FEATURED ETSY SHOP - JEWELRY KALEIDOSCOPE

Hand Embroidered Kitchen Dish Towel Flowers, Butterfly

(CLICK on item's title above to learn more about it)

WELCOME, Laura and her Etsy shop JEWELRY KALEIDOSCOPE where she sells vintage items, along with beautiful hand embroidered items, such as the lovely dish towel above.

I think it is always interesting to know a bit more about the person behind each Etsy shop, so take a moment to read Laura's interview below.  Then..........hop on over to her shop by clicking on the links below.  Laura has a lot of delightful items to choose from, both in her hand embroidery and vintage items.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

I grew up in a college town that had a program like big sister, I have 5 brothers so I was in this program and that is who taught me to do hand embroidery, I think I was around 10 years old.

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

I love all the colors of the floss to choose from.

Hand Embroidered Cross Stiched Lamb Baby Bib

(CLICK on item's title above to learn more about it)



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

I love to see the piece come alive when the black lines get turned to color. And I love flowers so, this is another way to make them bloom.

Hand Embroidered Heart Shaped Love Pillow/Pincushion

(CLICK on item's title above to learn more about it)

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

Strawberry, they start out as a flower, then a small hard berry, and grow into a pretty red berry.

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

Watercolors, I love all the colors,

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

I like to think I have brightened someone's day with one of my embroidered item, maybe put a smile on their face.

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Have fun doing your crafts and don't be afraid to try some new ones.

THANKS, Laura for taking the time to share your thoughts and creations with all of us.

You can see more of Laura's items by visiting her links below.

FACEBOOK

FEATURED ETSY SHOP - THE LOST & FOUND

Stunning Lime Green Vintage Prom Dress from 1956

GORGEOUS SATIN LACE TAFFITA and TULLE

(Click on the above photo to learn more about this item)

Going back to "earlier times" is a fascinating trip down memory lane. I'm happy to have THE LOST & FOUND as a featured Etsy shop here on DZFANTASY.

Maryann, the owner of THE LOST & FOUND has a wonderful selection of items for you to choose from....vintage clothing, dresses, a large variety of vintage jewelry, miscellaneous vintage items and more. Be sure to take time to stroll down memory lane at THE LOST & FOUND.

GORGEOUS ORIGINAL VINTAGE CIRCA 1940'S LADIES Brooch.

Made by WEISS.
(Click on photo to learn more about this item)

SPECIAL OFFER:

If you see something you just can't live without, THE LOST & FOUND is offering a 10% discount to anyone who mentions my blog name "DZFANTASY". All you have to do is contact Maryann through the "contact link" in her shop. Mention that you saw her feature on DZFANTASY, and she will give you a 10% discount.

Now let's learn a little bit about how/why THE LOST & FOUND came to be!

What motivated you to get into selling “vintage” items?

I have always loved vintage "stuff". Even as a young child, I loved searching through my grandma's house for the coolest treasures; from scarves that can put you into a different time and place, to beautiful day dresses that take you back to a simpler time. I just love it all-- and what made sense was to take my love for great vintage and make it into a part time career!

Is there any category of vintage items that intrigues you the most?

I definitely love the clothes of the 1940's. During that time period, it seemed a woman could wear an amazing day dress, great peek-a-boo heels, throw her hair up in a twist, tie on an apron and be amazingly beautiful! Less was definitely more and I like that! Not that the women back then didn't spend time on themselves, but it wasn't over done like today's standards.

What aspect of finding and selling vintage items do you find the most enjoyable?

I get to shop, shop and shop. Then I get to shop some more, and then keep what I find until I sell it... or I just keep it if it's too fabulous to let go! The whole process is enjoyable!

What vintage item would you love to find, that you haven’t already seen or sold?

I would love to be able to find an amazing chenille bedspread similar to my Nana's. It was a super soft pink chenille with gorgeous white and light spring green flowers. I am not sure what happened to it after she passed away, but I would love to find something similar and keep it for my daughters.

What advice do you have for others in the selling or collecting of vintage items?

Keep on keeping on! If you love vintage, then find great quality vintage pieces that strike you. Buy what you love-- don't buy items that you think customers might like-- buy what you love!

What is the most interesting or exciting piece of vintage that you have found to date?

It's funny, because I just listed it yesterday! I just aquired this gorgeous vintage prom dress from 1956. It's a beautiful lime green, floor length dress with lace, taffeta and tulle. It does have some wear, but it is so darn pretty! I can just imagine what the young lady looked like back at the prom in 1956; dress on, hair done up, make-up done by her mom, clutch in hand.

Thanks, Maryann for taking us on a trip down memory lane with all of your vintage items!

Don't forget now, if you see something in THE LOST & FOUND that you'd like to make your own, just contact Maryann for a 10% discount by mentioning DZFANTASY.

BLOG

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 ETSY SHOP - MISS KARINA'S NEW ORLEANS FASHION DESIGN

COLORFUL - MARDI BRA

If you are looking for the unusual, colorful, unique....be sure to visit MISS KARINA out on Etsy. Here you will find many colorful outfits such as the mardi bra shown above, skirts made from ties and T-shirts, and a lot more. Here Karina will share some of her thoughts and ideas with us. I also took a portion of her Etsy profile to put out here to give you a better insight into what makes Karina tick.

"I have been professionally designing costume and fashion in New Orleans, Louisiana for five years. I have been lucky to have costumed Kings and Queens of Mardi Gras, including myself as Queen of OAK 2006. I am also the proud Mother Shucker of the Bearded Oysters all female dance troupe featuring over 150 members. In 2005, I became the founding member of the New Orleans Fashion Collaborative. My work has been in countless television shows and several films, Mardi Gras parades and balls, sporting events across the country and almost everywhere people are gathered to have fun."

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

Originally, as a preteen, I started sewing so that I could have the slutty 1980s styles that my parents wouldn't buy me. Red spandex was a really easy material to work with back then. I made little tube tops that doubled as miniskirts. My creations evolved from there. Moving to New Orleans 6 years ago really got me going with all the music, Carnival, and Burlesque. There I started creating all sorts of costumes which led to my own 125 women strong parading burlesque troupe, "The Bearded Oysters." Yes, we do have beards. In addition to being inspired by Carnival festivities I am also inspired to create everyday apparel that is ECO-friendly and made from recycled materials.

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

I haven't really decided completely yet. I love fashion because you get to wear it out and get feedback. I also love fashion because you can change how people react to you based on what you wear. Essentially its like creating your own world. Do you want people to smile when they see you? Do you want them to leave you alone? Do you want them to hire you? As a secretary? As a stripper? Do you want them to fear you? Do you want them to lust for you?

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

The whole process really. I love the moments of inspiration, I love shopping for fabrics, I love sewing, I love selling.

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

Dragonfruit: Its all crazy looking on the outside and sweet on the inside.

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

Currently, I am spending a year travelling through Korea, Japan, and Thailand teaching English. I am 1000's of miles from my sewing machine so in this time I have taken up photography. I feel that my sense of design and humor is brought into my photography. I like digital photography because it is instant gratification with no mess, and it hardly takes up any space... totally unlike sewing. Perhaps when I get home these photographs will become the inspiration for my next fashion collection.

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

Eco-Sexy-Happy-Funtime-Girl!

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

"The secret of success is making your vocation your vacation" -Mark Twain

Thanks, Karina for sharing your ideas and designs with us. I'm sure you will always be coming up with many more creative designs! If you'd like to see how Karina designs her "mardi bras"...click on the link below, which shows a video.

KARINA ON YOU TUBE

FEATURED ETSY SHOP - SOUL ART by RAFFAELLA

I dream of PARIS

is the title of this mixed media necklace

by RAFFAELLA of "SOUL ART"

Let's welcome this delightful artist and hear what she has to say about herself and her art. I truly enjoy meeting all the different artists, and hearing about what makes them "tick" and seeing all the different art mediums. I hope you enjoy reading about Raffaella of SOUL ART on ETSY. Don't forget to visit her shop by clicking on the links below. You might just find something you can't live without!

Hallo! I am an Italian collage mixed media artist, and I particulary enjoy creating wearable art using any combination of objects and techniques that I can think of! I live in Australia, my pieces are sold in selected shops, markets, online, and my work has been featured in local newspapers and magazines.

What led you to start creating your art/craft?

I have always been involved in creating "something", whether IT was for my job as a fashion designer back in Italy, or as a way to escape from it, and express my feelings and emotions in a tangible, more personal way.

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

That was a very easy decision as I do like to experiment with any sort of media and material, I like to try and invent my own techniques….so mixed media it was!

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

Probably the challenge to transform an idea, convey an emotion into a tangible piece. I enjoy experimenting, the unconventional use of media, and the ever surprising result.

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

A pomegranate. A delicious fruit, a whole entity made up of many unique juicy bits.

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

I mostly create Wearable Art using dominoes tiles and found objects, and collages on canvas and everyday discarded objects. So it is quite obvious that my message to the world is ‘recycle and re use!’ On a different level, my message will be ‘give’. My energy, my emotions and dreams are in my pieces, and I like to think that I am giving them to the world out there!

What advice do you have for other artists/crafters?

Be true to yourself, be proud of what you do, no matter how profitable your art may be. Create for your own sanity!

Raffaella, thanks so much for taking the time to share your work and thoughts with us. Great work and "insightful" answers! Below is the link to SOUL ART! Click on any photo to go directly to that item in her shop, or click on the SOUL ART link below the photos to visit Raffaella's shop.