Looking foward to fall......."ACORN FAIRY"!

Fiber Sculpted Fall ACORN Fairy

With all the "hot and humid" weather we've been having in Wisconsin this summer, I am definitely looking forward to fall....some nice crisp air, and the smell of falling leaves!

To make myself feel "cooler", I decided to start creating some "fall fairies", and the above wall style fairy is the first in my fall collection.  To learn more about her, you can visit her in my DZFANTASY shop on Etsy by clicking on her above title.

She is wearing a "real acorn" cap! 

FEATURED ETSY SHOP - MOMSHOO by Shu Ning

 Bird tail feathers fabric badge

by MOMSHOO

(CLICK on item's title above to learn more about it)

I'm happy to have Shu Ning and her Etsy shop, MOMSHOO here on DZFANTASY as a "featured" Etsy shop.  When you pay a visit to MOMSHOO you will find delightful, colorful fabric badges and pins to add a bit of fun to any outfit.

First, take a moment to read Shu Ning's interview below.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

Strictly speaking I only started sewing after attending a patchwork class, but way before that, I had art classes all the time! And it was only after being inspired by so many plush artists I read about in books that got me thinking, “Hey! That looks fun and something I could do IT too!” The boredom following the long break before entering University also helped fuel the start of Momshoo.

How did you decide what medium you wanted to work with?

As mentioned before, plush artists were my first inspirations and trying to come up with my own plush for a major art project in school got me hooked on sewing! It wasn’t difficult to realize I wanted to work on all things fabric.

Momshoo- The Little Prince fabric badges set

(CLICK on the item's title above to learn more about it)

What aspect of creating your art/craft do you find the most enjoyable?

Hmm… tough decision. I think I like the finding of inspiration (usually involves shopping around and I can disguise it as ‘working’)… Sewing is also very therapeutic, but I love putting on the finishing touches as I get that sense of satisfaction seeing the readymade products!

If you had to choose a fruit OR a vegetable, to describe your art/craft, what would you choose, and why?

The lemon! The fruit is sour and some people (like me) love it, others do not. In some way my craft is very specific and you either like it a lot or you don’t! Which is the reason why I don’t actively push my products to passers-by at flea markets; hard-sell doesn’t work for my kind of products. And for those who are interested, they usually appreciate my creations a lot more.

If you had to choose one other medium in which to display your “creativity”, what would that be, and why?

Wood! Ah, yes, most definitely wood. I am always attracted to the tiny wooden toys of Germany, but I haven’t had a chance to learn wood-craft as I haven’t found anyone in Singapore who teaches it.

What message, if any, do you want to convey with your art/craft?

There are many ways you can add ‘fun’ in your lives!

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Shop around and experiment often. I find this is a good way for me to come up with new products. (I am still very new to all this! Maybe they have advice for me too? )

Thanks, Shu Ning, for taking the time to share your thoughts and your creativity with all of us. 

Be sure to visit Shu Ning's links below to see more of her delightful creations.

FLICKR

FACEBOOK

Beautiful, light weight "fiber & Swarovski crystal" earrings!

SEA BREEZE!

I just listed these beautiful fiber and Swarovski crystal earrings in my DZFANTASY shop on Etsy.

(CLICK on the title above to learn more about them)

I handknit the fiber "focal" beads, which gives them a truly one-of-a-kind design!  Super light weight!

FEATURED ETSY ARTIST - Natalie of Lissi Naturally Dyed Products

Naturally Dyed Eucalyptus Leaf and Nail Printed Silk Scarf

(CLICK on above link to learn more about this beautiful silk scarf)

WELCOME Natalie and her Etsy shop Lissi Naturally Dyed Products.  Pay a visit to Natalie's shop and you will find a gorgeous selection of  hand dyed products.  There is something so rich and exquisite about silk, and to have it handdyed naturally is the ultimate treat!

First, take a moment to read Natalie's interview below to learn a bit more about this talanted artist.

What led you to start creating your art/craft

I’ve always enjoyed being creative, and when I left school at 16 I became a florist. I returned to education when I was twenty and gained a degree in Fashion Marketing. It was my final major project for university that saw me start researching into the ethics and organics of the fashion industry, and for that I created a brand of clothing, Lissi, highlighting the alternatives to chemical based dyes that can be used to dye fabric and cloth. Since I graduated I have an office based job as a merchandiser so to keep myself actively creative I decided I to launch Lissi Naturally Dyed Products as an accessories and supplies brand!

How did you decide what medium you wanted to work with?


I think it all stemmed back to working in the florist’s shop and my love for nature and fauna. There is so much choice to experiment with and it’s really exciting to see how things turn out once they have entered the dye pot.


What aspect of creating your art/craft do you find the most enjoyable?

The not knowing! Well, most off the time unless I am trying to re-create a certain colour or mimic a previous print for a custom order that is!


Everything I dye comes out different which gives each piece a special uniqueness.

Pack of Three Naturally Dyed/ Printed Greetings Cards

(CLICK on above link to learn more about these beautiful cards)

If you had to choose a fruit OR a vegetable, to describe your art/craft, what would you choose, and why?


Hmm, a tough one. What kind of fruit or vegetable can be unpredictable?...possibly an orange as these can surprise by being either super sweet or bitterly sour!


If you had to choose one other medium in which to display your “creativity”, what would that be, and why?


I really miss drawing and illustrating. I haven’t done so much since I finished my degree and recently reminisced over my portfolio.

What message, if any, do you want to convey with your art/craft?

Deep Red Naturally Dyed Silk Scarf Ball Necklace

(CLICK on link above to learn more about this unique silk ball necklace)

I really just want to show people alternative design aspects. We don’t always have to rely on man and chemicals, and should look to the nature around us to see how self sufficient we really can be.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?


If you are just starting out, take time to research your market and the right venues to show your work, and don’t get down hearted if your items don’t fly out. Ask friends and families to spread the word too. Things started really slow for Lissi Naturally Dyed Products, and I won’t be able to leave my 9-5 job for many years, if ever, but it’s more about the fulfilment of still being able to be creative for me....and it’s an added bonus that people like what I do!


Thanks, Natalie, for sharing your thoughts and silk creations with everyone!   They are absolutely beautiful!
 
To see more of Natlie's creations, be sure to visit her links below.

BLOG

LISSI WEBPAGE

Art in the Park 2010 - Lake Geneva, WI....Artist's Review

This past weekend I was an exhibitor in ART IN THE PARK in Lake Geneva, WI.  This year's show was moved to a new location from previous years.  In the past year when I did the show, it was always held on the lake front by Library Park.  This year it was moved to Flat Iron Park across the street from the lake.  This new spot made for a lot nicer unloading and loading for the artists.  Each artist was assigned a metered space for the duration of the two day show.  This meant no more pushing your canopy and other setup materials up a hill and fighting the bumper to bumper traffic when trying to tear down and load up your vehicle!

This is a view of the lake, boat marina and building across from Flat Iron Park, site of the art fair.

The weather cooperated and we had two days of beautiful weather.  This show is sponsored by the Geneva Lakes Art Association (GLAA).  They do a great job of running this show!  Coffee, fruit and bakery was provided each morning for the artists, plus a "goody bag" filled with snacks.

Lake Geneva is a tourist town where people come to enjoy the lake and its activities, as well as eating in the various restaurants and visiting the shops.  There were loads of people going through the show, but considering the number of people, I don't think sales were all that great for a lot of the artists.  Mine were OK, but not what you'd expect for the number of people going through the show.

You didn't see many packages go walking by with the people, but one certainly saw a huge variety of dogs!!  In fact, one would almost feel as if they were at a dog show.  I never saw so many different dogs walking around with their owners....big ones, little ones of all shapes and breeds.  One lady came into my booth with a golden retriever and when her dog saw another dog going by, it took out after the dog and its leash got tangled up with another show goer!  Luckily no one got hurt.  I LOVE dogs, but I really don't think an art show is a place to walk your dogs.

A photo of some of the booths before the show was open.

We always seem to get the most delightful artists as our neighbors, and this show was no exception.  Below are photos of a very talented "woodwork" artist, Wendell Ziegler.  His wonderful mushroom sculptures caught both my sister's and my attention as soon as we saw them.  I even purchased several of them for my fairies to sit upon.

You can see more of her, on her mushroom, in my DZFANTASY shop.

Here is a photo of some of the artist's mushrooms which first caught our attention!  The smaller one are sculpted from an Australian pod called "banksia" ( I think I have it spelled right). They are so unique and magical.  The wooden ones were also beautiful.

Some more of Wendell's creations!

Meet Wendell the artist behind all these wonderful wood creations!

If you are interested in learning more about Woodwork by Wendell send him an email.

His Wood Gallery is open 7 days a week by appointment

WZIEGLER@TDS.ENT

Another artist's colorful booth.  Note the prospective customer has her dog along!

Artist putting the finishing touches on her booth before show opens.

My lovely sister, Dianne!

She is not only my buddy, best friend, but the best "layout" artist, and I couldn't do a show without her!  She has a great talent for displaying all my artwork to the best advantage!  We get compliments all the time on our booth display.

A section of my display.

This young lady had just purchased one of my Fantasy Fiber Necklaces.

It was fun to hear all the compliments and exclamations of surprise when people found out that I handknit each necklace and even the fiber focal beads in my fantasy earrings.  The designs and colors appealed to all ages.  A young girl of about 10 picked out a beautiful purple necklace with Swarovski crystals, and I wish I would have taken a photo of her wearing it with a big smile on her face.

To sum up the Art in the Park show of 2010....it is a well run show, the unloading and loading is great now that it has moved to its new location.  While the crowds at the show didn't produce as many sales as most artists would have liked, I plan on going back next year.  The art show seemed to be more of an added attraction for visitors to the Lake Geneva area, rather then people coming to a show to specifically look for art to purchase. Since there was no charge to go through the show, it provided a place for people to stroll around while enjoying the pleasant weather.

Several suggestions I would make to the sponsors of the show would be to give the artists at least a foot around each booth.  It is very hard to set up your canopy when you are flush up against the next person's booth.  Another suggestion would be to have a wider variety of food for purchase.  Not everyone likes hot dogs and brats.  Other than that,  it was an enjoyable weekend, meeting and talking with new customers, and selling my art.

3 LUCKY WINNERS of the 3 PRIZE GIVEWAY ON DZFANTASY!

The "3 PRIZE GIVEAWAY which I hosted for Levi of PRECIOUS ITEMS, FOREVER SPECIAL (PIFS) on Etsy ended August 16, 2010 with 3 lucky winners!  The winners were selected by randomly picking 3 entries from the 25 entries received for this generous giveway by Levi of PIFS.  The first name selected had their choice of picking 1 of the 3 items offered, the 2nd name selected could choose from the remaining 2 items, and the 3rd name received the last item.

THE WINNER'S ARE.............

Below are the names of the WINNER'S and a photo of their selected prize:

JANINE's - Entry of 7/19/10

Janine will be receive a custom Silver Pendant

SANDY'S - Entry of  7/16/10

Sandy will be receiving this unique Karma Scrabble Tile Pendant

MARILYN's - ENTRY of 7/16/10

Marilyn will be receiving the Gold Tower Ball Earrings

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNER'S!

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway.

A special "THANK YOU" to Levi of PIFS for having me host his delightful, generous giveaway!  Be sure to visit PIFS on Etsy to see the many designs and creations that Levi has to offer.  You can click on the links below to arrive at PIFS.

I will be offering more giveaways here on DZFANTASY in the coming months, so be sure to stop back for a visit or become a "follower" to be sure you don't miss out on what's happening at DZFANTASY.

Artist's Review of 24th Annual FIREFLY ART FAIR - Wauwatosa, WI

Photo of Victorian Gardens at the 24th Annual FIREFLY ART FAIR...Just beautiful!

This past weekend, August 7th and 8th, I was exhibiting at the FIREFLY ART FAIR in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.  I've been doing this show for about 8 years, and it still remains my "all time favorite show"!  The grounds are just gorgeous, the environment and vibes at this show are so delightful.  This show attracts a lot of knowlegeable art buyers, which makes for a fun and enjoyable experience for both the customers and artists alike.

I just had a "feeling" this was going to be a great weekend, when I got up Saturday at 5 a.m. to get ready for the show, and when I read my horoscope it said, "you will be surrounded with a flurry of activity today, and you will feel like you are in the clouds"!  Well, that was so true!!  Both my sister and I were on "cloud 9" all day Saturday, as it was beautiful weather, the crowds were good, and people were buying.  Much to my delight I sold $350.00 in the first 1.5 hours of the show, and sales continued all day long!  What a difference from my first 3 art shows this season, where I didn't even make my expenses.

Since I didn't have time to walk the show and talk to as many artists as I normally do, it was hard to get a feeling as to how other artists were doing as far as sales.  I did, however, get several photos of some of the artists across from me, and next to my booth.

Colorful, gorgeous,handpainted windows

by Artist, Dawn Eve Harzheim

I noticed this artist's colorful creations as we were setting up for the show.  Her handpainted glass windows were just beautiful, and full of color!

I just might have to find a place in my home for one of these "windows"!  The colors and detail are wonderful!

If you are interested in find out more about Dawn's artwork, you may reach her at: dawneve9@sbcglobal.net

The next artist, who's booth was across from me, was a metal sculpture artist, who as you can see from the photos below, creates very whimsical, unique creations from different pieces of metal.  He also had tiny little creatures made from spoons, etc.  I always find it fascinating to see what other creative minds come up with. 

Now isn't that an unusual creature!

Artist at work!  Looks like a "spider" is being born!

The FIREFLY ART FAIR is held on the beautiful grounds of the historical "Kneeland Walker House in Wauwatosa, WI.  Tours may be taken of the home when the art show is on.  I'm not sure if it is open for tours at other times.  The FIREFLY ART FAIR is run by the Wauwatosa Historical Society and the people are very delightful to work with and it is a well run show.  The show has good food available, musical entertainment, a silient auction, popcorn wagon, and they also have food for the artists after the show on Saturday, and a coffee, donuts and juice on Sunday morning.

Partial back view of the Kneeland Walker House, with people coming in where the red umbrella is. 

Tables are set up in the center of the gardens so people may sit, eat and enjoy the flowers and scenery.

A portion of the flowers in the garden.  Below are several photos I took of the flowers you see in the right hand section of the above photo.  I can't remember the name of the flowers.  They were exquisite!

Does anyone know what kind these are.  I think it started with an "L", but not sure!

Below is another artist and I've also included her web page link if you are interested in seeing more of her work.  I wish I would have gotten some closeup shots of her work, but I didn't want to leave my booth for long.

EARTH BOUND Fine Art by Dara Chappie

Visit her website to learn more:  http://darachappie.com/

A section of my display.  All the fairies are enjoy the fine day at the FIREFLY!

To sum it up, the 24th Annual FIREFLY ART FAIR was again a great show, even though it rained Sunday morning and we didn't get to set up and start selling until about noon!  The sun came out and I had another profitable day. I is always such fun meeting and talking with previous customers, meeting new ones!

My next show is this coming weekend in Lake Geneva, WI - August, 14th and 15th - ART IN THE PARK.  This show is sponsored by the GENEVA LAKE ART ASSOCIATION.  The hours are 10:00 a.m. - 5 p.m. SATURDAY, and 10:00 a.m. - 4 p.m. SUNDAY.  It is being held overlooking the lake in Flat Iron Park, which is right near the downtown area of Lake Geneva.


If you live in the area, be sure to stop by for a visit.

COTTON CANDY FAIRY LAND TREASURY

What a delightful surprise this morning to learn  that my tiny, aqua, birthstone fairy was a part of the magical treasury above!!  What fun to be included with all these other charming items!  THANKS, KANDICE!  Be sure to visit the link below to visit the treasury, and click on any photo to go to that particular item.

COTTON CANDY FAIRY LAND 

The curator of this charming treasury is Kandice of Kandice in Wonderland.  To visit this wonderful shop, click on the link below.

KANDICE IN WONDERLAND

24th ANNUAL FIREFLY ART FAIR - Wauwatosa, WI

Victorian Garden setting  makes for an enchanting site for the 24th Annual Firefly Ar Fair!

The Wauwatosa Historical Society is the sponsor of one of my favorite shows....the 24th Annual Firefly Art Fair which is held on the beautiful grounds of the Kneeland-Walker House at 7406 Hillcrest Drive, Wauwatosa, WI!  If you live anywhere near the area, be sure to stop by for a visit.

The fair has a wide variety of talented artists, which include painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, jewelry, fiber, printmaking, glass and more.

In addition to wandering the grounds looking at "fine art", you will find a variety of food on the menu...baked potatoes, hot dogs, brats, hamburgers, homemade pies, root beer floats, beer, lemonade, bottled water, popcorn and fruit bars!  Come early and spend the day.  You may also want to take a tour of the historic Kneeland-Walker home.

Hours for the show are:  August 7 and 8th - 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. both days.

My booth # is No. 89, so be sure to stop by for a visit.  I have added my new line of "fiber fantasy jewelry", and I will also be donating item/s to the Silient Auction.

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!