Remembering the apartment destruction

Here are some slides I hadn't looked at for several years of an apartment tear down. I was fascinated at the process and yet felt guilty for documenting it. I talked to a man who was originally from an African country and he thought it looked like a war had hit the building. It was a window to a world that I never knew.

New Twisty bracelets!

I can't seem to stop making these wrapped bracelets...they are fun! I'm putting different bead combinations from my stash of beads. It's interesting to see how the wrapped toggle is part of the design for me. Let me know which are your faves!

Better pics of PaperMockingbird's lovely pieces

New Halloween items at my etsy shop!!

I just took these pics of my new Halloween and Day of the Dead items...I hope you enjoy them. They are okay but at least the lighting is spooky!

Presenting..AmorandStitch!!

Another wonderful etsyian! Her work reminds me of the tradition of needlework and yet it is definately modern. She blends the bold and the feminine...I hope you will enjoy her work.
1) How long have you been selling on etsy?

Since mid June 2009

2) Do you have advice for etsy newbies?

Do all you can to promote yourself and take a visit to chat as I have met some wonderful people there who have been very helpful. Believe in yourself, the sales will happen!!

3) What are your fave etsy shops and why?
I love ComestibleKid's Shop, as it's got some really funky retro items. I love nearnu, vintagebarcelona because I love vintage wear I own lots of vintage myself and you can never have enough : ) and I love the thinking about who owned it before me, where its been e.t.c


4) What are your fave pieces in your shop and why?

I love my pendants, as they are so unique and I am going to start to create interchangeable art pieces for people to purchase so they can change the look of the pendant. I like the Geisha girl, as she is so beautiful and it took me a long time to create this piece so I don't think I will do another, and Finally I love 'A man never stands as tall as when he kneels to help a child' cushion as it is a lovely way to capture a memory of your newborn or child.

5) What plans do you have for your shop?

I am really enjoying etsy and I plan to continue making and listing, but I also want to create some prints of my art to make cards and art canvas's for the wall. I have also just launched my own website www.amorandstitch.com check it out!

6) How long have you been creating art?

I have been creating art since I was a child, I went from school to college onto university I then worked as an art psychotherapist for 8 years. In that time I discovered the magically link between emotions and art on a much deeper level. I am noe enjoying being a mum of two little people and creating my art.

7) Who are your art heroes?

I love Gustav Klimt,Tretchikoff,Andy Goldsworthy,Jean Micheal Basquit are just a few of art heroes.

8) Where do your ideas come from?

I get inspiration from lots of different areas, but I mostly sit in my garden watching my children playing and make sketches of possible art pieces, so I guess from life.

9) What do you do when you have a creative block?

Read a book, the one I am reading at the moment is 'Angels in my Hair' by Lorna Byrne, is wonderful.

10) What other interests do you have that feed into your art?

I guess my love for vintage, as I like to use vintage images and materials in my work, i am starting a new collection of embroidered postcards next week.

An Interview with Papermockingbird...

I am excited to present this interview with etsy jewellery artist Papermockingbird. I have admired her unique pieces for some time and have wanted to know the story behind her work.

1) How long have you been selling on etsy?
Since March 2009

2) Do you have advice for etsy newbies?
Take some time to really initiate yourself with the Etsy site - It's so easy to think that once you've set up your shop that all you have to do is sit back and wait for the sales!
Chat with other etsians and get them to critique your shop for you - they will pick up on all the things you missed. It's good to get an objective point of view - your own view point is too emotionally attached.... oh and last thing - good clean photos! (it's taken me a while to get minimal but I'm getting there)

3) What are 3 fave etsy stores and why?
AAAAAAAGGHHHH!!!! How can I only pick 3????!!! there are hundreds which I absolutely love! ok well these are just from skimming through the favourites I have hearted but at the risk of spending days trying to decide - there are others which I love equally as much!! So:

Copperinc - because his/her work is so adorable and appeals to my dreamy and sentimental side.

Yellena - because her drawings STUN me and INSPIRE me! I WISH i was this talented!

Katwise - because when I saw her shop and read her blog it reminded me to add a bit of impulsive craziness back into my everyday life and everything I do. An amazing and memorable woman. I'd like to meet her!

4) What are your fave pieces in your shop and why?

I love my "Hundertwasser" necklace. Its sort of my signature piece and I will be sad to see it go if I ever sell it. It reminds me of drawings and buildings by Friedrich Hunderwasser and I thing it is just a beautiful object which I am proud to have made. I also love wearing the "wish it was summer" bracelet because it's so dainty and cheerful and I remember it putting me in a good mood when I finished it!

5) What plans do you have for your shop?

I make hats and other objects using crochet. They're kind of a little different from your regular crochet hats - I use a lot of textures and colours which you wouldn't expect to see. I need to get a good sizing system right though - so far I've been using my own head as a template but I've realised my head is way too big and the hats dont fit anyone else!!!
So anyway, come this winter I'll hopefully have some ready to sell.

6) How long have you been creating art?
All my life. I loved art at school, I went to art college when I finished school, I studied design at university... I love to paint and draw and sketch. Jewellery making is only a recent thing which started last year when I found myself living in france with no job and in need of some money - so I set myself up a little market stall and my small taste of success gave me the confidence to enter the Etsy world where, so far, I haven't experienced the same luck. I write poetry too but thats not something I share with many people. I find it extremely therapeutic though.

7) Who are your art heroes?
In no particular order: Freidrich Hundertwasser, Egon Scheile, Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Picasso, the Fauves...I'm easily enticed by colour!

8) Where do your ideas come from?
I have boxes and boxes of broken jewellery, beads, shells, buttons and other treasures. I spend hours rummaging through them and finding bits n bobs which look interesting and go together...I never start out with an idea - they emmerge while I'm creating something. Sometimes I start with 1 button or bead as the central focal point and then work around it.

9) What do you do when you have a creative block?
Go for walks in the countryside, see some large open space, meditate, cycle, sing. I find that a "block" of any sort boils down to needing to release some pent-up energy - bad thoughts, stress, anxiety, worries etc so anything that helps me shed those things helps me out of my block. (if that makes sense)

10) What other interests do you have that feed into your art?
I am passionate about music of all kinds...I like learning about unusual musical instruments from all over the world and the origins and evolutions of different types of music...for example: traditional african music to blues and jazz; and indian nomad music to djano reinhardt and gypsy jazz...everything links together. I like discovering lyrics to hundred year-old folk songs and trying to understand what inspired someone to write them.