Favourite Shops - Chick-Lit Designs

 Oh gosh wow I want to buy so many things from Chick-Lit Designs store on Etsy... It makes me want a iPad, just to get a cover to match! I have a bit of a soft spot for the White Stallion of Lipizza!

Tell us a bit about yourself.

 My name is Michelle. I’m a first generation American with roots in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. I live in a little house in the suburbs of Gilbert, AZ, with my husband. I love to travel the world and study different cultures. In the past few years, I have found that creating handmade items is a huge passion for me. I am constantly thinking of what I can make next, and I spend hours in my studio – it is like therapy to me. I can hardly wait to see the finished product. When I do finally finish a project, I’m so completely excited that I have to run to my husband and show it off!

Describe your craft

   make handbags, clutches, ereader covers and iPad covers out of used books!

How did you get started with your craft?

 I discovered Etsy a few years ago when I was trying to find a way to make extra money to send to my parents during a difficult time. I have always been interested in turning old objects into something unique and different- so i opened up my shop and would send my parents the money I would receive from the profits. Eventually, my parents told me to stop sending them money, but I couldn’t pull myself away from my shop – it has become a part of who I am.

What is your earliest crafting memory?

  I've always been crafting! It's hard to say what my earliest memory was... I think when I was about 5 years old I made a little dinosaur out clay in grade school. I still have that little dinosaur- I'm still surprised at how good it turned out!

What are your favorite materials to work with/favorite mediums?

  Definiately books and fabric. I love finding a fun,unique old book and then finding the perfect fabric to match the book!

How did you come up with your store name?

 I used to have another shop with a horrible store name- so i just recently re-openend a new shop called "Chick-Lit Designs" . I wanted something catchy that was related to books. And I Love my Chick-Lit's!

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

 I have a full-time job as an advisor working for a company that sends American college students abroad to study other cultures in the foreign countries.

Where does your inspiration come from?

 I’m inspired every day by vintage items, bookstores, colors and patterns. Just looking at an interesting pattern can really drive my creativity. I’m also inspired by Etsy. It’s a complete melting pot of creativity and a place where I can be myself and create. Not only is it allowing me to follow my dreams, but I see the community it has created with other sellers.

What does handmade mean to you?

 Handmade is my life. It’s where I came from, it will always be a part of who I am. Growing up, I remember my father making everything. We would get handmade gifts for Christmas. If my mother wanted something from the store, my dad would simply make it for her instead. Handmade to me is the passion, love and effort you put into an item: something that comes from the heart; something to remember a person by. It carries with it a history and a story.

What handmade possession do you most cherish?

One Christmas, my mom asked what I wanted for Christmas. They were about to lose their house, and I didn't want them to spend any money so I asked her to make me something. She sent me a painting she made of Slovakia. I love it because of how much time she spent and all the care and thought she put into creating it. It’s now the central feature of our guest room!

How do you get out of your creative ruts?

 I try to do something relaxing — I go to the pool, watch a movie or just go somewhere to let my mind rest. After having had some time to myself, I pull up Etsy and read Quit Your Day Job posts. After reading some, I almost immediately find myself getting up to go find new books and start new projects!

Where would you like to be in ten years? 

 I would love to spend about a third of my time living in Slovakia and the rest here in the US. In both countries, I see us nestled in our own little haven surrounded by beautiful greenery, trees, and streams, but never too far from civilization. I can envision living in a peaceful area with my husband, raising our kids and making a home as special as my parents did for me. I imagine my business being even more developed, eventually leaving my day job behind and making my creative passion a full and complete priority. I’m so interested to see what exciting things will develop for me, my business, and my family in the next ten years!

Where can you be found online? (besides on Etsy)

 I'm currently only on etsy, however my husband is helping me create my own website. I'm not sure when it will be fully running... but hopefully soon!

What would people be most surprised to learn about you?

 I was an extra in the movie "The Notebook". I was also a Stand-In for Judy Greer in the Lifetime mini-series "Maneater". :)

What did you like to do when you aren't crafting?  

 In my free time, I am obsessed with international travel. I love to read, watch movies with my husband, and do geeky things like visit waterparks or play mini golf. I love going on picnics and visiting local cultural events like the Polish festival or Oktoberfest.

Baby chickens and Instragram

 Splash Silkie Chick

Belgian d'Uccle Bantams

Blue Silkie Chick

Favourite Shops - MaudStarrArt

I love the use of chicken as a motif in  MaudStarrArt's images... It's a winner for me....

Tell us a bit about yourself

I am a urban expatriate artist living on a small hobby farm in rural Ontario,Canada... I work out of a haunted historical studio in an old Courthouse(1860's) and am quite driven to create-.I finally realized after many years of making art that it's part of my fabric -and essential to my well being . I live with my partner(human Stephen) a variety of creatures who often play a part as my muse ;-)

Describe your craft

I am a mixed media artist with an editorial illustration background..This has influenced my style and intent as I approach my art with the eye of a storyteller ! My paintings are a hybrid of past and present..and my reverence for old photos/portraits in my work is a way to give new life to old imagery..my art has evolved from working in high realism as a painter..to using found elements in my work to tell a story ..very satisfying process for me..less technical and plodding too :-)

 

How did you get started with your craft?

I have painted,drawn and made stuff for years -from paper mache to puppets to textile art ..to assemblage and collage.

What is your earliest crafting memory?

Making an illustrated storybook in a tent under a huge willow tree in my backyard at ten years old.

What are your favorite materials to work with /favorite mediums?

Found objects,boxes, marvellous vintage bits and pieces,ephemera,old photos ,acrylic and gel matte medium..it is everchanging!

How did you come up with your store name?

I needed an alter ego with a timeless,long ago feel..

7. Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I care for my indoor and outdoor animals,pot belly pigs,goats ,chickens,dogs and cats ..read as much as possible,walk,spend time in nature and work in adult mental health part time developing and piloting socialrec/life skills programs..

Where does your inspiration come from?

The past..rural life..the incredible, human experience!

What does handmade mean to you?

made by hand (grin) not machine..or alternately not mass produced by others

What handmade possession do you most cherish?

all my art from other artists which has either been given to me or traded.. but especiallymy Frida Kahlo qullt which was completed by total strangers in a round robin

11. How do you get out of your creative ruts?

take time awa to quiet my mind....mix up my schedule..visit other places..commune with nature..look at lots of other artist's work for inspiration

Where would you like to be in ten years?

Hopefully happily creating full time and continuing to let my art evolve..

Where can you be found online? (besides on Etsy)  

my blog .."my Ephemeral Imagination"

heathermurrayart.blogspot.ca/

facebook page..

www.facebook.com/maudstarr

What would people be most surprised to learn about you?

I am quietly but passionately an advocate for animals and the protection of their well being/lives. I am vegetarian,feminist in my political slant and although never hysterical -a believer in a more equal world for all. I also am a bit of a non conformist (shhh)

What did you like to do when you aren't crafting?

Read,walk,commune with nature,participate in lofty,stimulating conversation with others,sprend time with my daughter in her new urban life.

Egg candling with a broken big toe...

It's among how much having a broken foot affects your life! It doesn't help when your mum in the same house also has a broken foot. Hers was cat related, mine horse... Within two weeks of each other!

Anyway duties need to be done, so yesterday with blanket and torch I went out to candle my broody hens eggs. I would normally go out in the evening, but that's. bit dangerous in crutches. We already have too many broken limbs to be breaking more!

Candling is the process of checking on embryo development inside an egg. Will get photos of this as soon as I'm mobile!

So my hens have done a pretty awful job of sitting on their egg. But I have some due to hatch today so I will hobble out and check on them soon!

The Show

Two weeks ago I took my little brumby to The Canterbury A & P Show. "The Show" as it's known is a big agricultural and pastoral event every year in Christchurch (though every area has small ones, this is the biggie. It's a three day event where the country comes to town. This year was the 150th anniversary of the show. Clydesdales were to play a big part in the show as they would have been a big feature 150 years ago. 

I had three days off work (the Friday of the week is a provincial holiday) to prepare and attend. Tuesday was spent rushing about cleaning my little Kristin. Thank goodness I did so much as it obviously paid off. We placed 6th in the line up for presentation. Rather amazing and I have to thank three lovely ladies for helping me with her tail, without them I would not have placed. They helped me put in traditional tail spikes (I can't remember their name though!) The judge said that I would have placed higher if her mane was braided (which they do in Australia for 2 year olds) but I said she would be next year.

We also placed coming 3rd in the 2 year olds class and came 7th (so missed a ribbon) in the walking class. The judge commented that I walk faster than her but that will be easier when she gets bigger :)

 

Unfortunately my show was cut short by short by an accident with Barney when I came home to feed him. Leaving me in hospital with a broken toe and my friend looking after Kristin at the show. I don't want to talk about that now though... It's still in cast!

  

I am very proud of Kristin and look forward to doing it all again next year!

Favourite Shops - prettygoodthings

I'm just in love with prettygoodthings... I'm rather jealous of the quirky style that's going on

Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Mary Pattavina and I am the owner/designer of Pretty Good Things. I am married, live in Lincoln, NE and have an addition to candy and popcorn.

Describe your craft
I make hats, fascinators and other accoutrements/do-dads for ladies of the radical variety.

How did you get started with your craft?
I didn’t have a clue what I was doing with my life after undergrad, but I knew that making was something I needed to continue doing. I graduated from the University of Nebraska in 2003 with my BFA in studio art and in 2004 PGT was born. During the first few years it wasn’t really a serious venture – more of a hobby and no focus or direction– a ‘oh wouldn’t that be fun’ type of a dream. I worked in the “real world” for a couple years after and returned to get my graduate degree in apparel design from UNL. It was during the summer of 2008 that I started making fascinators. The first one I made was the Oh Deer Fascinator – though it has evolved since then. I quickly realized this was the direction I needed to take because making and building these 3D fashion objects was a good mix of things that spoke to me.: drawing/sketching, sculpting/constructing, crafting. It just fit.

What is your earliest crafting memory?.
One of my earliest memories of crafting solo (you know, outside of school, or supervised events) is making these faceless folksy dolls out of calico remnants my mom had. They were stuffed with cotton balls and glued together with white Elmer’s glue. I was probably 7? And man was I proud of those things! I still have them.

What are your favorite materials to work with/favorite mediums?
I’m an 8 year old half-human half-magpie at heart so I find I am really attracted to anything miniature, sparkly, iridescent, bright or in rainbow order: sequins, glitter, polka dots, animal prints….toys and figurines. I love making wearable dioramas! You know, I am really all over the place: I tend to use repurposed fabric from old blouses, etc. in a lot of pieces. I love soft fluttery things, like organza and chiffon…but man can those things be a pain to cut and sew! I usually look for light weight fabrics – crisp taffeta, lightweight knits and woven fabrics when making hats. The last thing you want is a heavy headpiece! I do love gravity but sometimes it can be a creative challenge to engineer around. Thank goodness for starch, buckram and wire! When I draw or paint I use watercolor, pen/ink/marker, and graphite the most.

How did you come up with your store name?
Picking a name was pretty frustrating as I recall. I had some help. My husband (then boyfriend) helped me find clarity after I was having trouble coming up with one I was satisfied with. This is how I recall it went down: Nick: ‘so…describe what you do.’ Me (frustrated): ‘ugh. Ok. Well. I make things. I dunno. They’re pretty. They are good.’ Nick: ‘why not Pretty Good Things? And so it went!

Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I currently just work for my small business Pretty Good Things. Although my past resume contains varied skills:
Instructor at the University of Nebraska to Art Supply Store sales associate to maid/room inspector to insurance agent! (but I think I am done with the hospitality and insurance industries, thanks! :)

Where does your inspiration come from?
I feel like my pieces are inspired by playful concepts, “girlie” themes and silhouettes. There’s a lot of nature involved in my pieces too – bunnies, underwater influence, flowers.

What does handmade mean to you?
I guess handmade usually describes an object’s birth but I like to think about the word and what it means between two people. Handmade connects people in meaningful ways. Handmade gifts are often the most treasured. And when I find myself shopping handmade I know I am directly supporting another human being doing something - creating something they love. And to me, that’s pretty darn cool.

What handmade possession do you most cherish?
A tiny purple warm fuzzy made by my kindgergarten teacher. I also am deeply attached to a couple mini books I made when I was 5 or 6.

How do you get out of your creative ruts?
I walk away from things. Take a day off of work. Focus on me. Feel sorry for myself and then stop feeling sorry for myself. Sketch for fun. Meditate. Relax with a glass of wine. I have to remind myself to be patient and not force it.

Where would you like to be in ten years?
On a personal ten year plan, I’d be delighted to own a home with my husband and if we’re especially lucky to have the funds to swing visiting long distance friends much more often and go on vacation for a week at a time! Oh that would be pretty rad.
In the business end of things, in ten years I PGT will be my sole source of income and I won’t rely on working elsewhere to make ends meet. I would like PGT hats and accessories in many more shops around the country – but still trying to maintain the handmade nature of things. I hope to expand my wedding line and work with more brides with non-traditional tastes…like beautiful, fun, bright wedding veils and headpieces!

Where can you be found online? (besides on Etsy)
prettygoodthings.com
twitter.com/MaryPGT
facebook.com/PrettyGoodThings
pinterest.com/prettygoodthing/
flickr.com/photos/marypattavina/

What would people be most surprised to learn about you?
Hum. That’s a good question! I wish I could say something really fascinating…like I am Dolly Parton’s niece. Or my biological dad is Elvis Presley. But I feel like I’m just a regular gal with certain talents, hang-ups and all the rest of the good stuff that makes humans totally unique and completely the same all at once.

What did you like to do when you aren't crafting?
I enjoy relaxing reading or watching mysteries and hanging out with my dude. I’m a self proclaimed candy and popcorn junkie so often you can find me relaxing with these things in hand. I love illustrating/painting/drawing. Sometimes I feel as though my business is my hobby – which I don’t mind in the least! I love my “job”!

Introducing Barney...

So I now have two lovely Clydesdales in the paddock... Meet Barney. He is a lovely gentle 4 year old gelding with a big white face. Though he is older than little Kristin he still has a lot to learn. He's been well handled but not had many lesson so he still gets scared by simple things like being tied up. He wasn't too good at getting his feet picked up but now he is a lot more comfortable with it (though currently not his hind offside which he has taken a chunk out of while playing with Kristin and it's a bit sore...)

He's now confident having a cover put on but needs a lot more handling round his mouth as he does not like hands being held on his muzzle, though he is getting much better. This may take a bit of a back step when the dentist comes to visit!!!

Nautical Treasury

Thank you

AidforAbby for featuring me in your lovely treasury!

Spring and Summer... Let them not pass you by...

 

The last few months have been a little crazy. I am making a pre-New Year's resolution to be a bit more of a blogger. I have a lot to say about the last few months... The flowers in the garden are out, I have a new horse and there are baby chickens everywhere!!!