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

FLICKR

TWITTER

FEATURED ETSY SHOP - WHIMSICAL CREATIONS

WELCOME....WHIMSICAL CREATIONS as a featured Etsy shop....! At Whimsical Creations you will find different colored snowflake ornaments, like the one shown above, whimsical children's necklaces, tiny character ornaments, which you can have personalized, and more. Be sure to pay a visit to WHIMSICAL CREATIONS. Christmas will be here sooner than we think. Let's find out a little bit more about Melanie, the creator behind Whimsical Creations.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

My mother and her love of crafts. I made salt dough ornaments as a child with my mom.

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

I love to do many types of art, but I kept coming back to polymer clay. I love Christmas, and each year I like to create something new for family and friends. I have just started branching out by making beads and pendants.

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

Right now, I am finding my son's reactions to my creations fantastic. He loves to watch me work, and just recently I gave him some clay and let him create something. He wants one of everything I make.

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

I would have to choose fruit to describe my art. I find most of my creations sweet.

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

I would have to pick painting. I hadn't painted in years and just recently started painting some things for my kids bedrooms and a friend's nursery.

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

Being fun and whimsical.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

I have been doing this for years, but have only selling my creations for a few months. The only advice I can give is always to remember to have fun being creative.

Thanks, Melanie, for taking the time to share your fun whimsical creations with us. The personalization you offer with your creations is sure to make them keepsakes to be cherished through the years. You can also find out more about Melanie and her Wimsical Creations by visiting her blog.

BLOG