FEATURED ETSY SHOP - 1337 ART

Now this is the perfect bracelet to wear if you need a boost to your "luck"!! Hmm....I sure could use some when we go to the casinos!

I'd like to welcome, Christina, and her Etsy shop, 1337 ART. 1337 ART has a wide range of unique items ranging from bracelets/rings, beverage charms, brooches, necklaces, hair accessories, and more! You really must pay a visit! 1337 ART IS CURRENTLY HAVING AN AFTER CHRISTMAS SALE...SO DON'T MISS OUT ON SOME GREAT DEALS!

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

I have always been interested in art and crafts. When I was a kid, I used to buy beads at the local sidewalk fairs and make jewelry and key chains. Later on I started making beaded animals. I started making real pieces of jewelry two years ago when I saw two beautiful components that stirred a desire in me to create a necklace out of them.

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

I design and make what I like. I accumulate a large amount of materials such as pendants and wire and miscellaneous beads, and I choose some items I like and make something with them. I wanted to make beautiful quality pieces of jewelry; the type that you cannot find at a department store.

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

The most enjoyable part for me is shopping for supplies and turning my ideas into a reality. I often write down/attempt to sketch designs in many notebooks, and when I find the right items to make a particular design; how enjoyable that is!

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

A lime; bold, casual, with a bit of flare. Why not wear pearls one day and gemstone chips the next?

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

I have already been experimenting with collage work and photography, and I would love to incorporate these and expand on them to be included in my business. They are both endless and beautiful and unique.

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

Life is both spontaneous and beautiful; do not be afraid to be you.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Follow your dreams and never stop doing what you love, when it sometimes seems as though you can't go on. If you want to make your artwork your way of living, planning, organization, and patience are the key ingredients to something successful.

Great advice, Christina...! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and creations with all of us! Be sure to visit Christina's links below to see more of what she has to offer.

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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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