Showing posts with label upcycled. Show all posts
Showing posts with label upcycled. Show all posts
Friday, February 3, 2012
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Monday, June 14, 2010
Member Artisan Feature: Ditsy Gypsy
Have you ever found yourself rushing through the airport and you were stopped in your tracks but a really cool, one-of-a kind suitcase? Not yet? That may soon change.
Meet Susan, creator/owner of Ditsy Gypsy. Susan has been transforming vintage suitcases into works of art by paining and decoupage for the past year or so.
Although new to suitcase venture, she is not an art newbie. She says, “There's a joke amongst my family that I was born with a paintbrush in one hand and a pencil in the other. I guess it's just in my blood...my father's an artist, too.”
Susan finds inspiration everywhere. “I've been inspired by a commercial on television, a bird flying overhead, a light bulb, an icon...the potential for art is everywhere,” she explains. Among her favorite creations is a lotus bag that she secretly wished she could keep for herself.
When asked why she loves the work she does, she replied, “It's the chocolate for my soul. It helps me relax, and it makes me feel good.”
Her words of wisdom for other artists:
"Art = Individuality. Don't ever be afraid to assert your individuality!”Susan’s connection to Louisiana began early. She grew up here and is raising her family here. “There are things that I'd like to see different, but there's a beauty here you can't find anywhere else,” Susan reminds us.
To learn more about Susan and her work, visit her online shops:
On Etsy: http://www.ditsygypsy.etsy.com/
On Artfire: http://www.artfire.com/users/DitsyGypsy
On Craftisart: http://www.craftisart.com/ditsygypsy
You can also find Susan on the following sites:
http://www.facebook.com/theditsygypsy (personal)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bossier-City-LA/Ditsy-Gypsy/191380784469 (fan page)
http://twitter.com/DitsyGypsy
http://www.myspace.com/artsymama5
http://ditsygypsy.blogspot.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ditsygypsy
http://s878.photobucket.com/home/DitsyGypsy
NOTE: a portion of the proceeds from Susan's robot bag (pictured above) will benefit the Gulf Oil Spill Cleanup. To learn more, visit the Handmade Louisiana page on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/handmadelouisiana
Monday, August 3, 2009
Member Artisan Profile: Lemon Jitters
Katie, of Lemon Jitters, launched her line of jewelry created with vintage and upcycled materials in January 2009. However, she is no newbie to the creative life.She explains, “My family has a lot of creative thinkers so I grew up making things. We did not have much money when I was growing up so we were constantly having to improvise and make things work without spending a lot. That is where my creativity was born. Now, I can look at almost any situation and think of a DIY solution. My mind often puts things together that do not traditionally fit each other. “
Katie is inspired by items she discovers in thrift and antique shops. “I marvel at the possible history of a piece and instantly visualize the piece in a new setting (such as, dangling from your ears...),” she says. “I love to place an old, abandoned item in a new home, with a new meaning.”
One of her favorite materials is raw brass. “I especially love oxidizing it and watching it turn different shades,” Katie says.
Her favorite piece tends to be the one she’s working on at the moment. She’s currently working on several pieces incorporating vintage hardware. She explains, “I have some pieces in my Etsy shop with vintage keyholes and whatnot. Those are my favorite because they are unexpected.”
Her biggest challenge is time management. A busy graduate student – with a graduate assistantship, no less! – Katie says “maintaining the pace I am working at now will be SUPER difficult [in the fall]. I'll find a way, though. Because I love creating and running a small business.”
If she could offer one piece of advice for new artisans, it is this: “Be willing to invest an enormous amount of time promoting your shop in the beginning. I am still in the beginning stages and it is very hard to get noticed in the online world. But my views are steadily picking up. It just takes a lot of effort. Oh, and offer exceptional customer service. That is key!”
So what’s next for Katie? She is currently developing an idea for a luxury line, Lemon Jitters Luxe, and is further developing her line incorporating antique/vintage hardware. Her items are available exclusively online, but is considering offline venues.
Other skills Katie would like to learn include soldering metal for jewelry making, crocheting and knitting. A Louisiana native, she now lives in the Ruston area. She moved there to attend Louisiana Tech five years ago and stayed.
To learn more about Lemon Jitters:
Visit her Etsy shop: http://www.lemonjitters.etsy.com/
Visit her blog: LemonJitters
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Lemon-Jitters/112811350791?ref=ts
On Twitter: http://www.twitter/lemonjitters
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