Creative Living Interview: Meet Cynthia

I am thrilled to introduce you to a dear friend for this latest Creative Living interview. I got to know Cynthia and her husband through my hubby, and we've all been fast friends ever since. Cynthia is a gracious and loving woman who has lots of creativity and gifts (she's an incredible hostess - we love staying with her). She's an inspiration to me - I hope you enjoy her interview.

Cynthia is also the owner of a Paper and Pearls original turquoise necklace - it looks stunning on her.

Thanks for sharing some of your creative insights with Paper and Pearls, Cynthia! :-)

Tell us a little about yourself – your name, where you live, your work.
My name is Cynthia Vukmer. I live in Fairfax, VA (suburb of DC) and am currently a homemaker.

What creative crafts or activities do you like to do? Tell us what you like to do and why it appeals to you.
I very much enjoy decorating--esp. working with pieces (furniture/accessories) someone already has to create an enjoyable, comfortable and aesthetically-appealing space. I also love creative writing, including poetry. And I enjoy photography quite a bit as well.

I love creating beautiful spaces because they can offer a sense of calm, rootedness that is so antithetical to the often frazzled, wayward world around us. Additionally, working with the space and pieces someone already has, allows a fun, interesting challenge for me. In writing, I often find sweet redemption when I am able to explore those deep, often untouched places of my soul with expressive words. And finally, I find pure enjoyment in showcasing the mundane as beautiful through the eye of a camera lens.

Do you have a person that inspires you (living or historical)? Tell us about her or him!
In the writing department, my aunt inspires me. She is so talented and devotes so much of her time and energy to perfecting her poetry and encouraging others, including me, to explore their own creative potential in this area as well. She is kind of a "Renaissance Woman" in that she's a loving wife and mother, a wonderful aunt, works full-time for a non-profit, writes books and poetry, and has a deep, tested faith in God. She is also a survivor in that she's overcome many obstacles in her personal life to accomplish so much. I am blessed to have her in my life and try to emulate her!

Do you have a book or movie that makes you feel creative? Tell us about it!
The Lord of the Rings book series inspires me through the way Tolkien masterfully creates an enchanting, magical world parallel to ours. I love how he confronts the ultimate battle between good and evil and the struggles we face in choosing the right path.

What is the most beautiful place you've ever been?
I've been to many wonderful places and they all have their own beauty. However, I love places with both coastline and mountains. The contrast between mighty ocean and grand terrain appeal to me, including California's coast, England's western coast and Hong Kong's coast.

What creative things would you like to learn this year?
I would love to continue to work on the interests I already have in decorating, photography and writing. I already plan to take classes in the first two and practice my writing!

Etsy Treasury - Book It

My Secret Garden journal was featured in this lovely treasury, Book It! How delightful...

Featured Etsy Artisan: DesignPort

For today's Etsy Artisan Feature, we're traveling all the way to Instanbul to meet Şans of DesignPort. I stumbled across this lovely shop in my Etsy browsings, and was drawn to all the color and elegance of the shawls and shrugs and scarves- very very chic. Şans graciously agreed to be interviewed - I hope you enjoy meeting her and be sure to visit her lovely shop.

I especially want this red caged shrug - stunning!!

Thanks for telling us your story, DesignPort!

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

My name is Şans..It’s meaning in Turkish is’’Luck’’J.I m a designer for big fashion brand in Turkey..I love creating, especially hand made creations…I'm living in Istanbul. Istanbul is a amazing and big city ..

Tell us about your Etsy shop and products.

I met with Etsy a long time ago, my friend suggested it to me..And I began to think about it. I had to join it, I had to design to some hand made..And My Etsy shop began to occur.. and now my soft and loving products are with you…You are gonna find young, trendy, cool, quality, soft and really different products in my shop..Just tell me what you need and I'm gonna create it for you…It will be very exciting to sell my products to different cultures of the people at other end of the world…..

How did you get into your creating? Do you have a favorite item you’ve made? Tell us the story.

My favorite one is ‘’spring flower scarf’’..When I went to holiday to Bodrum , I saw a big ,colourful, beautiful garden.There was a a lot of rose with different flowers. I loved them and thought it would be so incredible on the women’s neck..This is the story of ‘’SPRING FLOWER SCARF’’ (see photo above - I LOVE IT!)

What advice would you give a creative entrepreneur on starting a small artistic business?

Just feel it, feel your power of design…

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

My boyfriend inspires me every timeJ

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

My favorite movie is Grease…I love the styling, I love colours, I love hairs, songs and also artistes.. It takes me a different world.

What is your favorite handmade treasure?

Click this link to see designport's idea.

Paper and Pearls on Birthstones

It's my birthday month... so one way I'm celebrating is by creating the June Necklace made of the birthstone (pearls) and the birthflower (rose). I think roses and pearls look lovely together - timelessly classic and romantic.

Are you curious about your birthflower and birthstone? Check out below for the full scoop...

January - carnation, garnet

February - iris, amethyst

March - daffodil, acquamarine

April - daisy, diamond

May - Lily of the Valley, emerald

June - rose, pearl

July - larkspur, ruby

August - gladiolus, peridot

September - aster, sapphire

October - pot marigold, opal

November - chrysanthemum, topaz

December - paperwhite narcissus, turquoise

Paper and Pearls Picks

And now... Paper and Pearls Picks... simple pleasures to make everyday beautiful.

Well... it's summer. I am one of those strange people who far prefers crisp autumnal weather.Down here in the South, the humidity is pretty intense at times.

But - Paper and Pearls has some picks for you! Some wonderful finds that will leave you refreshed and cool. Each month, I enjoy a special soap in the shower. Small, I know. But I do believe that small indulgences are what help make everday beautiful.

So - after a long hot day, or in the morning as you get ready for your day, why not try one of these lovely refreshing bars?

Sappo Hill soaps are low packaging, low price, and high luxury. Nice lather and wonderful aromas. How about almond?

I love this bar of Rosemary Mint from Aveda. It's gentle, not too scented, and has light exfoliation. And it will last a LONG time. Very refreshing.
This is one of my all time favorite things - I am a major Burt's Bees fan. This Peppermint and Rosemary Burt's Bees soap has a wonderfully refreshing scent, smooth lather, and great exfoliation. I really like.

Pick one of these up for easy refreshment. Then go sit near a fan and enjoy a sweet tea. :-)

Featured Etsy Artisan: LucindaChips

I found this lovely shop, LucindaChips, while I was browsing Etsy's gift guides. Being a lover of white china, these lucindachips plates caught my eye and I took a tour of her shop. Beautiful things!

Lucinda graciously agreed to be interview on my blog - I'm delighted to feature her. Enjoy meeting Lucinda, and be sure to visit LucindaChips on Etsy.

Tell us a little about yourself – your name, where you live, your work.
I'm Lucinda Mudge. I'm a photographer living in London with my husband, various house guests and unfortunately not one dog. We Live next to the Battersea Dogs home, and on the river and we are very happy.

• Tell us about your Etsy shop and products.
I have a lot of fun with my pottery and don't take it at all seriously. I enjoy making loads of different things, and they all seem to look similar. My brother gave me a set of pattern stamps from a brocante in France, they are 'stamp rollers' and you can see them stamped around the borders of my work. I love them and they are currently a huge inspiration in my pottery. I've been making a lot of press moulded work and enjoy it for its immediate results.

• Do you have a favorite item you’ve made? Tell us the story.
I would have to say that my favourite is this dog. His name is Albert. He's a good sort of dog, and is a loving and considerate pet.


• What advice would you give a creative entrepreneur on starting a small artistic business?
I don't really go in for creative business. I think it can often sap the spirit out of your creativity. My advice is to make your money some other way, and preserve your creativity for non money making purposes.

• Do you have a person that inspires you (living or historical)? Tell us about her or him!
Since I moved to London I have suffered information overload. I like very much the work by the potters Grayson Perry and Hilton Nel.

• Do you have a book or movie that makes you feel creative? Tell us about it!
I do. I have a wonderful book called 'French Design and Decoration' it is filled with colour plates and has lots of patterns in it.

• What is your favorite handmade treasure?
My husband made a small dog out of clay and the proportions are hilarious. I fired it and glazed it in white. I love it, it is so sweet.

Featured Etsy Artisan: StickerMeChic

I love trolling through Etsy, looking for unique handmade things. I found Jessalynn's shop, StickerMeChic, and got so excited about the work she's doing! I asked her to share a bit about her shop and herself, and she agreed! Yay!

I like these sophisticated monogram stickers... or how about these envelope seals?

Enjoy her interview below, and check out her lovely shop! Thanks for being featured on Paper and Pearls, Jessalyn!

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

My name is Jessalynn Wasiel and I live on the West Coast of British Columbia in Canada and I work from home running my Etsy business and also work part time. I am also a busy mom to an even busier 14 month old toddler (he’s just learned to walk so he keeps me on my toes!).

• Tell us about your Etsy shop and products.

At Sticker Me Chic Boutique (stickermechic.etsy.com) I mainly sell stickers, although even though the name of my shop doesn’t say so, I also sell hang tags, and digital birth announcements. My stickers are my main seller and brides are my main buyers. The stickers can be used for favors, invitations seals, and address labels and can be personalized with their names and event colors. Not only do I get to design the stickers, but I also help to pull together the look of a wedding and I love weddings!

• How did you get into your creating? Do you have a favorite item you’ve made? Tell us the story (and include a pic, if you like)!

When I was getting married, I enjoyed every minute of the planning and loved designing my invitation, which I got letterpress printed. I just loved designing all the other wedding things like my program and favors. In fact, one of my stickers uses the design I created for my invitation. From that point, I always thought how fun it would be to start a wedding related business.

• What advice would you give a creative entrepreneur on starting a small artistic business?

Go for it! Whatever reservations you have, leave it at the door! As cliché as it sounds, the only thing stopping you is yourself. For so many years I never had the confidence in my work to start my own business but when I came across Etsy, I realized how many people have their own businesses and are able to make their dreams a reality. When people started to buy my stickers, I thought to myself, why didn’t I ever start this before?

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

The person that inspires me is without a doubt, my son. Watching him see things for the first time and be so appreciative of life inspires me. Knowing he has so much ahead of him makes me really think about my own life and I believe he’s the main reason why I decided to start my own business.

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

I don’t have a particular book or movie that inspires me but what always gets my creative gears going are book stores, craft fairs, paper stores, design books, beautiful magazines, and travelling!

• What is your favorite handmade treasure?

A paper Valentine my husband gave me.

Do you know a creative person you think should be featured on Paper and Pearls? Let me know about them... paperandpearls[at]gmail.com!

Featured Etsy Artisan: TheJuneBride

I have been on a quest for fun floral pins and such lately - and when I found the TheJuneBride, I was so excited about all the lovelies! Karen makes an assortment of wonderful things, from gorgeous brooches (like this lovely cashmere true red primrose), to kid's goodies (like these cute animal ears hats). Karen graciously agreed to be interviewed here on Paper and Pearls Featured Etsy Artisan. Enjoy Karen's inspiring interview, and be sure to check out her lovely shop, The June Bride, on Etsy!

(ps part of Karen's proceeds benefit charities! We all need to be generous to help others in these tough times - what an inspiration Karen is!)

• Tell us a little about yourself – your name, where you live, your work.
Hello! My name is Karen Mitzel and I design, market and sell my own handmade products on Etsy in a shop called TheJuneBride. I live near Ann Arbor, Michigan, with my wonderful husband, Tim. We currently have 3 children under 5 years old (all still at home with me during the day!), and Etsy is my impossible dream come true. While my husband really brings home the bacon, I wanted to do something as a self-funding creative outlet. I’m in it for fun and, interestingly enough, that’s just what it is! I love creating and interfacing with other creative people, and I really feel that it has been a successful endeavor from the start.

• Tell us about your Etsy shop and products.

My shop can be found at http://www.thejunebride.etsy.com/, and it is an ever-evolving conglomeration of anything I feel like making at the moment. I use mainly reclaimed textiles, primarily wool, but I also use a lot of sustainably-sourced fleece for winter accessories. Right now I’m doing a lot of business with my Reclaimed Wool Sweater Brooches, each styled after a flower variety. Those are my current favorites to craft. I make cell phone and iPod cases from salvaged materials, and I also sell hats, mittens and baby booties seasonally and have begun selling my handmade patterns as well. It’s a real smorgasbord of eco-friendly materials and products, and what I decide to do next will surprise both of us, I’m sure!

• How did you get into your creating? Do you have a favorite item you’ve made? Tell us the story.
I am the sort of person who is always working on a project or two, so when I decided to open an Etsy shop last year, the groundwork was already in place for a working environment geared around the children’s needs. I think I’ve always been this way… crafting is in my genes (incidentally, both of my sisters have shops on Etsy as well, www.BasicIngredients.etsy.com and www.TheArtificer.etsy.com). I’ve made all sorts of things over the years (that makes me sound old! I just turned 28!), but one thing I made and love that I use everyday is my bed. I made a headboard out of an old panel door and some trim and stained it to my liking. I take pride in being well-rounded in the world of DIY skills, so I’m proficient with power tools as well as sewing machines and tax forms.

• What advice would you give a creative entrepreneur on starting a small artistic business?
Love what you do and work hard at it. Research troubles you’re experiencing. Ask for help. Be your own best resource. Keep experimenting with products and designs until you find your niche. Learn the tools of the trade; for Etsy that means photographing your products, writing to sell, listing often, managing your finances, and impeccable customer service.

“Neither borrower nor lender be.” – Lord Polonius, Shakespeare’s Hamlet

Start within your means and grow when you have the capital to invest in yourself. There were other resources I could have tapped, but I started with less than $100 and worked hard to discover creative and free ways to promote my shop. Blogging, Twitter, forums and Etsy treasuries are great and effective ways to increase item views and hearts, make mutually-supportive friends and, ultimately, to get more sales. At the same time, you need to cover your bases when it comes to shop policies, custom orders and consignment opportunities. Make mistakes, but be smart about it: keep them small and make sure to learn from them!

• Do you have a person that inspires you (living or historical)? Tell us about her or him!
My biggest inspiration has to be Mother Theresa. Regardless of one’s religious views, her life and work is a daily reminder to live to the fullest, to be satisfied with and enjoy what you have, and to enrich the lives of all those you encounter simply by caring for them as a whole person. What could be more inspiring? When I think about that, I can see beauty in the mundane and that inspires my work, artistic and otherwise.

• Do you have a book or movie that makes you feel creative? Tell us about it!
If time were no option (though it always is!), I generally prefer books to movies. I’m working my way through a long list of classics; Melville’s “Moby Dick” at the moment. Despite the reputation that they get in high school literature classes as being boring, familiarity with the classics gives you a real feeling for what is timeless, and I think that carries over into your creations. Whether your own goal is to be traditional or fashion forward, understanding the past certainly helps educate the future.

• What is your favorite handmade treasure?
My favorite handmade treasure is a family heirloom, the baptismal gown that all of my children, my husband, his father, grandfather, and great grandfather (and many, many other relatives) all used as an infant. It is a simple two-layered cotton shift gown with hand-tatted lace and pintucks, made by my husband’s great great grandmother. I cherish the idea that one handmade item can impact so many people’s lives over so many years.

• Do you have any suggestions for creatively weathering these tough economic times? How are you creatively making the best of it?
Times are certainly tough right now, especially in the Detroit area, and we are hearing of auto industry lay offs and business closings weekly. I feel very fortunate to be mostly unaffected by it personally, but my husband and I are doing our best to help those who need it. I rely on local charity thrift stores like Goodwill, St. Vincent de Paul and Salvation Army for the hundreds of wool sweaters I use in my shop. Additionally, at the beginning of 2009, I was able to donate $1000 purely from my Etsy shop profits to local charities that provide food, shelter and medical care to needy families. This would not be possible without people willing to patronize my business, and I’m grateful for the community of loyal Etsy shoppers that is supporting so many independent artists at a time when many truly need that extra income. Thank you!

Make This Necklace a Room - A Take on Domino

I've been daydreaming and playing with my new stash of vintage costume pearls - the ivory aged patina is just beautiful. How would it look to make a room inspired by Paper and Pearls latest vintage necklace - the Evelyn?

How about this pic? A lovely bedroom, in shades of ivory. So tranquil and peaceful - and that headboard has such beautiful curves. What a retreat that would be...

The faded antique slightly worn vintage look translates into lovely interiors, yes?

Enjoy - and I hope your week begins with everyday moments of beauty.

Paper and Pearls Newsy Bits

So - Paper and Pearls has joined TWITTER. Do you twitter - come tweet with me! Find me here.

Also - I've posted some new goodies... Evelyn vintage pearl necklace (pic above), and a new mini journal! Keep posted for more books.

Enjoy - and happy weekend!

Paper and Pearls Interview

Karen Opp - a very talented illustrator and recent Etsy Artisan feature - interviewed me over her blog!

Check it out here.

Thanks, Karen!

It's so fun to spread tales of creativity... Enjoy!

And while you're at it - check out Karen's Site. She has some new note cards I am LOVING (chocolate, anyone?).

Happy weekend!

These Tough Times

The news just doesn't seem to be getting better, is it? Seemed like a good time to post on another creative strategy to make the best in these tough times - and best of all, IT IS FREE.

Bartering, according to Websters, is "to trade by exchanging one commodity for another." I was reading Real Simple last month, and they had a great article on bartering that you can read here. What a super idea - you want a necklace, I want a picture? Let's swap!

Here are some ideas:

Instead of SHOPPING for new clothes, try SWAPPING and host a Girl's Swap Night

Do you have a special skill? You make excellent birthday cakes, you make jewelry, you knit, you quilt, you know how to make pillows - all of those are great skills! Why not swap with other friends and leverage those skills to create a win/win where you both get something you want for free! I did this with a friend of mine who is an amazing knitter - she knit booties for my friend's baby boy, and I will send her a necklace. And aren't handmade things more meaningful than big-box store purchases anyhow? Get creative!

Those of you who are parents - why not swap kid days so you can have more time for a part-time job or even precious rest and refreshment time? It takes a village, after all - lets work together and help each other out.

What are some creative barter ideas you can come up with?

By the way - I'm open to bartering. Feel free to contact me with any ideas. :-)

image: http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/leightonarabhall/images/paintings/midsize/p21.jpg

Featured Etsy Artisan: eikcam

I love this Etsy shop! Eikcam does ceramics, jewelry, and GORGEOUS pottery. Her pieces are beautifully photographed - visit eikcam for some eye candy. Grace kindly agreed to be interviewed - I'm so glad you readers can enjoy her inspirations. Thanks, Grace!

I especially like the lovely palette for the pottery. This White Dasik Tea Tumbler is GORGEOUS... I want it! And this Tomato Red Organic Shaped Side Dish? Lovely. Actually - I want all of it. :-)

Keep up the lovely work, Grace of eikcam! Thanks for joining us here at Paper and Pearls as our Featured Etsy Artisan!

Tell us a little about yourself – your name, where you live, your work.
Hi, I'm Grace from eikcam design in Vancouver, BC, Canada. I work from my tiny, little studio on the East side of Vancouver among some other great artists in our building. The part of Vancouver my studio is located is an area where there are many local artists working as full time artisans and where there is a lot of local culture and markets that support the arts scene.

Tell us about your Etsy shop and products.
My etsy shop is a collection of my ceramic work which ranges from jewelry to tableware. I also shoot vintage photography with my old Duaflex camera and have a small collection of BC inspired imagery. Most of my work has an aged or antiqued feel to it and I do use old antique molds for my ceramic ware. I love being on Etsy and being a part of this handmade community. I hope to have a more complete list of products up very soon. www.eikcam.etsy.com

How did you get into your creating? Do you have a favorite item you’ve made? Tell us the story.
Well, I am grateful for my parents and grandmother who encouraged my creative interests at a very early age. I've been painting, drawing, sculpting, printing my whole life and eventually majored in product design at art school. My favorite item so far are my tea tumblers. They are made from clay slabs but I've incorporated many elements into the design. I use an antique mold from the early 1900's from Korea married with a Provence styled texture on the base. Then I form ergonomic 'grips' for ease and comfort while drinking. They also work great for wine or even a cappuccino.

What advice would you give a creative entrepreneur on starting a small artistic business?
Having confidence in your work is really important. But, also being open to comments and feedback will help you decide where you might have some weak points and where your strong point are. Mostly, if you don't enjoy every second of what you're creating, then you might not be doing it for the right reasons.

Do you have a person that inspires you (living or historical)? Tell us about her or him!
I actually have two! The two Martha's: Martha Stewart and Martha Sturdy. Of course, Martha Stewart for her amazing talents and business sense. And, Martha Sturdy who is a Vancouver artist who attended my alma mater, Emily Carr and started with a small jewelry collection and now makes huge architectural art pieces for the home. Both had vision and the smarts and stuck to their ideas and goals.

Do you have a book or movie that makes you feel creative? Tell us about it!
There are too many films to list. But, in general, many foreign films inspire me. Whether they show the Dutch light on the landscape or the gritty underground in Budapest, these small independent films show me an interpretation of another part of the world that I wouldn't have otherwise seen. Colors, imagery and cinematography are all inspiring to me.

What is your favorite handmade treasure?
My last trip to Paris I found a tiny shop of just felted finger puppets. All four walls covered in hand stitched creations. It was so lovely! I have a lion, piglet and some darling unknown creature.