Featured Etsy Artisan: SarahMaloney

When I found Sarah Maloney's Etsy shop, I was amazed at the beauty of her original hand sculpted 1/12th Scale Food. I've never seen anything like it. I want to buy a dollhouse, and get some of these incredible items! Sarah kindly agreed to be featured on my blog. Read her interview below - and be sure to check out her incredible shop on Etsy! You can also check out her blog . Isn't this INCREDIBLE? You MUST see the pictures on her site - my mouth is watering! I especially love this one: Easter Cake Selection.

Tell us a little about yourself – your name, where you live, your work.
My name is Sarah Maloney I am 40 years old and I live in the same road I grew up in, just over the street in London UK. But I am hoping to leave and move to the countryside when my 17 year old son leaves school July 2010. We just want some peace and quiet. Currently, I work 4 days a week as a Teaching Assistant at a primary school in London (4-11 year olds). The other days I try to sculpt however, there are always distractions so, I am lucky if I manage two days.

Tell us about your Etsy shop and products.
My shop is called simply sarahmaloney which I regret now unfortunately, I opened my account before reading the advice available in storque. I am very good at careering ahead without reading the instructions or the like. I sell handmade by myself 1/12th scale dollhouse food from polymer clay. I favour the new Studio clay by Sculpey, Fimo classic and Premo.

How did you get into your creating? Do you have a favorite item you’ve made? Tell us the story! (see pics above! WOW!)
As my mother put it “you have always been crafty”. From as early as I can remember I was always doing something creative from cutting out bits of my Granny’s table cloth (she never noticed) to making a dollhouse out of a shoe box to embroidery to glass painting to silk painting to dress making to interior design.
All my life I have wanted a “grown-up” dollhouse (like the ones I spotted in the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood) but as a child my family simply could not afford it. Eventually in October 2004 I bought my dollhouse, it took ages to wire it and decorate it. Actually I still have not put the front door on or finished tiling the roof. Finally in July 2005 during the 6 week summer break I thought I would have a go at making some food for it. I acquired two books “Making Miniature Food” Angie Scarr and “Food Displays” by Sue Heaser the rest as they say is history.

A favourite piece well that could be a number of pieces however I can whittle it down to two: a beautiful Tudor swan with real marabou feathers seated on a gilded elaborate pie and the other a Strawberry Charlotte cake. (see photos above)

What advice would you give a creative entrepreneur on starting a small artistic business?
Try, try and try again I had so many disasters creatively and still do, usually items turning out the wrong colour to burning them black. Do not lose heart it can take a while to build up a good customer base. I have been selling my work for 3 or 4 years now. Join forums and read the advice given by others that have already started. Research to get the best price for supplies and where to sell your items and keep all your receipts because one day your small business will be turning over enough to interest the tax inspectors!

Do you have a person that inspires you (living or historical)? Tell us about her or him!
I am inspired by beauty whether it is aesthetic or inner where people are concerned. Yet I feel my true inspiration comes from nature itself. I crave daylight and sunshine I am never happier than when I am out in the open on a bright day. My work room opens into the garden and I often look up and start daydreaming, my work quite forgotten.

Do you have a book or movie that makes you feel creative? Tell us about it!
Looking at cookbooks usually does the trick if I see a picture I like I immediately think wow that will look great in miniature.

Featured Etsy Artisan: SarahMaloney's Dollhouse

Sarah Maloney, my latest Featured Etsy Artisan, graciously shared some photos of her amazing dollhouse! I thought you all would enjoy the photos.

This dollhouse is TRULY a work of art. Have fun checking it out. WOW!

Thanks for sharing, Sarah! You have incredible talent!

These Tough Times

My least favorite phrases are: "economic crisis", "these tough times," "highest scary statistic ever".

The news is pretty bad. But it's so important to face bad news with creativity and hope. This feature is my small way to offer suggestions to make everyday a little more pleasant. What are the small triumphs we can savor each day? The little gifts? The creative solutions to problems?

So - here I offer tip #2:

If you want a new bit of technology or kitchen gadget, why not ask around and see if someone has something they aren't using? You might even get what you want for FREE!

I was whining to my coworker about how I HATE chopping. I hate it. She came back the next day with a Pampered Chef chopper she wasn't using! How fun is that? Her gift has made my dinner preparation much more fun!

And my dad had an Ipod he wasn't using anymore, so he sent it to me. I am happy as a clam! I don't needed the latest updated million gigabyte version!

Pampered Chef chopper plus Ipod = priceless fun for moi!

And to keep the gift going - I am giving a friend my old Canon camera. I got a newer one for Christmas.

Why not reuse or recycle stuff we aren't using to someone else who could really enjoy it?

Check out your local thrift shops, check Craigslist, and just ask around! Who know what you'll find?

Featured Etsy Artisan: Bettsquilts

There are so many talented Etsy artisans out there. For my Featured Etsy Artisans, you can meet some of my favorites and get a glimpse of the amazing variety of creative talent out there!

I have always been a fan of handmade quilts. In fact, one of my most meaningful wedding gifts was a handmade quilt from my friend Susanna (we still have it on our bed). She helped me make a rag quilt which I still have (and treasure). I found Betty's quilts at her etsy shop - and loved her work! She graciously agreed to be interviewed for my blog.

Enjoy her inspirations, and visit her awesome shop! Thanks, Betty!

Tell us a little about yourself:
My name is Betty and I live in Southeast Arkansas, where I have lived all of my life, except for the six years we lived in Pennsylvania. In fact, that is where I actually started doing most of my quilting. I had done a little before moving, but during the long, cold winters, I had more time to experiment. I always keep a quilt in my quilting frame year round. I really enjoy making quilts. It is more than a job to me! When I finish one, I feel like I have accomplished something great.

Tell us about your Etsy shop and products.
In my shop on Etsy, you will find my completed quilts. I make pieced quilts, and I love to do applique. All of the quilts are hand made and hand quilted. Sometimes, I make baby quits and wall hangings, too. I enjoy being a part of Etsy because I meet people all over the world through conversations.

How did you get into quilting? Do you have a favorite quilt? Tell us the story!
I got into quilting because my mother and grandmother both made quilts. Also, when I was a teenager, we had a neighbor that did quilting for the public. I saw how she did the quilts, and I asked her questions about them. It was later in my adult life that I decided to try quilting. After I finished a few quilts, I decided I thought it would be nice to do the 'fancy' quilting, such as the feathered designs. It was more like art, and I loved the way the designs looked after quilting them. All of the quilts I have made are my favorites! If I had to choose one, it would be the Feathered Star that I made several years ago. (see photo above) It is just special to me.....maybe it is because I won Viewer's Choice Award in the Pine Bluff Quilter's Guild with that particular quilt. That was a great honor since they all make beautiful quilts! I won't part with it!

What advice would you give a creative entrepreneur on starting a small artistic business?
I would say, do something you enjoy! It is important to like what you are doing, or you will grow tired of it. Start small, that is, with something simple. Try different things until you find what you like to do best, and when you do, do the best you can with that one thing!

Do you have a person that inspires you (living or historical)? Tell us about her or him!
The person that inspired me most was my mother who passed away in 2007. We would spend a lot of time talking about quilts and how much we got done on a particular one each day. She gave me a lot of advice. I remember when I quilted my first quilt and showed it to her, she gave me a lot of constructive criticism and it made me try harder the next time. I wanted her approval! I think I finally earned it, too.

Do you have a book or movie that makes you feel creative? Tell us about it!
The book that makes me fell most creative is ' An Elm Creek Quilts Sampler." It is about a group of people that get together at a quilt camp and learn about quilting. Plus, they become the best of friends, and inspire each other.

What is your favorite handmade treasure?
My favorite handmade treasure would be a crocheted doily made by my daughter-in-law. She is also very creative!

Do you have any suggestions for creatively weathering these tough economic times? How are you creatively making the best of it?
I think the best thing to do is to stay positive! If you are creating things, it makes life less stressful, too. I have a lot of scraps and fabric I collected over the years, so I don't have to spend too much on supplies right now. I don't scrimp on quality, though. Only use the best in your products. And hang in there. Things will get better. If you continue to create things, then when the economy improves, you will be well ahead of the demand!

Fun Finds

I was at Michael's this weekend looking for ribbons (for my gift boxes)... when I found... (drumroll please)

MARTHA STEWART CRAFTS GALORE ... Aisles of goodness - a beautiful palette of soft rose, greens, blues... all kinds of beautiful things. Her papers are a great backdrop for my photos. Here are a few for you to enjoy.

Check it out below (better yet - see it in person) ! So very fun and inspirational... Gotta love Martha.

http://www.michaels.com/art/online/search?pageNumber=1&channel=0&search=yes&type=0&searchWords=martha+stewart&as_fid=8&x=17&y=10

These Tough Times

There is so much bad news these days, isn't there? So many people are losing jobs and afraid about the future.

So - how can we have a rich full life in the midst of so much uncertainty? I remember the old quote - "necessity is the mother of invention" ... How can we harness our creativity to enjoy and savor life - even when it's hard?

"These Tough Times" will be a series of simple suggestions to make the best of a challenging season.

Tip Number 1:

READ COMIC BOOKS!

My husband and I are of rather intense natures - when we were dating, we were jokingly told to talk about something silly for a change - like our favorite colors. I think the advice applies when we are stressed out too - we all need a good laugh. Laughter truly is the best medicine.

We love The Far Side - my favorite strip ever is "Lulu - Mrs. O'Leary's Ill-Fated Cow" from 1992. It basically is me - I too am prone to odd scrapes like tripping over buckets and igniting things.

My other favorite is posted above - it gets me EVERY time.

Calvin and Hobbes... Dilbert... So many options... go, get some comics, laugh, and enjoy the light side of life. You'll feel better!

http://www.freewebs.com/horseloversveen/the-far-side-comic.jpg image

Etsy Treasury - I'm Featured! Oatmeal and Moss

Check out this beautiful treasury from the NC Triangle Team! My mini bisque journal is featured!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=46417

Creative Living Interview #5

It is my pleasure to introduce you to my very creative friend Lisa! She is incredibly talented - a musical, crafting, gracious person (and friend I miss!). Enjoy her Creative Living interview! I love the "icon" she made to put above her daughter's crib. And isn't Mary the cutest little girl you ever saw? Thanks for sharing with us, Lisa!

ENJOY!

Tell us a little about yourself – your name, where you live, your work.

My name is Lisa and I currently live in Nashotah, Wisconsin with my husband and two month old daughter, Mary Clare. My husband is a student at Nashotah House Theological Seminary, training to be an Anglican priest. I am blessed to work part-time from home as the administrator of Nashotah House’s Distance Learning Program. Though most recently, our daily (and nightly!) efforts are concentrated on getting know our lovely little girl and taking good care of her…it’s a joy!

·What creative crafts or activities do you like to do? Tell us what you like to do and why it appeals to you.

I have tried my hand at several creative pursuits, but the ones that have “stuck” include guitar playing/song composing, scrap-booking, jewelry making, knitting, and “projects” that I make up on my own that don’t really fall into a particular crafting category. My most recent creation is a painting/collage of sorts that hangs above my daughter’s crib (see photo above). I decided to create a tree partly because I just love trees. But, more significantly, I decided to create this tree because of the stories and truths we can tell Mary Clare from scripture - the tree of life (Gen. 2:9), "He is like a tree, planted by streams of water" (Psalm 1:3), the concept of bearing or not bearing fruit (Mt. 3:10, Mt. 12:33), the vine and the branches (Jn. 15.), "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness...(Gal. 2:24 and MANY others references like this), etc...I think I have such varied creative pursuits because they each fit different parts of my personality and loves in life – detail oriented, dreamer, love for beauty & creation, etc.

· Do you have a person that inspires you (living or historical)? Tell us about her or him!

Wow – well, lots of people inspire me. But different people inspire me for different reasons.
Growing up, my dad sang and played the guitar to me and my brothers every night while we were falling asleep…a favorite childhood memory. I would say he (and those memories) inspire my desire to continue learning and playing the guitar. Also, other people’s creative interests inspire me – either to try something new, appreciate things I’m not so talented at, and to continue the activities I enjoy the most! Aside from people, I am deeply touched and moved by creation and the beauty of the earth (particularly flowers!). I believe this love for the earth’s beauty greatly affects different things I create whether it’s a song or a piece of jewelry.


· Do you have a book or movie that makes you feel creative? Tell us about it!

L.M. Montgomery and her beloved character Anne (of Green Gables) never fail to make me feel joy-filled and a little whimsical. I love her use of adjectives – some think Anne’s descriptions are a little over the top, but I love the vivid picture they paint of whatever Anne is thinking or feeling ;-)
I am also inspired by the writing of Madeleine L’Engle – particularly her poetry and non-fiction. Two of my favorite books of hers include The Irrational Season and Penguins and Golden Calves, Icons and Idols. She has wonderful perspective, boldness, and insight.

· What is the most beautiful place you've ever been?

Anywhere from Wyoming westward – especially Glacier National Park and the Olympic Peninsula of Washington, I love the combination of mountains, ocean, and rainforest all within a 50 mile radius of each other!

· What creative things would you like to learn this year?

I would like to learn more in depth jewelry making techniques. I also need to dust off my guitar; the late months of pregnancy made playing a little tough with the big belly…I’ve got some chord and picking combinations that need lyrics!