Featured Artist: The Candle Gourdess

The Candle Gourdess

Let me help you pass on a smile!

1. Tell me a bit about yourself (name, location,affiliations, personal stuff).

My name is Tracy Swartz, (a.k.a. The Domestic Gourdess) and I live in Northwest Ohio. I discovered dried gourds in 2004 when a friend of mine brought a Gourd Woman to sell. I was drawn in and hooked! She came home with me and I started to look up information about gourds on-line. I kept hearing "Gourdesses... make Gourdesses" in my head. I haven't been able to stop playing with gourds ever since. I also love to garden, can, raise chickens and ducks and live a sort of homesteading kind of lifestyle. I also love to write and am working on publishing a children's story.

2. What inspires you? Where do your ideas come from?

It's hard to pin down because sometimes it's the gourd itself (shape, texture, spots) or an idea will drop into my head when I'm looking at something. I do receive inspiration from my customers who request a customized piece. I have an uncanny knack to "see" or "visualize" what they want. Again, the picture sometimes drops into my head.

3. What is your favourite thing in your shop and why?

Right now my favorite item is the Hooey Bird. I had this gourd sitting on my workbench intending to create something totally different with it. I picked it up as a visual aid to show my husband something when I noticed it had a belly button. The rest of the "bird" popped right out at me after that. Most importantly, it made me laugh as I created it.

4. What is the best thing about your products?

They make people smile and feel good. I really believe people deserve to smile and feel good more.

5. What is the best homemade item you have ever bought?

Every year I go to a local craft show to purchase stocking stuffers for the kid's at Christmas. It's well made, unique, and something you aren't going to find at the big box stores.

Website: http://www.thecandlegourdess.com
Blog: http://www.thedomesticgourdess.com

Featured Artist: Paint with Barb Oil Paintings

Paint with Barb oil paintings and beaded treasures

1. Tell me a bit about yourself (name, location, affiliations, personal stuff).

Barbara Furlong, Hermiston, Oregon, USA. I have been crafting all my life but I only started in oils in the last 4 years or so. I always thought oils was too messy but now that is all I do. I love it. I teach oil painting so I have lots of paintings to sell. To see all my paintings go to www.paintwithbarb.com

2. What inspires you? Where do your ideas come from?

Photos of the sea, books, my mind. I think my students inspires me the most, they ask for something and then I have to do it.

3. What is your favourite thing in your shop and why?

All of them are my favourites. I love each of my paintings.

4. What is the best thing about your products?

They are priced fair, if you buy 3 paintings or more, free shipping.

5. What is the best homemade item you have ever bought?

Quilt

Etsy Shop: http://www.paintwithbarb.etsy.com
Etsy Teams: Interiordesignteam, wwao, bbest
Blog: http://paintwithbarb.blogspot.com/
Website: http://www.paintwithbarb.com

Think Again

Featured Artist: Erica Leigh Designs

One-of-a-kind tops, totes & things

1. Tell me a bit about yourself (name, location, affiliations, personal stuff).

Hi! I’m Erica Leigh. I just turned 20 and I live in the Los Angeles suburbs. When I’m not making things, I’m a full-time college student at Woodbury University where I’m majoring in fashion marketing. I love fashion, art, shopping, baking cupcakes, and watching way too much television. Oh, and I also created EtsyU: The Street Team for College Students on Etsy!

2. What inspires you? Where do your ideas come from?

My ideas come from everywhere! They’re really all over the place; history, current trends, indie fashion… a little bit of everything, I think. I’m especially fascinated by the Victorian era, as well as 1960’s mod styles.

3. Creatively where do you think you'll be in five years?

I hope that I’ll have learned a lot in five years. I’m self-taught, so I’m constantly trying to figure out new sewing techniques by reading sewing books and doing research. I also hope that I’ll have been able to pursue other crafts and possibly a new Etsy shop. I get bored easily, which is why I also enjoy doing a variety of arts & crafts. I eventually want to silkscreen, draw, paint, and even do some photography. I’m currently working on some jewelry designs too. It may seem excessive, but I just have too many interests and creative energy, I guess.

4. If you had a client who had unlimited money, what would you create for him and why?

Whoa, I really don’t know. Maybe I’d design them a whole new wardrobe, complete with accessories (bags, scarves, jewelry). It’d have to be a girl though, because I don’t know how to make boy clothes yet.

5. What is the best thing about your products?

I make my own patterns and design everything from scratch. All of the items in my shop are handmade and one-of-a-kind, so every customer is guaranteed an exclusive piece that I’ve put a lot of work into.

Etsy Shop: http://ericaleighdesigns.etsy.com
Etsy Teams: EtsyU, Scratch, Artisans of California, Retro Street Team

Featured Artist: Cutiepie Company

1. Tell me a bit about yourself (name, location, affiliations, personal stuff).

My name is Milly and I live in Manhattan with my sweet beagle, Hunter. My Etsy shop features screenprinted paper goods, and will soon also feature my photo prints and prints of my collages. I have been doing mixed media and photography for a long time, and am really excited to be able to offer it on Etsy in the near future! My boyfriend also has an Etsy shop, Corporan Glass.

2. What is the first thing you can remember making by hand? How and why did you make it?

I'm not sure I can remember the first thing I made by hand, because I was probably too young to remember! I know that I have been drawing and painting and scribbling since I could hold a crayon. The first thing I remember making that I absolutely loved was in school. It was a construction paper collage of a bird and nest. I have a vague mental image of it that has always stayed with me for some reason. I simply adored it.

3. What is your favourite thing in your shop and why?

My favorite thing in my shop right now is the Walking the Dog gocco print. The drawing of the little girl is based on myself as a young girl. And the beagle pictured is based on my beloved beagle. Call me nostalgic...

4. Who is your dream buyer? Brad Pitt, Queen Elizabeth.

That is an interesting question! I have been thinking about this one for a few days. I'm not sure, to be honest. Maybe Holly Becker of Decor8 blog? She's not really that famous, but I totally admire her and I love her blog!

5. What is the best homemade item you have ever bought?

I bought an awesome jellyfish screenprinted t-shirt in Brooklyn recently (at Artists and Fleas) from a sweet and very talented woman, whose website is Heartisans.com.

Etsy Shop: http://www.cutiepiecompany.etsy.com
Etsy Teams: Etsy Beagles, Loco for Gocco