Beauty From Within

Be sure to visit Inner Pieces Gallery and her unique Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/InnerPiecesGallery   where you will find "designs that offer a modern approach to paper-cut art." The artist calls her designs "Lacuna Décor". In Latin, Lacuna means “empty space, or gap” and Décor means “beauty.” In other words, beauty comes from the space within! What begins as original illustrations transform into elegant pieces of framed inspiration.

by Inner Pieces Gallery
For many people, I think that my style of artwork is simply fun to look at. It’s dimensional, it’s unusual, and it looks slightly different at different angles, especially as light upon it changes throughout the day. For me, though, the dimensional space between the layers speaks to me in a more personal way. Though this lesson may have cost me more than a few dramatic trials in life in order for me to finally learn, I now truly know that everything I need already exists within me. I need joy? I find it within. I need strength and courage? I find it within. I need patience and understanding? It’s all there, within me, ready whenever I need it.

Too bad that philosophy doesn’t really work when it comes to square footage. My tiny little home office is bursting at the seams with furniture and equipment. The digital cutting tool that I utilize (think double the size of a sewing machine) takes up half my desk. My computer takes up the other half. My solution? Buy an additional desk and somehow squeeze it in amidst the bookshelf, file cabinet, copy machine, printer, drawers, more drawers, shipping supplies, more supplies, and a closet full of please don’t ask. Not exactly an environment overflowing with creative energy.

I do a great deal of creating when I’m away from my office. I venture into the living room, the dining room, or anywhere the mood strikes me. I especially enjoy moving my “studio” outside. Recently, in order to determine the color combinations of my next designs, I brought my little hors d’oeuvres tray full of color swatches out to the back yard with me. Seeing the metallic paper sparkle in the sunshine connected me, in a way, to the little ones I actually design for, those pint-sized lovers of all things shiny and sparkly! I hope my work delights them, excites them, invokes a sense of wonder and curiosity. I especially hope they learn (a lot quicker than I did) that joy truly does begin within!

Cherice
InnerPiecesGallery.com

Don't Be Afraid to Create

Enjoy a visit to Ageratum's lovely Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/ageratum where "you never know what you might find".

by Ageratum

I just enjoy creating (crafting) beautiful things and I am into beading right now. I have always been attracted to colorful sparkly objects. I am totally 'self taught' and can only say to others starting out that you need to watch and observe every little detail. Taking a few classes would probably help tremendously! Also, be YOU and don't be afraid to create with new techniques and your own ideas. I create my OOAK designs wherever and whenever I can - usually on the dining room table. More than a few times I have created a design in my head after going to bed at night. That doesn't say much about my 'night life'! HA

Everyone wonders where I came up with my shop name. It was actually kind of accidental but it is the name of a wild flower which has always been my favorite and I use it a lot.

I especially like reading the scriptures from the KJV of the Holy Bible and have one of the many beautiful verses in my shop announcement.

Spreading Smiles

Enjoy a visit to The Curious Cupcake http://www.etsy.com/shop/thecuriouscupcake. A wonderful Etsy shop that sells beautiful wire wrapped jewelry.**10% OF PROCEEDS FROM ALL PURCHASES WILL GO TO SUPPORT THE WILD FRIENDS OF THE EARTH FOUNDATION IN LEESBURG, FL. OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.wildfriendsoftheearth.com/ **

 
by The Curious Cupcake
I am always getting asked 'Why The Curious Cupcake?' Well that's easy, I like cupcakes and I'm curious. It really is that simple, just like the things I make and the whole reason I got started in this direction in the first place. I love learning new things and I love creating, what better way to put the two things together than with making jewelry? I get to work with many different mediums, colors, shapes .. the possibilities are endless. But even with all of those millions of possibilities it still comes down to the basics, putting pieces together to make a new whole. Creating something new, out of something else.

My favorite things to work with are wire and crystals. Wire has a mountain of potential. Between the kinds, the sizes, the colors .. it could go on and on. Wire can be the focal point, the background piece or sometimes just the guts. Its completely versatile. At the other end I love working with crystals. I love color and sparkle and using Swarovski crystals combines both. Color can almost set a mood for a piece and there's no better way to get true, vibrant colors than with crystals. I've made pieces using only crystals and I've used them as accents. It doesn't matter how they're used they always bring more life to any piece.

People often find it amusing that I rarely wear any of the pieces I make. Save for a few select things I have designed for myself most everything is not something I would wear. It may seem odd but that's not why I do this. I make jewelry because I like to create and its amazing how good it feels to see someone wearing something that I created with my own hands. On top of that I try very hard to keep my jewelry affordable. You shouldn't have to break the bank to wear something fun that brings a smile to your face. That's what I'm trying to do, spread the smiles and add a little sparkle to the world.

I started out just making jewelry for my mom and my co-workers. I would often show off the new things I came up with at work and more often than not I wouldn't bring them home. I started off with a couple of small craft shows, just getting my stuff out there for more people and working on making something more than a hobby out of it. I have slowly worked up to larger craft shows and have now added my own website and Etsy to the mix. Its a lot more satisfying to make something if I have a way to get it to someone who appreciates it.

Recently my friend and roommate has joined in on the fun. She is now making beaded flowers both to sell on their own and and to incorporate in my jewelry. Instead of her just tagging along and helping me with my things we are now creating together. It just adds one more layer of fun to the mix. I hope to be doing this for a long time.