Featured Artist Interview: The Yellow Umbrella

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Shop Name:
The Yellow Umbrella 

What you like to go by: 
Anna Denise 

When did you start your shop? 
Nov 27, 2008 

Is this your only job? 
Nope. I also work as a program manager for a cultural house where I organize debates, talks, lectures, meetings, tours, and exhibitions.

When did you realize you had this talent?
From the moment I could hold a pencil, although I never took it very seriously until recently.

Where do you find your inspiration?
In museums, books, walking through cities, traveling, and lots and lots of websites (including Etsy).

Who has been the most supportive of your work?
Eh. Me? And my boyfriend. He's been awesome and has really been pushing me to take the time to draw more.

What is one thing you would like to accomplish that you haven't yet?
I'd like for my journals to get published and also I would love to eventually work somewhere whereI can express my artistic side a bit more.

What are your other hobbies?
I blog, write, take pictures, do a lot of bikram yoga, play the silverflute, and I'm pretty good at Rockband.

What are your words to live by or favorite quote?

"The most important thing is this: To be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become."
~ Charles Du Bos

Where is the farthest you have traveled?
Westwards: California
Eastwards: Indonesia

Featured Artist: mariaHandmade

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Shop Name: mariaHandmade


What you like to go by: Maria

When did you start your shop? About a year ago.


Is this your only job? It’s not the only thing I do but maybe it’s the most pleasant. I love trying something new all the time and now I’m just looking for myself in this life. I also love video, photography and everything about design and fashion… I hope I will find the way to combine all these things.


When did you realize you had this talent? It all started with making things just for me, then for some friends of mine… But one day I realized my inspiration flows over this border and I create for someone I imagine. I just see people who could wear my accessories or jewelry – their lifestyle, self-perception and even appearance. It’s always different, of course, but it’s in my head all the time. That’s why it’s always very interesting to communicate people who wants to buy something – I love personalizing things or adjusting them for someone specifically.
That is also the reason why I started my second shop where I sell vintage clothes and accessories.
I just see the person who would be a perfect owner for these things, who would wear it and look like he always used to. So I want these people to meet their perfect things.


Where do you find your inspiration? It comes from everything. It may be some pictures or things I see around but most likely I’m inspired by materials. When I see some piece of fabric, stone or just piece of something I imagine where can it be used. But the interesting thing is that it almost never looks like it was in my head by this time – idea is born only while I’m already crafting. So I never know what will it look like finally.

Who has been the most supportive of your work? I think the main thing is just inside me - I always try to listen to my feelings. My family and close friends are not really getting what exactly I am doing, but I know they are happy to see that I'm making things that I love and doing so well at this!

What is one thing you would like to accomplish that you haven't yet? I'd like to graduate my studies and move to the lands where it's warm and mornings are full of sun... I'd to learn how to sew all the things that I have in my head and I dream about meeting someone who could teach me how to create my own pair of shoes... I want to know how to do so many things and I wish I cold find a way to combine it all in together my life.