FEATURED ETSY SHOP - THREAD SPIDER TEXTILES

Contemporary Lace Panel

by

THREAD SPIDER

(click on photos above to learn more about this creation)

This delicate panel sparkles and shimmers in the light. Cobweb felt creates a light and floaty backing for the lace effect surface which is lovingly embellished with lacy flowers ,hand embroidery and beads.

Christine of THREAD SPIDER on Etsy is a wonderful textile artist from the UK. When you pay a visit to THREAD SPIDER, you will find embrodered panels, textile jewellery (see photo below), ACEO's and more. Be sure to pay Christine's shop a visit and see what other delightful creations she has to offer.

Round and Round We Go

by Christine

Colorful Textile Brooch (click on photo to learn more)

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

When my daugher was small I returned to college to study for my City and Guilds Diploma in Design and Embroidery.

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

I love working with fabrics, fibers and yarns . I do sometimes use plastics and metals in my work I am happier using more natural fibers.

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

I adore creating new fabrics to stitch into. I enjoy the tactile pleasure in making felt, especially really fine almost cobweb felt and nuno felts. I relish the fact that I don't always have full control over how the finished piece will look as some fibers will often shrink more than others. This only adds to the fun.

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

I suppose that would have to be runner beans. I say my work is often organic in that while I have worked on the intial design, the end result often takes itself off in different directions because of the nature of the materials I use.

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

Drawing and sketching . I would love to be able to draw more .

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

My passion is to create tactile and scrumptious textile .

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Believe in yourself and when working on new pieces, ask yourself "What happens if I try ........"

Thanks, Christine, for being a featured artist out here on DZFANTASY, and sharing your thoughts and creativity! To see and learn more about Christine's creations, visit the links below.

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FEATURED ETSY SHOP - ME PLUS MOLLY by Kirsty

Welcome Kirsty, a delightful artist from Oxfordshire, UK. That is what I love about Etsy....the diversity of all the different types of art/crafts, and meeting artists from all over the world!!

I just love the whimsical, magical look of these purses that Kirsty has out in her Etsy shop, ME PLUS MOLLY. You really must take a look at all the delightful creations out there. Perhaps one will catch your eye! Let's hear what Kristy has to say about herself and her creations.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

Ohoo, now there's a question! I've drawn and painted and generally been creative since I was at primary school, and its really escalated from there! I became interested in textiles at secondary school and love the idea of creating an item that is decorative and functional.

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

I'm still deciding! I first did textiles at secondary school and my interest in this medium and the myriad of avenues it can offer has continued. I love the interaction of stitch, fabrics, print, and adornment.

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

The sampling and making of items, just getting right down to the creating! There's nothing I like more than being surrounded by all my scrbblings of ideas, threads, fabrics, sequins, buttons etc ooo and beautiful flowers too!

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

Well, I was thinking strawberries and cream, very English! Or perhaps some juicy berries, but then when I thought about it a bit more I'm thinking perhaps more a shallott or red onion, because it has many layers like my individual pieces and work do. Which gives me the scope and opportunity to try out diffrent approaches...to take my work through different avenues(layers!) if I so wish.

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

I still would very much like to draw and paint more. These would be the mediums I would choose, I think I'd have to incorporate them with bits of paper, thread and collage - a more mixed media approach! I've always liked to try animation too, now there's another world to think about! another stage.........!

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

Hmmmm, I'm not sure about a message as such. I'd like people to enjoy my work and the fact that it is handmade. That items are individual and also functional yet beautiful too. And to most definitely realize that handmade equals made with care, made with love!

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Ohooo well, I still need plenty of this myself, but I think more than anything to be true to yourself, your skills and your craft/art. To constantly develop, push and challenge yourself and your knowledge. But most of all to enjoy what you are doing and to have fun!

THANKS, Kirsty for taking the time to share your delightful creations, and your ideas! I feel you have a lot more "creativity" just waiting to come out! Be sure to visit ME PLUS MOLLY, to see what other lovely designs that Kirsty has come up with!

WEB PAGE

FEATURED ETSY ARTIST - Pretty Little Love Objects by Blinking Mouse

Let's welcome PRETTY LITTLE LOVE OBJECTS by the Blinking Mouse, and hear what led this delightful artist to start designing her fun, colorful jewelry.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?
When I was young, I was a greeb, kind of a UK cross between what is now emo and a goth. Many, many, many plastic beaded stretch bracelets were the order of the day, and I used to make a lot of them myself. Eventually I stopped dressing in a way that reflected my musical tribe, but I was hooked on making bracelets and jewellery in general. I made a button necklace for my friends birthday, used some of the craft kits people had given me as presents, and became the unstoppable crafting machine I am today.

How did you decide what medium you wanted to work with?
I’m really passionate about jewellery, I still love to buy it even though I make my own, and I could sift through all the jewellery in shops like Accessorise and Topshop for hours (but people tend to drag me away). I just love sparkly, glossy, colourful accessories, beads are what my paradise would be made of. Jewellery making is also really easy to get into. You don’t need that much special equipment to start out with, not like working in clay, lampworking or sewing, you can just concentrate on buying pretty materials. I’m kind of impatient when it comes to having the right things to begin with, so I think jewellery making satisfied that need to get going straight away.

What aspect of creating your art/craft do you find the most enjoyable?
Picking colour schemes is so much fun, you can be so inventive and match colours you don’t often see together on the high street. Of course searching down the best materials is really fun (but bad for my bank balance) I’m constantly distracted on Etsy because I’m like a magpie with an obsession for bright and shiny things.

If you had to choose a fruit OR a vegetable, to describe your art/craft, what would you choose, and why?
Toughie can I have two choices? OK...I think we'll let you have two choices!! I would pick a red apple because I just got the most gorgeous Swarovski bracelet given to me and it features a crystal apple. For me Swarovski is really the pinnacle of excellence in classy, grown up jewellery. If I could have a second choice (please) I’d describe my craft as a carrot because it’s a quirky choice and I love my pieces to have a personality. I also love to include unusual materials, like buttons and plastic stars, that people might think only belong in children’s jewellery. I use these items to create Pretty Little Love Objects that any grown up would love to wear to express their individuality. Love your 2 choices...Jodie!!

If you had to choose one other medium in which to display your “creativity”, what would that be, and why?
I’d love to be a writer. I dream about it constantly, stop and start, and then return to reading to try to educate myself on how to get better.

What message, if any, do you want to convey with your art/craft?
I really want people to start shopping properly. Shopping should not be a chore that you do quickly, buying dull gifts in a slapdash manner. You should enjoy picking out the perfect thing as a present for you or a loved one. If you put a little effort into finding a personal present you will get much more appreciation back, and that little cycle of events will increase the loveliness of the world. What a lovely thought!! So true!

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?
Try to get some sleep, at some point. It’s easy to get stuck promoting online for hours when you should be recharging your creative batteries. Pick promotional opportunities that are simple and effective so you have plenty of time to give to crafting and having a life.

THANKS, Jodie for a delightful insight into you as a person, and what motivates you to create your fun, colorful jewelry! I really enjoyed having you as a featured artist out here on DZFANTASY, and wish you every success in all your endeavors! Be sure to visit PRETTLY LITTLE LOVE OBJECTS on Etsy....you just could find the right piece of jewelry that could brighten your day!

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