Featured Artist Spotlight....Michon!!!

I met Leah through Etsy's Fabulous Artistic Moms Team. I adore her jewelry, especially her incredible wire skills. Her pendants, rings, and earrings are breathtaking. Leah is a new mom who joined the Moms team when she was still pregnant. It has been a real pleasure getting to know Leah and seeing her grow as an amazing mother and also a fabulous artist!

Okay...now here is more information about Leah. I asked, she answered!

MJ: How long have you been creating/designing? When did you first learn you had a creative side?
Leah: I have always been creative. When I was a little kid I wanted to be a fiction writer and even started writing a novel, although I never finished it. (It turns out fiction writing isn't really something I'm good at.) I've been making jewelry since I was in high school when I took a beading class with some friends while on a vacation with our families. I really enjoyed it and gradually learned more and more techniques including wirework and some metalsmithing skills.


MJ: What is your inspiration to create? What is your motivation to succeed?
Leah: It's hard to define what inspires me. So many things seem to inspire me, and I think it has a lot to do with my mood on any given day. I feel better when I'm doing something creative, so I try to stay busy with creative projects as much as I can. My motivation to succeed is my son, who is 3 1/2 months old. I want him to grow up seeing me as a good example of someone who didn't give up on their dreams, so that he knows he can be both happy and successful when he grows up.

MJ: When you are not working on your craft, what are you doing?
Leah: I have a part-time job, as well as training to teach fitness classes. At the moment, I spend most of my free time with my son. I try to fit in quality time with my husband and friends too.

MJ: Do you belong to any groups on Etsy?
Leah: Yes, I'm a member of three teams: One is Fabulous Artistic Moms (FAM), which is a great group of moms. We have a lot of fun, and there is so much diverse talent in the group. Another is JET (Jewelry on Etsy), which is all jewelry makers and a lot of really fun people. The third is SFEtsy, which is a team for San Francisco area Etsy people. I know a couple people on that team in real life, so I'm hoping to be more active with the group and get to know a lot more local artists and crafters that way.

MJ: What is on the horizon for you? New products? Etc.?
Leah: I'm just getting back into designing after not doing much for the last few months of my pregnancy and the first couple months of my son's life. So I think new products are definitely on the horizon - I have more new ideas than time right now, but I'm gradually getting some of them made up into jewelry designs.

MJ: Share one thing about you that you think would surprise people.
Leah: I lived in Mexico City for a summer when I was in college, and at the time I was semi-fluent in Spanish. My husband is part Mexican but doesn't speak a word of Spanish, so even though my Spanish last name comes from him, I'm the one in our family who can actually speak Spanish. I'm hoping to teach our son some Spanish, but I'm not as fluent as I used to be so it's a challenge.








Check out Leah's Etsy Shop.... Michon.

Weekly Inspiration Photo...Keep on the Sunny Side!

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Keep On The Sunny Side

There's a dark and a troubled side of life
There's a bright and a sunny side too
Though we meet with the darkness and strife
The sunny side we also may view

Keep on the sunny side...always on the sunny side
Keep on the sunny side of life
It will help us every day it will brighten all our way
If we keep on the sunny side of life

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This tune has been sung by various artists over the years and is seemingly played a lot here in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Afterall, it is a bluegrass classic. But no matter how many times I hear it, I never tire from hearing its message. Today, I am optimistic. How 'bout you?

Featured Artist Spotlight....SewingGranny!!!!

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I adore Mona (aka SewingGranny)! She is such a treasure and a terrific friend. Together we belong to two Etsy groups, Fabulous Artistic Moms and Etsy Angels Team. I can't imagine my day without seeing her around the forums :) Mona works as a correctional officer and is a grandmother who loves to sew! It seems she is always on the go...whether at work, sewing, crafting, or spending time with her family...she is so full of energy. I bought an apron for my mom for her birthday and she absolutely loves it. It's actually the companion full-length apron to the one you see above. Hmmm....maybe I should get the matching one for myself! Mona not only makes incredible aprons, she creates the most amazing quilts (both baby and adult sized), cute bibs and burp pad sets, potholders, placemats, pillow shams, tree skirts, and, more recently, small tie bags for soaps, jewelry, or other little trinkets! She'd be more than happy to make something custom for you! She's one heck of a lady :)

Okay...now here is more information about Mona. I asked, she answered!

MJ: How long have you been creating/designing? When did you first learn you had a creative side?
Mona: I began designing quilts about 13 years ago. It started off as a hobby I could do on night shifts. Another co-worker was making a baby quilt for her son and I thought I would give it a try. The rest is history. I love to sew and quilting is my passion. The first ones were panels that I bought and put together then hand stitched...you will still see some of those in my shop...from there I began to do piece ones. When people started seeing me sew they would ask me to make other things and I just kept adding to my quilts. I have always liked to do things with my hands so I am not sure when it all began! I can remember sewing when I was a young teen, I crocheted for years and had other creative outlets.

MJ: What is your inspiration to create? What is your motivation to succeed?
Mona: I love fabrics and when I see a new piece I just get the need to make something from it. My motivation is to make something beautiful and also have something to do when I retire. I want to own my own shop some day.

MJ: When you are not working on your craft, what are you doing?
Mona: When I am not crafting, I can usually be found with my family. I love to spend time with them. I have a 6.5-year-old grandson that is the joy in my life. I love to garden and to do home decorating. If someone is doing something to renovate their home I will usually be there. My daughter-in-law loves to redo their home but not alone.

MJ: Do you belong to any groups on Etsy?
Mona: I am a member of Fabulous Artist Moms (FAMTEAM) and the Etsy Angels Team (EANGTEAM).

MJ: What is on the horizon for you? New products? Etc.?
Mona: I really want to make a name for myself and build up a business. I'm always looking to make new products. My latest, the small tie bags, was so much fun and so simple but I am also looking to broaden my horizon with new kinds of quilts. I am not sure about a website...I will have to think about that one. It is something else that takes time and I want to sew and quilt, not type!









Check out Mona's Etsy Shop.... SewingGranny and see more of her work on Flickr.

Featured Artist Spotlight...CBL and Company!!!

Lisa is amazing. I got to know Lisa through the Etsy Angels Team and have really enjoyed our friendship over the last several months. Her personality, her caring nature, and her beautiful spirit are what makes her such a fabulous person and wonderful jeweler. Her keen sense of design and the materials she uses make for some awesome jewelry. The combination of colors, beads, and textures truly makes her jewelry shine. I feel very lucky to know her and call her my friend. And, as an owner of some of her pieces, I know first hand that her jewelry rocks!

Okay...now here is more information about Lisa. I asked, she answered!

MJ: How long have you been creating/designing? When did you first learn you had a creative side?
Lisa: I don't remember a time when I wasn't creating something. I'm not happy unless I am "making" something. I first learned I had a creative side when I was around 5 years old. I couldn't get enough of coloring, painting etc. From about 8 on, until my Grandmother passed away, she always nurtured my creative side. Art was everything to me all through school.

MJ: What is your inspiration to create?
Lisa: Whether it's designing jewelry, painting or crafting, I find inspiration from nature, the materials I am working with, my family, or my fur babies :)

MJ: What is your motivation to succeed?
Lisa: I want to be able to continue doing what I love to for my full time "job".
If I can't succeed at it I would have to give it all up and I can't see that happening, LOL!


MJ: When you are not working on your craft, what are you doing?
Lisa: I don't get much free time but we live in a beautiful resort area with lots of water, trees and just nature at it's most beautiful so I spend as much time as I can outside in the summer months fishing, working on our property or playing with my fur kids. I also enjoy target shooting and am a pretty good shot if I do say so myself :)

MJ: Do you belong to any groups on Etsy?
Lisa: I am proud to belong to two of the most caring and giving groups on Etsy. The Etsy Angels (EANGTEAM) and Etsy For Animals (EFA).

MJ: What is on the horizon for you? New products? Etc.?
Lisa: I will be expanding my current website to include handmade gift items and will be opening a new jewelry supply website soon.

MJ: Share one thing about you that you think would surprise people.
Lisa: Most people are surprised that I am so allergic to every animal I own, LOL. We have 6 cats, 3 dogs and a bunny so it's a lot of allergy meds.
People also seem surprised that I love to target shoot. I would never hunt because I couldn't kill an animal but I love target practice when I am able and always wanted to get into competition shooting.







Check out Lisa's Etsy Shop.... cblandcompany and see more of her work on Flickr.

Weekly Inspiration Photo..Be Wild! Be Crazy!

As each day passes and my son gets older (he's 19 months now!) I find that not only am I teaching him things, he is teaching me as well. My most prized masterpiece to date, he's truly become one of my greatest inspirations.

He is a willful and spirited child who is sometimes too smart for his (or my) own good! But he has a real knack for being goofy and his fits of uncontrollable laughter make for some great therapy. It is, afterall, the best medicine :)

He teaches me daily that it's okay to let loose, roll around on the floor, and laugh so hard your sides hurt. This is living and it rocks!

Featured Artist Spotlight...CraftsByChris!!!

Chris Dembinski is a woman of many talents. Not only does she make incredible polymer clay beads, she designs fabulous jewelry, AND creates original pieces of art. Check out her second Etsy shop BCArtwerks.There you will find a collection of ACEOs, acrylics, watercolors, digital artworks, and photography prints. Her work has been featured in Polymer Cafe...check out the cover :)



I *met* Chris on eBay a few years ago through some jewelry and bead groups and I've been a huge fan of her work since. I use a lot of her beads in my own creations! Now we are both on Etsy and belong to the Etsy Angels Team where we help to raise funds for various charities and causes. Chris is a truly gifted person with a huge heart. I feel very lucky to have her as a friend.

Okay...now here is more information about Chris. I asked, she answered!

MJ: How long have you been creating/designing? When did you first learn you had a creative side?
CD: It seems like I've always done some kind of craft. My grandmother taught me to crochet and embroidery. My mom had a ceramic shop in our basement when I was a kid. I started out 13 years ago making shirts with sewed fabric designs along with other assorted crafty items. I also made earrings and other jewelry to match. I still do some jewelry designing, but mainly make polymer clay beads now.

MJ: What is your inspiration to create? What is your motivation to succeed?
CD: My inspiration to create comes in many forms. Nature is a big source of inspiration, but it also comes from just about everything around me, colors, fabrics, shapes, patterns, textures. I've always been the type to see something and say to myself, I can do that.

My greatest motivation to succeed is my children. I like being able to be home to get my kids off to school and to be here when they come home. There is also a need to create, it's just a part of who I am.


MJ: When you are not working on your craft, what are you doing?
CD: Laundry. It's a never ending job. When I'm not working on my craft or doing laundry, I like to spend time with my hubby and kids. We like to go camping and swimming in the summer.

MJ: Do you belong to any groups on Etsy?
CD: Yes, I belong to Etsy Angels (EANGTEAM), The Bead Hive(BHV TEAM) and Tranquil Beading Oasis (TBO TEAM).

MJ: What is on the horizon for you? New products? Etc.?
CD: More beads! There are some new tutorials in the works and maybe a bead show or two. I am also working on website to help promote Indie Artists.







Check out Chris' Etsy Shop.... CraftsByChris