That I would be in 3 YES you heard me right 3 treasuries in four days!!! Phew I tell you I am very flattered not only because of the 3 treasuries in 4 days but because it has been the same item that was featured all three times! My handbeaded supernova pillow was the lucky pick and I am just so thankful that there are people out there who enjoy what I make! Here are 2 of the treasuries:

 

The other treasury was the CCOE Challange that I voted in, you can view it on the second post below.

In case anyone wants to see it my supernova pillow is up for sale on ETSY.com, click here to view the entire listing: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8166054

I also want to thank ImagineStudio and VickiDianeDesigns  for generously featuring me!

Thanks guys you ROCK!!

 

 

For this month I interviewed Marisol of Msol. Please take the time to look at her work, especially the Day of the Dead pendants

 

Name: Marisol Apostol “Sol”

Business Name: msol

Website: http://msol.etsy.com

Where are you located? San Diego, California, United States

How did you become an artist/craftsman?
I started with photography when 15. Then in college I got a degree in photography, took art classes. Most recently, I studied graphic design, and now I am taking classes in metalsmith at a local college. I worked at two museums during my twenties so that opened my eyes to lots of various types of arts.

Who/ what inspires you?
My Mexican culture is so rich, so colorful. Also Spanish Gypsy culture. I like the colors of the Masters - those rich reds, blues, and yellows. The Renaissance. Japanese art - Old and New! Day of the Dead, Frida Kahlo. Greek Civilization. Indian Culture. Colors!!!

What type of things do you design or create?
Right now I am creating jewelry and purses. In jewelry I work in silver, leather, resin, wood, fabric, found objects, recycled-reuse materials, paper, beads, glass, and rocks. Anything from earrings, brooches, rings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants, hair combs, etc. My purses feature Day of the Dead, Spanish Dancers, Frida Kahlo, Our Lady of Guadalupe and other icons.

What are your hobbies? dancing and singing flamenco, fabric shopping, bookarts, music, internet browsing, cooking, documentary and art films.

Describe your ideal workshop or workspace.
Wow, this one is a hard one. I already have a studio that I share with another person. I am in the process of rearranging it. It is a bit challenging since I have so many creative outlets. The ideal studio would have lots of open space high ceilings, an hot area (torch and kiln) for fusing metals, glass and clay. A wet area for cleaning, rinsing, tumbling, lapidary, etc. A dry area for working with paper and fabrics. A large sturdy work table in the center. A jewelry workbench near the hot area. My sewing machine near the dry area. Lots of storage - I have lots of tools and supplies. An adjacent room to work as a photo studio (that’s another story).

What are your long term goals?
I want to get to be very proficient with metals and innovative jewelry making. I in my third year so I still have a ways to go. Currently I am starting to build my jewelry business so I hope that it will take me to my retiring years.

Please describe your favorite piece.

My favorite piece is a heart pendant I made last year. It was sort of an accident, the bead itself exploded during the firing so then I decided to follow its bursted shape. I used gold plated wire, garnet beads, along with polymer clay to finished the creation. The piece is called busted heart. Now I plan for my hearts to burst. It sort of became a technique for me. The final piece is always unique and can not be replicated. My classmates started calling me heartbreaker after that.

 

Another treasury!! Huzzah

This time it was for a good cause I voted in the The California Crafters Club of Etsy (CCCOE) wedding challange. Here is the forum link http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5643597

I ended up voting for my friend Peg of “peggradyart” you can visit her store here:  http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=69051

Go Peg!! I hope the voting goes well and good luck to all of you guys : )

 

I thought I would spice things up a bit and talk about my new job! I am pretty excited about it because I just finished training last week and am now ready to start working the business. I can tell you that I have learned so much from this company already. It is a ton of work but it pays off in the end because I get to work from home and work my own hours ( which is good considering I have anxiety and grew up as a 3rd generation entrepreneur! ) I want to spread the word to all of my friends and show you my website so here is goes:

 http://www.freedomathometeam.com/bfradywilliams 

check it out and tell me what you think. You can also interview with us if you are serious about becoming an independent business owner.

 

I apologize for only posting about all of the fabulous treasuries that I have been featured in. It seems that I have been very luck and I think it is important to showcase and promote them. It is not my intention to brag (honestly I haven’t made many sales and am weary about the future of Berít New York) but it does help to get noticed! So here is the latest feature….

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=44336

The title for this treasury is Butterscotch and I think it is properly so. I really enjoy being amoung great talent and diversity : )

Thanks LuminousCreation !!!!

I am very grateful for this and I hope that when time allows that I can return such kindness by making my own treasury!

 

 

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=43574

So this week has been very good for Berít New York. We have been in 2 treasuries in one week!

(small rant time)

This particular treasury is titled Artistic Spirit From all of us to all of you…  and it really makes me think about how many times do we strive and work so hard only to find little or no results? I find that many craftsmen never get the the opportunity to be noticed and thus confined to making their art for a hobby. It is sad and I wish that the world could see the skill of the true craftsmen! Hey I know…maybe we show ban together and uproot all of the celebrities who think they are designers just becasue they pay someone else to make their clothing line. Then we could fill their place with the real unknown talent in this world. Treasuries for everyone!

(ok rant over)

May all artists shine like the sun!

Cheers,

Brit

I just got word form the Ruebee community that my Teutonic Bronze Armband has been included in their Have a Cuppa treasury!

I feel very honoured to be included because Ruebee in an online community for Christian artists and crafters with a focus primarily on Etsy shops.

Thanks again Amy!

As we look forward to the summer, I want to draw attention to an interesting self described Graphic designer, illustrator, and mixed media visual artist…his name Robert Comire. Enjoy the interview, it is a great read

Name: Robert Comire

Website:
http://www.robertcomire.etsy.com
Http://www.robertcomire.com

Where are you located?
Kansas City, KS

How did you become an artist/craftsman?
I’ve been painting and drawing for as long as I can remember, but I started professional training at 18 back in the Albany, NY area. I started out at Hudson Valley Community College as a painting/studio major and when I finished my AS degree I went on to The College of Saint Rose to receive my BFA in graphic design. During school I interned at MTV Networks in NYC as a designer and upon graduation I was recruited by Hallmark Cards in Kansas City. So I headed out west and now when I’m not designing greeting cards I’m painting and drawing at home.

Who/ what inspires you?
History, urban decay, and dilapidation to name a few. I’m infatuated by early industrial revolution era signage and architecture. My work has become a reflection of this inspiration.

What type of things do you design or create?
I create iconic paintings and drawings of places and things that were once great but now overlooked. I celebrate their history and render these images with an ongoing curiosity and appreciation. Some of my work is less graphic and more painterly and non-objective. In these pieces I am trying to create a mood or a non-environment of decay and distress.

What are your hobbies?
Aside from my involvement in the visual arts (design, painting, and photography), I have been playing the drums for about 12 years and I just recently took up mountain biking.

Describe your ideal workshop or workspace.
My Ideal workspace has little distractions, good music (any early new york hardcore ‘85-’95, free jazz, etc.), my dog Donté, and you can usually find my girlfriend Lauren (www.laurenkathleen.etsy.com) close by sewing her fabulous hand bags and accessories.

What are your long term goals?
To further explore the iconice nature of what once was, and to hopefully travel and see a lot more of the country and the world. But the main thing is to continue to grow personally and professionally and I’m lucky my painting helps facilitate that growth.

Please describe your favorite piece. (This will be featured in the interview)
I can’t choose a favorite, but I’ll give you one that I’m fond of, the Western Auto (ink on paper, 2006). When I first visited Kansas City in 2006 for an interview I was picked up at the airport (like you see in the movies with a driver in a suit and hat, holding a sign with my name on it). We got in the car and began to drive through what felt like the middle of nowhere (which it sort of was from my east coast vantage point). After about 20 minutes of driving past farms and fields I began to think, “No way. There is no possible way that I could live in rural America.” Then literally out of nowhere we came up on what appeared to be a city skyline, yet foggy in the distance. Low and behold it was downtown Kansas City, there was life and lights and I felt at ease. One building will be forever lodged in my memory from that trip and it was the old Western Auto building with a well lit sign at the top. You could tell it had been preserved but has maintained it’s original integrity. I was really attracted to its sans-serif lettering with that awesome circular arrow design.

Shalott Lilly

As I look at this painting, the first thing that comes to my mind is the colour combinations. In it you can see mixtures of golden yellows, berry reds and a hint of black accents. I think that Shalott Lilly did a great job with using these specific colour palettes because it provides movement and harmony to the painting. As for the subject of this painting, I think it is quiet clear that there is some meaning behind it. Perhaps this is a self portrait or maybe it is a visual of personal emotions?

I do want to point out the small gray flowers that are hidden throughout the painting. Is it me or does anyone else see a connection between the faces and the flowers? I find this to be very captivating and I think that the artist did very well to include them! If you look closely you can see the flowers appear to be on some of the mouths and at the bottom right hand corner you can see one painted on the neck of the girl. From what I know about this lovely artist, is that she also makes jewelry with flowers being one of her main tools. Perhaps that is the meaning…

I salute you Shalott Lilly for creating such a harmonious and fascinating painting!

Want your items to be reviewed as well? Post a comment and let me know!! 

Please note that the views expressed here are the sole opinion of the author and do not reflect the artist or company featured.

Unfortunately I had to cancel my spot at the May 3rd block party event at Habana Outpost in Brooklyn, NY. This is due in part by a recent family crisis and the inability to work for a week. I am very saddened by this but things happen in life that sometimes require immediate attention. The good news is that the craft market runs for several months so I will be rescheduling for late May or early June.

See you then,

Brit