Featured artist Rebecca from Max and Magnolia

Artist that I have pleasure to feature this week is Rebecca from Max and Magnolia. She is a fellow member of Lush Team on ETSY. 

Take a moment and let your self bee puld into the world of colorful baby clothes...

Dirt Bike Stencil Onesie

"I'm a CA girl born and Canadian girl bread- both my parents are from Alberta, Canada. I love mid-century design, comfy but flirty clothes, watching my taped TV shows and snacking. I've lived in 6 states & spent 7+ yrs working as an HR Director on Wall Street. After a particularly long 14 hr day I decided this really wasn't how I wanted to spend the rest of my life. I told my then-boyfriend & off to CA we went. My family is all on the West Coast and I wanted to be closer (it helped that he had a brother in CA as well). Fast forward 5 yrs and I am now a Domestic Goddess (my preferred title) working from home in So. Cal. and caring for 2 little boys (3yrs & 1yr), 1 husband & 2 dogs. I'm lucky most days if I get 1 complete hour to myself for my Max & Magnolia products, but I wouldn't change it. (ok, maybe I would ask for 1 more hour).

The elephant in the room - Stencil Onesie

I grew up with a mom who had some serious quilting skillz. She did show me a few tricks but I was way too impatient as a kid to absorb much of it. These days practice, a really good machine & sticking to straight lines helps. Just kidding, I'm much better now and actually make a bunch of clothes for my boys using their dad's old clothes. A fun girls night at my house a few years ago is what prompted me to start Max & Magnolia with a good friend. 2 friends showed us how to dye & paint clothes & voila an idea popped into my head. Hours were spent perfecting the dye process, trying out stencil designs, testing paint products & putting a list together of things we wanted in the shop. A lot of chocolate and diet coke was consumed :) Sadly, my friend moved away and couldn't dedicate time to the shop anymore. Thank goodness for FaceBook to help us keep in touch!

   

Rock & Roll

Onesies are my main product. I just loved when my little Max was crawling around with only a onesie on, but didn't love the options out there. Pacifier clips were added for the same reason. Most of my onesies are stenciled, but I am just starting to make my designs with heat transfer material & fabric appliqué, so stay tuned!

Looking for new inspiration. Whenever I stop by LA's garment district for more blanks I always take a quick stroll down at least one of the fabric streets. I love looking at the fabrics and picking up a yard or 2 for a new project. I also enjoy searching the globe (via the WWW) for cool ribbon or vintage fabric to use. Thinking of some cute chubby baby wearing one of my onesies puts a smile on my face. 

 

Pacifier Clip - Black w/ Large white polka dot

In her free time she like to be with family, go to park, outdoor mall, whatever - so long as all tree of them are together. 

- Shoe shopping. Actualy, should say I "miss" shoe shopping. My collection (from my NY living days) has taken a real hit now that I spend my $ on the boys or supplies for my shop. 

- GNO's! I have a fun group of friends and we regulary try to get together fora a craft night or BUNCO night. If you are free we are having a Cinco de Mayo BUnco night at my place next week :)

I always ask featured artist to tell me which are their favorite shops and why, this is what she sad...

LIROLA Saving & trying to narrow down what I want from this gorgeous shop. I love the colors, and that they are sassy & modest at the same time. Right now I want her 7-ways-to-wear dress SO BAD I can taste it. You are basically getting 7 dresses in 1 right?
THE VINTAGE SUPPLYCO Always checking back at this shop for some cool mid-century find for my home. The shop has a little bit of everything so you can basically do one-stop shopping. I also love the pictures, I totally feel like I'm in some 1960's home. 

I hope that you enjoyed reading about Rebecca if you want to learn more you can visit her store and became her fan on facebook or contact her by e-mail.

On line shop: www.maxandmagnolia.com

Facebook page:www.facebook.com/pages/Max-and-Magnolia/23051982877

E-mail:       maxandmagnolia@hotmail.com

Polymer clay stud earrings by JP with Love

My On line shop:
www.jpwithlove.etsy.com

Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/JPwithLove

Web site:
www.jpwithlove.com
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/JPwithLove

Featured artist Pearle & PearlesPainting

A week ago I met this talented artist on facebook. She is a fellow member of ETSY that I had pleasure to meet. I was stunned with her work and I asked her if she wanted to be featured in my blog. I was very happy when she sad yes. This talented painter really make original art pieces. To be honest it is the first time that I have seen someone uses his brush and paint in that way.  Take a moment to read about Pearle's story and let your self be guided through her artistic adventure....

Pearle at work

It wasn’t until I was in my twenties that I started taking what I do seriously and it took even longer to consider myself an artist. I love to paint whatever I can get my hands on from things as small as a Scrabble® piece to as big as a dresser and hopefully even bigger someday. Whatever it is I will paint it. I love transforming trash into treasure literally. Imagine that a chair that came from a dumpster (2006) made it into a museum (2009). It blows me away to think that something I did creates a sense of awe in a viewer’s eye.

I was talking to a friend a few years back about my love for furniture, my relationship with chairs in particular. There was a chair that I found discarded and ultimately forgotten. I came upon this chair accidentally. I wasn't looking for a relationship. Anyway, the chair was a very handsome chair with so many things to look at. His back was decorative; his arms were long and lean. His legs...I have never seen such beautiful legs. 

The chair

But he was beaten down. His self-esteem had long been worn out. His seat, which was repeatedly upholstered over years, was torn and faded. His stuffing was busting out revealing his age and loss of pride. 

Me, being a care taker and rescuer of sorts....picked up the chair and brought it home. He sat at the top of the stairs for a few weeks in a corner. My friends however saw this chair and commented on how ugly he was. They wondered why I had him in my home commenting on how dirty he was and how unattractive he was due to the years of neglect. 

I ignored them and kept him around. Finally one day I decided to put him on my coffee table and take the layers of cloth and wool stuffing off of his seat. Then I cleaned him, primed him and painted him black. Three months later I sat back and looked at him and this is what I saw.....A chair, a man restored...but not only restored but given a whole new purpose. He was beautiful again. 

He was unique and wonderful....The same chair that my friends were grossed out by....is now a chair that they ask permission to touch. Amazing.....One thing is for certain...NOTHING STAYS THE SAME! Change is inevitable and what is ugly or dirty or discarded as trash can be saved, can be rescued and can be made shinier than new!

Taking discarded forgotten pieces and giving them their self-esteem back is a passion for me. Living in a world where we discard things so easily I’d like to think I am making an itty bitty difference.

Green & Blue Dot Dot Dotting  wooden bowl by Pearles

I am 37 years old  self taught artist.

I was born and raised in Fairfield county Connecticut but now live in Natick, Massachusetts 15 miles outside of Boston.

I am a single mother of a 10 (soon to be 11) year old. We live near Boston in a small 2 bedroom apartment with our cats Free and Groovy. Free and REALLY fat so we affectionately call him "Fat Free"!

I grew up in a tough household and to escape it I would doodle on anything. I got into the habit of doodling on Styrofoam coffee cups...

Green & Blue Dot Dot Dotting  wooden bowl by Pearle

I would just fill the entire outside of the cup w/ obsessive pattern doodling! People started noticing these cups and would ask me if they could have them. So I gave a lot away. They are just out there in the world...I have no idea where.

One day a man told me I should get some paint and a good brush and paint my "doodle" on something else....So, I did. I bought my first paint brush when I was 21-ish.

Blue Dot dot dotting bowl

I started painting small terracotta pots and then a chair somebody found and then a table....and the next thing I know...I am painting anything I can get my hands on! I love finding new and interesting pieces. I like saving discarded objects and making them fabulous.

I am a single mother and life isn't easy. I rarely have any spare time...I am really trying to get out of the deep hole I am in. My child and I struggle financially but we are do not struggle w/ love. We are a small family of two but man...what a great little family are we! All of my time is devoted to my child and my work.

I asked Pearle to indicate me two of her favorite artist on Etsy here is what she told me:

Easter bunny art doll by LoopyBoopy

LOOPY BOOPY is one of the first shops my daughter and I found. We love the dolls. My daughter is saving up for one! She just simply has to own one! I agree...the workmanship on the dolls are fantastic! We also love the photographs that tell a story all depending on how you interpret them. Reagan and I long to learn so much more about the artist because her work blows our minds........

Focal  glass bead  by   Lilianabead

LILIANA BEAD Liliana is an inspiration to me! She is such a kind and warmhearted woman! Her work is amazing and every time she creates something new I am blown away. I see her from time to time being that we live in the same town and attend some of the same events. She always makes me feel good about myself and my art. So not only is she an amazing Lamp work artist but she is an amazing human being as well! Makes for beautiful art!

Hope you spend wonderful time learning about this talented painter. Fell free lo leave her some comments and give her support. You can follow links under to enter her etsy shop and other pages where you can find more pictures and info about Pearle and her art.

On line shop:   www.PearlesPainting.etsy.com 

Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/PearlesPrettyPieces

and her blog    www.pearlespainting.blogspot.com

Twitter:        www.twitter.com/PearleNorth

My On line shop:
www.jpwithlove.etsy.com

Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/JPwithLove

Web site:
www.jpwithlove.com
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/JPwithLove

Featured Artist Love Jewelry by J

I am so happy to present you my fellow Etsian Janelle from LOVE JEWELRY BY J. Please take a moment to meet this Hawaiian girl who makes beautiful so feminine and softly delicate jewelry.
Enjoy her story...

Fancy Freshwater Pearl Necklace by Love JewelryByJ

I am originally from the beautiful state of Hawaii (from the island of Oahu) and went to school in Southern California, which is where I am currently.  I married my husband, who's from Southern California and that kind of sealed the deal that I wasn't going back.  My family is still there, so I still return to visit and Hawaii will always be home.

I have always been very crafty (scrap-booking, card-making, stamping, you name it!) and I can remember from a very young age drawing, painting, trying to sculpt stuff.
I even remember making jewelry out of found items and paper.  

My parents told me I couldn't count on art for income (my dream was to be a painter), They told me if I was a doctor, I could hang my paintings in my waiting room.

I majored in science, but I still minored in fine art. Needless to say, I'm not a physician, but I am in the medical field and about a year and a half ago, found a part of myself that I thought was lost when I started making jewelry.

Lisa earrings pearl and amethyst by LoveJewelryByJ

I would say I'm pretty much self taught. 

I got into jewelry making because a friend that I work with was totally into it.  I'm not sure if she was selling, but she was making a lot.
I asked her to help me make a knotted pearl necklace and I was hooked from there.
I saw a fake pearl necklace at a store (for $50) and thought to myself that I could make that myself out of real pearls!  The same friend took me to the jewelry district and helped me pick up some supplies (it was very overwhelming as they are not big on customer service), but I taught myself how to do loops, hooks with the wire, etc.  I have to admit, the library has been a big help, too.  I've borrowed a lot of books to improve my technique and give me ideas.  I would really like to take a formal jewelry class and eventually learn about stamping metal or soldering or even pouring and making my own molds.  I'm not completely sure that's for me and would probably be a full time commitment.

Jeanette necklace knot and pearls in gold filled

 I like simple jewelry that lets the material speak for themselves.  I like designs that are minimal yet interesting and can either dress up or down an outfit.  I guess feminine but with a modern twist.  Lately, I've been moving more towards letting the metals speak for themselves and less with the stones.  And when I do work with stones, I like very minimal frills.
I like the stone to shine through.  I also lean towards monochromatic designs.  I guess I like things that are contrasting - like a delicate chain and a chaotic knot pendant or delicate and ultra feminine pearls with skull beads (I have made these, but I love skulls so much that I can't bear to part with them).  It makes for an interesting dynamic of the piece - I guess classic with a bit of edge.  I work exclusively with semi-precious stones, sterling silver, 14k gold filled and argentium sterling silver.

Chic chaotic knot in sterling silver 

My favorite part of creating definitely is shopping for materials!  I think I could do that all day long and can never get enough!  I actually spend a lot of time researching and deciding who offers the best prices on what.  And of course, I'm sure you know, that no one ever offers the best prices on everything.  I buy a ton of stuff at one time, too (which definitely costs money) but then I have to pare down on things that I think are causing me to go over budget.  I don't really design on paper, but work with copper wire as my 'practice' wire and try things that just pop up in my head.  A lot of times, I'll think and work a design in my head for a couple of days before putting it in wire.  Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't.  A lot of times, what I think I can do, I really can't.

In my free time I like to read, watch TV,  work out and make jewelry, of course!  This is a hobby for me - I have a job that unfortunately gets in the way.
 
I asked Janelle  to indicate me her favorite artists from Etsy, here is what she answered and why she like them...
 

Silver cell ring by Nervoussystem

NERVOUS SYSTEM  - They have jewelry that has very clean lines and are nature-inspired.  I love it!  If I could melt metal and make my own templates, I would totally do that, but I don't want to burn down my house, so that's not an option.  I told my husband I wanted to buy a torch so I could solder my silver stuff and he gave me a blank look and said, "you know our house is made of wood, right?"...LOL.

MOLECULAR MUSE  This shop makes jewelry out of the chemical structures of stuff like chocolate and oxytocin and alcohol.  I was a bio chem major in college plus the jewelry is so genius with clean simple lines.  I admire this stuff a lot.  Maybe one day I will be able to afford something =)

Hope you enjoyed reading about this talented artist. Fell free lo leave her some comments and give her support. She recently opened her shop on etsy so she needs also new fans for her facebook page and her blog. I am sure that she will support your pages too.

You can find more pictures of her jewelry and more details following this link to her shop

On line shop:   www.lovejewelrybyj.etsy.com

Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/JewelryByJ

and her blog    www.lovejewelrybyj.blogspot.com

Polymer clay stud earrings by JPwithlove

My On line shop:
www.jpwithlove.etsy.com

Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/JPwithLove

Web site:
www.jpwithlove.com
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/JPwithLove