Artist of the Week!

Congratulations to Metry Chick as this week's featured artist!

Introduction- Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a very busy wife and mother! I have two daughters, the Chicklets, who are 10 and 13 and a wonderful husband, Sarge, who I have been married to for almost 20 years. MetryChick.com is my full time job and I wouldn't have it any other way, although I always say that I work for the worst witch on the block. Being self employed I work harder than ever before.

How did you get started making handmade items? I taught myself how to etch glass after needing some Christmas gifts and looking to do something different. Since I taught myself I didn't know about using stencils so I learned the hard way for a while. I got used to it and still don't use stencils in any of my etching - this allows my etching to be very detailed and nothing is off limits. The saying is that you have to break a lot of eggs to make a good omelet and I seemed to break a lot of glass in the beginning until I got the hang of it. I also made a lot of UGLY glasses. My mom still has some of those - gawd bless her! I expanded into jewelry in 2008 as a way to increase the portability of my items at festivals and shows. My family was affected by a layoff and I needed to broaden my business base, so I took glass and expanded into jewelry. I have an obsession for all things glass - kind of like a barracuda, I love shiny things!

What does a typical day look like for you?I get the young one off to school and am back home for about 9. After that I am full speed ahead. I try to schedule errands all for one day so I am not interrupting my "flow". I try to break up my days for maximum efficiency. If I am etching I will spend the WHOLE day etching. If I am making jewelry I will spend the whole day on that, and also spend time on the computer doing graphic work, updating my sites, etc. 

If you could tell someone anything about Louisiana, what would you tell them?
Louisiana is unlike any place you have ever been. Every 10 miles you find something special about that community, that area that is unlike any other.

What is your favorite item to make?

I like it when I get to etch really complicated decor items. There is nothing I like more than to make something just heart breakingly beautiful.

What is your favorite food from Louisiana?
I would have to say my fave food is Begniets. Fried dough with sugar. What's NOT to love? That ties with chicory coffee. I can't stomach weak coffee!

Any other information you'd like us to know?
I work really hard at what I do. My business is just like a living child to me. I tend to it every day and it grows and changes continually. I like to specialize in "different". When a customer tells me my work is different that is the highest compliment I can get. I work hard to find and experiment with items to make sure they are different and live up to my high expectations. 

Check out Metry Chick at the following locations!
Website address www.MetryChick.com
Blog metrychick.blogspot.com and megametrychick.blogspot.com
Facebook www.Facebook.com/MetryChickFans
Twitter - @metrychick

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Congrats to Amanda as the winner for last week's giveaway!