FEATURED ETSY ARTIST - DOVE DESIGNS

Christmas Korker Red and Green

by

DOVE DESIGNS

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

WELCOME, Jodi and her Etsy shop, DOVE DESIGNS.  When you pay a visit to DOVE DESIGNS, you will find a delightful array of handmade hairbows, clippies, korker bows (such as the one above) headbands and more.

First take a moment to read Jodi's interview below where she gives us a bit of an insight into how she got started creating her designs.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

After having my daughter, I quickly saw how a cute hairbow pulled an entire outfit together. Hair accessories can really make or break an outfit for a little girl. I started designing bows for her and soon I was getting requests from strangers.

Twisted Boutique Bow in Black and Pink

 

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

In my area, bows are more popular than other hair accessories, such as flowers or headbands. My daughter has extremely curly hair and I wanted something that would stay in her hair.

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

I find seeing the finished product to be the most enjoyable part, especially seeing it in someone's hair! I love to see how my bows match different outfits for different girls.

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

I think I'd choose an apple to represent my bows. Apples come in several colors and flavors, just like the different bows I make. I think of my creations as fresh and tart, just like an apple!

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

Another medium I'd choose would be sewing. I love to see custom outfits for children, especially smocking. The creative possibilities with colors and textures are endless. Unfortunately, I'm a terrible seamstress!

Gingerbread Man Christmas Bow

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

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

The message I'd like to convey is that every little girl can look cute. I try to make bows to represent a wide variety of tastes. Not every girl is a girly-girl in pink. Not every girl likes bling. I want to provide hair accessories that appeal to different personalities and tastes.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

I'm still new to Etsy, so I'm still learning what works there! But anyone interested in designing bows should do lots of research and try out different materials to see what appeals to them. And practice, practice, practice!

THANKS, Jodi, for sharing your thoughts and creations with all of us.  May your DOVE DESIGNS prove successful for you!

To see more of Jodi's creations, be sure to visit the links below.

FEATURED ETSY SHOP - CARIAD CLAY

Love Birds Hanging Heart

by CARIAD CLAY

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

Let's welcome Chloe, and her Etsy shop, CARIAD CLAY as a featured Etsy artist here on DZFANTASY.  It has been a while since I've had time to bring you featured Etsy shops, and I am happy to have CARIAD CLAY as one of the first ones.

Be sure to pay a visit to Chloe's shop after reading her interview below, where she tells us in her own words how she got started in her art.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

After having my little girl, I started pottery classes to try to banish the baby brain.

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

I've always loved getting messy and really enjoyed pottery at school

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

I love how relaixng it is, just sitting with some fresh clay and working on new ideas. Sometimes they turn out well and other times they are a complete mess, but as long as I get my 'clay time' I'm happy!


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

A banana! It's soft to start with, but hard when dried and it's bright and sunny!

Custom Butterfly Door Number Plaque Any Number Any Colour

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

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

It would always be clay!

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

That I'm a potter from Wales! I love my Welsh roots and living in Wales.

Cariad is Welsh for beloved and if more people know that then I'm happy.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?


Make what you enjoy making, then you'll enjoy selling it and talking about it too

Chloe, thanks for taking the time to share your delightful creations with all of us and for sharing your thoughts and ideas.

Be sure to visit CARIAD CLAY by clicking on the links below.

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Winner of the DZFANTASY $35.00 Gift Certificate Giveaway is.....

KATIE

OF

MURFREESBORO, TN

CONGRATULATIONS, KATIE!!

Katie will be receiving the above sparkly, "fairy face" pin along with several packages of different yarn samples, which she said she would like for the balance of her $35.00 gift certificate!



A "big thank you" to all of you who participated in this giveaway.  I will be running another giveaway in the coming weeks, when I decide what the prize will be!  Stop back and sign up....you never know....you could be the next lucky winner.

I love my "Harley"!

Meet my new baby....HARLEY!

I haven't had much time in the past 5 months to keep up with my DZFANTASY blog or my Etsy shop, as I've been taking care of my husband who was diagnosed with terminal cancer.  On October 2nd, my husband, Chuck, passed away after a 5 month battle with cancer.  

I recently purchased this lovely little cockapoo boy, whom I named "HARLEY" in honor of my husband, who not only worked for Harley Davidson for 35 years as a high speed test driver, but also an  A Mechanic.  Harley motorcycles have always played an important part in our lives, so this is the perfect name for my new little friend.  He really keeps my smiling!

I hope to get back into the swing of getting new artists features here on my blog along with giveaways and other topics of interest.

I currently have a $35.00 Gift Certificate giveway running, which will end on October 20, 2010 at 12:00 midnight CST.  It is open to ALL!  To enter the giveaway click on the photo in the upper right column of this blog.  Winner will have the opportunity to spend $35.00 in my DZFANTASY shop on Etsy.  See giveaway post for more details.

THANKS FOR VISITING DZFANTASY!

FEATURED ETSY SHOP - 1mADwoman

Mustard Yellow Clutch

by

Erin of 1mADwoman

(to learn more about this beautiful clutch, click on the item's title above)

It has been a while since I've had the time to put featured Etsy artists here on my blog, and am happy to have Erin and her Etsy shop 1mADwoman here today.

Erin designs and creates lovely handmade purses, bags and clutches, so be sure to visit "1mADwoman" on Etsy to find your perfect accessory.

First, take a moment to read about Erin and how she came to be creating these lovely accessories.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

I have an obscene amount of fabric leftover from other projects and from inheriting fabric from my grandma and her best friend when they decided to get rid of their stuff. Some of it was stuff I was never going to wear, so I started making purses and clutches out of it. It turned out to be a hugely fun and fantastic decision!

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

I've been sewing for twelve years - I wanted to learn to make my own clothes because it's much easier to find what you want to wear that way! I also started quilting a couple of years later. Almost every baby born in my personal vicinity has received a baby blanket from me in the last ten years. Learning to design the purses was actually pretty easy - no curved seams or body parts to fit!

Black and White Clutch

(click on item's title above to learn more about this stunning clutch)



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

The total freedom it gives me. I can choose what I want to do and how I want to do it. I really don't do well in traditional office settings - I get bored way to easily!

Cream Corduroy Purse

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

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

Pumpkin - I'm as full of ideas and want-to's as a pumpkin is full of seeds!

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

I've always wanted to learn how to draw properly - I can't draw anything but basic stuff with any regularity!

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

That this is FUN and that I really love what I do!

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Do what you love and enjoy it! If you don't love it, you won't enjoy it, and you won't be any good at it. And believe in yourself - even if no one else does, you MUST believe that you can do what you set out to do.



Thanks, Erin for a delightful interview and for sharing your lovely creations with all of us.  Erin also designs jewelry and sells it in her other Etsy shop called "Heartsabustin".  Be sure to visit Erin's links below.

HEARTSABUSTIN

FACEBOOK

TWITTER