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Inside the Mind of An Artist at Work

Author Written by Adornments by Karla on Monday, June 29, 2009 Date







Team member Amy Ressa is a painting QUEEN! Not only is she known for her colorful glassware, but she also dabbles in home decor and is happy to embellish many different surfaces such as walls, canvas, plastic, metal, ceramic, fabric and more. When she mentioned another new application of her talent, we had to know more.

What is your latest endeavor called?
I refer to it as "a little piece of my art" pendants and brooches.
What was your inspiration?
I have had an interest in painting glass pendants and I began with the clear glass tiles. I have painted three different sizes and turned them in to pendants by gluing on the bails. I also painted on a few different size seashells and turned them in to pendants as well. My mind continued to wander. I had seen something similar with the broken plates, but the person just did it with plates they purchased and only made brooches. I thought, why couldn’t I do that, but paint them myself? That would be a wonderful way for people to get a little piece of my art. I am still kind of playing with it, but I really think I like gluing a few tiles together, almost like a mosaic piece, but make a pendant or brooch with it instead. I have also considered making funky rings with some of the pieces. I have the findings, but just need to figure it out from there.

I have always loved plates. I guess I inherited that love from my grandmother. I painted a lot plates in the past for different occasions and had a lot of the small white plates left. Since I am no longer painting those, I wanted to figure out something useful that I could do with them. This really seems perfect and a great way to re-purpose something in to a lovely piece of art.

Who is your target audience?
My target audience will really vary. I think the pendants could be more for young adults up to maybe 45-50. The brooches would probably be more for older people 45-70.
How is this line different from what you may have done before?
I have painted plates and I have painted glass pendants, but never turned my plates in to pendants or brooches. I am still doing what I love, painting on the same surfaces, but turning it in to something entirely different than what it was originally intended for.
How will this project resonate with fans of your previous work? Will it feel familiar to them?
I feel people who like my work will relate to my new pieces. They are painted with similar designs and colors and when you see them, many will know that I am the one who painted them.

Okay folks, watch for those pins and pendants to show up in the near future...and for now be sure to go check out Amy's latest popular wares in her 2 etsy shops: http://aressa.etsy.com/ and http://aamilou.etsy.com



{ Free 10-Week Adobe Illustrator Course!}

Author Written by etsycolumbus on Thursday, June 18, 2009 Date

Hey EVERYONE! Have you been wanting to learn Adobe Illustrator? Well here is your chance!

CreativeTechs Tips » Free 10-Week Illustrator Course!.

Want to enroll? Sign-up here: Illustrator CS4 Course Enrollment

Have you Yarted today?

Author Written by Heather on Friday, June 12, 2009 Date

Etsy is running a free shipping promotion all this weekend, so be sure to check it out! Here's the skinny....

  • Free Shipping Collaboration — To take part in a free shipping promotion, tag your items with "yartfreeship" so that we can find you. Here's how we'll feature these items.
    • Free Shipping universal Yart Sale tag for Etsy: yartfreeship
      • Free Shipping Gift Guidelocated under the "Limited Time Promotions Guide" heading
      • Home Page banner linking to this Free Shipping Guide
      • Home pages — Lists made from "Yart" search term once per day throughout sale
      • Etsy Emails: Integrating relevant "Yart" related content into the Weekend Deals Etsy Finds articles/emails. Please post in this forum thread.
      • Twitter Collaboration — Etsy tweets with the Yart organizers' universal hash tag: #Yart

      Etsy Team Columbus comes to Westerville!

      Author Written by Heather on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 Date

      Looking for something to do with the family this summer? Come out to the Uptown Westerville Farmer's Market every Saturday from 9am and noon and make sure to stop by the Etsy Team Columbus booth. Each week the ETC booth will feature different team members selling their handmade wares. Visit www.uptownmerchants.com for more info about the Market, and check out these participating team members' shops for a preview of what they'll have available!


      Adornments by Karla
      www.AdornmentsbyKarla.etsy.com
      (handcrafted fashion jewelry)

      Hev-Vin Designs
      www.HevVinDesigns.etsy.com
      (vintage, recycled and new fabric bags and accessories)

      BlueGirlInk
      www.BlueGirlInk.etsy.com
      (mosaics, paintings, upcycled/recycled sketchbooks and journals)

      Baby Gees
      www.BabyGees.etsy.com
      (blankets, towels, bibs, assorted baby/childrens' items)

      Smarty Pants Design
      www.ImaSmartyPants.etsy.com
      (handmade clay beads, buttons, jewelry and accessories)

      Arteest
      www.Arteest.etsy.com
      (original acrylic paintings)

      Mel's Clay
      www.MelsClay.etsy.com
      (handmade polymer clay creations)

      (


      The Painted House and More
      www.aressa.etsy.com
      (handpainted glassware)




      Wednesday's Item of the Day!

      Author Written by Heather on Date

      Space Dog Studios' owner Sarah Hansen has been BUSY! Sarah makes one of a kind sketchbooks and journals that can be used for just about anything....notes, journaling, sketches, watercolor drawings, mixed media, you name it! I use my own Space Dog sketchbook for brainstorming ideas for pieces of new artwork, and I use it sparingly....because it's so pretty, I truly dread the day when it's filled up! I suppose that's why Sarah stays so busy making new stock : )


      Take a moment to check out some of her newest handmade sketchbooks, including this 5x7" Fern themed sketchbook, complete with polymer clay buttons. Make your way over to her Etsy shop to see a complete selection -

      www.SpaceDogStudios.etsy.com

      FIVE recent creations by Etsy Columbus team members

      Author Written by Adornments by Karla on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 Date

      Enjoy these lovely designs and be sure to click the shop links to view more wares by each of these talented artists!


      Red Smoochie Mini pouch by Artsi Bitsi http://artsibitsi.etsy.com/



      Night fox handpainted silk scarf by Megan Mac http://missmeganmac.etsy.com/


      Vintage denim butterfly market tote by Mary Moon http://marymoondesigns.etsy.com/



      8 Tags - Tragic labels by Space Dog Sarah http://spacedogstudios.etsy.com/




      Pale iris rufflette scarf by Shirley of Maidenhand http://maidenhand.etsy.com/

      Inside the mind of an artist at work

      Author Written by Adornments by Karla on Wednesday, June 3, 2009 Date



      One of our core team members recently confided her excitement over a new project she had dreamed up. Her enthusiasm piqued our curiosity and we asked if she would share a peek into her creative process with you, our valued readers.

      Heather Wirth of Smarty Pants Design might already be familiar to some of you for her dreamy swirled polymer clay buttons. Her paintings and previous jewelry designs reveal an artist with a very tactile and visual perspective. Take a look at her impressive mindmapping/brainstorming stream pictured here as you read the questions posed to her.

      What is your latest endeavor called? Surfer Girl jewelry

      What was your inspiration? I was inspired by the economy in a way, in that women have cut way back on purchasing "luxury" items such as jewelry

      Who is your target audience? Surfer Girl is for the woman who never wears jewelry as a symbol of status or social class, but who loves the feeling of being adorned with something handcrafted and one of a kind, something that once she puts it on...she doesn't have to think about again.

      How is this line different from what you may have done before? Each piece is being made to stand the test of time...the clay is baked for a shorter period so the beads and pendants stay semi-plyable. I'm using a 3 step process to glaze each piece, making the beads not only scratch resistant but also waterproof. The cords used are made from waxed cotton or synthetic rubber, and close via 2 beads in the back rather than a clasp, and can be made shorter or longer simply by pulling the beads.

      How will this project resonate with fans of your previous work --- will it feel familiar to them at all? As everyone knows of my love of turquoise, it's no surprise the color palette for the line includes a variety of blues, aqua, blue-green and turquoise hues.

      It sounds like Heather has come up with a very resilient and adaptable way for us to wear her art! You can view more of Heather's creations by visiting her etsy shop. Be sure to check back in mid to late July when her Surfer Girl line should make its debut! Also watch for her to make several local appearances in events such as The Grandview Hop, Westerville Farmers Market and Worthington Market Days.

      Latest team member offerings...

      Author Written by Adornments by Karla on Monday, June 1, 2009 Date

      Here are ten recent etsy listings from a handful of our members. Enjoy!




      Windsor tie pendant http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24029526&ref=sr_gallery_11&&ga_search_query=etsy+team+columbus&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=4&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title

      Bleeding heart pillow http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20240277&ref=sr_gallery_10&&ga_search_query=etsy+team+columbus&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=4&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title

      Spring V Original http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12972478&ref=sr_gallery_21&&ga_search_query=etsy+team+columbus&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=3&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title


      Crochet beret http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20328951&ref=sr_gallery_16&&ga_search_query=etsy+team+columbus&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=3&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title


      Cell phone or gadget case http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25757422&ref=sr_gallery_8&&ga_search_query=etsy+team+columbus&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=3&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title




      Vintage Williamsport bus token ring http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24979225&ref=sr_gallery_19&&ga_search_query=etsy+team+columbus&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=1&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title


      Spring cat butt earrings http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25232741&ref=sr_gallery_9&&ga_search_query=etsy+team+columbus&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_page=1&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title



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