Meet Etsy Artist: ambaarts

Tarini has been a devotee of the Goddess since high school. "I love Her in Her many forms, but have worshiped Ma Kali for the last 15 years," she explains. "I love to worship Her through painting, puja (traditional Hindu ritualistic worship), and meditation." A 1994 graduate of Laguna college of Art and Design, she admits that watercolors are her favorite medium, although she also enjoys working with clay. Her inspiration comes from the Goddess in her many forms, including nature. "My dreams and spiritual practice inform my art and my art informs my dreams and practice," she says. "I try to immerse myself in the atmosphere/influence of the deity I am painting. " She is also inspired by others who "strive to inspire and uplift through their art and service." Through Etsy she hopes to "bring my (her) and love of the Goddess to people who wouldn’t otherwise see it." Please check out her shop: http://ambaarts.etsy.com/ and blog: http://ambaarts.blogspot.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Artist: Dhuni

The artist behind Dhuni may be an Engineer, but she has a passion for creativity. "My job takes a lot of my time, but I try to grab some time during the weekend," she explains. Inspired by nature and exotic cultures, her line of bindis and body jewelry range from ethnic to whimsical - and everything in between. Designing her pieces allows her a chance to rejuvenate from the rigors of her day job. While it is still just a hobby, she aims for her creations to make someone's day. She also uses a percentage of her Etsy income to help local charities and hopes to one day start her own organization. Please check out her shop: http://dhuni.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Metalsmith & Jewelry Artist: julsilver

I found today's artist while searching for Buddha earrings. From the moment I saw these I knew I HAD to have them. Believe it or not they are even more gorgeous "in person." I was stunned to discover I was her first Etsy purchase. I absolutely love these earrings and will treasure them always...

Aside from being an artist, Laura Bellows is an anthropologist "re-inventing." She became interested in Buddhism and Hinduism while doing fieldwork for her PhD in Bali, Indonesia. Much of her work is inspired by the wonderful cultures and people she encountered abroad. "I am still really interested in the meanings and intellectual problems I dealt with as a researcher," she admits. "I seek to bring this into my work as much as possible, even to the point of including words or texts that I find fascinating, or which simply contain things I feel I have to say." While she makes many pieces her self, she actually makes a living by designing pieces that can be made in Bali via a Fair Trade model - and sold wholesale to various shops. "These practical things are part of what I do and reflect my interest in making useful items that are not disposable, are produced ethically and also beautiful." She also teaches the casting process out of her own studio, which enables beginners to learn the basics of wax working. Please check out her shop: http://julsilver.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Mumbai: In ugliness there is beauty...

Having just returned from India a week ago I was saddened to hear of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai. My heart is broken knowing so many innocent Indians and foreign tourists were hurt or killed in the 60 hour siege. In my recent travels I met many wonderful Indian people who were generous and welcoming - and supportive of the US. In the wake of this tragedy I hope the entire world comes together in peace and healing and forges an understanding and acceptance of all cultures and faiths. This Reuters photo brought me to tears in the wake of this tragic event - and I think it is important people remember that not all Muslims are extremists or terrorists. With more people like this beautiful child we WILL persevere in world peace. What ever the religion of the victims, I hope their God/s or Goddess/es bless them and carry their souls to their hearts. Join me in working for world peace - and please put it into effect through tolerance, acceptance, and love. Best wishes...

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs
http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Art Collective: huajilla

Etsy shop Huajilla is run by a Thai American couple living in Chaing Mai, Thailand. Wife Huajilla is the "tech side of things for now, but just as much a artist." Not only does she run the shop, but is also the designer and creator of the beautiful Jewelry on their site. She, like her husband Pichet Sibonreung, is also a painter and hopes to have her work posted soon. Pichet has finally gotten back to painting after a 2 yer hiatus. "In coming back to painting Pichet has decided to follow his bliss," she explains. "No matter how painstaking the detail." This is what led them to Etsy. "To relax he creates the small water color sketches . His inspiration is simply his roots. He was raised in rural Thailand were Buddhist and Hindu beliefs meld with animist practices. He is creating the current collection with the hopes of giving joy. Ganesha is the remover of Obstacles, appropriate for a new beginning." Pichet's preferred medium is acrylic and water color and has been painting for 6 years. "Painting has always been his way to make a living," Huajilla says. "We are hoping with Etsy to branch out." They would both like to thank the Etsy community for their tremendous welcome and all of their help. Please check out their shop: http://huajilla.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Artist: DancingGirlArt

English artist Francesca Burras is "more or less a full-time artisan these days, working from (her) studio - aka the spare bedroom." Nature is her biggest inspiration. "I’m always amazed at the variety and beauty of what I see around me and I take lots of reference photos when I’m out walking my dog. They prove very useful for sparking ideas and often end up as elements in my mixed media pieces." She also has a fascination with myths and folklore from all cultures – "not Victorian, sanitized versions, but the older, darker stories which tap into something primal in our collective psyche and are a hugely rich source of imagery." Like her personality, her style has many facets. "I’ve always admired artists who have a consistent style or theme to their work. They work in one or two media and that’s it. They become instantly recognizable and have a really cohesive look to what they do. However I can’t work like that and after trying to fit myself into that particular mould for some time I finally decided to just acknowledge that I like doing too many different things to be able to settle on one permanently. So I paint, make collages, handmade books, quilts, linotypes, and lately I’ve rediscovered the joy of knitting!" Her mother may have played a part in her awakening her artistic soul. "I was fortunate to have a mother who, although we had very little money, had an infinite imagination," she explains. "We would create things out of the bits and pieces we had around the house and in the garden and that was a wonderful experience for me. It made me interested in all sorts of stuff, from sewing and knitting, which she taught me at an early age, to painting, which she loved." Thankfully she has turned her passion for creating into a full time job, although she admits, "I tend to think of a job as something I have to do even if I don’t want to. So although this is a job in the sense of earning a living I do often feel like I’m truly blessed because every day is a new adventure full of new things I haven’t done yet." She advises her fellow artists "do what you love, what makes your heart sing. And take good photos along the way." Please check out her shop: http://dancinggirlart.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/