Meet Etsy Artist: TheArtisticNewts

North Carolina mosaic artist Elizabeth Newton originally hailed from Augusta, Georgia. Much of her inspiration comes from fairy tales ("especially the lesser know ones with really oddball morals at the end") and her travels to "odd" places. She also has a fascination with renaissance fashion. "No, I don't hang out at Renaissance fairs," she jokingly adds. However she does dabble in many other art forms, including painting and jewelry making. "I love making really large stained glass mosaics just for the wow factor because they are quite impressive in person," she says. Although she's been honing her craft for 5 years, she's been a lifelong artist. "I guess if I can count crayoning on the walls and making my mother insane." While her art is just a hobby right now, she hopes to turn it into her career - if she can get over her shyness and start promoting herself. "I just signed up for my first (craft show) in Thomasville, NC on May 2 and I think I'm already having mini panic attacks about it," she admits. "I actually kind of miss things when they sell and I have to send them off. Please check out her shop: http://TheArtisticNewts.etsy.com and Blog: http://theartisticnewts.blogspot.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com

Meet Etsy Mosaic Artist: domosaics

"No matter what I do in life I always end up back in the art world - and couldn't be happier," says the Kentucky artist. "One of the first things that people ask is where did the name Do Mosaics come from? My nickname is Shaundo or DO, which was given to me from my family. When I signed up for my first show they asked me what my business name was. At that point this was still a hobby. My sister called out my name from across the room and I quickly answered DO Mosaics. It has stuck ever since. This officially became my full time business 3 years ago. I was the poster child for the starving artist! It was an up hill battle at first but it is finally taking shape." She started out making mosaic gazing balls as a hobby, but when her sister asked her to make a mirror something clicked. "I started thinking that if I could put tile on a mirror then I could put it on anything." She moved on to picture frames next, which is still a staple in her shop. "There is nothing more gratifying than to see the look on someones face after you show them the finished piece," she gushes. "Making someone happy goes a long way." Although she's been an Etsy member since August of last year, she didn't really become active until last December. "I consider myself to be computer illiterate, so this has been a whole new experience for me," she admits. "I am truly grateful for everyone at Etsy - from the sellers to Admin - for all of their help." Initially she started her Etsy shop to assist her local customers, but didn't realize the magnitude of the site. "It's not every day that people from all over the world could be viewing your art," she says, still in awe. "I love to do art shows to get out and meet people, but you can only imagine what it's like to be carrying around hundreds of grouted pieces. It's rather back breaking. So now I only do a chosen few and this is where Etsy is quickly filling in." She is a firm believer that "you get out of Etsy what you put into it," and strives hard to make her shop work for her. "How many people can say that truly love their job. I am one of the lucky ones that can say that I am!" Please check out her shops: http://domosaics.etsy.com/ and http://etsymosaics.com
-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/