And The Award Goes To....



I have to say that although I'm a little late in presenting this award, no one really made a boob of themselves until I heard about my next recepient and therefore I must award the coveted....

Burnt Biscuit Award....

To....



Avril

I love you Avy, but for gawds sakes we've kids in the stands???  Leave the profanity for the night club venues, ughhs!



A DERBY DAMSEL



This weeks featured seller is yet another of these wonderful women who not only hold down a full time job, keep up a household, but also manage to run a successful Etsy shop.  On top of managing the aforementioned, she's found time to enjoy one of her passions, Roller Derby!  It just amazes me how multi-faceted, multi-task oriented this and many many other woman are.  I've a sincere admiration for each one and it gives me great pleasure to share with you a little about another.  I would like to introduce to you my good friend and fellow Etsian....

Kristin

Kristin is owner of the Etsy store....

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I hope you get to learn a little about Kristin and enjoy her interview.

Share with us a little about the person behind the scenes at KatieBird Studio.

My name is Kristin. I've been artistic and imaginative for as long as I can remember! At the very impressionable age of 13, I went to Disney World for the first time and got to see animators working on Disney movies (when they used to have animators in Florida!) Then and there I decided to become an animator.

Well, that didn't come to fruition, but I did practice drawing a lot!

I rediscovered drawing a few years ago when I found some awesome YouTube videos about Art Journaling. I've been addicted to art and mixed media ever since! I just wish I could find more time to do it!! 

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Can you tell us how you came about the name for your shop?

Hey! It's Patrick!!

Initially, when I wanted to start on Etsy, I poured over shop names. I came up with Purple Starfish Designs,






but it was so long. I gave up on Etsy for a while. When I decided, finally, to open my shop (after losing my job), I wanted a new name. Again, I struggled to find a meaningful name that wasn't taken and would encompass anything I might want to sell.

KATIEBIRD STUDIO

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Well, my husband and I

have three cats.





They are my babies. One of them, I named Katie (she has the most normal name of the three).

Katiebird

My husband and I had started calling her Katiebird because when she wants something or is happy she make a little chirping sound- like a very short meow! I looked it up on Etsy, and found a few stores with Katiebird in the name, but none with Studio. That is how it happened. That is also why there is a picture of a cat in my banner. That's my Katiebird!

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How long have you been creating paintings and cards?

 

I've been making cards for many, many years. I used to be a big scrapbooker. I loved it, but it took a lot of time to get my layouts just right. It started frustrating me, and I sorta just stopped scrapbooking. However, through scrapbooking, I rediscovered stamping.

That's when I started going to Stampin' Up demonstrations.

 There, I started making cards. They were like little-bitty layouts that were finished quickly. I started playing around and making cards probably around 2002. I would give my cards away, and everyone loved them. People started looking forward to having a birthday or celebration just to get a card from me. It was exciting. I was hooked. I've always loved to make people smile, and this was the perfect way to do so.

I discovered my painting ability in 2008 when I discovered Tam aka Willowing  http://www.willowing.org/ on YouTube. I started watching her art videos, and learning from what she did. Then, she started offering online classes. I've taken many of her courses, and I've learned a great deal about creating mixed media pieces. I love doing it! I go through phases though where I love to work on my paintings every spare second, and then, other times, they sit, neglected, for months. It is a strange cycle, but it works for me!

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Do you have a favorite media to work with?

Since I really do two very different forms of art, I have a variety of media I prefer. For cards, generally cardstock, patterned paper, stamps, ink, and embellishments of all kinds. For my mixed media pieces, I'll try anything once, but mostly, I use water-soluble crayons, acrylic paints, tissue paper, bubble wrap, acrylic gel mediums, watercolors, confetti, pattern paper, stamps and ink. . .whatever strikes my fancy at the moment!

Any advise you could give to someone wanting to open an Etsy shop?

DO IT! Don't wait! You will have your ups and downs. You'll learn a lot about your art and yourself. You will see what sells. Don't get discouraged! Sales will come. . .but the most important thing: Advertise yourself. . .be it through Etsy chat, facebook, twitter. . .whatever. Get yourself out there. Talk about your shop on your blog. . .give away your stuff or try to sell it locally as well. Just GET OUT THERE!

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A lil fun?....

One word that best describes you?

Hmm. . .I posted it on facebook, and I'm awaiting an answer. . . can I get back to you on this?

I'll give ya one.... "FASINATING"

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Do you sample produce at the grocery store?

Nope. Can't stand it when I see people 'sampling' the grapes! Hello!!!!! Someone is going to buy those! This isn't a grazing zone! UGH!

What if it was a grape snackin kitty?



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

If told you had to, would you bungee jump or base jump?

 

Kristin are you sure?

Hmm. . .I guess if I HAD to, I would choose Base Jumping. Seems to be less impact . . .just floating down with a parachute. Gosh, I hope mine would open!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've been here mentally, but never physically!  Simply beautiful!

Where's the farthest destination you've been away from home?

Mentally or Physically? I guess Physically, the farthest away from home I've been is Montego Bay, Jamaica on my honeymoon. That was the most fantastic trip!

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If I looked under your bed, what would I find?

A colony of dust bunnies and, occasionally, one of my cats!

Don't leave any books on Jamaica either!

Lastly....

Anything you'd like to add?

Aside from my art, I love to bake, take photographs, and do Roller Derby with Assassination City Roller Derby @ http://www.acderby.com/.

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We hope you've enjoyed Kristin's interview and hope you stop by her Etsy shop  KATIEBIRD STUDIO  for a visit.  You can also find Kristin's blog at....

 

 

KRISTIN'S CREATIVE JOURNEY

 

 

 

 

THANK YOU

 Kristin for your

 time working with

me on this interview!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BURNT BISCUIT AWARDS



I was sitting watching the news the other night and decided to start a weekly installment called the "Burnt Biscuit Award".  This award will be given to anyone who puts themselves in such a position as to be granted such. 

An now, with no further ado, this weeks Burnt Biscuit Award....

goes to....

this schmuck!



Brought to you by POWDAR
(preservation of womens dignity and respect)

A PHOENIX AROSE

The bird proudly willing to burn,
So that she may live again,
Chooses the flames of fires
That burn the aged Phoenix
The nature stands still
Till a new young bird starts again,
and begins the legend of the Phoenix

                                          - Claudian

This weeks featured artisan is a talented and creative women who's found through her art, a re-birth.   Reborn anew to create again and prosper.   I hope this Phoenix will inspire you as she has me.


I introduce you to....

and my Etsy friend....

Rebecca

 I was delighted when she graciously accepted my request for this interview.  We hope you enjoy and get to know a little more about Rebecca and....

PHOENIX ART STUDIO

Let me begin by asking you to share with us a little about yourself, who is the force behind Phoenix Art Studio?

I’m the sort of person who just has to create. It doesn’t matter what the medium is really as long as I’m creating something. I have a BFA in Illustration and an MFA in Costume Design, but I have dabbled in puppetry, mosaics, jewelry making, crocheting, the art of bonsai, belly dancing and I sing in the choir at my church. I love learning new things!

This is just who I am, but the driving force behind me would be God. Without Him I wouldn’t have the drive to push forward through the many obstacles that I’ve had to face. He’s there during the times when my art fails me.

Who or what inspired you to become an artist?

I suppose that it would have to be my dad. He used to be pretty creative and artsy when I was a baby and I suppose that it rubbed off on me. I have been creating and drawing ever since I first learned how to hold a crayon/pencil in my hand so there wasn’t any defining “aha” moment when I realized that I wanted to be an artist. It’s as natural to me as breathing.
 

 

*****

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you have a favorite medium or other media of which you like to work with?

I used to, but I’ve played with so many different mediums that I really don’t have a favorite anymore. With jewelry I typically work in polymer and with my art it just sort of depends on the piece that I’m drawing/painting. I find that usually I end up with a mixed media piece because I start grabbing all sorts of mediums to use on a piece instead of sticking to just one.






 

*****

 

Any advise you can give to an up and coming artist?

It’s something that I struggle with myself, but you must be your own inner fire. You can’t rely on others to give you the passion that you need to persevere. That can only come from within yourself. Trust me, you’ll want to quit after you get a bad critique or you feel like your work isn’t going anywhere. It will be that inner fire that will get you through it.

*****

*****

Let's have a bit of fun....

If I asked your best friend, how would he/she describe you in one word?

I had NO IDEA how to answer this one so I actually asked my friends. Some of the words that they came up with were classy, kind-hearted and remarkable. I think that they were just being sweet, but those are very nice words that make me feel good about myself so I’ll just leave them. LOL.

The true measure of love is not how much you love,
but by how much you are loved by others

*****

If you were a Peanuts character, which would you be and why?

Snoopy. He loves food, friends and just life in general. I would have said Schroeder because he’s so creative, but he’s also a bit too narrow minded for me.

I think Lucy would agree with you Rebecca!

I like to create, but I also like to have a life outside of my artwork.

*****

^ Pick the Seadoo pick the Seadoo! ^

If told you had to ride one, which would you select, 

a Seadoo

or Skidoo?

I know that I live in Florida, but sadly I have no idea what the difference is between the two. I think that would just jump off either of those and....

             ride a porpoise.

*****

If I looked in your fridge right now what would I find?

Fruits, veggies, turkey, the usual. Nothing too odd except for some homemade olive tapenade. I tend to eat pretty healthily and drink mostly water. I do, however, have a penchant for good loose teas and Nutella. I could, and do, eat Nutella with a spoon. Yum!

Gotta Love It!!

 

*****

 

 

 

Have you ever won a trophy?

Once for a science fair project. You typically don’t get trophies for art related things. Something that I think should be changed....


"And the winner of this years best painting goes to...."

I could't agree with you more Rebecca.  It has a ring to it!

*****

and lastly....

Do you sing in the shower?
 

I used to,

A stunt double was used for this image

but I feel pretty certain that my neighbors can hear me through the wall and since I typically take a shower pretty late I don’t want to wake them up! Instead I belt songs really, really loudly in my car. 
 

*****

 

If you'd like to see more of Rebecca's wonderful creative works and to learn more about Rebecca, you can visit her at any of the links below....

 

PHOENIX ART STUDIO

 

You can also LIKE her on

 

FACEBOOK

 

Follow on

 

TWITTER

 

and these sites below....

BLOGSPOT         DEVIANTART        SOCIETY6 

 

Thanks for stopping by and we hope you've enjoyed the read! 

 

 

 

A special

 THANKS

 to Rebecca!