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
 

Happy Mother's Day

To all artist moms and any mom who's ever supported a child's dream:

"My mother is a poem
I'll never be able to write,
though everything I write
is a poem to my mother."
~Sharon Doubiago

Happy Mother's Day!

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 Galina of Galafilc

Today we feature an interview from Galina, a talented felted wool artist in Poland.  Her creations are like none we have ever seen before and we are glad she took time out of her schedule to talk to us.  We would like to say a big thank you to Galina for doing the interview and to her son for translating.  We also wanted to note that while we did make some minor edits so that the flow of the interview would seem more natural, we did not change the heart of anything she said.

What is your biggest inspiration?

I observe the nature around me and get inspiration from the combination of
colors, textures, layouts and sizes. I’m constantly learning
how to use new types of wool, combinations of wool and different fibers and fabrics.
Felting allows me to dive into the magical world of
handmade goods--everything is possible here as if by
magic--almost any shape can appear in one’s hands from
formless pieces of wool.

Do you tinker with other forms of art?

Recently I started dyeing wool, silk and finished goods. [I never] stop trying, experimenting and seeking new forms. From time to time I grab water-colour [in an attempt to] display on paper some image from my memory--still life, [rather] than portraits. Moreover, I am life-connected to my camera, and I love making photos.

What is your favorite thing to create and why?

I love to transform a shapeless piece of wool into a delicate flower or poppy field on a bag, mittens, slippers, hats, brooches, or a flexible reptile. But what is most enjoyable for me is making big scarves or complicated seamless clothes. This takes me a lot of time, but the effect is fully worth the effort.

How did you decide to turn your creations into a business and do you feel that this process has changed your art at all?

Everything is business from the beginning to an end. First of all, when You think of some pattern or image You want to place in reality, You think of a possible user--Your daughter or maybe customer from far away Australia. Secondly, business is about Quality of material and it’s price, and [quality service delivery].

Is there anything you would go back and do differently if you could?

Of course! I would start my felting journey earlier.

What would you say to young aspiring artists out there?

They know everything they should know. All that I should say is written in my art.

Finally, Where can we find you and your art?

My Etsy shop www.etsy.com/shop/galafilc
www.facebook.com/GalaFilc
www.flickr.com/photos/galafilc/

Happy Easter

To celebrate Easter, we offer this treasury of unusual but awesome bunnies.  We hope you have a great day!

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.

Creation Sunday: Easy Tex/Mex dinner

Today Hillary is going to share a quick and easy slow cooker meal with a tex mex flare!

A few weeks ago, we had a concert to go to at 8 on a Tuesday night and I was trying to figure out how to handle dinner because going out would have been difficult, but cooking something involved would leave me pressed for time, especially if I wanted to "get ready" for the show.  As it turns out, that morning a friend of mine posted a recipe to his facebook page that was perfect, Crock Pot Santa Fe chicken: It was easy, flavorful and wouldn't require much supervision or "fuss" throughout the day.

I made a few modification to the recipe based on the tastes in our household:
Instead of a can of chile tomatoes and adding the garlic, etc, separately, I used about half a can of Chile tomatoes and half a can of the garlic flavored tomatoes.  I added no spices other than, salt, pepper and a pinch of cayenne.  I will note that a pinch was not enough cayenne, but a whole teaspoon would have left me with a fiery mouth and an empty tummy (although, I'm sure my husband would have been quite happy). 

I also used my awesome separated insert for my crock pot and cooked the vegetables and chicken separately, because my husband is not generally a fan of vegetables being mixed in and he is definitely not a fan of black beans. Instead of what's called for, I used a can of corn, and 2 cans of black beans, with a little of the leftover halves of the aforementioned tomatoes and some salt pepper and cayenne.
The last modification I made was to cook it 8 hrs on low.  I have cooked chicken in the crock pot before and, at least in my crock pot, it is inevitably done before the longest cook time runs out and often burns or gets overcooked when on high. Also, when I put the food in the crock pot, I only had 8 hours and I didn't want burned chicken so...  Luckily, my estimate was right and the chicken was perfectly done at 8 hours (I did shred it a few minutes out like the recipe suggests and I think that that is a big help to making sure all the chicken is all the way done).

Since this recipe is very tex mex, I thought that corn bread would be the perfect accompaniment.  Being the picky, lazy gir... I mean... champion of convenience and variety that I am, I decided to go for a modified mix recipe.  I had heard of people used canned creamed corn in their cornbread so I found this Jiffy Corn Mix Hack.  I followed the recipe to a T including the part about heating up the cast iron and swirling the butter. 

If you don't have a cast iron pan... Well,  you should.  It's an amazing and versatile kitchen tool and sometimes, nothing else will do.  But if you want to make this cornbread RIGHT NOW and don't have a cast iron pan, I would go for a CERAMIC pie plate (or cake pan) if you have one.  If not, glass might work.  I would follow the same directions, but the heating time for glass might need to be a little less (it will also lose heat quicker, so you need to work fast once it comes out of the oven).

Anyways, I digress.  In addition to the sante fe chicken/vegetables and corn bread, I prepared a bag of boil-in-bag rice.  Sure, non-instant rice is more nutritious and, sure, I have a steamer that cooks rice beautifully, but some days, you don't want to be hassled.

Dinner was tremendously good and got a major thumbs up from hubby, even though he didn't get the benefit of the extra flavor of the vegetables and even though I thought he might consider it decidedly mild for his taste. Leftovers have been even more delicious because the flavors have melded even more.  Personally, I am a big fan of putting a little of everything (except cornbread) in a bowl, putting a little "shredded mexican cheese" on top and melting it, but it's totally not necessary.

This is great for a weeknight "put something on and forget about it" dinner and it's extremely tasty.

We hope you enjoy the recipe! Stay tuned for more interviews, recipes, jewelry, and otherwise awesome updates.