I was featured in this awesome Handmadeology treasury. If this doesn't make you wish for spring...
April 03, 2011
March 30, 2011
Undiscovered Artist Interview
And the winner is...................
Heather of Fabulous Finds for the Curious Mind
Introducing Stephanie
of
www.cattywampussstudios.etsy.com
Stephanie is sponsering a giveaway right here on 31Summers....
This beautiful vintage spool could be yours! You could leave it as is or decorate it to suit your style. Thanks so much Stephanie for offering this giveaway to 31Summers readers! Read Stephanie's interview below! Giveaway rules are at the bottom!
This is an Etsy Featured Artist Interview with a TWIST!
1.Tell me a bit about yourself……
Hi! I’m Stephanie Nayman McDaniel and soon to be Smith. I’m 45 years YOUNG! I grew up in rural North Alabama in a small dot on the map called Hazel Green. I always knew one day I would end up in beautiful Tennessee where my ancestors lived and farmed. That dream came true 12 years ago and I can say, I have never been happier. I live on the banks of the beautiful Buffalo River, with my two youngest sons Stone and John-Wesley and my high school sweetheart. After being apart 26 years, we were reunited in October of 2010. Life could not be better. I have a wonderful support group, my family. Although at times they do not understand my creative moodiness, they all back me and my crazy ideas 100%.
We have 4 dogs, Scooter, a blind Pug, Emmit a miniature Pug, Mollie (aka Lou Lou) who will be 14 in June is a black Lab and last but not least, Fang, a pure white Alaskan Malamute. My protector and constant companion. We also have two cats and an array of wild critters that constantly inspire me and make me giggle.
2.Apart from creating, what do you do?
Normal mom things. I am my boy’s biggest cheerleader in baseball and football. I love 4 wheeling in the mud in these beautiful hills we call home. I was a Tomboy growing up and I guess becoming a mom to boys just made me the more so. On days off, we may spend all day in the woods looking for wild treasures such as moss, lichen, rocks and such. I have a game I have played with my boys, ages 20, 14 and 10. Since they were little ones, I would tell them on walks, the first to find mom a heart shaped rock gets a big hug and kiss. We still play this game and although my 20 year old is on his own and out of the house, he will do his best to beat little brothers in the race to find the first heart rock. You can just imagine my collection.
I also look forward to the weekends our daughter Sophia comes to stay. She is so much like me…a Tomboy in PINK!
3.What first made you want to create?
My Mama and my grandmother (Honey) have always been my inspiration. We grew up in an area that was poor, although no one realized it since everyone was. Mama and Honey made everything. From our clothes, to canning and crafts. I learned early if you want something, sometimes it just as good or in most cases better if you do it with your own hands. We made do with what we had. Those memories are the best!
4.Describe your creative process?
Process? That’s a hard one. I’m not sure I have a set process. I have two degrees in art, but still consider myself self taught. I’m a trail and error sort of person. If it doesn’t work the first time, try it again. Things don’t always turn out the way my mind sees it. Sometimes, it’s even better! I am mostly inspired by nature and the people around me. My paintings and sculptures often have a story to tell although I am not always eager to share where they idea came from. It may be something funny or may be something sad that happened and I need to let it go. So I turn to the studio to let my mind go and lose myself in my art.
My Zengiggles are a different story. I have no idea where they come from. There is never any rhyme or reason to them. They just happen. I just wish I had more time to just sit and doodle. It’s sort of my therapy.
5.What handmade possession do you cherish most?
I actually have several. One that has been with me 30 or so years is a folk art piece my Mama did when I was little. She had Daddy I suppose, cut a rooster out of plywood and stain it dark. Then she covered the whole thing in different nails, tacks and wire. The patterns are beautiful! The others are my children’s artwork. My studio walls are covered with artwork they have done over the years. I have to change them out periodically so I have room for new ones. I guess you can imagine how proud I am that my children love art.
6.What one piece of information would you like to know from experienced etsy sellers?
How to drive more traffic to my shops and boost sales.
7.What is your favorite feature or tool on Etsy so far?
The activity button! From there I can at a glance see what’s going on with sales as well as who has hearted me and what my circle of friends are up to.
8.How are you promoting your work?
Word of mouth, outdoor shows, Facebook, and starting my blog. I also have several good artist friends {{Dana}} who post about me, and my shop. Thanks so much Stephanie, you are too sweet!
9.Where do you want to be in ten years?
Right here in Tennessee with my kids and sweetheart. Still doing art, watching baseball and football. Being the Tomboy I am. Loving life and maybe helping raise a grand baby or two. That’s where I see me as a mother and wife. Besides that, I want to go back to designing for two or three major companies or maybe have my own gift ware company. Would love to be able to reproduce my art and sculpture and be able to employ local people to help me. Open some jobs here for my area. Keep things at home, here in the good ole USA.
But right now, I am happy where I am. One day at a time. Raising my boys, being a soul mate and best friend to my sweetheart and loving life. Doing what I love here in the studio……One Day at a Time!
Stephanie can also be found at www.Aliceldella.etsy.com or on her blog at Barefootndaisies.blog.com!
There are many ways to enter Stephanie's giveaway. Please make sure you leave a separate comment for every entry.
How to enter to win:
Mandatory entry:
- Go to Cattywampuss Studios shop. Return to 31Summers' Blog and simply leave a comment here about your favorite item from her store.
Extra entries (only qualify once mandatory entry is fulfilled):
- Earn 2 entries - Go to Barefootndaisies.blog.comto know her more. Leave a comment there on at least one of the following: what you learn from the interview, what you want to see more of in her shop and why, or any constructive feedbacks are always appreciated.
Come back here and leave 2 comments that you did, to ensure your entries are counted.
- Heart Cattywampussstudios.etsy.com. (1 entry). Simply let us know your Etsy username.
- Subscribe to 31Summers (my blog)(1 entry). If you're already a follower, you still get an entry, just says you're following already.
- Like my 31Summers facebook page. Don't forget to say 'hi' to me there and come back here to leave comment (1 entry). If you liked my FB page already, you still can say hi and earn 1 entry. I'd love to hear from you!
- Tweet about this giveaway, add "@31Summers" in your tweet. (1 entry).
- Blog about this giveaway to earn 2 entries. Leave two separate comments here please providing me with the link to your post.
- Be creative and share the love! Refer your friends and family to enter this giveaway. Use your social media (other than twitter and blog) to shout out this giveaway. As long as you provide me a link or a way to confirm it, you'll earn 2 entries (two separate comments).
- Purchase an item from Cattywampuss Studios and earn 10 entries for each purchase. Don't forget letting us know by leaving comments :-)
Contest starts now and ends on April 6, 2011. Contest opens worldwide.
Don't forget to leave me a way to contact you. Contest winner will be drawn on Wednesday, April 6 by a random number generator. Winner must respond within 48 hours after being contacted otherwise another winner will be randomly selected.
March 26, 2011
Fabric Wire and Hardware
I have had the most fun the past few days playing with all my new fabric from my Granny's stash.
Granny sewed for many years. She started sewing for her children, then her grandchildren, then her great grandchildren. Granny was not afraid of change and new styles, she loved most of the new trends and fashions. She had impeccable taste up until she succumbed to her illness (cancer) last year. She was always the most stylish, hip, redheaded Granny I knew and she was mine. I miss her........
Her fabric is the greatest, even though I sew my passion of the moment is fabric, wire and beads.
I think she would get a kick out of what I am doing with her fabric!
This is what I started with, a bit of fabric from Granny, my favorite frosty white, navy and silver beads. Some wire and basic black o rings from the hardware store equalled this great necklace and earrings!
There will be more, I have an almost endless supply of great fabrics and trims now! You can see more of my designs at on etsy! 31Summers.etsy.com
March 24, 2011
Undiscovered Artist Interview..........
I would like to introduce you to Colleen Roush
of
www.postcardsintheattic.etsy.com
Colleen has recently opened an etsy shop and she is ready to introduce herself to us.
Colleen has offered my readers a free shipping coupon code until April 1st! Visit her shop at the link above to take advantage of her sweet offer!
Coupon Code "FREESHIPPING323"
Undiscovered Artist Interview with Colleen Roush
1.Tell me a bit about yourself……
I grew up in the Midwest and moved to California just in the last few years. I have collected postcards since I was a child, in fact some of my early childhood memories are about my postcard collection and the people who nurtured it. My Maternal Grandparents were instrumental as my personality developed. They taught me to see value in almost everything; to not just discard items, but to look underneath at the details. One of the things that I enjoyed as a child was polishing my grandmothers silver. The first time I polished her set I was very young. She brought out a set of very unappealing, if not ugly, serving pieces and showed me how to use the cleaner and the buffing cloth. Just like magic under that old ugly tarnished metal was the most beautiful serving set I had ever seen. I can remember her having to stop me from trying to polish everything. That is how I look at most things in life including people.
2.Apart from creating, what do you do?
I work as a Registered Dietitian in health care management. It is a very detail oriented job and you must be able to multi task a great deal in order to move the department the direction that you need it to go. It can be a rather stressful job so the community of ETSY, my blogs, and projects are my methods of relaxing and enjoying the beauty around me.
3.What first made you want to create?
I grew up in a family of artisans and crafters. I made my first craft project when I was first able to hold a glue stick. I also was taught to create things of quality early on, because that is what will last and people will treasure. I was never fond of gluing things to paper in school. By the time I had reached elementary school I had already been painting ornaments, keepsakes and making real projects so to cut and paste with other kids was actually school work not really fun.
4.Describe you creative process?
My creative process is to watch what is going around me at all times. If I have read materials it has a purpose; either to educate myself or to help stimulate ideas. Right now my creativity has been focused more on blogs and learning that process. I have a very long “Bucket List” one of goal has been to be a professional writer, but it is a skill I have never practiced outside of the academic world. Most of my writings in the past have been about laboratory findings, process and procedure where people have to read your material for the information, but now that I have a blog I must write to capture an audience’s attention and hold it. This process takes me longer and is still a diamond in the rough but I am confident that the more I study and practice the better I will become at it.
I also play piano which is also one of my methods of decompressing from stressful days. Music moves me and at times this will be what stimulates an idea for a blog or project.
5.What handmade possession do you cherish most?
I no longer have this item; I have moved around so much it has unfortunately disappeared. But this had and always been my ultimate treasure. Just before my Paternal Grandmother died she had begun crocheting large detailed butterflies trivets. The one she gave me was mostly blue but so bright and colorful. It wasn’t like the light lace or doilies she usually created but heavy and solid. It felt so good in my hands and was so pretty. I was way too young to need a hot pad of my own so she had hesitated in giving it to me at first, but after she seen how much I loved it she did. I can still see it and remember the texture and weight.
6.What one piece of information would you like to know from experienced etsy sellers?
I have been very blessed with finding a wonderful community on ETSY. I belong to a number of teams that have encourage me to broaden my horizons such as, I tweeted for the first time this week. It wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be.
My question would be on how to build sales. That really is important to me, not just because of monetary reasons but because it also means you have a following. I want to build a strong following.
7.What is your favorite feature or tool on Etsy so far?
The treasuries: with my job and limited amount of space in my home I have had to put off many projects I want to create. I write them all down for when I have a larger space work in but it is torture to have the creative bug and not be able to do much about it. So the Treasuries have been an outlet for that desire. I spend quite a lot of time on each of those that I create. I don’t just through together but I try to create a message or something that is just purely beautiful. I love looking at other people items and to think about the stories behind their creations and their shops.
8.How are you promoting your work?
I use my blog, the treasury groups, twitter (new to me), Facebook along with a page, and I try to connect with other sellers by buying and promoting their items. I have yet to receive something I didn’t like from an ETSY shop. At this time my location limits my ability to promote myself in the community but I am hoping for that to improve soon also. I am always keeping my eyes open for opportunities in the community to promote myself I just haven’t quite found it yet.
9.Where do you want to be in ten years?
In ten years I see myself working full-time for as an entrepreneur and part-time in health care. I want to be known for helping create more beauty in people’s lives including my own. I try to keep my blog, facebook page etc. focused on positive things and I avoid allowing anything too negative from getting posted or allow it into my own space. I believe that while we need to be aware of issues in society we cannot allow ourselves to be consumed by it. I need beauty and richness, color and light in my life and so I create it and love to create it for others.
Colleen can also be found at www.butterflyintheattic.etsy.com and www.thebutterflysbuttons.etsy.com
March 23, 2011
Found some of the coolest art beads!
Ok, I want one of everything this fabulous lady has. I can't decide when I look at her things, I am going to post some of my favorites here and stew on them a few days before I try to decide!
Here are a few, just a few mind you, of my Favorites!
Nesting Owl Bundle
As seen in the Spring 2011 issue of Stringing Magazine in a project I wrote called Nesting Owl!
This bundle contains the entire set of ceramic beads used in this project is available at a special price. This set contains one Owl Pendant, a small and large Veined Leaf charm, a Birdnest charm, a Textured Hive link, and two pumpkin nest accent beads.
This house inspired clasp is a perfect way to finish your favorite earthy jewelry designs. Use it in the front of a necklace as a focal...great with all sorts of earth tones and wood and stone colors.
Inspired by love letters and antique greeting cards, this romantic pendant is handcrafted in porcelain and stamped with vintage found objects for texture. Keeping with the theme of correspondence, I stamped these pieces with vintage floral embossing plates that were used to make greeting cards and old letterpress stamps. Each pendant has a little detailed stamping in deep red made to resemble sealing wax.
You can check out everything Melanie has to offer, just follow the links below. I will let you guys know which ones I decide on!
~Melanie Brooks~
Earthenwood Studio
http://www.earthenwoodstudio.com
Earthenwood Blog Chronicles
http://earthenwood-beads.blogspot.com
Etsy Shopping
http://www.earthenwood.etsy.com
http://www.earthenwoodceramics.etsy.com
http://www.earthenwoodwholesale.etsy.com
March 21, 2011
What a sweet find...
So some of you don't know that I also have a vintage shop on Etsy. You can find it here! Well I was out on the hunt for some new things for the shop at my local flea market. I happened by a table that had a mix of old rusty tools (which I love as well) and these two sweet vintage bank books.
They are from the Security Bank & Trust Company in Rutherfordton, NC, which is where I live! I just could not pass them up. When I got home and was looking at them more closely they belonged to John and Elizabeth Sumner and were their deposit records from 1954-1959. It is obviously a woman's handwriting beside each bank stamp inside. I was showing off my latest find to my Father in Law when he said I believe those people are related to Jamy Walker.
Well guess what!!! I went to high school with Jamy and my daughter goes to the middle school where he teaches. I emailed Jamy and he said "YES, those are my great grandparents whom I never got to meet." He and I were both so excited and these precious books are now in his hands......he never had the pleasure to meet them but now can hold a bit of them in his hands.
March 17, 2011
Happy Saint Patrick's Day
Happy Saint Patrick's Day from 31Summers! My Mom has the cornbeef in the crockpot now. I so look forward to any holiday or event living beside my Mother. She always comes up with the perfect menu! I will post the low down on the meal tomorrow along with some pics.
For now I give you a few of my favorite vintage inspired St. Patrick's Day things from flickr.
Me Ould Sod St. Patrick's Day Irish Celtic Celebration Bracelet, 2. "Jack's Shroom" ~ Postcard, 3. Happy St.Patrick's Day! Front, 4. st. patrick's day friends, 5. Fabric Leaf Potted Plant - Vintage St. Patrick's Day by Jane Joss, 6. St Patricks Day tags, 7. Vintage St. Patricks Day Pendant Craft, 8. Vintage St. Patricks Day post card, 9. St. Patrick's Day Recipe, March 1967, 10. Chenille St. Patrick's Day Ornaments, 11. St. Patrick's Day Vintage Ornament Wreath, 12. Vintage St. Patricks Day Postcard">
March 16, 2011
31Summers... Etsy Redo
I have been working for the past few days on sort of redoing my etsy shop. I have taken tons of new pics and added new tags. I hope it will make a difference in my sales.
I opted to go with the all white backgrounds for the jewelry. I think it makes it pop, what do you guys think?
January 06, 2011
Fun with found hardware!
So now that Christmas is over I can post some of the things I made for Christmas gifts. I had the most fun with this one..............................................
I know this isn't the best picture ever but it was made on my work table! Which happens to be an actual work table. Not too cute but very, very functional and I love it dearly!
This is an old shovel I found covered in concrete, I loved the look. I then took a bunch of old copper and brass fittings that my Father in Law gave me and made this cool sign for his work building! We have always called it his pout house because we said he went there when MIL was mad at him!!!!
This was a very quick and easy project, didn't clean the shovel or the pieces, just a steel wire brush to knock off the loose dirt. Then liquid nails was used to glue on the pieces! (I used an old butter knife to spread it on the pieces because all I had was a whole caulking tube full!) Very quick, very easy and perfect for the man who has everything.
He used his drill and drilled a hole in it for hanging!!! It now hangs proudly over his work bench!
December 13, 2010
My Robot to be!!!
So I have decided that I need a robot on my wall............. Why? Cause one day the buffet servers were laying on my table and it looked like a robot to me..........so I am going with it!!!!
Keep your eyes, peeled. I will give you periodic updates!!!!
I also made something for a friend of mine to give her step-mom for Christmas. Her Mom loves owls and loves miniatures so I cam up with these............................................
I know this is a horrid picture, pay no attention to the picture!!!! Use your minds eye to see the actual project!!! I used recycled medicine bottles (cleaned and sanitized of course). I get these from the vet I work at. Love them!! Then took paper owls, a tiny twig, moss, cork and lace and WaaaLaaa..............Owl ornaments! Hope she love them!
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