Boomer Buddies
Showing off some of our favorites....
1. What is the name of your shop? 2. What type of items do you sell? Mostly jewelry (bracelets and necklaces, some earrings), but I also have a few accessories and some candle holders...all beaded. 3. How long have you been engaged in your art/craft? I learned (or tried to learn) knitting, crocheting, sewing and embroidery when I was young, but the only thing that worked from me was some embroidery and counted cross-stitch. I designed my own patterns and created wedding announcements, birth announcements and the like. Then my daughters and I started beading over 10 years ago when the bead critters were popular. The beads have just gotten a lot smaller and the designs more refined over the years. 4. Do you consider yourself a hobbyist or a professional craftsperson? It's more of a passion, unfortunately finances won't allow me to create full-time. I certainly wish it could be my life's work. | 5. What inspires you? Cliche as it sounds, anything. It could be a song I've just heard on the radio, a story I've just read, colors...anything. | 9. What is your least favorite 'task' related to your art/craft? Trying to find something that I know I have. My things are in several different places in the house and I will often have to spend quite a bit of time trying to find that bead or beads or findings. 10. Would you care to share any 'words of wisdom' with other aspiring artists or crafters? Don't stop creating! Oh and promote, promote, promote! 11. Would you care to share some other information about yourself and/or your shop that I have not asked about? My name is Anna. I live in NE Ohio with my husband of 21 years and my youngest daughter. (My older daughter is in college.) I work from home which can be difficult given the temptation of my beads not too far from my computer! I inherited my creativity from my mom, though she did knitting, crocheting, embroidery and cake decorating. |
1. What is the name of your shop? All About The Buttons | 6. Please share with us what a typical day is like in your workshop or 7. What keeps you company while you are working on a project? I do have a TV in the studio but sometimes after I've been there for several hours I realize that I never put it on! I don't knit there. That's done in front of the TV or when my husband is driving, obviously! I've learned to take knitting everywhere. You never know how long a simple trip might take. 9. What is your least favorite 'task' related to your art/craft? Cleaning up the mess I tend to make. I'm always re-organizing but that's fun in a way also. | 10. Would you care to share any 'words of wisdom' with other aspiring artists or crafters? If you love what you do, go for it. I have tried many crafts that I did not love and they were awful. We have to 'do' many things in life that we don't love-oven cleaning comes to mind. But in the art world if you love what you make and enjoy your product...keep going! 11. Would you care to share some other information about yourself and/or your shop that i have not asked about? Please tell us here. Like I mentioned earlier, I have always been involved in some sort of craft but life got in the way! I was an elementary school teacher for over 30 years and was able to find a great deal of time to pursue my interests but now that I'm retired I adore having so much extra time for this purpose. ETSY has been a dream come true in many ways. My family and friend have always been recipients of my creations and now I can truly share them worldwide. Visit my shop at: |
1. What is the name of your shop/s? I have two: gypsygoods gypsygoods- for Supplies, Bags, Tags, Buttons-Badges 3. How long have you been engaged in your art/craft? For as long as I can remember I have always created…I made collages, macramé, pottery, lost wax-silver jewelry, sewing-quilting as a teenager. Later, I made costumes, dresses and dolls for my girls. Now I create anything that strikes my fancy….no rules—just fun! 4. Do you consider yourself a hobbyist or a professional craftsperson? As long as the classification for professional is not-1 million in sales per year-I do regard all of my work professional. From supplies to my wearable art…I spend extra time on all of my creations to make sure they are finished well and use only quality materials. I do not turn out as many pieces as other sellers-I take the extra time to make sure it is finished well. |
5. What inspires you?
What doesn't inspire me?….Architecture-Period Dress-Movies-Costumes-Fantasy-Fairy Tales-A new fabric-bead/stone-notions-trims-old photos-genealogy-the past-my love of vintage. 6. Please share with us what a typical day is like in your workshop or studio? Since several rooms in my home serve as my "studio"…I usually start off on the computer-located in my breakfast nook. I catch up on what's been going on since I was asleep. My sewing machine, button machine, jewelry and paper supplies are stored in my bedroom. My spare room serves as my photo-studio, display room for my mannequin, packing boxes, fabric and misc. supplies. It depends on what is on the agenda for the day- where I am located. 7. What keeps you company while you are working on a project? The TV (usually watching movies)…For years, my best buddy was my little poodle Sasha, she was 13 when she passed. I guess I should mention my hubby, too.
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I love choosing the materials that go into a piece and trying to recreate it…the way I see it in my mind. I also love hand sewing-It is so relaxing..
Cleaning up after a very active and productive day when I am tired and ready to go to bed.
Don't ever drop the quality of your work to mass produce more merchandise. The world is full enough of cheaply make goods! |
1. What is the name of your shop? which means Love of Silver in spanish. My name is Martha Sanchez and I'm a jewelry designer/artist. 2. What kind of items do you sell? Handcrafted .999 fine silver art jewelry. 3. How long have you been engaged in your art/craft? I started in late 2006 and opened my shop on April 1, 2007 until present. 4. Do you consider yourself a hobbyist or a professional craftsperson? Professional craftsperson with 30 years graphic design experience. 5. What inspires you? Mostly nature, water, plant life, flowers and I'm inspired by ethnic designs, feng shui and my dreams. I wake up in the middle of the night sometimes and draw the project I dream about. I can't sleep if I don't sketch it out. | 6. Please share with us what a typical day is like in your workshop or studio? I work a regular 9-5 job, come home, eat dinner, and work a little on a project or do my computer networking and mail. Most weekends or days off is when I can really get into my projects and finish each piece, torching firing, sanding or polishing, which I do by hand. Sometimes I have 2 projects going at the same time and don't finish the pieces until the weekend. 7. What keeps you company while you are working on a project? Sometimes I have my ipod on and other times TV and my hubby keep me company. My workspace is in the living room so I don't feel isolated when I work. I do like to work on my projects when everyone is off to work sometimes, as I can accomplish more when I have no distractions. My torch firing is done outside in the garden, in which I feel relaxed and energized. 8. What is your favorite 'task' related to your art/craft? I love the feel of clay when it's soft and pliable, to carve, or sand the clay smooth. I also enjoy the torch firing process, as clay turns into silver and love polishing the piece to smooth perfection. I guess you could say I love silver! | 9. What is your least favorite 'task' related to your art/craft? I actually have no least favorite task, I love the whole process and it facinates me everytime, no matter how many times I do it. I'm very passionate about my projects and somewhat of a perfectionist. 10. Would you care to share any 'words of wisdom' with other aspiring artists or crafters? If you love what you do, it will show in your craft. Don't allow others to discourage you or talk you out of following your dreams. I've been designing jewelry since I was in high school and always wished I could create my own jewelry. Metalsmithing didn't seem to attract me because my projects leaned towards a smoother flowing look. Thanks to the invention of art clay silver or precious metal clay, I can now create my dream projects. 11. Would you care to share some other information about yourself and/or your shop that i have not asked about? Please tell us here. My Shop: |
1. What is the name of your shop? thesunsrays handpainted items, jewelry, pattern packets, polymer clay pieces, and fused glass at artisticrendegings. thesunsrays will be photography only. A professional craft person Nature, color and life | 6. Please share with us what a typical day is like in your workshop or studio? Daydreaming, puttering, and serious work. The tv or music and my Shih Tzu Pru. Custom orders If I had any I would share but seems as if "wisdom" is rare..... |
1. What is the name of your shop? Art on the Hoof | 6. Please share with us what a typical day is like in your workshop or studio? In the mornings I generally answer emails and gather my thoughts over a cup of coffee. I have a bird feeder right outside my window so the kitties and I usually spend some time enjoying the fun. Maybe work on what ever is on my work table. The middle of my day is taken up with my job as a dog walker. Great exercise for a middle aged lady. The doggies are great company and a nice change from the forty or so employees I used to deal with. The evenings are my best time to paint and create. 7. What keeps you company while you are working on a project? My three kitties. They also tend to leave hair on the orders that go out the door. No extra charge for the fur of course. 8. What is your favorite 'task' related to your art/craft? Coming up with new ideas and dropping completed work at the Post Office. | 9. What is your least favorite 'task' related to your art/craft? 10. Would you care to share any 'words of wisdom' with other aspiring |
1. What is the name of your shop? of course it is all one word for etsy 2. What kind of items do you sell? Quilted fabric postcards,Aceo's, bookmarks, and small art quilts. 3. How long have you been engaged in your art/craft? I learned how to quilt in 2004 I started making the smaller items this year. 4. Do you consider yourself a hobbyist or a professional craftsperson? I consider myself a fiber artist, it took me awhile to see myself as one. It has just been this year that I have been taking my art seriously. Doing my best to work on my art daily. 5. What inspires you? Mostly my fabrics, I have a wide range of clothing I bought at thrift stores to cut up and create with. Not to mention my stash of commercial fabrics. Lately I have been doing the weekly challenges on the forums and that has lead me in directions that I most likely wouldn't be going in. 6. Please share with us what a typical day is like in your workshop or studio? I am an early riser, so sometimes my day starts around 3-4am. I usually decide what to do before climbing out of bed. My first cup of tea is enjoyed relaxing at the computer, then it is over to my creating table. I go through my fabrics to decide which ones to use for the days projects. Then it is over to the iron to iron the fusable web onto the fabric, then back to the computer to cruise through etsy while I am cutting out my appliques that I will be using. That done I pick out background fabric to go with the appliques, adhere the background fabric onto the timtex I use for my smaller items, then iron on my appliques I have made. I usually make several postcards, aceo's, or bookmarks at the same time before sitting down to sew and quilt them. Then it is usually off to work. After work I will sit down and relax by hand quilting on a bigger art quilt. Some mornings if I have enough items created I will sew and machine quilt instead of creating new ones. | 7. What keeps you company while you are working on a project? Music and the computer. I listen to music as soon as I enter my sewing room, the computer gets truned on at the same time. While I am cutting out my appliques I am also at the computer, it is a good thing I live out in the country and have dial up. 8. What is your favorite 'task' related to your art/craft? The creating the item, I love to play with the fabrics. oh and I love the buying too, either going to the thrift store for the clothes I can recylce or to the fabric store to add to my fabric stash. 9. What is your least favorite 'task' related to your art/craft? The machine sewing and quilting. I am still not comfortable with it, although I know I am improving. 10. Would you care to share any 'words of wisdom' with other aspiring artists or crafters? Do what you love to do, challenge yourself to think outside the box. Build your inventory so you will be ready when asked to show or sell your items to the public. 11. Would you care to share some other information about yourself and/or your shop that i have not asked about? I would like to mention as I have earlier that I do create with old clothes, alot of it being vintage. Thus my shop name, I attack the vintage. I use to own a vintage clothing store and have kept several items to cut apart and reuse. None of the fabulous vintage, but damaged or just palin ugly items. |
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1. What is the name of your shop? Blue & White Jewelry Wear Jewelry: necklaces, bracelets, earrings. I like to incorporate Chinese beads into my work; kind of a modern version of East meets West. I love the blue & white Chinese porcelain beads. 3 years more of a hobbyist Asian art; handicrafts I'm afraid it's not very exciting. I usually work on jewelry on Sundays or holidays. I am a full-time teacher who is a wanna be jewelry creator. After a full day of working with third graders, I am too tired to be creative and/or make anything. So I usually devote Sundays to jewelry...I gather all my supplies and try to orgainze what I'll need for various ideas. And start stringing! | 7. What keeps you company while you are working on a project? The TV or a DVD; and my two curious cats, Calvin and Lucy. Shopping for beads and supplies in the markets of Bangkok. Finishing a piece by putting on the clasps. I am a transplanted New Yorker who has spent most of my adult life in Asia. I love traveling and exploring new places and cultures. I have lived in Thailand for six years and never tire of searching the local markets for beads, stones, and supplies. |