Written by columnist Rebecca of RaigeCreations
Slide and above photo courtesy of kitschville

What is it that men want? And how do we find it? These are questions that have plagued women since the beginning of time. Since joining the world of handmade and its venues for showcasing handmade, this question has been in the back of my mind. It is particularly challenging to find things men want in general, and even more so on these sites. My searches to find things for my husband has led me nowhere. I expressed this frustration to him, and he finally said, “I will look and see what I can find.” He found things within minutes! I should note he is an artist, and has very specific tastes which usually makes any search to find him things he likes near impossible. So how did he find things on Etsy and Zibbet so fast?

The first and most important thing I noticed is how he searched differently than I typically do. His searches are specific to things he likes or thinks are interesting, not broad terms like I would search. Then he weeds through to find things that surprise him.

He likes motorcycles, so he searched ‘motorcycle parts’, not motorcycles as I would have. He was surprised to find this cool clock lamp made from motorcycle parts by ChromeSculptures. He likes clocks and lamps, but would never search for those things. Add motorcycle parts to these things and it goes in the cart with a simple click.

As an artist exploring sculpture, he searched ‘contemporary sculpture’, not sculptures as I would have, and found this artist, Uturn. A figurative sculpture he liked pulled him into the store, but he really found his interest in the masks, and picked this great mask to add to his collection.

A search for just ‘masks’ would have yielded too many results not even close to his tastes.

My search terms led to very different finds, and the creators I found did not lead me to items he would impulsively purchase like these things he found. They weren’t ‘man-friendly terms’. For example, a clutch to him relates to a transmission, not a handbag. I never thought of that!

His searches generally do not use the plural, mine often do. His searches used terms that were specific to his liking while still general in terminology, a method I would have never thought of. And of course, once the search results come up, what peaks his curiosity takes him to an artist, and once in their shop, he finds the “it” he has been looking for without setting out to find it. My searches seem to be less of an adventure than his, but more an end results oriented search. We end up going down completely different paths, he finds items he impulsively must have, and I find items that he should have but probably will not like.

Acting on his attraction to vintage, he searched ‘skeleton key’, and was lead to coldtententacle’s shop, and ultimately to this great pocket watch. I never thought he would be interested in keys so that search did not occur to me, but that path led him to something else that he loves to collect – pocket watches with visible mechanisms.

He tried a search on Zibbet for fine arts as he is always interested in this market. His search was 2 simple words, ‘contemporary painting‘, not a search of fine art paintings like I may have. It didn’t take long to find Laura Barbosa and her Crystal Skulls painting.

The appeal to this one for him, other than the macabre, is the freedom to re-arrange and display the pieces how you like them best. Perfect for my perfectionist husband who prefers interactive, hands-on pieces.

He also discovered, by checking a tag on an item he found interesting enough to click on, search words can be found in tags. By adding the prefix ‘high end’ to ’sculpture’, seen in a tag, he found this dresser by GArtFurniture, and before I knew it, the cart was overflowing.

The dresser, come to find out, was not actually something he wanted for himself, but for our daughter. So it is true, they will shop for others, but it does have to meet their standards and criteria. In fact, GArtFurniture has another item that does have a very good response from men, a bouquet of hand carved roses, with a secret compartment for a small gift.

Now that is a man shopping with a woman in mind!

In the end, I discovered what my man wants, and how he finds it. We search completely different, follow distinctly different paths, and find entirely different items. My husband finds an item that peaks his curiosity and instinctively follows the path to his must have item. Men seem to shop impulsively. The thrill is in the hunt. The search is following the tracks. The purchase is the kill. Women tend to gather.

Hopefully we all can learn from this and find great handmade treasures for the men in our lives. I need to remember, he likes hard materials: metal, clay, and wood. I like softer materials: yarn, fabric, and sparkly things. Perhaps it is true, I am from Venus, he is from Mars, but now I think know what he wants and how to find it.

By Contributing Columnist Jay of Haffina Creations

Not many people know, but I am the mother of twin boys, and as such I understand how challenging it can be to be creative with twin bundles of joys dancing like a whirlwind through your house. Now let me introduce you to another mother of twin boys, who creates beautiful items whilst being a fabulous mom to her darling boys. Teri Landow is the driving force behind The Beaded Branch and my featured ArtFire artisan.

What will people find when they drop into your studio/store? What types of items do you sell?
An eclectic mix of bead jewelry, sterling silver chainmaille, Bug Bag pouches, and of course, my very own line of Present Past Treasures.

How did you come up with your studio/ shop’s name?
The name for my shop came about by combining several ideas:
1) I really love trees, and wanted to incorporate the idea of trees into my business name somehow.
2) I loved the idea of “branches” being related to arms, necks, ears, etc of a person and them being decorated with my jewelry.
3) When I started out, my designs were very simplistic bead earrings, necklaces and bracelets. I never really thought I’d expand out past the beaded branch of jewelry making. Of course, I was wrong, but I still try to incorporate beads in everything I sell.

How long have you been selling online?
I started my own online shop over 10 years ago. I ran into the trouble that so many do, though. After I got married, and started a family, the huge time commitment of having to maintain a website just got to be too much. So, I started exploring my options, and came across Etsy, then ArtFire. In November of 2008, I opened my Etsy shop, and then in May of 2009 I opened my ArtFire Studio. I still have my own website, and might actually get around to updating it now that my children are actually starting school.

What lead you to join ArtFire?
Many, many factors lead me to joining ArtFire. The sense of community was the main thing, but other than that, all of the wonderful features that AF offers. The guilds, the ability to have ten pictures of each product, the coupon and gift certificate codes, being able to edit everything in my store with a few simple keystrokes, the list goes on and on. The real clincher for me was when I made my first sale in my ArtFire Studio. I was so excited, I tweeted it on my Twitter page. When the owner of ArtFire sent me a direct message, congratulating me on my sale, that meant the world to me. I’ve never deleted that tweet, and still read it when I need a little boost. The fact that he took that time to do that was a real sign to me that ArtFire cares about the artisans that choose to sell there.

What is your favourite feature on the site?
I have to pick ONE? (lol) It’s a toss up between the coupon codes and the bulk editing feature. I love how easy it is to set up coupon codes for my customers. The fact that I can pick what code for the coupon will be is awesome, because it makes it much easier for me to keep track of when it was used.
The bulk editing feature is awesome. Being able to go in and reprice everything in my studio, or add tags to everything with just a few keystrokes, is wonderful and so time saving. It’s just so easy and convenient.

What tips/advice would you give to others considering joining the site?
Read up on how to take really good photographs of your products. Make sure your photos are nice, clear, and in focus. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Learn how to market using blogs and social networks. Figure out all of your shipping prices before you start listing. Set aside money for advertising. Join guilds and participate. Make a lot of friends in the crafting world. We are the best support to each other when sales are slow, and we need a little mental boost.

How do you want people who visit your studio/shop to feel, what mood are you attempting to create?
I try to create the feel of a cozy and relaxed slightly upscale boutique where you never quite know what’s going to spring up next.

What types of things do you do to try and create that feel/mood?
I don’t necessarily revolve my stock, but whenever I add pieces, I always try to make sure that I add an assortment of pieces in a new line at the same time, as a boutique would do when they received a new shipment, instead of one piece here and one piece there.

What is your favourite tool or material to use at the moment?
Right now, at this moment, I don’t really have a favorite. Actually, at any moment it would be hard for me to narrow down my favorite of anything to one thing. I love pearls, and would incorporate them into every piece I make if I possibly could. I’m also currently exploring materials and techniques that are new to me. Polymer clay and epoxy resins are the big ones right now, and since I’m still in the learning phase of those two mediums, I get to play with them, and learn how to make pieces that are good enough to sell.

Are there any skills or techniques that you would like to learn, or materials that you would like to work with, aside from what you already do?
Oh, several. I would love to learn to work with glass, and also I want to expand my knowledge of polymer clay, epoxy resins, metal clays, painting, and sewing. I love to learn new skills and techniques that can cross over from one medium to another, seeing how and what I can combine to create some new, unique pieces.

Are you still selling the same kind of items as when you started selling, or has it changed with time?
Yes and no. Yes, I still sell my basic bead jewelry. I’ll never fully get away from that, and wouldn’t want to. But, because I get distracted easily, and my desire to explore new techniques often overwhelms me, I switch off what I’m working on at any given moment, and my lines are continually expanding and growing. That’s the one problem with having so many friends who are so very talented in different art forms. I see their work, and think “Ooohh, I’d like to try that!”, and I do.

Which part of being an online seller do you find the most challenging, and what do you do to deal with that?
The whole process of listing products in my Studio- pricing, photographing, descriptions, tagging, all of it. It can really drag me down. The way I deal with it is to just bite the bullet and do it. Generally, I wait until I have a stockpile of products made, and I do a several day long photo shoot of everything. Then I spend another day editing the photos, and then another day or two listing. It’s a very draining week or so for me, and I always refer to them as my “necessary evil” days.

How do you balance your online and offline life?
I try to keep it balanced, but there are some days when the lure of the online world is just too great, and I’ll spend all day chatting, and drooling over my friends new works. There are other days, however, when I have no desire to go online at all, so I just check my email once or twice those days, and leave it at that. Having kids helps keep the balance, because their needs come first. So, I do have to spend time offline feeding them, playing with them, reading to them, and doing arts and crafts with them.

What kind of supplies do you always seem to buy, even if you do not really need them?
It used to be beads. Now, I have to admit, it’s pretty much whatever comes into view that I think I might be able to use. If I find a new craft that I find intriguing, I’ll buy just enough of the basic supplies to try it out. But even that I’ve slowed down on. I need to use up what I have before I buy anything more.

To see more gorgeous creations from The Beaded Branch check out her ArtFire Studio.

By Columnist Pam aka ElectricPenguin
Orange spiral disc photo courtesy of FlameCrazy

Have you ever ordered supplies on-line, only to find that when they arrive they aren’t anywhere close to the size you thought they were? Sometimes it’s a good surprise and sometimes it’s more along the lines of “whoa, that’s a very large bead!!” I have to admit this happens to me much more often than it should!! You’d think after a while I’d be able to closely estimate how big a 10mm bead is, but nooooo. I finally found these two things help me keep the surprises to a minimum:

First, I have a clear ruler that has both inches and centimeters on it, along with outlines of 2mm to 12mm circles. Mine was a freebie from a supply shop, but I’m sure you can find them for sale (probably at supply shops!). This gives me a visual representation of how big that elusive 10mm is. For most people, that would probably be all the information they need to order correctly. Unfortunately, that didn’t always work for me! There were still times I ended up with things that were the exact size they were advertised as – but not the size I wanted.

Photo courtesy of GenerationsLampwork
So, my solution was… actually have a bead of the size I want on hand while ordering! Seems pretty obvious, right? It really does give me a much better idea than a flat ruler.

I do most of my ordering during lunch at work. In my desk drawer I have a string with round glass beads of 8mm through 16mm on it. All are marked with permanent marker (the 8 was fun to do!) so I don’t have to remeasure them or anything. I also have short lengths of .5mm, 1mm and 2mm string. No labels but those are easy to remember. Now all I have to do is pull the string or bead samples out of the drawer, compare it to the item on-line, order, and the size I really want arrives in my mailbox!!

MiaBellaCollection

Hopefully these ideas will help prevent you from an unexpected surprise in your mail!!!

Slide photo courtesy of SassyPantsGlass
Edited by Barbra aka: All About The Buttons

Part II by Contributing columnist Rebecca aka Raige Creations

Slide photo courtesy of All About The Buttons

Normally I am the type who embraces summer with no thoughts of the winter, cold, snow, or holiday shopping. Christmas is the last thing on my mind. I usually don’t even think of buying Christmas gifts until after Thanksgiving. Even then it is just a ’something I should think about doing soon’ sort of thought. Before I know it, Christmas is 2 weeks away and I NEED to start shopping. Those days are full of grasping, arguing about what to get, and quick! Needless to say, stress and desperation are the feelings that prevail until December 26th. Inevitably, I end up with generic, meaningless gifts that are relegated to the ‘donate’ bag by Easter. Year after year, I make a vow not to repeat these actions again. Yet while soaking up the sun and wasting away the lazy days of summer, I came to the realization that I was on the path to make the same mistake again this year. The rays of the sun and the sounds of nature reassured me there was still plenty of time. But then there was talk of Christmas in July by retailers. “Christmas? Now?” I thought. “Too soon!”, the sun tried to convince me. But after some contemplation, maybe this wasn’t a bad idea. Perhaps, just perhaps, the seasonal spell which had seemingly been cast, had falsely assured this weather would last. Logic crept in and started eating away at my summer fantasies. Not willing to completely surrender to reality, I managed to make my way to the house for the laptop to casually surf the web as I returned to worship the sun.

I found that Christmas in July celebrations can be traced back to 1933 in North Carolina. It didn’t take long after for the retail world to take advantage of this marketing opportunity in a time of generally slow sales. The first mention of Christmas in July in advertising was back in 1950, specifically “It’s Christmas in July at Browning King” (advertisement), The New York Times, July 20, 1950, p. 16. (Thank you Wikipedia) Since then, various retailers have used this campaign to stimulate sales, and the community of Handmade sellers are no different.

Sellers of Handmade and vintage items through most venues have completely embraced this tool, and you will be happy to find wonderful deals on all kinds of treasures. Off one wave, onto another as I surf some of my favorite sites and found a few unexpected discoveries.

To get in the Christmas spirit, perhaps some Nostalgic Victorian Childrens Christmas Gift Tags, by Southern Ladys Vintage. Gift tags are one of the things which we all need but never remember to buy until the last minute – or is that just me?

Let’s not forget the necessities for entertaining family and friends that is usually ’slim pickings’ in the weeks before Christmas. Green plastic plates usually adorn my table by default as festive serving dishes are always a last minute thought. But not this year. Resetar Glass Art Studio has a great solution, a White Christmas Tree Fused Glass Plate. Perfect for the hors d’oeuvres to go with the wine or the pastries and eggnog.
Speaking of wine, it would be nice to have an accessory to go with that too. These Wine Sock Bags by Catfluff, are also on sale for Christmas in July. The beauty of these is they can be used all fall, winter, or whenever, or even make great gifts for someone on your list.
Gift giving is a part of Christmas that we should look forward to, but for some, the mass produced commercial bombardment of options have left us dreading the shopping experience. For me, it has been particularly discouraging as I normally scramble to find something at the last minute at the nearest Super Center that the recipient would even want. I have discovered the Christmas in July sales provide the means to shop without the normal stressors of shopping in December. I can casually browse online and buy beautiful, handmade items made with care and full of meaning, without the crowded lines, the inevitble panic and grasping – and get a great deal!
I like to give gifts with significance to an individual that can be used year round. This Herb Gardening Planter, by AndrewsReclaimed on Etsy, is perfect for those people that love fresh herbs. Just pick up this set (BOGO sale!), either plant their favorite herbs or include a few packs of seeds, and it’s a gift that gives well past Christmas. That’s 2 gifts done in a single purchase.

What about those that are difficult to buy for? Yes, I know we all have them on our list, and it is particularly difficult because you have to get something for each one. This solution may be just the thing. A Catchall for all the little things they bring home and throw on the nearest table, or placed somewhere and forget where it was. Now they can can have a dedicated spot for such necessities or eccentricities. One can hope to achieve organization. A few family members of the male gender come to mind and would certainly benefit from more than one of these. Feltplanet is offering these great organizers in many colors and sizes of for any style and taste.

Rounding out the list are those teens who want everything new and trendy and cool. Those that fall into that category on our lists by far cause the most stress at Christmastime, not to mention the rest of the year. But a small token to let them know we ‘get it’ is usually appreciated. This Goth Rock Chic Skellington Cell Phone Charm, by itsmythingdesigns on Zibbet, might do the trick.
So now that I fully embrace Christmas in July and buying Handmade and Vintage, I encourage you to do the same. These are just a few examples of the variety and abundance of unique items that I stumbled upon browsing the Christmas in July Sales. Imagine what you you will be able to find. Rest assured, it will be a holiday season without the stress of frantic shopping! This year I am actually looking forward to wrapping meaningful, one of a kind gifts for those special people on my list. I never thought summer would include such pleasant thoughts of Christmas. This is definitely going to become part of my summer routine. And remember the sunscreen!

Don’t forget to check out Nikkie’s Part I on Christmas In July specials, artfire studios,Zibbet and Etsy spotlights for more great shops that may be having special summer promotions.

Edited by Barbra aka: All About The Buttons

By Contributing Columnist Jay aka HaffinaCreations

The ability to crochet well amazes me, the ability to crochet well with wire astounds me. Catrin aka Catswire from Germany crochets with wire, incredibly well. She graciously agreed to answer my questions.

What will people find when they drop into your studio/store? What types of items do you sell?
I sell mostly jewelry crocheted, knitted or spool knitted from wire, beads and nowadays polymer clay. I just started to list my wire crochet sculptures as well.

How did you come up with your studio/ shop’s name?
The name came up with itself, even before I opened an online store. I have been called Cat by my friends forever and I work with wire.

How long have you been selling online?
Since February 2009.

What lead you to join ArtFire?
I saw a report about Etsy on German TV. When I looked it up on the net, I stumbled upon ArtFire. A few people from the handmade jewelry forum that I had joined already had ArtFire studios. Their experiences sounded good, so I decided to give it a try.

What is your favourite feature on the site?
That is a tough question. ArtFire has lots of great features, like the Etsy importer, the Tweet button, the global editor, the possibility to edit/delete/deactivate an item right from the listing, the merchandizer and they add new ones all the time. If I have to choose one, it would be the global editor.

What tips/advice would you give to others considering joining the site?
Work on your pictures. Online shopping means your pictures really have to bring across the message of what you sell, so show your item from all sides if necessary. Size is important. Even if you tell about the size in your description, it is helpful to show scale in one of the picture, may it be a necklace around a neck or a miniature with a coin. Be creative using your tags. Think about how you shop online first and then list accordingly.
And get your name out there!

How do you want people who visit your studio/shop to feel, what mood are you attempting to create?
In fact I want them to feel comfortable and have fun. I want people to feel they are welcome, no matter if they want to spend a small amount, a large one or just have a look and want to ask something.

What types of things do you do to try and create that feel/mood?
I try to bring across the message that beneath the avatar and a banner there is a human. I hope customers will be able to tell from my bio, from my descriptions etc. that they are welcome and that they can talk to me.

What is your favourite tool or material to use at the moment?
My favorite tool is always the one I use at the moment, but I’m still addicted to the crochet hook. For someone like me who didn’t like to crochet with yarn it’s unusual to love it so much when I do it with wire. The possibilities seem to be endless and I’m sure I have barely started yet.

Are there any skills or techniques that you would like to learn, or materials that you would like to work with, aside from what you already do?
I would like to learn how to make lampwork beads. Glass has always been fascinating to me.

Are you still selling the same kind of items as when you started selling, or has it changed with time?
I added items made differently, but I still sell the same kind of items as well.

Which part of being an online seller do you find the most challenging, and what do you do to deal with that?
Taking pictures and promoting myself. I never used to take many photos before I started selling online, but I experiment a lot and try to catch up on things I don’t know yet.
Promoting myself is hard because I don’t like to talk about myself much. I joined social networks and try to learn from others how to do it right, though.

How do you balance your online and offline life?
As I have a daytime job , I do have an offline life automatically. I meet friends, I love to watch movies, but I have to admit that my craft follows me everywhere. It’s easy to take it along, I craft during my commute, during the lunch break and so on. If there is a real balance, I seriously don’t know.
What I know is that sometimes I have a phase in which I try to cut down on computer time. I guess I need that to get back into balance.

What kind of supplies do you always seem to buy, even if you do not really need them?
In the beginning I got too many large beads because I couldn’t resist them. I try to cut down on that and just buy what I really will be able to use.

Catswire on Artfire is well worth a visit, you may not want to leave.

By contributing columnist Konnie aka Konnie Kappow

Name: Glenn Godden
Favourite colour: Blue
Favourite animal: Cats and Hedgehogs
Favourite band: That’s a tough one as music is so important to me. In a ‘glassy’ context I’d have to say Emilie Autumn due to an odd twist of fate that had me searching for glass buttons after hearing her albums, which led to me discovering flamework. In the workshop though I also listen to a lot of Collide albums; they seem to have just the right ‘flow’ to match hot glass, I know I play them a lot as the CD cases are wrecked! Toyah is also great to get in the frame of mind for space marbles!
Favourite movie: Again far too many to pick one, but I’d probably have to say Plunket and McLain because more people should go and watch it and turn it into the cult film is should have become!

How did you learn your craft?
I’ve always crafted and made things, usually functional items. I’ve wanted to work glass ever since I was a kid seeing the local ‘glass animal man’s’ work, but whenever I looked I could only find fusing lessons and that didn’t appeal. I went on to do a lot of woodwork projects, and got quite deeply into guilding and using very old techniques of lacquering and decorative finishes with traditional materials, but none of them really felt like they ‘fitted’ me.

The whole way I got into glass was odd, like any major changes that have happed in my life they have been due to tiny and bizarre chains of events. I’d slipped into the usual bloke routine of going to work, coming home and crashing out and got really worn down by the day to day. This is going to sound mad, but it was the chance discovery of Emilie Autumns albums that gave me a much needed kick up the proverbial! I don’t know why, but hearing them hit something in me – it really felt like I’d just been woken up by someone sticking mental electric shocks through my head! I suddenly realised how I’d stopped living and creating and was just existing. From then on I went back to making things and began crafting like mad, trying things I’d never dared to do; while trying to make a frock coat (I’ve made two now and realise tailoring isn’t my thing!) I wanted some glass buttons. I couldn’t find exactly what I want but while searching stumbled over lampworking and knew it was something I wanted to try.
I couldn’t afford to get the basic kit and lessons, so I went for the kit and some good books as I know I learn best by trying things out. I really haven’t looked back since; it just feels so ‘right’ as a medium.
I am still learning though, there is always a new glass technique to learn. I chat to other lampworkers online all over the world, swapping ideas and inspiration. I don’t think it’s a medium you can ever stop learning about and it’s very humbling. I feel like I am on a very exciting journey of discovery unlike anything I’ve ever done before.

There is a very ‘Zen’ thing about glass; I always feel that each thing I make (especially marbles) is teaching me something to make the next one better. When it goes wrong you have to learn to accept it and move onto the next one.

Your eureka moment – tell us about your favourite thing you have ever made?
There are lots of little ones along the way. One of my favourites was the first marble I put an opal inside; it worked so well and even had four tiny bubbles circling it like little moons which weren’t planned. Before that an object that was a ‘Eureka’ was a little red vortex. I didn’t know what to do with it, naturally it ‘wanted’ to be a marble but I didn’t think anyone would be interested in marbles so tried to force it to be a bead. A few days later I started making my first marbles which opened up a whole different way of thinking and working with glass.

Your “D’oh!” moment – tell us about you biggest crafting disaster
I used to do a lot of gold-leaf work. I was making a golf leaf chess board and there was a slight imperfection in one of the squares. Did you ever see the episode of ‘Father Ted’ when they had a car that had a slight dent? I though I should leave it alone, but tried to fix it, which made the small error worse, then the whole square needed redoing, which then didn’t match the rest of the squares. It’s still hidden in the back of my shed!

Is crafting what you do full time, or do you have a Clark Kent style alter-ego?
At the moment I have to do a rather dull but stressful job, but it’s really glass that dominates my mind. I like to think of myself as a glass artist who’s doing a part-time job to pay the rent, it just happens that at the moment it’s full time but it’s something I actively want to change.

Where do you do your crafting?
I have two workshops, one is a rather dusty shed for the messy jobs, and a tiny spare room converted to a glass studio.

Tell us a bit about your crafting philosophy (e.g. environmental, heritage, family, therapy!)
I really personally like the Victorian/Edwardian design ethic. There weren’t the minimalist lines and they were proud to add flourishes to otherwise boring functional items. You can see the pride in their workmanship and what they made.

Tell us why you think there are far more female than male crafters?
I really don’t know! The more I think about it the less excuse I can think of why there is this difference between the sexes!

What’s the manliest thing you make?
Well glass handled razors and shaving brushes! Although I’ve never yet sold one directly to a bloke, they are usually bought as a gift which is really nice.

What’s the least manly thing you make?
Lots of flower things! Flower pendants, flower bottle stoppers, all in glass! They are quite challenging but are one of my favourite things to make at the moment because of that!

What would you say to encourage more men to craft?
I’d ask what they did this week, can they show something that they produced. I remember a woodworking TV series years ago where the presenter had a motto ‘I too something shall make, and enjoy in the making off’ or something like that. Making is a kind of meditation, and at the end of it – however wonky or crooked what you make might be – you can say ‘I did this; I created this and brought something new to the world.’

And if that doesn’t work I’d point out that I spend my time in front of a flame thrower with molten Pyrex glass inches from my fingertips – how cool is that!

You can check out Glenn’s work on Folksy, Etsy or his own website (I know what I’m getting my Dad for Father’s Day!)

Don’t forget to check out the first interview with Dave Burgess aka The Nosuch Disco!Next in the Crafty Men series is an interview with Stewart Would aka Tree Gems!

Image courtesy of Zebedee

By Contributing Columnist Amy McCarthy aka Amyorangejuice

In the first part of this ‘how to’ I explained the process of single colour lino printing, now its time to move on to the next step!

To take your lino prints from simple and striking to multi layered and colourful you need to start adding different colours and the simplest way to do this is using the reduction technique.  This makes use of all the same equipment as part 1, the only addition being some different coloured paints of your choice.

Prepare your block and draw your picture onto the lino block with a permanent marker.

Now you need to make sure that you can match the paper and the printing block up exactly, so you do something called ‘registering the block’.  Using a piece of strong card (or wood) glue some strips of cardboard at right angles and slot the block into this and make corresponding markers for the paper.

Cut away all the areas you want to remain white (assuming its white paper).

Ink up the block with a thin layer of the lightest paint you are using (work from lightest to darkest colour) and print as many copies as you like. You are constantly cutting away at the block, so you can only do each stage once, so do lots of copies so you get it right (and its nice to have something to show for all the prep!). Only use a thin layer of paint/ink or you will be waiting for it to dry for ages!

Leave the print to dry and wash the lino print, pat dry with an old towel/newspaper and cut off the next stage of the design. This area will remain the lightest colour you have chosen.  Again, a thin layer of ink……………and repeat as many times as you like.

The images used to illustrate this article is my a very talented Folksy artist called Zebedee and her work really shows how you can take a really simple process (we all did it at school) and turn it into something very detailed and beautiful. I have really been amazed by the standard of print making on Folksy, please take the time to have a little ‘printing’ search sometime. Its a fantastic way of bringing very affordable art into your home!

By Contributing Columnist Ashley Pahl aka AshleyPahl

Every day, countless new shops full of beautiful art and handmade items open on Etsy.com. Among those shops are artists who think outside the box and fill their online store with amazingly creative and unique ideas. Shops to Watch, a monthly article, highlights these artists and the works that fill their shops.

This month features the art of Melissa Wagner-Lawler, shop owner of Red Thread Letter. Wagner-Lawler, a printmaker, sculptor, and book artist, has trained at both the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, where she earned her Master of Fine Arts in Visual Studies. Her portfolio of prints, sculpture, and books are available for viewing at her website, www.RedThreadLetterPress.com. Currently located in Milwaukee, Melissa Wagner-Lawler exhibits locally, nationally, and internationally.

Melissa’s Etsy shop, however, focuses on handcrafted jewelry inspired by natural and organic forms. In particular, her series of cellular-inspired necklaces stands out. The necklaces are inspired by irregular and organic patterns found in nature. They come in many different colors and no two are alike. Wagner-Lawler shared with me her thoughts on running a shop an Etsy shop and creating a focused collection, receiving an education in art, and her biggest inspirations.

What led you to your decision to get an education in art?

For me, there was never any decision that had to be made; it was really the only thing
that I ever wanted to do. It was the natural progression. The real decision was what
did I want to do after receiving my master’s. I debated about whether or not I wanted
to teach, and in the end, I just kind of fell into it. Currently, I’m teaching art at two
institutions and I couldn’t be happier.

Where did your love for organic forms come from?

It’s hard to pinpoint. Overall, I’d have to say that I like mimicking or attempting to
mimic natural forms. I’m more attracted to other people’s representation of organic
forms than the actual forms themselves.

What else inspires you?

Most of my inspiration comes from subtleties in texture and pattern and slight shifts in
color; this is why the majority of the pieces in my shop are somewhat monochromatic.
Keeping the colors very similar or the same allows for the focus to be put on the design,
pattern, or texture and maintains simplicity, in that respect.

Also, contrasts in materials and forms, such as organic versus industrial, continually
interest me as well.

What is your favorite piece, current or sold, in your Etsy shop?

The larger asymmetrical pieces with the chain are definitely my favorite. They embody
the contrast of the materials – the beauty of the beaded form versus the industrial, rock
‘n roll side of the chain.

http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=21955640

This piece was definitely hard to part with as well:

http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=22341273

What work of art from your portfolio means the most to you?

On some level, I am attached to all of them. It would be difficult for me to pinpoint one
over another, but typically my sculpture items I can never part with simply for the
amount of time that it takes to create them.

Is there an art technique you not yet tried, but would like to?

I’ve always wanted to try blown glass, but have not yet found the resources to do so.
I’ve tried nearly everything that is art and crafty, especially when it comes to my
professional artwork.

What piece of advice would you give to another artist wanting to open an Etsy
shop?

Producing high quality items that you can stand behind is of the utmost importance. It
can be a daunting task to decide what you want to focus on in your shop, but having
one type of item that you excel at producing will get you further than trying to dabble in
multiple areas. Overall, I believe that buyers want to see an Etsy seller that is
committed to their product(s) and have taken the time to refine them. The old adage
practice makes perfect definitely applies!

What are your long term plans for your artwork?

Well, one can never show their work in too many exhibitions! Being a cross‐disciplinary
artist (printmaking and sculpture), I find myself often being pulled in one direction over
the other and then a few months later that direction flips back again. Currently, I am
focusing on printmaking and making some small‐scale etchings and larger collagraph
pieces. However, in a few months, I’ll be interested in sculpture again and then I’ll be
working on expanding a piece from my MFA Thesis that I’ve been continuously putting
on hold.

Thanks so much to Melissa for taking the time to talk to us at Indie Smiles, and may your success continue!

By contributing columnist Andy aka Incredible Angels.

If you want to do something special this year for your sweetheart, why not put your heart into it?
Something handmade shows your sweetie that you are not just going through the motions.
While we can’t always come up with a great crafting and creative idea when we need to. And sometimes we don’t have the time to make them even when we do come up with that great idea. but … we can still create a special one of a kind moment this Valentines day.

Here is a fun way to find an awesome gift for that special someone.

Start with a visit to Etsy.com (or your favorite online craft website).
In the search window put in a word that reminds you of your valentine. Words like sweet, ornery, darling, cheerful, helpful, brave, different, dark, elusive, firey, amazing.

If you have some idea of a type of thing add that word too (but it’s more of an adventure if you just use the adjective)

Browse through the results, you will be amazed at what comes up.

Select a 3 things that might make your sweetheart glow. Now, don’t leave it at that, for each of the items tell a story of how that item relates to your relationship. One of the stories will be THE ONE! You will K N O W when you have the right one.

Buy the item, then write a note, card, or letter that tells the story. When you give the gift and the story together there will be no doubt, that you and your love are truly One Of A Kind!

Here are some examples of the unique items that came up when I searched for “Brave”:

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