Thursday, October 29, 2009

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER

Here is a photographer on Etsy with some great Fall themed photographs - and more. Come and meet


Here is our interview with the photographer, Ezzy!

What do you make?

The short answer to that is Artwork! I shoot with a Nikon D40X - digital - then use photoshop to enhance, change, and edit my work. My subject matter mostly includes landscapes, but I also take a few still lifes. I do some portraiture outside of my etsy shop.

What mediums do you enjoy working in the most?

Well, photography in all aspects of course, but there are, after all, many different aspects of photography. I was never much good at taking pictures when I was young. I can't tell you how many photos I have of people from the neck down that I took with my first camera. But eventually I started working with film - and I fell in love with it! Nothing makes a better sound than the swish and click of the shutter on a completely mechanical old camera. And then there is the darkroom . . . the acid smell of the developing chemicals and the weird light. But digital has been a fun experience as well. The convenience, ese adn versatility of digital is a great addition to the world of photography. And then there is photoshop. It took me a lot longer to warm up to that than anything else, but now that I have learned it, it is so much fun to create in it!

How long have you been crafting?

Well, as an artist, I have been drawing as long as I can remember. I ghad an old Sunday school teacher who used to tell me she knew I'd become an artist because when I was two and in her sunday school class, she gave all the children crayons and paper. And while all the other children were eating the crayons and throwing them at each other, I was sitting quietly, drawing little circles on my paper. I started painting with oils when I was 11 and continued that through college. It wasn't until my sophmore year of college that I discovered photography, but I fell in love with it. I'm 26 now so I have been photographing for about 7 years now.

How did you get started?

I was reluctant to do it, but I signed up for the photo class offered at my college. I borrowed an old Canon camera from a family friend, never intending to like photography enough to want to buy one of my own. I was just taking the class because I needed the credit for my art degree. I wasn't very good it at first - I actually had to reshoot my first assignment and stay after class for some one on one tutoring with my teacher. But when I finally got the hang of it, I excelled. I stayed late after class and came in to the darkroom in the evenings afer work. Eventually I grew to love it enough and gather enough skills, I presented my senior art show in photography. I now own 2 35mm fil cameras, a yashika medium format camera, a holga, and a Nikon D40X.

How did you name your shop?

The name of my shop comes from my name. In case you are curious (cause it's kind of a strange name) there is a story behind "ezzy." I have a younger brother who I am very close to. He is two years younger than I am and when we were little, he couldn't say my name - Sara. So, he called me "Sever" and I hated it! That's how little brothers are! And of course, since I hated it, he did it even more. As we got older "Sever" went way until I was in middle school and he started calling me that again. Then, one day out of the blue, he started calling me Sever again. A couple weeks later, he mixed it all around and called me Ezzfur. I was mortified and made him promise to never call me that in front of anyone ever. So what does he do? He calls me that at a birthday party in front of friends. They liked it, latched onto it and shortened it to Ezzy. And it stuck! So when I first discovered etsy, I created an account under my name. I have named my shop "In Other Words, Photography." My husband is a writer on the side and he actually helped me come up with it. It goes along with the old cliche that a picture is worth a thousand words.

What would you want people to know about your work?

I guess what I want people to know about my photography is that I never really feel more like myself than when I am behind the lens. It's a natural high - I find myself smiling every time I lower the camera after taking a picture. Beauty is all around in the big and in the small. When I am behind the lens, I get to explore that beauty, single it out, give it a voice. My portrait work, for example, is very rarely posed. My best photos are when people aren't paying attention to me - when they are relaxed and natural. I don't create wuth the sole purpose of making money - I create for the joy of it. For the sound of the shutter opening and closing, for the excitement of downloading a shoot and seeing what came out, for the smell of photo chemicals and the feel of the camera in my hands . . .

Any words of advice for other artists?

To other artists, I would say be true to yourself. Create what you love and the work that comes from it will be a true reflection of yourself. Do it for the right reasons, for the love of the yarn sliding through your fingers, the feel of the clay spinning on the wheel in your hand, the paint beneath your finger nails, and dropped beads glittering in the carpet. Don't create to make a living - live to create. Know that what you leave in this world is a little more beauty a piece of yourself that can never be erased.

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Ezzy does some very nice work! You must go and see Ezzy's shop -and then come back here and your appreciation!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

FEATURED ARTIST

I would like to introduce you to an interesting artist that works in hemp! Come and meet



Here is our interview with the artist, Courtney...

Briefly describe what you make?

I must admit to being yet another Etsy jewelry designer, but I like to think I have a different take on design than other sellers! Personally I love taking a concept that others may think of as drab or boring and making it come alive. For instance, I base all of my design ideas on things I've seen in nature. I've had many people convo me saying that they love how my designs are so bright and full of different textures since they think of nature-inspired items as being a bit monotone in both color and texture. However, I feel that the natural world is full of different colors, shades and textures that many people just never notice!

What mediums do you enjoy working in most?

In particular I love macrame because I like taking hemp and dressing it up to be more than a "teenage" accessory, which I feel is how many people think of it. I also enjoy the feel of the fibers in my hands and how easy it takes on any shape or pattern I envision.

How long have you been creating craft?

I, of course, began tying hemp jewelry as a teenager and later began to expand my designs to include beaded and wire jewelry.

How did you get started?

I started designing jewelry because I needed a creative outlet and felt that I had no artistic talent, which I recently realized isn't true! It actually turns out that the OCD control freak in me was just afraid of the lack of control I feel over the paint and the canvas. I originally began selling my designs to make a little money on the side for groceries and extra spending money. Then a couple of months back I began to realize how much I love to create and that if I took my work more seriously I could actually turn it into a legitimate business, which it is well on its way to becoming!

Where does the name of your shop come from?

My shop name was created while I was on one of my hippie chic fashion kicks and derives from the word eco-friendly. I thought I may end up regretting the name, closing shop and starting over, but as my design aesthetic has developed I have realized just how much I believe in being "green" and using as many earth-friendly materials as possible. After all, the rest of the world shouldn't suffer just so you can look fabulous!

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

Personally I believe the most important aspect of my work is the fact that it is all environmentally friendly. I use locally made materials, materials I create myself and scour yard sales and rummage bins for things to take apart and reuse by incorporating them in my designs. I feel that it is extremely important to keep as many items out of landfills as possible and this environmental consciousness definitely carries over to my designs.

What words of advice do you have for other artists?

The most influential advice I ever received both as an artist and a person is to be true to yourself and let it flow through everything you do because that is the only way to be truly happy.


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You have got to go and take a look at this very different jewelry. Go and look at this shop and then please leave your comments here and let Courtney know that you appreciate her work!

Thursday, October 15, 2009

FEATURED ARTIST

The work by this artist is adorable. You must come and meet
THE FAIRE GLEN



Here is our interview with the artist, Ruth -

Briefly describe what you make?

I hand crochet a lot of women's accessory items, such as capes, shawls, and neckwarmers. I especially love sculpting faeries, and have many of them in The Faerie Glen. Three years ago, I discovered needlefelting and just had to make some tiny bunnies and it evolved from there.

What mediums do you enjoy working in most?

Of all the mediums I work with, I get my greatest pleasure from sculpting with polymer clay.

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

All of my life I have been creative. When I was very young, my mother showed me how to make a kite from twigs and paper and flour glue. Next, she taught me how to make dolls, and I have never stopped creating. There have been many flea market type booths in my life, and then along came Ebay and Etsy.

Where does the name of your shop come from?

Creating a name for my shop was easy since I began with only FAERIES. Where do faeries live? In a glen of course. Thus THE FAERIE GLEN was born.
What would you most want people to know about your work?

Of utmost importance to me is that People know that when I create, from any medium, is that I am totally absorbed in what I am doing and always do it right. If it is not right, it goes to charity. And I have tried purchased knit and crochet patterns that were not up to my standards.

What words of advice do you have for other artists?


My advice to new artists is practice, practice , practice until you are good enough that you would purchase your own product. Do not get discouraged. You will improve and so will the sales.

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You have got to see these cute, little fairies in Ruth's shop. Come and visit - and then leave a comment here to let her know what you think!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER

This feature brings you a photographer who sells her work on Etsy. Come and get to know



Here is our interview with the photographer, Gina -

Briefly describe what you make?

I shoot photography in black and white as well as color. My photos range from architecture to nature to anything that really catches my eye.

What mediums do you enjoy working in most?

My favorite thing lately has been black and white photos with a splash of color. I like to hand color a photo when I can. Other times I will use Photoshop to get that color to pop.

How long have you been creating craft?

The minute I developed my own film and made my own prints in high school, I was hooked. I loved that I could take something from start to finish by myself. So, that makes it about 12 years.

How did you get started?

I guess this question can be answered in the question before. That would be high school.

Where does the name of your shop come from?

I'm more of a visual person and less of a words person. So the name of my shop is just my name and what I do: Ginaphoto.

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

I have a different perspective on things. I hear a lot of people say "I never would have thought to take that" or "You definitely have an eye for things". I love that. I love taking the ordinary everyday things and looking at them differently and putting that in a photo.

What words of advice do you have for other artists?

Words of advice would definitely be to keep trying and to get yourself out there. I kept thinking that people would just find me, which in some cases is true. But you really have to put yourself out there to get noticed.

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What is not said in words, Gina says with her photos. Come and take a look at her shop and see her work. It is not the same old, same old.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

FEATURED ARTIST

We have a jeweler to feature. This is another Etsy shop and all of this wonderful work is for sale there! Here is



Come and meet the artist -

Briefly describe what you make?

I design jewelry and then handcraft it using beads, gemstones and metal wires. My aim is to create more earthy and yet sophisticated jewelry that would not only accessorize an outfit but also make a fashion statement. While some of my pieces are subtle and understated, others are more bold and chunky. I like designing jewelry for everyday wear that can take you from work to into evenings and would work for all seasons as well as love to create focal pieces for parties and formal get together where your jewelry will attract attention.

What mediums do you enjoy working in most?

I love working with silver wires, pearls and gemstones. To me silver and pearls are very versatile and can together create jewelry that can be chic or ornate; modern or vintage and everyday or occasional. However, very recently have started using brass findings too. Brass helps me create pieces with a more vintage feel to them. I have also worked a little bit with gold filled wire and you would find a few pretty gold pieces in my ETSY shop too.

How long have you been creating craft?

It has been only 3 years that I have started jewelry making but have come long ways in this time. However, I have miles to go. ETSY has always succeeded in inspiring me and when I look at the immense talent pool in ETSY, I always think of all the various jewelry making techniques that I would love to master and use for my designs.

How did you get started?

I was deeply inspire by a friend of mine who makes beautiful jewelry. When I met her initially her handmade necklace created from bright red seed beads and chunky silver Bali beads caught my attention and that is when I started reading up on handcrafting jewelry, buying cheap beads and wires to do experiments with. In the last 3 years now, it has grown to be a shop in ETSY.

Where does the name of your shop come from?

I call my shop 'Echos of Spring'. The name came from the colorful jewelry that I strive to create so that all through the year my jewelry can remind you of spring and echo its seasonal colors in your wardrobe.

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

I am always striving to create new and more attractive designs created with quality raw material. Though I tend to use local bead stores for all my jewelry supply needs whenever I am visiting places I go on a bead and raw material hunt looking for interesting beads, stones and crystals. Also, my prices are very reasonable and affordable as I take my shop more as a passion. My aim is to make the buyers enjoy what they purchased as much as i enjoy creating the piece. So keep checking http://echosofspring.etsy.com for more jewelry and great sales. Currently offering free shipping on all pieces.

What words of advice do you have for other artists?

I am probably too new to creating art and may not have advice for other artists. However, would like to add that creating art is a passion and let us all keep creating beautiful art.

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This is beautiful work and you must see it. Come and visit this shop now and then come back and leave some comments for the artist!