FEATURED ARTIST

We are featuring a fiber artist who is tuning out some great work. Come and meet



Here is our interview with the artist - Karen!

Briefly describe what you make?

I make mostly items made from fabric. I've designed a "mini clutch" that I am very proud of. I also make knitting/crochet/jewelers organizers. My husband bought me a nice embroidery machine and I am creating fun messages to put on those organizers. For the Christmas season I also offer salt dough ornaments.

What mediums do you enjoy working in most?

My favorite medium is fabric. But I was a floral designer for 30 years and sometimes get an itch to make arrangements again.

How long have you been creating craft?

I've been sewing my own clothes since I was 14 years old. 40 years later I'm still thrilled to create something to wear from a square of fabric....that just amazes me!

How did you get started?

I took a sewing class in junior high... was flunking it sadly! One day I just picked out a pattern, cut it out and began sewing. Hours later I had something to wear that I had made all by myself! Well that started me out big time! My mother had made all my clothes up until then. Now I make clothes for anyone. My favorite was the Football Hall of Famer, Bobby Bell (GO CHIEFS!) He wanted a KC Chiefs shirt like the one that I was wearing! I made him a shirt that fit his long arms and torso. I've seen him wearing it too! That made me feel so proud! His wife ordered a shirt for herself too!

Where does the name of your shop come from?

When my husband and I were moving from Connecticut to Kansas City I was planning to open up a flower shop. I wanted something that made one think of home...relatives make me think of home...I am an Aunt and Aunt Karen's Flower Shop became the name of my florist shop. Everyone in town referred to me as Aunt Karen, my customers, neighbors, the mayor, everyone! So Aunt Karen was just the logical move for my online store. I create everything in it so... Aunt Karen's Creations voila!

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

I want people to know that because I love everything that I create, they will be getting great quality, imagination and often whimsy when they choose my things. My mini clutches are my own design and I am proud that they are so versatile! I even have friends in wheelchairs that swear by them! On one of my knitting needle cases I embroidered the words in mirror reverse...it's saying? "I knit for my sanity!" What better way to express that than in an unconventional way?

What words of advice do you have for other artists?

Hmmmm, it's difficult to advise artists on their art so I won't go there. There will be times when someone asks you to make something that you truly don't like - the end result is just not what you wanted. Sometimes artists most famous work was something that they detested! Your followers know what they want and what they want from you...so go with it! You can make your next piece for you ... and someone else will love it too!

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Great interview!

Come and see Karen's shop for yourself!

FEATURED ARTIST

This featured artist makes an interesting assortment of accessories. Come and meet



Here is our interview with the artist, Julie -

Briefly describe what you make?

I make unique clothing and accessories for girls and women, using interesting vintage elements like millinery flowers and quilt patches. At the moment I have mostly headbands, pins, and sundresses, but I'm hoping to expand soon into skirts, tops, and crocheted and knitted items. I'd also love to experiment with making some stationery with my fashion illustrations on it!

What mediums do you enjoy working in most?

Oh, gosh, I love it all... At the moment, I'm doing a lot of sewing and crocheting, which lets me work with two of my favorite crafting materials, fabric and yarn. When it comes to fabric, my heart still belongs to my very favorite-- floral cotton. It's great for everything from dresses to purses to rosettes for hair accessories, and it looks pretty on everyone. I also love to draw, especially fashion illustrations, and for those I use Chartpak markers (which have a lovely, wet, almost watercolor feel to work with), Prismacolor colored pencils, and a variety of other oddments, including eye shadow, q-tips, and pen-and-ink.

How long have you been creating craft?

I've always been making things-- my mom used to come downstairs in the morning and find me at the kitchen table, working busily on one craft project or another. I started drawing clothing when I was about 6, and my first sewing adventure was at age 10 or so. I joined a 4-H sewing group, and made a really atrocious smiley-face print dress, which I proceeded to slice up the middle when I tried to serge the inside edges. Whoops. I come from a family of artists, so creativity and crafts were always strongly encouraged.

How did you get started?

I'm not exactly sure where my desire to design clothing, in particular came from, but it was there from a very young age. Then, after I'd drawn clothing, I wanted to learn how to make it, so I started creating outfits for my dolls. I was especially fond of cutting up socks to make very chic (to my 8-or-9-year-old mind) little tube dresses for my Barbies. Before long, I wanted to do more than that, and I became very involved with miniatures, and began experimenting with polymer clay foods and little hand-sewn objects for my dollhouse. By age 14, I was sewing on a regular basis, and then at 15 I had a spectacular sewing teacher who really inspired me and helped me with my technique. (Thank you Mrs. Wells!) My grandmother taught me to knit when I was 16, and as soon as I saw amigurumi I just had to learn to crochet, and learned from books and websites. I've always had the urge to create, and I was fortunate enough to have parents who encouraged that. Now I'm going into my third year at the Fashion Institute of Technology for fashion design.

Where does the name of your shop come from?

The name of my shop is somewhat less than deeply meaningful, I'm afraid. My name is Julie Rose, and I spend the vast majority of my time sewing. Also... I couldn't resist the rhyme.

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

I think an artist's intent really comes through in their final piece or item. To me, it's really important that someone wearing one of my creations feels effortlessly pretty and feminine. It's also important that my pieces be functional-- durable, nonrestrictive, and viable wardrobe and accessory options for the modern woman. I truly love every piece of clothing and every accessory that I create, and I always hope that it's as enjoyable for a woman to wear one of my pieces as it was for me to create it.

What words of advice do you have for other artists?

Know that your work is valid. It's so easy for people to de-value creativity, but it is something that no amount of money can buy. When you feel the urge to create, create. Art is something that will never be able to be manufactured, and even though it isn't always easy to find them, there are people out there who will fall in love with your work. Also, that creative "dry spells" happen, and even though they're scary, they're not insurmountable. You'll make it through, something will inspire you to pick up the pencil or the sewing machine or the paintbrush again, every time.

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Great! Come and see all of the nice things that Julie makes right here!

FEATURED ARTIST

We have a craftsperson this week who knows how to deliver quality at a reasonable price. Come and meet -



Here is our interview with the artist, Martha -

Briefly describe what you make?

I make colorful fabric headbands. Wide, skinny, and elastic with flowers.

What mediums do you enjoy working in most?

I enjoy working with my hands. Everything from cooking (I will get my degree in culinary arts soon!) to sewing, writing, painting and photography. I also love embroidery and beading. It's just that lately between school and my store, I only get to do the sewing and the cooking.

How long have you been creating craft?

I have been creating things as long as I can remember. My dad still has Birthday cards that I made for him when I was 5. I became interested in crafts as a child. I grew up watching my mom create all kinds of outfits for me and my sisters, and many things for our house, like curtains, comforters... you name it. It actually runs in the family, my grandma was a seamstress and a nurse, her brother was a tailor, my mom sewed for us, my three sisters also sew, but I am the only one who made a business out of it, and I am enjoying every minute of it, because it allows me to be my own boss and be creative. Did I mention how fun it is to buy supplies for my store?

How did you get started?

It is funny because I was encouraged by co-workers to sell the things that I made. I made new outfits for me to wear on every "casual Friday." My friends always wanted me to make things for them, and I did, several times. Then I started making my purses too, and that's how I started selling. So it's good to work with lots of female friends!
I started an etsy store for my bags, I included a few headbands and the rest is history. My headbands outsold my bags, and that's how Bargain Headbands came to exist.

Where does the name of your shop come from?

I had an epiphany. I decided to start a store just for my headbands, I just needed a name, so one afternoon I was thinking about what my headbands were like and "Bargain Headbands" came to my mind, I thought it was perfect!

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

I would like them to know that Bargain Headbands offers more than 100 beautiful headbands under $5 -You can never have too many headbands!
You'll know you found the right place when you visit my store.

What words of advice do you have for other artists?

Don't give up.
Try to improve yourself all the time. Read about marketing, SEO, photography and customer service. Learn as much as you can about your business and practice what you learn, it's worth it.

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You can get a lot f gift shopping done at Martha's shop! Come see!

FEATURED ARTIST

Our artist this week is a jeweler. Come and meet -



Here is our interview with the artist, Tara.

Briefly describe what you make?

I make jewelry. More specifically, I make jewelry that is inspired by the deep blues and greens of the ocean, the warm sand on the beach, and the sparkle and glint of the sun off the water. I am an avid beachgoer and am most in touch with myself and my soul when near the ocean. I have a passionate love for the sheer, raw energy found there and for all the creatures, big and small, who live in its depths. Many of my creations include sea glass and various charms like sand dollars, starfish, and mermaids. Others just have a hint of the ocean or nature in the color or style.

What mediums do you enjoy working in most?

My favorite to work with is copper. I love how organic it looks and it contrasts so well with so many colors and stones. I also love working with silver. I use gold and brass as well, and enjoy both of them. My favorite shape of stone is definitely a briolette, or teardrop, shape. They are so natural looking and are of course inspired by the water as well.

How long have you been creating craft?

I started out last year selling my paintings and have only been selling my jewelry since February. I've always been creative, though, and I think I've found my niche (for now) with jewelry. There's something so "perfect" to me about working with such sparkly gems and precious metals (because I'm such a girly girl at heart)

How did you get started?

When I sold my first painting, I took that money and bought some cheap wire, pliers, and beads at WalMart and set about teaching myself how to make what I already loved to wear. The designs had been in my head for years but it took a day or two of making awful looking mistakes before I started to actually get the ideas translated into wearable art. I've come a long way since then and haven't looked back since!

Where does the name of your shop come from?

Years ago, when I first started going online, I started using watergirl as a handle because I grew up on the beach. When I opened an account on eBay (again, years ago) watergirl was taken and waterwaif was born. I've loved it since then because waif sounds more "mermaid-y", doesn't it?

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

That I want you to love it as much as I do. I love doing custom work for people and have even created pieces for someone based only on "I want black stones and some gold". Every artist puts their own heart into each piece and I just love giving mine away every time.

What words of advice do you have for other artists?

Don't underestimate yourself and always keep looking ahead. Don't wait for opportunities to fall into your lap; seize them now. I waited until my kids were almost grown (they are 15 and 12 now) before I started trying to sell my creations online. I so wish I'd started sooner and not wasted any time. We only live once and we, each and every one of us, have so much to share with each other.

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Nice! Come and see this shop and then come on back and leave a comment for Tara!

FEATURED ARTIST

This is a fiber artist and a silkscreen printer. Come and meet purushapeople -





Here is our interview with the artist, Hayley -

Briefly describe what you make?

i make American sweatshop free yoga clothing, hand screen printed and hand dyed by me! clothes are meant to inspire the wearer to feel one with nature, and to love her body as much as she loves the world! purusha makes clothing that is classic and timeless, yet youthful and modern. the perfect clothing for exercise, lounge, or after exercise :)

What mediums do you enjoy working in most?

i enjoy screen printing above all else, and i also dabble in oil painting on the side. i have a painting shop on etsy www.meandmystarlight.etsy.com , but i have yet to make a sale, so i stick mostly to making clothing!

How long have you been creating craft?

purusha was started in December of 2008! so ive been working on my business for around 1 1/2 years, and i love every minute of it. i cant wait though for more time to pass, so hopefully i can grow and expand more, and be featured in more boutiques across the country.

How did you get started?

he he i got started because i had so many crazy entrepreneurial ideas, and i was finally like, well you'd better pick one if you want to have something succeed! i was digging lots of little holes all over the place, because i have many interests... i was working on making a health drink, selling paintings, and writing and illustrating a children's book about my dog, and..... getting into screen printing! i loved screen printing the most, so i was like, OK im going to make something with this! so i started buying my own yoga pants (USA made only), and dying them and screen printing them. i got so many compliments on them so i started to sell them online on my etsy shop. sales were a bit slow at first, but now they are getting steady as i am building a name for myself.

Where does the name of your shop come from?

my shop name, purusha people, is a Sanskrit word. purusha means 'the soul of the universe' or the loving energy that is in all beings. i've always loved this word, and thought it was perfect for the image i am portraying with my yoga clothing.

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

i would like people to know that i can customize any garment just for them :) i love to own clothing that no one else has, so i enjoy creating pieces for customers that are specially made just for them! id also like people to know that you can be comfortable and stylish at the same time! purusha clothing is extremely soft and wearable, yet sharp looking and turns heads!

What words of advice do you have for other artists?

words of advice: so cliche, but true- never give up! invest all of yourself into your product and you will get noticed! time takes care of all, and if you work hard and be yourself you will be rewarded! promote your image and your brand anyway you can- facebook, etsy, twitter- and don't be afraid to be different!

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Come see Hayley's shop.