featured artist

Are you ready for fall? Bundle up in some of this week's featured artist's, SheepishKnitCrochet, pieces.

Tell us a little about yourself. Hi! My name is Meredith and I am a college student in Texas. I am super tall and don't always love it. Besides crafting, I am obsessed with reading magazines (my favorite is Vogue). I also love Hitchcock movies, reading Jane Austen novels, baking, and listening to music by Frank Sinatra, John Mayer, and Michael Bublé.

How did you become interested in creating? I decided to teach myself to knit after I read "The Friday Night Knitting Club". Typical, I know, but I was never expecting to fall so completely in love with a craft. I can't get enough! I've always been creative, but I hadn't found a way to express myself until I found knitting and crochet.


What is your inspiration? I am inspired by classic styles, but I love twisting them up and making something new and unexpected! Anything eclectic or vintage is sure to catch my eye and inspire a new design.

What is your favorite piece you've made and why? My favorite piece I have made is my Sock Monkey Wrist Warmers. They are my original design and perfectly reflect my style. I just love how cozy and cute they are!

{click here for more of SheepishKnitCrochet's work}

featured artist - HeathersHobbies

Tell us a little about yourself. My Name is Heather McCall. I am a 36 year old stay at home Mom of 3 boys. I own a small Etsy shop named Heathershobbies. I crochet baby items such as: shoes, sweaters, blankets and more.

How did you become interested in creating? I started crocheting when I was 9 years old. I have been hooked ever since. I really started creating when I was pregnant with my 2nd Child. That’s when I wanted to really learn patterns. I would make baby sweaters and booties. I made each one of my children baby blankets.

What is your inspiration? My Inspiration is my grandmother. She taught me to crochet and knit. I would have never learned if it was not for her. She passed away a couple of years ago. I have her old crochet hooks which I use as a memory of her.

What is your favorite piece you've made and why? My favorite piece is the little button loafers. I found that pattern through an Etsy seller named Sylver. I thought they were the cutest things ever. They are now my best sellers.

If you're interested in one of HeathersHobbies pieces, take a peek at her etsy shop.

featured artist

oneaviandaemon

isabel's picnic dress $150.00

Tell us a little about yourself. I’m Naomi from One Avian Daemon. I love to sew and to design clothes. I like anything with pockets and a twirly skirt, and I look best in dresses with a fitted waist, so you’ll find a lot of those things in my shop. When I’m not making clothes I work in a neuroscience lab where I have to wear a paper coat and shower caps on my feet, and daydream about beautiful dresses.

twirling halter dress $150.00

How did you become interested in creating? My godmother Neva taught me how to sew. When I was about seven she showed me how to thread a needle and tie a little knot in the end, and we made a small purple pillow. When I got older she showed me how to make curtains, doll clothes, and eventually my own clothes. She bought me my first sewing machine, and found me a summer job working for a costume designer. Neva was always very supportive of my sewing, and of anyone’s attempts to create anything. She died a few months ago and I miss her a lot. Since then I’ve started teaching a seven year old friend how to sew, and I like to think I’m carrying on in Neva’s tradition.

tightrope mini dress $80.00

What is your inspiration? The people who wear my dresses. I love custom orders, because I get to learn a bit about the customer and make the perfect dress for her. I’m inspired by all the beautiful variety of body shapes and personal styles. The clothes in my store have a fairly consistent look because they’re mostly the clothes I’ve made for myself, but I love the alchemy feature on Etsy, because it lets me work with people who have different body types and different styles.

sage green formal dress $210.00

What is your favorite piece you've made and why? I don’t really have a favorite piece, but lately I’ve been wearing my Seaside Seersucker Wrap Dress a lot. It’s nice for summer since it’s so light.

featured artist

41park

Spiral - copper. amethyst $36.95

1) Tell us a little about yourself. I don't know what to tell people when they ask me where I am from, I moved around quite a bit growing up. I think the best answer is - wherever my family is;) I am a mother of two, both kids under the age of four. I am a creative person and direct those energies towards whatever medium is grabbing me. Right now I am designing jewelry and having a really great time with it. I love to travel, eat fantastic food, enjoy the company of close friends and family, and learn whatever I can about whatever catches my interest. I am very interested in mind body health, personal growth and study Reiki (a holistic healing modality of energy medicine).

Gathering - amethyst . baltic amber $46.95

2) How did you become interested in creating? I don't think there was a specific moment, at least not that I remember. My parents were very supportive of my talents and creativity and really supported and pushed me into realizing it for myself.

Simple - baltic amber . sterling $32.95

3) What is your inspiration? My inspiration? Hmmm... That is a tough one, it is everywhere all around me all the time here and there. My kids inspire me the most right now I think, and my husband. He is so clear and present, and knows how to make me laugh;) I am always inspired by natural elements, stacking rocks, mist in the air, the ocean, watching traffic patterns from an airplane at night. I guess I could go on and on about this...

Drop - citrine $26.95

4) What is your favorite piece you've made and why? I can not even begin to answer that, sorry!

41park's work can be found at www.41park.etsy.com

Wanna have your shop featured in my blog? Send me a convo on my Etsy shop or email me at madeline {at} maddyanne {dot} com

Featured Artist

JNpottery

Salt Cellar, Desert Sage Green $20.00

1) Tell us a little about yourself. I'm a leading edge baby boomer, mother of 3 grown children, grandmother to 2. I am an RN working in clinical research part-time. I really enjoy my outside activities, which include ballroom dancing, playing racquetball, travel and making pottery.

Agate Green and Redwood Spoon Rest $10.00

2) How did you become interested in creating? I've been doing creative things for years...sewing clothes for my children and myself, cooking and baking, knitting and other needle craft. I had wanted to get my hands into clay since my children were small, but I didn't get the chance until about 9 years ago.

Redwood Birdhouse $32.00

3) What is your inspiration? I love to cook, so making items that are useful in the kitchen, are good serving or baking pieces or that look great on the table is what I am about.

Teapot, Temmoku with Cane Handle $28.00

4) What is your favorite piece you've made and why? Asking me that is like asking what my favorite food is...the answer is "what am I doing/eating now."

JNpottery's work can be found at www.jnpottery.etsy.com

Wanna have your shop featured in my blog? Send me a convo on my Etsy shop.

Featured Artist

ScarfKnitter

Tidepool Heather Scarf $32.00

1) Tell us a little about yourself. I am married. I have one Chihuahua, two daughters, and three grandkids. I knit scarves; it is relaxing and therapeutic.

Clematis Heather Scarf $32.00

2) How did you become interested in creating? As a child, I remember watching a knitter in the waiting room of a doctor’s office. I was amazed at how she was turning yarn into a piece of fabric. So, I taught myself to knit with the help of a book.

Brindle Heather Scarf $32.00

3) What is your inspiration? I use scraps of yarn to try out stitches from a stitch dictionary. Then, when I get a new color of yarn it tells me which stitch to use to make a scarf.

Custom Maze Scarf $42.00

4) What is your favorite piece you've made and why? I like my Avocado Maze Scarf because it is young, fun, and makes an impression.

ScarfKnitter's work can be found at scarfknitter.etsy.com

Wanna have your shop featured in my blog? Send me a convo on my Etsy shop.

Featured Artist

lisaroy

Harry handbag $88.00

1) Tell us a little about yourself. I'm the Lisa behind lisaroy handbags and have been married for 20 years this June (we got married while I was in design school). Gosh, this is making me sound old! I just hit the milestone age of 40 recently which made me reflect on my life and what I really want to do when I grow up. I've been working as an art director for magazines for the past 10 years and just gave that up in the New Year so I can focus on my love of making things by hand full-time.

Jo iPhone/iPod/cell phone case $25.00

2) How did you become interested in creating? I've always been the artistic child in the family - always drawing, playing restaurant and designing the menu and telling myself that one day I want to make chocolate bar wrappers much more fun (this was when I was about 6 or 7 years old). I guess design was always my calling! My mother taught me how to sew when I was about 8 and I started making my own doll clothes by hand and showing my friends how to sew. I eventually learned how to use a sewing machine and in high school made my own party dresses and eventually curtains and pillows for my first apartment. My stint as yearbook editor was the start to publishing design but I always continued to create sewn pieces throughout my life.

Leigh clutch wristlet $68.00

3) What is your inspiration? I've always had a thing for handbags - my closet is overflowing with them and eventually deciding to create one led me down this path. My inspiration comes from everywhere, really - a photograph, the detail on a blouse, home decor, something I might see while out for a walk or just a beautiful fabric. My husband comes up with some really great ideas too.

Jo iPhone/iPod/cell phone case $25.00

4) What is your favorite piece you've made and why? It's difficult to choose just one, since I create each bag as though I were making it for myself so I always love it when it's complete. But the bags from my Vintage Series - using upcycled men's suit jackets may be the most satisfying since it's giving a forgotten jacket an entirely new life and purpose, and I think it's always nice to reuse great pieces.

Lisa's work can be found at lisaroy.etsy.com.

Wanna have your shop featured in my blog? Send me a convo on my Etsy shop.

Featured Artist

This Week's Featured Seller is...

kigisboutique

Flower Garden Hat

1) Tell us a little about yourself. My name is Jennifer and I am the owner/designer of KiGi's (pronounced Key-Gee's) Boutique. I have been married 10 years in June. My husband & I have 2 handsome boys. After the birth of my 2nd son I decided I wanted to work from home so KiGi's Boutique was born.

Sock Monkey Crochet Hat

2) How did you become interested in creating? I have always been a creative person even in elementary school I loved to paint. Now today I can't paint more than an apple tree or stick man, but have learned I can created other adorable creations. My other passion is photography. So basically I just have a love and desire for all things beautiful.

Red Crochet Headband with Fabric Flower

3) What is your inspiration? My inspiration is definitely my family. They support me always, and it's a great inspiration. But as far as creative inspiration I "LOVE" color and I "LOVE" creating something new and original!

Handstitched Applique Onesie

4) What is your favorite piece you've made and why? I think my favorite piece I have created would have to be my the Bloomers in my Flower Garden Collection. Because I am a photographer I love babies...but sometimes mom just doesn't want those nude shots for her baby girl....so I wanted to create some beautiful and unique for those babies. I scoured the web looking for something similar and when I didn't find anything I knew I was on to something! That is why those bloomers are my favorite!!

Jennifer's work can be found on her Etsy page and on her website.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/kigisboutique

http://www.kigis.webs.com/

Wanna have your shop featured in my blog? Send me a convo on my Etsy shop.

Featured Artist

Featured Seller:

rainbowrevolution

1) How did you become interested in creating? I have always had some sort of creative pursuit happening...for as long as I can remember. I was surrounded by a very creative family with all sorts of art and craft passions. I studied art for six years and continued for a while with art and life drawing at night school and also studied textiles and design for 2 years.

2) What is your inspiration?These days I am totally inspired by colour and all manner of things to do with colour. I have been particularly interested in the way colour can be used for personal growth and the way we express ourselves through our choices in colour.I am currently having a lot of fun working with some fabrics such as bamboo, hemp and silk. My colours turn out differently on each different fabric I use and this presents inspiration in itself.

3) What is your favorite piece you've made and why? I can't say that any one piece I have made is my favourite. Each item I create holds within it a part of my fascination for and love of colour.

If you're interested in rainbowrevolution's work, you can visit her shop at www.rainbowrevolution.etsy.com

Wanna have your shop featured in my blog?
Send me a convo on my Etsy shop.

Featured artist

Are you an artist? How would you like to be featured in a blog? Every week, I'll be selecting a featured artist to show off in my blog as the "Star of the Week." If you've got talent and want to show it off, leave a comment and I'll consider featuring you in one of the upcoming weeks.

Etsy Finds

For your children...

RoseToesShoes-$28 castlegate-$24

Zygopsyche-$33 DanburyLane-$12.95

lewasdesigns-$35 littlesaplingtoys-$30


Etsy, of course, has tons of handmade jewelry, but there is so much more you can find! There are so many talented artists that have come together on this one site to offer up their work. Today, I'm featuring several artists with products for your children. From wall art to toys to clothing, Etsy's artists have everything you're looking for when it comes to your little bundle of joy!