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Feb

28

Meet Etsy Artist Alannah Naber of Sutturn Designs

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February 28th, 2008 by Protege

Alannah and I have know each other for a couple of years. We often crossed paths while visiting FlameTree Glass in Roswell GA. Alannah visits to purchase artisan beads made by Maureen McRorie, while I shop for glass supplies. Her two adorable boys quickly nestle into the couch to watch DVD’s while their mother shops. Over time we became acquainted, and I have become an admirer of her work.

One thing that always stands out, as I watched her scrutinize the artisan beads, is the precision of her eye. Subtleties in color and design which have gone unnoticed by most people, are always detected and analyzed. Alannah spends a great deal of time examining each piece of glass. Her visions are always very precise, and until she finds the lampwork and the accents to complete her vision, the piece remains unfinished.

After completing the piece Alannah puts the creation through tests to make sure it will hang the way she expects, and that it is durable. Alannah calls her creations “Garbage Necklaces” for the eclectic blend of materials and colors, but these beautiful creations are far from trash!

“I have been an artist all my life, but I have found my passion in jewelry making. To be able to combine different materials and metals in such a way to highlight or compliment the beautiful work of a lampwork artist gives me great pleasure and satisfaction! In fact, I feel that the lampwork beads sometimes talk to me and guide my selection in complimentary bead and metal choice. Some lampwork beads have remained in my cache for over 6 months because the necklace for each has not been designed in my head yet.”

Alannah is a talented artist, her work is available in her new Etsy Store: Suttern Designs or her website SutternDesigns.com

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Feb

8

A Taste Sensation You Can’t Miss!

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February 8th, 2008 by Protege

Culinary arts are a form of art that tends to be ignored. The job of art is to satisfies the mind, spirit, and senses. The culinary arts are capable of satisfying all of our senses, and our mind and belly better than any art that I know of. That is why I wanted to share the culinary skills of Etsy artisan Back Yard Bakery.

I have experienced three different items from Vicki’s wonderful etsy store. The Worlds Finest Fudge Sauce, Cranberry Pear Anise Sauce (not currently offered) and the Poppyseed Rum Cake.
The Worlds Finest Fudge Sauce is true to its name, rich creamy chocolate fudge Sauce that is truly a chocoholics dream! I don’t care for Cranberry, Pear or Anise, but Vicky managed to create a combination that I loved. Subtle light flavors that combine to create the most delectable taste sensation!
Finally Back Yard Bakery’s piece de la resistance is the Poppy Seed Rum Cake! Again, I don’t typically care for Poppyseed. But this cake is amazing. It is the best Rum Cake I have ever tasted. It is worth twice its price. I will be ordering one of these for every special occasion from this point forward. Truly amazing.
A little about the Artist:
I asked for a small Blurb From Backyardbakery and I think she summed herself up quite nicely.
“I used to have a bakery in a mountain town and it was the happiest time of my life. I am 51 now. Ever since then, I extract great joy in pleasing people’s palates. I look for recipes and always altar them based on my gut feeling and make them fabulous or at least I try. Many of my recipes are altered ones that I find. One of my most famous cookie recipes came from the neighbor of my childhood and she always fed me these cookies with milk. My fudge sauce recipe is again from an old woman passing it along. The rum cake recipe will remain a secret. It has its own mystique wouldn’t you say. Unbelievably good!!!! One doesn’t care where that one came from, they just want more of it. I decided that whatever I do from now on as far as earning money, it has to bring me joy first and foremost and bring joy to others.”
I can’t say it any better than this! Please visit Vicki at her store http://www.backyardbaker.etsy.com
Tell her Protégé Sent you!

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Aug

15

Meet Etsy artist Laura Milnor Iverson (laurali)

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August 15th, 2007 by willowglass

Laura Milnor Iverson is a fulltime artist who has been painting most of her life. She created her first oil painting when she was 12 and tells me she was a whiz with crayons! Laura is mostly self taught and has an A.A. Degree in Fine Arts from West Valley College in Saratoga, California. (I live near Saratoga, New York, so this review is somewhat serendipitous!)

A native Californian from the San Francisco Bay area, Laura’s greatest inspiration comes from the beautiful natural landscape surrounding her, especially trees and the ocean. She explores the amazing places around her to capture different times of day and seasons and also enjoys portraying animal companions, whether furry, feathery or scaly

She expresses her love of nature in both Dreamy Realism (realistic landscapes and seascapes with an impressionist overtone…the imprint of a scene on the mind, with the soft edges of memory) and Contemporary Zen (botanical abstracts in a modern Asian style) such as autumn leaves, florals, and cherry blossoms.

I’m fortunate to have some of Laura’s work and it’s absolutely wonderful! Be sure to check out her shop at http://laurali.etsy.com

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Aug

7

Etsy Bead Artist Judy Russell - “beadbug”

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August 7th, 2007 by willowglass

Judy Russell is a bead artist from Ann Arbor, Michigan, who specializes in contemporary seed beading with a vintage flair. I asked Judy how she got started in her craft and here’s what she told me:

“Years ago, I went to a local Pow Wow (no, I’m not Native American) and bought several strands of shiny colored seed beads. Then I realized I didn’t know what to do with them and started taking classes at a local bead store. Now you would think with the variety of seed beads in the world I would be satisfied beading forever. Not so! I started combining seed beads with other items: glass stones, cameos, vintage components, polymer clay and on and on. My imagination never stops!”

Judy’s favorite materials to work with are seed beads, polymer clay, vintage filigree, and all kinds of glass from vintage to modern dichroic glass. The beautiful brooch that is pictured is designed with a centerpiece of a fused glass cabochon.

I asked Judy what some of her inspirations were and here’s what she said:

I think I am inspired most by nature, from flora to fauna. This theme hasn’t been limited to beading but can be seen in my drawings that I now use on cabochons.

Judy admits to being just a bit obsessive compulsive, “Once I get an idea in my head, I’m not satisfied until I’ve worked it out, in beadwork, a technique or process or in drawing. We had a question in a seedbeading group once - If someone gave you an Indian name, what would it be? Mine was ‘Beads A Lot.’”

Check out this great bead artist at http://beadbug.etsy.com

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Categories

Flickr

Customer Creations

Member Blogs

Street Teams

Indie Blogs

Feb

28

Meet Etsy Artist Alannah Naber of Sutturn Designs

Feb

8

A Taste Sensation You Can’t Miss!

Aug

15

Meet Etsy artist Laura Milnor Iverson (laurali)

Aug

7

Etsy Bead Artist Judy Russell - “beadbug”