FEATURED ETSY SHOP - INSPIRATIONS BY KAREN

Needle Felted Wool Sculpture Portrait Bald Eagle

by Artist Karen Clothier

Let's welcome needle felting artist, Karen Clothier, and her wonderful creations! You can see more of Karen's delightful creations in her Etsy shop, INSPIRATIONS BY KAREN. She has a wide range of beautiful creations ranging from her Wildlife Collection, Clothing and Acessories, to Custom Needle Felted pets, and many more needle felted items. You won't be disappointed.

Being a bird lover myself, I just had to put Karen's "cheery cardinal" out here!

Read below to find out a bit more about Karen and her creations.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

I had many signs while changing my focus and needle felting just "found" me! I tried almost every craft, always teaching myself. At about age 12, I started sewing all of my own clothes and by 15, I was making clothes for other people. Then I learned to knit and crochet, made many beautiful sweaters and baby things, and I still like to sew, but the needle felting has taken on a life of its own with me, and nothing I have ever done compares to sculpting animals from sheep's wool roving!

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

Many times while I was in Quilt shops, I saw tiny bags of wool roving, not knowing what it was used for. Then several people suggested that I open a shop on Etsy, so I did. I listed my Adirondack Ladies jackets and my own designs of Adirondack Dog coats. Then I started looking around Etsy and the first shops I saw out of 160,000 shops were the needle felted dogs, and I couldn't get enough of looking at them, wishing I could do that. One day I ordered some wool roving and a book and I was hooked, and on my way to doing dogs myself! Then from there I taught myself many other animals and birds, and a year later I am one of those talented artists doing what I absolutely LOVE doing.

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

Wow, to narrow it down to just one aspect is difficult! I love the finishing touches, putting on long hair, or spots, ears, tails,and such! And the feeling that I get when the animal looks as if it has taken on its own personality!

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

I would choose a Pumpkin! Why, because they are really easy to grow, they are a wonderfully amazing vegetable that can be used for so many things, they are fun, and the color is brilliant!

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

Wool felt fabric, because I could incorporate it into my sculptures and wool paintings!

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

I want to give collectors that love animals a variety of medium in which to collect.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Listen to your heart, and watch for signs, go with what you are passionately attracted to and you will excel in everything you create!

Thanks again, Karen, for sharing your thoughts and exquisite creations with all of us. You can visit Karen's shop INSPIRATIONS BY KAREN by clicking on any of the photos below, to go directly to that item in her shop, or clicking on the link below the photos. You will really be amazed at this artist's work.

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INSPIRATIONS BY KAREN BLOG

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FEATURED ETSY SHOP - DUBLIN ROOTS

TRIBUTE TO VINCENT VAN GOGH

I happened across this delightful artist and her work when viewing a Etsy treasury we both were in. I was attracted to the colors and textures of her pieces. Ruth, of DUBLIN ROOTS was kind enough to take the time to share her thoughts and her beautiful needle-felted art with us. Her "Tribute to Vincent Van gogh" was her choice for her favorite piece, and I have added several other views of this piece out here in her feature. I'm so amazed at the artistry that goes into so many of the needle felted pieces I have seen out here on Etsy. One can only imagine the time it takes to create such a piece as this.

Let's learn a little bit about Ruth and her work. The following paragraph was taken from Ruth's "Profile" out on Etsy, and gives us a bit more insight into Ruth and her art.

I was born in Dublin, Ireland, lived and worked in NY for many years...and feel like i have come home in these North Carolina mountains.. well almost, I love Ireland! Currently working with fibers found locally, and knowing the people who raise the animals I get my wool from adds another whole dimension to my art work. I love working with fibers, doing art, meeting other artists and sharing and exchanging ideas. I have lots of photos on Flickr..dublinroots...meeting so many artists within here and there has opened up a whole world of art..and artists.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

I believe we are all artists. I am a self taught artist, and have recently become curious about needle felting. I had never heard of it until 2 years ago.

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

Any creative activity I engage in pulls me into a world of silence and peace.

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

The fruit I think of is a Mango.

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

Oil painting would be my choice... because of its fluidity....and I love the smell of oil paints.

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

I am not aware of any message to convey thru my artwork... my enjoyment comes from people's response to my art. I very much like to see the people who purchase my artwork...that is most satisfying to me.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Advice I can offer is to share your craft and teach others who are interested in learning.

Thanks, Ruth, for taking the time to share your thoughts and wonderful needle-felted creations with us.

Be sure to pay a visit to Ruth's shop on Etsy by clicking on the photos below to go directly to that particular item, or click on Dublin Roots below the photos to get to her shop.

FEATURED ETSY SHOP - THAT IS SO CUTE

WELCOME, Harriet and her THAT IS SO CUTE shop out on Etsy! Here is an explanation of how Harriet chose her name for her shop.

I came up with my store name because I knew I wanted to incorporate that phrase my sisters and I always use when we shop together: "That's so cute!" But in my store C.U.T.E. is an acronym that stands for: .....C = Creative..........U = Unique..........T = Trendy..........E = Enticing.....

Read below to learn more about Harriet, and find out what she has to say about how she got started in making her delightful creations! Don't forget to visit "THAT IS SO CUTE", when you have finished. You can click on any photo to go directly to that item in her shop, or click on the THATSSOCUTE link below the photos!

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

I learned knitting as a young girl through the 4-H program. I think what really peaked my interest at that young age was knitting a complicated sweater with lots of cables, and fancy stitches, including popcorn stitches. We entered that sweater at a local fair and I won a special ribbon for it! I was hooked! Mom tried to teach me sewing, but I was terrible. I'm not sure if that's because I'm left handed and we didn't have any lefty scissors, but I couldn't even cut a straight line! So, I stuck with knitting. Learned crochet later but I prefer knitting.

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

I haven't really decided yet! I love trying new things. About 7 years ago, one of my friends started taking "paint class" from a previous teacher of hers. I loved the work she was doing so I joined as well. We meet once a week from September through May. Our teacher is so creative, we never know what she'll be trying next: acrylics...glass paint...pastels...watercolors...fabric paint....etc. Plus, you never know what she'll be painting on next! It might be old cupboard doors, a vinyle purse, dollar store mugs, or anything that is paintable. It's so inspiring to see what she tries! It has made me look at ordinary items in a whole new way...as in "what could this become?". I love looking through magazines and finding inspiration. I've recently started beading. I'm almost ready to start playing around with polymer clay...that sounds so fun!

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

I enjoy just thinking about trying new things. I see something in a magazine or online and immediately think...how can I change this up? Everything can be new and different. While I may make a dozen of something, each is unique.

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

I actually think I would describe my art/craft as an onion. The onion (while not something one usually eats by itself) is something a chef will use in combination with many other things to create a feast. Just as I hope I use my talents to create a feast for my customers.

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

I think that if I could no longer create with my knitting needles, paint brushes, and other craft tools, I would love to use the written medium to display my creativity...I've always wanted to be a writer!

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

Allow yourself to try new things...even if this means you may fail. Tis better to have tried and failed than to never have tried at all!

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Keep learning new things! Read that article...take a class...take a chance...

Harriet, thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts and your work. I have a feeling you will never run out of new mediums to try and new creative ideas!! You can also find out more about THATS SO CUTE by visiting Harriet's blog and Flickr.

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