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Monday, October 31, 2011

Featured artist: PJ and Holly from GettingWeddy

This week  I bring you a very talented couple to be wed in the Fall of 2012 PJ and Holly from GettingWeddy Together they run their business and make wonderful stuff.  They just passed their 100th sale and are offering a 25% discount to their next 25 sales!  Check out their shop for more details and enjoy the interview!


1. Tell us as little or as much as you would like about yourself.
We are PJ and Holly. We started our Etsy site as a way to raise extra money to put toward our wedding (hence the shop name GettingWeddy), which is set for Fall 2012. It seemed like in our spare time we were always building, crafting, creating and dreaming up new ideas, and our shop seemed like a good creative outlet for all of that.

2. What do you sell?
We sell primarily hand-carved leather goods, beaded rosaries and lanyards, computer mouse belt buckles and custom creations made from reclaimed wooden fence pickets.


Rustic jar sconce
3. Why handmade?
Anybody can save a few bucks by going down to the big box store and buying mass produced junk to fill the current hole in their lives, real or imagined, and for a while it will work. Until it breaks and they have to find something else to fill the void. Handmade items might cost a little more, but one thing we've found to be almost universally true is the craftsman, or artisan, actually cares about more than just the bottom line. Every piece they turn out has a little love in it, which is something a buyer can truly take comfort in ... and you can't put a price on that.

4. Where does your inspiration to create come from and/or your inspiration in life?
That's tough. If we knew where inspiration came from, we'd bottle it and sell it on Etsy. The easy answer is everywhere, but who knows what actually triggers that new idea? PJ has to constantly update a list on his iPhone of new things he wants to create, so he doesn't forget them. And he tends to add ideas faster than he checks them off.
Custom handmade leather portrait 8x10
5. Besides creating what else do you do? Do you have a full time job?
When we're not drilling, carving, cutting, beading, sanding and stitching, you can find us playing with PJ's kids or working at our local newspaper. His son, Eli, is 6 and his daughter, Riley, is 5, and we always have a lot of fun together. At the newspaper, Holly is a photographer (hence all of our awesome pictures), and PJ is the systems manager. Before he moved to this position, he was the editor in charge of layout and design.

6. When did you start thinking you were an artist?
PJ: I'll let you know when it happens. I've never really thought I was an artist. I've been working in leather since I was 15 years old, learning from one of the top holster makers in the business. I consider myself more of a craftsman in that regard. As far as some of our Etsy offerings go, I can't stand to see things go to waste, so I'm constantly trying to figure out new and practical ways to use them. If others consider me an artist, I'm flattered, but I figure I still have a long way to go before I earn that.
Holly: I don't think of myself as an artist, either. I am always trying new crafts...I have done everything from knitting scarves and sewing sock creatures to making picture frames and beading a variety of items. Usually this is a way to make gifts for my friends and family, sometimes I enjoy a craft so much that I continue with it and then those items make their way to Etsy.

Yellow/ivory and gray Catholic Rosary
7. Who has been most influential in your craft work?
PJ: My dad. As long as I can remember, I've helped my dad on a myriad of projects. From him I learned carpentry, plumbing and mechanics, and he got me my start cutting leather. Everything he's taught me has been applied toward the things I build at one time or another. Because of my dad, there hasn't been much trial and error. Once I have an idea in my head, it usually works out exactly as I planned (well, so far).
Holly: My mom always allowed me to try new things when I was younger. It seems like I was always taking a new drawing or art class, trying to do cross-stitch or weave pot holders or buying some kind of art kit from the store to make what was probably one of the ugliest things you had ever seen. Still, no matter what the outcome was, she encouraged my creative side which I am sure has something to do with my craftiness today.

8. Where would you like to be in five years?
In five years we hope that we are doing well enough on Etsy that we can move all of our tools, materials and shop supplies off of our kitchen table and into a spot of their own. Holly would like to be self employed, devoting more time to portrait photography and art photography...stay tuned for her Etsy photography site.

Custom leather guitar strap

 9. Is there anything you'd like to try doing that you haven't done?
crafts, sports, life in general?

We would both like to try para sailing some day and PJ would like to skydive (not Holly though, floating through the air attached to a cord is plenty for her.) Travel is always high on the list too! While we have seen our fair share of sites there will always be more on our list of places to go.

10. Besides online where else do you sell?
Occasionally an acquaintance will contract PJ to build a holster or belt for them, but that's about it. We don't have a website, and we don't attend any craft fairs, although we've considered it.

PJ and Holly
ways to contact you:




Saturday, October 29, 2011

Red Ribbon Week


Red Ribbon Week is an alcohol, tobacco and other drug and violence prevention awareness campaign observed annually in October in the United States. 

Besides being a great prevention campaign and learning opportunity for them, the kids also get to have fun in school activities.

On Monday they received their red wristband to be worn all week.
 
On Tuesday they wore their craziest sock for 
"Sock it to Drugs" day!

On Wednesday, they wore their clothes backwards for 
"Turn your Back to Drugs" day!

On Thursday,they wore crazy sunglasses for "Shade Out Drugs" day.

Friday it was Wear Red for "Red Day"
in support of Red Ribbon Week.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

One of my ultimate favorite Bible verses!

Friday, October 28, 2011

{this moment}

A Friday ritual inspired by  Soulemama

In her words: "A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment.  A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

Thursday, October 27, 2011

How to add comment replies to blogger

via

A new challenged was brought to my mind this morning 
when a fellow blogger mentioned 
how she would like to have a reply button for comments in blogger... I had that wish before and I goggled it
yes I accept right after I dropped my kids at school, my world had to stop, I was planing on doing my roots this morning
even I put laundry on hold lol! 

well I think I found a solution to stop jumping from blog to blog to keep a conversation!  Check out this link:


If you're willing to give it a try, great.  
Let me know if it works for you and If I can be of any help...
not that I am a super computer expert :/

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Feelings

I was talking to my mom on the phone today and Xavi told me he was drawing a picture for me. 
He finished his picture and I was still on the phone.
I told him to show me the picture while I was talking, 
but he wanted me off the phone. 
He got pretty upset because he had to wait
for me to finish my conversation.
He destroyed the pretty picture he had made.
He made another picture of him showing his feelings!


After I saw this my heart broke...
he wants my undivided attention, 
but sometimes I need time for myself too! 
but then kids are like that selfish and egocentric at times
...I guess
I can only guess I was like that too.
After all moms are the first teachers and caregivers
in most cases.
I explained that I miss my mom 
and that I wish I see her everyday 
but that is just not possible.
So I talk to her every chance I get!
I told him that I love him very much and 
I want too see him happy,
and his pretty pictures make me happy.


He understood that I rather see him happy than mad.
He figured out that it's important for me 
to talk to my mom and that I am not avoiding him.  


I know for sure he wants a happy mom too!
and we ended this on a happy note!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

According to Sophia

According to Sophia and her color scheme!

Hot pink is dating black

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Hot pink and light pink are best friends

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Baby blue is dating light pink 

via
Purple and Red are bff's

via
Red is married to green

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Brown is an old person
via
yellow is dead
I am so glad I found a dead corpse!

I just could not agree more with these color combinations!

It would be nice if we could see everyday through a child's eyes!

Monday, October 24, 2011

Featured artist: MyCribDesign


Today I bring you two artists one shop!  Beth and Anna from  MyCribDesign.
I came across this lovely shop a couple of weeks ago and just fell in love with the cute cards and designs...who does not love pretty stationery!

1. Tell us as little or as much as you would like about yourself.
My name is Beth and I am the co-founder of MyCrib Designs with my best friend Anna. We live in the UK, in a City called Liverpool and have always enjoyed creating handmade crafts.
Anna is a mum of two absolute angels. Some of Annas Interior Design work has been featured in the Andrew Martin Interior Design Review, which is considered 'the ultimate accolade in the world of Interior Design'. She is fantastic with graphics, and created the fab logo for our business. Anna creates the artwork pieces that we sell on Etsy.
And me, I'm 26, I love painting, eating mushrooms and I love love love Skiing, and I'm actually pretty good at it!  However I am at my happiest at home drinking tea and making crafts. I carry a notepad with me at all times as my head constantly whirls with new ideas for designs- it’s a whirl wind in there! 

Beth and Ana

2. What do you sell?  
We like to use buttons to create beautiful hand crafted items including quirky greeting cards, personalized artwork and jewelery!!

Just a note -  Flower notecards

3. Why handmade?
I love the uniqueness of a handmade craft, knowing that you have something that no one else has. Even though we may make a hundred cards, each will be unique in some small way. Machines are, well their machines! Churning out hundreds of the same article- sure they fulfill the demand but there’s nothing wrong with gluing your fingers together from time to time ha!


4. Where does your inspiration to create come from and/or your inspiration in life?
We have always had a knack for tinkering around with materials and thoroughly enjoy the journey of making something unique. Recently we have embraced crafts as a release from work and the fast pace of City Life. 

5. Besides creating what else do you do? Do you have a full time job?
Myself and Anna are full time Interior Designers, Anna also has a degree in Graphic design so creativity is a massive part of our lives. 
Pretty Daisy Greeting Card

6. When did you start thinking you were an artist?
I wouldn’t call myself an artist just a creative soul, I have always had a passion for art. At school I used to hate sports and PE and I would make up an excuse to miss as many classes as possible and I would go to the art room instead. Also when asked by our school career advisor what I wanted to be when I grow up I said I’d love to do anything with art. I have always enjoyed creating and some of the cards I have made I have had in my head for years! Its nice to see them come together and the ideas taking shape and becoming reality.
Anna however is an artist and has known since she was a little girl! She just has an eye for it!




7. Who has been most influential in your craft work?
I think my parents, My dad is a fantastic artist although he would never say he was, and my mum has always drawn the cutest animations, very simple forms but with lots of character! I think my mum is the inspiration for the minimal characters I use in my greeting cards.


8. Where would you like to be in five years?
We would love to do crafts full time- that would be amazing! To us designing is the most fulfilling job and it really is something that is fun to do. 

Add caption

9. Is there anything you'd like to try doing that you haven't done?
I think traveling would be great, to see a bit more of the world, open up your mind to new possibilities and experiences! Also we’d love to open a shop, but that’s probably a dream too far J






10. Besides online where else do you sell?
We have cards and jewelery in a shop in Liverpool called Crafty Bazarre’s this really cool quirky shop just in the City Centre. The cards sell especially well there J.

Fancy Silver Christmas Greeting Card

ways to contact you:



Saturday, October 22, 2011

Note to self...On a lazy Saturday afternoon

...when the fridge is half empty
...when I haven't gone grocery shopping
...when most people in the house are still in their pj's
...when everybody is watching movies and playing games
...when I am relaxed browsing etsy!

PB&J for dinner!!

AutomicAurora
pinandpin

SaponeSoaps

viridian


ArtsDelight


gracefulbanquet

ShanaCraneDesign

I am hoping they like it.
You are welcome to stay for dinner too!

Friday, October 21, 2011

{this moment}

A Friday ritual inspired by  Soulemama

In her words: "A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment.  A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

NOTE:  I will allow myself to break the rules this time...two very special moments!  both of my kids getting an award this week!  proud mama!




Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Giveaway from Ladydazy


If you like giveaways...here is one!
check it out here

front
back

Note to Self...Subjects in life

I read this somewhere, 
I really don't remember where but this is so unquestionable!
It is about love

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In math it is a problem...


via
In history it is war... 


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In chemistry it is a reaction...

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In art it is a heart...

Bring back memories from junior High and 
High School doesn't it?? 


At this point in their lives 
Sophia is practicing her multiplication facts,
 and Xavi is learning his ABC's and his numbers 1-10

Hard task they think right now
I can only help them practice and make good study habits,
so they can learn them
but later in life they will
have to master the school of life and love on their own.
I can't go to school for them,
I can only be there when they need me
I ask God for strength and knowledge
to guide them.
I really want them to succeed!

Monday, October 17, 2011

Featured artist: Robin from LittleBirdTreasures


For this weeks feature I bring you Robin from LittleBirdTreasures who is an amazing photographer and a jewelry maker.  She has two separate shops photography and jewelryPlease read and enjoy this heartfelt interview and of course Robin's creations.



1.  Tell us as little or as much as you like about yourself.
I’m a divorced mom of two daughters, ages 17 and 27. My “baby” is a senior this year and will be graduating high school next spring. My oldest is married and has three little girls ages 4 years, 2 years, and 3 mths. So we’re a family of a lot of girls! I’m a registered nurse by profession, but have always needed a creative outlet of some sort. I’ve been artistic for as long as I can remember. In fact, when I was in the 5th grade, I received a letter from President Gerald Ford and the Bicentennial Committee and got my picture on the front page of the local newspaper for a picture I drew of our school during its Bicentennial Parade. My mother was a professional photographer and owned her own studio. Back then, she wanted me to take up photography so that I could one day take over her business. Back then though, I wasn’t interested in photography. It wasn’t until after she died in 2002 of cancer, that I was bitten hard by the photography bug. When I was recovering from my first back surgery and beginning to go a little stir crazy because I couldn’t get out and take pictures, I decided to learn to make jewelry. As I’ve said, I NEED to have a creative outlet of some sort, so when I was forced to rest and recover after surgery, I discovered jewelry making and found that I had a passion for that as well.

Robin
2.  What do you sell?
I’m currently selling my photographic art prints and custom designed jewelry on Etsy.

3.  What type of photography do you specialize in (for example, photojournalism, action photography, fashion photography, art photography, travel photography, portraiture photography)?  Why does that type of photography interest you?  In regards to jewelry, why handmade?
I think my favorite type of photography would have to be photojournalism because I love watching people and capturing moments in time that happen in an instant. A friend of mine, who I met at the hospital while taking care of his mother, is a photographer for the International Red Cross. He gets to travel all over the world and take pictures of people in war torn and natural disaster ravaged areas. That would be my dream job!! To capture an individual’s emotion in a picture isn’t an easy thing to do, but when you do capture it...it can be very profound. Every person has a story to tell and if you can capture that, it’s a real honor. I was an oncology nurse (cancer) before I injured my back and I had started a project called “The Light Within” that was going to feature interviews and photos of people with cancer because those are some of the strongest people I’ve ever met. Cancer patients have an inner strength and spirit about them, that is not usually present in ordinary, healthy people. I wanted to try and capture that as a way of inspiring other people either with cancer or those who have known or do know, someone with cancer. The project was put on the back burner for awhile since I’ve been recovering from my three back surgeries. I plan to get back to it as soon as I am able.


4.  Where does your inspiration come from and/or your inspiration in life?
I think my inspiration mainly comes from people in general and of course the beauty of nature that God has provided for us. People are interesting to me. And of course, nature provides us with endless possibilities for being creative.

5.  Besides from photography what else do you do?  Do you have a full time job?
Yes, as I mentioned above, I’m a registered nurse. I used to work in the hospital with cancer patients, but since I injured my back 2 years ago and have had to undergo three surgeries, I’m no longer able to work in patient care. Now I work in the Quality Dept at the hospital, which is a division of Risk Management. I review cases where there have been problems or whenever a patient dies, to make sure that the hospital, the doctors, and the nurses, did everything right.

6.  When did you start thinking you were an artist? 
Gosh, I think that probably started when I was just a little girl! I always used to draw pictures and leave them on my parent’s pillows every night. I’d draw pictures of our family or of frogs and mushrooms and butterflies. But I always drew pictures! For as long as I can remember, I’ve been doing something creative.

 
7.  Who has been most influential in your work?  
I would definitely have to say my mother. She was a very creative person as well and I think she’s probably the one who got me started. Since I’ve taken up photography, I shared some of my work with her old partner, Cathy. She told me that if she didn’t know better, she’d think my mom had taken those pictures. My style is so similar to my mother’s style even though I was never interested in photography while she was alive. I’ve always felt like she was guiding me. 

8.  Where would you like to be in five years?
In a perfect world, I’d be doing my photography full time. I’d have my own studio in a separate building in my backyard with a different type of wall on each of the four walls so I could use them as backdrops for outdoor photography. On the inside, I’d want high ceilings and a lot of natural light. I’d have a separate space on the inside of the house for my jewelry studio and I’d spend every single day doing the things that I love.
9.  Is there anything you'd like to try doing that you haven't done? Crafts, sports, life in general?  Well with the photography, I’d like to travel internationally and just take thousands of pictures in a foreign country! As for the jewelry making, I’m really interested in trying my hand at making my own clay beads. I’ve researched it some and even bought some clay, but I have a long way to go before I learn how to actually do it.
    

10.  Besides online where else do you sell?
It’s pretty much been just through word of mouth. I haven’t really promoted myself, though I’ve been told that I should. I get photography business from people passing my name to their friends and so on. I also participate in our annual Employee Craft Fair at the hospital, that’s actually happening on October 20-21. I sell both my jewelry and my photography there and I usually do pretty well. I always seem to have a ton of custom business for awhile after the craft fair when people see my work.


ways to contact you:




(this is mainly my customer website where if I do a photo shoot for someone, they can come here to order their prints)



 
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