New Art Fire items

Visit HandmadeWithLove's ArtFire Shop

Here are my latest additions to my Art Fire web site.

In and Because of HIM,
Grandma Susan

ART FIRE

ART FIRE

I am so excited about Art Fire...the potential for sales on this site are phenomenal. If you've not checked it out you need to do so.

There are only 2,406 (as of 2/5/09 at 7:30 p.m. CST) spots left for the $7.00 for a life time account. And NO selling fees...ever.

In and Because of HIM,
Susan
www.HandmadeWithLove.artfire.com
www.GrandpaGrandmasAttic.etsy.com

CRAFTER EXTROIDENAIRE

CRAFTER EXTRAORDINAIRE


Believing that the HANDMADE Crafting Community is so extra ordinary I've decided to help promote others as well as myself.

If we don't "TOOT OUR OWN HORNS" each others' gifts and abilities who will.

So the first featured artist is Shabby Pine Cottage.

Shabby Pine Cottage is the guild master of Sew What on Art Fire.

So here are Ms. SPC stats:

What is your name?

My name is Shirley.

Tell us a bit about yourself. Are you married? Have children?

I live in the Pacific N.W. in Oregon outside of Portland in the country under tall firs and pines, hence the name, Shabby Pine Cottage.

I have a great husband who I have been married to for over thirty-five years. We have two grown children, a daughter and a son. We have no grandchildren yet.

To what or whom do you attribute your crafting skills?

My mother, grandmother, and many aunts who learned to sew, quilt,and crochet out of necessity. Being the oldest child of 4 girls and losing my father at age 13, we learned to sew our clothing to "keep in style." After growing up, getting married and having a full time job, my sewing came to a stop. When my children came along I decided to be a stay at home Mom.

You said that after making the decision to be a stay at home mom you had "more time on your hands and wanted to do more. How did you "fill your time"?

In the 80's I was reading a women's magazine and read an article about a stay at home Mom who had a commercial embroidery business. I thought this was something that I would like to do. So after much discussion with my husband, we made a trip to the distributor for more information on buying and starting a embroidery business. At that time embroidery was not a common thing to do and was not regarded as a home hobby. We were told that we were crazy, not only by friends and relatives, but by the banks.

The distributor made it sound super easy. My hubby and I decided it was something I really had to do (you know it's in the blood) so we invested our own money. And after five days of in home training and I was on my own. No magazines, embroidery support groups, internet, or people to talk to about this craft market like there is today. I really was all on my own.

After many frustrating moments the defining moment came as I threw a pair of scissors across the room. They stuck in the wall and at that moment I KNEW....I CAN DO THIS.

Everything in our house got embroidered----good, bad, or ended up in the garbage. Four years later after alot of flowing tears, $50,000.00 spent, and many sleepless nights I had expanded my business to 17 embroidery heads and even had an employee. I loved every minute watching that thread make magic on fabric.

Today, I no longer have my business but the craft is in my blood. I purchased a new Bernina sewing machine that does embroidery. I'm back to sewing and adding all that magic to the fabric. I love to take that piece of fabric to see how many ways I can manipulate it by adding tucks, pleats, embroidery, quilting, beading, or whatever. I usually have many more hours in an item then what I could get paid for. However, many of the things I make are given away.

What goes in to deciding which items will make it in your shop?

Items must be really unique and something different than you would find in a store. Most things are not just simple and plain.

What items are you working on now or planning?"

I just finished a Hummel quilt. I embroidered all the Hummels, sewed it together, and sent it on 3 states away to my Aunt, who is a professional quilter, to quilt for me. It is just beautiful and she did just a gorgeous job.

I am now working on a Sunbonnet Sue quilt. These little girls are all so different. I never want to do the ordinary. Each square has a different theme and is filled with lots of 3-dimensional hand embroidered Brazilian detail. Some even have ponytails and braids flowing from under their bonnets.

Do you have any upcoming projects that you want to share with us?


Yes, I would like setup a blog on embroidery. I want to help people with their embroidery questions, to inspire, and tell them never to give up. Work for your dreams and they CAN come true!!

You can also find Shabby Pine Cottage at the following links:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=74665
http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&seller_id=13439
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cottagestitches
http://twitter.com/shabbypine
http://weloveartfire.ning.com/profile/shirley

THANK YOU for sharing Shirley and good luck in your new venture.

PLEASE NOTE: ALL PHOTOS ARE FROM SHABBY PINE COTTAGE SHOP.

In and Because of HIM,
Susan aka Grandma
www.HandmadeWithLove.artfire.com
www.GrandpaGrandmasAttic.etsy.com

SATURDAY MORNINGS

I love Saturday mornings. Not just b/c I get to stay in bed longer but because my favorite crafting shows come on our local PBS station.

*Beads Bobbles and Jewels

*Fons & Porters' Love of Quilting

*Sewing with Nancy

*Martha Pulin

These are just a few of the inspirational shows that get my creative juices going.


Then, I get to spend the day with DH (Rick) and DD (Ashley).
Tonight will be a special treat we get to spend time with our oldest DD (Angi) and her family. Rick's sister and her DH will be there also. It will be so much fun...I'm so looking forward to the visit. Any time I can spend with my family is always an added blessing to my day.

I will be adding a new section to my blog very soon:
***Interviews with fellow artisians on Art Fire.
Look for an "INTERVIEW INVITATION" in your email box if you are in the Raggedy Quilts Guild or the Sew What Guild on Art Fire. That is where I'll start.

Have a great Saturday no matter what you decide to do today.

In and Because of HIM,
Susan

BOOK REVIEW

One of my favorite books is:

Fabulous Fabric Beads: Create Custom Beads and Art Jewelry.

If you've not seen this book and love fabric and beads...this one is a must!

It is authored by Kristal Wick and published by Interweave books. At $22.95 it holds a plethora of techniques, projects,tips,and inspirational photos of art jewelry.

Techniques are not difficult and the supplies needed are probably in you crafting stash already.

So whether you are a quilter or jewelry maker you will find some very exciting things in this book to get your creative juices goin'.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

Yep, I'm a bit early but...one can never be to prepared....HA!

Next month is my honey's 61st birthday. I have a surprise all set up for him and now it is just wait...wait...wait...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY.

Love, Susan

A NEW YEAR

I am just thrilled to announce my new blog and website.

www.HandmadeWithLove.ArtFire.com
Come on over and see it.

You can also find me at www.GrandpaGrandmasAttic.etsy.com