BEAUTIFUL "ART CARDS" BY NINA ROBINSON

White Magnolia

by Nina Robinson

I was so excited to learn that one of my favorite artists, Nina Robinson, had opened her new shop on Etsy which she is calling My Art In Cards. I've been admiring Nina's beautiful art since meeting Nina on the IEMPORIUM site.

Nina has several other shops on Etsy where you can buy her art, but this new shop of hers is where she will be selling her very affordable art cards. Be sure to pay My Art In Cards a visit. I just did and bought several of her beautiful cards, which I can hardly wait to get in the mail! I bought the one pictured above, and below are several more that I just had to have!

The last two photos are of her larger art cards (5.5" x 8.5") which could be framed. Just look at the beautiful detail and colors! Now that you have had a peek at these gorgeous cards, be sure to see more of them by clicking on the links below.

FEATURED ETSY SHOP - KRISTAL from TINY BIRD ARTS

WELCOME, Kristal and her Tiny Bird Arts shop on Etsy. Tiny Bird Arts has everything from personalized greeting cards to delightful, tree ornaments, so be sure to stop by for a visit, after you learn a little bit more about Kristal, and what makes her tick as a creative person.


What led you to start creating your art/craft?


I've always enjoyed drawing funky, fun & cute things. I got tired of shopping for nice gifts for people that really fit their personalities and were unique, and ending up empty handed. So I started giving gifts made from my drawings and find that people really appreciate something extra special made just for them. Since my day job is something that I would eventually like to be out of, I decided to turn what I love doing into my way out of Cubicleville. I started selling my creations on Etsy since I stumbled upon it a few months ago, and it seems like a good home for things extra special and personal. My shop is split between cards and ornaments right now; after the holidays it will just be cards and paper products.


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


My day job is very computer oriented. As much as I like drawing things by hand, drawing them on the computer has a lot of advantages for me, given my impatience. It's easy to quickly move parts of a drawing around, change their colors, or combine them in different ways in a snap. Currently I use Fireworks MX to do my designs. As for creating cards, I think cards are a fun way to keep in touch. I love getting things in the mail that aren't bills or ads. There's a giddy excitement that I feel when I see a handwritten addressed envelope that I know is from someone I care about. I want to give people a unique way to send that excitement to the ones they love.


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


I love to give a customized set of cards to someone. Seeing their face when they immedeately recognize that the cards match their style and will be used happily to send love, hope, comfort, or joy to someone else makes the time it takes to create those things so worth it. I also really enjoy when buyers tell me they've received their purchase, and they absolutely love it.


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


If nuclear disaster hit and the world was without electricity, and I couldn't use the computer, I'd have to stick to drawing with pencil, ink, Prismacolors, and watercolor pencils.


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


The tag line for my shop is "personalized designs for the people you love." I want my creations to convey that people should take time to let others know how they feel, to comfort others, to be considerate and kind. I know I know.....big lofty goals for some little bitty cards.


What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?


I'm fairly new to selling my creations, but for me it's important to be true to myself. I have many different styles that I like to create in, and my Etsy shop reflects that. I don't think all the effort it takes to do any art is worth it if you're not doing what you love and doing it in the style that reflects you. Hopefully this translates to art that is more beautiful and strikes a chord with people, and of course makes some money along the way.


Kristal, great interview! Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and creativity with us. I hope you work your way out of Cubicleville...I've been there, done that...I and was SO happy to leave it all behind! Best of luck to you!


Be sure to visit TINY BIRD ARTS by clicking on the links below. Also, here is a photo of Kristal's ornaments that she now has available in her shop.

TINY BIRD ARTS BLOG

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FEATURED ETSY SHOP - GWYNN'S GIFTS

I was looking through Gwynn's Gifts before I started to put them out here as a "featured Etsy" shop, and as I always love to learn more about people, I am drawn to the profile section of each shop. Here is a portion of the profile to give you even a bit more information as, Heather tells us how GWYNN'S GIFTS came about. Then, be sure to read the following interview that Heather so kindly took the time to complete.

We are a mother- daughter team that has a passion for all things creative. My mother has been teaching me new crafts since I can remember. We have had so much fun learning new techniques and trying things out together. We love to work with all kinds of mediums. We enjoy doing tiny things all the way up to trying to build our own furniture. The sky is the limit for us when it comes to creating new things. My mom is very good at following instructions and learning things to the tee. I on the other hand just like to look at new things and go my own way from there. We have very different approaches to our creating, but we both get the same pleasure out of it

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

I originally started making jewelry to keep my hands busy. I had quit smoking and needed something to do (still a non smoker after 2 years). My mom had started making jewelry so she had all the supplies, so I just went to town. In the first 2 weeks, I had made over a 100 pairs of earrings and I had nothing to do with them. My mom also has a love of beautiful paper and textures so she started making cards and the two just seemed to merge together. It was something we could both create and Gwynn’s Gifts was born. We both have the middle name Gwynn so that is how the name came about.

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

I still haven’t decided what I want to work with because I love everything. So I tend to do a little of this and a little of that.

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

I find it very rewarding to have what is in my mind come out with my creations. I feel so proud when something turns out just right and I love it when people are so happy to receive it.

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

I think I would choose an apple because the cores are all the same, but they come in all different shapes and colors.

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

I love to sculpt with clay. If I could I would have my own space with a wheel and a kiln, that might just be pure bliss.

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

I hope when people receive our cards that they feel special.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Just do what feels good. If you love it, then that is all there needs to be. Art is personal, and we are all lucky when it is shared.

Heather, what a wonderful thing for you and your mom to be able to co-create together. Thanks, again for taking the time to share your thoughts and work with all of us. I really love the idea of the cards and earrings, and other items as a gift set!! The "trout fly" is also great! Very unique and lovely ideas! Be sure to visit GWYNN'S GIFTS to see all the beautiful cards and gift sets available.

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FEATURED ETSY SHOP - JEN'S CLOSET

I find it interesting and fun to feature a variety of artists and Etsy shops, so today we are going to hear from Jen, of JEN'S CLOSET, whose shop is full of wonderful vintage items. Here, in Jen's own words, she tells us how she got interested in collecting and selling vintage items.

What motivated you to get into selling “vintage” items!
Actually, it's WHO motivated me to selling vintage items on Etsy....my daughter, Lindsey..who has three shops (she's closing the jewelry one soon), her main shop being deerlyneeded (jewelry supplies). I have always loved antiques and vintage, especially depression glass. When I found out my company was laying me off after being there over 20 years, my daughter suggested I open a shop! At that time, I did not even know how to download a picture to my computer! I've learned so much in so little time (since I opened my shop April 1, 2008..yes, that's right, April Fools Day!

Is there any category of vintage items that intrigues you the most?
Well, as I mentioned before, my favorite vintage item is depression glass, especially green and pink depression glass. You would not believe how many different patterns there are, and how many books there are on this subject! I have actually received the most help from other sellers of vintage on Etsy..they are a wonderful group!! Thank you to all of them!

What aspect of finding and selling vintage items do you find the most enjoyable?
Well, there's the shopping aspect, that's the best part...the hunt for great stuff! I have always had a fondness for shopping, but now it's even more fun! Seriously, every aspect of selling on Etsy is exciting to me! I have always loved wrapping gifts, my Mom left that job for me at Christmas..so when I ship an item out, you're receiving a lovely wrapped gift!

What vintage item would you love to find, that you haven’t already seen or sold?
I am always on the hunt for an eye-popping, popular retro item; something I knew will get lots of views, thus, more people viewing my entire shop! The cute retro things always get people looking..like the cute aqua vintage flash camera I have up right now! I had the cutest owl drinking glasses (owls are always a hit)..and I cannot believe how many views I received, until they finally sold!

What advice do you have for others in the selling or collecting of vintage items?Do research, love what you're selling...get together with the wonderful other vintage shops..and they will help you with questions, and motivate you! We have a riot on Thursday nights--the vintage vixens, you should check out our thread! We invite everyone!

What is the most interesting or exciting piece of vintage that you have found to date?
Oh gosh, the most interesting piece of vintage, that is seriously hard to answer, I cannot think of one thing that is the most interesting, because I truly love all of them! I did find these rare ultramarine swirl depression teacups and saucers that I have up in my shop right now, they are definitely interesting!

THANKS, Jen, for taking the time share your thoughts enthusiasm for collecting and selling vintage items. Be sure to visit JEN'S CLOSET to see all of her "finds"! There might just be one that you have been looking for. You may visit any of the items show below by clicking on the photo, which will take you directly to that item in Jen's shop. You may also click on the link below the photos to go directly to her shop.

JEN'S BLOG

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