For a moment I closed my eyes and I imagined myself wearing a beautiful gown, strolling down a street light up with chandeliers....
...Don't for the perfect pair of shoes!
How wonderful would it be to have streets light up with beautiful chndeliers!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
A rendez-vous with Julia...The woman behind "My Grandmother's Apron"
Bonjour dear readers!
Today we are meeting Julia...A fantastic woman with true inspiration!
Escape yourself in this interview and find the real passion behind
"My Grandmother's Apron"...
Tell us a bit about yourself and your work. How did it all start?
I am an Englishwoman who emigrated to Canada in 2006 and I’ve just recently become a Canadian Citizen. That’s been a very moving and personal event in my life.
The aprons started a couple of years ago – I’ve always made myself aprons for use at home – my Grandmother was the ultimate in being a home maker and I always remember her in an apron. And when girlfriends saw my aprons they seemed very much to like them, so originally I started making them as gifts. I’ve always liked having unique things for travelling, particularly, and I just love all and any fabrics, so then I made myself shoe bags, and the big roomy tote bags for my go-to bag on the plane. So it all started from there really and then I thought if people like these things, just maybe they might actually BUY them from me. Now I’ve sent aprons all over the world – to Australia, New Zealand, theUS, Germany, the UK – it’s great fun knowing that something I’ve made is being useful so far away as Australia.
Who or what inspires you?
My Grandmother is a huge inspiration in my life – she was always a “yes” person – she’d always have time for people and was so genuinely interested in what made them tick. That’s the emotional inspiration, but the physical inspiration is my love of fabric – I have a large cupboard full of neatly folded fabric and just opening the door is like looking into a little Aladdin’s cave – I just see something pop out as an idea – one particular fabric for shoe bags, or another for a tote bag, or another one for a passport cover. I have the most wonderful purple fabric bag set for my laptop computer – a laptop case, a little ribbon drawstring one for the charger and then a tote to carry it all around in. I’ve also just started making what I call “PortaPillows” for travelling – they’re small feather-filled cushions to take on the plane with you or anywhere you need a little cushion – in the car or out to dinner if you have a bad back – the uses for these little ones are endless. But ultimately it’s the fabrics that seem to tell me where they’re going to end up!
What do you love most of what you do?
It’s the fundamental thing of making something that’s pretty and useful both for other people and myself. I can’t really think of anything much more enjoyable than making something. It’s amazing watching it happen - you take a little flat piece of fabric and a bit of wadding and then a little bit of webbing strap and you make a bag with it! You can carry things around in something you’ve made. It’s still a huge kick for me to take a favourite tote on the plane with me, and get my passport out of its cover, relax with my PortaPillow and know I can while away a little time with a book or easily find my DS in the carry-on tote because I know what its case looks like. Travelling is so much more easily organised and things stay cleaner and neater and the fabrics are just so pretty I love looking at them.
You can see more of Julia's wonderful creation here: www.mygrandmothersapron.etsy.com
Read more about Julia's wonderful grandmother here: The Crafty Housewives
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Rendez-Vous with Jessica - The designer of Rags To Riches Jewelry...
Jessica...The woman behind Rags to Riches jewelry kindly agree to answer a few questions for us...How wonderful it is to get to know in a more personal note our talented Etsy sellers! Enjoy this warm rendez-vous with Jessica!
Tell us a bit about yourself and your work. How did it all start?
My name is Jessica Ragsdale, I live in Marshfield MO. It is a very wonderful small town in Southwest Missouri... about 60 miles from by Branson MO for those of you who are for sure where in the world Marshfield might be. Our little town is full of character and charm.
I have been making jewelry for about 5 years. I have always been artistic and I have always loved to paint and draw! After having my daughter I was needing something to do to relax. I stayed home with her for 4 years. After about a month of those 4 years I needed something to do with my time when I wasn't taking care of her. So I went shopping one day and there was a very expensive piece of jewelry I loved and wanted. I couldn't afford it but my hubby said I could make something just as great or better. (Great to have supportive hubby's, huh?) Of course I had never made any jewelry before but I have always been artistic so I bought some beads at a local hobby store. I made a necklace and my mother in law liked it and asked if I could make her one. So I did and then her friend asked for one and it all began! My mother in law would take my jewelry to work and would sell it for me. That's how it started. I have taught myself everything and I enjoy trying new and different materials.
Who or what inspires you?
I am inspired by something as simple, yet as interesting a button. I can “hear” a story from it and see the design in my head. (Yes, I hear voices!) Everyday items can be very interesting, like the color of a platter or the design/pattern with in a leaf made by the veins. Really, I am inspired by many things. Of course my daughter, Madison, is a big one! She is always cutting and gluing. The colors she picks are so interesting! Nature would be another big one. I love the seasons changing and the different moods it brings. I base my designs off my mood and I am a moody chic!
What do you love most of what you do?
I love taking something raw and making into something that is unique. It brings joy to others and gives me room to use my imagination.
You can see more of jessica's creations here:
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Daydreaming Rendez-Vous With Roxanne
Today I invite you to escape yourself in a daydreaming world of watercolor while meeting our lovely Roxanne...She generously took the time to answer a few questions and it been a pleasure to get to know this warm and genuine artist....Enjoy!
Tell us a bit about yourself and your work. How did it all start?
My name is Roxanne Tobaison and I live in sunny, central Florida – USA, and married with 2 grown daughters. My media of choice is watercolors for over 30 years.
You can say my watercolors are: Frameable, Wearable and Collectable.
Example of ACEO - Sunrise Flight
Who or what inspires you?
I am a Florida native and the area is brimming with natural wonders, treasures, beauty and so many historical landmarks.
My paintings are inspired by my surrounding and God’s Creatures and Creation.
My camera is a very important tool; I take all my reference shots. My materials are watercolors, acrylics and occasionally pen and inks. Although realistic, I enjoy doing some abstracts as seen mostly in my pendants.
Recently, I added a line of glass tile pendants necklaces that showcase my original watercolor paintings. These are affordable pieces of art that can be enjoyed and worn too. These pieces are signed and titled and are OOAK. I also make ACEO’s baseball size trading cards – artists trading cards - which are collectable
What do you love most of what you do?
The main thing is that I feel blessed to have this God given talent and that others like it. It’s personally fulfilling and therapeutic and wonderful when someone wants to purchase a piece. Get rich doing it – I DON’T think so….but riches can be measured in many different ways.
Etsy activity
I am now a member of The Crafty Housewives Etsy Team, CASTTEAM…Christian Artists Street Team and CAPS – Christian Artist Promoting Shops and BlueBird.
I love to make and view treasuries and participate in nonteamchallenges which has a different inspiration piece each week. It is so interesting to see the creative process of the other curators.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)