Rarely does our life follow the path we thought they would, but these detours often land us in a place of amazing adventure! Such is the case of Pam Andrews, one time administrator and real estate agent turned homeschooling grandmother and artist!

Pam raised two children while living in the rat race of real estate, admitting that between work and family there was barely time to breath.  Since taking an early retirement, Pam’s life has taken a very different direction.  Her beloved grandson, Jaeden is both profoundly gifted and deals with ADHD.  Unable to work within the traditional school system, Pam took the leap of faith and began homeschooling him full time…which she says had turned out to be the most important position she has ever held.  When she is not creating or schooling, she relaxes by reading to herself or to Jaeden or watching cop shows or cooking.  She enjoys doing for her family and friends and is always on hand to lend an ear or a home cooked meal.

Pam was raised by a seamstress mother and farming grandparents who taught her the value of working with your hands.  Her grandmother used to tat doilies and darn socks, which absolutely fascinated Pam.  While she never got the hang on tatting, her grandmother encouraged her to start crochet and she was off and running.  Over the years she tried many different arts from painting to building things for the house to decorating frames but it wasn’t  until she found wire, beads, fishing line, and yarn that her true passion was revealed.  She later found seed beads and her fate was sealed.  Pam loves the way that she can create super light jewelry with amazing texture and colors!  She is always pushing herself to learn new techniques and expanding her work.

What began as a leisure activity soon took on a new dimension when the real estate market took a hit and she needed to supplement her income.  What better way to do this than by doing something she already loved and A Bead Thing was born.  Because Pam is a somewhat reclusive person, promoting herself and selling her work was a learning experience.  While she has had some success doing craft shows, she admits that she is more comfortable working online where she can not only promote her work but work of other talented artists she has found through craft groups and forums.

Pam loves the idea that someone sees the passion that is put into each piece enough to purchase it but admits that it is work to be found.  She encourages other artists to follow their own dreams stating that “It is worth it and if they believe strongly in what they do, it will be a fun trip!” but it will also take time.  Pam is one that encourages people to take a closer look at handmade and believes that artists should be supported for their efforts.  You can see the love and support through her forum presence and in her own work.

Are you ready to see what a feisty grandmother can do when she isn’t taking care of her family?  A Bead Thing is easy to find on HandmadeArtists as well as on Rebelmouse.  You can follow her on Twitter and on Facebook and see all the wonderful artists she runs across or check out her blog!

To make this quick and easy shopping bag you’ll need two 40″ x 20″ pieces of different fabric: one for the outer bag and one for the lining. Draw the pattern on a large piece of paper and cut out. Cut two pieces on fold from each fabric.

Pin pieces for the outer bag right sides together and sew along the sides and the bottom. Do the same with the two pieces for the lining.

Now cut a 4″ broad and 40″ long strip for the strap. Fold strip in half lengthwise and press. Open and press long edges ¼” to wrong side. Fold so that pressed edges meet and topstitch.

Center each end of the strap over a side seam on the right side of the outer bag: strap facing down as shown in the picture. Make sure that the strap isn’t twisted.

Put your outer bag inside the lining. The lining should be wrong side out so that the right side of the outer bag is touching the right side of the lining. Stitch around the top of the bag. Leave a 4″ opening for turning. Turn the bag inside out, push lining inside and close up the opening used for turning.

Written by Rapunzel’s Garden

It was tough choosing only one item (out of many) from each of their shops, so lets take a closer look the items I did choose…

To read or see a more detailed description of the product, please click on the title or the picture of the item. In addition to, when you see Shop @ ‘Artist Name’, this link will take you directly to the artist home shop page.  All links will open a new window for your convenience.

Pink beads of all kinds in a bracelet ending with a heart by BeadWizzard

The bracelet is made of frosted glass in white and pink, rose cat’s eye beads, and silver daisy spacers. It closes with a silver plated heart clasp. This is perfect to show your support for Breast Cancer… Read More >Pink Beads with Heart Bracelet

Shop @ Bead Wizzard 

 Quilted Table Runner Floral Zig Zag by PatchworkMountain

This patchwork table runner has flowers and leaves in a bit of a zig zag pattern. The colors are gold and green with some pink flowers. there is some metallic in the outer border. This runner will blend… Read More > Quilted Table Runner

Shop @ Patchwork Mountain

Rose Garden Set of 3 by FabricOfMyMind

These photos of various breds of roses were taken in June of 2010, at the New York Botanical Gardens in the Bronx. The beauty of these gorgeous flowers is self-evident.  You will receive three 8×10″ photos, one of… Read More > Rose Garden Set of 3

 Shop @ Fabric Of My Mind

Mixed Moonstone Necklace Extra Long Sterling Silver by WoodstockNYC

  Our Mixed Moonstone Necklace is a wonderful and unique gift for a June birthday, or an Moonstone lover in your life! An earthy mix of peach, grey, and white moonstone adds color to any outfit. Each of the… Read More > Mixed Moonstone necklace

 Shop @ Woodstock NYC

Applause for all the artists featured here today! ;o)  Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out all of the artists here at HandmadeArtists.com. Where you can buy 100% handmade directly from the artist.

Now… Are you ready for a challenge question for this week?  Here you go… All of the products listed above something in common, what is it? (hint… this month) LOL  Thank you again everyone for your support…  and I will see you next time for more Discover Handmade.

by Cari (crochethooked)

In addition to being an extremely talented artist, Gabrielle has been in Internet Marketing for over 25 years and is currently working on her AdWords Certification.  She is the proud mother of two wonderful children who are out making their own way in the world and married to the love of her life since 2005.  Her darling husband managed to retire early and is now the designer and builder of the furniture that the couple creates.  They love to spend time at their home in Maine, working in the garden and creating side by side.

Gabrielle began the way many of us began, making wonderful handmade gifts for our family and friends rather than buying mass produced trinkets.  These gifts of love soon led the idea that all this work could be worth something and My Lovi was born.  At the same time, she found herself the single mother of two young children and her love of crafts allowed her to add much needed income to the home without going out for a second job.  Now that the business is growing, she has combined her talents with her husband’s design ability to create some amazing works of art.

While Gabrielle has played with many different art mediums, it is sewing and clay that truly captured her passion.  She is always willing to try a new craft and incorporate it into her current work which is one of the things that makes My Lovi so special.  She does have one requirement however, that is that if she doesn’t love it she doesn’t do it.  She is adamant that if art ever becomes work she will probably stop.

One of the amazing works that you will find at My Lovi is her custom cake toppers!  Gabrielle wanted to do something for brides that no one else had and was different from all the rest.  The result is the most amazing custom toppers you have ever seen…each one different and customizable to help the bride fulfill her dream.

More recently, with the help of her husband, the couple has begun creating beautiful custom furniture for the American Girl dolls.  Each piece is handcrafted and often begins as a special order.  The furniture rivals full size pieces in quality and craftsmanship!

Gabrielle admits that working in the handmade industry is not all cake and flowers; there are some hurdles to overcome.  She is passionate about buying local and has found that the mass produced products have become more prevalent over the years at previously handmade shows.  It is hard for a handmade artist to compete with this buy/sell market, but that does not mean they give up!  Instead, Gabrielle encourages handmade artists to jump in but do it right by tracking your material costs and your creation time and not undercutting yourself.  Value your time and charge what it is worth.  Also, be legit by getting the proper paperwork and licenses that you need and research the type of license and insurance that your business needs.

Rather than be intimidated, Gabrielle encourages people to surround themselves with knowledgeable people to help your business grow and prosper.  If you are not a graphic designer, enlist one to help you create your brand and then find a local printer for your needs.  This relationship not only allows you to be hands on but helps your local economy.

So, are you ready to see what a gifted woman and some clay can create?  My Lovi is easy to find on HandmadeArtists as well as on her own Website where you can sign up for monthly newsletters, sales and be the first to know when a new product will be out.  You can tweet with her on Twitter and follow her latest creations on Facebook as well.

June 8th is BEST FRIEND DAY

Best Friend Day is a time to enjoy and appreciate your best friend. It’s a day to honor and cherish the relationship.

If you’re lucky, you have a best friend. If you are real lucky, you have a number of best friends. Best friends are very, very special people. You spend countless hours with your best friend going to events and activities, or just hanging out.

You share secrets, hopes, dreams, aspirations, and disappointments with your best friend. Some folks say you can only have one best friend. I disagree. You can have a couple at the same time, or several over time. Friends come and go for a variety of reasons. It’s the result of many things, including moving, changing schools or jobs, and more. I hope that you are lucky enough to have a number of best friends over the years.

Celebrate Best Friend Day with

Handmadeartists.com by:

Spending time with your best friend, having fun searching

Handmadeartists.com

Making efforts to find a best friend (if you don’t currently have one)

Mingle in the forums on Handmadeartists.com

Giving a gift or card to your best friend, which you find on Handmadeartists.com, just because

Calling an old best friend that you’ve lost touch with and invite him/her to Handmadeartists.com

Believe me, we all need at least one of those BEST FRIENDS,

Monika of Myeuropeantouch

Click on any of the images to learn more about the artist!

Father’s Day is about nine days away and there is still time to order a gift for Dad. Here at Handmade Artists, you can find a large variety of handcrafted gifts for just about every occasion, including Father’s Day. Sure, you can go to your local mall and pickup the standard gift, but why not give him something unique this year? A special handmade gift to say… ’Thanks Dad!’

Look no further, I found a few more gift ideas for Dad… or for that special man in your life, made by HandmadeCreationsbyShelly, forkedupart, 1337Art, and Nicilaskin.

 Lets take a closer look at these handmade creations for Dad…

Personalized Mugs For Dads by HandmadeCreationsbyShelly

Ceramic 11 oz coated mug. They are dishwasher and microwave safe. Add the “Special Saying” of your choice. Couldn’t fit all of the Sayings on one page. Contact me before you place your order to let me know what sayings you want on your mugs. Great for hot and cold drinks and for… Read More > Personalized Mugs For Dads 

Shop @ Handmade Creations by Shelly

Paper Clip Holder Fork by forkedupart

Another great addition to your desk space. This paper clip stand livens up the office and gets the inter-colleague conversation rolling. Comes with the shot glass which can hold many different office supplies, such as paper clips, staples, thumb tacks, etc.  Figurine is made with stainless… Read More > Paper Clip Holder Fork 

Shop @ Forked Up Art

Celtic Necklace for Men on Black Suede Fathers Day Gift Idea by 1337Art

This unisex necklace features a Celtic knot triangle pendant on black microfiber suede cord with a mixture of sterling silver and pewter components. Stylish enough for both men and women to wear. Great for daily use or for when you want to add something a little extra special… Read More > Celtic Necklace for Men

Shop @ 1337 Art

Golf marker handmade in aluminum for a very serious golfer by Nicilaskin

This 18 gauge hand sawed aluminum golf marker has been stamped with the words “born to golf forced to work” in a circular pattern along the circumference making it perfect for the a very serious golfer. The edges and surfaces have been polished for a classy appearance, while… Read More > Golf marker

Shop @ Nici Laskin’s Jewelry and Art

Wow… very cool and creative handmade gifts, don’t you think? And to help you find more terrific products, here is the search link I used for – Father’s Day Happy shopping!

Well, everyone thanks for visiting and checking out these amazing artists from Handmade Artists. Be sure to come back for more Discover Handmade next week. Until then… Be safe and have a great day!

Cari (crochethooked)

It has been a long-time dream of mine to open and operate my own store. The idea of the store has morphed from form or another, but always staying within the same vein or theme of handmade art and gifts.

In October of last year, I was graciously offered an empty building on a lot with an already established business, walking and drive-by traffic in and excellent location along a main thoroughfare of my city.  Next month that dream will come to fruition as I begin to move into Little Shop of Artists, in Boise, Idaho, with several other local participating Artist vendors on July 1, 2013.

Many of you may be thinking, “Wow, that is so exciting”, and it is.  It is also a lot of hard work, time and effort.  There are several other vendors at Handmade Artists that also have brick and mortar shops, and can tell you it is no easy task keeping one up and running.

I thought it might be fun to share some of the things that go on during the process of establishing a brick and mortar store.

1.  A location, that is essential.  Some questions to ask yourself, What is the rent?  What is the square footage?  Where is it located?  Do I have enough items to fill it?  What kind of store do I want it to be?  Are there displays?  What do I need to provide?  Who will work in the store?  H ow do I get paid?  The most important question to ask yourself should be, Is it within the budget?

2.  Registering Your Business Name:  Here in Idaho, businesses are not licensed they are registered with the Secretary of State for an affordable fee of $25.00 per name.  This is called an IBR or Idaho Business Registration form.  This registration allows you to “Do Business As (DBA) the name you have chosen for your business, and is usually issued and attached to the applicants social security number.

3. Tax or Seller’s Permit: This is a number assigned to a slip of paper (permit) that reads with your name, your business name (also called a DBA), and other pertinent information.  The State of Idaho requires these permits to be placed in a visible area in the location in which you are selling your goods.  It must also have the phyiscal address of where the goods are located for sale.  In some cases, like myself, two permits are required, one for the origin of business (my home), and the other for the location from which the wares are sold.  This is also how Sales Tax is collected and reported to the State of Idaho.  These are issued at no charge, and as many copies may be issued as you have locations.

4.  Advertising and Draw:  Here in Boise, as in most cities, there is a public radio station that runs entirely on donations and is operated by volunteer D.J.s, KBRX.  They have amazing programming and run fund raising events from time to time, as well as offer promotion for donations.  This is a fabulous way to support an other local business, and get the word out that you are open for business as well.   Local papers will on occasion run a free press release for new businesses.  Check your local agencies to see what you can do to get the word out for your own store or event!

5.  Move In and Open Dates:  When you will move in?  When you will be prepared or set to open?  It is my hope to have one or two, perhaps three vendors a day move into the shop, spaced over a couple hours so all will feel as if they have the time and attention they need to be comfortable and confident in their displays.  I am expecting or would like to announce the opening of the doors on or around July 15th, 2013.   I have given myself two weeks for move in and disaster cushions.

That being said, I am looking forward to maintaining my shop here, as well as having a physical location to visit and from which to promote other talented artists at a single venue.

I am so excited about this new venture, in hope some of you will join me in my happy nervousness. I am also very thankful for the support and opportunities I have received here at Handmade Artists, blogging, the shop, and friends made through the forum, IBH, and other ways to really showcase my wares on line!  Thank you Andrew and Kimberley for all that you do and sharing the platforms on which to do them!

Written by ~The Alchemists Vessel~

Written by Albina Rose

Some time ago, I participated in an online discussion where this topic came up, and I had honestly, never thought of it until then. But the conversation did get me thinking about it. And thinking about it even more. Until I came to understand how important it is to have a brand identity and brand promise.

“The brand promise is what audiences are assured of receiving as a result of their relationship with the brand.”

And another from Brain Trust contributor: Jean Wilcox, Co-author of Abullard’s ABC’s of Branding :

A brand promise is the statement that you make to customers that identifies what they should expect for all interactions with your people, products, services and company. It is often associated with the company name and/or logo. Sometimes also called a “tag line,” here are three examples of brand promises following a name or brand:

For a heating and air conditioning company:
ABC Heating and Air — “We’re not comfortable until you are.”

For a tire company:
Dave’s Tire Company — “More than tires, we deliver peace of mind.”

For a fine dining restaurant:
Carl’s Steak House — “Our food is the best, but the memories we help you create are even better.”

Christine Hendricks, Director of Brand Strategy says “A brand is a promise a company makes to its customers, which must be delivered upon consistently with every single interaction.”

I’m sure you now understand what a brand promise is. And the importance of having one for your business. It’s an identity of who you are, what your product is, your customer service and what your customers will come to know you by. It also should convey to people who are not yet your customers, what they can expect from their interactions with you.

Sounds simple but it’s not been that easy for me to create a brand promise. That’s because, for a long time I was all over the map with my work. There was no cohesiveness or balance between my jewelry (and everything else I was making). I thought in order to be successful, I had to please everyone in order to sell to everyone.  I had no idea at the time what a target market was or what that even meant.

What helped me create an image that worked for me was to look inside myself.   Normally, you would start by asking what market do you want to target?  But, I rarely do anything the normal way, so I started by looking at what I loved to make the most.  What work did I create that I enjoyed making and best represented me.  Once I was able to identify that, I felt I had found my brand image—fantasy, faerie tales, unique.  From there, my brand promise of romance, enchantment and magic, naturally developed as I allowed my spirit and other inspirations infuse the items I loved making.

In other words, look at your work and draw from those elements to create your brand identity. From that, your brand promise will naturally develop. And because you reached inside of your work, in essence your heart, it will honestly represent you, extending to your image.

Or, you may want to approach it in a more conventional manner.  Identify your target market, research it and create items that your market will want to purchase from you.  Either way, you should have a brand image and brand promise that your customers and customers to be will come to recognize and know you by.  Whatever that may be.

This is my favorite explanation from GarrReynolds.com:

Brands are Personal–
The greatest brands of all — that is, the greatest brands to you — are much like a trusted friend. In a sense, we judge brands by asking ourselves the same kind of questions we would ask about people we know or are thinking of doing business with. For example, we might ask: Is he authentic? Is he reliable? Is he honest? Can I trust him? Does he make me feel better about myself? The bonds we have with our most trusted friends, are bonds based on a promise. Our relationships with brands are not (usually) as strong as those with people, of course, but if a brand breaks a promise, you can bet that customers will feel betrayed, anger, and take their business elsewhere. Great brands have distinct personalities and people choose brands, more or less, that match their own unique personalities.

Written by Albina Rose

Click on any of the images above to learn more about these wonderful artists!!!

While many of us participate in arts festivals or craft shows as exhibitors, very few people have been on the other side of that adventure. I am the Artist Coordinator and Co-Chair of not one, but two regional, juried arts festival. I thought it might be interesting to you to know what goes on before you arrive for the day(s) of your next show.  One of our arts festivals is in June, the other in September.  For the purpose of this article, I’m just going to walk you through how we get to show day for the Cedar City Summer Arts Festival / GROOVEFEST, which this year is June 28-29, 2013.

And So We Begin

Our first meeting to plan this year’s Summer Art Festival was in December, 2012.  I have a small committee of five people.  We met with the organizers of GROOVEFEST – An American Music Festival.  The two events co-occur in Main Street Park, which is centrally located in Cedar City, Utah.  We discussed the 2012 event, and tried to identify anything we would like changed or altered in 2013.  Attendance in 2012 was terrific (estimated at 50,000+), and we decided that our advertising scheme was good and should be duplicated for this year.  The layout of the entire event also worked beautifully, and will remain the same.  The consensus at this meeting was it wasn’t broken – we’re not going to fix it.  Carry on!

Step 1

After this meeting, a series of press releases were done (by one of my committee members).  These were submitted to more than 40 publications all over the western United States, stating that we were accepting applications with a postmark deadline date of March 9, 2013.  My job at this point was to update the website (Cedar City Arts Council sponsors the arts festival), contact all previous artists, and answer any/all questions that may arise.  There are a couple of email blasts, and I also design and send out postcards.  It amazes me that some people have no email address.

Accepting applications is an ongoing process during the first quarter of the year.  We still accept only hard copy applications.  About half of them get returned to the submitting artist, because they are incomplete or ineligible in some way…  they don’t have all of the required pictures, the application isn’t signed, the item(s) they want to display are NOT “handmade or created by the exhibiting artist,” etc.  Those that are complete get logged in, and filed by category for review by the jury.

Planning Continues

We met again in the end of January to discuss progress.  Applications were sluggish at that point, and we decided that another press release was in order, as well as another post card mail out.  The operations manager reported that security was in place, and that volunteers are always in short supply.  We talked specifically about the layout of the arts festival last year, and although it worked well as far as traffic pattern went, it was sloppy in the middle.  We decided to work on that over the next few months.  We also discussed and decided how many artists we could accept in each category, to maintain the diversity of the show and give each artist their own space without being on top of another artist in the same category.  We ended up limiting jewelry, photography, pottery, tie-dye, body art, bath & body, and wood.

Jurying

On March 15, 2013, the entire jury convened to review all of the applications and seat the artists for the show in June.  At that point, we had 42 applications in a wide variety of mediums.  The theme of this arts festival is Celebrating the Artistry in All Things Handmade.  This opens it up to virtually anything, but we demand quality and originality.

We always have more applicants in the jewelry category than any other.  In the space of this festival, we had previously determined that we could seat no more than 5 jewelry artists and 9 had applied.  Pottery, wood and photography were limited to 3; bath & body to 2; body art, and tie dye to 1.  We had applications from 4 potters and two tie-dye artists.  Over the course of three hours, we decided which artists were going to be seated.  In some cases, it was incredibly difficult to reject a talented artist in their field simply because we have just so much space, but it had to be done.  By the end of jurying, we had seated 34 artists.  Leaving this meeting, the Operations Manager will make final arrangements for the physical show (security, turn the sprinklers off in the park, volunteers for hospitality, etc.), the press liaison will write and distribute a number of press releases, and I will eat, sleep and breathe arts festival.

My Life After Jurying

As the Artist Coordinator, it’s my job to send out all of the letters.  Of course the “you’re in” letters are easy; the “you’re not” letters no so much.  At this point, I have the letters already written, but it’s still tough to tell someone they’re not included.  90% of the people not seated will call to complain, usually in a less than courteous manner.  This is my least favorite part of the entire process – fielding phone calls from irate artists.

The website again needs to be updated, to reflect which categories are full.  We will only entertain applications from artists in categories not already full at this point, and these artists pay more for their booth space.  This is a period of more phone calls and emails, many from artists who can’t believe we could have an arts festival without them.  I make notes on who these artists are for future reference.  (Read…  be nice to the organizers as they do hold your future in their hands.)  As I write this (June 2), we’ve juried an additional 40 artists electronically (via email) and have seated an additional 17 artists, for a total of 51.  Our drop dead date is June 1…  we consider no applications of any kind after that.

During this time, I also arrange the copy for our radio commercials and design the poster that we will use.  The radio advertising isn’t too bad, as the station reps will do most of the work.  But negotiating with them for the best rates, since we show them as a sponsor on all of our printed materials, is tedious.

The poster is perhaps one of my favorite things to do.  I really enjoy looking at all of the beautiful photographs of wonderful artwork and pulling together a collage to represent the Summer Arts Festival.  I have one or more versions printed just to see what it looks like on paper, which oftentimes is vastly different than what I see on my computer screen.  You can see the finished poster HERE.

All the while, I work on the layout.  Before it’s done, I will easily have 100+ hours in the layout alone.

The Layout

Here is an aerial view of Main Street Park; North is at the top.  The Groovefest Stage will be in the northwest corner (top left).  The inflatables for kids will be in the northeast (top right) corner.  The food vendors will wrap around the perimeter of the grass on the west (left) and south (bottom) from and to the mid-points on both sides.  The Arts Festival will consume the entire southeast corner (bottom right) where all of the trees are.

Now the trees are a wonderful thing as they provide glorious shade on 90 degree days.  But they also present a layout dilemma…  no matter how hard we try, we can’t put nice straight lines of booths through 100-year-old trees.  There is also traffic pattern to be considered…  too many rows and visitors won’t see everything.  Designing a layout that doesn’t give patrons lots of options of which way to go next works the best.

After numerous trips to the park with my wonderful spouse and a tape measure, and meeting several times with one of the committee members, we decide that this layout will work the best.  Last year, the booths in the center were in a loose, circular pattern, making for a sloppy feel.  This year, the booths in the center surround two of the trees in nice, straight lines.  The perimeter is an odd shape to miss the tree trunks, but overall works great.  Now too place the artists…

We do allow artists to tell us about their specific needs for placement on their applications.  Although we don’t guarantee that those needs will be met, we (I) do try very hard to give them what they asked for.   Most of the requests have to do with power ( the booths that are yellow) and the direction that they face.  Many ask for a corner.  Also considered is how close each artist is to another artist in the same category or medium.  And, I do know that there are some artists who cannot tolerate particular other artists…  they need to be far away from each other!  Because of all of these considerations during the layout process, we do NOT allow booth moves when you arrive at our arts festival.

Yet To Do…

Tuesday night, June 4, 2013, Paul & I will meet with the rest of the Board of Directors of the Cedar City Arts Council to give a full report on the upcoming arts festival.  TheExhibiting Artists list is done and on its way to the printer.  Posters will be printed and we hope that CCAC Board Members will volunteer to take some and distribute them.

June 19th, we will meet with the entire Groovefest committee.  All of the musical groups in the line-up, the arts festival and the food vendors will all be finalized.  We meet with Cedar City Special Events people June 25th.  Between now and show day, the layout will be finalized (read: set in stone).

It’s Show Time!

On June 27th, Paul and I will be at the park about 2 PM to put flags in the ground/spray paint booth numbers on the grass.  At 4 PM, artists will begin arriving for early setup.  We’ll be there checking in artists/assisting with unload until about 9 PM.  We’ll be back at the park Saturday morning at 7 AM, after having stopped to pick up the coffee and donuts we provide to our artists.  Check in and setup will be crazy until the show officially starts at 10 AM.  The show runs until 10 PM Friday, and we’ll be there for the duration.  We’ll be back at the park at 7 AM Saturday morning, just to make sure that everything and everyone is doing fine, and of course deliver our coffee and donuts to the site.  Tear down is not allowed before 8 PM on Saturday and since music goes until 11 PM, artists with power are encouraged to stay open late.  We will be at the park until the last artists is safely packed and on their way.  Sunday, June 30th, we will readily admit to being brain dead.

The next time you participate in a show, give the organizers that greet you a heartfelt smile.  They’ve worked incredibly hard for many months to provide you with a venue for your beautiful pieces.

Written By iKnitQuiltSew

While it is true that you can buy all sorts of candy in the supermarket, making your own is much more fun. Moreover home-made sweets are much healthier because you can use high quality ingredients and no artificial flavors.
Here are some easy recipes to start with, which do not require any specialized equipment. Enjoy your handmade sweets!

Simple Fruit Candy
2 cups icing sugar
3 tbsp. raspberry syrup
1 tbsp. lemon juice
5 tbsp. water
½ tbsp. red food coloring

Stir together sugar, syrup, lemon juice, water and food coloring in a saucepan over medium high heat. Bring it to the boil while stirring. Let it cook for a few minutes stirring frequently to prevent scorch. Fill the kitchen sink with cold water. When your candy mixture begins to bubble remove the saucepan from heat and put it in the sink. Let mixture cool slightly. Line a baking pan with greased aluminum foil. Pour mixture onto the foil and cut into cubes. You can use slightly greased silicone molds as well.

Coffee Caramel
1 cup icing sugar
½ cup cream
4 tbsp. honey
3 tsp. instant coffee

Place sugar, cream, honey and instant coffee in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Let boil slightly for about 40 minutes stirring constantly, until the mixture has become quite thick. Line a baking pan with greased aluminium foil and pour mixture onto the pan. When almost cool cut the caramel into small squares or use silicone molds.

Dutch Caramel 
¼ cup butter
½ cup sugar
1 tbsp. ground almonds
1 tbsp. ground croquant
1/8 cup cream

Melt butter in a saucepan. Add sugar and mix for 1 minute. Add cream and continue to stir for several minutes. Turn down the heat. Add the remaining ingredients. Let this mixture cook at medium heat while stirring continuously for about 10 minutes. When the mixture has taken on a nice light brown color pour it onto a baking pan lined with greased aluminium foil and leave to cool down for a few minutes. Cut into squares.

Written by Rapunzel’s Garden

K P Dreams Shop: Original everyday life ‘one-liners’ used to create unique handmade signs, along with custom accessories for home or office décor. Oh yes! Almost forgot about the gifts for the little fur faced family members. 

Fishing sign Fathers day gift by kpdreams

Details:  What a great gift for that avid fisherman in your life.  Great father’s day gift.  Measures approx 8” x 12″ and has been painted on a piece of antique slate gathered from old houses, barns and churches throughout the Midwest.  Sealed for years of enjoyment and a rawhide strap… click to read more > Fishing Sign

Shop @ KPDreams

Eclectic Gems by Gasp Shop: Eclectic Gems by Gasp Shop: Using a collection of vintage and new findings from around the world, Nancy creates a unique line of jewelry for the entire family. She has a love for her craft, a passion for design, and it shows throughout her handmade shop.

EGBG Mens Silver and Copper Bracelet by ElecticGemsbyGasp

Stunning bracelet that will go with everything ~ how about that Father’s Day Present! Handcrafted of shiny glass rondelle beads covered in silver set with an amazing center bead I call the copper orb.  The bracelet is 8” easy wear stretch and really an eye catcher… click to read more > Mens Silver and Copper Bracelet

 Shop @ EclecticGemsByGasp

Polar Stones; the Original Canadian Artisans of Whiskey Stones. They handcraft whisky stones and bar accessories; flasks and vintage wall mount bottle openers, all of which make outstanding gifts for dads, groomsmen, and even the occasional wine taster.

 Whiskey on the Go Rocks and Flask Kit by PolarStones

 Take your favorite whiskey and stones on the go with this fun whiskey stones and flask kit.  Flask is a 6oz stainless steel wrapped with real leather. As always our Polar Stones are hand crafted in Canada from Soapstone.  Each set comes in a food safe muslin bag for… click to read more > Whiskey on the Go Rocks and Flask Kit

 Shop @ PolarStones

Maryanne Murphy Designs: Handcrafted, monogrammed glass cabochon pendants, earrings, cuff links, and bracelets, made to order for personalized gifts.  She also creates photo jewelry, vintage earrings and wine charms for unique gift giving.

 Monogrammed Jumbo Paper Clip Monaco Blue Bookmark Set of 3 by mmd

 For the person who has everything…something to keep everything organized. Monogrammed items always add a personal touch as a gift to someone special, for a special occasion or yourself! Men, women, teens and tweens will appreciate your…. click to read more > Monogrammed Jumbo Paper Clip

 Shop @ mmd

Cool gift ideas for…. Wait a second now, I almost spoiled the answer. ;o)  Are you ready for the challenge question? OK Here you go….

We recognize and give thanks to who on June 16^th (the third Sunday of June)?

Do you think you have the answer? Great!  As long as you are typing a comment, please leave your answer in the comment section. On Monday June 3, I will post the answer to the question.

Well that’s it for Discover Handmade… Have an excellent weekend, be safe and see you all on Monday! And Thank You for supporting handmade!

Cari (crochethooked)

Peppermint Pumice Foot Rounds

Rub away those ugly callouses and perk up tired tootsies with this amazing Pumice Foot Round from the talented mind of ReefBotanicals.  Each round it infused with wonderful oils to soften your feet with the scent of peppermint wakes up the rest of you!

Lavender and Peppermint Foot Butter

Now that your feet are callus free, you need some luxurious cream to soften them up.  This lavender and peppermint butter is just the thing.  From the shop of KSWhitDesigns, this amazing cream is just the thing to make those tired feet feel refreshed and ready to show themselves.

Womens Yarn Embellished Flip Flops

Now that your feet are smooth and soft, CreationsByShelly has just the thing to show them off with these darling embellished flip flops!  Bright and happy in a variety of colors and patterns, you can show off your summer feet when you just can’t go barefoot.

Chalcedony is a catch all term that includes many well known varieties of cryptocrystalline quartz gemstones. They are found in all 50 States, in many colors and color combinations, and in sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks. Chalcedony includes carnelian, sard, plasma, prase, bloodstone, onyx, sardonyx, chrysoprase, thundereggs, agate, flint, chert, jasper, petrified wood, and petrified dinosaur bone just to name a few of the better known varieties.

Flint, chert and onyx are usually found in black.  The absence of all color.

Carnelian and jasper tend to be red in color.

Bloodstone is green with red dots; whereas prase and chrysoprase are usually green.

Thundereggs (geodes), agate, petrified wood and petrified bone are usually banded.

All of these being a form of quartz, have the same general characteristics.  Chalcedony is usually opaque to translucent, so are usually cut en cabochon.  Various locations and patterns give rise to many names for different agates.  However, the stone is still chemically and physically silicon dioxide.  Debating the adjective ahead of the word agate is a useless, pointless discussion.  Agates are easily cut, and can make some of the most beautiful cabochons used in jewelry.

Because of its abundance, durability, and beauty, chalcedony was, except for sticks, animal skins, bones, plain rocks, and possibly obsidian, the earliest raw material used by humankind. The earliest recorded use of chalcedony was for projectile points, knives, tools, and containers such as cups and bowls. Early man made weapons and tools from many varieties of chalcedony including agate, agatized coral, flint, jasper, and petrified wood.  Here is a bowl carved from a large piece of agate.

Posted by Rasmussen Gems and Jewelry LLC

When life gives you lemons you make lemonade, right? Easier said than done, though I have found an amazing artist who did just that and found a renewed love for an old passion.

Chris Costa lives in beautiful Broomall, Pennsylvania with his wife and four children who range in age from 1 to 17. When he is not out with his camera or in his studio you can find him spending time with his loving family, playing sports or chillin out at Starbucks!

Chris came from an artistic family with a father who worked as a commercial artist and two sisters who were graced with the ability to draw and paint. When he was about 7 his father gave him his first camera and photography quickly became a wonderful hobby but not his business until much later.

After working as an automotive master technician for over 20 years as well as in his Father’s art studio, Chris suffered a car accident which resulted in serious injuries.  He was forced to leave his auto tech job and began work for an automotive company, writing technical articles and doing photography for their publications.  During this time, Chris began hiking as a form of physical therapy and found many photo opportunities along the way.  As he put it, photography along these hikes went from an afterthought to an opportunity.  His love for the outdoors and nature captured through his lens led him to leave his office life and begin his own business.

While he was not blessed with the same drawing and painting ability as his sisters, he was graced with an eye for color and design….maybe his father knew this when he gave Chris his first camera at 7 years old?  Rather than attempt to paint the images in his head, he found a way to capture the beauty through his lens and loves to share this with others through his work.  He did not do it alone, however, and Chris advises anyone that is interested in selling their own handmade art to do their research into their chosen medium and see what they are getting into as well as to seek out advice from a mentor.  One must also understand that the art business is full of ups and downs so artists must explore various opportunities to market themselves to find what works for them.

Are you ready to see what this automotive tech turned professional photographer is able to capture through his lens?  You can find his work on Handmade Artists as well as on his own portfolio website and Etsy.  You can follow his work on Facebook and Twitter.  If you are fortunate enough to live in the North-East, you may also be able to see Chris’s work in person at one of the many shows he does around Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland!

The definition of ‘Doll’ (per Wikipedia) is a model of a human being, often used as a toy for children. Throughout the centuries, going back to 2000 BCE, materials used to make dolls are: clay, stone, wood, bone, ivory, leather, wax, straw, cottonwood, cornhusks, porcelain, paper, plastic, fabric, vinyl, and everything in between. So I guess it’s safe to say… most of the dolls were hand-crafted. ;o)

Speaking of dolls, please welcome four handmade doll creators, Pumpkinseedstore, LorettaClark, LilBitSassy and iKnitQuiltSew from HandmadeArtists.  Lets take a closer look at their creations.

Pumpkin Seed Signature Doll Limited Edition by pumpkinseedstore

Details: Soft, cuddly, natural and collectible rag doll. This is Pumpkin Seed 2013, an annual Signature Doll will be realeased each year, but only 1000 will be made. (500 UK, 500 USA)Eco-friendly, biodegradable and made directly from original… click > read more

Shop @ Pumpkin Seed Store

Cloth hug doll by LorettaClark

Details: Elenne is 18 inches tall, made from my own pattern.  The body is made from polyester knit, stuffed with hypo-allergenic polyester fiberfill.  Arms and legs are machine stitched to the body. Hair is acrylic yarn … click > read more

Shop @ Loretta Clark

My 1st Doll in Red Dots by LilBitSassy

Details:  This adorable little doll is perfect for a baby or toddler to carry around. Lightly stuffed, even small hands will have no problem holding onto her.  Measures 11″ high. Hands, feet and head are stuffed with organic polyfil, Hat… click > read more

Shop @ Lil’ Bit Sassy 

Handmade Rag Doll with Curly Blonde Hair by iKnitQuiltSew

Details:  This handmade rag doll is Ilsa.  Ilsa can be a toy or a member of a doll collection.  Ilsa stands 11 inches (28 cm) tall to the top of her curly blonde hair.  She is wearing a white blouse with a brown satin bow at the… click > read more

Shop @ I Knit Quilt Sew

You can find more innovative handmade dolls, just by clicking your mouse here > Dolls and Miniatures   There is a diverse selection for gift giving or collecting, which would make any child or adult smile.  With Christmas about 7  months away, start your shopping early this year!  ;o)  Sorry I had to say it!

Now it’s time for the challenge question:  Each artist uses their own personal design when creating a _____?    (hint: a four letter word in the title… this is not a trick question) LOL

Think you know the answer?  Great!  Please leave a comment below and include your guess to the question and May 27th, I’ll post the answer. Good Luck!  Well, my good friends, it’s time to go. Thank you for supporting handmade and the artists behind the creations.  I hope to see you next time to Discover Handmade.

Cari (crochethooked)

Turtle Stone Pendant Necklace on Quartz

Want to show your love of turtles with amazing style? Easy with this amazing pendant from AlgriumEngranving.  Amazing stylized turtle engraved flawlessly on a piece of clear Quartz, ready for you to wear day or night.  Not a jewelry person but still love this work?  This shop is loaded with beautiful engravings on everything from water bottles, to mug, to shot glasses done in intricate designs that must be seen to be believed.

Bohemian gypsy handbag Fringed leather handbag with beaded turtle totem

Thunder Rose Leather brings to you an amazing way to show off your love of turtles with style!  This amazing bag is large enough to hold all your necessities without looking like you are lugging a suitcase.  Why have a bag that looks like everyone elses when you can have a bag that reflects your style done in leather by and expert?

Knitted Green Turtle Toy

Who says that turtles can’t be cute and cuddly?  This darling knitted turtle proves them wrong.  From the amazing needles of Toy Box by Flame of Silver, this little guy is just waiting to be loved.  If you are not looking for a turtle, this shop has a variety of critters looking for forever homes that suit any love.

Written by Beadthing

Here at Handmadeartists.com many of us feel that it is not just a place to sell your wares, but that it is a community. I know that I certainly do. I have never been involved with a site that shows such a community spirit as the Handmade Artists. I truly feel that I have made some lifelong friends here and you know what I have never met them.  Does that matter?  I don’t think so, perhaps someday I will meet many of them, but it does not really matter to the friendship that is gained.

One way to get involved is through the Handmade Artists Forum.  There are many threads here that will spark the imagination, answer questions, give you a glimpse into the lives of the members and in general give you a really good feeling.  One of my favorite threads is “What are You Doing Today?”  It is also apparently the favorite of many, just look at the number of posts that have been made over time. Many post a tidbit each and everyday.  I know that I go there at least 3 or 4 times a day to see what everyone is up to. But it does not stop there.  Be sure to take a look at all of them.  You will know when we are sick, what our dogs are doing (or other pets), what we are working on, our new listings, what we like and what we don’t like.  The gambit of emotions is displayed here with one exception.  I have never ever seen anger on this site, and I do mean not ever.  It is an emotion that we simply don’t have here.  There is no reason.

There are hundreds of shops on the site and I for one would love to see more of them participating in the forum, the rings for promotion and the site in general.  There is so much to offer here that if you are not participating fully, you will miss the fun and the true meaning of this site, to support handmade.  That is what this community is about, supporting handmade no matter who and no matter what the handmade product is, we support it and this is a true community in that sense.  We support everyone, not just one or two, but everyone and everyone needs to become a member of this community in the true sense of the word.

So come on get out of your comfort zone and give it a shot, meet up for a chat on Thursday evenings about 8:30pm and see if you don’t find someone that you like.  It is pretty much no holes barred, say what you want with respect and it is accepted.  Another gift of being a community, we respect one another tremendously and it shows in the way this site is growing.  No we are not as large as Etsy or Artfire, but this site has not been around for as long as they have, BUT, we are a happier bunch of folks than on either of the other sites and I know because I have been  a member of all three and I choose this one.

I will be looking for some new faces on the chat and the forum to see if you are willing to come in and let us meet you and love you.  You won’t be sorry.  See you there.

Written by Beadthing

Click on any of the above images to learn more about these artists!

If creating isn’t just a hobby for you, if you actually have a shop and items listed for sale, your answer to that question should be simply “yes,” because you should be both.

Look, it’s a risk putting your creations -yourself – out there for others to judge. It really is asking for judgment, after all. You hope someone besides you likes what you make, likes it enough to actually spend money on it.  You may wonder if you’re nuts, if you really have anything to offer.  Saying to yourself, “I have a skill, and it’s a marketable skill, and I create things other people want,” takes guts.  It takes confidence that others will judge you favorably.  So kudos for getting that far.  But that’s not the end of it.

You also need to be a real shop.  You can’t just snap a couple photos and throw stuff up online for sale.  You need good photos and good descriptions, but that’s been addressed in other posts on this blog and I won’t be addressing it here.  I merely mention it to remind you.  Today I’m talking about what else it takes to be a real shop.

First, you need real prices.  Pricing is discussed in the handmade world all the time.  Will people actually pay our prices?  Are we undercutting each other?  Are we getting paid just enough to buy the next bit of supplies, or are we actually being paid for our time and expertise and making a profit?  How do we compensate ourselves properly while still pricing competitively to draw in customers?

I’ve got news for you.  The big stores?  Those nationwide chains?  They have these same conversations!  They have entire marketing teams comprised of people whose job it is to figure this stuff out.  We don’t, but we certainly can learn from them.  We can look at those stores and decide where we fall on the spectrum.  Where we want to fall.  You may not know this, but Banana Republic, the Gap, and Old Navy are all the same company.  The wares are different and the prices are different at each shop, but all are successful.  You may think that Old Navy is the way to go; it’s less expensive than the others, still decent fashion, just not as good quality.  Or you may think that you’re more like the Gap; mainstream, not risky, mid-range.  As for me?  I think most of us are and should be Banana Republic.  The company isn’t afraid to say, “We have a higher quality product that’s made better and looks better, and we’re going to charge appropriately.”  They charge more, and they’re worth it, and people know it.  Go to your nearest mall and take a look.  They may not have as much square footage as Old Navy or as many shoppers, but I’ll let you in on a little secret:  They don’t need to sell as many pieces to make the same money!  We should learn from that.  We spend more time than factories, and take more care, and should be compensated accordingly.  Don’t be afraid!  Have confidence that customers will judge you favorably and deem you worth it.

And it takes a lot less work and effort to sell one item for $100 than ten items for $10.

So more than pricing yourself competitively, price yourself correctly.

Second, you need real policies.  Go look at the website for those shops I mentioned; they all have online shopping.  If your online shop’s Policies page isn’t filled out in detail, taking into consideration everything you can think of, you’re not a real shop.  You need this, for your own protection, and honestly, to keep customers happy.  Customers who know what to expect are much happier than customers who face surprises in dealing with you.  Surprises, changes to terms, making things up as you go along – all of that makes you look untrustworthy.  You could be the most honest person on the planet with the best intentions, but this is still what it looks like to someone who doesn’t know you.

But back to protecting yourself.  This is important, and you are entitled to it.  You need it.  The big nationwide chains have it, and you’re not even a huge corporation with a battery of attorneys at  your beck and call.  You need it even more.  You also need to recognize that just because you’re not a behemoth with a legal team doesn’t mean you’re not worthy, you’re not a real business, and you’re not entitled to stand by your decisions.  You are.  Have confidence.

We are not a flea market.

If you’ve already priced your items correctly, you’re perfectly entitled to run a sale – just like those nationwide chains do – but no one’s entitled to haggle with you.  No one’s entitled to push you around.  No one’s entitled to make you change your policies.  No one is a special snowflake.  And I guarantee you not one of the people who would make you try would go to the GAP/Old Navy/Banana Republic website, email the corporation, and say, “Hey, I really like those jeans, but I want you to discount them for me.  And by the way, I don’t like to use a credit card online, so send me the jeans and I’ll write you a personal check and send it in the mail.  And if you don’t get the check right away, don’t worry about it, just ship the jeans anyway, I promise I’ll pay.”

Why should they be able to say this to you?  Just because you’re the artist?  Because they’re dealing directly with the “manufacturer” and “designer” and you’re just one person?  Sorry, but that’s not a good enough reason.  Yes, one of the benefits to the way we work is that we have personal contact with our customers.  Our wares aren’t made by the faceless, nameless masses; they’ve got a back story and a history, which is really nifty.  Customers appreciate that they get to “meet” and deal directly with us.  But that doesn’t make us less than the big corporations, it makes us more.

So what do you do when someone tries to haggle or get you to waive your policies for him or work in a way in which you’re not comfortable?  You stick to your guns.  You stick up for yourself.  You act like a business.  You go so far as to lose the sale.  Yes, I said it.  You lose the sale.  Scary, I know.  Of course it is.  Do it anyway.  The big chains would.  Good sales, you don’t want to lose.  Bad sales you don’t need, and you’re likely to lose them anyway.  If a potential customer is refusing to adhere to your shop’s policies, making you make all the changes in the way you do business, making you jump through all the hoops, it’s not a good sale.  Run.  Because after you do all that, after you cater to the customer, after  you make yourself uncomfortable, after you jump through the hoops, after you do everything you said you’d do and more… you’re likely to lose the sale anyway.  And then what?  You’ve wasted time, money, energy, and peace of mind for nothing.  It’s just not worth it!

Have confidence.

Click on any image to learn more about the artist!

Writen by Larissa of Reef Botanicals

Did I grab your attention, aw I did indeed, so lets carry on just a little more to read. These artists and their products here are pleasantly displayed; to help spread the word and Discover Handmade.

 I am thrilled to introduce to you… a: Norma’s Bath and Body, b: Platinum Designs, c: A E beads, and d: Cowboy Palace featured artists from HandmadeArtists.

Trial Size Shea Butter Lotions:  you’ll get (5) very luscious Shea butter lotions! They will come in a variety pack, I will choose the scents! They will come in bakery, fruity, floral, relaxing etc… click > read more

Shop @ Norma’s Bath and Body

Follow:  Twitter

Personalized Custom Wedding Programs: If you have a custom monogram we can use it, or we can use a design from your invitations to make them cohesive with your other stationary items.

We can also create a custom monogram for you to… click > read more

Shop @ Platinumdesigns

Copper ’S’ Hook Clasps:  Hand shaped copper s hook clasp complete with 2 open jumprings.

Pieces are made individually by hand, tumbled for strength, hammered, then tumbled again to bring… click > read more

Shop @ aebeads

The Ocotillo - Western Hat Rack: handcrafted in western pine and finished with either a natural color or stained to enhance the beautiful wood grain.  The stain and… click > read more

Shop @ CowboyPalace

Whew!… That poem was a tricky one to write. LOL  Now for a tricky challenge question… Ready?…  OK… Here it is….

Looking at the photos above, what do these products have in common?

Do you know the answer to the question? All you have to do is leave your answer in the comment section below.  No strings attached… no spamming your email, or sending you a newsletter.  Discover Handmade is here to assist artists (from HandmadeArtists.com) by promoting their shops, products, and business.

Please take a few minutes, think long and hard about your answer… and simply leave it in the comment section.  Boom!  You are all done! Thank You!

See you all over the weekend and I will post the answer to the challenge question on Monday the 20th. Thanks for stopping by I’ll see you soon!

Cari (crochethooked)

Ever since I posted the Pantone Fall 2013 color palette, I’ve heard from readers saying they are having difficulty combining the colors in their work. I have a 3 word solution to that dilemma. “Take a Walk”.

Just glancing at the color swatches, it does look like an odd group to combine and coordinate but if you take that palette outside, you see those colors working together naturally.  Yes, it’s spring, not fall, but these hues are combined in nature all over the place.

 Head out for a walk with these color swatches and a camera (or smart phone) and see how many places you can find at least 3 of these shades together in nature. If you live in the city and you don’t have a lot of parks around, go to a conservatory and look around. Take some photos of places you find these colors in combination and then head to your bead, yarn or fabric shop. Grab a handful of whatever medium you use, combining a couple of these shades and you’ll be delighted at the outcome.

Whether you work in gemstones, wool, glass, paint or paper, I’ll bet you can come up with some pretty striking creations using this palette. When you do, please send photos and share with our readers.

Terri from Craft Biz Blog.com

Melina is a woman that has worked with her hands her entire life. As the youngest child in the family in Bosnia and Herzegovina, she was a third hand for everyone (which every artist knows comes in handy!) and was always being asked to hold this, get this, finish this, start this.  This amazing beginning fostered a creative spirit that is not just a job for Melina, but a way of life.  Her grandfather’s advice was “going to school is important, but never forget to learn at least one skill.”  Melina has taken this to heart.

Melina is the founder and president of the Association for the Preservation of Fine Crafts and Ancient Craft Skills.  She is also the organizer of a variety of organizations which promote charity work.  They organize craft fairs a few times a year, focusing on women that do not currently have full time employment as well as eco preservation, teaching skills and helping to sell their crafts.  In addition to all this, Melina still has time for her darling child.

This gifted lady is one that can’t be content with just one medium.  She says that her passion is chasing ideas, though sometimes the ideas chase her instead.  Melina has worked in everything from metals which she says is like magic to her, to polymer clay, making clothes, and even wood furniture.  She says that these things are a connection to lost family members-metal and wood reminds her of her grandfather, knitting and crochet of her grandmother, sewing from her mother, and beads of her aunt.  Each craft that she takes on is a connection that she holds dear.

When Melina was 15, she began selling her creations during the holidays at craft fairs.  She took a break from selling after a few years, but never her passion for creating.  About 6 years ago, Melina realized that finding a job was next to impossible so she fell back into what she knew she could do well to make a living.  She began selling online as well as street selling and putting her creations into local shops.  Doing all this is no easy task and she admittedly spends many hours on her business; though when she talks of street selling she compares it to a picnic day with lots of friends stopping by to say hi!  What a wonderful outlook.

While creating is definitely her passion, Melina admits that there are parts of business that she wishes were less time consuming and that is the paperwork side of things.  She is also passionate about resellers who claim to make the items that they are selling as that takes away from the artist.  In fact, Melina believes that you should never hide anything from your buyer’s eyes!  Be proud of your work, not overly harsh on yourself because what you see as an imperfection a buyer might see as a unique treasure.

Melina also tells those that are considering selling their own handmade work to keep your goal in mind and keep focused.  Work and discipline will bring you to your goal.  Respect yourself, your tools and your art and it will show in your work.

Are you ready to see what this lifelong creative soul from Bosnia can do?  Well, she is easy to find on Handmade Artists as well as on Facebook.  You can follow her on Twitter and check out her latest passion on her blog.

If you haven’t taken the time to honor your mother today, please do, if your mother has passed throw some love at her anyway, she’ll catch it, they always do. If your estranged from your mother for one reason or another, still throw some love her way. What ever love that is not received will come back to you. I learned this lesson a long time ago, forgiveness is for you, not the other person. If the other person does not receive then you will receive the benefit of your love returning.

So once again, from the bottom of our hearts, Happy Mother’s Day from all of us here as Handmade Artists and from our sister site It’s Better Handmade.

Thanks,

Andrew and Kimberly

We learn from our mistakes. We have all heard this before, but Tamara really took this to heart!

Tamera is a loving mother of two teenage boys that sees life through an artist’s eyes. She is married to her High School sweetheart…..awe! And is often surrounded by a large and loving family. She credits her strong Christian beliefs with keeping this family together through anything.  They love their life in Oregon; well all except camping, which Tamara admits is not her favorite family activity but goes along anyways.

Tamara was always a creative soul, always messing around with one craft or another, but painting held a special spot in her heart.  She studied for years to make it work but had failure after failure.  It wasn’t until she found a book on how to “fix” your watercolor mistakes that she really fell in love with the medium.  See what I mean about taking that advice to heart?  Tamara eventually created a tree painting for a friend and that set the ball rolling.  This one picture led to another and another and eventually to commissioned work.  Throughout this process, her darling husband has been her biggest supporter!  Tamara eventually got up enough confidence to approach local coffee shops and galleries and Art by Tam was born.

This creative lady has a love hate relationship with the unpredictability of watercolor and has created her own way to deal with it.  She uses pen and ink in order to “control” the medium.  This amazing idea gives a different look to her work, almost an illustration style.  This unique style is very popular during the holiday bazars that Tamara shows at.  In order to cover all price points, she even offers small versions of her work in the form of small pins and magnets.  She eventually plans on making prints to sell, but for now, you have an opportunity to buy her original art.

Tamara is honest about the work that goes into being a self-representing artist and warns others that you should only pursue this life if it is your passion and you are sure that this is what you were put on earth to do.  If the passion is not there, then maybe art is more of a hobby for you than a career.  If art is your passion you should not let anyone or anything stop you…even the impossible is possible with an attitude of action.

Are you ready to see what this talented wife and mother can do with pen and ink and watercolor?  Well, if you are not lucky enough to see her work in person you can find her on Handmade Artists as well as on Etsy.  You can browse her full line of work on her online portfolio as well as follow her days on Facebook and her blog.

Tamara is an inspiration to so many in that she knew what she wanted and didn’t let a few failures stop her dreams short.  Instead, she persevered and found a way to make it work and later make that work her own.

Stained glass inspired by a story from long ago, garters created for a special occasion, a crocheted pouch made for a keepsake, and ceramic mugs: one for her and one for him.

I proudly present Reflections, RiverRocksArt, GartersbyKristi, and AliceNeal from HandmadeArtists.

The Green Galleon and North Star Stained Glass by Reflections

Description: Using bits of scrap stained glass, The Green Galleon was designed by my 12 yr old grandson.  With emerald green, striated green & white, different blues stained glass, and the 5 stars, this unique… > read more

Unique stained glass gift ideas > Reflections’ Shop

Emerald Green BB Satin Wedding Garter Set by GartersbyKristi

Description: A stunning coordinating satin wedding garter set featuring fun and flirty hand-tied bows.  Each keepsake garter has a tiny blue bow tucked on the inside of the garter for a touch of “Something Blue.” > read more

More Adorable Garters > GartersbyKristi’s Shop

Crochet Drawstring Pouch in Emerald Green Cotton by AliceNeal

Description: Hand crocheted emerald green cotton pouch with buttercup yellow plaited drawstring.  100% supersoft cotton.  16cm square.  Custom-made also available – just tell me your colours > read more

Terrific items made with yarn > AliceNeal’s Shop

Large Dark Emerald Green Ceramic Mugs Set of 2 by RiverRockArts

Description: These large ceramic mugs are glazed with an emerald green translucent glaze layered randomly with an accenting glaze, a perfect his and hers set . The mugs hold 20 ounces and… > read more

Creative ceramic mugs, jewelry, and home décor > RiverRockArts’s Shop

Thanks everyone for your support! Discover Handmade by looking around the shops here on Handmade Artists and share your finds here in the comment section, Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. It’s a great way to support your fellow artists.

Hold on…before you go, here is my challenge question

 What do the items in todays article have in common? (hint – read the titles)

Remember to leave your answer in the comment section below. Thanks again and see you next week… Have a creative day! Cari Baker (crochethooked)