Time To Vote!

Tweet Here comes our February challenge contest!!! Our theme was "SWEET"

and the entries were ..........

SWEETER & FANTASTIC!

Lil Red Lady Bug

Bailey's His & Hers Cups

Fairy Wine Tote

Sweets Pendant

Candy Necklace

Wonderful You Photo frame

Emmeline Reversible Apron

Neapolitan Stocking Cap

Molassess Cookie Soap

Love Bead Bangle

Greeting Card

All entries are Sweeeeeeeeeeeet but you can only vote for ONE!!!!!!!!!

Interview with Handmade3D

Tweet Meet Ellen of Handmade3D

Who are you?
I am Ellen Ault. I am an educator and plush designer. I teach computer animation at the Art Institute of Tampa, I also teach online for the Art Institutes, and I try to get some sort of sewing into every day if possible! I am married to a wonderful husband and we have two cats and one dog. I love watching cartoons. The good old stuff from the 30’s and 40’s, not the flash/flat/anime stuff of today. Yuck! Give me classic Bugs Bunny or Mickey any day!

What do you create?

I create plush designs for kids and adults. I like to create stuffed critters that anyone can hug and get a smile from. I try to incorporate bright colors and fun patterns and prints to create a character that you can cherish and tell secrets to.

How did you come about your store name?

My entire life is on the computer. After teaching all day, grading projects, writing lesson plans, I love to make something with my hands. So I decided to incorporate my 3D knowledge into handiwork! Alas, Handmade3D.

What is the crafting utensil you cannot live without?

It’s a pretty big utensil, but my sewing machine! I just had it upgraded last fall, an early Christmas present from my mom. I have a Pfaff Creative Vision 5.5. I can sew, I can do embroidery, I can do anything!

What is your favorite material to work with?

Polka dot fabric, you should see the new quilt I’m working on. All polka dots!

What do you enjoy "window shopping" on Etsy on your free time?

It’s so easy to just get lost on etsy. I love looking at other plush designer’s work for inspiration.

Where in Florida do you live and for how long?

For the past two years I have lived in Tampa, Fl. We used to live in Palm Beach Fl, where I went to graduate school and had my first teaching position. The west coast of Florida is so much better than the east! Better climate, better people, a whole different lifestyle.

Could you recommend a fun activity near your Fl home that other members might enjoy?

We try to do things that require no money, so a favorite of ours is biking or walking on the Upper Tampa Bay Trail. It’s only a mile from where we live.

What are some other sites to find out more about you and your art?

Blog: http://handmade3d.blogspot.com/

Professional work: http://www.3doodle.com/

I also tweet and facebook, just search Handmade3D!

Where would you go if you had a time machine and why?

1928 to California. I would become an ink and paint girl in Walt Disney’s animation studio. I love fanning over Disney memorabilia, reading Disney history and art, and watching every back story possible on him.

Choose a movie title to sum up your life’s story

Enchanted

What famous person would you like to meet?

Walt Disney. Well, that won’t work. John Lasseter, the head of Pixar Animation and now story of Disney. To be able to pick his brain, hear his passion first hand. That would be a wonderful day.

If you were a dessert what would it be?

Bananas Foster. I just melt every time.

Handmade Crafts For Sale....Don't Miss It!

Tweet

In Orlando

At the Audobon Park Community Market

Wednesday Febuary 10th

7:00p-10:00p (aprox.)

At the Stardust and Bold Hype Parking lot,

corner of Corrine and Virgina in Colonial Town.

Look for our own bluebirdknits

with all her gorgeous scarves!

Interview with Knitted Wave Studio

Tweet Meet Lindsay of Knitted Wave Studio:

Who are you?
I'm a knitting and crocheting fiend who LOVES yarn and designing new things everyday!

What do you create?
I create wearable pieces of art, items that are scintillating. I love color and texture, especially texture. I also love mixing mediums to see what new things can be created from that. I'm inspired by seeing things in an atypical way sometimes, whether its photo collaging on paper and fabric and adding a little paint or using different color and texture in a knitted piece that takes it outside of what it is, putting it in a totally different light.

How did you come about your store name?
I wish it had just come to me in a dream, but the truth of the matter is that I wanted something to incorporate things about me and be catchy, and that took a lot of thinking. I wanted something to do with waves because they are an untamed force of nature and I feel a connection to them. Studio-so I didn't have to limit myself to one medium. Knitted-well that was to make the name unique, and because I love knitting.

What is your favorite material to work with?
My favorite material has to be yarn. I am an open yarn-a-holic. My stash is ridiculously huge, I could probably open up a small yarn shop just with what I have in my cabinets. I know it would be easier to have a small stash and buy for a project but having all those colors and textures there at my fingertips allows my creativity to go wherever it wants and a pretty neat piece sometimes comes from it.

What is your favorite feature on Etsy?
I would have to say the Treasury and Treasury West. I love going through them and looking at all the stuff people pick. I have taken to making them now too. Its free publicity and you can have fun making them too.
What other interests do you have?
I love to jump in the car with my husband and just drive up and down the old state roads. My camera and knitting are always brought along. We stop to take pictures of the sights that you don't normally see and sometimes just to stop and crawl up into a tree and start knitting. I also enjoy surfing and reading even though I don't get to do them that often anymore. I'm not that good at reading while I surf anyway.

Where in Florida do you live?
Well I have lived in Tampa my entire life, except for a quick jaunt in Paris and Louisville, KY for a few months. I like that I am centrally located if I go 30 minutes in any direction I am in a different type of place be it a swamp, beach, forest, or flatlands.

What are some other sites to find out more about you and your art?
My blog http://www.bearfootkitty.blogspot.com/ for updates on treasuries, and deals in my shop or anything I think up.
My twitter www.twitter.com/knittedwave for new items and deals.
My websites for my photography http://www.lindsayenglish.webs.com/ and http://www.bygonephotography.etsy.com/ for purchasing photographs.

Where would you go if you had a time machine and why?
I would probably bounce between times maybe start with 1900 and watch my grandparents grow up so I can see all the stuff I never got to ask them about their lives. I might stay in the 40's for a while that's when my dad was born and the time period that everyone says I should have been born in...that also might have to do with the fact that I was raised mostly by my dad when I was little because he stayed at home.

What “super” power would you like to have and why?
I would want the ability to fly because in all my dreams I always get excited when I realize I can fly and then when I try I end up doing this retarded floating walk kind of thing, every time.

Get Read for the DOUBLE FUN FEST Blog GIVEAWAY

Tweet To celebrate the month of Love, this February we're hosting a DOUBLE Blog Giveaway featuring two wonderful items from our Florida FEST Shops.

The first from Barb of fishbonesilver - Melbourne - her gorgeous sterling silver earrings are made using the mold of a real sea shell. Perfect for any occasion, these lovely and elegant earrings bring a little bit of sunshine and beach to your life.



The second from Stacy of ellebelleonetsy - St Petersburg - her wonderful and unique no break, no roll crayons are easy for little fingers to hold and made from quality non toxic crayons. Just perfect for your child's play and art work.



Visit Barb and Stacy at their respective Shops to see more of their fabulous wares!

HOW TO ENTER: Enter to win these great GIVEAWAYS by visiting both or either
fishbonesilver and ellebelleonetsy at their Etsy Shops or any of the FEST Team members listed to the left of this page. Find your favorite item, share it with us and tell us why you love it. Remember to add your email or contact info so we can get back to you if you are the lucky Winner! Winner picked on 02/27/10. Simple and Easy!

Handmade Challenge News!

Tweet The January Challenge was won by Julzbooks with 60 votes! I loved her silver origami ball,
AND I see she makes them in various colors too!
Her prize .............................Her Etsy Mini on the blog for a month!!!

How COOL is that?...................VERY COOL !!!



The February Challenge has begun. See link to the right------------->
Theme........SWEETS!
Entries accepted until February 15th.

FEST admin. Team reminds you that:
You must mention in your shop announcement that your item is in the FEST month's challenge
and the item must have a "team fest"" tag.

Our Administration Team has imposed a new requirement to compete in a challenge.
Members may enter a challenge every month. Once a member wins a challenge, their entries the next two months, will be listed in the post, but excluded from the voting poll.
In other words, join in every month to share your art, but you may only win once every 3 months. This new rule simply allows more shops to win and enjoy the prizes!


Good Luck to everyone and lets see your SWEETS!