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.”

The mother of seven, Susan’s biggest challenge is finding the time to create.

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

Time to Vote in the June Craft a Long!!

PLEASE VOTE by listing your fave in the comments section! You may vote more than once!

This month's theme was "Summer Fun!" Let's see what the Handmade Louisiana members have cooked up this month!

~~~~

1.

Watermelon Ponytails by Mama's Little Monkeys

Enjoy a slice of summer with this set of 2 fabric button ponytail holders in a cute watermelon print! www.mamaslittlemonkeys.com

2.

Tropic Earrings by Etco

Beautiful AAA Deep Butterscotch Yellow Chalcedony Briolettes wire wrapped in Antique Brass. Hang from Antique Brass earwires. http://www.etco.etsy.com

3.

Summer Bees by Chloe Boutique

Cute little antiqued bronze bee charms dangle below faceted citrine rondelle beads accented with Bali silver daisy spacers and Swarovski crystals in topaz. http://www.etsy.com/shop/wildlifer78

4.

Oyster Shell Clock, Beach Treasures from Art on the Half Shell

Hand-crafted wall clock featuring an oyster shell and assorted seashells set like the hours around an ocean hued dinner plate. The center is sanded with real beach sand, accented with tiny shells and sea glass like treasures left by waves and the retreating tide. www.ArtOnTheHalfShell.net

5.

Vacation Memories from Spanish Moss

 6.

Composting Canister by Hurricane Pottery

A good summer activity for parents and kids. While you teach the children how to help get dinner ready, don't forget to teach them how to compost. Save your plant scraps in a canister for composting ; then you'll have some nice rich nutrients to feed your garden plants.

7.

Patriotic Beach Bag by Stitches in Cotton

Show your American spirit sporting this bag at the beach or pool this summer.

8.

Red Baby Shoes, Mary Jane Look a Like by GarSticksandStrings

Those newborn summer dresses are just the cutest and these would make a great accecsory to make any baby girl all the more cuter! Find here: www.garsticksandstring.etsy.com

 9.

On the Beach Chain and Charm Necklace by FunckyWhimsy

A chain and charm necklace

10.

Summer Chenille from Magnolia's Boutique

Cute summer 2 piece sunsuit made from a vintage chenille bedspread.

11. 

Summer Rose Garden Soap by Herbfriend

A very moisturizing soap reminiscent of a summer rose garden. Rose petals, organically grown, were harvested, dried & infused in organic olive oil

 12.

Funky Flamingo Mini Purse by SplendiferousFiber

Pink flamingo goes glam! Beaded and sequined pink flamingo adorns a pink satin bag with bead and ribbon trim. Perfect for those times when you only need a small bag. 4.75 x 7.25 inches with 30 inch handbraided strap. Fully lined. 

 So let's vote gang!! The poll will be on the left sidebar!! :)

~~~Amy

Handmade Louisiana North Chapter Meeting

Woo hoo! We held our first Chapter meeting this past Sunday at 3 pm in the community room of my apartment complex. I live in a small housing unit for the disabled and we all appreciate the manager, Jarcelet Harris, letting us use the facilities. Mary (in the middle) of Vivys Closet, makes whimiscal children's clothes and painted rocking chairs, she brought a sample of a girl's blue print outfit that was adorable. Amanda Daniel, of Chloe Boutique, handcrafts gorgeous artisan jewelry, and brought a wonderful sampling of her work. Christy Wilson, (to the left) of Embellished Bayou, handpaints frames and tins, offers handcrafted soaps by her mother, and makes custom designs. She brought a cute ruffled t shirt and an adorable handpainted door hanger. And there was me, Jackie Sample (in green dress), of 2 Virgos Designs, an avid soaper and bath and beauty products. I specialize in hand milled soap, Medieval Fantasies soaps, and dog themed soaps. While there were only the 4 of us this time, we found a lot to talk about.

One thing discussed was the possaiblity of sharing a booth at an upcoming (October 23 & 24) Bossier City Shop Till You Drop Arts, Crafts, & Gift Show. I am applying for grant to fully pay for the booth, a stupendous value since it runs around $200. I think it will be a great way to get Handmade Louisiana's name out there and be a wonderful Team event. I will be applying this month, anyone who is interested should contact me at tygerhart@suddenlink.net ASAP and let me know as a list of vendors associated with the booth must be submitted to the show's hostess. All we will have to do is bring our stuff and sell!

We also talked about rotating locations for HML North meetings to give others a chance to host a meeting and to make it convenient for all. Any suggestions or if someone wants to host a meeting please email me or post on the board. We would like to plan on holding meetings every quarter.

Oil Spill Updates

To say this is an oil spill is like saying chocolate is good....it's a total understatement. This is not an oil SPILL...it is an oil GUSHER shooting out countless gallons of oil towards our coastline!

Now, I am a political person but let's leave that out of the equation for just a second...let's not talk boycotts, right/left, drill or no drill, etc for just a bit. There is a time and place for that, but for right now I want to emphasize the magnitude of this problem.

Full disclosure---- I'm a fan of oil. I enjoy driving my car, heating/cooling my home and having all the conveniences of life that oil permits me. However, I am not a fan of oil rushing towards my beloved coast line, coating the feathers of pelicans, killing fish and essentially smothering the local economy around me.

That, my friends, sucks.

Handmade Louisiana wants to help with the oil spill cleanup and catastrophe down here. We have decided to join together as a team and donate the profits of our items to an organization that will help clean up this mess--literally! We are still discussing what organization we want to donate the money to but we're getting our shop all set up in the mean time! Go ahead and bookmark us, www.handmadelouisiana.etsy.com because we're going to have some awesome stuff in this shop! ALL profits will benefit the cleanup surrounding the oil spill.

Member and friend, Mallory of MissMalaprop has been updating the best she can in her blog and I encourage you to read it, including the comments.

We can argue politics later, but right now, let's put our thinking caps on and figure out how we can help this situation. Perhaps you CAN put on your rubber boots and get down and dirty and help clean animals..or maybe you can just donate a few dollars to the clean up efforts. Or maybe you can simply purchase some local seafood from a local fisherman who's livelihood depends on the gusher being contained.

Our coast is an important part of our lives down here and as Hurricane season fast approaches, we need to get ready to buckle down and take care of what is rightly ours.

Let us know if you have any other links, sites, resources to help with the oil spill.

~~Amy

Cards4Cancer Update

First off, let me apologize to everyone for taking so long to update this!! When I began working full time I expected my time would be pinched, but didn't realize to what extent! 


All through March, we told you about Cards4Cancer, an awesome program from the people at Spirit Jump who many of our members are connected with. Spirit Jump is all about making the lives of those with cancer a little bit brighter. So they planned one entire day called Cards4Cancer for April 15th, 2010. One of our founders, Merry, was integral in making sure Handmade Louisiana's part in C4C happened!


On Monday, April 12, Merry dropped off 81 cards to the Mary Bird Perkins  
Cancer Center in Covington.  They offer radiation therapy to cancer patients in 5 
locations in Louisiana. Mike Miranda received the cards and sent a letter of thank you to us afterwards.

Jackie with Primo's Pawtourage/2 Virgos Designs also sent two nice  bars of 
handmade soap.

Natalie with Scriveners Retreat sent a wonderful cardinal plushie to give  
to a patient with Multiple Myleoma in honor of her Dad.

Merry donated 9 hand knit hats.

Cards were sent by Amy of Mama's Little Monkeys, Merry of CheeseandChocolate as well as by Yamarilet of Etco, Lora of Precious Metals, and by Cadette Girl Scout Troop 31224 in Mandeville.



We were very pleased to be a part of Cards4Cancer, even on a small scale. I hope Spirit Jump continues to do Cards4Cancer and even if one card can bring a smile to someone's face then our job is done.


Thanks to all who participated, it means more than you'll ever know!


~~Amy and Merry

May's Craft a Long Winner is................

This beautiful bustier from Trapped in Time Designs.

Congratulations to Trapped in Time Designs for winning with this beautiful piece and thanks to all who entered!!

~~Amy

May Craft a Long--Time to Vote!!!

This month's theme is Flowers and Greenery since May seems to be the time of flowers and showers and green things everywhere!! Please choose the items you feel best fits the theme "Flowers and Greenery" and vote in the left sidebar. (You may vote on multiple items.) Good luck to our fabulous members and thanks for voting!!

Entry ONE
Pink/Green Spring Flip Flop by NolaNuks

Entry TWO
Spring Green Nursing Cover by Covers by Corinna
Handmade nursing cover in fabulous spring green pattern. 

Entry THREE
Secret Garden Necklace by etco
Beautiful Czech Glass Bell Flowers are wire wrapped in Antique Brass and combined with a Verdigris Patina Brass Leaf. Hang from a delicate Antique Brass chain.

Entry FOUR
Hand Stamped Domed Name & Birthstone by Charmies

Entry FIVE
Spring Flower Woven Headband by Quibby's Bows
Spring is here, flowers are blooming, and the grass is finally growing! This headband will make your head match the new "life" all around. It is woven with four different ribbons and topped with a set of two flowers and one bow.

Entry SIX
Ruffle Pillowcase Dress by Bellabug

Entry SEVEN
Yellow Daisy on Crocheted Headband by Stitches in Cotton
Great way to dress up any outfit and the headband won't leave marks.

Entry EIGHT
Flower Frame from Embellished Bayou
Custom Handpainted Frame with flower & bow from Embellished Bayou 

Entry NINE
Knitted Flower Headband by GARsticksandstring
I knitted this headband just in time for spring! I knitted the yellow flower and knitted and felted the circle it is layered on top of. Then I just attached them both to a blue headband I purchased locally!

Entry TEN
Rose Bud Ring by DebiDeaux

Entry ELEVEN
The Botanical Gardens Bustier by Trapped in Time Designs
 A gorgeous bustier--just in time for summer! Fabric has a lovely botanical embroidered print--perfect for any wardrobe!

Entry TWELVE
Aqua & Red Wreath-- by BabooBabeau
Handmade felt flower wreath with red vintage button detailing. Perfect for any front door or room decor!

Entry THIRTEEN
Garden Party Necklace by Flambeaux Design Company

This necklace is made from seven hand sculpted polymer clay flowers and accented with antique finish copper and glass beads. The flowers range in size from 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 inch in diameter.

Entry FOURTEEN
Floral Skirted Diaper Cover with Tee by Vivy's Closet

Entry FIFTEEN
Ginkgo Pink Handpainted Silk Scarf by Splendiferous Fiber 
Handpainted 100% silk scarf in shades of pink with sunprinted details, metallic gold and pearlescent magenta overprinting and metallic gold speckles. Long enough to use as a sash as well as neck scarf. 10.5 x 59 inches of pure color.

Entry SIXTEEN
Flower Headband by Knitzy
Hand knit blue headband with hand knit turquoise flower by KnitZy.com

Entry SEVENTEEN
flower patch by Jodie Flowers

Entry EIGHTEEN
Not so Square Flower Earrings by Gaudet's Gems

Entry NINETEEN
Echinachea Bloom  by MillerLine
 watercolor painting on canvas

Entry TWENTY
Magnolia Clippie and Headband by PolkaDotDesigns
 This was a customer request for a purple magnolia hair clippie to match her daughter's pageant dress. When she asked me if I could do it, I said, "Oh, sure!" But, when I hung up the phone I didn't have a clue what to do. I played around with my ribbon and came up with this. I'm not sure how much it resembles a magnolia, but she loved it.

Entry TWENTY ONE
Moda Pink and Green Flower Badge Reel ID Holder/Keychain by BadgeReels
Hold your ID or keys in style with this nifty badge reel made from a fabric covered button!

Entry TWENTY TWO
DOUBLE-SIDED SPRING FLOWERS by FunckyWhimsy

Don't let your favorite artisan lose!! :) The winner is up to YOU! Thanks for voting!