Friday, May 30, 2008

SOMETHING NEW

There is something very new to be found at my shop, Past Perfect
I am have created an assortment of Note Cards from several of my flower photographs. Four of my most popular florals are now printed note cards! This is something that I have been asked for and always interested in giving my customers what they would like, I created these.

There will be more assortments coming in the weeks to come. Please come and take a look at this first great assortment.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Featured Artist

Here is an artist who focuses her work on mothers and daughters and she makes really cute things. Come and meet



Here is our interview with the artist, Charlene -


Describe what you make?


I make jewelry for Sassy Children & Hip Modern Mamas.

What mediums do you enjoy working in most?

I mostly work with Swarovski Crystals & Cat's Eye Beads and I only use Sterling Silver findings.

How long have you been creating craft and how did you get started?

I have always done something creative. As a child I was the one always coloring, drawing and collaging. This love of creativity continued through High School and eventually on to an Interior Design program in college. After many classes of painting, drawing, sculpture and design, I started to develop my own "style". I went out into the working world as a junior designer at an Architectural firm. My career progressed very nicely and I absolutely loved what I was doing. Still, all the while, I knew I wanted to start using my creative energies in a more personal way. But I was still searching for that perfect . . .thing. I envied people who had found their passion and could just lose all sense of time when they were creating.

Shortly after my first daughter was born in 2001, I began to look for a way to release some creative energy while caring for a newborn. I tried scrapbooking - not for me. I tossed around some ideas of starting my own design business but that was just overwhelming and not personal enough. Then one day I woke up, literally, and thought . . . jewelry. It really was just that simple.

I went out that very afternoon and started poking around some local craft shops. Honestly, I got a little carried away. It feels like I bought the entire store's inventory of beads, gemstones, stringing materials, findings, etc. I found that making jewelry was another form of sculpture, only you could wear it! I then poured myself into learning everything I could, and made my own designs. I'm STILL learning!

I decided that this was a great opportunity to start my own business. I had always wanted to, but never had anything to sell or the time to put into it. At this point in my life I had both. It's now 5 years later. I added two more "bugs" to my nest and they are growing along with my business.

Where does the name of your shop come from?

Beetle Creek Jewelry is the name I first started this business with. It is the "parent", so to speak, to Little Bugs Boutique. When I started the children's collection, I felt like it needed it's own name. Since this was a collection for LITTLE women, I went with LITTLE BUGS.

What would you most want people to know about your work?

What do I want people to know most? Little Bugs Boutique is also home to Bitty Block Pendants & Charms. This is my newest item and I have so many ideas for this collection. Bitty Block can be found at http;//www.bittyblock.etsy.com.

What words of advice do you have for other artists?

Words of advice. Just recently I started using those sticky labels (found them on ebay) when printing my Paypal shipping labels. It has been a MAJOR time saver!

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Wonderful things are to be found at this shop and there are other sites from this artist to check out as well.

Don't miss http://www.littlebugsboutique.com
and
http://www.littlebugsboutique.blogspot.com

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Featured Artist

Our featured artist works in a medium different from most - she creates soap - and she is working in Barbados in the West Indies. Come and meet Amanda -


Briefly describe what you make?

I create handmade soaps and toiletries with an emphasis on using natural materials sourced from my homeland Barbados, the Caribbean and Africa.

What mediums do you enjoy working in most?

I love the cold-process technique for soap-making – the patience and precision required before the finished product is realized. I also like to use high quality natural soap bases sometimes because they can allow for a little more creativity, and you can also experiment a bit more with the more expensive essential oils when using soap bases. Essential oils can sometimes get destroyed by the heat in the cold-process soap-making. I love using natural ingredients in all of my soaps - such as essential oils, floral concretes and also sugar, tea, gourmet chocolate and coffee. I am constantly looking for new and unusual ingredients for my products.

How long have you been creating craft?

The soap-making for a little over five years. But I can remember as a child always trying to make something. Me and my sister would create our own little characters and story magazines at home with paper and pencil.

How did you get started?

I started out wanting to make candles. While working a 9 to 5 my soul was just yearning for something creative to do. While researching candle-making I came across a recipe to make soap. I gave it a try, loved how it came out and was hooked. I still have a piece of that very first soap I made – a pure olive oil soap. I am completely self-taught. I read a lot of books and articles on soap-making, experiment a lot, and also do a lot of research.

Where does the name of your shop come from?

At the moment my shop is self-titled.

What would you most want people to know about your work?

That each of my products really do have a soul and a history behind them. I use primarily natural ingredients in my products and the labor, talent and resources that it takes for various people around the world to cultivate and harvest some of these raw materials is humbling and inspiring to anyone who gets to use and create artistic products from them. Also I would never offer the public a product that I made unless I absolutely love it myself first. I test everything on myself and I am very choosy!

What words of advice do you have for other artists?

Don’t be afraid to experiment and be different, I sometimes have what starts out as a crazy idea for a product – but eventually I can work on it and it becomes something unique, rather than outrageous. You will know in your heart when you have got it right.
Also don’t neglect the business side of your craft. Dedicate as much time possible to your marketing, accounting and so on. Also try to network with other artists - the support and advice you gain can be invaluable.

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Wonderful! Come and see all of the great things Amanda has to offer at her shop!

And did you know that I am running TWO SHOPS - Come and visit me at
Past Perfect
and
Q Branch Ltd.