Featured Artist :: Supah

This week's featured artist is Supah!

Supah 2000 - What's up with what's going down?
Supah 2005 - Four out of Five Dentists Recommend Supah.
Supah 2009 - Now fortified with 90% more Highly Professional Business Cats
Supah 2010 - It's Not Just Super, it's SUPAH!

Senioritis: Name and location please.
Supah: Amy Beth Geerling Payne, Southwestern Mitten, Michigan, USA
Senioritis: Hey Amy Beth, thanks for sitting down with us!

Senioritis: Can you tell us a little about yourself Amy Beth?
Supah: I was born and raised in Jackson, Michigan (SOUTH CENTRAL MICHIGAN - REPRESENT!!) I left at age 18 to "Go West!" but only made it two states away to Illinois where I studied digital and traditional 2-D art at The School of The Art Institute of Chicago. Then the wind blew east to Baltimore where I received a MA in Digital Art at the Maryland Institute, College of Art. I've exhibited in group and solo shows in Baltimore, Chicago, Indiana and Michigan.

I spend my days crafting, painting, and working in my home studio with too many cats and a dog in southwestern Michigan near Lake Michigan. I'm looking forward to my first year participating in the Ann Arbor Art Fair later this summer as an emerging artist.
Senioritis: Wow, very cool! I remember driving through Michigan once when I was real little (I wasn't driving) and we stopped in a town called Frankenmuth, it was a little Bavarian town and I thought it was the coolest place.

Congrats on all the exhibitions, that's awesome! How did you enjoy your time on the East coast?

Senioritis: Marlon Brando: Streetcar Named Desire or the Godfather?
Supah: Godfather. Orange slice smile monster fun. RAHR!
Senioritis: Classic scene! Who doesn't enjoy a good orange slice monster?



Senioritis: How would you describe your style Amy Beth?
Supah: Nifty, Off Beat, Colorful, Fun.
Senioritis: We like fun!

Senioritis: Amy Beth, what would you say is the best business tip you have ever received and who gave it to you?
Supah: "Don't think. Just do." My husband said it. He was prompted to say this in a book store when I was considering buying a craft business book. I began to concern myself with far more business issues than I ever needed to be concerned with, which depleted my energy - giving me less creative energy. It has definitely helped me center on doing what has always been the most important part of my business, and something only I can do. The business minutia takes care of itself as it comes.
Senioritis: That's a great tip! It's always good to invest our time where we get the greatest return ;)



Senioritis: What would you say is your favorite sport to either watch or play?
Supah: To watch - hockey. (Self-tooth extraction on the sidelines comes to mind). To play - soccer, though it's been a while. The last team I was on was sponsored by a great Chicago band called "The Wes Hollywood Show".
Senioritis: Gotta love playoff hockey, he may have a future in dentistry when his career is over ;)

Senioritis: Chevy Chase: Fletch or Three Amigos
Supah: Three Amigos. It taught me the meaning of the word "infamous," featured neat costumes, and contained a great theme song.
Senioritis: Ahh yes, the infamous El Guapo ;)

Senioritis: Do you have a favorite quote Amy Beth?
Supah: "Everyone has a plan 'til they get punched in the mouth." —Mike Tyson
Senioritis: Iron Mike knows the deal.



Senioritis: If you could jump in the DeLorean and go back in time; what’s one thing you would do differently in your business?
Supah: Preventing myself from training my cats to work the hot glue gun. As it turned out, it was an enormous waste of time. Their fur would get stuck in with the glue EVERY DAMN TIME, total fiasco.
Senioritis: But they're highly professional business cats, surely they can handle a glue gun! Maybe if they wore rubber gloves they would have proven more helpful with the task ;)

Senioritis: If the $100 bill needed a redesign, who would you put on it?
Supah: John Waters. He would have the greatest appreciation of where his face would be, at strip clubs and having a part in many back-alley financial transactions. Money is tacky, especially $100 bills. I would also redesign them to be turquoise and glittery. American currency should more closely resemble Monopoly money.
Senioritis: We think Mr. Waters would feel right at home on a glittery turquoise c note! Perhaps a glow in the dark mustache?

Senioritis: Where can we find Supah on the web?
Supah: I've been running supah.com for 10+ years; crazy, huh?! Current paintings are stowed in the gallery and I also run supah.etsy.com. I thoroughly enjoy the comradeship found through facebook and I welcome any of your readers to become new friends on facebook or twitter. Supah can also be found at flickr.com/supah.
Senioritis: Wow, Supah is all over the web; and having your own site for over a decade is no joke, nice work!



Senioritis: James Bond: Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan, or Daniel Craig?
Supah: Sean Connery. Not only because of his Scotchman goodness, but also because I named my cat Pussy Galore.
Senioritis: That is phenomenal!

Senioritis: Any shoutouts Amy Beth?
Supah: The many, many people who have more faith in me than I do; you are what keeps me at it.


Thanks so much for giving us and our readers a glimpse into the world of Supah; and remember folks it's not just super, it's SUPAH!

Featured Artist :: Symbolic Interaction Studio

This week's featured artist is Symbolic Interaction Studio!

Symbolic Interaction Studio - Uncommon art and jewelry for uncommon people.

Senioritis: Name and location please.
Symbolic Interaction Studio: Symbolic Interaction Studio, Winston-Salem, NC.
Senioritis: Hmm, Winston-Salem, so does that make you a Duke fan or a UNC fan ;)

Senioritis: Can you tell us a little about yourself please?
Symbolic Interaction Studio: From the earliest days I can remember growing up in New England, I have loved learning and doing creative things and have not stopped since. I would spend my summers reading, swimming, dancing (ballet), playing video games (oh, yes, I loved that Intellivision), creating skits that I would record on my cassette player, and drawing. I loved learning so much that I stayed in school forever, for real, earning several degrees along the way culminating in a doctorate in a social science field. Some of my early training was in the arts where I learned graphic design, ceramic techniques, photography, watercolor painting, and drawing. I knew that I wanted to teach at the college level, but decided that I did not want to grade art, so I continued my education in my one of my other favorite subjects, observing and studying people. I currently work as a professor in the social sciences; I love the creativity of teaching and interacting with students. But I also enjoy getting my hands covered with paint and I get easily distracted by pretty beads so I continue to enjoy the challenge of creating art and making jewelry even though my profession is demanding.
Senioritis: Very cool, still have any of those skit tapes around? I had a chance to check out a toy museum last week and they had a display on the evolution of video games it was pretty sweet.

Senioritis: Marlon Brando: Streetcar Named Desire or the Godfather?
Symbolic Interaction Studio: This one is easy, Streetcar Named Desire for sure.



Senioritis: How would you describe your style?
Symbolic Interaction Studio: Textural, Contemporary, Colorful & Deconstructed.

Senioritis: What would you say is the best business tip you have ever received and who gave it to you?
Symbolic Interaction Studio: The transition from art maker to business person can be a difficult one. One of the challenges is to stop thinking like a customer and creator and to start thinking like a business owner. I have learned a lot about running a business by avidly reading Etsy’s forums. One transformative piece of advice I learned there relates to pricing one’s work. Unfortunately, I don’t remember exactly who offered the advice, but she wrote that one should price one’s work at market value (what the market will bear taking into account your materials, overhead, time, training) and not what you would pay for it.
Senioritis: Great point, pricing is always a tricky topic. We have seen several pricing approaches and formulas; however, at the end of the day we think that the art of pricing seems to revert back to supply and demand. The Etsy forums definitely contain a wealth of information on pricing and many other business topics as well.



Senioritis: What would you say is your favorite sport to either watch or play?
Symbolic Interaction Studio: I love the Olympics and can’t get enough of the more “obscure” sports I only get to watch once every four years. Short track speed skating and moguls were a couple of my recent favorites.
Senioritis: The Olympics rock! We loved watching the winter games. All the short track events were exciting to watch; one slip and a medal favorite gets eliminated. We also enjoyed the snowboarding slalom event as well as the half pipe.

Senioritis: Chevy Chase: Fletch or Three Amigos
Symbolic Interaction Studio: Fletch, although I have to admit, I don’t think I have seen either movie in its entirety.
Senioritis: Fletch gets our vote as well. We've seen it several times, if you need us to fill you in on parts you missed just let us know ;)

Senioritis: Do you have a favorite quote?
Symbolic Interaction Studio: “But what to do with poor Hugo? Too crazy for Boys Town, too much of a boy for Crazy Town.” Dr. Julius Hibbert, The Simpsons
I think about this quote often because it addresses the betwixt and between character of my life, never fitting in with any one group easily. Many of us think that others may fit neatly into categories, but this quote is a reminder that people defy easy categorization.
Senioritis: I always thought The Simpsons was about donuts and beer, apparently there's an underlying message as well. D'oh! Great quote and a great observation.



Senioritis: If you could jump in the DeLorean and go back in time; what’s one thing you would do differently in your business?
Symbolic Interaction Studio: I would start my business at the point in time at which I arrived. I wish I started my business earlier even though my life at the time would make it difficult. If you are thinking about moving forward with your creative endeavors, don’t wait. There is never a perfect time to jump into it and don’t forget that you can start slow.
Senioritis: Agreed, the journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step and the frist step is often the most difficult one to take.

Senioritis: If the $100 bill needed a redesign, who would you put on it?
Symbolic Interaction Studio: Rosa Parks or Harriet Tubman would be my choice. As we honor many foundational figures of our country’s ideals of freedom on our currency, I think it would be nice to include pivotal individuals who helped work to ensure those ideals of freedom and pursuit of happiness for all.
Senioritis: Sounds good to us!

Senioritis: Where can we find you on the web?
Symbolic Interaction Studio: symbolicinteractionstudio.com



Senioritis: James Bond: Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan, or Daniel Craig?
Symbolic Interaction Studio: This is a really, really tough one. Where’s George Lazenby? My answer is Sean Connery, but only by a hair. Daniel Craig was brilliant in Casino Royale.
Senioritis: Iwas wondering if that question would come up ;) I think I'm the only person I know who saw On Her Majesty's Secret Service (Lazenby's only portrayal of 007). For those of you who have not seen it let's just say you don't need to rush to add it to your Netflix queue. It looks like Mr. Connery has extended his lead as favorite Bond.

Senioritis: Any shoutouts?
Symbolic Interaction Studio: My husband who is supportive and barely says a word about growing materials costs. My friends and family who also have backed my artistic efforts.
Etsians: 42things who offered support very early on and CreekBedThreads who also generously offered to mentor me. Members of the Etsy community who take the time to participate in the forums to share their sage advice and their experiences.


Thanks so much for giving us and our readers a sneak peek behind the scenes at Symbolic Interaction Studio!

Featured Artist :: Silvine Photography

This week's featured artist is Silvine Photography!

Silvine Photography - Candid travel photography.

Senioritis: Name and location please.
Silvine Photography: Michelle, Grand Rapids, MI.
Senioritis: Hey Michelle, thanks for sitting down with senioritis!

Senioritis: Can you tell us a little about yourself Michelle?
Silvine Photography: I'm a travel and language junkie who wanted to share different cultures with people back home in the States. I found the easiest way to do so was to take candid shots in places that I traveled to that really captured aspects of the culture. I try to feed my travel habit by selling the photographs I take.
Senioritis: Very cool Michelle. Out of all the places you have visited if you could only go back to one of them which would it be?

Senioritis: Marlon Brando: Streetcar Named Desire or the Godfather?
Silvine Photography: The Godfather



Senioritis: How would you describe your style Michelle?
Silvine Photography: Vivid, Edgy, Exotic, Surprising.

Senioritis: What would you say is the best business tip you have ever received and who gave it to you?
Silvine Photography: My boyfriend told me that you can't be shy in business. You have to work hard to promote yourself and your work.
Senioritis: Very true, we've yet to have someone knock on our door to ask us about our work ;)



Senioritis: What would you say is your favorite sport to either watch or play Michelle?
Silvine Photography: Fencing. I'm an epeeist.
Senioritis: Wow, how did you get involved with fencing? Have you had a chance to visit any cool fencing clubs in other countries?

Senioritis: Chevy Chase: Fletch or Three Amigos
Silvine Photography: Three Amigos
Senioritis: My little buttercup, has the sweetest _________.

Senioritis: Michelle, do you have a favorite quote?
Silvine Photography: Can I have two?
Senioritis: Ok ;)
Silvine Photography: "Moderation in all things, including moderation." An old Chinese proverb. Secondly, "There is a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line" by Oscar Levant.
Senioritis: I like both of those, great quotes!



Senioritis: If you could jump in the DeLorean and go back in time; what’s one thing you would do differently in your business?
Silvine Photography: Definitely market research. I just jumped in and did what made me happy without really considering where or how I was going to get customers.
Senioritis: Good tip Michelle. I think sometimes we get so caught up in creating that we forget to think about where our customers will come from and how we can reach them.

Senioritis: If the $100 bill needed a redesign, who would you put on it?
Silvine Photography: Maybe Stephen Colbert? I love his show and he's the only person I know who can motivate the younger generation to do anything.
Senioritis: Interesting choice Michelle, maybe we can put Mr. Stewart on the bill's reverse ;) I think his motivational powers are rooted in the silent T.

Senioritis: Where can we find you on the web Michelle?
Silvine Photography: My travel blog and my Etsy store, so I can afford to travel.



Senioritis: James Bond: Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan, or Daniel Craig?
Silvine Photography: Roger Moore
Senioritis: Mr. Connery is still in the lead but it's not going to be a runaway!

Senioritis: Any shoutouts?
Silvine Photography: I love my entire EtsyWMI team. They are amazing people and really supportive.

Thanks for sitting down with us Michelle and letting our readers know a bit more about the photographer snapping the pictures at Silvine Photography!

Featured Artist :: Stormone Originals

This week's featured artist is Stormone Originals!

Stormone Originals - Everything in your life should be Original, Unique like the Perfect Storm.

Senioritis: Name and location please.
Stormone Originals: AJ in Oakland, CA
Senioritis: What's up AJ! Are you an Athletics fan or do you prefer one of the other teams out in Cali?

Senioritis: Can you tell us a little about yourself AJ?
Stormone Originals: I'm a traditionally trained painter and printmaker who decided to try my hand at tie-dye, batik, and textile stamping.
Senioritis: Sweet AJ, all of your work looks great! Is there one medium you prefer working in over the others?

Senioritis: Marlon Brando: Streetcar Named Desire or the Godfather?
Stormone Originals: The Godfather!



Senioritis: How would you describe your style AJ?
Stormone Originals: Fun, colorful, easy, and inclusive.

Senioritis: What would you say is the best business tip you have ever received and who gave it to you?
Stormone Originals: Market, market, advertise and market some more!!! Gary Penders the former Director at my day job!
Senioritis: Good tip! As Cyrus McCormick reminds us, it doesn't matter how good our product or service is if nobody knows about it.



Senioritis: What would you say is your favorite sport to either watch or play AJ?
Stormone Originals: Track & field with American football getting a close second.
Senioritis: Both are great sports; I love watching the track & field events during the Olympics!

Senioritis: Chevy Chase: Fletch or Three Amigos
Stormone Originals: Fletch for sure!
Senioritis: Fletch is definitely on my favorites list, Fletch Lives is phenomenal as well!

Senioritis: Do you have a favorite quote AJ?
Stormone Originals: "Everything is all fun and games till somebody puts an eye out!" Mom
Senioritis: Hmm, I think our mom has told us that one several times as well ;)



Senioritis: If you could jump in the DeLorean and go back in time; what’s one thing you would do differently in your business?
Stormone Originals: I would build up a larger cache of inventory before opening an online shop.
Senioritis: Good point AJ! Having lots of options for people shopping in an online environment is definitely important. If our online shops only have a handful of items for shoppers to look at it's easy for them to take a quick glance and move on.

Senioritis: If the $100 bill needed a redesign, who would you put on it?
Stormone Originals: Lewis Latimer because he was instrumental in Thomas Edison creating the light bulb and was the draftsman for Alexander Graham Bell's inventions as well. He is not very well known and has not been given the credit he deserves as an inventor.
Senioritis: Unfortunately we don't have much pull with the folks who design US currency but a Famous Seniors tribute may be in order for Mr. Latimer ;)

Senioritis: Where can we find you on the web AJ?
Stormone Originals: stormone.etsy.com, my blog, my facebook fan page and my team blog, Etsy Artists of Color.



Senioritis: James Bond: Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan, or Daniel Craig?
Stormone Originals: Is there any contest? Sean Connery baby! Me loves some Sean Connery!!
Senioritis: And Mr. Connery is now leading 3-1! Do any of the other Bonds have a chance? Luckily we've learned to never count out a 007. Tune in next week, same senioritis time same senioritis place, to see if anyone can make up some ground or if Mr. Connery will pull further ahead ;)

Senioritis: Any shoutouts?
Stormone Originals: Shoutout to all the Etsy forums folks who post in ETC.!!!
All the Etsy Team Members in EAOC! Etsy Artists of Color!
Of course a shoutout to the Minnesota Vikings!!!!!! Bleed Purple!


Thanks a bunch AJ! We appreciate you taking the time to let our readers know a bit more about the great artist behind Stormone Originals; keep up the cool work!

Featured Artist :: Autumn Rain Creations

This week's featured artist is Autumn Rain Creations!

Autumn Rain Creations - Live, Love, Create.

Senioritis: Name and location please.
Autumn Rain Creations: April Dostert, Oregon, USA
Senioritis: Hey April!

Senioritis: Can you tell us a little about yourself April?
Autumn Rain Creations: I have been married to my hubby for 21 years and have been a fulltime Mommy for 18 years to 7 beautiful and amazing children. I create things, love nature, and love photography; it is just part of my life. Autumn Rain Creations is my outlet and my business.
Senioritis: That's awesome, we're sure that all your kids keep you pretty busy April :) Do your kids like to create or are they into other stuff?

Senioritis: Marlon Brando: Streetcar Named Desire or the Godfather?
Autumn Rain Creations: Streetcar Named Desire.



Senioritis: How would you describe your style to someone who has never seen your work, April?
Autumn Rain Creations: Soft, colorful, expressive, real.
Senioritis: Absolutely, we definitely see your work being all these things!

Senioritis: April, what would you say is the best business tip you have ever received and who gave it to you?
Autumn Rain Creations: Don't mold yourself into what others want just to make money. Follow your heart and work hard, success will come. I received this tip from a few Etsy Artists.
Senioritis: Great tip indeed! We've always tried to create designs that we enjoy first and foremost. Some people will like our work, some people won't, either way that's cool ;)



Senioritis: What would you say is your favorite sport to either watch or play April?
Autumn Rain Creations: My favorite sport to watch is football, my favorite sport to play would be tennis.
Senioritis: American football or World Cup football? I've always wanted to play tennis on a clay court just to see what it's like ;)

Senioritis: Chevy Chase: Fletch or Three Amigos
Autumn Rain Creations: Fletch.
Senioritis: Excelente!

Senioritis: Do you have a favorite quote April?
Autumn Rain Creations: "We may not have it all together, but together we have it all." ~ Author unknown.



Senioritis: If you could jump in the DeLorean and go back in time; what’s one thing you would do differently in your business?
Autumn Rain Creations: I would have been more organized from the get go, being organized makes more time for creating.
Senioritis: Great point April, when our work area and various projects are organized it's much easier for us to focus on creating.

Senioritis: If the $100 bill needed a redesign, who would you put on it?
Autumn Rain Creations: That would be Steve Martin. Life is too serious, we all need to laugh more :)
Senioritis: Steve Martin, excellent choice. Steve Martin with a big nose like he had in the movie Roxanne would probably help us all laugh a bit more ;)

Senioritis: April, where can we find you on the web?
Autumn Rain Creations: AutumnRainCreations.etsy.com, my blog, my facebook fan page and coming soon Autumn Rain Creations.



Senioritis: James Bond: Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan, or Daniel Craig?
Autumn Rain Creations: Sean Connery.
Senioritis: How can you go wrong with Connery?

Senioritis: Any shoutouts April?
Autumn Rain Creations: To my awesome hubby who doesn't demand that I get out there, leave the kids in daycare, make me forget my ambition, and get an 8 to 5 job. To my sweets as well, all 7 of them; they make me who I am. I know mush mush but that's me :)

April, thanks a bunch for sharing a few minutes with us and letting our readers know a bit more about the artist behind Autumn Rain Creations. Keep up the great work!

Featured Artists :: 2.10.10 - 6.09.10

Hello senioritis blog reader!
Now you know how to greet people in English!

This week we're shaking things up a bit. A wise man once said:

Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you
could miss it.

Well, we figured it was time for us to stop and take a look around so this week we give you a quick stroll down memory lane:

2.10: Skribbly Kids
2.17: Heather King Photography
2.24: Digicute
3.3: Jewelry by Tara
3.10: WingAndWillow
3.17: Echoes of Stars' Designs
3.24: Handmade by Anne Potter
3.31: Himawari Designs
4.7: Mich20
4.14: Authentic Arts
4.21: RobinsFlight
4.28: Filigree Photos
5.5: PeacockLane
5.12: Samantha Nowak Illustrations
5.19: jessiemacCreations
5.26: Emelia Jane Photography
6.2: A Little Stranger
6.9: Pause Designs

We would like to say thanks to all artists that have been featured; we and our readers appreciate you taking the time to share some info with us.

We will be back next week with the first in a long line of new featured artists. In our ongoing quest to keep things fun and fresh we're mixing things up with some new questions so be sure to check back .

And now back to your regularly scheduled program...

Featured Artist :: Emelia Jane Photography

This week's featured artist is Emelia Jane Photography!

Senioritis: Name and location please.
EmeliaJane: Emelia Jane Fleck, Shelburne Falls, MA.
Senioritis: Ahh a New Englander! Hi Emelia, we have a lot of family up in MA ;)

Senioritis: Can you please tell us a little about yourself?
EmeliaJane: My name is Emelia and I have been completely enthralled with photography for as long as I can remember. I am inspired by the unusual and extraordinary beauty hiding within ordinary objects. It brings me so much pleasure to know that when I capture an image in my lens, that flash in time will never recur, however it will live on forever in my photograph. I love looking at an image and being transported to the feeling of that particular moment in time; the smell of a garden in the early morning, the electricity before a summer storm, the warmth of a loved possession! Other than being a photographer I am an avid illustrator (I have a second Etsy shop BelliUccelli), old cemetery enthusiast, treasure hunter and lover of chocolate!
Senioritis: Wow, we feel like we've known you for years ;) We're not too great with a camera but we know what you mean about being able to capture a moment that will never happen again; definitely a very cool feeling. I can't say that we've met many old cemetary enthusiasts but we do like the Michael Jackson Thriller video :) Have you found any good treasure during your hunting?

Senioritis: How would you describe your style Emelia?
EmeliaJane: Memorable, Natural, Enchanting, Unique.
Senioritis: We would definitely agree, we think the way you capture images is awesome!

Senioritis: Do you have a favorite color Emelia?
EmeliaJane: I have many but lately my favorite has been Aqua!



Senioritis: Are your a righty or a lefty?
EmeliaJane: Righty.
Senioritis: Hmm, the fact that you're a righty and a photographer got me thinking; do they make cameras for leftys where the shutter release button is on the left hand side?

Senioritis: Emelia, do you have a favorite quote?
EmeliaJane: Be to others kind and true as you'd have others be to you.
Senioritis: Sounds a bit like the golden rule to us, can never go wrong with these words of wisdom!



Senioritis: If you could have lunch with someone famous, past or present, who would it be?
EmeliaJane: Daniel Webster. He was my cousin 9 times removed and I am just so curious!
Senioritis: Wow, we're not sure which is cooler the fact that Daniel Webster was your cousin or the fact that you can trace your family that far out ;)

Senioritis: What's your favorite cartoon, from now or when you were a kid?
EmeliaJane: Hands down The Pink Panther! I adore the early cartoons, the ones where no one talks and there is no laugh track, brilliant!
Senioritis: Anyone else hear the Pink Panther music? Pink Panther is definitely a classic!



Senioritis: Emelia, where do you see yourself and your business in 10 years?
EmeliaJane: Oooo! In 10 years I have a beautiful little yellow bungalow with a huge sycamore tree out front and a front and back porch, a garden and three chickens :) I have visited at least half of the destinations on my travel list (China, New Zealand and Africa are a must) and I am continuing to be a full time photographer and illustrator, always creating and enjoying my art! Whoa, I got excited about that question! :)
Senioritis: Sounds good to us! My sister Jillian spent some time in New Zealand and loved it. What other destinations are on your travel list?



Senioritis: Are there any websites you'd like to share with us?
EmeliaJane: belliuccelli shop
emeliajane.weebly.com

Senioritis: Any shoutouts?
EmeliaJane: My wonderful family and friends for supporting me 100%! and...

Holla!!!
wingandwillow
laurencecollection
thejoyofcolor
hjrddesign


Thanks for sharing some time and info with us Emelia! Best of luck with your photography and illustration endeavors; your work is sweet!

Featured Artist :: Echoes of Stars' Designs

This week’s featured artist is Echoes of Stars' Designs!

Echoes of Stars' Designs – Art Pendants & Handcrafted Goodness

Senioritis: What’s your name, and where are you located?
Echoes of Stars' Designs: Juliane Bjerregaard, Waukesha, Wisconsin
Senioritis: Ahh, Wisconsin. Were you happy to see Mr. Favre come back to Green Bay for a game or were you one of the fans who was throwing cheese at him ;)

Senioritis: Can you give us a brief bio, please?
Echoes of Stars' Designs: I am a former middle school teacher who used to teach the relatively structured subjects of math and science. After being submersed in such structure all day, I needed a creative outlet. That’s when I started making pendants and other crafts. My friends all loved my pendants, but I never considered actually selling them until I had a few perfect strangers ask me where I had gotten them.
Senioritis: That's awesome! We have designed a few tshirts and think there's nothing cooler than when somebody asks where you got an item that you actually made.

Senioritis: Juliane, how would you best describe your style?
Echoes of Stars' Designs: Unique, artsy, girly, and fun.
Senioritis: Yup, those sound pretty accurate to us ;)



Senioritis: What is your favorite color?
Echoes of Stars' Designs: Cobalt blue.

Senioritis: Juliane, are you a righty or a lefty?
Echoes of Stars' Designs: Righty
Senioritis: Hmm, many of our other featured artists are rightys as well, interesting.

Senioritis: Do you have a favorite quote?
Echoes of Stars' Designs: B is for BEAT! (I said it - referring to the B button on the X-Box controller while playing Halo 3. Yes, I'm a gamer.)
Senioritis: Hahahah, that's great. I have yet to play X-Box or any of the Halo games but I'm a big Wii fan; especially Wii fit and Shaun White Snowboarding.



Senioritis: Juliane, if you could have lunch with any famous person, past or present, who would it be?
Echoes of Stars' Designs: President Lincoln – because he had dealt with such a horrible time in our nation’s history with such wisdom and grace. Was he perfect? No, but he was humble and a great leader.
Senioritis: If there's room at the table we wouldn't mind sitting in on that lunch. We have read a bit about our 16th President and one of the things that impresses us most was his people handling skills; we can all learn a lot from President Lincoln.

Senioritis: Do you have a favorite cartoon?
Echoes of Stars' Designs: The Smurfs
Senioritis: Smurfs, excellent choice. I haven't seen that cartoon in ages.



Senioritis: Where do you see yourself and your business in 10 years Juliane?
Echoes of Stars' Designs: I would like to see my business flourish enough so that I can permanently stay home and dedicate more time to my family. I would love to see my pendants in more consignment stores across the nation!
Senioritis: That sounds like a good plan to us! We noticed that your work is already available in quite a few brick and mortar stores in your area so it looks like you're off to a great start.

Senioritis: Where can we find you on the web?
Echoes of Stars' Designs: Check out my blog. It's a mixture of anything and everything that I find interesting or blog-worthy.
Senioritis: Very cool stuff and we love the layout. Is the red pencil a tribute to your former profession :)



We'd like to send a huge thank you to Juliane for giving us a bit of insight into Echoes of Stars' Designs. Be sure to visit her Etsy shop for more art pendants and handcrafted goodness!

Featured Artist :: WingAndWillow

This week’s featured artist is WingAndWillow!

WingandWillow – Unique Laminated Placemats and Fine Photographic Prints

Senioritis: What’s your name, and where are you located?
WingandWillow: Elisa Kerkhoff, St. Louis, MO
Senioritis: Missouri, that’s great. I’ve always wondered why Missouri was abbreviated to MO.

Senioritis: Can you give us a brief bio, please?
WingandWillow: I am a recently engaged 32 year old lover of nature, traveling, textures, animals, great food, baking, and a strong cup of coffee! I’m an Ohio native, but I’ve also lived in Michigan, Florida, and Missouri. I adore photographing nature – especially birds and tree bark. I hold a Bachelor’s in Vocal Performance with a Minor in Art from Western Michigan University.
Senioritis: Wow you’ve lived in a lot of places! We have a lot in common also! I too love nature and photograph it often. I also sing in an a cappella group at school.

Senioritis: Please list four adjectives to describe your style.
WingandWillow: Imaginative, Functional, Sincere, Zoological.



Senioritis: What is your favorite color?
WingandWillow: Silver

Senioritis: Are you a righty or a lefty?
WingandWillow: Righty

Senioritis: Do you have a favorite quote?
WingandWillow: “One Regret, dear world,
That I am determined not to have
When I am lying on my deathbed
Is that
I did not kiss you enough.”
~Hafiz~ b. 1320 d. 1389 – Beloved Persian Poet
Senioritis: That’s a pretty powerful quote. We had to do some digging to find information on Hafiz, but it seems his poetry had a large influence on a great number of people.



Senioritis: If you could have lunch with any famous person, past or present, who would it be?
WingandWillow: I would love to have lunch with W.C. Fields. He’s my great great great uncle, and I’d like to try to discover what was going on in that crazy head of his!
Senioritis: Great choice, he was a juggler as well!

Senioritis: Do you have a favorite cartoon?
WingandWillow: Animaniacs
Senioritis: We love that cartoon! I can still sing every word of the theme song.



Senioritis: Where do you see yourself and your business in 10 years?
WingandWillow: I can definitely see myself having kiddos, and hopefully selling the crap out of my placemats - I'm hoping to create many more designs in that amount of time as well =)
Senioritis: After looking at your work we have no doubt that you can make that happen. Best of luck with your placemat and photograph business!

Senioritis: Where can we find you on the web Elisa?
WingandWillow: My website and my facebook fan page.



Senioritis: Before we wrap up, would you like to give any shoutouts?
WingandWillow: My family and friends are a constant inspiration to me - their support and love keep me going!


We'd like to say a huge thank you to Elisa for giving us a glimpse into her business. Be sure to visit her Etsy shop for more cool prints and placemats!

Featured Artist :: Jewelry by Tara

This week's featured artist is Jewelry by Tara!

Jewelry by Tara - Unique Handcrafted Jewelry With a Vintage Twist

Senioritis: What’s your name, and where are you located?
Jewelry by Tara: Tara Van Stelle, San Diego, CA
Senioritis: San Diego, awesome, we love San Diego!

Senioritis: Can you give us a brief bio, please?
Jewelry by Tara: I have been selling online/offline for almost 11 years at craft fairs, in all 4 of my Etsy shops; Jewelry by Tara, Graphic Design by Tara, Supplies by Tara, Sewn by Tara, 2 eBay shops, and my own personal website. At this time only the Jewelry and Graphic Design shops are open. I have a certificate in antiques/vintage appraisal and I am currently taking classes in advanced Graphic Design.
I was born and raised in New York City and transplanted to sunny California. When I'm not creating I am a WAHM, wife of 14 years,mother of 2 boys and 4 rescue chihuahuas, and a vegan. I also volunteer for Jewish Family Services to visit the elderly.
Senioritis: Ah a native New Yorker, excellent! It sounds like you certainly have your hands full with 2 boys and 4 chihuahuas running around; it's great that you find the time to do all your crafting and run all your shops/sites.

Senioritis: Tara, you have over a decade of experience selling your work both online and in person. How would you describe your style to someone you just met if you only had a few words?
Jewelry by Tara: pretty,shabby,altered,Kawaii
Senioritis: We had to look up Kawaii but now that we know what it means we agree 100% =)



Senioritis: What’s your favorite color?
Jewelry by Tara: Pink.
Senioritis: We did notice that there's quite a bit of pink in your shop banners and on your site ;)

Senioritis: Are you a righty or a lefty?
Jewelry by Tara: All righty.

Senioritis: Do you have a favorite quote?
Jewelry by Tara: "If it Ain't Broke, Don't Fix it!" I have no idea who coined this one but it's so darn true, especially when creating, you have to know when to stop!
Senioritis: We have no idea who said it either but they're definitely words to keep in mind as we create. We rather not talk about the number of times that we try to tweek a design and hours later we ultimately just go with our original idea :0



Senioritis: If you could have lunch with any famous person, past or present, who would it be?
Jewelry by Tara: Hmmm, well I don't have a famous historical or political figure in mind. I suppose I'd like to have a few choice words with Hitler ending in an arsenic dessert... But if I had to choose from one of my favorite people I'd really like to eat lunch with either Morrissey from The Smiths or James Masters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Strange I know, but these are the people I grew up with and love.
Senioritis: Man, we haven't seen Buffy in ages. We kind of liked the movie better than the tv series, probably because Paul Reubens was in it ;)

Senioritis: Do you have a favorite cartoon?
Jewelry by Tara: I love Scooby Doo forever! My kids and I still watch all the new movies that come out with the characters. I also love Sponge Bob, The Grim Adventure's of Billy and Mandy, Dexter's Laboratory, and the adult ones; Family Guy and Simpsons.
Senioritis: Wow, can't believe we found another Billy and Mandy fan!! That has to be one of the greatest cartoons ever made, Maxwell Atoms' work rocks. Dexter's Laboratory is awesome and Scooby Doo is a classic as well; great selections all around! For those of you that have not been privileged enough to witness Billy and Mandy first hand, you can check them out here.



Senioritis: Tara, where do you see yourself and your empire in ten years?
Jewelry by Tara: I've always wanted to own my own "handmade" brick and mortar shop so I'm hoping to see that dream come true. I'd like to keep learning and advancing in all the creative fields; graphic design, jewelry, writing, etc.
Senioritis: After viewing your work across various mediums and talking with you for a while we have no doubts that you can make it happen. Best of luck with your brick and mortar shop!

Senioritis: Where can we find you on the web?
Jewelry by Tara: Graphic Design by Tara
Jewelry by Tara
Graphic Design by Tara Blog
Jewelry by Tara Biz Blog



Senioritis: Before we wrap up, would you like to give any shoutouts?
Jewelry by Tara: So many people have supported me on and off Etsy. I'd love to thank everyone personally, here are a couple my closest online friends:
The Juicy Peach aka Crescent Moon Creation
Mangogyrl Design


We’d like to give a huge thank you to Tara for giving us a glimpse into her empire. Please check out her fantastic jewelry work at her Etsy shop. Please take a look at Tara's design work and services as well, Graphic Design by Tara.

Stay tuned for another Featured Artist interview next Wednesday!