Featured Artist: made by Railyuh

While I like to experiment with a variety of crafts, photography has always been one of my first artistic loves (the other is writing). I especially enjoy landscape photography and I think the beauty I see in the natural world inspires me to fill my home with natural handmade items. I hope sharing my images will bring a little beauty into the lives of each person that views them.

Some people have asked where the name "railyuh" comes from so I thought I'd share. My first name is Aurelia (pronounced uh-rail-yuh), but I grew up going by my middle name because Aurelia was hard to spell and pronounce. By the time I was in high school a shortened version, "railyuh," became my nickname with a few close friends. It soon became my online screen name, hence my shop with items "made by Railyuh"!

Feel free to visit my blog to learn more about me and to see sneak previews and updates for my shop. I'll also be featuring some of my favorite Etsy shops, artists, and items there: http://etsyfind.blogspot.com/

If you are interested in a custom order, I would love to arrange a series of prints or cards in sizes and images chosen by you.

If you are looking for something different, perhaps a series of magnets or a gallery wrapped canvas featuring my photos, please convo me. If you have an idea in mind, we can figure out a way to make it happen.

*Proud Member of the Etsymom and Etsy Bloggers street teams*

Etsy Shop: http://railyuh.etsy.com
Blog: http://etsyfind.blogspot.com

Featured Artist: A Passion For Fashion

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

Jennifer Meyers..Phoenix Arizona..Jewish

I am a stay at home Mom and I take care of my 2 kids..Both Under 6 years old. I started making jewelry about 7 years ago after my Dad bought me some books on the subject. I have always been creative and and I started calling myself an artist at age 5. I got my degree in Art from ASU where I did more painting and photography. My career includes more than 15 years as a professional artist, designer and consultant.

I have been on two local television morning shows, channel 3 and 12. My work has also been featured in the Arizona Republic Newspaper (in Arizona, USA). I have also been in many juried art shows, and high end retail shops. And now I am addicted to Etsy.

My Husband wrote two great stories for me in the Storque..one of those on Etsy addiction... http://www.etsy.com/storque/author/aPassionForFashion/

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

I am inspired by everything... I look at everything and try and think how I could use that. I tease my kids that I will turn their toys into jewelry and sell it on Etsy if they don't clean their rooms. Most of my idea come to me when I am working on a project... or hunting for something different on the Internet... I am always looking for that next big thing.

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

This is my favorite right now [Field of Flowers...Glass and Japanese Chiyogami Paper Pendant Necklace]... It is my newest design and very classy with my unique stamp on it. Plus I had a great time shopping for the supplies for this... It took 5 different venues to put this piece together... 2 brick and mortar stores and 3 online stores.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8838095

4. What is the best thing you have ever created?

The best thing I ever created first I'd have to say the relationship with my Mom... My Marriage... and My children... but I had help in those...

My best creation with my hand was when I built a 30 ft redwood trellis across our pool area in our former house. I had more time on my hands before kids and I love to construct things. I even designed and planned it all myself... Jewelry wise I am really tickled by a wholesale order I had... 33 pieces that went to Saudi Arabia.

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

I love my Cheetos Change Purse... I love Cheetos... I always have... so when I saw it I had to own it! Made by MoJo on Etsy. I also love aBreathofFrenchair shop on Etsy... I bought some grape-seed lotion with the smell of carnations... I bought some for my Mom as well... I just love it! I won't buy store lotion again...

Etsy Shop: http://apassionforfashion.etsy.com
Blog: http://jewelsbyjennifer.blogspot.com

Featured Artist: Citrus Tree Designs

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

Name: Stacy Beck
Location: Delray Beach, FL

My Black & White Abstract print is currently on exhibit during the winter show at:

D'Art Gallery
116 Pleasant Street
East Hampton, MA

My cards have been blogged here:

http://Kiddlins.com
http://Kopahetsy.blogspot.com
http://hauteinnovations.com/?p=47.

I have also exhibited at All Florida Fine Arts Show -

Cornell Museum of Art and History,
Delray Beach Florida

My Flickr Account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/citrustreedesigns/

My Blog: http://citrustreedesigns.blogspot.com/

My sister & I have an infant and toddler line of clothing: MakristaBaby.com This is where we earn our living.

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

My favorite item in the CitrusTree.etsy.com shop will have to be the Photomontage's I am currently playing around with. They allow me to express my creativity more fully than my photography alone. And...they are just plain fun to create!

3. Why should people buy your product?

I would like to have people purchase my items because they are unique and of course HANDMADE.

4. Where would be the best location for showing off your product (the Louvre, Buckingham Palace)

Any gallery would do as far as showing my work...I would be thrilled to exhibit in New York, as that is a city close to my heart.

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

The best handmade item I have ever purchased, it a Spiritual Bracelet from BlueMango.etsy.com The bracelet has one of my favorite Emerson quotes: "Stand in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air"

Etsy Shop: http://citrustree.etsy.com
Blog: http://citrustreedesigns.blogspot.com

Featured Artist: Katrin Lerman Jewelry

I come from a family of makers and have been doing jewelry since I was a little girl (if making friendship bracelets is considered jewelry ; ) Originally from Germany, I settled in Massachusetts, US almost ten years ago. I can’t believe it has been such a long time already! Nonetheless, I draw inspiration from my German childhood as well as from the time spent here and from every little moment I can remember happening in between. Sometimes, photographs of finished jewelry pop into my mind and I have to quickly run to jot them down before they are gone. Other times, I have an idea in mind and it takes a lot of drawings until I have figured out how to best do what I was thinking about. Of course, those sketches are not written in stone and I often change a design while I am making the piece to arrive at the best end result possible.

All of my pieces are entirely hand made by me using sterling silver wire and high quality genuine gemstones. First, I create the desired shape/shell for a piece out of thick sterling silver wire. Then I string on the gemstones and wrap the entire piece with feet upon feet of thin sterling silver wire to give it a finished look. I add tiny sterling silver beads to the frame during wrapping to give it more dimension.

Every piece is different so if you see something and you like it you better grab it fast!

I also LOVE to work on custom designs. So if you have a certain gemstone or color in mind, please contact me. I can also incorporate keepsakes, such as beads, shells or charms into a beautiful pendant.

I graduated from the New England School of Art and Design at Suffolk University in Boston with a Degree of Fine Arts in Interior Design. Interior Design is all about color, form, and texture – and that’s what I’m integrating in my jewelry designs.

Now that I have a beautiful baby girl, I try to spend every free minute (and those of you who have a baby know that there are few) creating jewelry. Naturally, I have lots more time thinking than creating and so my sketch book is filling up with ideas for years to come. I can’t wait to get working on all those ideas and designs!!!

Etsy Shop: http://KatrinLermanJewelry.etsy.com
Blog: http://katrinlermanjewelry.blogspot.com/

Featured Artist: Autumn Leah Designs

I absolutely love making jewelry and come up with new ideas every day so my pieces are always fresh and unique!

I am a stay-home mom and I love being able to see my daughter grow everyday... with that said I also need something to keep me sane. So I make stuff! I just recently started making jewelry so it is my habit right now but I also love making anything on my computer. I do all of my scrapbooking digitally. I create Christmas cards, birth announcements, birthday invitations etc. I have a degree in graphic design so that is my passion. I would never actually work in the advertising world (too much pressure) but I love using those skills for personal use or for friends, etc. I love to look at a craft and figure out how to make it myself. That is why my shop is kind of eclectic.

I am also willing to do custom pieces if you need something specific for an outfit and I also customize my prints.

Etsy Shop: http://autumnleah.etsy.com
Blog: http://autumnleahdesigns.blogspot.com

Featured Artist: Berry Beads

My name is Rosi Berry and I'm a 50-something divorcee from Long Island, NY. By day I am a supervisor for a defense electronics firm and by night I craft, whether it's making jewelry, sewing, embroidering, drawing. I also play flute and love celtic music. Many different things interest me. I suppose I inherited the crafty gene from my parents. Both of them valued things made by hand and they encouraged me and my sisters from an early age to create with our hands. The earliest thing I remember making was a wooden dish that I painted and drew designs on for mother's day in kindergarten. I was supposed to put my mother's initial U (for Ursula) but I put an A instead because that is what the teacher put. My mother never got rid of that dish.

Many things inspire me. I love animals so I am always looking to incorporate them into my designs. Color also, especially natural, earthy tones and celtic designs. I've only been making jewelry for a few years so I am still experimenting and trying to find my own style but I especially like working with wire. It's hard to say what my most favorite thing is in my shop. I love all my things that I put there, otherwise I wouldn't want to sell it to others. But thinking about it, I guess my absolute favorite item are the fishy earrings right now because it incorporates both an animal design and wirework.

The best homemade item that I bought is a hard question to answer. I have so many handmade things from family that were given as gifts. For example my sister is a deocrative painter and she makes amazing nutcrackers. I have quite a collection of her work. Hopefully soon she will open up an Etsy store herself. Anyway, a few years ago I bought a hand-painted fruit bowl at a craft fair of a strawberry man. It is my favorite bowl since I love strawberries and Berry is my last name. At that same craft fair I bought a beaded badge lanyard and that person's design inspired me to start making lanyards myself since all my coworkers wanted to know where I had gotten mine. That is how I got started making lanyards and jewelry.

Etsy Shop: http://berrybeads.etsy.com
Blog: http://blog.berrybeady.com

Featured Artist: On A Thousand Hills

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

My name is Cheryl, and I live in western Massachusetts. I have been involved in crafts and sewing in particular, since I was in grade school. I took 4 years of a clothing shop in our local vocational high school. I try to integrate my love of nature with my love of craft.

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

I remember my aunt getting out boxes of supplies when we'd visit. We'd sit for hours and make all sorts of things. I most remember the snow globes we'd make out of baby food jars.

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

I am just beyond the beginning stages of beading, so I will certainly become more creative in 5 years. I have a lot to learn. I also get ideas for other craft and art ideas, and am hoping to branch out into some of those soon.

4. Why should people buy handmade?

It keeps our dollar in our own, American economy. When you buy handmade, you know it is not being made using slave-labor. It is usually something unique, not one of a zillion that were made by machine somewhere.

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

I would have to say that the beautiful butterfly bowl, made by Judy B Freeman (JudyBFreeman.etsy.com) was my best homemade purchase so far. It was hard to give it up as a gift to my Mom this Christmas.

Etsy Shop: http://onathousandhills.etsy.com
Blog: http://onathousandhills.blogspot.com

Featured Artist: Cigarboxbeads

http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

I'm a retired Home Ec teacher, loved what I did, love what I'm doing now.

I became a non-stop beadweaver when I purchased 3 vintage cigarboxes full of beads at a flea market---about 20 years ago. I'm still using those beads, plus a 'few' more I can not help but purchase!

I also knit, sew, crochet, decoupage and lots and lots of other stuff so some other goodies might show up here as well, along with beads!

Happy looking!--here and at my other etsy site - http://suchandsort.esty.com. I also just took the big plunge into blogging- come see me there- http://cigarboxbeads.blogspot.com

I've also joined Etsy Beadweavers and am a humble participant!

Beadweaving is my joy, along with knitting, crocheting, sewing AND being with our twin grand daughters. Not at the same time though, they love to 'help'! We do have 'crafting time' every day that I watch them, so I hope I'm instilling the love of creating in them.

Etsy Shop: http://cigarboxbeads.etsy.com
Etsy Shop: http://suchandsort.esty.com
Blog: http://cigarboxbeads.blogspot.com

Featured Artist: MyFairLadyvt4

My name is Ann, I'm a stay at home Mom in Vermont. I am married and have 2 children a boy and a girl. My favorite hobbies are reading and beading.

I get inspired from nature, photos, books, friends, colors, I love putting different colors that you would not think to put together. Then see the colors together and think wow, that actually looks good, at least to me. Currently, my favorite item in my shop is my new Red Brick Road freeform Brick stitch bracelet. I created it for the Etsy Beadweavers January Challenge. The theme is "RED".

Wow, I think my dream buyer may be Sarah Jessica Parker because she seems to appreciate different things. In 5 years I hope I am still doing what I am doing now, but I hope I have learned a lot of new things and incorporated them into my creations.

Etsy Shop: http://myfairladyvt4.etsy.com
Blog: http://myfairladyvt4.blogspot.com

Featured Artist: My Cat Lulu

MyCatLulu
Lulu is one of the cutest cats out there. She has great big eyes and really soft fur. She reminds me of an anime cat, but only better–no crazy effects...though her purr could use a little more volume.

About me:
Professional facts:
BA in Art
Day Job: Desktop Publisher
Trained in Photoshop, Indesign, gocco, my medium format camera, black and white darkroom, and the color darkroom.

I am:
I'm a lover not a fighter who enjoys the company of people, the songs of birds, and an occasional Mia tai. Don't like mean people, but really who would. Don't own bowling shoes, but I did play in a league when I was in 5th grade. Other than art, my passion is traveling. My last trip took me to Kauai, Hawaii...lovely.

Read about art and the life on me and Lulu at:
http://mycatlulu.blogspot.com
Pictures, pictures pictures!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/beccaphoto/

Proud Member of the following street teams
California Crafters Club Of Etsy
EFA- Etsy's For Animals
Gocco
Paper
SF Bay Area

I love custom orders, design work with the gocco or a banner for your own etsy shop.

Etsy Shop: http://mycatlulu.etsy.com
Blog: http://mycatlulu.blogspot.com

Featured Artist: Zoe Stewart UK

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

My name is Zoe Stewart, I am from Edinburgh but currently living in Yorkshire with my wonderful husband and cat. I work part time at a nursery and I sew every other minute of the day, and I love tea :)

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

The first thing is a Mother's Day card for my mum. I made it in nursery and it had a teapot on the front and I glued and celotaped a teabag to the inside as a gift for her, lmao. I don't think she drank it though.

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

In the nursery we have a lot of imaginations, so I get kids to draw me pictures and then I sew things. That's how the long hearts came around, and the monsters. They think it's funny when they see one they drew all sewn up, and they help me name them too.

4. Why should people buy handmade?

Handmade is wonderful! And I think more of it should be bought. I am buying all my Christmas gifts from Etsy this year, all handmade, all made with love, and just for me. Buy something individual for a change.

5. Where do you think you'll be in five years?

In 5 years, if my Etsy doesn't work out how I think it should, I plan to be teaching, high school art. I would love to be a teacher but right now I love my sewing and 'what if' isn't an option later, I see myself still happily married and to have a baby or maybe 2 soon also, and more animals, and a new house in the country, and just to be happy, nothing more important. :)

Etsy Shop: http://zoestewartuk.etsy.com
Blog: http://zoestewart.blogspot.com

Featured Artist: Scorpienna

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

I'm Emily and I live in Rolla, Missouri. I'm currently a student at the Missouri University of Science and Technology (formerly UM-Rolla). I received my bachelor's degree in biological engineering from the University of Missouri. I like to use tools to fix things and to make things, so I find that making jewelry is a fun way to relax when I'm not in classes. I now sell on Etsy at http://scorpienna.etsy.com and I'm a member of EtsyLou, the St. Louis Etsy street team.

When I'm not in school or playing on Etsy, I enjoy going to the Missouri wineries, playing with my beloved green cheeked conure (parrot) Charlie, and dancing. I'm currently taking ballet and modern dance classes for adult beginners, and the classes are a fun challenge for me.

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

I'm inspired by a mix of current trends and classical beauty. I'm attracted to rich, vibrant colors and patterns, symmetry, motion, and sparkle. I developed an obsession with Swarovski crystals after I became enamored with the glitz and glamour of beauty pageants, so I look for ways to take evening glamour down to a level that's appropriate for everyday wear with jeans and a favorite shirt. I'm also on a quest to make fun-and-funky things that have never been created before, so I have some unique creations to show from those endeavors.

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

I imagine that I'll still be creating jewelry with an eclectic mix of bright colors, sparkle, beauty, and uniqueness.

4. What is the best thing you have ever created?

Chandelier earrings. I certainly didn't invent chandelier earrings, but I love to make them. I've created them in just about every size, color, and pattern under the sun, yet I still come up with new ideas on what to make.

5. Why should people buy handmade?

People should buy handmade for the heart and soul that is put into their purchases. It's a good feeling to have something that a real person has made as opposed to buying things that were produced on an anonymous assembly line. When I'm complimented on something I bought, I love the feeling I get when I say that I bought it from a friendly man or woman who makes things and sells them on Etsy, which is a feeling that I don't get when I say I bought something at the mall. Buying handmade is buying something made with love.

Etsy Shop: http://scorpienna.etsy.com
Blog: http://myspace.com/scorpienna
Blog: http://scorpienna.livejournal.com

Featured Artist: Regal Beads

I have loved doing crafts for most of my life (in fact, my dad loves to tell an embarrassing childhood story on me about this passion ;))

Both of my parents are quite creative, and passed this down to me!

I started beading over five years ago and took to it like a fish to water.

I love the feel of the beads in my hands, the challenge of a new pattern, and the joy of a completed piece!

For years this has been one of my hobbies, with my personal collection growing quite large, and with many family members and friends also benefiting.

I have now decided to share these treasures with the world.

I am a proud member of the Etsy Beadweaver Street Team.
Check our the blog for the latest in beadweaving adventures on Etsy - http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com

Etsy Shop: http://RegalBeads.etsy.com
Blog: http://regalbeads.blogspot.com/

Featured Artist: ShannonSaylor

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

My name is Shannon Saylor, I live actually in Wise, VA a college town an hour from Bristol TN where they hold the Nascar races where people would affiliate my location better. I am part of We Love Etsy blog, Jewelry Galore, Etsy Friends, All things Handmade, Blogger, and Myspace. That's all I can think of at the moment.

I'm also part of several chat groups where there are groups of ladies that are my wonderful support group and cheer section. Sometimes I wouldn't be able to make it without them as I am on SSI Partial Disability. I have several debilitating illnesses that prevent me from working a job outside the home, but I got into beading for relaxation, and it just took off and one of the girlfriends from the boards has a link to Etsy so I figured that I would give it a shot.

It's been a long road for me, but I am soon to go back to school, I have to keep learning from being bipolar, I'm a workaholic within my mind. I can't sit still for very long moments unless I'm in front of the computer doing several things at once. I network, create videos, blog, and pet one of my 5 cats and talk with my hubby at once.

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

One of the first things I made by hand was a necklace from a kit that I had gotten. I had bought from Etsy several necklaces and bracelets for the holiday gift season, and I was so interested in how they were made that I had to try it. My husband was kind enough to allow me to get a few sample kits from the local stores just to try it out and test my learning ability... I took it right up. The next thing I knew, I was buying beads like crazy and making something new every day if not several things new every day.

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

I take from the seasons, the weather, the rooms, my cats and dog, an image in my mind from something that I've seen before. I just try to make my pieces fun but beautiful at the same time. Something that I would want to wear, but someone else would want to as well. If I don't like it, then no one else would too.

4. Why should people buy handmade?

There is more heart in handmade jewelry. For Example, When I bought a piece for Christmas from the girlfriend on the chatboard I'm on, she also sent me a set of freshwater pearl earrings with a note stating that every bride should have a set of pearls. My hubby and I had just gotten married.

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

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7661881 I absolutely love this one as it is chocolate and black with magnets in the beading. I've heard of the healing powers of magnets, so I beaded some in it. I love the wild side look of the necklace. I made two similar to it for both my aunt and my mother. They love them.

Etsy Shop: http://ShannonSaylor.etsy.com
Blog: http://shannonsaylor-etsyshop.blogspot.com/

Featured Artist: Allyon67

"By cultivating the beautiful we scatter the seeds of heavenly flowers, as by doing good we cultivate those that belong to humanity"€: Robert Heinlein

"To Change One'€™s Life: Start Immediately. Do it flamboyantly. No exceptions": William James

These are just a few words that I like to live by. I feel that creating art is a way of sharing your soul with others. As you will see in my artwork: sometimes I am very flamboyant and always colorful, sometimes confidant and peaceful, other times angry or chaotic. I think all of my emotions; passions come out in my works. Sometimes I layer it on thick (paint and words) and other times I flirt with the canvas with light feathery strokes. My art reflects my beliefs in love, warmth, generosity, loyalty, and honesty. I'm inspired by science, fantasy, martial arts, architecture, and nature (especially water).

Education:
Maryland Institute of Art-Summer School
Howard Community College-Liberal Arts
Capital College-Computer Engineering

Gallery Shows:
Chesapeake Gallery- Prince Fredrick, MD
DMG Artwork- Annapolis, MD

Awards:
Artist of the Year (Arts and Entertainment)- H.H.S. 1985
2nd Place: African Americans in Science and Technology Poster Contest 1985
Honorable Mention- H.H.S. 1984

Etsy Shop: http://allyon67.etsy.com
Blog: http://pmillerabstractart.blogspot.com

Featured Artist: DAMdesigns

I have grown up living on art. I have always been a crafty person and my mom always tells this story from back when I was 3 -- I used to get up in the morning and watch the art programs that used to play on T.V. One day I was watching and I brought to my sleeping mom a basket I made all by myself. She said it was cut, there was glue, and it was woven together...and I was only 3. She always tells me that she wishes she had kept it. Well the passion for art and crafty things has been with me my entire life, and I finally decided that it was time to sell my art. I put a lot of time and heart into the pieces of art I create, and I love doing it.

Etsy Shop: http://www.damdesigns.etsy.com
Blog: http://www.damdesigns.blogspot.com/
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/damdesigns
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/damdesigns/

Featured Artist: Purple Snowpeas

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

Kathryn Short, live in Baltimore, grew up outside NYC, degrees in Photography and Art Education; enjoy hiking, camping, and traveling; art teacher; cat lover.
http://purple-snowpeas-shop.blogspot.com/

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

Photography: I like to capture my observations of the world around me. I am inspired mostly by my adventures out in nature.
Knitting: I like creating my own patterns as I knit. I'm driven by my love of pattern and texture.

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

My favorite items in my shop right now are the note cards I just added and my loopy hats. The loopy hats are my favorite to make. I especially enjoy when friends request a hat and give me a main color that they like and come up with the secondary colors and the stitches based on what I think would be good for that person.

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

In 5 years I will still be creating. Photography and knitting have been a big part of my life for a while now so I'm sure I will continue with both of them. I hope my shop will be busy and people will continue to enjoy my work.

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

My favorite handmade item is a gift from a friend. She created a purse for me that she designed and sewed. It is brown on the outside and has a silky blue flower material on the inside. I love it and people always ask about it.

Etsy Shop: http://purplesnowpeas.etsy.com
Blog: http://purple-snowpeas-shop.blogspot.com/

Featured Artist: Deabusamor

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

Hallo! I'm one of those inconspicuous people who serve you coffee at Starbucks for breakfast and hand you dinner with a smile at KFC. Who knew that apart from my "day job" I also dabble in polymer clay and jewelry! (I hate calling myself 'clay artist' or 'jewelry designer' -- it sounds way too professional!)

Now you do! I'm Sheika Lugtu and I love making jewelry though I think I shine most when I dream up polymer clay pendants, beads and charms (leave all the design work to others, I always say.)

I only got into clay 5 months ago and feel I've really found my medium. I'm hoping to eventually be able to support myself through my claywork and paintings.

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

Growing up I had very strict parents who didn't believe in buying toys, so I spent my time "playing" with books. The very first doll I ever got was a Barbie during my 4th grade church 'Christmas gift-away'. Since I couldn't buy alternate clothes for her, I took two triangles of cloth (cut from old cotton pjs,) stapled them together and called it a skirt! Since then I've built her a cardboard doll house complete with clay miniatures.

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

Though I was born in the Philippines, I've lived and traveled to very many countries including most of the Middle East, India, Bahrain, Hong Kong etc. I currently reside in the US but I feel like I've seen so many cultures that I don't draw from any just one. In all my works I try to draw the various works of art, religions, customs and cultures I've seen.

4. Where would be the best location for showing off your product (the Louvre, Buckingham Palace)

On people. It's my dream come true when customers wear my work because they love it and it goes with their style and fashion.

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

This may sound weird but years ago, I had a friend whose family was very poor. She wanted to buy her little brother a GI Joe he'd been wanting but didn't have the money for. I saved up my weekly allowance for 2 months (it came up to about 17 dollars) and bought a painting of hers (it was a sunset with two stick figures sitting on the beach, and v-shaped birds flying in the sky.) I wish I could find it now, but I think my 12 year old self lost it in my many travels.

Etsy Shop: http://Deabusamor.etsy.com
Blog: http://omgcow.blogspot.com

Featured Artist: Quirky'n'Berkeley

Love paper. Love color. Love Berkeley. Love Etsy.

Beyond that, my style is eclectic and I love to experiment. I get completely absorbed in engineering my varied creations for hours. Each one is a new and unique production, made of treasures from my collection of paper and ephemera, transfigured into a single piece held together by a little glue, a lot of ideas, practice and work, and most of all, a great amount of joy. Some of my custom work can be viewed at http://www.picturetrail.com/photos/quirkynberkeley. Everything is made in a smoke free environment.

Etsy Shop: http://QuirkynBerkeley.etsy.com
Blog: http://quirkynberkeley.blogspot.com

Featured Artist: Witty Workshop

Valérie Parizeault is a Canadian Illustrator & designer from Montreal. She is the owner of Rose Flash, Playfully spirited Jewelry (www.roseflash.ca) and the creative mind behind the Witty workshop (www.wittyworkshop.etsy.com), a place to buy and enjoy her Illustrations and prints. Inspired by whimsical moments, children’s universe and storytelling, she is living her dream life as an artist with her husband by her side and her black cat Tokyo. Tree hugger and business connoisseur, she blogs both in French and English about Eco-friendly causes, Indie designers and her daily life trough her creative blog Pot aux Roses (www.pot-aux-roses.blogspot.com) and about the ups and downs of entrepreneurship through her business tip blog Bite (www.bitethebusiness.blogspot.com).

Etsy Shop: http://wittyworkshop.etsy.com
Blog: http://pot-aux-roses.blogspot.com