The Wonderful Wunderbug

Roughly a year ago I had privilege of meeting the fabulous Etsier, Wunderbug! She started out as a buyer then slowly transformed her shop into a classy, elegant spot full of jewelry and other hand made items. Wunderbug's style and sense of beauty is exceptional. The images of her work are pieces of art in of themselves. I'm thrilled to present my interview with her!

1. What do you create?
anything i can get my hands on and figure out how to make. currently in my shop, i've got pendants and office clips, but i've some glass magnets that are begging to be listed as well as a set of earrings. i've been intermittently working on an altered box (which has been very, very patient with me about it's slow progress) and also polymer clay magnets. i've also been loving the amateur photography thing; i'd like to integrate my photos into some of my pieces. sigh - one day.

2. What led you to take up your craft?
i had always been drawn to various forms of art, having taking drawing, pottery and sewing classes as a kid (i made a kickin' nightdress with penguins on it) but had put it aside throughout high school because there were so many people who i thought were more talented than me. i also was convinced i was going to become the next margaret atwood and thought that i'd only have enough time to devote to one art form. so my pastels, paints, paper and brushes all went into my middle dresser drawer and stayed there until a few years ago when an artist neighbour of mine showed me how to make beaded jewelry. it was like a triumphant return to my roots; i was manically finishing off my sociology degree and working a data entry job for the federal government (which i hated) and stumbling through this new creative outlet was like a breath of fresh air. odile is one of the most innovate, creative and charismatic people i've ever met and she completely and totally inspired me to get myself back in the game. a year after showing me how to make beaded jewelry, she told me about etsy. i was hooked, and the rest was history. man, she knows it all.



3. Which part of your work do you most enjoy?
i could so easily be cliche and say that i love every aspect of creating... but i'll try to be more interesting. i love challenges, so when i see a new technique, i can hardly wait to try it and apply it to something new. i love adding my own style and personality to everything in whatever way i can. oh, and finishing it. that part's pretty sweet too.

4. Which part do you find most trying?
sourcing and finding supplies, by far. i see all of these awesome findings and materials that i'd love to use, but can never see to find them for myself. oh, and shipping to canada. if i *do* find the stuff i want, then i owe them an arm, a leg and my firstborn child. (i'm still trying to figure out how to get out of that one.)

5. Where do you get your inspiration?
right now, there's a painting class going on in the studio that's in my neighbouring building with floor-to-ceiling windows; i love watching other people create. it's calming and inspiring and exciting all at the same time. there's something that i find so therapeutic (cathartic, even) of someone standing in front of an easel with a brush full of brightly coloured paint.

although i believe in the old adage that art is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration, it's also just as true that you can't force that inspiration part. if it's not flowing, don't force it. get out, stretch your mind and muscles and it'll come to you. i'm really big on stillness - i think stillness is a big challenge for people these days so i just try to absorb whatever i can and then transform it into something.

i get a lot of inspiration from watching people and nature. i also get a ton of inspiration from etsy and flickr. colours inspire me. verses of poetry inspire me. words - sometimes for their meanings and sometimes for their aesthetic appeal; sometimes both. challenges - even the most frustrating kind - inspire me as well, because they leave me with the feeling that even if i can't overcome them, i'll learn something new.

{which i guess explains why i'm stubborn as hell.}



7. What is your favorite medium to work with?
i guess i'm still figuring that out. i'm super adventurous and willing to try new things, but i've been mostly working with polymer clay and wire, so i'll have to say that they're my mediums of choice at the moment.

8. What is your favorite item that you have purchased off of Etsy?
that's a tough one, so i'll just break the rules and do my top 4:
1) my strawberry delight journal from RedOtter. :)

2) my beeswax aceo's that i bought from ButtonKitty. (http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=5305460, http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=5305459)

3) my stapler suicide photo that i bought from dreadsky (http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=7204689). i think it's fantastic - i proudly display it in my office and it always gets a laugh.



4) my susyjack wall calendar. it's exactly what i was looking for and have received *so many compliments* on it from coworkers. http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=6815505

9. What is your favorite item in your shop right now?



tiled elegance (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9412640) because lately, black and white (especially black and white damask) excites me.

10. What are your favorite top three items from other artists shops?
i might break the rules again on this one, no guarantees.

a) ATDesigns "orange you glad" necklace: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6723613 {cause orange rocks my world}

b) SmittenOriginals "pretty black and white wristlet": http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8506970



c) nicoleraephotos "solitude" mixed media collage: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7259618

d) lawatson's "green curly triangle teapot": http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10160020 {it's shape and colour reminds me of the kitchenware that comes to life in Disney's Beauty and the Beast}

12. What undiscovered artisans would you recommend the world to know?
i just went to the toronto one of a kind show, so i'm brimming over the top with tons of artists who i'd love to buy stuff from. it's a shame, cause it seems like tons of the incredible artists that were there didn't have websites so i can't provide any links. however, one of my favourites was Sherri Ground of Posh Mom and her incredible diaper bags that I'd carry as laptop cases and totes.

13. What is the best advice you have ever received?
i'm a big quote junkie so i'll share two of my favourites:

"be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." -- dr seuss

"be brave - even if you're not, pretend to be. nobody can tell the difference" -- oscar wilde

Friday and the simple things

Friday, blessed, wonderful FRIDAY! Ever had one of those weeks where you wake up on Monday and want to cry because Friday is so far away? Grim. But, alas, today is the day I get to chill out once it hits 4:30, no more work. I'm going to turn off my computer and go for a long walk in the sunshine (blessed, wonderful SUNSHINE). I'm then going to go to Barnes and Noble with Andrew to pick up another book to read in the car on our mini-trips to Minnesota and Iowa (we just finished our last book The Hemingway Book Club of Kosovo–excellent read, by the way). And then out to dinner with friends. And tomorrow, I'm not going to turn my computer on so I can work on work like I have these past three months (this working from home business can create workaholics out of normal "rational" people). Nope, it's going to stay off until Monday! Wow, it's really the simple things, isn't it?

Other happy simple things: NEW in my shop, Candy Dots!

Studio Mela

Last week I had the thrill of being able to interview the talented artist behind Studio Mela! Her shop is filled to the brim with classic, chic pieces of artwork. She excels at creating simple designs that charm and intrigue! There are so many favorites of mine, I'm going to have to reign myself in before I post her whole shop in this entry!

1. What do you create?
I create little works of art! I am a digital illustrator (slash) artist and create anything that happens to pop in my head at any given moment. I'm very sporadic and highly indecisive. I hardly ever settle on one specific style or subject.



2. What led you to take up your craft?
From junior high (way back when!) to this very day I am always doodling on something. Swirly fonts and bubble words...flowers and little girls...dancers with pom pom's...you name it, I drew it. I think I fell into my work or "craft" because I can't imagine doing anything else with my life, it's what makes me happy inside.
It's as if I am still in my High School English class drawing hearts on my Shakespeare play. Even back then, in those super awkward years...when I doubted everything and everyone, there was one constant and comfortable thing and that was drawing. I knew I could make someone smile with a sketch or two and I suppose nothing has really changed, well except, my audience (thankfully) is much bigger now!



3. Which part of your work do you most enjoy?
There is not one specific thing I like most! It's the entire process that makes it all worth it. I guess if you absolutely make me pick one part...I would say printing my first test print gets me pretty excited. The anticipation nearly kills me when I try out a new piece...I feel like the printer takes forever to spit it out!

4. Which part do you find most trying?
Packaging. Packaging. Packaging. (sigh) If I did not have my self-proclaimed-manager/husband I would be a complete mess. He keeps me moving and (somewhat) organized. I need everything in it's exact spot and I need to do things the same way everyday or I get seriously overwhelmed.



5. Where do you get your inspiration?
It never fails, inspiration seems to hit me just as I lay down to go to sleep. I am inspired by every little thing. Nothing is off base or off limits.

6. What is your favorite medium to work with?
Black ink pens and acrylic paint. (I love white paint more than anything right now!)



7. What is your favorite item that you have purchased off of Etsy?
Oh this is so easy! I purchased a tee from timberps and I was blown away by it. I cannot believe people like that exist. So talented and just, I dunno, perfect at what they do. His art is just incredible and you don't get the gist of it until you see it in person.
http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=7377842



I am also in love with my Beastie from beastieland. That creepy little beastie makes me smile no matter what. He is so ugly you cannot help but love him! http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=6630274

8. What is your favorite item in your shop right now?
Hands down I am head over heels for my "So Very Happy" print. I feel like that one print sums up my work. Just simple, happy and uplifting!
http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=7928145



9. What are your favorite top three items from other artists shops?
a. I love everything that laurageorge touches! Her shop is so great...and she has recently began posting new items after being gone for awhile. The "Mustachios" print just makes my heart melt. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10482063

b. Fifilapin's shop is always a favorite of mine! The "Contemplation" print is on my to-buy list, along with "Dressed Up in D&G"
http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=6809290



c. MaKool is everything I love about Etsy! Great design & style AND all handmade! The "Stormy Sea's Petticoat Bag" is pretty without being too fru-fru and I can just see it in stores like Anthropologie. That bag is on my husbands to-buy-for-his-lovely-wife list!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10502636

10. What undiscovered artisans would you recommend the world to know?
My Mom. She puts her heart and soul in everything she does and is my true hero.
She works in graphite and pastel and can take a normal boring photograph and turn it into a gorgeous work of art! I am in complete awe of her.
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5190094



And, my very favorite International Illustrator is Shinzi Katoh. He is from Japan and is quite famous over there! I recommend everyone check him out if you have not already.
http://www.shinzikatoh.com/english/online.html

11. What is the best advice you have ever received?
"Believing is receiving." It's the kinda advice I needed to hear once and now I live by it. Put positive thoughts in your head and believe the best, good things will happen!

Grandma's Button Box

Last fall my grandmother gave me her antique button box! I think I remember mentioning to her that I used buttons on my journals and books. When I arrived for my visit she had the button box waiting for me! It's not really a box, per se, but rather a button tin. It's oval with two little handles. The designs on the sides and top are detailed with gold and turquoise flowers. It's a treasure! She took me through the box, pulling out buttons and telling me the stories that went with them. "This was a wooden button off of your great-grandmothers wool coat!" "These buttons came from your grandpa's jacket!" She had an antique wooden spool from some sewing project in there as well along with scores of random, mismatched, well loved buttons of all shapes and sizes. I loved watching her face as she touched each button, piling the pearl buttons together and moving the strings of pink and orange plastic buttons to the side, each was a tiny little memory! I have a hard time using these buttons for my projects, simply because they're all so special! But, every once in a while, I'll pull one out and sew it onto the front of a book. My Country Rose journal boast such a button!

Interview with artist Xephz

Good afternoon! I wanted to share with you an interview I did with an amazing new artist on Etsy, Xephz! Please sit back and enjoy!



1. What do you create?
Just about everything hand made. Mostly hand-dyed journals and costumes of gods and elementals. But I also make props, masks, and artist books.

2. What led you to take up your craft?
Ever since I was a little kid, my mother encouraged me to make things. She sewed my cloths and we grew our veggies. Even now I see something and think, "I can make that..."



3. Which part of your work do you most enjoy?
I think the being messy part. They elbows up in berry juice, coffee paper dripping, feathers blowing everywhere. I like finding the accidents that turn into something good.



4. Which part do you find most trying?
There never seems enough time to do everything I want to. I always have an everchanging list of 'things to do' in my head. I sometimes wish I didn't sleep so I could just work on projects 24/7

5. Where do you get your inspiration?
Mostly from nature: organic colors, dyes, shapes and patterns. I love texture and will check thru fashion magazines, etsy, and museums for interesting combinations. Also medieval France and England. Any art from that time.



7. What is your favorite medium to work with?
That's a really hard one. Hmmm. I would say paper, because there are so many medium that take to it: ink, oils, watercolor, coffee, natural dyes, print making. Also it can be 2-D or 3-D and stiff enough paper, like matte board, can be a good base for masks.

8. What is your favorite item that you have purchased off of Etsy?
Lime-Lime Journal, cause it is fantastic and the first thing I art-swapped for! Thanks RedOtter ;)

9. What is your favorite item in your shop right now?
Gearrings, from learningtofly. Awesome steampunk jewelry from Sweden.

10. What are your favorite top three items from other artists shops?
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9699450
Arm Dragon by Merimask. I have some of her masks and they are *amazing*



http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10244068
I have loved the nightmare snatcher since I first saw it. Spiderbite rocks!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9583813
I really like Laura's aesthetic and quirky naturalistic sense.

12. What undiscovered artisans would you recommend the world to know?
Jean-Francis Auburtin is one of the best artists who worked in gouache. Amazing color combinations.

Also Jeff de Boer and his amazing cat and mice armor series. Now that is cool imagination at work!

13. What is the best advice you have ever received?
One of my professors at RISD said, "what you do during the day is what you are." After spending a year after graduation working at a grocery store during the day and trying to make art during the evenings I realized that I was truly unhappy and all I thought about was making art. So with the help of my amazing boyfriend, I quit my job and am now making art full time and pursuing a life long dream.

Please check out Xephz's amazing shop here :)

Sunshine

Oi! What a day. Woke up to over three inches of white stuff on the ground with more coming down, a slight head ache, and a full day of cutting out images for work (very, very tedious). Ugh. BUT, a friend of mine on Etsy just alerted me to the fact that Red Otter was mentioned in a Storque post. Thank you Beth Ferriera! HURRAY! If you want to check it out, here's the article. Instant sunshine! I snagged a few photos from the conference!





Beth is the one in the middle in the top photo (to her right is Heather Baily and to her left is Lena West). I snagged a photo from Heather Baily's blog (Hellomynameisheather) with Beth and Anna Griffin!


And more sunshine! Beth posted a little treasury-like spread with Etsy artists who attended the Country Living Womens Entrepreneur event! There's my little Moroccan Journal!

First Day of Spring

Happy First Day of Spring, everyone!

There's a cardinal outside my window who is singing away at his lady this morning. Wow, what a repertoire! The snow has almost disappeared and I'm getting fidgety to do some spring cleaning. My husband gets nervous when I get into my spring cleaning mode. It means going through boxes, closets, drawers, and cupboards on the lookout for "deadwood" in our little apartment. I usually have roughly three black trash bags full of Salvation Army loot by the time I'm done. Andrew, hide your sweaters and tee shirts!

Here are my top three favorites today:
Necklace from LulaBoutique, Earrings from Jennifer Rydin Designs and the Bowl from JDWolfePottery

New Journals

Here are a few new journals I've been working on! I'll be posting these in my shop tomorrow morning!

Country Living Womens Entrepreneurs

The past week seems like a blur! I ended up getting sick on Thursday, thanks to my husbands generous germs *uck* BUT recovered in just enough time to go down to Chicago this weekend with my sister, Megan. I have to tell you all about our trip! We went to the Country Living Womens Entrepreneur Event at the Renaissance Hotel! Wow! It was like one gigantic, six hour long, high! The editor and chief of Country Living was there, along with all of these fabulous women entrepreneurs. They had panelists discussing everything from mass marketing strategies to basic "where to find inspiration." I loved hearing all of their stories, where they started, how they found the money and the courage to move their dream to the next stage. I felt so inspired!



My little Red Otter shop seems like such a small thing right now. I dream about all of the ways I can slowly grow it and these thoughts fill the pages of my journal. One of the things we were asked to do at the event was to write down our dream on a pretty gold-edged card. We had to put it down in writing! We only had two minutes to do so, it was one of those unfiltered type of dreams. Then we had to turn to the person next to us and share it! It was kind of nerve-wracking and I felt silly. But it was affirming too at the same time. Write it down and then say it out loud!



While at the event I had the chance to meet a few new Etsiers :) Some are just starting out, like Green Cricket, and others have been around for a while, like Eenie Meenie! Check them out!

So, what's next? I'm anxious to see... I'll keep you posted!

Soul inspiring!

I have to share this with you! I discovered the Penelope Illustration blog a few months ago. I've thoroughly enjoyed her beautiful artwork and design. But even more so, I've enjoyed her honesty, her strength and her courage to keep moving onward through difficult times! This is a new print of hers which I love. Read the quote she used with the print (see below). I'm tucking these words into my pocket for those moments, days, weeks that I forget!

“When I know that I am the ocean,
I am not afraid of the waves.”

Top 5

Good morning everyone! I realized that if I could I would probably spend hours on end blogging, checking out other peoples blogs, cruising through artists shops, and not doing a singly minute of work for my "real" job. Can you hear the whine in my voice? So, to ease my fractious spirits I'm taking 20 minutes to blog about my top five favorite things this morning! It's so much fun to do!

Top 5 favorite things on this Tuesday morning:



1. A room of pristine white spotted with color (found on tinyk).



2. Sweet Paul's inspiration board!



3. This amazing watercolor and acrylic painting by Geninne!



4. A delicious morning breakfast by Simply Breakfast.



5. New artwork by Susie at ArtKitten!

The Peach Tree Interview

Hello! Just wanted to write a quick note to say that I had the privilege of being interviewed by The Peach Tree this weekend. She's such a lovely artist, just the images of her earrings are beautiful! I'm drooling over her earrings right now! Here's a link to my interview!

I wish you all a Happy Monday!

C I T R U S and B E R R I E S

Good morning! So, in the world of ETSY there are these things called "Treasuries." Sometimes they're very hard to snag (i.e. some people set their kitchen timers so they will be ready, seated expectantly at their computer, for that little window to open up at the bottom of the ETSY Treasury page, praying to god that they can type in their title and hit "create" before they all disappear forever). But, *ahem* every once in a while, we do snag a treasury (I set my timer this morning)! And we fill it with all of our favorite ETSY people, finds and treasures! If you're actually in someone else's treasury, that's exciting too (thank you Smackofjellyfish). Because then you have a fraction of a chance to make it to the ETSY front page, and then it's HOLY MAMA publicity for you and your shop! Anyways, all of this blathering was meant to simply (Ha!) introduce you to my Citrus and Berries treasury snagged this morning! Pop on and see all of my morning favorites!

Spring-like

So, things are shifting, moving, transitioning BIG TIME right now. I really have little time to devote to anything besides organizing, organizing some more, and more organizing. Ugh. It's a bit of a drag, but I keep thinking "You'll feel better once it's all in place!" I did want to post a little something here just to say hello! Something spring-like from my finds at Broadway Paper this weekend! I'll be writing more soon! Promise!

Milwaukee

Due to amiable weather this weekend we seized the moment and went on a small road trip. To Milwaukee! I know, I know, the mind reals! Milwaukee, home of the Brewers and brats, right? I have to admit, I thought "Wisconsin hickville" at first, but am thrilled to confess that I was very, very wrong! Milwaukee hosts a number of cultural institutions and artistic outlets along with great museums, a historic district that makes you swoon, and fabulous "green" personality.

Sidenote: take a peek at Susie's great pictures here: ArtKitten's blog

We went with some friends who helped us navigate to the Milwaukee Art Museum. If you've never been you must go! Take a peek at the building :) After the museum, we went down to their Historic district in search for Broadway Paper!







My friend Susie and I literally gasped when we walked into the store. It's paper heaven! Filled to the brim with luscious flat papers in every design and texture, ribbon, letterpress cards, stock paper in every color under heaven, folders, organizers, journals, pens, and so much more. I can't remember how long we spent there bumping into one another with "Ooohhs" and "Aahhhhs" and "Did you see this?" but it was the best hour or two! Our poor husbands! After emptying our coffers on paper and paper clips and ribbon, we fetched our husbands from their coffee shop/refuge, and went to Bean & Barley! It was so yummy!

We got back late, but oh so satisfied!