Spotlight- Elements by Elaine

Introduce yourself-
My name is Elaine and Im a dub! Born and bred in an area of dublin known as the old liberties and its the second oldest part of the city- so about 1000 yrs. Im 23 and from a typical Irish matriarcal family, my gran rules the roost! In my day job Im an environmental scientist- or as my friends say, a total hippy!

What is your irish connection?
Im Irish through and through- well as irish as you get nowadays anyway, if you ignore the protestant side of the family a few generations ack and the fact that Im from the pale!

What do you make?
Mainly I make jewelry and have done forever but I love crafts so any chance I get I take up a new one. I paint glass, make cards, draw and I cant wait to turn my hand to collage-I have some little boxes just begging to be jewelry boxes as soon as I get a free night!

When did you start crafting?
I think the first time I changed from just being a kid playing around with stuff to actually wanting to truely craft I was about 7 and my friends older sisters were bringing us to the cinema, on the walk accross town they stopped into a little bead shop in temple bar and I vividly remember it being like finding a treasure chest! I could barely see all the beads but I loved it. The next week I begged my mum to bring me there and that night I made my first necklace.

What's your favourite item that you've crafted?
Its a tie between that first necklace (even though its now lost to the sands of time) and the beadweaving heart because thats a totally new style i figured out on my own and have perfected to be made on a single string with no double back!

Is there any other craft you'd love to learn?
I think the question should be is there any other craft I wouldnt want to learn! Papercutting, woodwork, soldering and acrylic painting are all high on my list at the moment!

What do you do when not crafting?
Work, go the cinema, cook, travel and all the mundane things that are herd to do with tiny beads in your hands!

Whats your favorite part of etsy?
Teams (I love you guys, you make this place worth it!) and the communitee in general.

In 5 years where would you like to be?
Id like to have a small steady flow of interest in what I make, have learned new techniques and added new ranges- I started with the ancient elements as ranges because I feel that leaves me so much room to grow. That and Im a science nerd and cant wait to have a carbon range!

What are your plans/did you do for St. Patrick's Day?
Well Im planning to celebrate over the weekend with ceilis and fireworks and roaming the streets like I did as a teenager! On the actual day I shall be flying to china so hopefully sleeping.


My Website and Gallery
my facebook page-
Myspace
my indiepublic

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Spotlight- Susarto

Introduce yourself-
My name is susan moloney. i live in a little boring town in pennsylvania...a bit north of philadelphia.

What is your irish connection?
I am an irish citizen through marriage :D I go to ireland at least once a year. sometimes for a month or two or three ;)

What do you make?
I am a painter in my heart...I have been painting and drawing my whole life. I started making plush dolls a little over a year ago.

When did you start crafting?
I've always made things...always.

What's your favourite item that you've crafted?
I have a few paintings that i painted for personal reasons. they are reminders to me of certain things....sort of like how some people get tattoos. they represent something meaningful in my life.

Is there any other craft you'd love to learn?
I tried to learn how to knit, but I'm useless at it.

What do you do when not crafting?
I watch a LOT of movies, and I like to read. and you can most likely find me chatting in the forums or the chat rooms on etsy ;)

Whats your favorite part of etsy?
besides being able to do what I love...it has to be the community...

In 5 years where would you like to be?
I'd love to move over to ireland...and do what I do here but there

What are your plans/did you do for St. Patrick's Day?
I just found out the pogues are going to be in the philadelphia area just before. I'd love to surprize my husband. I think we are going to go to the beach too. (even though it is FREEZING) :D



Flickr
indiepublic



flash

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Spotlight- AMI designs

Introduce yourself-
My name is Alison and I live in Belfast, Northern Ireland

What is your irish connection?
Lucky enough to live in the Emerald Isle

What do you make?
Jewelry

When did you start crafting?
I started making jewellery about 18 months ago after I a holiday to Cornwall in England. It is full of craft shops, galleries etc and I was inspired!

What's your favourite item that you've crafted?
My favourite item was the first necklace I sold on Etsy. It was ocean inspired and I was sad to sell it in a way.

Is there any other craft you'd love to learn?
I'd love to paint but I have no talent in that area at all.

What do you do when not crafting?
When not crafting I do my other 2 jobs, mum to 2 kids and physiotherapy.

Whats your favorite part of etsy?
I'm addicted to the forums. My kids roll their eyes when they see me on it again.

In 5 years where would you like to be?
In 5 years I hope to be selling my jewellery in a lot more outlets.

What are your plans/did you do for St. Patrick's Day?
On St Patricks Day I will be home crafting with both kids under my feet.

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Spotlight- Ira Grant

Introduce Yourself-
My name Ira and based in Neuchatel,Switzerland at the moment, who knows where can I be in the future, my hubby and I kind of people who is hard to stay in one place for too long!

What is your irish connection?
Husband's dad originally come from North Ireland, even though he was born in NZ, so he is a Kiwi with an Irish citizenship:).

What do you make?
Bag, bag and more bags but I do make other things as well, like baby plush, you know something for under 3 year old and loves by my daughter, scarfs and other accessories is depend of my mood really.

When did you start crafting?
Since I was a child.

What's your favourite item that you've crafted?
I love them all, but a white bunny for my daughter is still the one I like best, because she just love it! And a pretty little skirt for her dolly:)

Is there any other craft you'd love to learn?
Felt? But I doubt it, my hand is not very friendly with soapy water all the time.

What do you do when not crafting?
Playing with my daughter, clean the house, which is very rare:) I have to stay very late to do some works for my shop!

Whats your favorite part of etsy?
Treasury and Street Team Forum!

In 5 years where would you like to be?
My bags brand will well establish!

What are your plans/did you do for St. Patrick's Day?
Went to Zurich sometimes, always got an invitation from Irish Consulate to celebrate it together or gathering here in Neuchatel with other Irish Expats who is living here and hubby have plenty Lager, is that how you call it? nah.......:)

my blog:
or my other one
flickr:
trunkt:

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Spotlight- Kraken mosaics, Baleen and Gopher Guts

Introduce yourself-
Hi! I operate Kraken Mosaics, a small shop filled with mosaic frames and art but I'm better known as "baleen", my Etsy pseudonym.
I live in Fort Myers in sunny southwest Florida.

What is your irish connection?
I've always been more in tune with my Irish roots but I really became interested when I started to research my family history a
year ago. My grandmother was born in Belfast and that has been a huge part of why I'm so interested in the "motherland." I have lots of other relatives from the Republic but I haven't started researching them yet.
I was thrilled when I came upon Bonzie's original forum post calling out "Any other Irish Etsians out there??" What could be better
than a compilation of two of my favorite things? Crafts and Ireland!

What do you make?
I make lots of things. Sometimes just a mess. :D I've really been concentrating on my mosaic art for the last few months. I feel
like I've tried so many types of crafts and I feel very lucky that I managed to fall into one that I really love to do. I still enjoy
painting with acrylics but I admit that it frustrates me greatly. I think I was born to paint with glass.

When did you start crafting?
I've always been a crafter. My mother was very creative and although I've developed an aversion to crochet from her (!), I owe alot of my
creativity to her. I really started getting into mosaics in 2005, so I haven't been at it very long.

What's your favourite item that you've crafted?
I have to pick a favorite?? I love the giant octopus that I installed in my kitchen. He's the current favorite. You can see him and more
on my website, www.krakenmosaics.com

Is there any other craft you'd love to learn?
I'd love to be able to get into ceramics. I hate to admit that I spend way too much time drooling over the wonderful ceramic art and
pottery on Etsy. There is something magical about how a glaze turns out. I wish I could find the time to learn! And maybe glass blowing or fusing.
I've given up on thinking I'll ever learn to sew!

What do you do when not crafting?
I homeschool my 11 year old son. That's my primary function Monday-Friday. I try to fit in some random craftiness
throughout the day...just to keep my sanity. I like to read sometimes but find it hard to find the time these days. We take alot of unplanned road trips in our family. I like to photograph the places that we visit.

Whats your favorite part of etsy?
So far I love the front page treasury and I have really enjoyed the teams. I love the wonderful sense of comradery on Etsy. It almost feels
like a private art society. It's been a real privelege to be a part of Irish Rogue Artisans! I've "met" some really cool people that I am proud to call mt Etsy fwends! ;)

What are your plans/did you do for St. Patrick's Day?
I don't really celebrate St. Patrick's Day per se. I figure, Hey...I'm Irish 24/7, 365 days a year!! Is there a better way to celebrate than that?
So no, I don't do the wearing green thing or the pub scene. Half of my wardrobe is green already and my current handbag is an orange leather number.
I'm a good example of a walking tri-color without the celebration! :)



I operate 3 shops on Etsy. krakenmosaics, baleen, and I run my son's shop as well...
gopherguts

I operate a blog/website

KRAKEN

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BALEEN

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GOPHERGUTS

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Spotlight- Draw and Quartered and Kiss me moon studios

Introduce yourself-
I'm Illustrator/Artist Dawn Hitchcock, and I live in a small town in the beautiful mountains of Colorado.

What is your Irish connection?
My husband is Irish, and we took a trip to Ireland a
few years back and fell in love with the country.

What do you make?
Original paintings, prints, cards, stationery, sketchbooks and journals, aceo's, jewelry.

When did you start crafting?
I decided in High School that I wanted to be an artist
and I've never wanted to do anything else. I made my first project, which was a mobile around that time. I didn't start selling my artwork until after college.

What's your favorite item that you've crafted?
My print series of Ireland is what I'm most proud of. I did the series while going through a rough time after a car accident. It was a challenge, to say the least.

Is there any other craft you'd love to learn?
I've always wanted to try arc welding and try creating large sculptures. I also need to learn Photo Shop.

What do you do when not crafting?
I am also an animal caregiver as well as an artist, so our house if always full of strange animals. In my free time I enjoy hiking, listening to music, traveling, playing guitar, spending time with my husband Mike and our 3 kids, taking pictures, going antiquing.

Whats your favorite part of etsy?
The community of course and the ability to keep creating and marketing my work.

In 5 years where would you like to be?
I enjoy what I'm doing now and my dreams for the future would be: Increased sales on etsy as well as outside sales, financial stability, growing as an artist, learning new things, to be able to travel more and work on location, increasing my studio space, possibly moving to a warmer climate.

What are your plans for St. Patrick's Day?
We always have a big celebration with family and it's great craic. As far as items on my etsy shop, I have many that have an Irish theme.

Please see my shops at:
Draw and Quartered
Kiss me moon studios
Ebay

I can also be found at:
My web site
Portfolio
Blogs: Indiepublic
Etsy love
Yahoo
Bebo

I am a member of the following groups: Irish Rogue Artisans, Etsy For Animals, Transparent Watercolors, Mixed Media Artist's, Aceo's, Aceo Artist's Unite, Irish Crafts,
Thatched Cottages, Tipperary. I also created and manage Etsy Artist's Of The Rockies

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade drawandquartered.etsy.com

Spotlight- Ruby Clover

Introduce yourself -
Ruby Clover. Chicago.

What is your irish connection?
Besides Irish being the biggest part of my heritage, I have several friends that live there and I try to visit them every few years. I LOVE Ireland and miss it dearly when I'm not there :( Most of my artwork is inspired by my visits there, the landscape, the little towns, the rainy weather and the stout.

What do you make?
Lots of different things really. I do alot of collage on boxes, coasters, canvas and greeting cards. I also make window clings/suncatchers with Irish landscapes. Have some photography that I sell in my shop too. Stuff like that.

When did you start crafting?
A hundred years ago

What's your favourite item that you've crafted?
My collaged boxes, can't pick just one though!

Is there any other craft you'd love to learn?
Proper sewing, pmc (metal clay), wool felting, welding and pretty much everything else that I see that I don't know how to do

What do you do when not crafting?
Sing, procrastinate, hang with the fam, cook

Whats your favorite part of etsy?
Talkin to my girls on our Irish thread and just being a part of the Etsy community is super neat.

In 5 years where would you like to be?
Doing what I'm doing now, only more efficiently and with more focus so I can make a better living :)

What are your plans/did you do for St. Patrick's Day?
Well, on the south side of Chicago we tend to celebrate St. Pats on the day of the parade rather than March 17th, it's usually the Sunday before. The streets in my neighborhood fill up with people donning their green and smuggling booze in their kids strollers so they can get their drink on at the parade. So needless to say I'll be stuffing my giant 7 year old in a stroller and heading down to the festivities :)

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