Arthouse 525

Featured Shop
Arthouse 525

Enjoy a visit to Arthouse 525 http://www.etsy.com/shop/Arthouse525 where you will discover fabulous one of a kind hand crafted items, art prints and original paintings.

I have been creating for most of my life. Drawing, painting, making things: I love it all. Right now, I am focused on unique, one of a kind jewelry and fiber art. Next week, it may be back to painting.

 I have areas set up all over the house where I can just start on whatever craft suits my mood. Luckily, my husband is an artist too, so he fully understands the need for multiple work stations. He likes the idea that our whole house is one big art studio. In fact, I overheard a conversation with his brother where he stated that we live in an "art house". So, that is where I got the name for my ETSY shop.: Arthouse525. "525" being our house number. The only room in the house that does not have art supplies in it is the master bedroom. I like to keep that room spotless and serene at all times.

The wall of art supplies in the photo of me was made by using scrap wood and ammo boxes. Here is a better photo of that. I have a how-to at this link on my blog- sandramccall.blog.com/2012/07/25/up-cycled-ammo-boxes/


My best studio tip for organization is to keep like items with like items and use labels on your storage bins. It saves time looking for supplies. Another good studio tip is to clean paintbrushes and knives that have dried acrylic paint on them with alcohol. Just submerge the bristles in a dish of rubbing alcohol, Leave for minutes, hours or days depending on how dirty the brush is. Even old, cruddy brushes come clean after a day or two.


My favorite quote- well, one of them anyway- is "In order to make your dreams come true, you first have to wake up!" That quote has been attributed to so many people that I honestly don't know who first said it. But it is so true!




my blog - www.sandramccall.blog.com
my store - www.etsy.com/shop/Arthouse525
my fun stuff - www.pinterest.com/sandramccall
Facebook - www.facebook.com/SandraMcCall525
my photos - www.flickr.com/photos/sandramccall/

Mapano

Enjoy a visit to our featured Etsy shop Mapano http://www.etsy.com/shop/mapano. You will find amazing handcrafted 3D fabric flower wall art and fiber art creations!

"My name is Alessandra. I live in Italy, near Turin and I am a happy wife and a busy mom of two little girls tempted daily to stay in yoga pants. I'm crafter and creative and I like everything is original and unique.



Last year I opened my little shop on Etsy, MAPANO', with some creations entirely designed and assembled by me. I create 3D framed wall ornaments, home decorations, baby dummy keepers, hairbands and fiber jewelry decorated with delicate fabric flowers, copper spirals, beads and pearls.
Cotton, linen, silk and lace, but also twine and burlap are my favorite materials.

What's Mapanò?

MA, for MAMMA in Italian (mom in English)
PA, for PAPA' in Italian (dad in English)
NO, for NONNO in Italian (grandfather in English)
Mapanò is a project that includes ideas and skills of all three!
A beautiful way to live my family and create something unique with people I love!



Above all I love handmade because is free expression of own imagination and creativity. No one is able to handmake something like another one. All handmade creations are always unique and unrepeatable.

When I was just a little child, I started looking at my mother sew and it looked so funny! She taught me to use needle and thread and to create something new using only fantasy and my creativity.
My mother has been a big source of inspiration for me. Simple and always present, she taught me to be honest and to work hard and properly. She died 8 years ago after a long illness but she's always with me and in every smile of my daughters.

When I sew I lose my head and my imagination runs away in a romantic French cottage where I find my inspiration.I love everything is country style and rustic but elegant and chic likewise.

When I'm not creating fabric flowers, I love listen to music (Broadway musical soundtracks, in particular), eat and cook (maybe too much!!) and dance like a crazy with my little two daughters.

At this moment I not know exactly what the future holds for me.
I'll probably have to leave soon my full time job to follow my daughters (very very hard if your husband works far away all week long...), so it's possible that Mapanò, started like a creative hobby, will become a real job.I'm thrilled and scared at the same time!
I'd like to be a mom that reads a story to her daughters before to go to bed and then works until midnight sewing in the silence of the night! Wow!

Ways to contact me:
My Etsy shop www.mapano.etsy.com
E-mail geninatti.sandra@gmail.com
Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Mapanò/115077835271835
Twitter: @MapanoGeninatti
Pinterest: pinterest.com/mapano
Wanelo: wanelo.com/mapano

Thank you for letting me share my creations with you!"

A Little Corner Space

Enjoy a visit to AvaGirlDesigns http://www.etsy.com/shop/AvaGirlDesigns where you are sure to find something adorable. You will find lovely baby photo props, knitted beanie and cocoon sets, designer changing pad clutches, diaper and wipe clutches, designer baby wipe cases, and highchair tray covers... and so much more.

by AvaGirlDesigns
I was reading some of the things that you would like to know and I guess I might be a little unconventional compared to some of the artists on Etsy. I do not have a studio or a special place to design my products or hardly a place to make them. I etched out a little corner space in my husbands office that completely annoys him with all my supplies and a very comfortable chair to do all my knitting, and for the Upsy Daisy line which I designed in line of keeping with mom's personal style which consists of Changing Pad Clutches, Diaper and Wipe Clutches, Designer Baby Wipe Cases, and Baby Tray Armor I have to use my dining room table.

 I lug out my supplies, equipment, and materials every time I need to make something. Which is very inconvenient but being a stay at home mom of a 2 and 4 year old in a 1200 sq ft house I do not have many options. I stay as organized as I can but probably like most people things start getting in disarray causing me to waste a lot of time looking for the scissors or my pack of needles.

Since I did open up shop on Etsy I have learned a lot this past 8 months from how to improve my listing from the description to the photos which is an ongoing process but also to make sure you are always thinking on how to improve your products. Could this use an extra pocket or I should learn how to knit a different kind of stitch to make my products more desirable. The key is to keep improving and never give up step back every once in a while and look at your products in different ways see what new and exciting ideas come to you.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/pages/San-Diego-CA/Ava-Girl-Designs/113113922055062?ref=ts&__a=17&ajaxpipe=1


www.twitter.com/AvaGirlDesigns