Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Tuesday's Treasures - Essensu

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I first 'met' (virtually, that is) Tami Abiuso of Essensu on Plurk. She has great insight and has an amazing skin care product line! You can practically smell the luscious scents through the monitor! My mouth is watering from that second photo!

Let's get to know Tami better......
 
1. If there’s one thing that defines you, what is it?
What a great question and not so easy to answer I might add. I'm not sure how those who know me would answer this, but for myself, what defines me, is my inner desire and search for the inspiration available to us in each new day. Making sure I'm being attentive and grateful for everything in my life. Everyday, I'm grateful to be able to share in the splendor of Mother Nature's abundance, which in turn, drives me to live passionately. Perhaps, living passionately is what defines me. 

2. What role does your family play in your art?
They certainly enjoy being able to test my new skin care formulas before they hit the market, and are always eager to give their feedback. However, I'm also a writer and they encourage me to continue to write and make time for it.

3. Where do you live and what is it like?
Actually, I live in a town voted as one of the Top 100 best places to live! Indeed it is. My home itself is on the woods, which is filled with wild turkeys, deer, bunnies, red fox, owls, a rare woodpecker and all the other small animals common to wood areas. We have a chipmunk family living in the step on our deck. I enjoy watching them flit about and they come up to the windows to say hi. 

Our town itself was settled along a canal and we have a wonderful bike trail connecting our town to all the surrounding towns. I enjoy taking long bike rides and running along it. The area is bustling in the summertime, with plenty of eateries and ice cream parlor right on the canal. The town sponsors many activities like outdoor jazz nights, car "shows" with cookouts, craft weekends, etc. all back-dropped by our scenic canal. 

4. Where did you learn to craft or are you self taught? 
I've been an herbalist for over 25 years, and enjoy dong medical research. These two passions combined when I became aware of skin and body care products having unfriendly ingredients for our skin and our environment. As I looked for an herbal solution for bug bites for instance, I learned what essential oils to include in a skin cream to help alleviate the itching. Deciding to create a natural skincare line was a natural progression for me. I do often consult with industry professionals when deciding on a particular formula, and all are rigorously tested before being introduced to the line.  

5. How long have you been working at your craft?
I began my actual skincare line in 2003. 

6. Where do you receive your inspiration, in general?
Nature of course. Even with my writing, nature always inspires me. I'm awed by the magnificence of its perfection and power.

7. What is the best piece of advice you can give other artists?
Follow your heart or gut feeling. When you get that "ah ha" feeling, you know you have something. But the process getting there should be enjoyed as well. I believe if you follow your passions, whatever they are, you won't spend much time on the wrong path. Our inner guide is our inspiration. Get inspired, and be inspired. Then share your inspiration.

8. If you won a thousand dollar craft shopping spree, what would you spend it on?
I'm drawn to bottles and jars and lids and caps for my products. I love thinking about new packaging and the look of my line. I also have a personal desire to help battered woman and their children. We have a woman's shelter which is always in need of shampoo and soap, etc. I'd be inclined to use the money to fund as many bottles as I could fill with product, to donate to them. It wouldn't fill the need for supplies indefinitely, but it would provide a positive contribution to a very real need in the community, if even short term.
What an inspiration! Here are some links where you can find Tami's wonderful products:






Monday, May 24, 2010

500 Facebook Fans!!!

Pin It WOOHOO!!!! 500 fans! Cause for a celebration! With every purchase from either my etsy or AF shop for the next week, you can select a similar or lesser value item for 50% off! Sale ends a week from today, on Memorial Day, May 31st!!!

Must include "500 fans" in the notes in order to get the discount! Will refund the difference thru paypal!

LA Jewelry Designs on ArtFire
LA Jewelry Designs on Etsy

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Tuesday's Treasures - Beadlady5

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Margo is the guildmaster for the AJDJSS guild on ArtFire. Besides spending much of her time promoting our members, she's a very talented jewelry designer. Many of her designs have a lovely vintage feel to them. 
Let's get to know Margo a little better....

1. If there’s one thing that defines you, what is it?
I think my strong sense of humor combined with my positive attitude is what defines me more than anything else as a human being.  These 2 attributes have been my strongest survival skills and have helped me to continue to be pro active in everyday life.
2. What role does your family play in your art?
My family is quite supportive of my creative endeavors.  They give me their honest feedback about my creations.  My husband and younger son help me with my craft fairs by assisting me to set up, by bringing me breakfast, then lunch, and they also help with the clean up.
My husband is in charge of having my orders shipped properly.  It is a comfort to have their help.
3. Where do you live and what is it like?
I live in Staten Island, NYC for over 30 years now. Recently, we moved into a 2 family home so my mother could live in the apartment to be closer to me.
I love living here because we have Manhattan close by with all the wonderful things it offers--yet, we also have the peacefulness of a suburban haven.
4. Where did you learn to craft or are you self taught? 
I am self taught.  I come from a family of creative "genes" and am lucky that these genes have been passed onto me.  I have been a crafter all my life--from knitting, crocheting, needle work, macrame, quilling, faux painting, and more. 
I became interested in the art of jewelry design and creation when I needed a necklace for a dress I bought for a wedding.  Couldn't find anything that I liked and prices were a bit outrageous for the necklaces.  After looking over how a few necklaces were made I felt that I could make my own necklace.  Off to Barnes and Nobles I went to check out the books on jewelry design and creation and this is how my wonderful creative journey began.
5. How long have you been working at your craft?
It is almost 7 years now and I find it quite amazing that I still have so much more to learn and so much more to create.
6. Where do you receive your inspiration, in general?
My inspiration comes from:
1. The beads, cabochons, filigrees, and jewelry supplies in general.  When I see beads or other supplies that I like I start creating immediately in my mind. 
2.  The pieces of jewelry worn by people in my everyday activites, T.V., movies, and magazines.  I like to take a design that I have admired and recreate it in my "style" and
3.  Repurposing  old jewelry pieces.
7. What is the best piece of advice you can give other artists?
Enjoy your process of creation.  Try very hard not to allow others opinions deter you from doing what you love to do.  Remember the saying "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder"--it is true for you!
8. If you won a thousand dollar craft shopping spree, what would you spend it on?
Oh my goodness, what a wonderful thought!  I would so love shop for  vintage beads, cabochons, stones, cameos, filigrees, etc.--I guess you can see that I am now in "A Vintage State of Mind"!

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Tuesday's Treasures - Enchanted Beads

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It's not often that I get to meet a fellow artisan in person, but I had the pleasure of spending an afternoon with Ileana Munteanu of Enchanted Beads in NYC recently. What did we do you ask?? We went bead shopping of course! ;-)


Let's get to know Ileana a little better....


1. If there’s one thing that defines you, what is it?
Patience!
 
2. What role does your family play in your art?
They admire what I do and, despite their busy life they help me. My son built my website years ago.
www.enchanted-beads.com. My daughter is  my marketing advisor (she works as a Marketing Director at an important firm in Manhattan, NYC). My granddaughter, 11, is a permanent source of inspiration and sometimes helps me with Shows.
 
3. Where do you live and what is it like?
I live in a building overlooking the Verrazzano Bridge, in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY. The view is always wonderful, all year long. It is great to live close to the Ocean and take long walks on the shore. It is also a source of inspiration! I love my neighborhood!
 
4. Where did you learn to craft or are you self taught? 
I am self taught. I was always passionate about making things with my own hands. Being very creative  I used my free time for designing things that I could wear or I would need around the house, a mosaic table for example. Later, I started making evening dresses with beautiful appliqués (flowers, leaves, butterflies) made of pearls and tiny beads, that looked like a piece of jewelry. Little by little, I realized that what I enjoyed best in designing and making an outfit was actually the elaborate embellishment. I started to make little pieces of jewelry . My decision to concentrate only on the embellishments was how I started my jewelry collection.
 
5. How long have you been working at your craft?
More than 15 years.
 
6. Where do you receive your inspiration, in general?
Nature is my main source of inspiration. Flowers, ladybugs, butterflies are featured in my pieces. Sometimes I get inspired by the semiprecious stones I find. I put them together with pearls, gemstone beads and colorful seed beads in a specific design, carefully coordinating the colors to achieve a natural, shaded look by incorporating several nuances of beads for each color I choose.
 
7. What is the best piece of advice you can give other artists?
Do your homework, search for a path that fits your style, participate in as many contests as you can and don't get discouraged even when you are rejected or when you don't make it to the finals. Keep trying, keep improving yourself,!
 
8. If you won a thousand dollar craft shopping spree, what would you spend it on?
Beads, beads, beads, findings, beading books.
 
 Here are some links to where you can find Ileana's work:
 

Thursday, May 06, 2010

ArtFire's Praises!

Pin It I've been selling on ArtFire since January 2009. The changes I've seen have been HUGE! I've never dealt with a company so anxious to listen to their membership & implement ideas that have been suggested to them. Their growth in that time period has been HUGE! And here's why. Find Out Why Over 66,000 Artisans Sell Crafts On ArtFire.com!

My personal favorite tool is the Global Editor. If you have 10 listings or 110 you can edit them all in one easy step unlike some other sites. You can also list as many items as you'd like for 1 low monthly fee. Contact me if you'd like a code for $12/month for life as opposed to the current $15.95/month.

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

Tuesday's Treasures - Mamas Little Monkeys

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Amy Dutsch is one of the sweetest, most giving people I know. She volunteered to help me with a banner some time ago. We didn't even know each other at the time and yet she offered to do this for me out of the kindness of her heart. She is amazing with needle and thread....and of course fabric, that helps! ;-)

Let's get to know Amy a little better.....
1. If there’s one thing that defines you, what is it? Simplicity and usefulness with a touch of humor. I do not generally make or buy things that do not have a definite use in my life or someone else's life. Even in home decor, etc....if I don't LOVE it. every time I look at it...I'm not buying it! I also try to make people laugh! If you can laugh at least once in your day then it couldn't have been all THAT bad,r ight?

2. What role does your family play in your art? HUGE! They are the reason I started! I started sewing because I was cloth diapering my youngest son and wanted cool cloth wipes. I planned on eventually making him cloth diapers, and that got pushed back more and more, with every cool idea I wanted to try!! Ironically, we no longer cloth diaper and I never got to make any for him :) But because I have two boys I strive to find fun things to create for boys because girls do seem to have the corner on the handmade market.

3. Where do you live and what is it like? Southeastern Louisiana, in a city called Slidelll, roughly 30 miles North (across the lake) from New Orleans. I both love and hate it at times! LOL I hate the cost of living down here since Hurricane Katrina but there is so much I DO love. While I hate the high probability that we will be forced to leave and possibly lose our home each and every year, it is where I'm FROM. I don't think I could find a nicer people, more creative area and city so full of history, life and FUN as New Orleans! And living in Slidell gives me the comfort of safety, good schools and 'suburbia'...while having the opportunity to just drive across that lake at any time and do what I want in New Orleans! I love where I live so much I created Handmade Louisiana, a group of artisans and musicians in and from La :) www.handmadelouisiana.com

4. Where did you learn to craft or are you self taught? I was taught by necessity, as I said, by wanting to sew cloth wipes. "How hard can it be to sew a square?" I asked myself. Famous. Last. Words. I am now a fabricholic, LOVE to sew--even when I mess it up, and will now try just about ANY craft in any genre at some point! All this in less than 2 years. Now that I work full time outside the home, for the first time in 4 years I have been having a mourning process of not being able to craft as much as I was used to! But we do what we have to do!

5. How long have you been working at your craft? Just under 2 years.

6. Where do you receive your inspiration, in general? Often times in things I see that there are a need for, for myself, friends, family or other crafters. My swiffer wetjet pads are one of my popular sellers and not an original idea. My friend Karin at www.dominopads.com graciously shared how to make them and I just started selling them just for the heck of it (after testing numerous prototypes in my own home) I had no idea that people would really want or need them! But I aim for things to have a real purpose and need. I don't really want people to purchase anything I create and have it just sit there. Even my sock monkeys...I hope they are taken home, snuggled, loved and carried around! I want to make people's lives easier, more fun and want them to really cherish ANY handmade item they purchase.

7. What is the best piece of advice you can give other artists? Don't give up!! You may think of an idea for an item that you think is FABULOUS and you think everyone will love....and it turns out they don't. Don't give up on being creative!! Take pleasure in creating for YOU, whether you sell or not. If it doesn't make YOU happy to make it..why do it? When you hit a creative roadblock, take a break from that particular craft and try something new and challenging...or go back to something you find therapeutic and calming. Sometimes you just have to CRAFT for the sake of crafting!! I love to make fabric covered buttons for a variety of purposes. They may or may not ever sell...but I LOVE making them, they are soothing and therapeutic for me. When I don't have time for other crafts, the buttons are my 'go to' craft :) Just ENJOY what you do, the low's and the highs of it!
8. If you won a thousand dollar craft shopping spree, what would you spend it on? LOL. FABRIC!! *waits for the laughter from those who know me* oh the fabric I could get with 1,000.......
Here are some links to where you can find Amy's work: