Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Meet Etsy Metalsmith & Artist: ImperialEnamelArt

Laura Zell, the amazing talent behind Imperial Enamel Art, is a graduate of the University of Kansas. She earned her degree in Visual Arts Education, specializing in Metalsmithing. "I knew I wanted to pursue art as a career when my work 'Peace Like a Dove' was sold to the Imperial War Museum in London," she admits. Laura finds inspiration in artists Mary Kline and Misol & Julie Heffernan. "While I do not paint, I admire their unique use of subject placement, story and color; elements I hope to incorporate into future works," she explains. Many of her designs display Christian imagery or elements of Art Nouveau style. "Most recently I am researching the enameling technique pliqué a jour and using inspiration from classical stained glass windows to create ethereal jewelry designs." While she has been metalsmithing since high school, Etsy is "more of a hobby that (she) would like to realize as a career." She recommends fellow Etsy artists never under price their work. "I've noticed that a lot of people charge very little for the products of their hard work, and I don't see how a person can make a decent profit. I've worked hard to come up with a fair price for the work I do and I would encourage others to have the courage to ask for fair prices as well." Please check out her shop: http://imperialenamelart.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs

Star Wars Party







OK - I admit it - I'm a dork! I really liked Star Wars when I was younger, so I thought it would be fun to have a party last year, complete with steaming drinks. I even made an R2-D2 beer cooler out of a garbage can, aluminum foil, and posterboard. It was a blast! That's me as Princess Leia and my wonderful husband as Han Solo.
-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Meet Etsy Artist: IndustrialPoppy

Leanne has worked with textiles her entire life. "I feel old now," she jokes, even though she has barely made a dent. Most recently she has turned her attention towards metals as seen in her gorgeous dragonfly necklace. "I am working on a collection for spring inspired by nature. I love the sense that everything can be transformed - that we and everything around us is changing with our influence, whether or not we want it to." Her designs exude this sense of transformation, taking on a natural, lived-in appeal. Right now Etsy is a hobby for her, but she intends to make it into a career someday. "Follow your passion," she advises. I am confident she will be a success! Please check out her shop: http://industrialpoppy.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs

Kathmandu Cafe will re-open next weekend...

The dictionary may describe momos as "Himalayan dumplings similar to potstickers," but I call them little bundles of nirvana. At least they are when Kirpa Tamang makes them! He runs the Kathmandu Cafe food stall at the Portland Saturday Market foodcourt, March through December 24th. I go EVERY Sunday for the Tour of Asia (momos, curried potatos & green beans, chicken vindaloo, rice, and lentils) and a cup or two of his handmade chai. Mmm! I am constantly amazed at what he can do with just a camp stove and tent. I've been going through withdrawls the last two months without my momos, but next weekend the market will open again. If you're in the Portland, Oregon area the Saturday Market opens March 1 and is open both Saturdays and Sunday through December 24th.

-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Meet Etsy Felter & Artist: AmeliaMakesArt

There is so much talent and creativity on Etsy that you can't help but stumble around the site and find something truly amazing and unique. That's how I ran across AmeliaMakesArt. I was searching for custom portraits to see if I could make a go of it myself and saw her listings for felted likenesses of pets. I have to admit that when I saw the pictures I thought they were real dog sand clicked on the link wanting to see what the felted version would look like. I searched her shop high and low for about fifteen minutes, disappointed that she didn't have any pictures of her work. And then it hit me - what I was looking at WERE the pictures. The dogs I saw weren't the real models, but her expertly crafted likenesses. WOW! I was truly blown away.

Amelia lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, who is also an artist, and their dogs Hazel and Oscar. Believe it or not she has only been felting animals for a year. She learned her craft from her best friend in college, who spent time in Iceland after they graduated and learned felting from his roommate. "I visited him in Iceland where the wool is abundant and the felt work is not only everywhere, but incredibly modern and progressive...I consider what I do now a combination of my deep love for dogs and my drive for making things. I am so fulfilled when I bring joy to someone with my likeness of heir dog or cat. I have quite a collection of photos of animals with their likenesses that people send to me. It is a fovorite aspect of my job and I post them on my blog (http://www.ameliamakesart.typepad.com/). About 30% of my work is memorial pieces of people's pets who have passed on and it brings so much joy to give them a physical memory to have and hold." She finds needle felting similar to sculpting. "The form is built with wool fiber piece by piece, using a special barbed needle to mold the fibers together," she explains. "It is a tedious process but the results are well worth it." Aside from her astoundingly lifelike recreations of dogs and cats Amelia is also a talented painter. Please check out her shop: http://ameliamakesart.etsy.com/
-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs

My latest creation

I've been so busy it's been weeks since I've created anything, but my best friend asked me to make a necklace for her - something simple yet elegant that she could wear every day. I used beads of apatite and kyanite in her favorite shades of blue and silver spacers and chain, so she can wear it with a ring she's having made from a silver pearl she handpicked at an oyster farm in Hawaii. I used three beads in three sets to symbolize their budding family (they just had their first baby last October). What do you think?
-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs
http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Meet Etsy Jewelry Artist: Pavoreal

25 year old AngelaHurtado is the amazing talent behind Pavoreal. Born in Peru, she now lives in Costa Rica where she creates her beautiful wirework designs. "I teach fashion and jewelry history at college, so I love to incorporate ideas and color combinations that I find through my research. I also love the colors I can find living in a tropical environment here in Costa Rica," she explains. Originally trained as a graphic designer, she gravitates toward modern, stylized shapes and designs that evoke a simple elegance, which she expertly displays in her bridal pieces on Etsy and her personal website (AzaharTiaras.com). "I'm trying to turn it into my job, but I also like to complement it with some intellectual work, such as teaching and writing, usually on the subjects of fashion, jewelry and their relationship with women through history." Being on the other side of the world than the majority of Etsians, she finds it harder to get her name out there, but I feel her work speaks for itself. Please check out her shop: http://pavoreal.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs

Friday, February 15, 2008

Meet Etsy Potter & Artist: GretchenKramp

Gretchen Kramp "consistently work(s) in the grey area between two and three dimensional work," whether it's painting on wood sculpture or creating her expertly textured tiles. "After college I cobbled together a living of odd jobs such as coffee barista, babysitter, and, opportunely, assistant to a ceramicist. Working with her introduced me to a bevy of artists making a living off of their craft. I am also fortunate to live near Pewabic Pottery of Detroit, a historic Arts & Crafts era pottery and tileworks still thriving today. Amidst all these influences, the clay bug bit me hard in 1995 when I made a few tiles as Christmas presents and was irrevocably smitten!" She has been a proffessional clay artist since 1997, pushing the boundaries of her craft. "I'm inspired by most anything from the natural to the whimsical to the downright weird," she admits. Her body of work includes tile murals for the National Amphibian Conservation Center and the Arctic Ring of Life inside the Detroit Zoo. She also sells her tiles at local art fairs, boutiques, galleries - and most recently Etsy. "My biggest challenge these days is trying to achieve balance between work and home life as I currently moonlight as wife and mother to two little girls. I'm hoping that Etsy will allow me to expand my audience without straying too far away from my priorities." She advises her fellow Etsy artists "spend as much time possible pursuing what you love to do...then whatever happens, you will have no regrets!" Please check out her shop: http://gretchenkramp.etsy.com/
-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs
http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Meet Etsy Potter & Artist: LureArts

Although Pam began her artistic career while studying at a university, she fell in love with clay the first moment she sat in front of a potter's wheel. Now a full-time highschool art teacher, she enjoys creating textured dinnerware, which includes sushi and dinner plates, olive trays, coffee mugs - even stemless wine glasses. She loves the wheel, but handcrafts many pieces as well. "I am addicted to making bowls and have a kitchen full of them to prove it," she jokes. "My pottery is meant to be used, but still be beautiful. I secretly think that my bowls have souls and personalities," she admits. "They want to be useful and share the joy in your life." From her home studio she mixes her own glazes and fires her own pieces, but "when there is 'down time' in my pottery production, I still enjoy picking up my paintbrushes." Spoken like a true artist. She finds inspiration in the ornate designs of the Rococo and Baroque periods - and Japanese pottery, "especially their earthy color schemes and asymmetrical tea bowls." Sometimes she even combines eastern and western sensibilities in her pottery. Most recently she has started a ceramic jewelry line, integrating the colors and textures from her handmade wares. She also plans to expand into ceramic clocks. "I use Etsy to hone my craft. The best thing that I did on Etsy is join the EMT (Etsy Mud Team). I highly recommend other Etsians to find a team that they can connect with." Please check out her shops: Pottery: http://lurearts.etsy.com/ Paintings: http://lure.etsy.com
-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs
http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

African safari, anyone?

I love experiencing other cultures and faiths - and when I saw the beautiful copper pendant I knew I had to make a necklace out of it. This one is inspired by tribal Africa and is part of my personal collection. It includes beads of bone, coconut, wood, brass, copper, shell, and various natural elements.
-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs
http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Meet Etsy Artist: MundoGominola

Claudia is an illustrator from Madrid, Spain - and although English is not her first language, she was grascious enough to grant me an interview. I ran across her by chance in the Etsy forums and fell in love with her whimsical style immediately. "I like to create interesting characters," she admits. "I want to express the maximum with the minimum." Each piece evokes a mood - often playful - and reflects her love of color and the joy she gets out of life. She reccomends her fellow Etsy sellers take clear photos, list good descriptions, and ship carefully packed items in a timely manner. "If your product is good, it will be sold for sure!" Please check out her shop: http://mundogominola.etsy.com/
-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs
http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Pole Dancing with Britney Spears

We've all seen Brintney Spears in the headlines lately, partying and spiraling out of control. I had the chance to get crazy with her in Las Vegas before her latest meltdown. We had one wild night pole dancing together. OK - you got me. It's just her wax likeness at Madame Tussaud's, but how fun is that? They let you get up close and personal and often provide props. They actually encourage you to touch the figures, which look even more lifelike up close. What a blast. I LOVE Vegas! P.S. I swear - I don't usually show that much cleavage! :-)

-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs

Friday, February 8, 2008

Simons says...American Idol

I'm not an American Idol fan, but it's hard to escape Simon Cowell. He seems to be everywhere. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but he certainly could use a little tact. I have always wanted to tell him to "talk to the hand" - and I actually got my chance in Las Vegas recently. OK - it was just a wax dummy at Madame Tussaud's - but what a blast! I don't know about you, but I count three boobs in this picture. :-) P.S. Sorry for the cleavage (which is real by the way)! You know what they say about Vegas...

-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

My first Oil Portraits


Painter's Log, Star Date 2/6/08. It's been 12 years (gasp) since I've painted with my oils, so I thought I'd list my first and only portraits to kick start me into boldly going where I've never gone before: a second project. I'm a huge original Star Trek fan, so it was only natural I chose Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock as my fist subjects. What do you think? I bought a bunch of blank canvases of all sizes and hope to get my butt in gear this weekend...
-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Yikes - I finally did it...



After a lot of prodding from friends I have finally decided to list custom portraits on Etsy. This marks the first time I've ever tried to do it professionally (OK, I admit it - I'm SCARED). Heck, I've hardly let anyone even see my art over the years. It is one of my true passions, though. I start with the eyes. They're a window to your soul - and if I can't capture someone's personality in their eyes I start over. Simple as that. Anyway, here's a few of my faves...

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Meet Etsy Jewelry Artist: ravenevejewelry

Detroit, MI jewelry artist Emily Sullivan (a.k.a RavenEve) finds inspiration in ephemera, art, literature, and her own "overactive imagination." Her macabre style is a perfect blend of Gothic and Victorian; class with an edge. Although she has only been selling her work professionally for 14 years, she's always had the bug. "This whole selling what you make thing started with me very early. I begged my mom to let me sell my woven rag pot holders at a craft show in the 70's and it was all down hill from there," she jokes. She may not have any Etsy sales under her belt yet, but her jewelry speaks for itself. "I have no clue what Etsy has in store for me," she admits. Please check out her shop: http://ravenevejewelry.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs

Meet Etsy Artist: GaylesPaintings

Los Angeles resident Gayle Etcheverry credits Wayne Dyer and Deepak Chopra for inspiring her to fulfill her childhood dream of becoming a professional artist. As a Hollywood Scenic Artist she has done it all - including dressing the SAG Awards set. Each of her ethereal creations "becomes a living image of her inner voice." She is also an "active participant in the movement of spiritual globalization and devoted to the idealism that we are all one," which beautifully reflects in her work. "I started the site God Bless Humanity last year to begin a movement of Good News and Inspiring Stories. I continually find people all over the world who agree that life is beautiful and so many great things happen all over the world and no one ever hears about it. So I am trying to start something good, and ‘bring friendly back’ to the world." Her husband Blaine reminds her not to take life too seriously. "He’s my number one fan," she says. She has also met many wonderful people from all corners of the globe through the internet and feels "connected in ways I never felt possible before, which also inspires me to keep on keeping on." Not surprisingly it's the community aspect of Etsy she appreciates. "Get out there and meet other entrepreneurs," she advises. "Find out what kind of business referrals they are looking for and be sure to tell them the kinds of referrals you are looking for, too. Don’t be afraid to talk about yourself and your work and PLEASE call yourself an ARTIST! The more you are out there searching and finding groups to join, mingle with and email/chat with others, the more people will remember you and think of your art." Please check out her shop: http://gaylespaintings.etsy.com/
-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs
http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Metalsmith & Jewelry Artist: MangoTango

Bev proudly declares that "a chance visit to a dollhouse shop in the Cotswolds many years ago turned out to be a collision with destiny for me. I was instantly and completely besotted with the tiny world I saw." She quickly began creating 1/12th scale plants and flowers, honing her skills over the next 17 years. "Decades later I discovered the joy of creating my own jewelry and a much larger, though no less detailed, world opened up for me -- to my enormous delight," she jokes. She displays the same attention to detail and love of nature in her ecclectic jewelry as she does in her scale miniatures. She is a Certified PMC Artisan, member of the International Guild of Miniature Artisans; and proud member of Etsylux, the Art Jewelry Collective (AJC), and SRAJD. Six months ago she began experimenting with glass fusing and often incorporates her new talent into her jewelry designs. "I also love 'message' jewelry," she admits, "pieces that contain text involving emotions and things we all hold near and dear." She rarely designs her pieces ahead of time. "I let my hands do what they want to do on any given day." While her pieces are too labor intensive to create and sell on a mass scale, knowing her work is appreciated enough for someone to own one is enough. "To me, the pieces I create are my legacy, my immortality," she explains. She reccomends fellow Etsians "make sure your photos are top-notch. It's difficult to sell to people who can't hold your pieces and examine them from every angle, so you have to let your photos do the selling for you." Please check out her shop: http://mangotango.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs

Friday, February 1, 2008

Meet Etsy Artist & Graphic Designer: Krystan

Krystan is a full-time graphic designer and illustrator, who often does freelance work as well. She earned her Bachelors degree in 2005 and has been enjoying her craft ever since. A Rhode Island native, she recently made the move to Providence in a beautiful neighborhood near the water. Inspiration for her bright, cheerful style comes from friends, music, bright colors, simple patterns, and "the general hilarity that is (her) life." Almost everyone she surrounds herself with is incredibly funny - and her day often mimics "The Office;" her favorite show. "I can't wait for the writer's strike to be over," she admits. Although she's been creating since she was a baby (she still has the first drawing she ever did), she's only been working on graphic design for eight years. "(Etsy) is definitely both a job and a hobby for me. I'm not sure what I would do without it!" Like most of us, she hopes to eventually transition to Etsy full time. "Take good, clear photos, have a good banner (of course I would suggest that!), and list often," she reccomends. Please check out her shop: http://krystan.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs