Featured Artist: Vanessa Kimball

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

Vanessa Kimball, from Minnesota. I am a graphic designer working in St. Paul.

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

I'm inspired by fellow designers and magazines. I love graphic design books for inspiration and ideas.

3. What is the best thing about your products?

The best thing about my products is that it is an actual tangible object, that is in my head. I love it when my creations come alive. I also love paper a lot.

4. Why should people buy your product?

They should buy it if it's their taste and style and if they appreciate paper goods.

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

A purse. I wish I could sew.

Etsy Shop: http://Vanessakimball.etsy.com
Blog: http://vanessakimball.blogspot.com

Featured Artist: Celtic Goddess Jewelry

Celtic Goddess Jewelry was started in early 2001. My name is Andee Harston. Art has always been prevalent in my life. I love to draw, paint, sculpt, make jewelry, and most recently, photography. I am influenced by spiritual learning, nature and goddess and Celtic imagery. I identify very strongly with my Celtic heritage. I am a Buddhist pagan living in the Orlando area. Please feel free to contact me for further information or custom inquiries.

*Goddess jewelry, Pagan, Gothic, Chakra, dragonfly, butterfly
*Buddhist and Zen Jewelry
*Artwork and photography
*Sculpture
*Custom and Unique Pendulums and Divination (all pendulums come with free instructions!)
*Headpieces and tiara's
*and more!
~~~Member of Earth Path Artisans street team~~~
~~~Member of FAE : Fantasy Art of Etsy~~~

Etsy Shop: http://celticgoddessjewelry.etsy.com
Etsy Shop: http://sacredwaters.etsy.com
Blog: http://buyindie.blogspot.com/
Website: http://celticgoddessjewelry.com (Gallery)

Featured Artist: SignatureSterling

SignatureSterling specializes in designing sterling silver beaded jewelry - bracelets, earrings, and necklaces. I use primarily sterling silver - not silverplated unless noted - for all silver beads, spacers, charms, findings, toggles, etc. I also use color and texture with genuine Swarovski crystals/pearls, lampwork beads, Czech glass, and semiprecious stones. My line of Buckeye (Ohio State) jewelry also features life-like lampwork buckeye beads.

Committed to high quality in supplies and design, I am a SRAJD (#1111), Self-Representing Artist Jewelry Designer.

Member of The BeadHive, etsyBEAD, EtsyMom, JET (Jewelry on Etsy), and TBO (Tranquil Beading Oasis). Search with “BHV, etsyBEAD, EtsyMOM, JETT, and TBO” in tags to see all our wonderful creations! Member of the SRAJD #1111

Featured at WickedlyChic.com

Etsy Shop: http://signaturesterling.etsy.com
Blog: http://signature-sterling.blogspot.com

Featured Artist: Simply Said By Sarah

Sarah Orton is a graphic design student in North Carolina. Her flair for design stems from a lifelong interest in crafts and her pieces demonstrate a fun spin on a contemporary sense of style. Encouraged by the requests she’d begun to receive from fellow employees and friends, Sarah decided to combine her creativity with her business sense, and Simply Said by Sarah was born. Each piece is handcrafted and unique, and is sure to add a tasteful touch of originality to your home!
-JDO

Visit http://www.SimplySaidBySarah.com for lots of other goodies! Bags, purses, bath & body, jewelry, embroidery, paper goods & lots more!!

**** ALL PROFITS FROM THIS SITE WILL BE DONATED TO THE NEDA ****
NEDA is dedicated to expanding public understanding and prevention of eating disorders and promoting access to quality treatment for those affected along with support for their families through education, advocacy and research.

Millions of women, men, girls and boys suffer from eating disorders. Eating disorders are illnesses with a biological basis. They are very serious, life-threatening illnesses and currently there is no cure. Help is available and recovery is possible for these sufferers. Every donation counts.

Etsy Shop: http://simplysaidbysarah.etsy.com
Blog: http://simplysaidbysarah.blogspot.com
Website: http://SimplySaidBySarah.com
Myspace: http://myspace.com/SimplySaidBySarah

Featured Artist: Knuckle Toes

Hi there, I'm Katie, thanks for stopping by.

I'm a smalltime, jewelry, clothing and purse maker who wants to share her style with the world!

I'm from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, and every year I try to make it out to the surrounding Folk Festivals to sell my product. I've gone the last two years and really hope to make it out again in 2008!

I try to make my clothing and purses out of recycled materials. Anything from tablecloths, to pillowcases, to reused LP record covers. This not only gives my items a vintage feel, but it helps the environment, and what more do you need?

If you see anything you like, don't hesitate to contact me and ask me any questions you like about it. If you're in the area, I may be able to cut down on your shipping, so let me know!

Etsy Shop: http://knuckletoes.etsy.com
Etsy Shop: http:/revinylized.etsy.com
Blog: http://knuckletoes.blogspot.com
Blog: http://revinylized.blogger.com
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/knuckletoes
IndiePublic: http://www.indiepublic.com/profile/knuckletoes

Featured Artist: Craftymoose

I have been crafting for as long as I can remember. I am self-taught and have enjoyed painting, needlework, quilting, polymer clay and jewelry making. Most recently, I have found myself drawn to beads and have returned to the art of French beaded flowers. I enjoy making original, one-of-a-kind butterflies & dragonflies. I am also introducing a new line of one-of-a-kind beaded art dolls and suncatchers. Custom requests are welcome.

All my items are lovingly created in a smoke-free, pet-free environment.

The name Craftymoose came about because of my love of crafts and my husband's love of moose. My avatar, in my shop, is the head of a 4'+ tall moose I made him one Christmas!

Keep checking back because I am always adding new things, and you never know what you'll find in this forest!

Etsy Shop: http://craftymoose.etsy.com
Blog: http://craftymoosecrafts.blogspot.com

Featured Artist: Darjeeling Paper

My name is Michael Gresh, and I am a man of many trades. Designer of hotels by day, craft inventor and schemer by night. I am a self-proclaimed "paper nut", and my work hopefully shows just that.

I am co-owner of DemiGod Studio, an eclectic duo of craft & art show afficionados. When I'm not working on plans to open our very own shop, I bide my time coming up with new and inventive ways to use up the stockpile of paper I've accumulated over the years.

I started Darjeeling Paper, Ltd. as a way to showcase my paper goods, and to distinguish my works as a new product division of DemiGod.

Viva La Independante!

Etsy Shop: http://darjeelingpaper.etsy.com
Etsy Shop: http://demigodstudio.etsy.com
Blog: http://www.darjeelingpaper.com/blog
Website: http://www.darjeelingpaper.com

Featured Artist: Alternate Bliss

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

My first name is Tanya... Born in England, raised in Utah! Let's see I'm a social worker/kindergarten teacher by day, artisan jeweler by night literally! lol I have degrees in English & Social work as well as a minor in philosophy. I'm currently teaching a kindergarten class and finishing up my masters in education.

Let's see what else can I tell you... Oh my sculpting and watercolor painting abilities only recently came about. I am completely self taught and honestly believed until I was 30 that I had zero creative abilities. I was tormented because I felt so creative but never dared to explore it! So my advise is... go for it... what have you got to lose! I laugh when I look at my path... I just go wherever my heart leads me. For now my passion is directed towards my family (husband of 10 years and two daughters ages 1 and 3, always and forever my passion), teaching, fine silver and just creating stuff in general!...lol.

Affiliations: Member of Altrusa International (community service oriented group).

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

1st thing I remember making by hand was a kindergarten craft project that involved dipping my hands into this mint green pasty paint and pressing my hand onto a sheet of construction paper that featured a typed out poem about little hands. I'm assuming it was a Mother's Day project of some kind.

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

Inspiration: Comes from all things, music, art, literature, family, walks, drives, quiet moments, film, fellow artisans.

4. Why should people buy handmade?

Buying handmade means more than buying something you like, it means you're buying from a fellow artisan, from a name not a conglomerate. It means you truly value the artist and the final creation. It supports a community that lives and breaths creativity.

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

Creatively, in five years I hope to have discovered more of my talents that have been dormant. I didn't know I could paint or sculpt until I was 30. I honestly believed that I had zero creative ability. I have never taken an art class in my life up until my 30's. Scratch that I actually had an art appreciation/history course in high school which I loved, but sincerely believed I could never paint or sculpt. I can't wait to see what things I'll be making.

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

Featured Artist: BerryPatchDesigns

I love to combine the varying colors and textures of the natural world. There are so many feelings and places to love about our world!

The materials I use in my jewelry are those that remind me of those places and feelings: turquoise, jasper and agate in their infinite varieties, other semiprecious gems, like amazonite's soft greens, garnet's rich wine colors, bronzite's gold-flecked chocolate depths. High quality man-made glass and metal beads join in the visual symphony; they have their own brightness and feelings to contribute.

Hearing and seeing that people enjoy wearing my jewelry is one of the best things about designing jewelry.

New designs are always in the works. I love designing jewelry and work constantly to develop new skills and improve existing ones.

I do make custom pieces on spec. You don't have to buy them if you don't like the final piece. If you would like a custom piece made, please convo me.

Etsy Shop: http://berrypatchdesigns.etsy.com
Blog: http://strainsasylum.blogspot.com
Also check my other two Etsy Shops:
http://SilverShadow.etsy.com
http://UnderCurrent.etsy.com (Alternate "reality" shop)

Featured Artist: Cats Paw Artifacts

Judy Richards resides in Portland, Oregon where it rains this time of year. A well kept secret is that it doesn't rain all year around.

Judy is a member of the Portland Bead Society, the ORBS (Oregon Regional Beadmakers Society) and the ISGB (International Society of Glass Beadmakers).

Judy makes lampwork beads and designs jewelry - unique and hopefully artful jewelry. She is always striving for new ideas, new shapes in glass.

Judy is inspired by nature (flowers, birds) depicted in glass. She loves abstract lampwork most of all with layers of glass and complexity. She is always striving to that goal.

She has done the work of reasonably exact glass beads - but yearns to break out of that toward something more complex and deep in an artistic sense. She also has a sense of humor and doesn't take herself too seriously - she is the owner of 2 cats, hence the cat beads. Judy likes to laugh and make others smile with her work.

Judy's dream buyer is the Sundance catalog.

Probably the best things she has made are jewelry with her own lampwork beads and semi precious stones that have sold that are really pushing the envelope of what we think of as jewelry and adornment.

Etsy Shop: http://catldy99.etsy.com
Blog: http://www.catldy99.wordpress.com