Fiber Fantasy Butterfly Wall Accent - Zebra Print with Pink!!

Fiber Sculpted Butterfly Wall Accent

I really thought my daughter was kidding when she said the latest rage in decor was "zebra prints accented with pink"!!  After searching around on the internet, I found she was right!!  There are loads of different items for decorating with this color combination!  Guess I'm not much in keeping up with trends.

I decided to create this fantasy butterfly wall accent in those colors and see how it goes over at my upcoming art show next weekend.  How many of you knew of this color combination being one of the latest trends in decor??

Now I think I will have to create a little "zebra fairy" ..... with pink hair maybe!

WINNER OF THE "WINNER'S CHOICE TASSEL GIVEAWAY" by TASSEL LADY is.........!

MELANIE

of

CORDOVA, TN

CONGRATULATIONS, MELANIE!

Melanie's entry of July 22, 2010, was randomly selected from the 13 entries received for the "Winner's Choice of a Decorative Tassel" made by Ann of the TASSEL LADY on Etsy!

The photo above shows the beautiful tassel that Melanie selected as her prize.

Thanks to those of you who entered the giveaway, and a "special" big thanks to Ann for letting me host her giveaway!

If you'd like to see what other tassels Ann has available in her TASSEL LADY shop, be sure to click on any of the images below to go directly to that item, or click on the shop's link below the photos to visit the shop.

Also, be sure to visit DZFANTASY BLOG to see what other giveaways may be running at any given time.  All giveaways are shown in the upper right column of this blog.  The current giveaway is one which I am hosting for Precious Items Forever Special on Etsy

Click on this link to entry that giveaway:  PIFS

FEATURED ETSY SHOP - "terrabella"

Popoyo - Long Strand Coconut Necklace

by Sheila of "terrabella"

WELCOME, Sheila and her Etsy shop, "terrabella"!  Sheila's shop is a "must visit", where you will find not only unique, exqusite designed jewelry made from wood, coconut, and gemstones, but also exotic leathers goods, baskets and more.  All of these delightful creations are handmade in Nicaragua.

It is always interesting and fun to learn a bit about the artist who creates the work, so let's read Sheila's interview below.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

My grandmother has been a jeweler for over 30 years. My grandmother, mother, and I all moved to Nicaragua around 1995. I became her apprentice. I learned from her and was inspired to begin my own creations and open various retail stores.. Today I am still her apprentice and she is an inspiration and a mentor (also my neighbor).

We are now four generations of jewelry designers -- my 7 year old daughter is the fourth generation in learning how to work with mixed mediums.

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

Semi precious stones, gold and silver were necessary in order to fit in to the retail jewelry store. Since we are in Nicaragua, the tourist market led me to begin experimenting with other mediums like wood and exotic leather. I love the combination of exotic and natural materials. Everyday I find new inspirations in my surroundings and am always looking for new ways to offer variety in textures and styles. "terrabella" has given me the opportunity to experiment with these natural mediums.

Pine Needle Basket

by Shelia of "terrabella"

These intricate baskets are woven by hand utilizing the needles of the pine tree, and can take up to week to make. Two beaded flowers made of dried seed accent two sides of the basket.

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

The inspiration and gratification I receive every time I create a new piece.

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

Avocado. It has different textures and colors. It can be combined with different ingredients and used in multi-cultural dishes.

Mango - Solid Wood Keepsake Box with Cluster of Jade,

Smoky Quartz, Lime Citrine and metal Charm

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

Clothing. Accessories are usually worn to complement an outfit. It would be a true adventure for me to create the entire outift.

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

Enjoy life and the wonders of nature!

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Focus on what you love, fulfills and inspires you.

Thanks, for a great interview, Sheila!  It was fun getting to know you and see your wonderful creations!

If you'd like to see more of Sheila's work, and learn more about them, be sure to visit her links below.

TWITTER

FACEBOOK FAN PAGE

INDIEPUBLIC

WINNER'S CHOICE GIVEAWAY - Handmade Decorative Tassel by ANA'S HOUSE DRESSING

Classy Santa Tassel

I am happy to be hosting ANA'S HOUSE DRESSING'S delightful WINNER'S CHOICE GIVEAWAY for any one of her "decorative tassels", available in her shop at the end of the giveaway.  The above "Classy Santa Tassel" is just one of many of the  wonderful tassels that the lucky winner will get to choose from.

Read below to see how to enter this great giveaway:

START DATE:  October 25. 2009

END DATE:  November 25, 2009 - 12:00 Midnight CDT

OPEN:  Worldwide

VALUE:  $18.00 - $26.00

PRIZE:  Winner's choice of any 1 decorative tassel available in Ana's Etsy shop at the close of giveaway on November 25th

STEPS TO ENTER:

1.  Visit Ana's shop either by clicking on the text link below or by clicking  on her Etsy shop link below the thumbnail photos, then come back and leave a comment as to which "tassel" you would choose if you are the lucky winner.

DECORATIVE TASSEL GIVEAWAY

2.  Be sure to leave your email address or a link to your email address, as the WINNER will be contacted by email ONLY! 

3.  At the close of the giveaway, I will randomly select a name from all the entries received.  WINNER will receive an email requesting their complete shipping information, and a date by which it must be received.

4.  If the WINNER doesn't reply within the given timeframe, another entry will be randomly selected.

5.  Ana will be informed of the WINNER"S name and address, and she will ship the "tassle" directly to the WINNER.

If anyone has any questions, they may contact Donna at: dzfairies@msn.com

GOOD LUCK AND THANKS FOR VISITING!

FEATURED ETSY SHOP - ANA'S HOUSE DRESSING

RABBIT TASSEL

by ANA of ANA'S HOUSE DRESSING

"This is my new favorite tassel. Beautiful pale green ceramic rabbit sits on top of several gorgeous layers of high end decorator trims and riboons. Accented with red this sweet tassel is big on character."


Ana, of ANA'S HOUSE DRESSING on Etsy creates the most delightful decorative tassels, which most certainly would add a bit of color and whimsey to any area in your home!  The green bunny above is one of my favorites!
 
 I'm happy to have Ana here on DZFANTASY as a featured Etsy shop.  Ana has also kindly offered to have a WINNER'S CHOICE giveaway for one of her tassles.  Be sure to click on the TASSLE GIVEAWAY link below to learn more about this fun giveaway, and how to enter.
 
First, let's learn a bit more about Ana and her creations, by reading her interview below.
 
What led you to start creating your art/craft?


I have always been artistic and really began sewing when my daughter was born, when she passed away, I couldn't bring myself to draw anymore.Two years ago, I entered a recovery program called Celebrate Recovery, and on this journey I have found that bringing together the sewing with the creativity was a wonderful outlet for me.

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

I love fabrics and trims, I also love to paint and draw, so this is like a combination of both.

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

The inspiration I get when I start with either an already painted ceramic or an unpainted ceramic. I used to think the finished product was the most important part, now I believe it is all in the process...kind of like life.

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

Avacado, either you love it or hate it, sometimes not real sure what to do with, but leave it to a Hispanic to make some delicious guacamole!

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

Pencil. I used to draw and express myself this way as a child and I have had a real yearning to pick it up again, and let myself feel the pain and put it on paper.

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

Don't take life too seriously, don't miss the good while looking for the perfect.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

You find your niche when you pick up that special something that transports you to another dimension and the world fades into the background. That moment when you realize, for this I was created.

THANKS, Ana, for a great interview and for sharing your wonderful creations with everyone.

To learn more about Ana, and her creative endeavors, be sure to visit her links below.

BLOG

I'm a Hodgepodge Blog

To enter Ana's 'WINNER'S CHOICE - DECORATIVE TASSEL GIVEAWAY click on title below the SANTAS CLAUS tassle photo.

WINNER'S CHOICE - DECORATIVE TASSEL GIVEAWAY

FALL FANTASY....Signs of FALL on Etsy! PART II

WELCOME TO "FALL FANTASY II"......This is a continuation of my FALL FANTASY featuring many delightful shops on Etsy and their fall items.  You can visit each shop by clicking on an item's photo or the link below the photos.  ENJOY!

Gold, Turquoise ,and Red Coral Queen Earrings

by YIFAT BAREKET JEWELRY

Impressive Queen Earrings. a unique Special Handmade Setting of Turquoise in a Solid 9k gold Soldered on silver, and beautiful Red Corals.

Copper Bird Gourd weaved top copper patina bird patina discs

by BEAD CASITA

This gourd was made by growing my own gourds and harvesting. A South of the Border color and look was desired. I painted this with a clay orange color then sponge painted some mustard color over that. It was then given a few coats of a clear varnish. Acrylic paints were used.

Handbag Purse Hand Knitted and Felted Clutch Fall Design Handbag

by INSPIRATIONS BY KAREN

This is the perfect little bag for the Fall season! I hand knitted and felted this bag, then I needle felted on my own design of what I perceive to be Fall with the Pumpkins, Corn Stalk, Crow or Raven, and leaves. This clutch bag measures about 12" x 9" and has been done in Merino Wool roving and well as Falkland handpainted roving~

Pumpkin Pie Soy Wax Candle

by

MAN IN THE MOON HERBS

Pumpkin, spice and everything nice for Autumn in my Pumpkin Pie Soy Candle! The scent is warm and slightly sweet with just a smidge of vanilla to bring out the richness of the pumpkin and cinnamon. The color is that golden orange-brown of a fine baked pumpkin pie. Just like the pies themselves, the color may vary slightly from batch to batch.

Fall Flower Gift Tags

by

JESS MADE THIS

Here is a set of 4 tags made with pretty patterned paper and embellished with flowers and sparkling rhinestones! The tags are just over 6cm (2 1/2 in) tall and have been attached to coordinating ribbon. If you want to use these for your scrapbooking or cardmaking, simply replace the ribbon with a brad (paper fastener) or eyelet.

Autumn Elf Hood Size Large Adult in Red/Orange Tan and Brown

by FAIRY TALE FIBERS

These shades of fall would be perfect Elf camo for frolicking in the autumn woods! Cozy meets practical in this functional design.  It acts as both a Hat and Scarf!

Autumn Leaves Memory Wire Bracelet

by EMPTY NEST EGG

The random colors of Autumn Leaves treat us to such a show every year.With a random pattern and a mix of beads no two are alike. Here is a 3 ring 2 ¼ inch memory wire bracelet.

metal leaf charms, Czech leaf shapes, and glass seed beads all lend themselves to the mix.

Buttercup Shoulder Bag - Raspberry Tangerine

by LBG STUDIO

This Buttercup Shoulder Bag is a new twist on the popular pattern and works perfectly as your everyday bag. . . it's large and roomy without being overwhelming. It features a magnetic snap to hold bag closed and an inner pocket. I created it with an awesome retro orange fabric, hot pink piping, and a hot pink lining. I think these colors will be perfect for fall! This bag is fully interfaced for structure and durability.

Long bold beaded autumn colored agate necklace

by GEOPHYS GEMS

This is a bold piece featuring large oval monaco agate beads with brass, rhyolite and translucent twisted ovals in a cinnamon colored agate. It can be worn long, for example over a sweater, or doubled up.

Halloween Trick or Treat Bag/Bucket- Ghosts and Pumpkins

by JORDAN

This Halloween bag will make a great addition to your child's Halloween Costume this year! The outside of the bag has ghosts and pumpkins with a cute pumpkin applique. The bag handle and inside are done in a coordinating black fabric. This bag can be used for more than just trick or treating. It would be great for a table centerpiece filled with candy or for passing out candy at the door the night of Halloween.

A pair of Throw pillow covers UK designer fabric cushion case shams 16 x 16

by VEEDUBZ

These cushions are made from quality Uk designer fabric.Gorgeous rich purple and green leaves. The cushions match perfectly and would make a great feature in any room

Wedding Cake Topper- Custom Sock Monkeys with extra flowers

by SPIRIT MAMA

This is a 6" tall sock monkey wedding cake topper. The flowers for this one are Gerbera daisy and calla lilies, and roses in autumn colors, orange yellow and brown. I can make you a custom topper with your choice of colors and flowers. The groom can have a bow tie or a long tie.

FALL FANTASY III segment will be here in a couple of days with more delightfull items for you to see. STOP BACK FOR A VISIT! This will be the last in my FALL FANTASY feature.

FEATURED ETSY SHOP - ZyHan Fabric - Brilliant Batik by ZyHan

Convertibel Flower Corsage/Brooch for prom or wedding

by ZyHan

WELCOME, ZyHan and her Etsy shop ZyHan Fabric.  ZyHan is a talented artist from Maylasia, who designs not only beautiful accessories like the Flower Corsage/Brooch shown above, but beautiful, brilliant silk batik fabrics!  You really must pay a visit to ZyHan Fabric to see her gorgeous designs.  Below is just one of the exquisite batik silks that she has created.

What led you to start creating your art/craft

I'm not good with words..It's how I express myself :)


I'm fond of the richness of cultural art..The aesthetic value,the complexity,the simplicity,and everything about it.

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

I just love batik.It's one of a kind art..Exclusive,stunning outcome..

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

Playing with colors!

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


you choose, and why?

Vegetable - because I used vegetable dyes.

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

Print art - Compilation of art in one piece!

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Be patient,enjoy,and explore your potential to the fullest!

I'd say that ZyHan's creations speak for themselves...what gorgeous designs and colors.  I love silk!!  Thanks, ZyHan for taking the time to share your creativity with everyone!

To learn more about ZyHan and her work, be sure to visit the links belowl.

BLOG

TWITTER

MAGICAL BUTTERFLY FLOWER PHOTO ACCENTS!

This butterfly has found a beautiful flower garden!
5" x 7" framed flower print

(CLICK ON PHOTOS to learn more about this item)

Introducing my latest idea....a fabric sculpted butterfly attached to one of my flower photo prints. I've decided to combine my two favorite things to d0...creating fiber fantasy creations and taking closeup flower photos. The results is a "Butterfly Flower Photo" wall accent. The butterflies are permanently attached to the glass of the frame.

I have a lot of gorgeous flower photos, which I will be combining with one of my original designed butterfly creations that will match the flowers in each photo. The butterflies all have Swarovski crystal bodies. I will also be having 8" x 10" size photo accents.

BUTTERFLIES AND FLOWERS.....BEAUTY and MAGIC!

Add a fairy and get a magical wall grouping!

(CLICK on above photo to learn more about the fairy)

Beautiful lilies photographed at Borner Botanical Gardens, Milwaukee, WI

CLICK ON ABOVE PHOTOS to learn more about this item.

FEATURING "ALCHEMY FINE LIVING" and "BRICK BASEMENT" shops

I'm happy to introduce you to a very enterprising young interior designer who not only has a brick and mortar shop called ALCHEMY FINE LIVING, which she operates with her mother and sister, but also a recently opened Etsy Shop, where they sell their handmade creations, called BRICK BASEMENT.

Below you can learn more about Deana and what her shops have to offer. Throughout this feature you will see photos of Deana's designs, and what is offered in their ALCHEMY FINE LIVING shop, in Santa Ana, California.

I have been business partners with my mom for over 5 years. Her and I own two different retail boutiques. Each store sells a unique blend of antique and vintage home decor items. We offer interior design services, custom sewing of home decor and furniture painting services. My mom, my sister and I all enjoy arts and crafts, sewing and design. We work closely together to create fabulous custom designs for the home and love helping our clients create beautiful and functional rooms to live in.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

My mom and my grandma are both incredibly talented. Each of them sews, my grandma paints and they both do all sorts of crafts. So I was surrounded by creativity my whole life and naturally got involved in it too. I have always loved to sew, design and create. It started as a hobby, I would create clothes and bathing suits for myself. I was constantly re-arranging and decorating my bedroom, I painted pieces of furniture and even did decoupage on a piece once. Eventually I started doing it for family and friends and then when I finished college, it became a career. Now my main focus is on creating home decor items; pillows, curtains, bedding, you name it.

You can order custom, fabulous bedding, including bed skirts,

duvet covers, bedspreads and more

Decorative Throw Pillows

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

I have always really loved interior design and decorating. From the time I was old enough to crawl I would sneak out of my crib at night and re-arrange the stuffed animals in my room. I seem to have an eye for it. I just love fabric too. I can spend hours in a fabric store touching fabric and getting all giddy about the different textures. So, using fabrics to create gorgeous items for the home combines all the things that I am most passionate about; fabric, sewing, design and creating comfortable, aesthetically pleasing environments for people to live in.

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

The satisfaction that it brings to my clients. It is such a great feeling to know that something I made or designed brings joy to someone else.

simple curtains, roman shades, valances

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Don't ever stop doing your art or craft, whether it be a hobby or a career, it is so important to use your creativity. No matter how busy and hectic life gets it is such a great way to relieve stress and bring joy into our lives. If you really are passionate about what you do and you want to pursue it as a career go for it! Passion is the number one key to success.

Some items in Alchemy Fine Living Shop

173 E. City Place Drive, Santa Ana, California

Deana, it was a pleasure having you and all your creative talents out here on DZFANTASY. For those of you living in the Santa Ana, CA area, be sure to pay a visit to Alchemy Fine Living. It looks like a delightful place to shop. If you are looking to spruce up your home, be sure to get in touch with Deana.

To learn more about Deana's custom interior designs visit the links below.

ALCHEMY FINE LIVING BLOG

EBAY STORE

ALCHEMY FINE LIVING CUSTOM BEDDING

FEATURED ETSY SHOP - CAPRICE CREATIONS

Home Wall Decor - handpainted wall hanging

by Janet

If you pay a visit to Janet's Etsy shop, CAPRICE CREATIONS, you will find a variety of handcrafted items. While Janet's main focus is home decor items and hand-stamped stationery, you will also find journals, photography, and more.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

When I was 9, my grandmother taught me how to embroider. After that, she taught me how to cross stitch. My fascination with all things crafty bloomed from there.

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

I never look at an object in a normal way. I am always thinking of ways I could use common everyday items in my crafting. Some of my favorite items are old cabinet doors and hardware.

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

I love the creative process - from planning, to creating, to viewing that final product. It's all so relaxing!

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

Definitely a fruit! Lots of colors and usually pretty sweet!

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

I would love to be able to crochet. It was the one craft that my grandmother tried to teach me that I just couldn't "get".

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

Live life to the fullest! Never have a dull moment!

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

No matter what, don't give up on your dreams! One day, they will come true!

THANKS, Janet, for taking the time to share your thoughts and creativity with everyone! You can learn more about Janet and her creations by visiting her links below. Stop in and visit CAPRICE CREATIONS...you just don't know what this busy crafter might have come up with next.

CAPRICE CREATIONS BLOG

TWITTER

FEATURED ETSY SHOP - MIREASMA

WELCOME, SHANNON of MIREASMA out on Etsy! I found out that Shannon and I are almost neighbors. We both live in areas surrounding Milwaukee, WI. What a small world!!

Since I love candles, I am very happy to have an artist who creates such lovely candles out here on DZFANTASY, as a featured artist. Even the names are delightful.

Be sure to visit Shannon's shop MIREASMA after learning a bit more about Shannon and her candles. If you happen to live in our area, you might just want to visit Shannon at a show she is doing on November 29th called ART vs CRAFT. Click on the link below to find out more about this show.

ARTvsCRAFT

Now lets hear what Shannon has to say......

What led you to start creating your art/craft

I have always loved candles. I was sitting around the house one day looking for something to do and thought "I'll learn how to make a candle." I started looking on the internet and learned all about how bad parrafin candles are for you and the environment. This is what I had been burning, so I was very interested in an alternative. More research led to my learning all about the benefits of soy candles. I ordered some materials, and by trial and error, started to teach myself how to make candles! I have worked for years to perfect my candles (there's way more to it then you'd think, lol), and now, finally, I have my shop on Etsy!

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

Soy wax provides me with everything I could look for in a wax. It is clean burning, long lasting, renewable(this is great for farmers), is a US product, and performs really well as far as scent is concerned. I have also purchased and tested about 1 bazillion different fragrances, and only use the VERY best.

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

I ♥LOVE♥ scents! Scent is the most powerful of all of our senses. It is hugely mood altering, and can conjur up emotions and memories in an instant. I find this fascinating, and love creating something that holds the power to have a positive effect on someone. I also have a lot of fun decidiing which beads will go with each candle.

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

I'd choose the obvious soybean, but fresh veggies come to mind when I think of my candles. I have, and really enjoy, quite a few herbal and veggie scents. Tomato, cilantro, lemongrass and sage, thyme...

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

I dream of a day that I learn the in and outs of chemistry, and study with master perfumers:) I would LOVE to live in Italy and make scented oils from my beautiful surroundings.

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

I want to convey happiness and relaxation. I try to make my candles beautiful and elegant, but still have fun and humor with the scents. I make a a candle that appears very chic, but smells like banana cream pie! I want my art/craft to be pretty, but also make people smile.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Do what you love. Your products will have a better result if you're creating exactly what YOU are passionate about. It's OK to continuosly change things~it means that you are growing. Pay attention to detail!

THANKS, Shannon for taking the time to share your thoughts and lovely candles with us. BEST OF LUCK AT YOUR SHOW ON NOVEMBER 29TH. Hope you sell out!!

MIREASMA BLOG

FLICKR

FEATURED ETSY ARTIST - YONPLI MOSAICS

Let's welcome Bethany of Yonpli Mosaics out on Etsy. I've browsed through her shop, and found a great selection of mosaic pieces ranging from pendants, framed mosaics, bottles, balls and more! After reading below to hear what Bethany has to say about herself and her work, be sure to pay a visit to YONPLI MOSAICS.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?
I have always been crafty and loved art – I can’t really say where it all started.

How did you decide what medium you wanted to work with?
I have always loved glass. When I was little I collected sea glass at the beach. When I was older, I developed a “glass problem.” I had a bunch of wine bottles in different colors and could not throw them out for recycling. I wanted to make something with them and didn’t know what. Then I discovered the art of mosaics, and the rest is history. (But I never did use those wine bottles because I discovered beautiful Italian vitreous glass!)

What aspect of creating your art/craft do you find the most enjoyable?
I love the feeling that I’m painting with glass. I get so involved in my mosaic that I forget the stresses of life for those few moments . . . or hours.

If you had to choose a fruit OR a vegetable, to describe your art/craft, what would you choose, and why?
Ummm, I think a kiwi – not sure why, but a kiwi sounds good.

If you had to choose one other medium in which to display your “creativity”, what would that be, and why?
I think I would put a modern twist on traditional quilt patterns.

What message, if any, do you want to convey with your art/craft?
Mosaic is the art of imperfection and irregularity. In my work, each piece is broken using a pair of nippers. No break is completely perfect and no piece is laid in the mosaic perfectly either – that is impossible. But each piece is shaped and placed well. And mosaics are beautiful because of both the skill and talent of the artist, but also the imperfections that give the mosaic character and a touch of the artist’s humanity. True beauty is not complete perfection; it is being able to put all the little imperfections together into an amazing whole.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?
Find an art or craft that you love – the rest doesn’t matter so much as long as you absolutely love what you are doing.

THANKS, Bethany for taking the time to share your thoughts and work with all of us. I really enjoyed being able to learn a little bit about what makes you "tick" as an artist. Great answers....especially what you had to say about what "message" you want to convey with your art. You can also see more of Bethany's work out on her Flickr site.

FLICKR

FEATURED ETSY ARTIST - MADELINE CAREY - PAPER MACHE BOWLS

I just love all the vivid colors in this artist's work!! Let's hear what Madeline has to say about her work and how she got started making these delightful paper mache' creations.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

Well, my father, Craig Carey, http://www.careyart.com/, has been living off of his art for over 35 years, and I just sort of grew up with the idea of 'making things = your job'. I ran the booth at art shows for him and he taught me to paint and to do simple assembly. Eventually I wanted to start contributing more to the business.

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

I had to find something to do that I couldn't hurt myself with. I'm fairly easily distracted so my father didn't think it was a good idea for me to work with saws or drills, and I'm still a bit afraid of hot things... Anyway, paper mache is neither sharp or hot so it seemed like a safe bet.

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

It's all enjoyable. I mean, it's work, but it's also squishy, and I get to paint things in bright colors.

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

I have no idea. I must not be that creative. Maybe Dragonfruit... because it's colorful and different.

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

I'd like to try casting jewelry... rings specifically. I've got the equipment, but haven't invested the money in any gold and silver yet. I just don't think that there are enough people casting their own designs anymore.

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

No messages here. Just colorful home decor.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Do what you're good at, don't use other people's ideas, and always make sure to pay yourself a decent wage.

Thanks, Madeline for taking the time to share your thoughts and colorful creations with us! If you'd like to see more of Madeline's colorful, whimsical work, be sure to visit her Etsy shop by clicking on either the photos or the shop link below the photos. Madeline also has a blog you might want to visit. The link is below. I always like to get a better insight into the artist behind the creations...!

MADELINE'S BLOG