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Monday, November 28, 2011

Featured artist: Denise from SandBoxStudio PLUS A GIVEAWAY

Today I bring you Denise from SandBoxSudio.  She has a wonderful shop 
in which she uses recycled materiasl to create new items!  How cool is that??
Denise was kind and generous 
enough to offer one of her items for a giveaway. 
She will make a chalkboard book similar to the one pictured below 
for one of you lucky readers!!!
This awesome chalkboard could make a great little gift...to give or to keep ;)
I'd keep it if I were you.
Winner will be selected randomly on Sunday December 4th
This giveaway is open to international readers, so go ahead!  
you know you want to enter!

Rules are simple:
1. Visit SandBoxStudio, come back with a comment
telling me which one is your favorite item from Denise's shop.

For additional entries:
share it on Facebook
tweet this giveaway
(you can tweet it everyday just come back and leave it in a separate comment)

You can win a Chalkboard Book similar to this one!
Recycled Chalkboard Activity Notebook Journal Large

1.  Tell us as little or as much as you would like about yourself.
Hi, my name is Denise Conroy and I’m the crafter behind SandBoxStudio.etsy.com.  My husband and I live in Indiana with our two young adult children.  Our daughter is a senior in college and our son is a senior in high school.  We have a very smart and well behaved chocolate lab and a very mischievous but loving black lab.  I grew up mostly in Colorado with my 3 siblings and fantastic parents. My husband and I have lived from one end of the country to the other, but have found Indiana to be our favorite place so far.  It’s a great place to raise a family! 


2.  What do you sell?
I sell tote bags, zipper pouches, chalkboard books, coffee sleeves and key fobs and a few other things.  I like to use recycled materials in some of my projects.  Like the recycle papers I use in the chalkboard books and the tee shirts I use in the coffee sleeve and fobs.  I sell funky and fun functional stuff; things that others won’t have.

Funky Owl Burlap tote bag
3.   Why handmade?
I have never been a collector of mass produced things. I don’t want my home to be decorated with things that other people have.  I love different and funky things.  Handmade items have a bit of the personality of the person that made it.  My home is decorated with art that my children have made throughout the years, drawings I’ve had framed or ceramics they did in high school, or handmade items I have found during our travels.  
 
 


4.  Where does your inspiration to create come from and/or your inspiration in life?
I think most people, like me, are inspired by everyday life.  Things I see or feel while walking down the street or driving may trigger an idea in my head.  And far too often I lay awake in bed thinking about things I could make.  It’s hard to turn my brain off when I crawl into bed at night. 

Fall Flower burlap wine bottle
5.  Besides creating what else do you do? Do you have a full time job?
I work full time at a credit union in the commercial lending department.  It’s not a creative job, but I do enjoy what I do and the people I work with.  My children are both competitive swimmers and keep me busy running around to meets and events.  I try to be very involved and present in their lives.  You are only given one chance and I don’t want to miss a thing.

6. When did you start thinking you were an artist?
I don’t know that I’m an artist….I would say I’m crafty. My mom is a very creative person.  She was a cake decorator by trade.  She would make doll clothes for me out of old socks and things.  She enrolled me in crafting classes when I was young…probably to get me out of her hair…but she knew that crafting was in my blood.  When I was in high school my parents bought me my first sewing machine (which I still have!) and I thought I died and went to heaven.  The other kids thought I was crazy to be happy over a sewing machine.  What did they know? 
 

7. Who has been most influential in your craft work?
My mom.  She taught me to knit, cake decorate, and to think outside the box.  She’s a lefty and I’m not, so it was not always easy to teach me things “backwards” but she did a great job in supporting me and all my endeavors.  My family is also very supportive and encouraging.  They are my cheerleaders!

Pink Frog Small Zipper Pouch

8. Where would you like to be in five years?
In 5 years I hope and pray that I am surrounded by my family and that they are all healthy and happy.  Anything else beyond that would be gravy.

Ho Ho Ho Santa Claus Christmas Wine bottle gift bag
9. Is there anything you'd like to try doing that you haven't done?
crafts, sports, life in general?
I would love to learn to make glass beads.  I also want to take a course on photography. I have a great camera, but wish I knew how to REALLY use it.  These are things that are on my “to do” list once my son goes off to college and I have more time on my hands.  Outside of creative things, I would love to travel and see more of our great country.

10. Besides online where else do you sell?
I have done a small local craft show without great success.  The show had crafts as well as home party items.  I think the next show I attend will be specifically for handmade items only.  I think that shows of that nature would draw people that are truly looking for unique one of a kind items.



ways to contact you:
*shop*

10 comments:

  1. I love all the stuff Denise has but if I had to pick a favorite I think it would the Funky Retro Lunch Tote Bag:) It was between this and the Santa Wine bag. I will be checking Denise site out for some Christmas gifts.

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  2. Though everything Denise makes is amazing, I really love the key fobs. I got a few for my friends and they really love them. They are so convenient for an on-the-go person like me!

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  3. Blue Birdie small black and white zipper pouch is my favorite. The coffee sleeves are a close second. Denise has a lot of cute items, really!!

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  4. Such a fun host and giveaway Clau ..Denise has some pretty amazing stuff although my favorite was this Funky birdie burlap and batik farmers market tote bag and I actually wouldn't mind the coffee sleeve either ..
    Yayy for holidays and giveaways ..Tis the season to be jolly :D :D

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  5. Ok, so truth be told I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed to win this giveaway for Miguelito :)

    Denise's shop is so full of pretty and fun things. My favorite item that is also a must is the Funky Blue Owl burlap farmers market tote bag, how cute is that little tote, and so me!

    Thank you both for this very sweet giveaway!

    And even though I want to keep this to myself I can't wait to blog about it :)

    xoxo

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  6. I just tweeted about your giveaway mi Clau!

    xoxo

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  7. i, for one, am loving the funky birdie burlap and batik farmers market tote bag. i find it it super cute!!!!

    thanks for hosting a great giveaway :)

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  8. I like them all. I could use the chalk board to entertain my little Preston. :)

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  9. Love the funky owl burlap lunch bag tote. I'm torn between the two. :S

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  10. I think the Owl burlap market bag is really sweet :)

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your comments put a smile on my face go ahead leave one! :)

 
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