Featured Artisan » Judy Nolan

The queen of eclectic styles – March EtsyBlogger of the Month

EtsyBlogger of the Month, EtsyBloggers, Featured Artisan

Mar 292011

When it comes to jewelry, Karen of Mystic Wynd is likely the queen of eclectic styles. This grandmother of seven, now retired from the health insurance industry, is a self-taught jewelry artisan. Like a “wynd” that changes direction, Karen designs with diversity in mind: the fun and trendy, the bold and powerful, the simple and understated, and the one-of-a-kind. You can also find her elegant wedding jewelry at MW Elegance. “I guess it would be safe to say,” she says, “that my life has forever been about learning and evolving. I believe life is about balance and respect and—while it may sound corny, “being one with the universe.”

Karen’s work space reflects her wide-ranging interests and her love of natural stones, crystals, vintage-look metals, colorful beads and—in general—unique materials. She stores her materials in plastic boxes with divided compartments, and has one of the most organized work spaces I have ever seen. Some of her overflow supplies can be found at The Crafters’ Cabinet on Etsy.

Karen's Supplies and Work Space

Karen, who grew up on the south side of Chicago, now resides in Arizona, whose southwestern influence is evident in some of her designs, such as the one below.

Pewter Bear Claw Necklace with Wooden Beads

My favorite two items from her Mystic Wynd shop, however, are the necklace and bracelet shown below.

Pink Rose Floral Glass with Pearl Necklace

Gardener's Copper Charm Bracelet with Flowers

To learn more about Karen, visit her blog. You can also read about her in the excellent interview posted on the EtsyBloggers blog.

Two new participants join 52 Weeks Challenge in Week 10

52 Weeks Challenge, Challenges, Featured Artisan

Mar 122011

Welcome to the newest participants of the 52 Weeks Challenge who joined us this 10th week of the activity.

Abigail Gutting, who is an artist by day and an art teacher by night, when she works with children and teens, learns something new every day. “A painting takes me on a journey from start to finish,” writes Abi in her new blog, The Power of an Image. “That journey is never the same and with each new effort; there is something new to be gained and understood.” As a child, Abi worked alongside her artist mother in her studio, and in her teens and early 20s, she worked with her veterinarian father in the American West, which inspires much of her painting today. In Two Cowboys and a Bronc below, you can feel the sweat and dust of the cowboys as they chase a saddle bronc. “My goal is to tell a story that lingers in the mind of the viewer and to grow as an artist with each new painting,” says Abi of her work, which she sells in her Etsy shop, Abi Gutting Fine Arts.

Two Cowboys and a Bronc, by Abigail Gutting

Karina Wetzel introduces us to her love of crafts through a fabric flower tutorial in her blog, Karina’s Challenge. Karina, who lives in Utah, is a relatively new mother who somehow finds time to sell vinyl art lettering, handmade home decor crafts and onesies in her Etsy shop, Crafts by Karina. I especially enjoy her whimsical wall decals, such as the one shown below.

Vinyl Wall Art Decal - Faith and Trust, and a little bit of Pixie Dust, by Karina Wetzel

So, what did I get done this 10th week of the Challenge? During a week when I felt overrun by paperwork I’m shuffling on my father’s behalf, I finished this earflap hat and matching scarflette.

Crochet Earflap Hat & Scarflette, by JN Originals

February’s Featured EtsyBlogger: Diana Bukowski

EtsyBlogger of the Month, EtsyBloggers, Featured Artisan

Feb 202011

Magic and whimsy meet at Faerie Garden Fancies, the shop of Diana Bukowski. Diana, who is February’s Featured EtsyBlogger, is an artist and teacher. Although she does not limit herself to these items, she enjoys working with paper, paint, glitter, glue, scissors, polymer clay, pencils, watercolors, and her camera and computer. Like many artists, she finds it is a balancing act to “reconcile my passions with making a living.”

Diana’s sense of humor, as well as her understanding of the appeal of story, are evident in her art. Most recently, she blogs about Melusinia, a mermaid-and-treasure chest sculpture that is available for sale in her Etsy shop. (Click on photo to see the listing.) “Melusinia came into being more than a year and a half ago,” writes Diana, “destined for warmer climes, but after a brief vacation in the south, she decided to return to the cooler waters of Lake Ontario. However, this winter has been the last straw for her. She has packed her favorite box with memories and dreams and is requesting a new location; she doesn’t care where. (I suspect a merman is involved in her decision, but she won’t confirm or deny the allegations.)”

: Magical Mermaid Art Doll and Treasure Box

Melusinia’s world is likely surrounded by other items you will find in Diana’s shop, which you can see below. Visit Faerie Garden Fancies today.

Faerie Garden Fancies

52 Weeks Challenge – Week 7

52 Weeks Challenge, Featured Artisan

Feb 182011

I’m not sure where this week went, but with spring-like temperatures and snow that has melted away, it is a challenge not to be distracted by the weather. However, I am committed to working through the 52 Weeks Challenge, so in this 7th week of the challenge, I designed an adjustable head warmer that can also be worn as a neck warmer. In fact, I finished four of them, but only one is pictured below. I am happy to report that—though I have not imposed this requirement upon myself—I managed to complete this project without making a trip to the store for materials!

Crochet Headwarmer - Neckwarmer in Purple

I also finished one other project, the evidence of which you’ll see at the top of this window. Thanks to Chauncey of emhGraphics. who designs my Etsy shop banners as well as the seasonal banners for this Web site, I shortened the name of my Web site to This Creative Journey. You can now get to my site by entering either http://www.judy-nolan.com or http://www.thiscreativejourney.com in your address bar.

My co-participants this week were busy, too. Kym of Fabric Fascination, who started the 52 Weeks Challenge, sewed a cute, personalized iPod touch pouch for her granddaughter. You can check it out here, as well as look at thumbnail photos from the other challenge participants.

Before I forget, I’d like to introduce you to three more members of our group, all of whom blog and/or sell handmade items somewhere on the Web.

Meet Melissa Lopez from North Carolina who is a fantastic paper crafter specializing in what she calls “shabby collage” and altered art. Melissa began scrapbooking in 2004 before she even knew she was scrapbooking, when her son was born prematurely and had to stay in the hospital for 2 months before coming home. While she waited for Ethan’s homecoming, she began making little books for friends and family, announcing her son’s arrival. Six years later, this stay-at-home mother of two finds herself selling beautiful paper crafted products in her Etsy shop, Whimsy Pics. Melissa, who enjoys working with papers from My Mind’s Eye and Tim Holtz’ Lost & Found line, as well as 7 Gypsies printer trays, writes about her passion for paper crafting at her blog, My Whimsy Life.

Altered Altoids Tin - Dreams 2011 Calendar

Amy Willoughby, a jewelry artisan from my home state of Wisconsin, makes finely handcrafted wire-wrapped pieces that take my breath away. She works primarily with pure copper and sterling silver, fashioning intricate necklaces, rings, earrings and ear cuffs. Amy sells her work in her Etsy shop, Crafty Willows. She admits, however, that jewelry is not her only love. “I have always been incredibly excited about crafting in general,” she says, pointing out that she also enjoys sketching, painting, stained glass, beading, glass etching, ceramics, and knitting. You can follow her creative process at her blog, Little Bit Crafting, where she shares her completed projects, as well as her crafting experiments.

Sandy Shore - Sea Sediment Jasper and Copper Necklace

Vicki Dobbins is a quilter from Oklahoma whose love of color and texture are evident in her fabric creations. “I love to sew and quilt,” she says. “Vibrant color and textured fabrics are my weakness.” Vicki’s favorite working materials are cotton, chenille, ribbon and threads. This mother of five credits her own mother for inspiring her to become a skilled quilter.” She is the one who always supported me in all my creative endeavors,” she points out. “When I started quilting, [she was] the one I could turn to with all my questions. It is from her that I have had the courage to allow my creativity to flourish.” Vicki sells pillows and pillow covers in her Etsy shop, Quilted 2 Pieces. She writes about her works in progress, what inspires her, and moments of decision at her blog, Memories Through Quilting.

Victorian Garden Pinwheel Pillow Cover in Cherry Red

If you are still thinking about joining the 52 Weeks Challenge, please do. It is never too late!

Meet more participants of the 52 Weeks Challenge – Week 6

52 Weeks Challenge, Featured Artisan

Feb 102011

Last week I promised to introduce more participants from the 52 Weeks Challenge which is now in its sixth week. Before I do so, however, allow me to recap for you how the challenge works, and to show you what I worked on this last week. The challenge, which was started by Kym of Fabric Fascination, asks each participant to finish one project of any kind each week, and then to post a link to a photo of the completed project on Kym’s blog. Even if you are starting late (as I did), you are welcome to join the group.

I think it would be embarrassing to list how many unfinished projects are lying around in my house, but this challenge is allowing me to tackle the fringes of the so-called pile. This last week, as my husband and I watched a marathon of Jonathan Creek movies during the evenings, I worked my way through nine felted wool needle books, sewing buttons to covers and crocheting beaded cords to close the books. I had previously crocheted the covers and fulled them in the washing machine, and had cut out felt circles for the pages. However, I had been putting off assembly because the sheer stack of books was so daunting. I am glad to report that these needle books are now completely finished, and are in the process of being listed in my Etsy shop for sale.

Nine Felted Wool Needle Books

Let’s meet some other 52 Weeks Challenge members who have also been completing weekly projects.

Log Cabin Quilted Bowl

Chadyienne, who posts about her quilted items on her blog, Cedar Point Designs, is an amazingly prolific sewer from Minnesota with more than 20 years of quilting experience. She started selling her patterns on Etsy in 2009, beginning with her Sun Burst Tabletopper, and continuing with her Pine Forest and Jack O Lantern table topper patterns. Chadyienne’s shop name, Cedar Point Designs, is based on a piece of lakefront property she owns in Minnesota, where she hopes to retire one day. In the meantime, she is keeping her needle busy with her beautiful fabric bowls and coin purses, wall hangings, table toppers, table runners, and other quilted items. Most of her items feature her own designs. Chadyienne’s favorite technique is paper piecing. Besides her Etsy shop, you may find Chadyienne’s work in her ArtFire shop, on Zibbet, and at the Calico Barn in Maple Grove, Minnesota.

Gotcha Orange Magnetic Needle Nabber Flower Improved

Rose of Hawaii is the owner of Big Island Rose Designs on Etsy. She is a fellow BBEST (Boomers and Beyond Etsy Street Team) member, and blogs about her sewing interests at The Rose Journal. Rose, whose inspiration is her mother, Mabel, began sewing and crafting as a little girl, making doll clothes and toys. When she was 10 years old, she graduated to her first “real” sewing machine, and won a Singer district sewing contest with a dress she made. Her mother taught her how to embroider, and her father gave her stamps from his collection that Rose used for collage work. She is happiest when working with fabric, paper and buttons, and all three of those materials can be found in her Etsy shop, where she specializes in making fabric wearables, sewing notions and gifts—all of them featuring fabric yo-yos. Her blog is filled with tutorials and friendly sewing tips that she calls Monday Night Tidbits. One of her more recent Tidbits is to overlay your digital scanner glass with a transparency when scanning items (such as jewelry) that might otherwise scratch the glass. What a great idea! Among my favorite items in her shop are her Needle Nabber Flowers and Needle Candies, both of them designed to keep your sewing needles and pins in a handy place.

Dolphins at Sunset Quilted Wall Hanging

Stacy Lajoie Edell is both the mother of a seven-year-old and the manager of an auto finance company, but when she isn’t sleeping, she is thinking, breathing and dreaming about fabric. “I am a self-professed fabricaholic,” she says. “I visit a fabric store almost daily during my lunch hour and love to collect fabric. Unfortunately, I collect more than I cut. I am proud of my collection and often sew before and after work as well as on weekends.” Stacy now lives in Florida, but she previously lived in Maine for almost 30 years. She has been sewing and quilting for more than 20 years, and sells her quilted goods on Etsy at Quilting Diva. She has sewn more than 400 small quilts and wall hangings, and loves to make totes, bags and coffee cozies.

Rose Pendant Agate Beaded Necklace

Jacqueline Gikow of Jacqueline Jewelry specializes in handcrafted semi-precious stone and precious metal jewelry, as well as beaded necklaces, beaded earrings, beaded bracelets and home decor accessories. “Whether you are looking for a trinket or a serious investment, my aim is to provide hand-crafted products that are well-made, lasting, and unique for the casual craft lover as well as serious collectors,” she says.This New Yorker who is inspired by stones and beads with bold colors brings to her work her experiences in pottery, graphic and industrial design, and computer programming. Although Jacqueline is a self-taught jewelry artisan, she is no stranger to the art world. She has degrees in sculpture and art history, environmental design, and industrial design. She has also written two books, Graphic Illustration in Black and White and Polymer Clay: Creating Functional and Decorative Objects.

Swarovski Crystal and Glass Pearl Bridal Tiara

Christine is a Tennessee graduate student in community agency counseling, but Mozella Designs on Etsy is her creative outlet. “My jewelry inspiration comes from current trends and classic fashion,” she says. “I’m still new to jewelry making, but I really love learning new techniques and making different kinds of jewelry.” Her shop name is a tribute to her mother, who passed away when she was younger. Christine writes in her blog, My Jewelry Box, about her enthusiasm for jewelry-making, which recently included attending the Intergalactic Bead Show in Memphis, Tennessee. There she purchased moonstone cabochons, freshwater pearls, semi-precious beads and handmade-by-women Kazuri stones from Nairobi, Kenya. I can’t wait to see what she does with these new additions to her collection!

Next week I will introduce the final members of the group. Meanwhile, please visit this week’s list of participants at their blog and/or online shop addresses.

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