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.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Rendez-Vous with Sweet Sincerity...
I invite you once again in a Daydreaming Escape rendez-vous...This time with Bethany...A wonderful artist and designer of OOAK jewellery! Enjoy!  Tell us a bit about yourself and your work. How did it all start? My name is Bethany, and I live in Bangor, Maine with my loving husband Matthew. We just build a new house in time for me to get serious about fully pursuing selling the jewelry I make on Etsy! I’m glad these two events coincided, because I hardly had the room for this venture when we lived in our cute little one bedroom apartment! I, like many others, had dreams of starting a creative business, but I didn’t really know what creative direction to go in. I loved fashion, painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, but one night, it came to me…jewelry! I love jewelry, so much so that I never used to go out of the house unless I had on at least a pair of earrings. My jewelry was always carefully chosen to match my outfits, and jewelry always topped my wish lists when people asked what I would like for a gift! There is something captivating about jewelry; it can be so many things, it can be meaningful or whimsical, bold or delicate, everyday simple or once in a lifetime spectacular. It sparkles, shines, shimmers, and melts the hearts of women all around the globe. So, after it hit me that one night when I could barely sleep thinking about all the possibilities of having my very own jewelry business, I started out on my own to try and make some jewelry. I even created an Etsy account and listed some items, but I was so busy at the time that I really didn’t give my Etsy shop the attention it deserved. All the while, my friends and family encouraged me to take a little more time to develop my skills and continue with my business plan. Finally, after lots of procrastination, when I had more time on my hands, I went for it! I started learning different techniques, investigating how to make my Etsy shop a success, renewing my items regularly, and filling my shop to the brim! Now, as I continue to create and find new ways to promote my jewelry, SweetSincerity continues to grow.  Who or what inspires you? I think I am most inspired not by ideas that I come up all by myself, but by the ideas that the materials I find foster in me. Just the way certain beads look together, with their unique shapes and colors, is the starting point of most of my designs. I’m also inspired by people and the distinctive color palates that define them. Most people have a color palate comfort zone when it comes to dressing, and without thinking about it, we come identify them by it. Sometimes, these unique color combinations inspire me to create a piece with someone’s personality in mind. Among the many other things that inspire me and often send me into a creative frenzy are things that are intensely feminine or glamorous, new jewelry making techniques, and practically anything shiny.  What do you love most of what you do? I really do love every part of the process: getting lost and inspired in a seemingly unending sea of stones, beads, and gems while shopping for new materials; creating a new piece from a pile of beads, watching it take shape into something surprising and breathtaking; taking and editing photos of a piece to make it look its absolute best; and describing the piece in vivid detail and colorful language for its listing. The thing I like most of all though, is sending out a finished piece in a beautifully wrapped box with a handwritten thank you note. It feels like I’m sending a friend a special present every time, and I can breath a sigh of relief and a feel a sense of accomplishment at a job well done.  You can find out more about Sweet Sincery in those following link: Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/SweetSincerity |
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Champagne!!!
Friday night my sweet husband surprised me with a lovely bottle of Champagne "Laurent Perrier"
...That was so lovely...he knows how much I have an expensive taste when it comes to good wine!!! I enjoy every drop of it!!!
So, under the influence of this wonderful Champagne I decided to create a treasury on Etsy: "Champagne...In a glass?"
Enjoy!
Monday, October 11, 2010
A Daydreaming Rendez-vous With Eva...
Because I am sharing my daydreaming Escape with you...I thought to share as well some of my favorites Artists and Designers. Escape yourself in this delightful rendez-vous with Eva...who generously took the time to describe to us into inspiring words what it took to get her dreams happened...Escape in this heartwarming Daydream visit with Eva...
Tell us a bit about yourself and your work. How did it all start?
My name is Eve but my mom calls me Eva. I work as an art director for a few magazines here in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. EvaJuliet was born when I felt the need of creating my own graphic design artworks with an entire liberty.
I dreamt of creating my own graphic projects without any restriction and constrain for a very long time but I always put it off because I didn’t have the time or it was not the good time for several reasons. From that moment on, I got the idea of the Make it Happen poster. I needed some reminder, some motivator, something that could help me every day to reach my dream. I thought maybe it could help somebody else and I decided to start my Etsy shop to sell this poster.
During the process, I have realized that it’s not about leaving everything spontaneously to follow your dreams but it’s about making one tiny action, every day, that brings you more and more closer of the situation you want to be in. But the most important is to make the first step in this way.
Who or what inspires you?
I find my inspiration at unsuspected places. One day, I found the inspiration for an illustration in a knurl, on my living-room wood floor! Inspiration is hidden everywhere! You just have to keep your eyes and your mind opened. Inspiration could also comes from a situation. For example, my Choose Joy poster was created after an unfortunate incident. I said to myself; I could choose to be angry about this situation and loose my time and energy, or, I could play down the importance of this, realize it’s not the end of the world and get back my good mood. The Choose Joy poster was born!
What do you love most of what you do?
Everything. I feel totally and entirely happy about everything as regards EvaJuliet. It’s like eating sweet cakes with a perfect café au lait, sitting at a table outside a café, by a splendid sunny day, with your best friend! Pure pleasure! I love to create, find new ideas, I love to take pictures, to receive comments from customers and chatting a bit with them. I like to go to the Post Office to send my illustrations all over the world. I like to think I propagate positive thoughts in the world.
You can find Eva's beautiful inspiring work in these following links:
www.evajuliet.etsy.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eva-Juliet/132893705195
{photos by Eva}
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