.

The quality of vintage clothing is SOOOO much better than anything you can find in the mall these days. I have multiple pieces that are 50 to 60 years old and are in great, wearable condition. So many things now days are MADE to be thrown away. Dresses in the 50's & 60s were made with quality material. Hats were made with craftsmanship. It was an Art Form, not a mass-produced industry.
I also get a lot of compliments when I go out in vintage. It is ALWAYS in style!
AND, it's a great way to recycle!


 DO you get nspirations from the "stories" behind each vintage piece?

I've also really enjoyed learning the history behind some of the wonderful things that I find. I try to research items, so I can give the most accurate description in my shop.


Some items that I've found & researched: Bells of Sarna (brass bells from India made in the 50's), an Underwood typewriter from the 30's, 'Bradley' Pose Dolls from the 60's/70's, Beistle / H.E. Luhrs Embossed Holiday Diecuts from the 60's & earlier, etc.


 
What do you do when you are not "working" at your craft?
In my "real" life, I am a Registered Nurse & work in Surgery.
Since, I don't have a natural talent for art, my love of vintaghas been my way of using
 my 'Right Brain' as well as my 'Left Brain'. I've always been creative, but not necessarily artistic. So I needed an outlet for all that built-up creativity!


well Pam, you are rockingthe worlds of many people with your passion for life and art...keep going, you are a true inspiration, and a woderfully DELIGHTFUL colourful lady,
Please CHECK OUT Pam's yummy stuff at





Meet my friend and fellow artist...
Giovanno Coraggio
at Planet Art

Ms.PLUG IT herself!!!!
I have been SO excited to do an interview with Gio for SO long now. I dont think I have ever met such a wonderful spirit such as she. I have LOVED watching her grow both personally and artistically over the time we have known each other, and i LOVE to say that "yes, my ear gear collection is that of Miss Giovanna Coraggio" She is a young soul and an old soul all in one.
Gio was my very first friend on etsy, over a a year ago now! She pretty much went from start to finish with me while i strecthed my ear lobes! Like a gauging mamma. She is a caring, compassionate, hilarious, spit-fire, smart and talented lady with a true passion for her all of her art...and art of others. Having just moved from Arkansas to the bush in Alaska, who knows what this change of scenery will inspire within her!!!  She is definitley NOT limited to one type of art, and.....well, would you like to meet her? Here is a bit of Giovanna through my looking glass!!! GIOVANNA  CORAGGIO, ladies and gents..........................................

What are your favorites types of art to create?

Ooh, everything I do is a favorite while I’m doing it, you know? I absolutely love painting woman and skeletons, and my dogs, but If I had to pick, I think it really would be making art sculpture for people’s ears! It’s just so fun to think they are chillin’ in someone’s lobes while they walk around in places I may have been or may never be, in different countries. Dancing in awesome clubs I’ve never heard of…making out.. haha! All those special times, my art becomes a part of. I really enjoy that.



How did you FIRST get started on the idea of making jewelry for stretched ear lobes?

Well, I was broke! I had a pair of glass spirals that shattered in the shower, and I wanted to replace them. I used that chalky old school sculpey, engraved them, and painted them purple! One broke when I tried to insert it. But I continued to rock that one piece! That was quite a few years ago. I went very small for a while with my old career. After re-stretching, I became addicted to opalite plugs. When I got bored of those.. I made another pair for myself. I loved them so much I thought others might too. I have a photo of those. They are awful! Haha!!

 
How have you grown as an artist since you joined etsy?
Absolutely, have I grown! Sculpturally, artistically, creatively my designs have grown right with me. It’s been a full time, morning ’til night job. But all that work paid off! Running a business solo has made me a super organized person. Socially I’ve grown as well. I’ve learned that I can’t just kiss ass anymore, bend over backwards and all of that. I’ve come to accept that no matter what, you cannot please everyone! I have also learned to have actual hours of business for myself and my husbands sake. When I worked 8am-11pm I was a nutcase. I couldn’t keep up with the amount of work coming in and found myself not taking the time to eat, exercise or spend time with my husband. Of course I’d stop to go to the Post office, or a supply run, but it was right back to work again. I wanted everyone to be happy and to cram as many orders in as I could. If I get poor feedback for dumb things, miscommunication, or a long turnaround, I’ve come to accept this is not a reflection of me, but of the customer themselves. Coming to grips with this concept has been by far, my biggest challenge. But it has also lifted a lot of the pressure I feel. I think this is advice I’d give to other sellers as well.



What is favorite colour, food, music, and animal?
Green! Currently anyway. I love beet juice! I swear! Right now I’m listening to Oumou Sangare. I can’t understand a word she says, but she’s a strong female artist and uses that influence for good. I love so much music though! Railroad Earth, the dead, STS9, Yonder Mountain String Boys, Bikini Kill, Bitch, Ani Difranco, Etta James, Artie Shaw and I listen to a lot of drum music and flute. Native American flute is my favorite. Oh and rock on Pink Floyd! ;)
Dogs and grizzly bears, though they don’t mix well! ;)


What is your favorite piece of artwork, earring or otherwise...or both!?
My favorite piece of artwork is this Bald Eagle felted wool wall hanging my friend Ali gave me. Of my own, my favorite earring is the Finger plug, so FUN to wear out! Ha! And my current favorite painting of mine if “Eve was Framed.”







Where do you see yourself and what do you see yourself doing in 10 years?
Well, the plan was….. totally different than full time artist! Though it has it’s advantages. In 10 years I hope to have my private pilot license, and work for Alaska Game and Fish as a biologist, which means I’d have to finally finish my degree. I also hope to have my house paid off!! Haha, who doesn’t!? Maybe Msplugit.com will be finished by then!! Hahaha!
I think life should be fun! Don’t be afraid to look stupid!




you know...I couldnt agree more.

LOVE THIS GIRL! andi i want ot PERSONALLY THANK her for being such an inspiration to myself and a kind of, spiritual soul sister and guide during all this time on etsy. So, thanks Gio...you ROCK!
PLEASE visit Gio and her amazing EAR GEAR at

and visit her blog at





::ANOTHER YUMMY ARTIST::
would you like to meet her?


i introduce to you HOLLIE at blueberryshoes!


ok, this was pure artistic FATE. i wandered into a chat room, and there i was faced with the most adorable little icon of the most adorable little face. one click and i was in HEAVEN! i was in Hollie Dunne's WORLD! and i loved it!! From handcrafted to drawings to clothing to vintage to you name it, it was a WONDERLAND for me!! This girl has got TALENT! she is SO sweet, yet candid, which i totally love about her! I was taken aback by her use of colour and textures, her diversity and the loveliness that just radiated from her store on etsy! I ended up doing a minifeature on her,but i felt it just wasn't ENOUGH. there should be MORE MORE MORE i thought, and so i asked her for an interview, and lucky me got one. Oh and did i mention she juggles TWO shops, a blog, and a twitter account? GO HOLLIE GO!
MEET HOLLIE DUNNE ladies and gents....

Your art is so diverse…tell us a little about it!

Thank you so much! Sometimes it's hard to stay calm and work on one thing at a time, and I always have tons of plans for new creations. For instance I want to create plates and tea cups with my sketches on them! I want to make zines, and pet portraits and SO MUCH MORE. all in good time right? I have really been drawing since I could pick up a pen. Always princesses and maidens. As I grew older I felt more and more comfortable to show my deeper, yearning side in my artwork. You can see by the eyes of the maidens I draw, they're not exactly...well, content. But I think this really captivates onlookers. Most everyone has a dark side. Well, that's who I'm aiming to reach. I usually draw while listening to a song that fits, on repeat. Music is huge for me. I most usually draw with black ink pens, but sometimes pencil. I would love to get more into paint. Though color scares the hell out of me. I took painting classes and found it really hard to work with color. It's something I really want to master in time tho.



Do you have a favorite kind of art to create?
Oh god this is hard. Every different art form is loved for different reasons. Drawing is the gift that keeps on giving. Everytime you look at a drawing you get that feeling again. Plus as you mature, grow inside, you view the drawing deeper and deeper. New facets spring forth. So I love to draw. I also love to hand sew. Bows particularly. It makes me SOO giddy when I think that fashionable girls all over the world, of all different ages are wearing little beauties I've sewn.

What and where do you derive your inspirations from?
Nature, longing, hard knocks, dark fairy tales, deep and dark desires, innocence, belief in truth and music. Lyrics, literature, all of that good stuff. For my fashion, it's international street style, old school vintage, librarians, the 80's Molly Ringwald/Madonna style, earthy hippies and forest nymphs. Pretty much all of my work is inspired by women who are empowered by their own freedom and fight to stay outside the box, and who are extremely attached to the soil.




When did you start getting into vintage?
As soon as I got my first paycheck! Which was probably about 14. I always loved second hand stores and experienced the high of thrifting and finding good deals, very early on. My Nana is the exact same-I'm positive she passed it down. I like knowing something had a prior life, and most likely made a statement, before I discovered it myself.
I REALLY like that.






I love your love of colours and textures, do you have a favorite colour?
Oh god, yes. Color is everything to me. There are different favorite colors for each mood. For the girly, fashionable mood I adore pink, sparkly purples and yellow. For the brooding side I crave deep twilight blue (it makes my eyes burn), and moss greens. I'm very attached to the water and the earth. So all those colors just really calm me. My mom is very much an earth spirit. I get that from her.











(did i mention Hollie has TWO shops??)

What types of music do you like?
I can honestly say I love just about everything. My top picks however are Kate Bush, Tori Amos, Fleetwood Mac, David Bowie, Magnetic Fields, Eagles, Jackson Browne, Billie Holiday, Florence and the Machine, Lady Gaga, Marina and the Diamonds, The Smiths, Deerhoof, Wham! the list goes onnnn and onnnn.



Do you ever find it hard to part with something if someone makes a purchase?
I don't sell alot of original work, so I dont really experience this. But I sold a Bowie original to someone for a good deal and now I miss it, hee hee..


TEN YEARS: where are you?
California (we have plans to move within the year), extremely creative, spending alot of time in the woods, working on a great patio garden, successful on etsy and locally, doing lots of craft fairs, visiting family, spending time with hubby and friends, traveling...yummy stuff like that.
YUMMY IS RIGHT ON HOLLIE!!!
and FOLLOW Hollie on twitter at

and also her BLOG at

just follow HER yellow brick road to YUMMINESS

AND to find the sketches and illustrations by Hollie herself VISIT her SECOND shop:





Tuesday, March 9, 2010

These are a few of my Favorite THINGS! ARTIST FEATURES




Visit The Handmade Artist Hangout






Thanks for VISITING my Artist Garden!
no shy violets here!
and WEEDS are ALWAYS welcome...



:Always Changing - ARTIST COMMUNITY:

ARTIST MINI-FEATURES
CHECK THEM OUT...THEY ARE AMAZING!!!! 
In life, there are some things that just make me SMILE like a Cheshire cat...grin from ear to ear. Simple, Complex, art from one end of the spectrum to the other. Excellent craftsmanship, unique pieces, extraordinary ideas, and the most simplistic delights...all can make my day. and THESE are a few of my FAVORITE things





TOTAL GEM TREASUTE CHEST FINDS  http://www.ashesforash.etsy.com/

I got this for my mom for her birthday...how could you NOT love it??
AshesForAsh on etsy is a total GEM in my book. Her Vintage collection is to die for...Dayna's shop is an all around TOTAL SCORE! Just sharin' the love, so check her work out! You wont be disappointed, in any way, shape, or form. This i promise you :) It's a little bit if this and a little bit of that...a recipe for WONDERFUL.
Click on the link above and VOILA! you...are...there!

shells

WOW
more GEMS of a FIND


I would like to introduce you to Miss Mary and her shop misobel!
I love the stones, the gems and minerals, the wire, the media, the flow, the EVERYTHING she uses in her pieces! What a fabulous find! Check this shop out...you will not be let down at all!! I am conjuring up in my head what i should order each time i visit Mary's store! As she says
"I find inspiration from ancient cultures and devotional/spiritual jewelry traditions like rosaries and malas. I love materials from nature. I have an affinity for simplicity." - Mary of misobel


And wow does it show!! The lines of her work, the beauty of the colours, the placemets of each detailed wire wrap, or twist of the beading...it's so beautfiul!!! Mary is so friendly too!! It's an all around TOTAL SCORE!! Go check this shop out, and get immeresed in it's beauty just like i did...I LOVE IT!!

 
 ok here is
:SOME ZEN:

Here is a little or A LOT something special from hobbydust...i fell in love with these as soon as saw them. No i am picturing them in my new house i hope we get!!! It is amazing what a little canvas, a little embroidery and little stitching can do! THESE ARE AMAZING! and the greatest part is...hobbydust does CUSTOMS to match what you want the canvas to say! To me, it is so comforting, relaxing, and ZEN.



http://www.hobbydust.etsy.com/



                         






Not Your Average Pieces of PAPER and Canvas
uh, nope.




woha. jump back. check THIS out

"Since founding GIGART in 1996, Gregg Gordon's artwork has been seen on TV, featured in magazines and newspaper publications, and utilized as an integral part of a number of national ad campaigns and concert merchandising efforts. Corporate clients repeatedly turn to GIGART for their poster, logo, album cover and package design needs."

I have previously seen Gregg Gordons work and DEF heard of him, but ot see the art available on etsy was like...HELLO!!! Anyhow,if you are into detailing, design, off the wall, creativity, music, and fun...check this shop OUT!!! and DIG DIG DIG it all the way!!!

 i know i TOTALLY DIG it

more cool not your average paper....



is ONE cool cat! Friendly FUN, you can't go wrong with the oozing creativity and love of this craft Lauren has in her heart....GREETING EARTHLINGS, right ON!
aliens
Below is a most dear person in my life, total per chance, who knew? well...here you GO - Miss Leah herself, the famed, the snazzy, the sweetest gal around! Leah as a HUGE passion for her art and her craft...and a HUGE heart to match. Her shops (YES!TWO SHOPS!) are an all around TOTAL SCORE...and i realllllllly suggest you check it out for yourself!!! This is my mind frame...THhe Mad Alchemist is about to quote herself...ready??? "I always say, the most important thing you can put in a package to a customer BESIDES the item they ordered, is a hand made hand written Thank You note"....and BELOW is one of the BEST and most inviting places to get them!


panda

WOW. yup. i know, right?!?!? TOTALLY! Leah has the COOLEST and most FUN designs. I think while staying true to herself, she creates with other people in mind...her art is that art that is straight from the heart. Leah is truly a one of a kind lady.


The RAD Factor


what CAN i SAY about zomb?!?!? cutting edge,hip,rad, pretty badass all around!! A totally unique shop, i am convinced zomb taunts me with three t-shirts, two of which i own...just to keep me coming back. seriously, i have a problem. check this out...and check THIS out...a ZOMBIE DEFENSE LEAGUE...you KNOW IT!! 
It's THAT good, baby...THAT GOOD. 

Photobucket

 and

The RAD Factor PART DEUX
..the radness continues..
with
ZEROPUMPKIM
http://www.zeropumpkin.etsy.com/
So I found this artist in a chat room, I was automaticallt intrgued by their avatar...a yellow FuNkY pumpkin. Let me say that the shop blew my away! You can't help bu SMILE when you are in this shop and looking at all the RAD and unique art. Dolls, Stickers, Paintings, COLOUR, wierd illusion, asain culture and cats! how about THAT for variety!?! Deriving inpiration from Tim Burton, Billy Corgan, and what must be all things super and unusual...shake it all up, hang out with Gino the cat...and POW! you have zeropumpkin! I deeply appreciate this art and I deeply appreciate this artist. If you are into the flip side of fabulous freaky fun
is where it's AT



FaNcIFuL ThInGs


NOW....it's time for a little WONDERLAND...a little curiosity topped off with a ton of CLASS...and fancy stuff. Stumbled across this per chance in a chat room, and i am SO JAZZED i found this gem of a shop!!! Swallows are good luck, and these are FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING...i think the good luck part is totally VALID! ha! These are SO PRETTY - took my breath away...
Swooping Swallow Earrings....
bird,blue,brass
DIVINE DIVINE DIVINE!!!!!!!
http://www.lookingglassjewels.etsy.com/
we NEVER know what is THROUGH Looking Glass.....i think that is the BEST part!


:more of the fanciful:

www.BeadRee.etsy.com


 I love stumbling in chat rooms and randomnly finding a slice of heaven on earth. Especially when it's a FANICFUL find!! When i talk about BeadRee's etsy shop, i dont say i am browsing in the shop, i say i am DANICNG in the shop, like swirling and swooshing into this beautiful wonderland, full of old sweet history, enticing words, magic colours, and delicate balance. as i say - TOTAL SCORE. If you want to FEEL good, take a DANCE thru it! 
I love what is written on the front page of her shop...the words, her mission, you can tell she is in love with her craft...what a VISION she has from start to finish...if there REALLY is a finish...who knows where or whom it will passed along to...
"It may be a rich color, an unusual shape or a symbolic gemstone. Something about the bead calls me, and the designs begins. When I Work, I think about a celebration necklace for a daughter, a milestone bracelet for  a sister or a pair of earrings for a frien's birthday. I imagie each unique and wonderful person who will wear the finished jewlery." - BeadRee

~just dance and flit and float with the beads~




100% YUMMINESSSSSSSSS

"i just cant get enough"
"i just cant get enough"
I FELL IN LOVE with a king, a spade, AND a joker!! the ace cooked me breakfast and i ended up HERE!
CHECK THIS OUT,mmmmmkay???
BOLD, soft, RAGGED, refined, CRAZY, calm.
Meet the Shop, Meet The Artist!
Hollie has dreamed of selling her fashion since she started dressing here Barbies! Man,Barbie is such an inspiration for us all....eh? Ok, back to Hollie because she is the one who generates this madly beautiful art! When Hollie is not creating she enjoys artisan cooking, thrifting and finding new (and old) music for inspiration. She loves to read, have "coffee-talk" with friends and going to cute little boutiques. Se is also a big fan of camping, hiking, and other outdoor naturey things. Go Hollie Go!
Hollie, your music picks, by the way are flawless...just had to mention that. great minds, eh??

i cant say ENOUGH amazing things about this shop. some spitits, sellers and shops just scream my name, and they have my undevided attention.
http://www.bluecerryshoes.com/ is one of them. the colours, the magic, the moment, the all...
my words REALLY cannot do this shop and this seller any justice.

i wana EAT these!!! remember to visit Hollie at www.blueberryshoes.etsy.com



now...
FOR THE LOVE OF MAGNETS!
There is this GRAND shop on etsy...a TOTAL SCORE if you ask me!! And i feel SO LUCKY to have found Courtney and her ART!!! She has great items in her store...but see i have "thing" for magnets...UNIQUE ones, that make a FUN and beautiful statement, and are downright strong...no one likes a weak magnet. Therefore i give you Courtney's UBER strong imaginative magnets, but trust me there is MUCH more to her than just being stuck on fridge(NOT that there's anything WRONG with that...teehee)...but THESE are a few of my favorite things...anda glimpse into her artistic world...OH! and i you LOVE Vintage...GO to her SHOP!!!!
Photobucket 





FOR THE LOVE OF COLOUR!

Ok so this is NEW favorite of mine...i came across Darrian's shop in a chat room, and pretty much fell in LUUUVE. not just love, but TOTAL LUUUUUUUVE. She is a budding young artist that seems to have no limits on her mediums...an all around TOTAL SCORE! i'm a sucker for COLOUR and a true fan of beauty, so this bracelet immediately caught my eye, and captured my HEART....

Her paintings, sketches, jewelery, textures....they seem to break boundaries, and i hope that Darrian and her shop continue to do so!!!






i adore

The WOW Factor



Ok...so i happened to pop in a chat room while this AMAZING shop was up for grabs...i thought to myself "NO i DID NOT just see the most STUNNING Clutch EVER?!?!" but alas, i did, and so i ended up in Missy's shop, loving her goodies!!! This clutch is SO detailed and chic, i couldnt think of a better thng to DO (besides BUY the thing) than to blog about it. Missy is a total sweetheart...she is so enthusiastic, and just by talking with her you can tell she has a huge love of people, community, VINTAGE and love of her craft. OH! and the coolest thing is, she donates 5% of the profits she makes from purchases to the Salvation Army...you go Colorado Missy!!! THAT is kind and what a great organization. Lastly, I had to sneak this picture in too...i think it my favorite little piece of heaven from Missy's store...

I ADORE this hairpin from Missy's SHOP! BESTILL my beating heart!!! *le sigh*




TeXtUrEs and CoLoUrS HeAvEn


So i was doing my normal stumbling around etsy, and was SO overjoyed to trip over THIS beauty of a art shop. Kathleen runs this show, and she is a runner - deriving her ideas and inspirations during her daily runs...makes me think i should start this whole running thing - if i could come home from a a jog and create THESE amazaing pieces, consdier me booked in the next local marathon! HELLO! I am truly touched in my heart by Kathleens ART!!! So yummy i wanna eat it. Or just have it everywhere around me. I think I could just faint...take a look for yourelf, be prepared for a RIDICULOUS amount of AWESOMENESS!!! i know i say it ALOT...BUT....WOW.







...now...
Gypsy, Steampunk, Charms, OH MY!

http://www.thedamnnation.etsy.com/

I am ALWAYS fascinated with jingles and jangles, charms and spells, noises and textures that transport me to other lands, other worlds, be it a pirate at sea, a traveling gypsy, or a fairy flying and flitting in fields of poppy flowers. This shop and this artist happen to allow of of thees thoughts and feelings flow into my soul and feel free and wild.
When i saw TheDamnNation's artwork, I knew it would be wrong of me to deny other people of the chance to feel this same way and see some beautiful, one of a kind musings. ENJOY!!!!





It's a FUN and FELTED world that we LIVE IN


This shop is JUST awesome!! There is a little bit of everythng and a LOT of talent...I love colour and i LOVE Felting...Thereis something REALLY special about Felted pieces of art. Think about the origins of where it started from, an animal, spun, carded, dyed, andt hen almost sculpted into the most delightful and most...random objects, so fun, so fuzzy....SO FELTED. And it no easy task. So when I cam across this shop, I got REALLY happy, the entire aura is friendly, fun and inviting...and there is MUCH more to this lovely ladies store than just felting, there is SO MUCH different types of art in this store!!!! It just happened to be the one thing i wanted to share with you, from me, from her...to YOU! ENJOY!!! I have a MAJOR thing for Solar Systems...maybe it is because i teach at a school, or am fascinated with the galaxy, and this set of planets took me to a *happy place* The heart also captured my eye...the felting and then the cute delicate embellishments are to die for!!!!



:::A Different Perspective:::
Through Hildi's Lens


If you have never met or talked to Miss Hildi Borkowski, you are missing out on SO much!!! Besides being one of THE sweetest, kindest, caring and endearing women i have ever had the pleasure of befriending...she is an AMAZING PHOTOGRAPHER!!! Her photography has been featured in a number of places, and now we are lucky enough to have her art on etsy!!!
Her themes range from landscape, nature, flowers and MORE. HIldi has calenders available, matted photos available, and greeting cards with her photos as well!!! It's always so...refreshing and wonderfully perplexing to see how someone else views the world, from their eyes...from their lens, and the wonder of it all is the best part. TOTAL SCORE. I love this SHOP and i love this ARTIST!
 

          
incredible

 ~Creating with Clay~
in the most beautiful way


http://www.morado.etsy.com/

Ok SO i was browsing polymer clay sites. Usually I browse them to find my ear gear dealer, but then is saw this shop show up the results...HELLO??!? Amazing. I had to look 5,000 times to make sure what i was LOOKING at WAS Polymer, that is was actually clay. It looked to me like some other material, and then when it finally sunk in that this was the real deal, i contacted Miss Purva herself, the artist behind the...art! She is a total doll, talented, addicted to all things cute, fun, easy to to talk to, and SO friendly. She has been working with Polymer Clay for a little over a year, and by all means has TOTALLY broke boundaries and excelled at it. Purva, WOW, you have definitely found your calling. Although she is SO talented, i am sure she has MANY callings. There are lots of other art pieces that are not Polymer in her shop....BUT WOW. So what you are looking at is indeed Clay and Clay embellishment. And it is indeed AMAZING. OH, and HAPPY ONE YEAR ETSY-VERSARY Purva!!! I LOVE THIS!!!YOU GO GIRL!





~Got VINTAGE??~
So as i was thinking about all the features of artists i have done, i realized, i really truly failed to take on one of the most popular and coolest forms of art there is...VINTAGE. It appreciating things, having an eye for art pieces, and decor DECOR DECOR...buying vintage is like way to express yourself through pieces of art that have their very OWN past and their very OWN personality...and it's cool is to wonder..."where, OH WHERE, have you been litle teapot and what tales could you tell if you talk!?"
 So when I found Pam in a chat room, i was drawn to her shop...the variety, the adorableness, the classiness, i was touched within. Pam has been collecting Vintage pieces for years; on etsy for about 6 months. This is her release from the 9 to 5 grind, we all know that feeling...and we all need an outlet. Looks like Pam has found her nitche'! WHAT AN EYE for beauty she has!! I think the coolet thing Pam said to me was this - "I enjoy the thought of finding something for someone else. When others think what I chose is nice enough to buy, that's 'my moment'" How cool is THAT?! I love that. And It all ties into the ceb and flow of artistic moments. Pam is SO sweet, i REALLLY suggest you check out her shop!!! Normally i pick my favorite photos to putup...but this time i am switching it up an putting up a mix of both...here you go Vintage Lovers!!!

"Korean Kids"
this is one of her favorites, and the more i look at it, i couldnt agree more!!! LOVE IT ALL!