Interview with D. Antonia Truesdale of The Midnight Orange

Today we are featuring an interview with D. Antonia Truesdale, a talented artist whom Hillary discovered one late night on etsy.  Hillary was immediately touched by the beauty and openness of the art and was even more touched by the stories shared on her page.


First, please tell everyone what you create.
I'm a sculpture artist and through clay I create small figurines that aim to depict life journeys which mold us into who we become as people. My sculptures capture life, love, loss, fragility, and triumph and allow us to define our personal experiences with something tangible and touchable which we can relate to.

 Where did your journey with art start?

As with any artist, I think we see our roots emerging in early childhood. That said, my journey truly began when I was 16 years old. I was emancipated from my parents and living on my own without government assistance. I did work a part time job while finishing high school, but it was not enough money to make ends meet so I began making jewelry and small altered art pieces which I would bring to school and sell at the lunch tables. At that point it really became part of my livelihood and vital to who I was. Once I graduated college and got a full time job, I no longer needed the income I earned from it but at the same time I sensed I *needed* to create artwork, as much as I needed sunlight. Creation helps me thrive and balances me as a person. 

Why clay? Have you tried other mediums/art forms?
I have worked in many mediums and liked them very much, but I never loved a medium like I love clay. There is something very therapeutic in the process and clay has been the easiest and most natural form of expression for me. 

Your sculptures tackle a variety of subjects, some that seem very personal and some that are often considered taboo. Please tell everyone some of the subjects of your art and why you sculpt those things.
My subjects vary and touch all aspects of life, and I aim to face my art with honesty and bravery. This approach at times brings me to the darker areas of life that people have either experienced or been lucky enough not to. Along with my brighter sculptures, I do create some that pose as healing pieces for grief and child loss, physical and sexual abuse, heartache, and depression. While many of these pieces appear to dwell in sadness, I found that having these emblems to relate to is important and necessary. The next question is a good way for me to segue into why I feel that way. 

How did you get to this personal, emotional place with your art? Was it something that happened immediately, or did it develop over time?
In 2008 I struggled in my own darkness and felt no one could relate to me in my rawness. Many people expected me to heal on a timeline and I felt very isolated. At that time I didn't work too much in clay but I had a couple blocks in my studio. I didn't know what would come out of that session but I watched it unfold in my hands and once the creation process was finished I saw that I sculpted a very small figure in a grief position, curled over with head in hands. It was startling and slightly unnerving. I found though that I was able to put it on a shelf and walk away from it, and felt I had taken some of that darkness out of me, acknowledged it and made it tangible, then left it behind. It was a profoundly healing moment. That night I made another and listed it in my shop, vulnerably uncertain if anyone else would connect with it or even like it but since something remarkable had happened in me I was keen to share it. When I awoke the next morning, the piece had already sold and my buyer had written me a note saying that she was a counselor who worked with abused children and planned to use it in her sand tray. She went on to write: "I wanted you to know it will help many young children in their healing process. Please know that each and every time your figurine is chosen, the child and I will thank it when we put it back on the shelf--a nice way to send you some healing energy you helped create."This was more than enough validation for me to see that this line of creation could touch other people's lives as it had my own, and I kept going. 

In addition to your art being personal, I have noticed that you seem to share a lot through your blogs and other social media outlets. You talk about your personal losses and triumphs seemingly without fear. How did that develop and why aren't you afraid like the rest of us?
The truth of it is that I am scared every time I post personal writings of my journey. Always within them lies the inherent fear that "Maybe this time I've said too much". Again it goes back to my commitment to approach life with honesty and bravery. What is really important to me in the telling is not to dwell in self pity but to bring a message of survival. There is merit to saying "This happened, it felt awful at the time and is only slightly less awful now, but I am not an awful person because of it. I am a STRONG person because of it." The amazing thing that happens when I write publicly is not what I've written, but the messages that people write back to me, sometimes privately. When someone tells me that I've inspired them to be able to move past something while still allowing it to be a part of who they came to be, then it reinforces in me that all my vulnerability was worth it. 

What is your favorite accomplishment, personal, artistic or otherwise?
Without question, my daughters. They make my life more vibrant than anything else in this world. Daily I look at them and am amazed that they came out of my body. I still cannot believe I made them. 

Recently, your artwork was used for the images in a book about child loss. Can you tell us about how that came to be and what that process was like?
I would love to tell you about that! In 2011 I was contacted by award winning author, Dr. Melissa Yuan-Innes regarding a book she wrote on child loss after struggling through her own personal losses. Melissa is an amazing person and incredible writer and I was very moved when I read what she had written. It was soothing and reassuring while recognizing the experience of total loss and heartache. So beautiful. I got right on board with her and we spent months going through images and carefully choosing which sculptures partnered with the imagery of her words, and in the end we were able to present a very profound piece of visual and literary art. "Your Baby Is Safe" was published by Olo Books in November 2011 and is available through Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

What advice do you have for other artists trying to make it?
I am always asked this question and the answer is perseverance. It can take a long time to gain momentum and it is so important not to lose hope while things are slow. In my first year of business I made 67 sales. I've been in business almost five years now, and last year alone I made over two thousand sales. That did not happen overnight and if I threw in the towel early on I never would be where I am today. The first two years it took A LOT of work, hardly any sleep, and believing in my dream but I made it. Don't give up.

Finally, where can we find you and your art?
My artwork is only available for sale in my etsy shop at www.themidnightorange.com. 
I have an active fanpage on Facebook and can be found here: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Midnight-Orange/105314011660
And my blog is at www.themidnightorange.blogspot.com. I somewhat neglect my blog but when I do post there it is on something highly meaningful to me.

Interview with Heather from Weaving Web

Today We bring you an interview from Heather of the Weaving Web, a talented crafts-person who draws inspiration from her unique religious beliefs.  Thank you very much for taking the time to share with us, Heather!

 

How did you get started with arts and crafts and how has that relationship developed over time?

I really begin many years ago making simple hemp necklaces and bracelets to wear when I was in high school (1996). In 2006 I started making medicine bags out of leather and collecting stones, and began to read about what healing properties they had. Then in 2010 I decided I wanted to learn how to sew, so I bought and sewing machine and with a help of a friend I learned how to sew. Next came the jewelry making, which came very easy to me and I just started crafting like a mad woman.
I feel a real connection to everything that I make and I do enjoying creating new things all the time. It is just a wonderful thing to do.

According to your profile, A big part of your life and the items you create is your pagan and native American Nature based beliefs, which you say you didn't get into until a few years ago. If you don't mind, can you tell us where you started as far as religion and personal philosophy, how you came to believe in the things you do and how that belief has developed to where you are now.

When I was 16, I decided I wanted to learn more about alternative beliefs. I began reading about Paganism and the different kinds of witchcraft practices. I have been a solitary practicing Witch more many years now. In 2006 I joined a wonderful community that practices Native American (predominately Hopi) practices and saw how I was able to intertwine my own practices with it. Since this time I am doing a seven year apprenticeship with our community leader, learning all I can about Native American ways of healing, ritual, etc. I have been able to intertwine my Pagan practices within this and it has been wonderful. I became an interfaith minister in 2009, and I now teach spiritual circles and do Rune, Card, and other readings at my home in Lexington, KY.

Have you found a lot of resistance to your ideas and your shop or do you find it's easy to connect with people who understand what it is that you do and sell?

I have not found a lot of resistance with others toward my shop. Everyone seems really friendly and very encouraging.

What would you want someone who believes differently from you to understand about you and the items from your shop?

I would want these people to know that everything that I make, I make in a good way and put love, light, and good healing energies in. My motto is "Harm None" and "Walk in Beauty".

Why do you think that the items in your shop are special?

I think what makes my items special is the time and love that I put into making them. I always clear the space with sage and when I'm done I always clear the items so that they are infused with good energy. I never make things if I am not feeling in a good way.

What would you say to other uniquely gifted artists who want to do what you do?

Just do it!! Don't be afraid to create your what you feel you should. You will love the experience and you might be surprised by the response of others loving what you've created!

Last but not least, where can we connect with you and your art?

Right now I'm only online, www.etsy.com/shop/weavingweb
I do have a facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Spider-Womans-Weaving-Web/109828152394437

Interview with Sundari of Moovmint

Today we are featuring an interview with Sundari from Moovmint, a talented footwear and clothing artist.  Thanks, Sundari, for taking the time to talk to us!

Can you tell us a little bit about your history with arts and crafts?

I guess I was born an artist. I was always making something from nothing. I have this need to make things pretty to beautify my surroundings. As I have gotten older and more confidant my art has gotten better and has more meaning. I started making clothes by hand. It was way before I had a sewing machine and I would sew every stitch by hand. I was a total hippie and would also make hemp jewelry. I got my first sewing machine for my 21st birthday and went off to fashion design school. I loved learning and being able to create better pieces. I liked designing clothes but still felt something was missing.

How did you arrive at your current art form? You could make anything in the world, why boots with hearts and skeletons and mirrors?

I spent a lot of years lost and not doing my art. I didn't know what my art was. Nothing spoke to my soul. Nothing my hands made seemed worth any thing. Then It all started with a black pair of boots. It's not that I'm not a fan of black, I just like color. So I set out to make these boots anything but black and I had no idea the door that would open for me. FINALLY. I have found something that speaks to me. That makes my soul sing.

What part of you do you think speaks the loudest through your artwork?

I think my inner child shines through into my art. I like to add a little fantasy to my work. I want it to be fun.

What has people's response to your work been and what kind of people do you find tend to be drawn to your work? 

When I designed my first pair of boots I was stopped all the time and complimented and asked where I got them. I started to think maybe I should make more. So I started going through all the amazing things I have collected over the years and coming up with different designs. I made enough pairs to do a fashion show and then started my shop on Etsy.

What is your favorite thing you have ever made and why?
I don't even know how to answer this. I think my favorite pair of boots I have made are the Sunrise in Tokyo. I have a thing for pink. I have been going back to my roots as a fashion designer and started making dresses again. I think every new dress I make now becomes my favorite.

What do you love the most in life?
um? Wind! It makes me feel so alive.

If you could make everyone in the world understand one thing, what would it be?
Make your life fun. It makes it more worth living when you do. AND Love your self. Love your self more than you ever thought possible.

And Finally, where can we find you and your art?
You can find my art on ETSY I have two shops now. My Boot shop and my new dress shop.

Visit my boot shop at: www.etsy.com/shop/moovmint
Visit my Dress shop at: www.etsy.com/shop/TheTatteredTailor
 

Interview with Casey of TreasureBeans

Today we a featuring an interview from Casey of Treasure Beans, an amazingly talented artist who deals with a hard subject in her art.

 

Hi, my name is Casey and I'm the artist behind Treasure Beans pebbles and the micro-miniatures of Tiny Dream Shop.  I live in Ontario, Canada where I raise my family and create my tiny works.

Your art is very specific: tiny sculpted pieces related to child loss.  The question that always comes to my mind with this type of art is, "how did the artist arrive at something so unique?"

I first began my journey in the pregnancy & infant loss 'market' after my first child was stillborn.  I offered keepsake images of personalized pebbles, photographed in an artistic way.  Over time I began to add colourful artwork to make these pebbles more personal and started selling them.  I dabbled in assorted memorial items and thought, "I want to offer something to grieving families that can't be found that expresses what they truly long-for... to hold their baby". Whether lost to miscarriage, stillbirth, medical condition or other tragedy every parent wants nothing more than to hold & love their baby.  Because of this work-vision, I coined the phrase, "The dreams of your heart in the palm of your hand." for my works.

Your art typically deals with a very sensitive subject; Do  you ever feel it's challenging to make child loss related art either because of personal feelings or because of reactions of those around you?

I started a line of pebbles featuring faceless women in long, flowing dresses (and hair), holding/lifting their angel(s).  Shortly after that I thought how wonderful it would be to have a 3-dimensial version, and have it presented like a treasure.  I landed-on the idea of using tiny, train model people; altering them by adding clay and paint to create tiny scenes symbolizing longing, love, hopes and dreams - captured inside tiny vials, domes and cases.  I eventually switched to using all clay sculptures so they would become 'my own'.   The design possibilities became endless and the feeling, much deeper. Although the subject is so taboo - you can never frighten a bereaved parent away from remembering their child.   I even began showcasing pieces that featured women at gravesides and angels watching-over tiny caskets/urns.   I found this very therapeutic - as it's such a 'real' feeling for a baby-loss mother; and no memorial art can make me feel any sadder than I already do for the loss of my daughter.  My work is an extension of her on earth.  Helping others share & honor their babies is my goal and it's also healing and inspiring for me.  I believe in taking pride in your children no matter where they are.  I encourage others to raise awareness to acknowledge the children who existed and are loved, to respect the families affected and to educate communities to prevent future losses.

Are there other forms of art that you have engaged in, either in the past or now?  Did any of them stick around?  If so, why do you feel drawn to continue to do them?

My newest creations are hand-sculpted, micro-miniature, baby angels on stone, metal and silver pendant necklaces.  My customers have expressed how much they love these sensitive pieces but wear them with pride, as they are too cute not to share. 

I still paint keepsake pebbles with babies, angels, animals and my Pure & Tender, signature style.  Occasionally I paint my visions onto miniature canvas' and magnets, and now also offer hand-painted footprints of actual baby prints, personalized and presented on a colourful, clay base.  (I just LOVE to see the images of the little feet I'll be painting).

What is your favorite thing you have ever created and why? 

I fall in-love with every piece I create and find it a challenge to send them home every time - but it would be selfish to keep them!  I'd have to say that my favorite piece is the very first, Pure & Tender pebble. It was inspired by my own loss;  featuring a hillside scene with blue sky and clouds and a woman in a purple dress, lifting-up a little angel baby in a diaper - celebrating being together.  

What is the most amazing thing about what you do?

People are always amazed by the tiny detail involved in my pieces but I'm actually amazed by full-size art and personally, find it very difficult to paint/sculpt anything much bigger than I do.  I'm not 'amazed' by anything I do but I AM amazed by the people I always meet and grow close-to throughout my journey of grief and grace.  My work inspires them in so many ways,  and quite a few of them have gone on to do great things, including pay-it-forward and other memorial programs. THAT amazes me.

What would you say to those who are dealing with the pain of a lost child?

Through any kind of loss, comes change.  You can make the choice to use that change to hold you back/bring you down, or you can let it inspire you to make a positive difference in your own life and hopefully, in others'.  If you can't change something, why not turn it into something else?...  This doesn't mean you have to move-on or 'get-over' your pain... it means, don't torture yourself, emotionally if there's just no point.  As I've heard many times before: "It's not the weight of load - it's how you carry it."

Finally, Where can we find you and your art?

Thank you for reading my story and thank you so much to Hippy Beads for taking the time to feature my ministry.

My pieces can be ordered through www.treasurebeans.com & www.tinydreamshop.com.  To view many more creations, I can be found on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TreasureBeansPebbleworks & www.facebook.com/TinyDreamShop

Interview with Darcie of Synchronic

Today we are featuring an interview with Darcie of Synchronic.  Darcie is a talented fabric artist who creates a variety of eclectic items.  She even made the purse that Hillary currently carries!

 

First, tell us about your history with arts and crafts. How did they first come in to your life and how did you eventually settle on your current art form?

I was blessed to grow up in an arts and crafts family and was drawn to anything creative from the start. Raised with the idea that I could create anything I imagined without a penny, my first fabric creations were recycled scrap transformed into barbie ballroom dresses. Living in what most would call poverty, my world was always rich with possibilities. That idea grew in me as I matured and influenced every art form I played with. As I began my Etsy shop, my first objective was to Shine the Light of Thrift...to celebrate the idea of enough : )

How has your style developed over the years and what in your life do you think has influenced that?

I was blessed with a school system that encouraged creative expression in the classroom (something we don't see much today). We were given the supplies and an idea, but from there we were expected to use our own creative process. Using our minds in this way, rather than the current paradigm that says "re-create this exact example the best you can" helped me to rely on and trust my creative instincts. This greatest blessing...that trusting, secure feeling has allowed me to approach so many projects with the idea that anything is possible... that I can create anything I can imagine, with the supplies at hand.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I stand in front of my rather large fabric stash and colors pop out and say "I belong"! Then, based on the shape of the fabric at hand, I connect them into a design that flows. Always, thrift, comfort, and celebration of life : )

Your shop has an eclectic mix of items including purses, table runners, skirts, etc. So many artisans choose to just focus on one or a few items (e.g. "only purses" or "only blouses, skirts and pants"), what led you to featuring a mix of items and how do/did you arrive at the mix you have?

Some fabrics say they want to be something different. Plus, I have too many ideas to be content with just one.

You mentioned in our etsy conversation that you're in the mountains. Can you tell us a little bit about that?

My little family lives with our greater family in the mountains of Montana... a full hour from the city lights and fifteen minutes from the sound of the highway. The stars and moon at night are so bright they cast a shadow. Chickens...goats...earth and sky : )

What is your favorite thing in life?

My favorite thing in the universe are those breathtaking moments of synchronicity that allow me to witness the miracle of connection and flow ~

What is your favorite thing about being an artist?

The Infinite Possibilities : )

What would you say to other artists trying to create a business for themselves?

Follow your heart and soul. Create from your center and others will want to be a part of that. Resist creating from a place that asks "What will make money?"

And finally, where can we find you and your art?

You can find many of my creations at www.synchronic.etsy.com. I may also be a part of the Great Falls, Montana Saturday Market this year.

interview with Sandy of UpToMuch

Today we bring you an interview with Sandy of UpToMuch in Edinburgh, UK.  Sandy is a talented artist with a very unique approach and creation process.  Hillary says she hopes you enjoy reading this as much as she enjoyed conducting the interview.

How did you get started with art and creation?

I've always been into making things, my mam and dad are both practical people capable of making things and fixing things so the house always had plenty of tools and materials slightly beyond the normal children's crafting stuff.  I built a lot of model kits, tanks, planes and the like, though was never very keen on painting and decorating them.  In fact, I was never very good at making them either, until my brother showed me that I didn't have to use ALL the glue, ALL the time.  I loved the way the parts interlocked, how some kits were so satisfying to construct.

How did you get from where you started to the items you make now?

[It was a] Gradual process of increasing the scale and complexity of designs, in
woodwork or in graphics, until they started to have real function.  It
was kick-started when I decided I wanted to go to study 3D design
(furniture and fancy stuff) at university, and I needed to build a
portfolio - this made me put a structure around my play, made me
define bits and pieces as explicit projects and led to a more
formalized and concerted year of varied projects, experiments and
analysis.

I never graduated, but kept on making things all the while, and
revisited a couple of my university projects (thiswayup lamp) armed
with new processes and techniques that were suddenly open to the
general public like never before - namely laser cutting through
Ponoko.  The ease of this spurred me on to look more closely at these
new manufacturing companies that hid all the dirty manufacturing work
and delivered a very finished and reliable part - Shapeways was next
where they'd just introduced printing in steel, and I rattled off a
couple of designs for jewellery that I'd had for a while, and they
came out beautifully.  I opened a little storefront on Etsy just to
gauge reaction, and was very pleased by the result.

Your creation process is very unique.  Can you tell us a little bit about

how a design is conceived, then how it comes to be "printed" into a plastic or steel item using a 3d printer?

My design process is a very technical one - that was a place I was
very weak in university and felt it acutely.  I'm not good at
sketching, and I'm terrible at presentation graphics - I tend to
diagram and annotate rather than express, but I did learn to iterate
and iterate and iterate, produce as many drawings as possible rather
than labour over one perfect one.  My jewellery is not sketched on
paper first though, it's almost always created primarily in the CAD
software.  This is possible because I'm self-guided--I don't have a
brief--I just play with it until I get a form that appeals to me, and
then that becomes the jumping-off point for the rest of the design.
It's also because my designs tend to be technical and with repetitive
features, and they are hard to draw!

Once I've got a form I'm interested in seeing, it is exported as a 3d
model file and sent to my 3d printing company (I'm usually using
Shapeways at the moment), and I wait for a couple of weeks to see if
it really looks and feels as nice in the hand as it does on screen.
It's hard to judge the physical reality of an object without ever
setting hands on it - working just from an on-screen view, even with
the most photo-realistic renderings, is very risky.

The nylon pieces are made by using a laser to melt a pattern (a
cross-section of the 3D model) into a bed of nylon powder.  Another
thin layer of powder is added, and the next pattern is melted into it,
fusing it to the layer below.  A few hundred layers later, you can
shake off all the loose powder that hasn't been melted, and you're
left with a solid model.  This is really strong and light, great
stuff, and takes dyes beautifully, and can even be burnished to a very
handsome finish.  I use this for my bracelets and for prototypes.

The printing in steel is similar, except instead of a bed of nylon
powder, it's fine steel powder, and instead of laser, there's a kind
of glue that get's sprayed, like an inkjet printer head.  Once the
model is finished being built up and the loose material blown off
(still very delicate, only glued together after all), it's packed into
some other material, has a sprue attached and is heated and injected
with molten brass.  This burns out all the glue and fills all the
voids and makes the object entirely solid. After that it's cooled,
tumbled, polished, can be plated or further finished if required.

There are plenty of other processes and technologies, it's really
booming now, and some are really affordable.  I've got a little 3d
printer I built from a kit (eMaker Huxley) that sits next to my
computer in the living room and builds models by extruding layers of
molten plastic out of a computer-controlled nozzle.  Good for
functional prototypes.

What led you to using a 3d printer over other options available for

creating jewelry?

In a word, access.  I don't have the space or the money to run a
workshop and do messy, noisy, fiery stuff.  3D printing, and other
on-demand manufacturing like it (mail order laser cutting, etc.) give me
the ability to produce usable, functional, hard-wearing and beautiful
things without having to do all that messy stuff.  I love the messy
stuff, but I just don't have the space or the time.

This would seem to me to be the choice of someone who is inquisitive and is

always looking for new ideas... What other things are you inquisitive about

or what other new ideas have you explored?

My current most consuming project is my drawing machine (polargraph).
This is a pen hanging from a couple of bits of string, that can draw
pictures.  It's simple, there's almost nothing to go wrong, and it's
very appealing because of it.  It's drawing technique has a slightly
mesmeric effect - very watchable, which is odd considering it is just
wiggling a pen back and forwards.

But it captures attention and lots of people like it.  I love the idea
of a machine using human tools, especially in a non-imitative kind of
way.  This isn't a machine that draws anything like most people draw,
it's obsessively focused on the detail and has no concept of the
(literally) bigger picture.  We could draw like it if we wanted to,
but it goes so against our natural bent that it would be so difficult.
Whereas to get the machine to draw more like us (perceiving
patterns, objects) is entirely against the machine way of doing
things, it's not natural at all.

This is based on a machine called Hektor that was a spray-can drawing
machine made about ten years ago - I remember seeing a video for it
then and feeling so inspired to do something physical, something with
hardware, actual parts.  That was back when it was still quite hard to
do that kind of hardware hacking unless you knew what you were doing.
I just had to wait around for long enough, and eventually, projects
like the Arduino put that sort of power in the hands of people like me
- curious but fairly ignorant.

So I put together some off-the-shelf hardware and wrote the software
for this and it has gradually turned into something that is much more
suitable for general-purpose use, as a cheap way to make huge
drawings.  I made one for a gallery last year that was 6 metres wide -
took all week to draw a simple image, and the speed is a big part of
the attraction for me.  It was self-consciously an attempt to break
away from the standard formats (something that has to fit through a
printer or on a screen) and proprietary tools (special inks and
printers) that makes computer imaging sometimes pretty anodyne.  It's
easy to get stuck in that graphics ghetto of just working
in-the-computer because it's so easy to get a professional looking
result, even if it's a fairly vapid idea.

What would you say to other unique artists trying to make their start?

Produce, make, do, sketch, iterate, iterate, iterate. Whatever your
product is, just make it as much as you can.  Don't over-value any
particular recital, don't over-polish, it becomes brittle and fragile.
Do it, and if it's not good enough, do it again, and if it is good
enough, move onto the next thing.

Finally, Where can we find you and your art?

Jewellery and drawings:
uptomuch.etsy.com
Or can be bought from Godiva Boutique and Curiouser & Curiouser in Edinburgh.

Drawing machines:
www.polargraph.co.uk

General development:
www.euphy.co.uk

Interview with Joanna of Earthware

Today we bring you an interview from Joanna of Earthware, a handmade jewelry business in Hoover, AL.  Hillary met Joanna several months ago at a craft fair in Helena and the two have kept up with each other since.

Your story is a little different from most of the other people I have interviewed. Tell everyone how you got started into making and selling jewelry.

Ok, so I got started making jewelry around November of 2010. A friend of mine has a small jewelry business and I invited her to do a jewelry show at my home for me and all my friends. I was super excited about it because I got free jewelry for hosting. I was so impressed with her collection that a few weeks later I asked if I could come to her house and pick through her bead studio to see if there were things that I could throw together. I was hooked as soon as I walked in the door. It was bead heaven. Wall to wall, beads, components, string, chain, etc. You name it, she had it. I picked out a few things and left. I couldn't get her studio out of my head, I had to go play in bead land. I called her and basically forced her to say yes that I could come help her make jewelry part time. She paid me a few bucks a set. I was obsessed with beading after my first day. We would sit there for hours, listening to music, create and chat. She was pretty impressed with how well I did for never having beaded before. I too was pretty impressed with myself. She mentioned that I should start my own business. My mind started spinning. After a few weeks, we had pumped out so much jewelry that she had to place new orders. There was too much down time for me. I decided at that moment that I would do what she had recommended and open my own jewelry business. A sweet friend let me borrow some money to get started and that was the beginning of Earthwear. 

Making the jewelry was easy, selling it, not so much. I got my first order of beads on April 28, 2010. It was the day after the horrific tornado that ripped through Tuscaloosa, Cullman and Birmingham. I was in the middle of trying to organize donations for a friend of my son's teacher who had a 2 week old baby and had lost their home. In between emails, I started searching the internet for local art shows and was amazed that there was a whole little world out there for artists. That made me very happy! I then realized that it was mostly too late to get into most of them due to the late time of the year and deadlines. Some of them were nice and let me in late, others basically told me tough luck and call back next year. So that is exactly what I am doing!!  

In the time that I have known you, your skill and style have improved rapidly. What do you you attribute this to?

My style of jewelry making started out very basic. All I did was bead. I am good with color and shapes, and just put pieces together that I thought would look good. I like a lot of different shapes, colors and textures in a piece, and multiple patterns. You know when you see Earthwear, it just has that look. I will never forget my first time working with copper wire. I was so afraid to fail at it that I avoided it for a long time. I just didn't think I could do it. A friend of mine that was selling my jewelry for me started wrapping pendants. I had already bought all the stuff to do it, but like I said, I was scared. She did such a good job that I became obsessed again. She came over and showed me how to get started and I need to thank her for that. So my style has grown and evolved in a short time due to my determination to prove to my self that I can do anything that I set my mind to. I adore pretty, handmade jewelry and strive with every piece to make it the best one I have ever made. 


Where do you get your inspiration for the art you create?

Inspiration for each piece comes from a single stone usually. I have always been good with color. I mean, putting together outfits, planting a garden, decorating my home...etc. When I see a stone that I cant quit thinking about, I know that is my inspiration piece and I build the piece around that stone. I do get "writers block" occasionally and get sick of the same ole stuff that I have been making and I'll jump on Pintrest or Etsy and grab and idea or two. If I do that, I always make sure that it is made differently than the original piece I saw. I would not want to copy anyone's work. 

What have you found is the most successful way to market yourself?

The most successful way I market Earthwear is by getting out there and showing people who you are and what you have to offer. The other most successful thing about Earthwear is my logo. I put my logo on all my earring cards, so when someone buys them, they have my logo as well. That is the first thing people recognize when they see me at a show. They point to my logo on my tent sign and say, "oh yeah, I've seen this jewelry somewhere". When you make quality products, they basically sell themselves, you just gotta get it out there in everyone's face. People are more willing to buy something if they are familiar with it. Smiling helps a lot too!

What details do you think artists should pay attention to when trying to market their art that they might sometimes miss?

I think an artist should stay true to who they are and the art that they create. Don't go out there and try to create something that isn't you and try to create something just because you think it will sell. Creativity is such a powerful and personal journey. When an artist sits down to create something, they are not thinking about how much money they are gonna make from it, they are thinking about what inspired them to do it in the first place. They are thinking about the miners who dug into the earth to find the vein of turquoise, or the logger to cut down the tree, or the welder who cut the sheet of metal, or what ever person worked to make sure you have your medium of choice. Or at least that is what I think about. I also think about the person who will wear that piece of jewelry and if I will ever see them out and about enjoying it. A big realization for me this past holiday season was the fact that women all over would be opening gifts and seeing my logo and that gorgeous piece of Earth that Mother Nature was so gracious to offer us. All artist need to remember that, yeah, the money is good, but none of us would be doing this if we didn't love it. So don't look at your art as a job, but be thankful that we are able to do what we love, what is in our hearts and that other people love it as much as we do and want to give us money for the things that we create. The old saying is true, Its a labor of love.

What is your favorite thing about creating and selling your art?

My favorite thing about creating my art is the satisfaction I get when a piece is completed. I will throw the necklace around my neck and think it is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I love it even more when I see someone else get excited about the things that I make. It is a very good feeling knowing that someone loves something that you made and love more than you do!

Last but not least, where can we find you and your art?

You can find me in the heart of Hoover. I have grown up here and will raise my children here as well. Hoover is home and always will be. I don't have a shop, but you can find my art here on facebook and at most of the big art shows in Hoover and surrounding areas. I am hoping to get into the the 2012 Buck Creek Festival this year and have already been invited back to a number of festivals from last year. One being the Festival in the Pines at Tannehill State Park in Sept. I plan on doing the Moss Rock Festival here in Hoover as well as the Bluff Park art show in Hoover in November. I am booked for a event in Helena called You're So Artsy in March. Also I will be at the Mt. Laurel Spring Festival in April.

We would also like to note that Joanna has a facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/earthwearbyjoanna

Interview with Laurie from Art By L J Grove

Today we bring you a fabulous interview from

from Art By L J Grove  (Laurie J Grove).  Not only is Hillary a huge fan of Laurie's work, but she has purchased several items from Laurie as christmas presents over the last few years.

First, Tell us how you got started with art.

I've been dabbling in arts all my life. I can remember being pretty serious about charcoals and pastels when I was around 9 years old, and I've had a growing selection of art supplies ever since. The art store is one of my favorite places to go and I'd probably camp out there if they'd let me.

Have you ever tried different mediums or art forms and if so, how did you settle on your current art form?

I've tried a lot of different mediums of art, from sculpting, wood carving, and bronze works to pencil drawings, watercolors, and oil paintings. I can't really say that I've settled on one, or even have a favorite. Currently, I'm working mostly in 2D, and I often switch between pencil drawings, ink paintings, watercolors, and oils.

What draws you to the particlar type of art you create: your style, the subjects of your drawings/paintings, etc.?

While I've explored various styles of art, I find that it is hard to change what comes natural to me. Most of my art probably falls into the "realism" category, even though I often struggle to break out and loosen up and attempt something more stylized, whimsical, or abstract. Over the years, I've also covered a lot of different subject matter in my works, but animals have been my main focus. The animal kingdom holds such joy and fascination for me. I love everything from inchworms to elephants, so I have a feeling that animals will continue to find their way into most of my creations.

How did your love of art develop into a business and how did you arrive at selling shirts, mouse pads, etc. instead of just selling paintings and sketches?

When I first started setting up an online presence, I was still only producing and selling original paintings and drawings. Many of my customers and collectors would tell me that they were running out of wall space, so I started thinking of other ways to bring my art to the public. My first idea was wearable art, so I printed my artwork onto some t-shirts, and my art merchandising business was born. Things grew from there and now I'm printing my artwork onto other types of clothing and accessories: sweatshirts, tank tops, tote bags, and mousepads. Recently, I purchased a direct to garment printer which has allowed me to expand into dark colored clothing as well. The dark colored clothing poses all new design challenges which has once again pushed me to grow further as an artist.

Do you find that competing with retail establishments is a problem for your business?

Being the artist, designer, and printer of my products, I don't worry much over having to compete with large retail stores because there are so many people out there who prefer wearing something off the beaten path... something more unique and artistic than what you can find on the shelves of Walmart and Target. 

Tell everyone out there why, as consumers, we should buy your (or an artist's) wolf shirt or your dog shirt or your eagle shirt instead of the dog, wolf and eagle shirts we can get from wal-mart for less money.

Whether my customers are looking for something cute and fun, or quirky, geeky, and just plain weird, they know they can find something that strikes their fancy in one of my online shops. They can enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that their t-shirt, sweatshirt or tote bag was totally created by the hand of the artist, and that I truly care about every item I sell.

What would you tell aspiring young artists who are trying to turn their passion into a business?

For anyone with a dream of running their own business, I encourage them to never give up on those dreams. Create small goals and hurdles and measure your success each day. I believe that passion, perseverance, and the willingness to grow or change when needed, will always bring success no matter what type of business you are in. Never forget that success is not a measure of money. Success is a state of mind.

And, last but not least, where can we find you and your art?

Currently, I have 3 online Stores where my fun art merchandise (and occasionally original artworks) can be purchased:

at Etsy

http://www.etsy.com/shop/artbyljgrove

at eBay

http://stores.ebay.com/Art-by-LJGrove

at Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/b/qid=1328918665?ie=UTF8&me=AYEL4H72OLXAU

I also have a website which I use as more of a "home base"

http://artbyljgrove.com/

And a Business Page on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/ArtbyLJGrove

Interview with Cocoa L.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hi there! My name is Cocoa, I'm from Huntsville, AL, and I'm a 17-year-old photographer. I read a lot of books, doodle, and sometimes do theatre, but mostly I just take pictures of stuff.

How did you first get interested in art and photography? 

To tell the truth, I honestly just fell into photography. However, I've been doing "artsy" stuff all my life as I'm very right-brained. When I was very little I drew a lot, and I also have a bunch of community theatre experience (which I still do in high school), and that's great because it helps me entertain the young kids and keep them focused. As for photography, though, I started off playing around with my mom's point-and-shoot and taking photos of my backyard and pets and whatnot. I remember I used to take her old Kodak around the Target shopping center and take photos of everything just for the heck of it, but eventually I realized that I wanted to learn more about photography and get more serious about it. I think things just kind of went from there.

Most people would consider you very young to be so skilled and talented, is there something you did or something that happened that you think helped this process?  

Practice, practice, and more practice! I carry my camera just about everywhere and try to take photos, whether it be for clients or just for me, at least once a week. I also spend a lot of time reading photography books, magazines, and online things. For the most part I'm self-taught.

How did you decide to start a business?

There was never really a conscious decision, to be completely honest. People started asking me to photos and so I eventually I made a website, got business cards, and before I knew it I was getting tons of job offers. It's kind of funny how that stuff works- I never really meant to become this involved, but I love it more than anything and I want portrait photography to be my career.

What would you say to other artists who are trying to get a start?

Again, the most important thing is to practice lots! Also make sure to listen to constructive criticism, but don't let rude people discourage you. I was told on a forum when I was just starting out that my work was garbage, which upset me a lot, but I eventually learned not to let that kind of negativity get to me. If you love it, keep doing it. It's as simple as that.

What is your favorite thing in the entire world? 

I have lots of favorite things- my camera, my hedgehog Finnegan, wintertime, good books, stormy days... I could go on and on. I think it's safe to say that I really enjoy life in general.

Do you have a favorite photograph (your's or someone else's)? What is it and why?

For some reason I always get this question, but I can never really think up a decent answer. I tend to favor the recent stuff when it comes to my own photography. Normally I'm particularly fond of whatever's on the front page of my website, and that changes a lot. As for other people's work, well, I don't know! I look at so much photography that I really don't have an all-time favorite image. Tough question!

Last but not least, where can we find you and your art?

My website is http://photosbycocoa.com/, and if you live in the Huntsville area, you should definitely check it out! I shoot everything- children, families, seniors, engagements, weddings, you name it. I also have a blog, which you can find at http://photosbycocoa.wordpress.com/. I should also mention that I'm working on getting a studio at Lowe Mill alongside the fabulous Kayla Byrge of Fig Tree Jewelry (http://www.etsy.com/shop/figtreejewelry), which should be exciting. Lastly, if you want to become a fan, I have a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/photosbycocoa. Voila!