FEATURED ETSY SHOP - TREACHER CREATURES

Sock Flamimgo, Phoebie, hand crafted soft toy sock animal

 by Treacher Creatures

Let's welcome, Dawn and her delightful Etsy shop called TREACHER CREATURES.  You really must pay a visit to TREACHER CREATURES to see all the fun, colorful "sock characters".  You might run across a zebra, chicken, giraffe, snail or even an alien!  These delightful little creatures are for young (not under 3 years) and old alike.  They will surely make you smile!

Read Dawn's interview below as she tells us in her own words how she got started on this creative adventure.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

I bought a book about making creatures from stray socks and I was instantly hooked,

Sock Dinosaur, Reggie

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


This book gave me the idea. I was a keen sewer anyway so it seemed a logical step.

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

I love the way a humble sock can be transformed into a creature that seems to have its own personality.

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

A strawberry, because it is so sweet just like my little creatures.

Sock Giraffe, Geoffrey

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

Paint. I am a passionate painter who loves to capture the landscape around me in paint.

Sock Skunk, Suzie

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

That all sock creatures are adorable. Adopt one today.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Do what you are passionate about. Let your creativity know no bounds.

Dawn, your sock creatures are definitely "sweet, adorable, and whimsical".  It is easy to see all the love that goes into each of your little creatures. Thanks so much for sharing your creativity and thoughts with all of us. 
 
The above photos show just a few of the delightful creatures you will meet when you pay a visit to TREACHER CREATURES.  Visit Dawn's shop by clicking on the links below.

FEATURED ETSY SHOP - FREAKY KEEN

 VERONICA DOLL

by

FREAKY KEEN

WELCOME, ANNA and her Etsy shop FREAKY KEEN on Etsy.  When you pay a visit to FREAKY KEEN, you will find notebooks, dolls, jewelry, zipper charms and more.

First, let's hear what Anna has to say about how she got started in creating, by reading her interview below.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

It’s hard to say how I started. I started learning to sew from my mom when I was little. She sewed and created a lot, most of our Christmas presents were homemade. I grew up sewing and crafting, a lot of my favorite toys I made myself. I never thought much of it as a hobby or anything until after high school, that’s when I went nuts with it. I ended up with more bags than I actually use, I’ve made almost every wallet I’ve ever owned, almost all my tank tops are t-shirts I “customized” and you can’t look around my room without laying eyes on something I created. It just kept going from there.

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

I mostly work with fabric and castoff clothing because it’s what I have on hand and it’s what I am accustomed to. One of the first projects I remember doing was a quilt I started when I was about 7 using my old baby clothes. When you handle it so much, you start to develop a taste for fabrics and the many textures and prints available to you.

BLACK CAT

by FREAKY KEEN

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

I find when I’ve spent so much time on something that I’m exhausted and my fingers hurt, it’s all worth it when I can hold up my creation and go ooh and ahh.

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

My craft is like a tomato, because the word tomato refers to many different varieties of the fruit (is it a fruit or a vegetable?), but they all are still tomatoes and still delicious and versatile. Unique individually, but together the same.

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

I already use more than one medium. Sewing is my number one choice for creativity, but my number two frequently changes as my interests do. It’s like my other hobbies. Singing, anime/manga, reading, RPGs and writing will always be top. But as for number two, I was big on yoga for a while but then I got into hiking for a bit, then dance came back although it never really left, then I started doll collecting, then charm bracelets, then chick lit, mystery novels, seed collecting, yoga again, roller blading, et cetera. I usually never completely drop a hobby, just push to the back a little. The same with my craft. I haven’t made any handkerchiefs in awhile but I feel the urge to do so, and I’m thinking of ways to combine sewing with bottle caps. Bottle caps are another thing I work with on occasion. The more I try, the more creative and imaginative I become.

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

I guess when I make things, I want people to know that there is nothing wrong with liking cute things. Your pencils don’t have to be plain, wallets don’t have to be boring or “classic”, and adults can have plushies and dolls too. And what better reason for this than that it makes you and everyone around you smile. Maybe I’m just being naïve. But hey, studies do show that smiling helps increase longevity.
What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Look for special sales on craft supplies and those baggie things at thrift store full of miscellaneous supplies. These are great for jump starting your creativity. Challenge yourself to learn a new skill from a sale or to find a use for an odd looking find, it’s very rewarding when you succeed at it. Also, avoid trends in crafting, do the projects you find interesting. This applies to those you sell as well as for personal use. If you make something that you don’t completely love, and it doesn’t sell, you are going to be stuck staring at it until you find someway of unloading it. And as for personal use, your free time is too precious for you to waste on an activity you don’t care for all that much. Adding on to that, don’t quit something you like just because you stink at it. My crocheting blows, but I still whip out the hooks on occasion and get down with it.

ANNA, thanks for a delightful interview!  You have a great way of expressing yourself!

To learn more about Anna and her creations, click on the links below

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FEATURED ETSY SHOP - BEBE BABIES AND FRIENDS

Cloth Plush Mouse Baby Doll by BEBE BABIES Safety Jointed for Kids
(Click on the photo above to find out more about this little charmer)

WELCOME, Casie and her BeBe Babies and Friends shop on Etsy! When you pay a visit to BeBe Babies and Friends, you will find the sweetest, most adorable soft sculpted dolls, and critters. I'm sure you will fall in love with them. They are just waiting to be adopted. You will find tiny little dolls for your little ones, and also one-of-a-kind larger dolls.

Let's learn a bit more about this delightful doll artist to see what motivates her to create her charming dolls.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

Originally I was a doll collector and wanted to try making dolls on my own. I began creating vinyl reborn baby dolls and then moved to primitive raggedy anns. I was looking for something more original and "my own" so I created the first BeBe Baby in March 2007.

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

I have always liked sewing. I never was happy with my skills in any other medium although I did try sculpting and painting, once I started sewing there was nothing else I wanted to do!

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

I love the design process. Sometimes it can be frustrating when something won't come together right, but the feeling of when it finally does is awesome. I also really like the feeling of completing a large order. Seeing a huge pile of dolls is very rewarding.

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

Right away I thought of an apple. I think it is because apples are so mild and sweet, at least that is the way I think of them. They aren't too wild and most everyone loves them

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

I would probably write. I have always loved writing and have created zines in the past. I would love to do another zine, possibly a comic book.

OOAK Cloth Asian Toddler Boy Baby Doll by BEBE BABIES Dolls

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

I want everyone, children and adults, to feel like they would like to collect my dolls. I want to convey childhood and a carefree spirit.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

I always have lots of advice, but I think overall I would say you better love what you are doing. It takes a long time to build a name, reputation and customer base. If you don't love what you are doing you probably won't last long.

THANKS, Casie for sharing your wonderful creations and thoughts with all of us! How sweet they are!

If you'd like to learn more about BEBE BABIES and FRIENDS, be sure to visit the links below.

FLICKR

BEBE BABIES WEBPAGE

FEATURED ETSY SHOP - MICHELLE KELLER aka MiK Designs

I'd like to welcome Michelle Keller and her Etsy shop, MiK Designs! At MiK Designs you will find "vintage" items, and also Michelle's most innovative, unique designs using beanie babies! I think it is pretty fantastic the way Michelle has made use of these adorable creatures, and how she has turned them into some real delightful characters, such as the one above. What a great imagination!

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

I am a trained metalsmith with a BFA in metalsmithing, but my senior year I had a real drive to sew and play around with constructing conceptual items in metal and fabric, mostly because I just love the contrast between the two mediums. My first sewn/metal series was a group of finger puppets some of which I have on my website http://www.michelleakeller.com/ . From this point on, I began experimenting with toy construction.

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

Kind of answered that above but in addition, after constructing jewelry out of metal it is very pleasing to see sculptural items be able to take form with fabric in a much more fluffed out manner!

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

The problem solving. I love coming up with an idea and the enjoyment I get from executing that idea all the way to the final product.

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

Pomegranite, because it is kind of weird, sometimes lumpy, slightly rare, and full of goodness!

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

Well um, I guess it would have to be silver and gold, conceptual jewelry is really were my heart lies!

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

I use a lot of "used" toys, like my series of altered beanie babies. Most of these toys have never even been played with since they are collectors items. I reconstruct them into hand-sewn monsters that are re-stuffed without beans. My main message with this series is that even toys can be made from recycled items and materials in a clean manner. Our world is full of recyclables!!

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Push your concepts and come up with some type of well planned, well executed idea that relates to your work and can take it just that much further. The marriage of concept and craftsmanship makes a piece just that much more interesting.

Michelle, thanks for sharing your delightful creativity and ideas with all of us!

Be sure to visit the links below to learn more about Michele and her creations.

WEB PAGE

BLOG

MYSPACE

FEATURED ARTIST - KIM and her VANILLA BEAN BABIES

I happened to meet Kim, a delightful doll artist, when she responded to my Angel Stories feature on DZFANTASY. It was then that I found out she creates these adorable, life-like, soft-sculpted babies which she calls her VANILLA BEAN BABIES. She so kindly agreed to take the time to let me do a feature of her and her "babies", so I hope you enjoy learning more about Kim and her VANILLA BEAN BABIES. You will see photos of some of Kim's "babies" throughout the interview. Kim used Judi Ward's, Newborn Alice patterns for the first baby shown here, and the last baby pictured. The rest of the babies were designed from her own patterns.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

My grandmother was an artist. She worked in lots of mediums and enjoyed doing crafts with me. I never got to spend a lot of time with her as she lived across the country from me, but I did get to spend a couple summers. She was also an art teacher. She did teach me sketching, and I used to admire her paintings. She spent some time trying to teach me to sew. I wish I had been more interested at the time. Well, like most women, I was busy building a career and raising children. Now that they are older and I have more time to myself, I decided to paint, specifically portraits. I also collect dolls, I love baby dolls, and when I saw my first cloth art doll I was hooked! I love, love, love the medium. I love all styles but especially, of course, babies. That was my aha moment. I could combine my love of dolls with my love of painting faces. The doll was a Jan Shackelford cloth baby. So began my obsession.

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

I dabbled in polymer clay sculpting and enjoyed it, but once I found cloth dolls I felt creatively fulfilled. I think they are so timeless. They are wonderful heirlooms and the more they are loved and handled, all the better.

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

I think it's a tie between dreaming up the next doll begging to come to life and the actual painting.

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

Great Question! Hmmm... Vegetable. I love fruit, but veggies are sturdy and beautiful as well, but not as delicate as many fruits tend to be. Fruits are pretty and an art in themselves the beauty of vegetables takes you by surprise.

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

Portraits in oil.

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

My thing is making dolls that are relatively simple in design yet have an aspect of realism. There really seems to be no limit to what a textile artist can achieve. I love the whimsical dolls, surreal dolls, amazingly creative dolls by other artists. They inspire me.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

I find that when I wait for the muse, never force the process from the start of the doll to the end, I am happy with the results. Sometimes, it can be days or weeks before I get my next doll started as I work out details in my head or life interferes and I try not to get frustrated. I want the best result because the vision is a gift. The doll is the reward.
Kim, thanks again for taking the time to share your "babies" with us. Kim told me she is working on several new "babies", and perhaps she will let me show them out here when they are "born". If you'd like to learn more about Vanilla Bean Babies click on the link below.

VANILLA BEAN BABIES

FEATURED ETSY SHOP - LITTLE GREEN SHOOT

Oscar

It is with great pleasure that I bring you this delightful 17 year old artist, and her charming creations. Welcome, Chloe' of Little Green Shoot, and one of her creations, Oscar, the cute little fellow above. You really must take the time to visit Little Green Shoot to see Chloe's other creations.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

I wish I knew! My bears in particular were a complete suprise! At first it was my intention to recycle my leather offcuts into Journals. Then, just 3 weeks later I was looking down at my very first Leather & Suede Artist Bear - Toby. Craft in general though has always been a part of my life. It's one of those things you dont get a choice in. Busy hands, happy head. If it weren't for needles & thread I'd go crazy...although some days I'd swear it was the root of my insanity!

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

It was all a big accident really. I'd come across a large amount of leather offcuts that were soon to be discarded, and took them off their hands. It's such beautiful material, I hated the thought of it going to waste. I didn't know then what it would be used for -I just knew I could give it new life.

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

Everything! Every stitch & every snip! I hand sew all my bears. It's true it takes awhile, and my fingers protest - butIi love every minute of it. It's all worth it when you see their tiny faces staring back at you!

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

I think a kiwi. They may look a little different, feel a strange kinda fuzzy, but they're beautiful and sweet underneath it all - plus, they're green - which suits us!

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

Writng. I love escaping into my own world and exploring the wild imaginations of others. Writing can be powerful and beautiful, in fact it's to books I owe my imagination!

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

I guess if I had anything to say, it would be to let my work speak for itself . I'm 17, and I am happy sharing that with people. It's sad, but sometimes it gets a negative response. I've taught crafts to bright younglings and I'm a huge supporter of young talent!

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Do what you love. Love what you do! It's important to learn new things, especially when you find yourself getting a little bored or frustrated. It'll give your creativity a kick, as well as your Making Mojo!

Chloe'...you are truly a delightful young lady, and I hope you keep on designing and creating your enchanting creations! Thank you for sharing your ideas and creativity out here with us, and also for taking the time to teach others! To learn more about Chloe' and her creations be sure to visit her Little Green Shoot shop on Etsy, and visiting her other links below.

ARTIST BEARS AND FRIENDS TEAM

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INDIE PUBLIC

TWITTER

FEATURED ETSY SHOP - EARTHSLINGS

I'm happy to welcome Sam and her Etsy shop "Earthslings" as a featured shop out here on DZFANTASY. Above you see a photo of some of Sam's soft, adorable dolls that your little ones can play with and use their imagination and have fun. In addition to these delightful, soft sculptures, Sam creates a very unique way to carry your baby, so be sure to visit EARTHSLINGS after reading what Sam has to say about her creations. You can also find out more about the "slings" by visiting the EARTHSLINGS web page link below the interview questions.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

I've been sewing since I was a little girl , and it's something that I kept up right through my teenage years. I created my first handmade dolls for my two young daughters. I just picked up a needle and thread and started making them on a whim - I made a mother, a baby and a big sister and realized afterwards I had inadvertently made us. My girls fell in love with them and being such tiny dolls they were convenient to carry with them everywhere in their hands or pockets. All their friends wanted one, too, so I decided to make them for many more children

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

I've had a long running love affair with cloth of all kinds. I can happily spend a day in a fabric store just browsing. I also love the idea of children having special handmade toys out of natural materials.

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

I find hand sewing very relaxing, so making each doll is a pleasure. Best of all is seeing a child receive one of my dolls. They are always so thrilled - nothing compares. That's something I miss when selling online. I've even had a fun time photographing the dolls for my store. This is a family joint effort - my husband takes the photos and my daughters and I set the dolls up - my girls like to arrange them with flowers from our garden.

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

Sweet Pea. Because they are sweet and homely.

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

I've always been attracted to working with glass - stained glass mosaics and mobiles and such. I feel it would be a real contrast to working with soft fabrics.

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

I hope that the dolls reflect and promote the attachment parenting I practice with my own children. Each Mamma doll carries her newborn in a sling or wrap. This is what I did when my babies were little - I carried them everywhere so that they were happy, and I used a sling so that I could carry on with my daily activities.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Make what you love. That way as well as making money, you get the pleasure of creating. I only work with materials I love and I only make things that I would want to have for myself and in that way I never get tired of my work.

Thanks again, Sam, for taking the time to share your thoughts and creations with everyone! You can find out more about Sam and Earthslings by clicking on the links below.

EARTHSLINGS WEB PAGE

3rd "WEAR A FAIRY" GIVEAWAY BY DZFANTASY

DZFANTASY'S "3rd WEAR A FAIRY GIVEAWAY"

Welcome to my 3rd "WEAR A FAIRY" giveaway. This month's giveaway is the colorful little butterfly fairy face pin pictured above. All you have to do to enter is follow the rules below:

1. Leave a comment in this post.

2. Leave your email address or another means of identification, should you be the lucky winner.

This "giveaway" begins September 17, 2008 and will end October 17, 2008 at 12 midnight CDT. On October 18, 2008, a winning entry will be randomly picked from all the entries.

If the WINNING ENTRY has left an email address, I will contact them immediately via email to let them know they have won. WINNER will then have 3 DAYS in which to respond to my email. If WINNER hasn't responded within the time allowed, I will then randomly draw another name from the remaining entries. A winning entry without an email address, will have their entry posted out here on DZFANTASY with a request to contact me within 3 days. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at dzfairies@msn.com

ABOUT THE "BUTTERFLY FAIRY FACE" PIN:

Size: 3" x 3" - The top wing span is just about 3", and the length from top tip of wing to bottom tip of wing is also 3".

Wings: the colorful wings are of my own original design and were created with a beautiful batik fabric whose colors are magenta, aqua, with hints of light olive green. The wings are stuffed with acrylic fiberfil, and have inner wire armatures.

HAIRDO: Her fun textured colorful hairdo matches the colors in her wings. It is a texture of "wisps and nubs of color"

ACCENTS: Her antennae were designed from 4 - 4mm Swarovski crystals on colored wire, which have been hand-sewn to her head.

FACE: 100% silk, which I hand-drew, needle-sculpted, hand-painted. Face size is approx. 1" long x .75" wide.

PIN'S BACK: Half-circle of texturized brass to which the wing and the pin's clasp have been cemented to.

THESE PINS MAKE FUN, COLORFUL ACCENTS.

GOOD LUCK!