Featured Artist: Summer Sea

Welcome to Summer Sea Herbs!
Making herbal products is an absolute joy for me, and I know that my love of Nature comes through in my work! I'm a certified Herbalist with over ten years of experience healing with herbs.

I make my herbal products with the finest organically grown and ethically wild-crafted ingredients available. Why Organic? Because I believe that my products are truly better when I use ingredients which have NOT been irradiated, treated with pesticides or sprays. Your body and spirit needs good, clean energy! Making every product with only organic ingredients costs a little more, but it's worth it!

Summer Sea Herbs is a small company, and I personally make all of my products in small batches, by hand. This ensures quality control and product effectiveness.

With many years experience as a medical Herbalist, and many more as a practicing Green witch, all my products are made with great care and skill. Whether you want a delicious tea or need an incense blend to assist in magickal workings, you can be confident that I have taken great care in blending your item. All my medicinal and magickal formulas are tried and true, developed from the personal needs of my community over the years.I keep my product packaging to a minimum, re-usable and recyclable, to have a low impact on the environment. It makes me very happy to help people through the use of herbs!Thanks for shopping at Summer Sea Herbs ~ Tracyw.

Etsy Street Team
~Proud founder of EarthPath Artisans Street Team E.A.S.T. We are a group of people who walk similar alternative spiritual paths, focusing our beliefs in the world of Nature.

Please check me out at:
Etsy shop: http://Summersea.etsy.com
Blog: www.summerseaherbs.blogspot.com

Featured Artist: Staci Rose

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

Staci Rose, San Francisco, member of WWAO & EBSQ Artist Groups, have been a performance and visual artist since the age of four...possibly earlier - my memory doesn't go back too much farther!

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

I do what the beads tell me to do.

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

My favorite at the moment is the Untitled painting. Doncha just wanna let it all hang out sometimes?

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

I created a painting for my grandmother when she was diagnosed with cancer. I painted it with the pastel colors she loves, of a female figure running with fire in her hand.

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

I love creating custom pieces. It's a very personal process and a creative challenge for me.

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

Featured Artist: Elements By Dawn

Behind the name: Elements by Dawn
Element - refers to the shape, form, mass, line, texture, pattern, light, and color of a design.

About the artist, Dawn Brandt
Dawn is particularly drawn to creating pattern and texture in her pieces. Through pattern and texture, her designs take on movement, visual and tactile interest. Through the use of color and form, she communicates emotion and energy. Dawn's pieces range from simplistic shapes and lines, evoking a sense of calm; to heavily textured with bold colors and lines, suggesting passion.

Her obsession with circles, spheres, disks, and symmetry is expressed throughout her designs.

Dawn is constantly learning new techniques, as well as perfecting traditional methods of metalworking and design.

Additionally, she is a full-time student, wife, and mother of two boys. She enjoys listening to music of all types, especially industrial, techno, a little ska, and classical. Dawn is a self-diagnosed coffee and cheese addict.

Custom Order Requests
Dawn loves to do custom work for her clients! If you are interested in having Dawn create a custom piece for you, please contact her via the "contact ElementsbyDawn" option on the right hand side of the screen, of her Etsy shop.

Wholesale inquires WELCOME

Additional Information
Visit her website at www.elementsbydawn.com for show information and her blog.
**Member of the ETSY Street Team: Art Jewelry Collective**
**Member of the ETSY Street Team: WIST (Wisconsinites)**
**Member of the Kenosha Arts Association**
**Self-Representing Artist Jewelry Designer, member no. 407**

All contributed content Copyright Elements by Dawn 2006-2007

If you are interested in jewelry components and other neat things, see my sister site: http://thedutchtulip.etsy.com!

Etsy Shop: http://ElementsbyDawn.etsy.com/
Blog: http://elementsbydawn.blogspot.com/

Featured Artist: My Heart 2 Yours

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

My name is Katie Lyn Sherry, I live in Kansas City Missouri. I am a member of the awesome KC Etsy street Team, we keep ourselves busy with local art shows and venues. I wish I had the time to be more active, but maybe when school is out. When I'm not running with scissors or playing with paper, I am a private tutor. I teach all levels of Math, Science, Study Skills and whatever that child needs for academic success. I love what I do, both the tutoring and the paper crafting.

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

My first handmade items were Mud Pies adorned with little mud decorations and rocks. I have always embellished everything!

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

My art studio inspires me! I have 1,000's of dollars worth of supplies that just invite me to come play. I liken it to an amateur golfer who is given all the clubs, the cart and the chance to play on a championship golf course. What fun that must be!

4. Why should people buy handmade?

Hand Made is the best! Our world, especially our country, has become so involved with consuming. We eat fast, drive fast, dress fast, work fast, that sometimes we don't have the opportunity to give back. The artists of the world are literally giving part of themselves with their creations. On a lighter note, hand made items are unique, well made and are guaranteed to put a smile on your face!

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

In Five years, I am hoping to own a home way north of all the city lights and distractions, with a large art studio, well equipped kitchen and a sunken tub to soak and dream in! I also imagine myself surrounded by little kiddos and letting them create as well!

Come visit me!
Etsy Shop: http://myheart2yours.etsy.com
Blog: www.katiepaper.blogspot.com

Featured Artist: PauletteInsall

Like many other artists, Paulette has been creative from a very young age. From making knotted bracelets and hair accessories as a child to taking photos for her high school year book when she was older. She never thought of herself as an artist until a few years ago. For many years she dreamed of painting, but could never bring herself to pick up a paint brush until October of 2006. That's when her love of creating stories with paint and paper began.

These days when she’s not busy entertaining her very busy four year old son, you will find her stealing any moment she can in her home studio pouring her thoughts and emotions out into the visual stories she creates through her art.

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Please visit my website to view more work or my blog to see what I'm up to and chat.

http://www.pauletteinsall.com

http://www.pauletteinsall.com/blog

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ARTIST STATEMENT

My art is about the search for connection…to self, to like minded spirits, to family, and to God. Most of my work depicts a sole woman because these are the stories of my own personal search and the emotions they invoke within my soul. My hope is that the visual stories I create with my art touch people from all walks of life and let them know that they are not alone…and find comfort in that knowing.

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Proud member of the following Etsy street teams:

VAST (Visual Artists Street Team)
http://team.etsy.com/profilest/vast.shtml

EtsyMom Street Team
http://team.etsy.com/profilest/moms.shtml

PDX Etsy Street Team
http://team.etsy.com/profilest/or.shtml

Etsy Bloggers Street Team
http://team.etsy.com/profilest/bloggies.shtml

Featured Artist: KreativeMindz

Kreative Mindz is our company I started a few years ago. Now we have added a new member, my best friend and partner in crime, An-G. We are a small company...just two gals, their sewing machines, fabric, thread, and some wild imaginations! We mostly make clothing (in all sizes and colors), Goddess Wraps™, Hot Packs, Bags, Purses, Wallets, Cuffs and many other cool things! Also check out the Wooden Kreationz section to see some things my husband is now adding. :D

A LITTLE ABOUT US
I was born and raised in a home of artists. My mother a painter, and my father a photographer. As kids we always were doing some sort of "project". This has continued for me thoughout my life, dipping my hands in all sorts of creative "projects". I found my nitch in sewing. I LOVE creating different things. I picture it in my mind and then it becomes...it is my "gift" I suppose. And I enjoy working with the different fibers to see what can be done with them.

I mostly stay at home and mother our 2 wonderful and beautiful children (9 and 2), my husband and best friend, our 3 dogs and a cat, and our beautiful land. This keeps me busy, as I'm sure you can imagine, but I try to sew on a daily basis, even if it's only 15 minutes. I have been making clothes for many, many years (15 to be exact). I first started when I was 15 and made a patchwork skirt by hand for a show I was going to. As I got older I bought a sewing machine and began making clothes to support my traveling and music habit. I have traveled all over the country selling my clothes at all the wonderful shows and festivals. I miss that sometimes but am so blessed to have my 2 wonderful and beautiful children. When my son got older I started working in the film buisness...helping design sets and such. This was wonderful and fun work, but I truly missed being home. My daughter was born 2 years ago, and with the help of my wonderful and supportive husband, I started to stay home again. I knew we needed the extra income though....so here I am...trying to learn my way around the internet highway.

I am so very thankful to have this opportunity to be able to watch my children grow!!! We enjoy our land and our organic gardens. Hiking, fishing, swimming, playing, camping, fires, drum circles and a show when we can catch one. My husband is a carpenter and loves working with his hands and building wonderful things!

An-G is living in Columbus, where she just graduated from vet school(WHOOHOOO!!!). She is currently engaged to be married next summer! :) She has been sewing a long time as well, learning some from her mother and some from herself!

Thanks to all of you whom support us stay at home mamas and independent artists!!!! And thank you for helping our dream become reality! We truly appreciate all the support! :D

CUSTOM ORDERS
We LOVE doing custom orders. Basically, this is how it works. We think up designs for our clothing. I usually draw them out, pick out coordinating fabrics from our HUGE selection, and cut away. We lay them out and begin to sew and WALAH....we have a kreation. We have so many different fabrics, I couldn't possibly begin to list them all. So if you see something you like, but you want it in a different fabric or size, convo or email us at kreativemindz@fuse.net, let us know what it is you are looking for and the colors you want. I will then go through our fabrics, lay out some options and send you some pics of your choices. I will also contact you throughout the process, with pictures and such, to be sure you are happy! I also have a huge selection of embroidery designs...so if you want embroidery on your item, let me know what you want, and we will see what we can come up with!

We will also take orders on custom boxes and signs! :D

Hope that explains my process! :)

Oh and feel free to check out all our work at www.myspace.com/kreativemindzthreadz ... that is my display as of now, for all the pieces we do (we do custom orders outside of etsy that we want to show off!!!)

Love, Light and Blessings

Etsy Shop: http://kreativemindz.etsy.com
Blog: http://kreativemindzthreadz.blogspot.com/

Featured Artist: Ellebelleonetsy

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

I'm Stacey, I own Elle Belle, and craft with 3 other friends and my Mom. You can check out the basics about how the shop got started in my Etsy profile, and a little something about each of us on my website http://ellebelleonline.com the artist profile page.

2. What is the best thing about your products?

The best thing about our products is that they make being a Mommy easier and more fun. There are so many wonderfully unique products on the market for the modern parent. We've searched through tons of them and feel that we've found some of the best, most useful, and unique ones. Together, we've been able to make them even better with our own handmade style and approach.

3. Why should people buy your product?

Our customers can feel confident in the fact that each of their items are made with lots of care and their little one in mind. We're all Mommies, we know what quality baby items are, and we want to pass that on to other Moms.

4. Why should people buy handmade?

One of my favorite things about buying handmade is that there's a life behind the item. I relish the idea that perhaps the artist I've purchased from feels like I do when someone values something I've created enough to make it their own... proud, thankful, and supported.

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

It's hard to pick a favorite item. We have such a large variety of products that are each special for their own reasons, I can't possibly narrow it down to just one thing. I think the slings are the most useful and practical items in the shop, the pillowcase dresses are the prettiest, the chalkboard placemats are the most fun, the ballet slippers are the most unique/special, and the memory quilts are the most valuable.

Etsy Shop: http://ellebelleonetsy.etsy.com
Blog: http://ellebelleblog.blogspot.com

Featured Artist: Earmark

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

Bridgette, San Diego, CA

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

Everyday I am inspired, be it either a person or a place or a sound or smell, everything can be inspiring. Nature and Travel are probably my largest inspirations!

3. Why should people buy handmade?

Nothing beats a handmade item, they are always made with love and you know it is one of a kind! Not to mention they are usually made with items of higher quality than your run of the mill items.

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

In five years I would be happy to be doing what I am doing. I have been doing this for the past five years now and it has increased ten fold since the first year. So I am hoping that in the year 2012 (wow), I will be happily and comfortably successful, hopefully I will have had time to see the world here and there and who knows maybe a child, but that is to be determined at a much later date!

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

Currently, I think it has to be our adventure card set. It is my favorite colelction with the fun imagery and quotes to live by. I hope it evokes a sense of travel and adventure in all that read them.

Etsy Shop: http://Earmark.etsy.com
Blog: http://eigreetings.blogspot.com/

Featured Artist: AnneDundas

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

My name is Anne Dundas, I live in Sydney, Australia. I'm part of the Etsy Glass Artists (EGA) team, as well as the Down Under Street Team (DUST). I have been creating jewellery since early 2004. It quickly became a passion which helped fill the time while caring for my mum who has MS.

Jewellery then lead me to the wonderful world of lampwork beads. Yet another way to play with colours. It's such a thrill to play with molten glass watching it flow and form beautiful objects.

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

Ohhh as a child, I remember making a little sculpture out of clay from the yard lol It was similar to the Easter Island heads but it had a body with arms and legs too! I think I even painted it with green paint! I have no idea why I made it, must of just been in the mood to play with mud lol

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

Oh everything! I love everything in my shop because I put a piece of my heart into each piece.

4. Besides what you feature in your shop, do you plan to turn your creative mind elsewhere or what do you hope to do, creatively, next?

Well besides creating jewellery and lampwork beads, I also currently design business cards, etc for other designers. Other than that I dont think I'll be doing much else, I hardly have the time!

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

Ohhhhh dream buyer... hmm maybe Nicole Kidman, she has a wide range of styles and I'm sure something from my jewellery range would suit her. But to be totally honest, my dream buyer would be someone that genuinely loves the item they purchase.

Etsy Shop: http://AnneDundas.etsy.com
Blog: http://annedundas.com/blog/

Featured Artist: CryZtalvisions

I have been fascinated by crystals and stones for as long as I can remember. I had some wonderful teachers during my childhood who passed on their love of nature, geology, crystals and gemstones. I come from a long line of artistic souls on my father's side of the family. My great grandmother was an amazing artist who left behind some amazing oil paintings. She also painted and fired china, she had an fantastic eye for detail and could paint tiny pictures small enough to fit on a thimble. My father was a well rounded artist and crafts person and spent many years teaching art in the public school system.

I've been creating unique pieces of jewelry for almost 20 years now, and I'm still excited by the process and I have an almost insatiable appetite for learning new techniques of the craft. Along the way I have also been drawn to studying and practicing various energy healing arts, like Reiki, chakra balancing, Earth based energy medicine, shamanic practices, and Angel Therapy. I have found combining my love of minerals, my artistic eye and skill in the jewelry fabrication and design, along with my heightened sensitivity to energies creates a powerful synergy. I love to immerse myself in the creative process and I'm fascinated when some pieces seem to magically design themselves. I am pleased to share my passion with you here.

I delight in creating these pieces! Each one is unique, with its own energy that I feel as I work with the materials. They transport me to a place of deep knowing, relaxation and happiness as I work. My special pieces not only look wonderful when worn, but also carry with them the special healing energies of each gemstone or crystal. My work is a constant exploration of the interconnectedness of man and nature.

What's with the "Z" in Cryztalvisions? You may ask? It's an homage to one of my wonderful teachers who pronounced crystals: "creezzztals"

You can see my most recent creations in my flickr photo stream:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cryztalvisions/sets/72157601619708993/

Also be sure to stop by my online store:

http://www.cryztalvisions.com

I'm on myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/cryztalvisions

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/p/Beth_Alexander/630153597