More Garden Photos

Yay! My first Iris bloomed a couple days ago! Purple is my favorite color too. How cool is that!

More purple Iris' to come! I've got way more in my front garden too.

My Decorative Onions are in full bloom too. Too bad they don't last very long..

And finally...my Bleeding Hearts are even more beautiful this year!

I love that almost everything is purple! And....I didn't even plan it that way. :D

MCC Artist Feature - Storm Flight Designs

Welcome to Friday and another wonderful artist feature! Meet StaC! She's a really sweet person and a very talented artisan, which shows in her beautiful & unique designs. What she can do with Silver is amazing!

* What is your craft and how long have you been making it?

Silver Jewelry. 2 years.

* What inspired you to start selling your handmade items and are you enjoying it?

I am loving it! I began posting some of my completed projects on Facebook and my friends asked me to make some for them.

* What is your best selling item?

Twisted braided silver ring and computer keyboard necklaces.

* What are your favorite materials to work with?

Silver, stones and gemstones.

* What is your favorite venue for promoting yourself & your craft?

Etsy - Storm Flight Designs.

* Where does your inspiration to create come from?

When I find a stone or gemstone, it has its own being and seems to tell me what it wants to be.

* What do you do to keep busy when experiencing slow sales?

I sew, hike with my dog, hang out with the family.

* What would you say to artists who are new to selling and/or who are struggling with selling?

Just make what you love and the sales will come.

* What are some of your goals for your business?

To have my work in local shops so people can see my work in person, not just online.

Find StaC & more of her gorgeous designs at the following sites:

Storm Flight Designs Website
Storm Flight Designs Etsy Shop
Storm Flight Designs on My Craft Corner
Storm Flight Designs Facebook & FanPage
Follow StaC on Twitter
Storm Flight Designs Blog
Contact StaC at: stormflightdesigns@gmail.com

Thanks so much for sharing your awesome talent StaC! It was great getting to know you more!

Thanks for reading & happy creating!

My gardens are coming alive!

Yay! Flowers are beginning to bloom and plants are starting to grow! I love this time of the year, cause that means I get to play in my gardens!

These are a couple of tulips in my front garden. They're pink, orange, and deep red. SO pretty!

This is an Iris that is getting ready to bloom. I've got lots of them in my front & backyard gardens, and I think they are purple. My MIL gave me A LOT of Iris's a few years ago, and they are finally going to bloom this year. So exciting! I guess they need lots of time to root when they are dug up and moved to a new home. I'll be posting them once they bloom. 

This is one of three Hosta plants I have in my front yard garden. All three of them are starting to come alive, and when they are fully grown, they are gorgeous! They are a tropical plant and when fully grown, they produce the prettiest light-purple/blue trumpet-like flowers. They do best in shady areas, and mine only get bright light when the sun is setting. I love that they last all Summer long!

Another Hosta starting to take shape. You'll be amazed when you see them fully grown and in bloom. Here's an example from wikipedia.

 And finally...this is a large patch of "what the heck?!" I think they might be orchids, but I'm not sure. All I know is that they are growing in my front yard.....and there are hundreds of them! I've fenced them off and now I'm just waiting to see what this mystery plant turns out to be. If anyone has any ideas...I'd love to hear them! Thanks in advance and thanks for reading!

My Craft Corner Artist Feature - Kinetic Wings

I'm having a great time featuring artists I've met on My Craft Corner, and today, I'd like to introduce Juliet from Kinetic Wings. She makes beautiful unique jewelry!

**What is your craft and how long have you been making it?

I make artisan jewelry: necklaces and bracelets. I've only been making my own jewelry since October 2009.

**What inspired you to start selling your handmade items and are you enjoying it?

The first necklace I made was for my Mom's birthday and it sort of snowballed into Christmas presents. Then my sister-in-law requested one of my necklaces for a gift and the response was terrific. So they all encouraged me to continue.

 **What is your best selling item?

Since I haven't really sold anything yet, the biggest response came from my angel necklaces but my silk bracelets are well liked as well.

 Faith-Hope-love Sterling Silver Bead Chain Necklace

**What are your favorite materials to work with?

I like to use some old jewelry pieces and mix them with new elements such as new chains or charms, maybe re-stringing or re-wiring. I’ve also begun to play around with metal clay and have made stamps to use to make my own designs. It’s slow going but it’s so much fun seeing my drawings made into a stamp that gets made into a charm. Very rewarding. I’ve also been creating new pieces using fine sterling silver and gemstones.

**What is your favorite venue for promoting yourself & your craft?

I recently opened an Art Fire account at www.kineticwings.artfire.com plus I’m on Facebook at www.fbook.me/kinetic_wings I’m working on putting some of my items on Etsy as well.

**Where does your inspiration to create come from?

My inspiration comes from many places. My Dad used to call me the jack of all trades and the master of none. He was right. I’m sort of ADD when it comes to sticking with one thing for any length of time but I’ve discovered that through the jewelry making process I’m able to combine so many of my interests and skills and use them in any way I choose. It’s a very freeing process and somewhat meditative for me. I’m having a good time with it and for now that’s super important. I think my Dad would be proud of me. I know my Mom is.

 Celtic braided sparrow Necklace

**What do you do to keep busy when experiencing slow sales?

My family and a family business. Plus we have two dogs, two birds and have recently adopted five baby opossums that will go to a rescue soon.

**What would you say to artists who are new to selling and/or who are struggling with selling?

Since I’m fairly new to all of this I’ll pass on some words of wisdom that have been given to me recently: Follow your heart, find your creative voice, never give up, but mostly have fun creating because at the end of the day that is why we create to begin with, to enjoy it.

 **What are some of your goals for your business?

I’d love to be able to sell what I make, lol. Seriously though, I’d like to inspire with my pieces. To bring a

sense of fun, beauty, inspiration, joy and hope when you look at my jewelry.

**Have I missed anything or is there something else you would like to share?

It is never too late to follow your dreams. Thank you for including me in the MCC Artist Feature. 

Find Juliet at the following sites:

Kinetic Wings on Artfire

Kinetic Wings on Etsy

Kinetic Wings on My Craft Corner

Kinetic Wings on Facebook

Follow Juliet on Twitter

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful talent and inspirational story Juliet!

Tune in for the next Artist Feature on Tuesday, May 18th!
Have a great weekend & happy creating!

My Craft Corner Artist Feature - Art Ist's Craft Corner

Welcome! It's Tuesday and time for another artist feature. Today I'm featuring an amazingly talented artist. Meet Art from "One A Day."  

 **What is your craft and how long have you been making it?

Painting, photography and sculpture. I’ve been involved in some kind of art my whole life.

**What inspired you to start selling your handmade items and are you enjoying it?

A lack of storage space. LOL! Yes, I enjoy it – it’s nice when someone appreciates my work enough to actually buy it. Selling online is hard work, though.

 "Regatta"

**What is your best selling item?

People seem to like aceos, which are very small works of art. We’ve also had interest in our greeting cards, which were created from an original painting which I did in the winter.

**What are your favorite materials to work with?

Right now I’m enjoying oils on canvas panels. I also enjoy using unique canvases like cardboard, tiles or wood planks … I’ve even used several pages of old books, which have been glued together. Each “canvas” creates a different affect.

**What is your favorite venue for promoting yourself  and your craft?

I use my blog to market my work and then social networks like Twitter.

**Where does your inspiration to create come from?

Various places – walks in nature, a scene from a magazine, my imagination. Sometimes even a song will inspire a painting.

  "Foggy"

**What do you do to keep busy when experiencing slow sales?

My wife &  I enjoy hiking and walks along a nearby river. We also own a CAD support business. Truthfully, though, I don’t think about sales all that much – I create for myself, so slow sales basically means I have time to pursue painting.

**What would you say to artists who are new to selling and/or who are struggling with selling?

It’s such a tough time, right now, with the economy – when people are struggling financially, they don’t buy luxury items like art. So I’d say to new artists, be patient until things pick up. I’d also say to use the time to build up an inventory and learn as much as possible about selling. Then, when the economy picks up and people start buying, you’ll be ready.

**What are some of your goals for your business?

I’d like to make a living with my art. In a perfect world, I could spend my days creating and I’d have enough sales to live comfortably.

  "Rainy"

**Have I missed anything or is there something else you would like to share?

All of the work posted on my blog is for sale – if anyone is interested, just drop me a line. I also take commission work. As I mentioned above, my wife and I also own a CAD support business. We specialize in designing homes so if anyone is interested in that service, we can be contacted through the blog or through email. Thanks very much for giving me this opportunity to be featured!

♦View Art's work on his blog at "One A Day" & Etsy Shop, "Appealing To You."

♦Check out Art's My Craft Corner Page and learn more about him.

♦Follow Art on Twitter here.

♦You can contact Art at: artistaismenow@gmail.com or cadsupport1@gmail.com

Thanks so much for sharing your awesome talent Art! Your paintings are true masterpieces!

Come back on Friday, May 14th, when I feature another MCC artist! Thanks for reading & happy creating!

My Craft Corner Artist Feature - Small Footprints

Yay...it's Friday, and it's time for another excting artist feature!  This artist is a really sweet person I met on My Craft Corner. Her creations are lovely...and she even incorporates recycled materials into them. How cool is that!! Please join me in welcoming Cyndi.

** What is your craft & how long have you been making it?

I make earrings, mostly from re-purposed beads.  I've been doing it for about a year.

** What inspired you to start selling your handmade items and are you enjoying it?

My husband had an etsy shop, to sell his artwork, but decided to focus on selling from his blog ... so I decided to take over the shop, "Appealing To You", and see what happens.  We still post some of his work but the majority of items we post are my creations.  While I'd like to see better sales, I am enjoying the whole process ... and I'm learning a lot.

♦ Amber ♦

** What is your best selling item?

Early on we sold some aceo prints that were popular.  They were photographs of sprouting ferns that seemed to whisper "I Love You."  Aceo's are very small works of art.

** What are your favorite materials to work with?

I really like re-purposed beads ... I love the idea that they started their life out as something else ... that someone else loved them.  Broken jewelry has a story and even though I don't know what it is, I try to imagine how the original owner felt when they opened the box and saw it for the first time ... all shiny and new.

** What is your favorite venue for promoting yourself & your craft.

Well, I like Twitter and My Craft Corner for promoting my work. One of my new favorites is called The Red Carpet.  It is a showcase for members of an Etsy team called, "Inspiration Avenue."   I joined this team last year and they are always doing something fun ... and something which helps get my work noticed.

 ♦ Purple Passion ♦

** Where does your inspiration to create come from?

Gosh ... I think it came out of nowhere.  Some time ago, I became fascinated with making things for myself and my family ... cleaning products, perfume, aftershave, etc.  One morning I woke up and thought that I should try to make earrings. I got busy and learned how to do it.  Then, I fell in love with the beads ... the shapes, colors, materials, and sizes ... it's like being a kid again and playing with small pebbles or marbles.  When I work on my earrings, I'm no where else...I'm totally in the moment.

** What do you do to keep busy when experiencing slow sales?

I write a blog "Reduce Footprints" about green living and that takes up a lot of my time.  My husband and I are best friends ... we like to spend time, every day, walking and hiking, and simply being together.  I also have a cat who monitors my time working ... when she thinks it's been long enough, she simply gets between me and the computer .... it's effective!

** What would you say to artists who are new to selling and/or who are struggling with selling?

Well, I guess I still see myself in that category and what I tell myself is to be patient … to continue creating and offering items for sale while learning as much as I can.  If I find someone who is successful, I watch them closely … not to mimic their work but rather to learn selling techniques.

 ♦ Decadence ♦

** What are some of your goals for your business?

I’d like to get to the point where the merchandise sells itself … promoting and selling is exhausting.  And, I’d like to work towards a consistent number of sales each month.  Right now it’s hit and miss while I learn the ropes.

** Have I missed anything or is there something else you would like to share?

I think that covers it. I’d like to say Thank You for your generosity in featuring other artisans – it’s very kind of you!

See Cyndi's handmade creations at her Etsy shop,  Appealing To You.

Check out Cyndi's informative and inspirational blog, Reduce Footprints!

Click here to follow Cyndi on Twitter.

Find Cyndi's Page on My Craft Corner at Small Footprint's Craft Corner.

It's great getting to know you more Cyndi, and it's been a pleasure featuring you! Nice to meet a fellow cat lover too! :-)

--Mark your calendar for next Tuesday, May 11th, when I feature another fabulous artist!--

Thanks for reading, happy creating, and feel free to leave a comment. Have a great weekend! :)

New Brass Earrings

I've been busy making some new jewelry pieces this week, and I just finished these earrings.

"Peace"
 I think the blue catseye pillow gems really pop against the brass, and I like the whimsical look. Easy to make and fun to wear! I'm contemplating if I want to list them to my etsy shop or be selfish and keep them all to myself. ;-) Oh who am I kidding.....I've already listed them! lol! I guess I'll just have to make another pair, but that's the benefit of being a jewelry maker! :P :D

 

Just a reminder....my BOGO "PLUS" Sale ends May 9th.

 Please fan..."like" my fan-page here.

Thanks for reading & happy creating!

Orange Blossom - My Craft Corner Artist Feature

Welcome to the first of a series of artist features that I will be showcasing twice a week! Each artist is a member of My Craft Corner, which is an online community that encourages and supports crafters of all sorts. This first artist has many talents, and not to mention, she's a very brave woman for volunteering to be my first feature. lol! So without further ado...meet my friend, Leslie, artist & owner of "Orange Blossom."

  

~What is your craft & how long have you been making it?

My craft is children's clothing and accessories, and I have been making them for about 2 years now.

~What inspired you to start selling your handmade items & are you enjoying it?

My daughter is my inspiration. She is so much smaller than kids her age, and buying her clothes was a pain. So I decided that I was going to give making them a try and it worked, and I love it.

"Lil Capri Set w/monogramming"

~What is your best selling item?

I would have to say that my best selling product is my monogrammed wipes cases.

~What are your favorite materials to work with?

Fabric, ribbon, elastic....all if it. 

"Funky Chic Bag"

 ~What is your favorite venue for promoting yourself & your craft?

I would have to say that my favorite is blogging, although, I seem to get more business from facebook.

~Where does your inspiration to create come from?

Again, I would have to say my daughter...I love to see her in things no one else has!

~What do you do to keep busy when experiencing slow sales?

Well, I love to sew, so I'm going to sew, sew, sew regardless of sales. But the sales are nice!!

"Lil Shorties Shorts Set w/monogramming"

 ~What would you say to artists who are new to selling and/or who are struggling with selling?

Promote, promote, promote...and even I'm not the best at that, but if you get yourself noticed, sales will come!

~What are some of your goals for your business?

I would love to one day own my own little shop in our town square!!

Leslie also has giveaways on her blog every other Thursday. I was a lucky winner of one of her handmade Scrappin Cross Pendants! :D

♦ See more of Leslie's handcrafted items at her Etsy Shop, "Orange Blossom."

♦ Visit Leslie's Blog at "My Lil Blog." 

♦ Find Leslie on My Craft Corner here. 

♦ Follow Leslie on Twitter.

Tune in this Friday for the next artist feature!

Thanks for reading & happy creating!