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

Retail Therapy Locations
Sign-Up Here for Metry Chick's Newsletter

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

Winner of Latest Giveaway Is:

Etco---AGAIN! Lucky number 3!! I SWEAR I'm not rigging it :) Here's proof:

Congratulations Etco! :) I'll contact Metry Chick and let her know you won !

Thanks to all who entered!
~~Amy

Member Artisan Profile: Metrychick (& Giveaway!)

Meet glass artist Celeste of Metrychick. Celeste has been creating all of her life and considers herself fortunate to make money doing something she loves.

Her connection to Louisiana runs deeply. She explains, “My family chose New Orleans and I think it was destiny. My grandpa came here on a buckboard from Picayune, Mississippi -- first generation Italian. My grandmother was born here, second generation Italian. My mother emigrated here from Cuba in '68. I was MEANT to be from here. People traveled to make SURE I would be here. I was born and raised here. Actually, about two miles from where I live and here I was raised to be independent, and a high thinker, and to always wonder and want to learn. I was lucky to have a lot of knowledgeable people in my life and I am blessed.”

In fact, it is her love for her hometown that inspires her art. Celeste says, “I look for what hasn't been done yet. I did that with the New Orleans NOstaLgiA and will keep going.” Her biggest challenge, she says is keeping her work “evolving and fresh, and new, while retaining the spirit of my love of New Orleans and Metry.”

While many artists etch glass, Celeste’s items are unique in that she cuts each piece by hand. “No stencils, no machines, just me, a pattern and my knife.“



Celeste’s favorite piece is a 45-inch diameter bowl (yes, 45 inches!). “I etched over 50 fleur de lis on it,” she says. “My customer told me when they bought it and put battery operated lights in it, the fleur de lis cast a shadow on every wall of the room. It was magical.”

When asked her favorite bit of advice for other artists/sellers, she offers the following: “Keep with it. Pick something you love and stick with it.”

What’s next for Celeste? Perhaps stained glass. “I would love to learn how to solder,” she says. “I have the stuff, but no one to teach me. I can just imagine the art I can make...”



On a personal note, Celeste works part time, home schools two daughters and is a proud military wife. “I love my life and my family. Part of that is loving me and my art,” she notes.

Celeste’s creations can be found on the following:

On Etsy: hvnlydesigns.etsy.com

On her blog: Metrychick.com

On Facebook: Metrychick


~*~*~ You can win a little Piece of Metry Chick! ~*~*~

You can win this beautiful etched candy dish bowl with a lovely jazz second line etched on it.

How do you win this awesome piece?

HOW TO WIN:

1. Visit Celeste's Shops at any of the above links. Come back and leave a comment on which item is your fave!

2. Visit one of these shops belonging to my fellow members. Come back and leave a comment on which of their items is your fave!

Flambeaux Design Company

Amelia Amos Soaps

BRKids

You must leave a link to the items and you must complete steps 1 AND 2 to be entered. You MUST leave a URL, email, or contact IN your comment for us to contact you when you win! We have to have some way to contact you, via your shop, blog, whatnot if you don't want to leave your email.

You have until February 23rd to get your comments in!

Extra entries:

1. Send an email to merry[at]handmadelouisiana[dot]com with your email address for our future mailing list.

2. Tweet, Facebook, or promote this contest. You MUST provide a URL where you promoted this so we can verify.

3. Join our Facebook Group.Please make sure your Facebook account is set so we can contact you, and include info about yourself (friend, buyer, seller, artist, etc) in your application.

If you would like to join Handmade Louisiana please email Merry at merry[at]handmadelouisiana[dot]com and she'll send you what you need to know! There is never any cost to join HML although we do have membership requirements.

Good luck!

Wordless Wednesday

Who Dat, You Dat Yat- Glass Pendant by Hvnlydesigns