Etsy Artist Finds.... and me finding myself.

Back in early 2007 I discovered Etsy. Life was different then, I was  different. I loved re-furbishing and painting furniture (mostly kid things). I signed up for Etsy but never really got around to making it happen.

Instead we got slammed by the wave of recession sweeping across Michigan and rapidly to the rest of the country. My husband worked for Chrysler and you know-that didn't turn out so good! lol-I can laugh now, but we nearly lost everything we had-except each other. 

Included in the loss was my creative spirit. You know, life has a way of forcing priorties on you and at the time all my creative juices were being poured into figuring out what the hell we were gonna do! We lived on the road for over 2 years chasing work in my husbands new field. First we stayed in hotels then in our motorhome. Ezzie was just a year old at the time. We were like modern day Okies (ala the Grapes of Wrath).
Now when someone says- "What do you think you'll be in doing in five years?" It sounds cheesy to me-I just laugh! Seriously? We had a brand new house, 6 gorgeous, wooded acres and in an instant we were living in a hotel room in some other state! Still, I felt blessed. I was with the 2 people I loved the most, having some really cool adventures, and we were executing a plan.

Years later when everything calmed back down, and we bought another home, I started thinking about me again. The things I love, the things I want to do. I rejoined Etsy, began blogging, and started cultivating my dreams. I realized how special it was to be able to connect with a community of creatives like me, who were pursuing their passions the way I had dreamed of doing. That's why I love to feature Etsy shops in my Wednesday posts. I hope it doesn't feel too much like a commercial, it's just something I really believe in! SUPPORT HANDMADE!

OH YEAH- Remember my art print contest starts tomorrow so be sure and check that out and you could win some fare for your area--from ME!:)

Here's a few artists that are packing a geometric punch.

Check em out...

ZIPPER 8 LIGHTING:








NENA VON:

THE PAIR A BIRDS:

 LAMPSHADE DESIGNS:

Etsy Artist Finds...feathers

What can I say I love Etsy! There are so many cool shops and wonderful artists out there to find. I like having these focused weekly posts because, let's face it-if I was wasn't actively searching for some of these things I probably would never come across them. The Internet is vast and seemingly limitless right? Anyway, I've been focusing on feathers this week as my inspiration. Here are few Etsy shops who have some feather inspired pieces of their own.

Have a look...

1.) Beepart- London, Ontario, Canada AF feature

2.) Mermaids Dream'-Novia Scotia, Canada

*3.) Michelle Brusegaard-North Dakota USA

*4.) Monorail- Austin, TX

*5.) Tangerine Home- San Diego, CA

6.) Swirly Garden- Bettendorf, IA

*7.) Giardino-Cleveland HTS, OH

*8.)Golly Bard -Upperville, VA

*9.) Amber Alexander- Vermont, USA AF feature

* shops with this star are also some of my faves from my own Etsy shop Area Fare Kids

Something to look at...

I found these yesterday and thought-"that is so cool". These little paper cuts are from French artist Anastassia Elias. There are many more to look at, so head over to Behance Network and check it out!


Here's a little look...

ETSY ARTIST FINDS...

With travel still on my mind, I found some Etsy artists with wares to compliment the travel minded shopper.

Have a look...

SHERRY TRUITT STUDIOS: This shop has some really cool pieces including necklaces, bottle stoppers, and drawer pulls. Her vintage map jewelry is popular and has even been featured in a wedding magazine.

HEATHER FUTURE:This student/artist says "I'm always trying different techniques and getting excited and passionate about something new. I'll work intently on one project for a few weeks, and then need something completely different to keep my mind excited. So I've got lots of different work in both my Etsy shops, along with other projects, from murals to private commissions to gallery projects, that don't end up on Etsy." Her shop is filled with lots of things. Check it out!

Brightwall:I've featured this shop before but artist Erik Taylor has some cool upcycled luggage and other stuff too. The best part-he's a Detroiter! Check him out...

THINGS I LIKE...

As I drove away from Transformers 3 yesterday with my son, 2 nephews and their friend, the subject turned to what a job is and why do parents have to go and more importantly why will they have to go someday. They all knew that it was to get money and they all seemed to think that having a job didn't sound like much fun! lol-I told them of course some jobs aren't fun, and that they all needed to go to college for something that is interesting to them. Then I sounded like a true parent when I uttered " If you do something you love you'll never work a day in your life!" My 12 year nephew then proceeded to argue that "Confucius was kinda wrong" and "he didn't really believe that anyone likes a job all the time-every aspect of it." hahaha-Too smart for his own good I suppose. What do you think?

Well, I know that I like what I like. If I become overly influenced by others, I tend to feel like something is missing and that I'm off track a bit. We all gravitate toward what we like because it fulfills a need. Sometimes there is so much out there to choose from, and so many people telling us what we should like, that it becomes difficult to figure out what it is that we actually love.

Sometimes I feel this way about ETSY. There is so much stuff! Well, I just did my first Taste Test. It's a tool they developed to help buyers come in contact with the sellers they might like, based on the things that they gravitate toward. It's pretty cool. Mine was pretty right on-there were like 9 of my favorite shops in the grouping-it was like a magic trick! hahaha-click here to go to my taste test. It also shows other people who have similar tastes so that you can browse their fave shops and find even more stuff you love! Give it whirl....

 Now here's something I like:

The artwork of Michelle Armas. The lovely bright colors, juxtaposition of her brushstrokes and abstract quality of her work just make me happy!

ETSY ARTIST FINDS AND SOME SUMMER MUSINGS...

AHHH...back home again and showered up! We spent the fourth of July camping with the kids and a group of friends. It was a great time. Our boys were the dirtiest they've ever been but they had a blast swimming, playing at the lake, watching fireworks and eating lots of ice cream!

I have been so busy this summer and things are piling up on the docket everyday it seems. I'd be lying if I said I missed spending time cruising the Internet for things to blog about! I have absolutely LOVED being unplugged. I seriously thought I might put AF on a summer vacation of it's own and resume in the fall when school starts. I can't do it though-I love it too much-it is my source for artistic inspiration and has made me really happy!

 So, I've decided that for the summer I'll do a low calorie version of Area Fare, AF lite if you will. I'm not going to post everyday again until fall but you can expect a couple of posts per week! 

Today a little something from the Etsy Shop:

Jillian Audrey Designs

This Bostonian and self professed crafty girl was on the front page today of Etsy with this photograph:

Isn't it cute! When I checked out her shop I found that she had some summer-ish photo art of beachy things and it reminded me of Alpena, the beaches along the Great Lakes and northern Michigan summers in general!

Have a look...

Hope your summer is as wonderful as mine has been so far!

 Cheers!

ETSY ARTIST FINDS...

I love colorful, simple, naive-style, artwork, so this Etsy shop TWOEMS definitely fits that description. I also really like the geometric quality that San Francisco based artist Melanie Mikecz achieves in some of her designs. When I redo my kitchen I'm buying something from this shop for sure-remember that pop of color thing I was talking about? Perfect! She says that her work is a digital mixed media technique (this is how I describe my artwork as well). What does that mean? She describes it this way-

"... it involves sketching, painting, drawing, scanning, Photoshopping (is that a word?), more painting, possibly some scribbling, more scanning, washing paint out of my hair, and then finally printing on my Epson printer."

Ha-sounds familiar!

Check out Melanie's shop-TWOEMS on Etsy...


her website- http://www.mm-illustration.com/

her Facebook page--http://www.facebook.com/pages/Twoems/165682406802831?v=wall


Have a look...

Like this? Check out similiar styles from other Etsy artists I've featured...

MAN'S BEST FRIEND...

I've talked about this artist before but he's so awesome I'll mention him again! John W. Golden is an accomplished graphic artist whose wonderful prints make me smile. His designs are popping up all over in places like Land of Nod and Target! Loving his dog collection, appropriately called the Fido series. See more of his work on his website-www.johnwgolden.com

Fido series by John W. Golden on Etsy

ETSY ARTIST FINDS...BIKE WEEK

I can say with complete certainty that this is the closest I'll ever get to bike week! Just kidding-I actually like dirtbikes and watching the races, but that is an entirely different subject matter. Today is just a bunch cool bicycle stuff from the Etsy universe!BTW-there is ALOT more bike stuff on Etsy-if you're so inclined...


Check it out!

1-Cyanide stitches   2-Funky Chicken designs   3- Dark Cycle Clothing   4-Graphique  5.-Idillard   6-Lenny Mudd   7- Word Garden   8-Livy Lou Designs   9- Mod Diva    10- Neuvo Designs   10-Oh Little Rabbit   11-Olliff Studios  12-Sweetnature Designs  13. Dark Cycle clothing   14-Tiny Cottage Treasures  15-Vital   16-Vohandmade

ETSY ARTIST FINDS.............SCANDINAVIAN IMPORTS

I can't even tell you how inspired I am by the artists I've found this week! I love the whimsical designs, fresh content and fun colors of these Scandinavian creations! You will be in love too! xoxo

SYKO- This wonderful collection of soft goods will have you swooning! Her work consists of sewn items like pillows,cards, and prints that incorporate fabrics and stitching. Her collections are playful, colorful and expertly crafted.


She recently published a book "Scandinavian Stitches" and writes about her work in more detail on her blog SYKO. Her blog has links to her work and Flickr photostream- can you say delightful?
Check it out for sure...

Laura Amiss- I know I've told you about this artist before(remember the tea party week?) Well, I just had to feature her beautiful work from the Netherlands in more detail. Her pretty pictures and perfectly stitched canvas pieces make me happy! Check our her website Laura Amiss, her flickr stream here, and her Facebook page here. It's worth the trip...

Majali Designs-You'll surely love the sweet designs from Maja-a graphic designer and illustrator from Sweden. Her childhood inspired pieces really speak to me-they are fun and whimsical but also have an emotional value-like a book-you SEE the story in her work. I'm hooked! Check out her blog HERE and her website Majali...

TTYR-This artist from Stockholm hand-carves stamps for her Etsy shop. She can customize stamps for you with the family dog, your house, kids-whatever! Her designs are simple and fun and there are lots more examples of her work on her blog-This is just to Say...Have a look!

   HAVE A LOVELY AND ARTFUL DAY!

THURSDAY ART ADDITIONS.......TEA TIME!

Just a few little tea party themed images I did this week for you today-plus I'm doing some different things this week on AF and today is no different. So-I'm posting some other tea party art things I've come across this week from other artists. I've been only posting my own art on Thursdays but I thought why not share the love sometimes-especially when I have a busy week and need to work on other stuff!

So-I'm including an illustration with digital coloring layered on an actual painting I did that also has been digitally edited-you may remember it-I'll post it too-whew-you got that-lol

also posting a little drawing I did of some tea cups with a digital edit and a new girls ABC print that went into my Etsy shop this week.

The last FIVE images are from other artists whose afternoon tea images struck my fancy!

Hope you like...



cherry blossom cottage painting on canvas with digital edit



jackie oh no! illustration with digital coloring and layering

Tea Time-illustration with digital color

Pretty Birds and Butterflies-ABC print available in my Etsy Shop!

artist Laura Amiss

found via my heartistry blog

found via my heartistry blog

found via Tumblr

found via flickr...www.swj.spb.ru is on the painting but otherwise ?

SEE YOU TOMORROW FOR FRIDAY TEA PARTY PRETTIES!

WEDNESDAY ETSY ARTIST FINDS...OFFICE SPACE

WELL
My Inspiration for the week is the home office-so in keeping with that I've found some great ETSY shops to make your office (and mine) SUPER cute! Check these stores out-SUPPORT HANDMADE!

POPALICIOUSTOO-This mom is a full time ETSY artist and it's a family affair-her husband cuts the wood pieces and she puts the kids to work on other stuff when its crunch time! Andrea recently had brain surgery and also runs several other shops on ETSY-whew! I love the buttons from this shop-you could make magnets, pushpins, jewelry-whatever-and another bonus-she buys all the artwork from other Etsians-love that! Check it out....

Gingiber-Stacie is a wife and mom who says her full time gig is less than inspiring so she loves to create things for her Etsy shop. Her cute things have even been featured on DECOR8....have a look

Moore Magnets: This shop in NC features cute fabric covered magnet boards to make your office or child's space pop! April's creations are affordable too....SEE...

Freestyle Gifts-This shop carries an eclectic collection of handmade gift items using vintage papers and found objects! I can totally see the record album file storage containers in any cool office space! Really neat....

Beepart-The artists from this shop in London, Canada pride themselves on their funky, cool original art-I love their laptop decals-How FUN....

Paper Pumpkin-This mother/daughter duo from New York crafts up the cutest things-Love the fabric pushpins and paper products for my office!!! They blog about things too.....give it a look...

Uncommon-This popular shop located in Indiana-near Chicago has lots of different things. I've featured some things from this husband and wife team in other posts-the cute green table in a Monday Inspiration post here....I'm loving their simple modern clocks...See for yourself...

SEE YOU TOMORROW FOR MY OWN STUFF-THURSDAY ART ADDITIONS...