Guest post: Getting Pebblicious with Jen Wilfong of Yummy and Company

Since I've gotten back to blogging faithfully, I wanted to get back to doing some artist interviews and guest posts. I think it's good to get other artist's perspectives on inspiration. It's also a great opportunity for me to introduce you all to some great artists. Here's my first guest post by fellow clay artist and BEST member Jen Wilfong of Yummy and Company. Enjoy!

One reoccurring theme in my work is nature. It inspires me. Plants, rocks, pebbles, trees, grass and even bugs have all been known to pop up in my work! You'd think that living in the city of Baltimore, I would be deprived of nature, but I have found many ways to surround myself with lots of it! My yard and garden are what you'd call English-style, meaning it's free formed and flowing and has lots of layering and textures. Each year I add more layers and textures. Its a lovely thing to see the arrival of spring and the rejuvenation of plant life. I like to get up close and examine what is growing and can be seen nose to nose with plants and bugs alike. I am constantly reinvigorated by getting down and dirty with nature!

The Pebble Necklace is part of a series I have done that remind me of pebbles. The randomness of pebbles... their sizes, shapes and colors are so attractive to me. The textures and surfaces of each pebble have their own story. I love to think that although these tiny pebbles are so small now, at one point they were part of something much larger. I like to wonder about their journey and what kind of transformations and randomness got them to where they are.

Trying to capture a little bit of nature is a great challenge, and although I am inspired by it, I don't feel bound by it. I typically sketch or do field research before and while I'm working on pieces, but sometimes I will just sketch from memory. In most cases, I will start working on a series of pendants, rings and earrings, based off of the sketches. Eventually, after I've done a few of each, I like to start expanding on the initial idea and sketches, and just let my creative juices flow freely!

If you are feeling uninspired, here are some things to get your creative juices flowing:

• get out of your normal environment, go for a walk, go to a museum, or a coffee house
  
• surround yourself with creative people
• listen to music
• do research on something via the library, web, or outside!

Here are some links that I love and use as resources from time to time...

• http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/index.cfm This is a phenomenal resource, but *remember.... the images are there are meant to inspire, not to be copied!*
  
• google images is great if you can't remember what something looks like!
• www.pandora.com is a fantastic way to find to new music

You can Find Jen and her handmade lovelies here:
website
blog
etsy shop
baltimorecraft.com

Here are some of my favorites from her shop:

Artist Feature: Liz Smith of Made in Lowell & The Power of Suggestion

How many times has a well intentioned family member or friend offered you advice on something that you should be making? I know I often find myself rolling my eyes at my husband when he has one of his "great" ideas about what I should be making. After reading this great interview from Liz Smith of Madeinlowell.etsy.com, I am rethinking how I immediately dismiss these ideas. Who knows, the next suggestion might be the next big thing. Read below to see how a suggestion turned into a lovely work of art!

What inspired this piece?

I almost hate to admit this, but a lot of my greatest ideas are inspired by other people’s suggestions! I guess I can take credit for recognizing the genius idea from the not-so-great, and then for the execution of said idea. I can also take comfort that my original items inspire others to see new products I don’t always think of. The ideas that resonate with me the most create a feeling like a little bell ringing in my heart.

In this case an Etsy buyer saw one of my nest pins and sent a simple convo that said “Hi, I just love this cute little pin. I thought it would be great for my mom but I immediately thought of it as a pin cushion. Is there a way to add a bottom to it so you could stick pins in it?”Ding ding ding!

Can you detail how you translated your inspiration into your work of art?

I thought that was a great idea so I developed a pincushion using one of my felted nests. It took a while but I worked out a technical solution to make them three dimensional and once I did, I loved the result! After making several in my bestselling nest pin colors like green, blue and purple, I realized customers were referring to them by “flavor” and commenting that they resembled cupcakes. So I took it a step further and made them look like cupcakes deliberately and now the “vanilla and chocolate” pincushions are a best seller!


















Where do you tend to find inspiration for your art pieces?

Besides listening to everyone’s ideas, I find visiting a bookstore and looking through all the craft how-to books plus the craft, design and fashion magazines is about all it takes to get the creative ideas flowing. I usually end up racing home to try a new "lt" discovered technique! Also I like taking a walk if the weather is nice, snapping photos of things I wouldn’t normally notice, trying to find the beauty in the mundane. Interacting with other like-minded crafters/artists also help to get my energy back.

Any advice for someone feeling uninspired?
I usually have more ideas than time, but not always the excitement needed to develop a new project. I recommend doing something that soothes your soul, for me this is a nature walk. Another thing that gets me going is looking through my art supplies, just getting out a box of something pretty and laying it all out on a table. I start to experience that happy, childlike feeling inside that I get from making things, and before I know it the inspiration is flowing again.

You can find all of Liz's lovely creations in her Etsy shop : Made in Lowell on Etsy

Want to follow Liz on her handmade journey? Check out her Mill Girl blog

Not only is Liz wonderful felt artists, but she is also a pretty amazing polymer clay artist too. Check out some of my favorites from her shop:





































So take Liz's advice and listen to those suggestions. I know when I get custom orders, I often make things I would never make if they hadn't been asked of me. Take those opportunities to step out of your comfort zone and explore something new!

Inspired by A Love for Chicago - Interview with Nancy & Andy of Circa Ceramics

One of my all-time favorite Etsy shops is Circa Ceramics. I just love all the bright colors, the super fun graphics and the modern shapes they use. I was so excited when they agreed to detail the inspiration behind one of their pieces. So without further ado, here's what they had to say about the inspiration behind these lovely Chicago Flag Bowls ( you can also find Chicago Flag Tea Cups here):

What's the inspiration behind this piece?

Our love of Chicago. This city gets such flack everywhere, it's really sort of comforting whenever we see an artist/artisan/crafter come up with city representing pieces. We wanted to be one of those artisans.

When we came out with our logo, we thought that adding the city where the creation of our pieces took place was enough to show pride (and it is to an extent - People seek us out because we are making ware in the city and brand it as such), but what really set us off was the commercially manufactured souvenir cups we saw online at a boutique here in the city. There's something that's just not right about buying a cup (in our case) to show your city pride, that has no real connection to the locale other than it did make it to the shop shelf it sits on.

Our posting those 16oz bowls on Etsy also coincided with the February 10th Forbes article claiming Chicago was the 3rd worst city to live in - We got a lot of comments on them, all positive - So we know it soothed some a bit!

Can you detail how you translated your inspiration into your work of art?

Our city flag is quite simple & lends itself to many incarnations, and the colour palette is limited - So the transition from 2D to 3D object was easy. I did try to paint the stars at first, using a stencil, but the crispness of a screenprinted image is what was needed, so we went with that instead, and I'm glad we did because it makes a huge difference.


Where do you tend to find inspiration for your art pieces?

Honestly? For both of us, lately it's usually when we see something and immediately decide it needs improvement - It can be from looking at one of our own pieces, or something we see or hear about.

Right now, the lack of colour in tableware out now is what is driving us to come up with colourful designs/layouts. This may also make it to the screenprinted imagery, but we'll see :)

Any advice for someone feeling uninspired?

Hmm...
Take a look around you - See what other artists/designers/crafters/artisans are doing with their work now (not necessarily in your medium) and then look at your work - Write or sketch any and all thoughts that pop into your head - Try not to censor your thoughts! Often, this kind of research shows refreshing insights, and when you take the time to refine them, more things pop into your head.

If an artist/designer/artisan/crafter you like and admire has a blog, go read it - Many times, they write about their creative slumps, and it is comforting to know that it happens to everyone at some point in their endeavors; you may even read about how they pulled themselves out of it - It can be very inspiring & motivating :)

See more Circa Ceramics goodies in their Etsy Shop and be sure to check out their blog too!

Here are some of my favorite Circa Ceramics pieces.



































I love that Circa Ceramic's bowls were inspired by the love for their City! Take some time this week to think about where you live and how it can inspire you. Don't just take in the visuals of your surroundings, but go a little deeper. Look at what makes your city, town, suburb, etc.. unique. What do you love about it? What do you hate about it? What would you like to change about it? What are some of the stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding your city, town or suburb? What is the history (good & bad) behind your city, town or suburb? How has it changed over the years? Create something from the answers to these questions.

Can't get enough of Chicago? Check out more Chicago artists found through the "Shop Local" tool on Etsy. Also the ChicagoStyleCrafters/IL Street Team has a Windy City Sampler Bag for sale! Yep, it's a little Taste of Chicago all bundled up in a handmade recycled paper bag :) and it includes some Circa Ceramic goodies!
Get your's here: http://www.chicagostylecrafters.etsy.com

An Inspiring Interview with Michelle of Cicada Home

Michelle from Cicadahome.etsy shares the inspiration behind her "Berries and String" pillow.

What inspired this piece?
A number of things, really. I conceived it in early winter... the days were getting shorter and the colors less vivid. When I think of the cool gray of winter, I'm always struck by the sight of bold, bright red- either the cardinals or bows on a tree at Christmastime or holly berries. I also got big into pillow-making at the time, so I knew what I was designing would be for this project- that helps things take shape quicker for me, when there is an end plan.


Can you detail how you translated your inspiration into your work of art?
Color is always a motivator for me. The image of red on gray triggered the twigs print. For this I wanted something abstract, yet somewhat recognizable. I actually did 2 previous versions that were just not right, but then all at once I looked at it and knew exactly what it should be. I love lucid moments like that... makes it soooo much simpler! Because of the way I make my pillows, I needed an accent pattern as well. It would have to be in the same color story, but I wanted to contrast the more literal print with a more undefinable one. I also wanted it to be a contrast to the rigid gray sticks... as I toyed with the idea and doodled with motifs for a look, I came up with a big swirly string set on a quirky offset geometric. The two married each other very well, I think.

Where do you tend to find inspiration for your art pieces?
Nature primarily. The organic, perfect, yet not perfect shape of things. Also, color, balance and contrast. These three elements are key to me. I always strive for something that will appeal (to me) on all these levels at once. Another of my sources of inspiration is books and the internet. I constantly troll for images and ideas here and there- could be anything really. I just keep my eyes and mind open to all visual things. I am greatly impressed by the talents of others, too. I often wish I had skills that someone else may possess. I just love it when people are good at what they do- that is true inspiration.


Any advice for someone feeling uninspired?
I rarely encounter a dry creative spell- if anything, I suffer from the opposite of having too many ideas and not enough focus, which can be equally paralyzing. When this happens to me, I attempt to think things through... try to understand what's most important to me at this moment. So, my advice is to take pause, and give yourself some time to listen to your thoughts. Keep a notebook, doodle little things, make a list of all the creative things you'd like to do- not worrying about whether they are practical or not. Revisit these notes often and see if you can't find one that bubbles to the top of the priority list... or seems the most effortless. Just getting into the groove is the best medicine and as much as I like to dive into projects head first, my advice is to take baby steps- this way, you'll know each step of the way if it feels right or not. I find too often, I plow through a plan only to realize, this is not necessarily what I had hoped it would be. I need to take my own advice!











See more of Michelle's work, including her fabulous fabric here:
my blog www.cicadadaydream.blogspot.com
my original shop www.cicadastudio.etsy.com
my new home shop www.cicadahome.etsy.com

Inspired by Paper, leftovers and a Secret Desire - Artist feature with Marisa from Mlee.etsy.com

Hey there everyone. So sorry for the long hiatus, but I have had a lot going on plus a bad sinus infection, sick kids, another case of mystery hives (my son) and lots of making and planning for some new things. I have also been rounding up some interviews from some of my favorite Etsy artists. So at least if I am too busy for a lot of posting, I will be able to share some inspiration with you.

My latest feature is from one of my favorites, Marisa Swinghammer of mlee.etsy.com. She was one of the first shops that I added to my favorites on Etsy and I always enjoy seeing the new things she creates. She specializes in woodblock prints which feature layers of colors, patterns and imagery that together create fantastic pieces that seem to move and change each time you look at them. Recently she has been doing some fantastic collages using some of her printed pieces, gocco prints from sketches, washi and other beautiful papers and even some sewing. Below Marisa details the inspiration for one of her latest collages:


What inspired this piece?
My love of all things paper, my inability to throw anything away and my secret desire to be a quilt maker.

Can you detail how you translated your inspiration into your work of art?
My focus for the last two years has been woodblock printmaking and of course I have had my share of failed pieces. Unable to throw anything out I have kept these pieces tucked away, sometimes for weeks sometimes for years and use them in various projects. This piece started with one of those failed pieces ripped up and merged threw stitching and collaging with other papers hand printed and found.

Where do you tend to find inspiration for your art pieces?
Nature, namely the colors and basic shapes that come from nature that I see during my daily walks with my young daughter. The female form and shape. The various art papers and ephemera I have collected over the years along with my own hand printed woodblock and Gocco papers. The world is filled with so much to inspire me if I keep my eyes open.

Any advice for someone feeling uninspired?
First I would tell them that it is OK to feel uninspired and not to force creation when your body and mind may need a break. But at the same time ways that have often brought me out of creative slumps are daily drawing without worrying about a finished product and free thought journal writing. Getting out and looking around at life is always helpful as well.

You can find more of Marisa's work here:
http://mleeprints.blogspot.com
http://mlee.etsy.com
http://www.trunkt.org/mlee
http://www.flickr.com/photos/m_lee

Some helpful links:
http://printsy.blogspot.com/
http://www.imcclains.com/
http://www.dickblick.com/
http://www.danielsmith.com/
http://www.papermojo.com/

I too have quilt envy and wish that I had the patience to learn, but I love how Marisa has taken her hidden desire to quilt and used it to "quilt" a collage. She has done something similar to quilting in that she has taken several unrelated items (think quilting fabric patterns) and brought them together to create one cohesive piece. Each piece on it's own is significant and beautiful, but once it is added to the other pieces, it creates something spectacular. I also love that she used her own past pieces (even so called "mess-ups") as inspiration and that she continued to recycle her work rather than throw it out. At one time she offered collage packs of her "leftovers" in her shop and I was actually lucky enough to get some and they inspired me to create this ACEO.











I hope she doesn't mind that I punched a bunch of holes in her papers, but I really wanted to see all of the color combinations together and the funny thing is that the final result reminds me of a patchwork quilt. So take some time this week to check out Marisa's work (buy a piece or two too, you won't be disappointed), create something inspired by a secret desire, and use your leftovers to create something new or share them with other artists and inspire them to create!

Artist feature with Carol Dean of SandFibers.etsy.com

I thought it was about time to do an artist feature. I haven't done one in a while, and I am sure you are all getting a bit tired of just my perspective on inspiration. I chose Carol Dean from Sandfibers.etsy.com because I am totally in awe of her artistry as well as her patience. I cannot imagine sitting down with those teeny tiny beads and making anything. I am a clutz, so after a while I am sure I would spill the beads and after about 10 min my lack of artistic patience would kick in, along with my lack of love for numbers, geometry and precision. I am sure I would give up before I finished anything. Thankfully there is someone out there who has the passion, patience, artistry and skill to create some amazing beaded jewelry.

Here's what Carol had to say about the inspiration for this beautiful bracelet:





















What inspired this piece? This particular piece was inspired by a front page on etsy that was created by heather91. I've actually included a photo of that page in my etsy listing. It wasn't the first time I've seen this color combination or the first time I thought I should do something with that color combination, but it was the time that finally pushed me into doing more than just thinking.

Can you detail how you translated your inspiration into your work of art? The inspiration came from the color combination of orange/purple (tangerine/grape), so that was rather easily translated into bead selection. I wanted each color featured equally in the design, which is why I chose the simple positive/negative image pattern using the two colors. Since I only used one shade of each color, the piece is really simple. There's nothing subtle about it. I'd like to do something more complex with an expanded palette, something softer, less geometric. (Like I need a reason to buy more beads!)

Where do you tend to find inspiration for your art pieces? My inspiration comes from striking color combinations, fabric patterns, symbols (especially spirals), simple geometry. When I'm not up to designing an actual pattern, I'll take my beads out and create "mixes" that appeal to me. Then the random "order" in which I pick up beads becomes the pattern-maker.

Any advice for someone feeling uninspired? Relax. Open your eyes to the world around you. Doodle. Work in a different medium.

You can see more of Carol Dean's fantastic work on her blog at http://sandfibers.blogspot.com . Her flickr is at http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandfibers/ and of course her Etsy shops at http://Sandfibers.etsy.com.

Her work was also featured in the Jan/Feb AND Mar/Apr 2008 issues of Step by Step Beads!