FEATURED ETSY SHOP - PULP ART

Sculpture of circles made of handmade paper

by

MARTHA of PULP ART

(To learn more about this colorful sculpture, CLICK on either photo)

What an innovative, unique idea! Love all the colors and texture!

I just love finding and learning more about all the fascinating areas of arts and crafts which one can find on Etsy. I'm happy to have Martha and her Etsy shop, PULP ART here on DZFANTASY as a "featured" Etsy shop. Read below to learn more about Martha and her handmade paper creations.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

I began making paper when I got engaged in 1992. I wanted to to make my own invitations and didn’t like the formal options available. I took a two-hour class, bought a mold and deckle and literally haven't stopped making paper ever since.

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

Before motherhood, I was a newspaper writer and editor. I started making greeting cards because I have always loved writing and sending (and receiving) cards. Since then, I have also incorporated pressed flowers into my greeting cards. I just use what I love.

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

I really hate measuring and being precise. I have made hand-bound books and stained glass windows. I have spent 7 hours threading a loom and another 10 hours weaving a wall hanging. I have drawn with charcoal and tried to get the correct proportions of the human body. I have dappled in all kinds of other arts and crafts where measuring is really important and ... I hate it! I love making paper because there is no measuring - just rip up paper, blend it with water and throw it in a vat. I have always been a frugal person, and it appeals to my sense of recycling and reusing. I also love that I can use so many “ingredients” in my paper. I have used shredded money, pot pourri, herbs from my garden, old spices that have lost their punch, love letters, grass clippings from the lawn...

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

Asparagus. The season is short and I always gorge myself on it until it’s gone. Every batch of paper is unique, with its own unique color from the scraps that I have used. I don’t use dyes or bleach to get the color; it all comes from the materials I use. Once its gone, it’s gone.

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

Jewelry making. I love going to bead stores and could spend hours pawing through the beads. I have learned how to “weave” different patterns for bracelets and beaded balls. So much fun.

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

Find multiple purposes for everything in your life. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Aside from sending less to the landfill, you’ll feel a great sense of purpose.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Call yourself what you are: an artist. I used to want to be an “artist” so badly, but I felt that I was just a crafter. A wise friend told me to just claim the title and move on with it already. I did. I applied to an artisans cooperative and got accepted. I have been there 10 years and have expanded myself so much there. I applied to a prestigious holiday juried craft show and got in. I now show at it every year. I never would have done so as a fearful crafter.

THANKS, Martha for taking the time to share your thoughts and creativity with everyone. It was interesting to learn what you use in making your handmade paper creations.

To see more of what PULP ART has to offer, be sure to click on the links below.

FEATURED ETSY SHOP - Nancy from goshery

If you are looking for unique, handmade paper goods...tags, greeting cards, etc....be sure to visit goshery on Etsy. Let's hear what goshery's owner, Nancy, has to say about her creations, and how she got started

What led you to start creating your art/craft

I have always loved paper and supplies – like so many other paper crafters, my favorite thing about each new school year as I was growing up was buying school supplies.. I started making cards about 20 years ago; they were so basic compared to some of the cards that you see now! There weren’t nearly as many options for paper crafters at that time, but I enjoyed it then as much as I do now. I was introduced to scrap booking 15 years ago and fell in love with that process as well.

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

I think it was my love of paper that made crafting paper goods such an easy choice for me. I have also done some sewing, but I find reading patterns to be a real challenge! Basket weaving was another endeavor and hats off to those artists; that is a real skill. I do some cross stitching too, but paper is definitely my favorite medium.

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

I definitely love color and my ideas often start with a piece of patterned paper that I find and want to use in a project. Coming up with the idea is probably both the most enjoyable and also the most frustrating! Sometimes the ideas really flow and other times I just can’t come up with an idea that works.

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

I would probably use an onion to describe my craft because I often use layers of paper on my projects. Like an onion, you can peel back the layers to see the bones of the project.

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

I would choose photography as another medium to display my creativity. I’m not an expert photographer by any means, but I love to take pictures and enjoy trying to find interesting subjects and angles. I especially enjoy nature photography and like to have my camera along as I travel because there are so many opportunities to take pictures. One of my favorite photos is a picture of a sunset that was taken one summer evening while I was out for a walk – hurray for cell phone cameras!

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

I enjoy the concept of simple living and simple times, so my items aren’t full of flair but instead tend to have a simple, clean look. My hope is that people connect with the colors and patterns that I use; I often leave the cards blank so that people can use them to send any message that they wish.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

I don’t know that I’m qualified to give anyone advice, but I encourage parents to do craft projects with their children. Kids tend to be very creative and don’t feel the need to be perfect, which lends to their creativity. It’s a great way for families to spend time together and can give kids another option besides watching TV or playing video games. For artists/crafters I would encourage them to share their skills through Community Education classes or by volunteering at local events. I think there’s a real opportunity for all of us to bond with each other through our crafts.

Nancy, thanks for a great interview and taking the time to share your thoughts and creativity with everyone! Be sure to see what paper products Nancy has to offer by visiting goshery on Etsy and her blog linke below.

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