Featured Artist Spotlight...ValeriesGallery!!!

I had a hard time choosing some favorites from Val's shop to highlight. Everything in her shop is incredible. Is there anything she can't do? Bowls, vases, bracelets, booties, clutches, hair accessories, pins, oh my! I have had the pleasure of getting to know Valerie through Etsy's Street Team, Fabulous Artistic Moms. It's always great spending part of my day with this fine group of women...fabulous moms and fabulous artists...especially when they are as wonderful as Valerie!

Okay...here is more information about Valerie in her own words. I asked, she answered!



MJ: How long have you been creating/designing? When did you first learn you had a creative side?
Valerie: Although I am a yearling in selling my work, I have always been creative. I started knitting and crocheting as a teen, ummm, sometime in the 70's. Then when I started having children, I tried to make everything that I could for them, ranging from clothes, sweaters, hats and mittens to quilts and toys. I love working on a project that is being made for a particular individual as I am thinking of that person the entire time that I am making it.

MJ: What is your inspiration to create? What is your motivation to succeed?
Valerie: My inspiration usually comes from nature. I love colors and textures that remind me of the great outdoors and living in Central NY provides a perfect backdrop! My motivation to succeed does not rest soley with monetary gain, but the fact that someone will actually buy something that I made thrills me to no end.

MJ: When you are not working on your craft, what are you doing?
Valerie: I have been working at a major insurance company for the past 19 years, most recently as a Business Consultant. So you can imagine after a very dull, dry day of insurance work, crafting provides a great creative outlet. I also love gardening and fixing up our old farm house with my husband.

MJ: Do you belong to any groups on Etsy?
Valerie: I belong to FAM (Fabulous Artistic Moms), Etsy Hookers (a crochet group), Etsy For Charity, Working With Felt, and Indiepublic


MJ: What is on the horizon for you? New products? Etc.?
Valerie: I have just started branching out to include knit and crocheted non-felted items. My Icraft Site will be dedicated to childrens accessories and toys and my Silkfair Site will feature adult knit and crocheted accessories.

MJ: Share one thing about you that you think would surprise people.
Valerie: Well, I also like to refinish furniture and wood items. My dad always had a little wood shop in the basement when I was growing up, so I feel that I learned from a master. I love going to auctions and buying a table for a dollar and turning it into a beautiful and useful home accessory.







Check out Valerie's Etsy Shop.... ValeriesGallery.

To see additional photos of Valerie's work, please visit her on Flickr.

Front Page Etsy Treasury!

Another Gold for AquaMan was created as a tribute to Michael Phelps.

This treasury made Etsy's front page on 8/16/08! One gold medal for me and these wonderful artists; 8 gold medals for Phelps!

Featured Artist Spotlight....BamDesigns!!!

I met Tiffany through the Etsy group, Fabulous Artistic Moms. I am a huge fan of her designs and have enjoyed getting things in the mail for my own son and also for my friend's children. As you can see, she designs adorable clothing and accessories for both boys and girls. With three children of her own, she definitely knows what kids want! It has been an absolute joy getting to know the woman behind BamDesigns and an even bigger pleasure introducing her to my blog readers. For even more information, check out Tiffany's profile.

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



MJ: How long have you been creating/designing? When did you first learn you had a creative side?
Tiffany: I have been creating for over 20 years now. It kind of all started when I took a wood shop class in 9th grade. I had a lot of fun in the class and ever since then I have been designing.

MJ: What is your inspiration to create? What is your motivation to succeed?
Tiffany: Brenden, Adam, and Megan are my inspiration which is how I came up with the name BAM Designs. I like creating clothing and accessories that I know they will like to wear or play in. It gives me a sense of pride and the drive to create more when I see how excited they get over a new design or the finished product. Adam hates going to the post office because he knows it means that we are mailing out more of his favorites.

They are also my motivation to succeed. I love having the opportunity to be home with them so that I can help them grow. That is part of the reason I want to succeed so much. I want more days like this with them. The other part is the feeling I get when I see some of the happy feedback from people.

MJ: When you are not working on your craft, what are you doing?
Tiffany: Chasing three kids! I don't get much time to read and I watch very little TV. There is not much down time for me. I am almost always thinking of new designs or ways to do a design different. We do like to camp and take the kids on mini trips during the summer time.

MJ: Do you belong to any groups on Etsy?
Tiffany: I belong to EtsyKids, EtsyMoms, Military Brats, Fabulous Artistic Moms (FAM TEAM), and CCCOE- a group of Etsy sellers from California.

MJ: What is on the horizon for you? New products? Etc.?
Tiffany: I am working on a few new products still for boys and girls as far as clothing and accessories that will be added slowly over the next few months. The store is going to go through a complete overhaul next month with a bunch of new product but still keeping some of the old favs around too. You will be seeing a lot more applique work - I am having lots of fun with that right now.

MJ: Share one thing about you that you think would surprise people.
Tiffany: I get claustrophobic in stores - I hate shopping the day after Thanksgiving because the crowds give me panic attacks.







Check out Tiffany's Etsy Shop.... BamDesigns.

To see additional photos of Tiffany's work, please visit her on Flickr.

Etsy Front Page!

I am so totally psyched! Fellow Fabulous Artistic Mom, Winklepots, put together this lovely treasury on Etsy featuring red and aqua. This awesome treasury made Etsy's front page this afternoon. Notice that my earrings are in it! That means my earrings were on Etsy's front page for an hour this afternoon.



Congratulations Winklepots for pulling together this wonderful list and getting it to the much-coveted front page. And congratulations to all the sellers featured: JaneyWaney, TheArdentSparrow, fancygirlsbows, sycamorestreetpress, merkabajewelry, kikuhandmade, MichelleBrusegaard, sweettweets, whileshenaps, valeriesgallery, dahliahousestudios, ericalyndesigns.