Featured Artist Interview: Moffit Plush Co.

What is the name of your shop? My name is Sara Auman and I run my shop which is named MoffitPlushCo. My first shop started when Etsy first opened (I don't remember what year) and I made a few pieces of jewelry which did not sell. Discouraged, I waited a long time while finishing art school, to start another shop in 2009. I started at first selling purses then moved to stuffed plush. 

Is this your only job? As of right now this is my only job other than taking care of my two wonderful boys at home. 

When did you realize you had this talent? I have always been interested in art but just recently became interested in sewing and the construction of patterns. I love figuring out patterns and seeing what works best and how they fit together. It's like a really fun puzzle!

Where do you find your inspiration? I find most of my inspiration from my children but also just from my own imagination. 

Who has been the most supportive of your work? My husband has been most supportive of my work and it also makes me happy when my kids like something I make because then I know children elsewhere will enjoy my creations as well. 

What is one thing you would like to accomplish that you haven't yet? One thing I would like to accomplish is garment sewing. Designing patterns for clothes seems very challenging yet satisfying. In my mind, fitting clothes for individuals is the ultimate puzzle. 

What are your other hobbies? Some of my other hobbies include running, ceramics (although it has been a while), and just hanging out with my family. 

What is your favorite quote? "Love many trust few and always paddle your own canoe"

Where is the farthest you've traveled? Traveling is something I would like to do in the future when my children are older. I am truly afraid of airplanes so it really limits me. Funny story- I rode a train all the way from Indiana to San Francisco, California!!! It took a REALLY long time and it was not much fun but very interesting at times. So..... I guess the answer to your question is San Francisco, California.

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Featured Artist Interview: Green Rock Creations

Shop Name: green rock creations

What you like to go by: Katie

When did you start your shop? March 2012

Is this your only job? No - I work full time as a Process Safety Engineer in Anchorage, AK. My shop is a great outlet for my creative side, which tends to be hidden in my day job. 

When did you realize you had this talent? In February 2012, I took a sewing class and bought a machine. I had a newborn daughter at the time and wanted to be able to make things for her. I haven't been sewing long, but my mom is an avid quilter and I guess it's just in my genes. 

Where do you find your inspiration? I think about the things that I need or would like to have, usually because I can't find exactly what I want in a store, and then I figure out how to make them myself. I started making burp cloths because the ones I found were so ugly and cheap. My dog collars were created because I couldn't find a cute collar that was big enough for my giant malamute. Recently I started making toddler belts because my daughters pants kept falling down! 

Who has been the most supportive of your work? I am so lucky in that everyone I know has been supportive of me! My family is very happy that I've found a great hobby and my friends are always asking me to make them gifts. I have become the go-to for baby gifts within my circle of friends - even the ones that live in other states. 

What is one thing you would like to accomplish that you haven't yet? I would like to have my items sold in local stores here in Anchorage. I just moved here from Colorado, and while a few places in Denver are carrying my items, I haven't had the time to find a great spot in Alaska yet. 

What are your other hobbies? gardening (flowers and veggies) renovating old houses, being outdoors with my dogs and family

What are your words to live by or favorite quote? Anything worth having is worth working for.

Where is the farthest you have traveled? We went to Barbados for our honeymoon in 2010 - it was amazing!

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Featured Artist Interview: Margaret Vera

Google

Shop Name: Margaret Vera

What you like to go by: Meg

When did you start your shop? December 2011

Is this your only job? No, I also teach music at a local sing a long as well as nanny and substitute teach

When did you realize you had this talent? When I was a pre-teen

Where do you find your inspiration? Taking long walks, looking through magazines and books, browsing shops

Who has been the most supportive of your work? My husband

What is one thing you would like to accomplish that you haven't yet? Making at least two sales per week, steadily.

What are your other hobbies? Music, animals and gardening. 

What are your words to live by or favorite quote? 
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible."
Dalai Lama 

Where is the farthest you have traveled? Belgium


Thanks for stopping by and reading this featured artist interview! If you are interested in having your shop featured please click here!

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Featured Artist Interview: The Yellow Umbrella

Google

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 Interview: Jo from Bits off the Beach

Google

Shop name: JosJewelryDesign

What you like to go by: I usually go by Jo... Since that's my name, but I answer to most anything

When did you start your Etsy shop? I started my shop last fall and have been working steadily to add more pieces to it.

Is this your only job? I have been working retail in a ladies accessory dept for the last 25 years... I am officially RETIRED and will be able to devote myself full time to my jewelry. YEAH! I can't wait.

When did you realize you had this talent? I took my first jewelry class in high school art. I have always enjoyed creating things, from pottery to knitting to sketching to making my jewelry it seems I have always enjoyed seeing what I can do. Other than a few classes and reading everything I come across it is mostly trial and error and self taught.

What are your other hobbies? Other hobbies I enjoy... Sounds odd? But I love entering contests and sweepstakes. I love the excitement and dreaming about the great prizes and trips waiting to be won. My best prize yet has been a car... My oddest prize was a stuffed toy of name brand hotdog, but I still have them both.

Where is the farthest you have traveled? My furthest travel... I spent 3 years in Germany with my husband when he was in the service. My favorite places to travel, would be anywhere with palm trees and a beach. Tulum Mexico is a favorite, (my banner in my shop is a picture of the beach near there.) Maui is another favorite that we love to return to as often as we can.

What is your favorite quote? I don't have a favorite quote. I always hear great ones but then can't remember them when I need to. Maybe " you're as young as you feel" in honor of me retiring.

Featured Artist Interview: Valerie of InHeartOnMind

Google Mixed media assemblages designed to touch hearts and minds about what happens to animals every day.

Shop Name: InHeartOnMind

What you like to go by: Valerie

When did you start your shop? January of this year

Is this your only job? Nope--secretary by day

When did you realize you had this talent? Made my first assemblage at age 7, when my dad gave me an empty matchbox and told me to see what I could do with it. Pasted scrap fabric and a shoe buckle on top of it, and I was hooked!

Where do you find your inspiration? Inspiration comes sometimes from the objects themselves. At times they seem to have a story to tell. I'm devoted to Juxtapoz and Hi Fructose magazines--the artists and images jump start my own creativity.

Who has been the most supportive of your work? My husband of 21 years is my muse and the most supportive of my work. He provides a constructively critical eye, and doesn't let me fall into the "it's all crap" trap.

What is one thing you would like to accomplish that you haven't yet? Wish it was just one thing! Want to start an e-magazine as a resource to people who have rabbits. Want to continue to raise awareness of animal rights issues. Want to start a "meals on wheels" type service including vet care for pets of people who are elderly/shut in.

What are your other hobbies? Other hobbies include learning to play cello, writing fiction

What are your words to live by or favorite quote? Favorite quote: "I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well."--Diane Ackerman

Where is the farthest you have traveled?
Farthest traveled was to Alaska growing up as a military brat. Would love to return one day!

I am:
• A self taught creative person who made her first mixed media assemblage piece at age 7 using a matchbox, old fabric and a shoe buckle
• Fortunate to have had amazing animal companions from childhood, including 5 rescued rabbit fur kids

I create from:
• Passion to inspire people to think more about how animals are treated
• Hope that once inspired, people will want to know how they can make a difference
• Expectation that people who want to make a difference, given the tools to do so, will make the world a more humane place for animals

If you would like to learn more/do more, here are some places to start.

Listing of companies that don’t test on animals.


Info on factory farming/compassionate eating choices (please be aware that there are some graphic images on this site).

Featured Artist: GotMaille? By Christy

Google

 

Shop Name: GOT Maille? by Christy

What you like to go by: Christy

When did you start your shop? Jan 2011

Is this your only job? Yes. I "retired" from nearly 20 years in front line hospitality & tourism to move to the USA after marrying a fabulous Texan. I'm now a house wife with a "self supporting hobby" now and I LOVE it! I finally have the time to focus on creating and my dreams of one day having my own line.

When did you realize you had this talent? Would you believe when it came to me in a dream about a year & a half ago? I had been trying to learn the art of chainmaille for years and just couldn't seem to grasp it. After several years of picking it up my pliers and rings just to pack them away in in frustration I decided I was simply never going to figure it out and would sell/throw away my supplies. That very I went to bed and had the most amazing dream. I was shown exactly what I was doing wrong and was guided in how to proceed. When I woke that morning I grabbed my pliers & rings, followed the "dream tutorial" and everything just..."clicked". I've been mailling ever since.

Where do you find your inspiration? Everywhere! Chainmaille is an ancient art, tied to centuries of influence and diversity. Today's modern touch makes it that much more interesting and fun to create.

Who has been the most supportive of your work? My husband. He is not only my rock but my biggest fan! He makes me blush by pulling out his stash of GMBC (my short hand for GOT Maille? by Christy) business cards to give one to anyone who shows an interest and he is known for physically pulling me over to show someone whatever chainmaille I happen to be wearing at the time. He's the best!

What is one thing you would like to accomplish that you haven't yet? Craft fairs, festivals.. boutiques. I haven't branched out into the booth world yet and I am just dying to get out there and get involved with the community.

What are your other hobbies? Hmmm other than a little online RPG gaming & reading I can't think of anything! I'm totally obsessed with weaving those little rings. I am taking a leather craft class in the near future & plan to incorporate that knowledge into some new designs. I already have pages of design ideas sketched out.. very excited!!

What are your words to live by or favorite quote? Words of wisdom once give to me by my father: "Try to live your life without regret. If you're faced with a life decision, ask yourself.. in five years, 10 years.. 20 years.. will you regret having NOT tried? If you think the answer will be yes, choose to try."

Where is the farthest you have traveled? England. Many years ago now & I would love to return! We toured for three weeks and it was amazing. I think it may have been seeing the Crown Jewels in person that lit my fire for fabulous bling!!

Featured Artist: Buster Boo

Google

Shop Name: Buster Boo

What you like to go by: Sasha

When did you start your shop? I opened Buster Boo in 2010, but didn't really get serious about it until mid-2011, when the cutest little baby shoes started coming from my sewing machine. I had played with other products, but love these shoes so much, I now focus on them.

Is this your only job? I am wife, mum to 2 very busy kids, and also have my own small business, running a fabric shop here in our suburb, here in Brisbane, Australia. Having my own craft shop is stressful, and crazy long hours, but it does mean that I get to play with all the new fabrics that we buy in!

When did you realize you had this talent? My mum has always sewed, and knitted, so I learned basic sewing from her. About 13 years ago, when I was working as a lawyer, I did a learn to quilt course in the evenings. The feeling of successfully creating things from such beautiful fabrics was all it took for me to be hooked on fabric and creating.

Where do you find your inspiration? There is such a shortage of funky things for boys, that this is some of my inspiration. Also, the endless supply of beautiful unique fabrics, from such talented Australian designers as Saffron Craig, Umbrella Prints, Two Monkeys and Stepping Stones are a constant inspiration.

Who has been the most supportive of your work? My darling husband knew I loved making things, when we got engaged - but as I was working as a lawyer, on track for partnership at t time, I just don't think that he ever imagined where that would take us! But he has been so supportive of me.

What is one thing you would like to accomplish that you haven't yet? Successfully finishing this knitted jumper I am making for my son. It is my first 'serious' knitting project, and I am about 2/3rds finished.

What are your other hobbies? Yarn is fast becoming a second crafting love for me. I also have a quiet obsession with the Lifestyle and renovation / real estate shows. Otherwise, I will probably be drinking an Earl Grey tea, with my nose in a book.

What are your words to live by or favorite quote? Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. -- basically, make the best of today, and try to let tomorrow and the future happen as they will.

Where is the farthest you have traveled? I live in Australia, and the farthest I have travelled away from here is the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. I lived in London for 6 months, and did a lot of tripping from there - Prague, Scotland, Scandinavia. My husband even went to Iceland! We love to travel :-)

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