"After a relatively calm life growing up in NJ, graduating from college, and teaching French in junior high school, I moved to Maine and went to graduate school," Nancy says. With an M.A. in French Lit, she set off on a 2 ½ year backpacking trip around the world. "I spent lots of time in the Orient as the quintessential Buddhist tourist, visiting temples and studying meditation. I kept written and painted journals throughout the trip. When I returned, I went to a month-long meditation program at a Buddhist center in Colorado where I met my husband, Tom." They later moved to Florida with their daughter where she started a card and stationary company 25 years ago. "I have a lovely studio in our backyard, surrounded by chirping birds, live oaks, and luscious bromeliads, very near the Fountain of Youth Park, in St. Augustine," she gushes. "I am a very happy, art-making maniac." Her imagination is endless, providing endless inspiration, but she also gleans ideas from "the infinite qualities of color, natural landscapes of many regions, and my love for Tibet." She explains, "The iconography of the Buddhist countries in the Himalayas is rich in imagery and is incredibly inspiring. I find it unbelievably satisfying to make something that I know is going to bring happiness to another being, maybe my neighbor or maybe someone who lives halfway around the world." All of the plates for her silkscreen designs are from hand drawn positives that are printed on 100% recycled papers. "I also use photography to enhance my 'seeing.'" She is also an accomplished illustrator and collage artist. "I’ve gotten a real kick out of being part of Etsy. It’s a supportive forum for artists and has lots of useful tools and guides. There is an inspiring mix of sheer talent, quirkiness, technology, ingenuity, and business savvy." Please check out her shop: http://easternsunprintworks.etsy.com
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Meet Etsy Artist: EasternSunPrintworks
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Meet Etsy Artist: elsiee
Elsie Echevarria is the talent behind Etsy shop "Namaste Designs" via her user ID elsiee. "My daughter is an amazing artist and beautiful soul, who has been my biggest source of joy and inspiration for the past 20 years," she gushes. And her mother is "a super independent, strong, fashionable, jewelry collecting, travel crazy woman." When her daughter left for art school in Vancouver her mother asked her to join her on yearly trips and "two big amazing changes in my life came together – I started attending jewelry making classes to fill my achingly empty nest and my mom and I started traveling to exotic places together." In the last two years they've been to exotic locales such as Egypt, South Africa, India, and Nepal. It was the latter that captured her heart. "My Etsy shop Namaste Designs opened when we returned from Nepal in June 08," she explains. "It was the trip of a lifetime (happily my daughter and husband joined Mom and I on this trip)." With her long time love of Buddha and goddess imagery - and "never )having) met a chunky stone or bead (she) didn’t love – Nepalese and Tibetan crafts struck a chord and inspired her to share her jewelry via Etsy. "I’ve never thought of myself as crafty or much less artistic, I’m the stereotypical 'can’t draw a straight line' girl, but sometimes, when I look at beads and stones, they become images of fantastical jewelry pieces in my mind," she admits. "Sometimes the entire design comes together in my head while they’re still on their original strands...sometimes the beads put up a valiant fight, but making bold beautiful pieces brings me so much joy, it keeps me up late many, many nights." As dedicated as she is to her new joy, by day she is a Marriage & Family Therapist with her own private practice. While she doesn't have any immediate plans for her Etsy shop, she hopes to "continue to befriend and be inspired by all of the crazy amazing local Etsy women that I’m so blessed to be surrounded by." Please check out her shop: http://elsiee.etsy.com/
Monday, November 17, 2008
Meet Etsy Jewelry Artist: SkylarkStudio
Karen lives in the "heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country...It's pretty wild (seriously!)." She's been a textbook example of a librarian for an Art History department at her local college for the last several years. "I spent my days looking at thousands of pictures of art. It was inspiring if not overwhelming at times," she explains. In contrast, she has also commuted to New York to work with several design firms. "(I'd) wake up with the cows, then (be) on the subway by 9:00 am. It was too much." She finds inspiration in "classic timeless patterns, motifs, subjects - things that don't go out of style...I love looking at design magazines from years past to see what was a fad and what was a classic." Living in a rural area, she is also inspired by a group of fellow artists. "We're determined to be successful even though we live on the outskirts of where it's all 'happening.'" she jokes. "We all really believe in trying to stay true to yourself and your talents without being part of the elite style machine." Working primarily with sterling silver, she creates chic contemporary designs that often have an ethnic feel. "I really want my pieces to last and be worn for years...I like things that look stark and tough but a little fancy at the same time." She started metalwork in high school, but didn't really focus on her craft until last year. "I'm giving this a go as my job right now, we'll see if it takes off," she laughs. "I really love Etsy, the whole concept of it is really amazing. I'd like to get more involved in the forums, talking to other crafters and getting advice and moral support. I love doing location searches for my area, there are so many crafters hiding out in the country!" Currently she's working on a cohesive theme for her shop, which includes complementary packaging, banners, business cards, etc. "I think (B&M) stores might be more willing to sell your product if they see you've really thought it through," she advises. Please check out her shop: http://skylarkstudio.etsy.com/
Monday, July 28, 2008
Spontaneous Bliss, Sahajananda Nritya Gita
Namaste! There is a new Buddhist temple in Portland - the first of its kind outside of Nepal - which is also the new home of Dance Mandal. Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya, a Newar Buddhist priest, has built a traditional temple right off 40th and Hawthorne. All of the carvings were handcrafted in Nepal by skilled artisans and it has been built in the time-honored way, including the traditional paint. It is astonishingly beautiful and I hope you have a chance to check it out...Thursday, May 8, 2008
Fibromyalgia Success
Hi there! It's been awhile, but I'm slowly working on getting back to the blog and Etsy business. I even plan to work on a series of paintings this weekend, depicting the wonders of Bali (time and health permitting, of course). Fibromyalgia is a constant battle for me, and I've been pushing myself to hike 10-12 miles every Sunday for 6 weeks, so I've had a few set backs. I plan to keep the hikes up at least through November, though, in order to be ready for my trip to India and Nepal. I want to trek the Himalayas and enjoy momos and chai at the base of Mt. Everest (I'm being realistic here)! :-) Anyway, I've discovered a great tea from the Jasmine Pearl Tea Merchants that actually helps give me energy (I swear I couldn't do my weekly hikes without it). It's their Yoga blend - and has South African Honeybush and nettles. It tastes a lot like chai, so I'm pretty much hooked. I have a link to their website in my favorite links section (I order it in bulk now). The Power Bars also help. I swear, I'd have one foot in the grave without them. I know they've got a lot of fake sugars, but there's some research out there that says that's actually what Fibromyalgiacs need. All I know is that they work for me! I'd be interested to see if anyone else has any good tips with keeping this bugger of an ailment under control...
-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs
http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com
Saturday, February 23, 2008
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.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Meet Dance Mandal Artist: Prajwal
I regularly visit the Tao of Tea inside the Portland Classical Chinese Garden to recharge my soul - and over the years I have gotten to know the fantastic staff very well (special hello to Yvonne, Daniel, and Martin). Prajwal is one of the tea servers there - but I recently discovered he is also an amazing talent, struggling to keep the sacred Buddhist arts of his native Nepal alive. The youngest of six, he was born into a Buddhist family where his father - as 35 generations before him - is a priest. Prajwal followed in his father's footsteps, becoming the 36th, teaching the sacred dance of his homeland. "I enjoy being Buddhist," he says. "Everything good in my life I owe to Buddhist practice and culture." Prajwal soon realized that his culture was slowly disappearing in Nepal, giving way to modernization. Although some of the sacred arts had never been shared with the outside world, he struggled to introduce it to the world in order to preserve it, which has enabled him to meet wonderful people from all corners of the globe. Some of his former students have even gone on to become teachers of the art in Germany and Japan. While teaching in the US he realized that he was able to reach a large audience who cared about keeping his native traditions alive, and soon immigrated. He still has a center in Nepal, which he visits every year, but has also opened the Dance Mandal Institute here in Portland, OR, where he teaches meditation, dharma talk, yoga, and the sacred Buddhist dance he cares about so deeply. Dance Mandal is a foundation of sacred Buddhist arts of Nepal, "dedicated to the preservation and expansion of Charya Nritya [dance as a spiritual discipline] and the related traditions of vocal music and costume-making. With the survival of this sacred dance form threatened by modernization, Dance Mandal travels throughout the world performing and giving workshops while adhering to its original purpose as a profound spiritual discipline." Aside from his art Prajwal is also working to build the first authentic Nepali Buddhist temple outside his native homeland. "This project is a fulfillment of my father's vision of bringing Newar Buddhism and especially Newar temple dance to the world, so that many may benefit from observing and practicing this beautiful and transformative tradition," he explains. "(It) is a major step forward in the preservation, expansion, and exploration of Newar Buddhist art and dance (that also) welcomes other traditions of sacred art and practice to share the space." It is a big undertaking and donations of any kind - helping hands, finances, resources, etc. will be gratefully accepted to support the building of the temple. If you'd like to give a monetary donation you may mail a check to Dance Mandal, 1405 SE 40th Ave., Portland, OR 97214. - or if you prefer to use a credit card you may pay through Pay Pal via the Dance Mandal website (http://www.dancemandal.com/). If you'd like to donate your time please contact Helen (helen@dancemandal.com 503-233-37039).
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