Finding: Whitney

Hello Friends,

Today we will enter the head (figuratively speaking, no Hannibal Lecter stuff) of yet another new artist in the vast handmade jungle, otherwise known as Etsy. Whitney from the shop "Whitney's Wish to Be" has agreed to reveal her soul, or at least the creative part of it, in front of us.Enjoy!

• Share a bit of your story, please.
  

I live in Florida with my husband and elementary age son. Crafting is like therapy to me. I have always enjoyed making gifts for my friends and family. Each year I create a unique Christmas card to mail out. Sometimes I do ask myself "Why do I do this to myself?" , but in the end when the friends call saying how wonderful it is I know why.

Recently I have started going to Estate sales. You have no idea what you will find while you are there. At one sale, I found old necklaces which had wonderful beads but not a great style. When I got home I broke it apart and started using the beads along with beads made from magazines to create new bracelets and necklaces. This is where the idea of Wish To Be came from. Creating new items from old items. 

• What place does art have in your everyday life? How do you manage to balance creativity and chores?

Balancing act is hard to do. I work, serve on my PTA board, I am Mom, Wife, Friend. I am no different then most women...we are busy. Crafting for me is therapy. It gives me time to be creative and work on something I like. Everyone needs to find something they enjoy, whether it be gardening, reading, working out...mine is crafting because it's two fold. I enjoy it and when I gave someone an item they enjoy it too. 

• What is it that inspires you? 

My son. He is impressed that his Mother creates gifts from items that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Our children are more environmentally conscious then we were at that age. They know about recycling, landfills, and global warming. I can say when I was at his age I never gave those things a second thought.

If we are in a flea market or estate sale he will look at an item and say "What can you make out of this?" He keeps me creating and raising the bar.

• What do you expect to happen to your Etsy store in the future? Where do you see yourself in one year?

I would love to have a core group of repeat customers. I don't have to have everyone buying from my site, just people who have purchased from me or who have been referred from previous customers. A referral is an honor, someone liked you and your products enough to put their reputation on the line to refer you. 

Making sure I have a quality product is key to referrals. So, I have several friends, my sons teacher and my mother in law testing products. Several items are in different stages of testing. Products I sell are tested and revamped and tested again, so people know they are buying a quality product. I want people to keep coming back and see what crazy idea has popped out of my head and is now a new item on "Whitney's Wish to Be" . 

• Any strategy to help you achieve your artistic goals? Would you share one tip with all new-born artists? 

My tip is try it. If it doesn't work try it again and again and again. My book purses had several revamps. They were good but not great. so I tried again and again. I still have the original purses and I think I will make picture frames out them. We will see if it works...if not - oh well. I tried and will try again.

• Anything else you'd like to say?

 Thank you for all the people who have , listened to my crazy ideas, tested items for me, visited my Etsy shop, blogged about me, and I can't wait to thank my first Etsy customer. 

• Sharing Pictures:

I Wish to Be your pair of 1/2 Butterfly Lampshades.

I wish to be a purse instead of a Breaking Dawn book.

I wish to be a paper bowl instead of a magazine.

I wish to be a bowl instead of a Barry Manilow Record.

I don't know about you, but I think this is one of the most original shops I've seen recently!
I wonder what my old shoes wish to be? Well, this remains a mystery to me but I'm sure our friend Whitney here can figure something beautiful and practical out!
The only thing left is to say thank you, Whitney, for showing us how art can be green!

I hope you enjoyed "Whitney's Wish To Be"!
Goodbye until Monday, when Bilyana will be with you again,  take care!
Writing to you strapped to a chair in front of the computer by his loving partner,

Kyril

Treasure Hunting: An opposite of me

Hello :)

Remember last Wednesday when I told you I had an idea? Probably not, so here's a little reminder: I realized my treasure hunting only reflects what I like (which is not such a crime, is it?). So I was thinking of a way to show some items that don't represent my own preferences, products I wouldn't choose. However, I'm not speaking of badly photographed items or things I wouldn't need and therefore wouldn't feature, it's more about styles that are different from my own. Creating a list of finds without any conscious comparing point would have probably turned out to be a hard task, so finally I had the full-grown idea to realize. In every pair:

Items at the top are to my liking 

Items underneath: completely Bilyana-free

'Checkerboard Concrete Bowl' by impurevessels, 48$

'Coral Porcelain Bowl' by RaineStyleHome, 72$

#2

'Fringe Benefits Hat' by BKMHattitude, 25$

'gray bearded stocking hat' by taraduff, 45$

#3

'long and sleek sterling silver bar earrings' by organikx, 41$

'Skulls and Scales Chainmaille Earrings' by KaliButterfly, 24$

#4

'felted lace shawl' by nitca, 90$

'Handknit Fringed Photo Prop Scarf' by CricketsCreations, 40$

#5

'Beverly in khaki' by christystudio, 38$

'Ninfea in chocolate.' by ninu, 123$

#6

'Journal' by aripress, 8$

'Upcycled Paint by Numbers Notebook' by shoploverly, 8.50$

#7

'Heart Factory' by PearsonMaron, 18$

'Hanging Fairy House' by MillionTabbies, 23$

#8

'Absinthe Art Nouveau Inspired One Piece Swimsuit' by ladramaqueen, 140$

'Bikini Made To Measure' by Stepankalicious, 149.95$

#9

'Dreamtime and Calming Herbal Tea' by spirithorseherbals, 10.50$

'4 Diff Bags Coffee' by katherynmd, 13.50$

#10

'Elephant Floor Cushion' by Mookah, 115$

'Steltman Chair' by upcycler, 4500$

Hopefully, I've given you some choice and a clue on how to regard the Treasure Hunt posts. If you ever feel that I'm missing something out (which I probably am), don't hesitate to share you impressions, I'll always try to be versatile and responsive! On Friday you'll read my first ever three-man-coordinated post! Visit Handmade Discoveries to read all about Whitney's Wish To Be and her brilliant way of voicing the recycling idea and to check out how my partner managed to produce his debut blog post! On the day this post joins the world of the living, I'll probably be missing him like hell, but in three days we'll be reunited and I won't ever let go of his leg! Meanwhile,

Keep hunting for vintage cups, ways to make yourself happy and new experience,

Bilyana

Sharing: A newbie's poem

Hello!

As I've said last week, today's post consists of a poem I wrote for my Creative Writing portfolio. And as I kind of dislike posts without pictures, but still am a bit too sick to stand in front of a camera, today's model is my sleeping buddy (one of the many I have to say!) - Buffles!

Photo's a bit lame, but I promise to make it up to you with many better ones next Monday!

Imagine he's reading my future book! Today's poem definitely won't be written in there, as I'm not quite satisfied, but nevertheless it's one of the few, so here it goes:

Jack the Suicidal Bird

Before the laying of her child

Jack’s mother flew to close

To airplane roaring, huge and wild,

In her much fear arose.

Most probably it was the gas

That chocked her while she flew -

She could not feed her Jack, alas,

His wings just halfway grew.

He could not go to singing school,

Such faulty otherling

Should hum for humans as a fool

Who tries cars to outsing.

Jack thought there was much more to life

Apart from Disney’s tale,

For friends or love he did not strive,

Just PR for his wale.

But how a pigeon could acquire

Such advertising strength

When each new poet did desire

To write of doves at length.

The only other thing that sold

Was a dramatic plot

He climbed a shed, half-winged and bold,

And fast attention sought.

Some cruel people passed him by -

Too common pigeons are.

The ones who would not see him die

Were kids in life not far.

They made him Maggi extra hot

And trapped him in a room.

Good care to take of him they thought,

Outside awaited doom.

He died, they saw, forgot it all

For pigeons aren’t rare.

Jack died of hitting head in wall.

Each saving has its fare.

I'll only note that the slightly (or not so slightly) negative hues in the poem are characteristics of my writing-personality, my crafting one is all about enthusiasm, ponies and butterflies (no, really, I eat ponies for brunch)! Hope you don't feel bluer, but if you do, just bear with it till Wednesday when again we'll be coming back to the idea of differences and choices in the Treasure Hunting series, next called 'An opposite of me'!

Wishing you to something you'd enjoy (well, ain't that creative?!),

Bilyana

Finding: Natalie

A still dazed gift-loving hand waving: Hi, guys!

The last post showed you some gift wraps, and this one will contribute even more! Today we'll be hearing from Natalie of nataliebonneyceramic and admiring her gorgeous pottery! Tip and gift in one, worth even making a TV ad if you're asking me! Without further !s, let me present to you Natalie:

• Share a bit of your story, please.

I moved to Cornwall nine years ago from Kent, to do a course a Studio Ceramics BA at Falmouth College of Art and graduated in 2004. Pottery was kind of a second choice, originally I wanted to do a Fine Art BA but couldn't quite get my head around the point of making Fine Art! I didn't feel like I had anything important to say. I've since realised that my way of expressing myself is through textures, shapes and colours rather than commenting on 'issues'.

I've had a studio in Penryn ever since I left uni, but only really started to make properly 2 years ago, and have been a full time potter since last Christmas. For me my pottery has always been about confidence in myself! I see it as a reflection or recording of a moment in my life. I secretly believed in myself before, but have only recently come out as a potter! This is thanks mostly to my sister and my boyfriend's belief in me!! If enough people convince you something is possible then it is! Cheesy but true!

• What place does art have in your everyday life? How do you manage to balance creativity and chores?

My pottery is something I eat, sleep and breathe! I want to make beautiful objects which are functional to enhance our everyday existence. I don't believe in sunday best, I want my pieces to be familiar, loved everyday objects.

I believe in hard work. Creativity for me comes from all those tedious chores! For me nothing satisfying comes from something easily achieved, which may well be the death of me!!! 

• What is it that inspires you?

I have an eclectic source of inspiration from 'high' art ceramics, natural textures and shapes, to kitsch throw away plastic manufactured toys. I'm a bit of a magpie when it comes to inspiration. I have a few boxes of 'precious' things I would ordinarily be too embarassed to share with anyone!! I also have a complete obsession with anything cute and round... especially round objects! I think this must be some sort of primeval maternal thing!!

• What do you expect to happen to your Etsy store in the future? Where do you see yourself in one year?

I'm hoping my little Etsy shop will build up a little following and be a showcase for all my future projects, ideas and domestic pieces. A little insight into my world!

• Any strategy to help you achieve your artistic goals? Would you share one tip with all new-born artists?

My strategy is mainly to work as hard as I can to make myself the best maker possible. I have pretty high expectations of how I want my work to look and ceramics is just about the most frustrating, demanding way of working. Not a week goes by when everything goes exactly to plan! From the excitement of a good batch of work to the soul destroying wayward kiln which nukes a body of work. I am a control freak and this way of working challenges me to the end of my tether quite frequently, so my advice to newbies would be to suck it in! Build a bridge. Get over it!! A good stoic belief that everything happens for a reason (disasters always have useful lessons or happy accidents!) and sense of humour are essential!

• Sharing pictures:

'Pottery Owl Ocarina (Whistle)'

'MonsterPig Salt Cellar'

'Pottery Owl Ocarina (Whistle)'

'Set of 3 small blue dishes'

Thank you, Natalie, you seem to have so much enthusiasm that you should definitely be invited to write for this blog more often! (one day I will rename it, it'll be something like "The Enthusiastic Blog" or "The ! Blog") Hopefully, my smart partner is keeping an eye on everything and I'm having fun while pocking the mud for some deep buried treasure! On Monday I thought I might share with you one of my poems, just so that you know I used to do other stuff before starting to keep this blog! Although not directly linked to Etsy, one day I'll become a master writer and then writing those godly product descriptions won't be a thing in front of what I've accomplished!

However, until then - a overly enthusiastic and not to seriously taking herself,

Bilyana :)

Treasure Hunting: The gift's outside

As a former professional gift-wrapper (doesn’t that sound so grown-up!) I’ve nurtured a love for packages that goes way beyond the logical limits. It’s probably the most interesting and emotion-filled part of a present for me although the rest of the world does not seem to agree with that statement. But there are a few out there who understand me and know the value of the wrapping – it’s not just a shiny paper, it’s an art and a message! Before I go to gift-wraps-heaven and start chanting, let me show you this week’s alternative finds: The gift’s outside!

• Found a home?

'Owl Post Gift Box' by celestefrittata, 4$

'Bag Of Happy - Gift Wrap Kit' by SimpleMatters, 10$

'Owl Tea Stained Tags' by PaperedFair, 3$

  'Book spine kraft gift box' by secretleaves, 3.95$

• Need more shine!

'Peach Ruffled Crepe Trim/Garland' by thegildedbee, 4.99$

'Sweet Lil Dinosaur Tags' by ThePaperPlace, 3.25$

'Birthday Party Favor Boxes' by SimpleTastes, 25$

'origami paper cranes' by shadan, 5$

• A touch of subtleness.

'Classic Bordered Table Tent Number Cards' by PaperEclectiques, 15$

'Letterpress Gift Boxes - Set of 6' by weheartpaper, 18$

'Kiwi Birdie Tags' by StraightHome, 5$

'Small brown gift bag with ribbon(set of 4)' by nowchan, 8$

• Understand that!

'Mustache Happiness Bag' by SimpleMatters, 5$

'Tiny Brown Paper Tags - pirate birdie' by mommyholly, 1$

'Duck Tracks in your Pillow Box.' by Laurasbox, 1$

'Rolling in Dough Gift Tag Set' by TerisTreasure, 5$

• Wrap-loving love-wrapping!

'12 flat Kraft Bags with Paper Doilies' by mrrabbitsir, 3.75$

'30 Te Amo Hang Tags' by YourAngil, 5$

'For My Love Mini Card' by AJKArtistry, 1.50$

'Love in the Rain' by annafraser, 4$

Should I be ashamed of the fact that most of these things are a reflection of my personal preferences? Could they not be? Thinking of this gives me and idea on next Wednesday's treasure hunt, but I'll leave the suspense to do its evil work! Meanwhile, please, do not hesitate to seek help with your fast-beating heart, because on Friday we'll be hearing from an artist working on the other side of the location dash - nataliebonneyceramic will be speaking from the far off kingdom... of the United Kingdom. Hopefully I've had some Internet to update this ending, but if that's not the case - feel free to share and comment anyway! My boyfriend's tied to a chair as a live feedback transmitting device!

Probably walking around some unknown place (as all true adventurers do!),

Bilyana

P.S.: If some links lead to a sold item or have simply died, well, I'm sorry, but you can still request a custom search for a similar things as a comment! Anyway, hope we're having sparks of Internet around!