Today's Featured Shop - Plum Thicket Prims

Today's featured shop is Plum Thicket Prims.  Edna makes beautiful and unusual art dolls and offers patterns for her creations.   These are some of her patterns.

Primitive Folk Art Angel Cupid Valentine

IceAnna Winter Snow Elf Art Doll

Primitive Folk Art Doll BugBaby and Pumpkin

Lady Bones Halloween Skeleton Doll

Be sure and visit Edna's shop to see all she has to offer.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/PlumThicketPrims

Today's Featured Artist - Snugglebug Prim Blessins

 Our featured artist today is Cathy  from Snugglebug Prim Blessins.

Tell us a little about you?

I have been crafting and creating dolls for about 15+ years now and have never stopped loving it. My doll making has been on many journeys where I have worked in primitive, mix media, vintage, whimsical, art dolls, paper crafts and now have landed back into primitive doll making and folk art dolls which is my true love. Sometimes its good to venture into other venues, you learn so much and can take it back to the craft room and see how you can incorporate what you have learned into your own art form. It's a wonderful experience.

How long have you been in business?

I have had an on-line business for about 4 years now.

How did you get started?

When my daughter was a wee little thing, my brain ached for something to fill it besides barbies and stuffed animals. I found a magazine called the "Country Marketplace" and that changed my life forever. I never looked back and am thankful for such a creative magazine.

What is involved in making your craft?

When I am designing a pattern you will find sketches of my dolls everywhere, several proto types of doll bodies, (sounds like Dr. Frankenstein doesn't it, LOL), misc. fabrics here and there, and notes on how I made this or that. As we all know, lots of time and effort go in to creating a piece but it is always worth it.

What is your favorite thing to make?

I love anything folk art. Especially Santa's and I also love Halloween pumpkins and witches

Do you have set hours to work?

Mainly when my son is at school, but I have been known to work into the wee hours of the night, I am a night owl for sure.

What are your future plans for your business?

Recently, I have been learning to make soy tarts and soaps and am hoping to have them on my site and in many local shops soon.

What does handcrafting mean to you?

Now this is a loaded question. Anything handmade well (at your level of experience), not a China item embellished, but created by me, from scratch. One of things that drives me crazy is embellished China made products. Handcrafting is exactly that a well made hand crafted item.

Where do you sell your crafts at?

Mostly on the internet:

www.snugglebugprimblessins.com
www.snugglebugblessings.etsy.com
www.artsaflutter.com

but I do sell at these local places:

D.S. Griffith and Co. (the oldest general store in WV)
Contactin Colorfest Oct. 9 and 10
Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival Oct. 16 - 17

Today's Featured Artist - Annie's Cupboard

Today's featured artist is Sherry Marrero of Annie's Cupboards.

Tell us a little about you?

My name is Sherry and I live in Sunny South Florida with my husband and 2 sons. I am a foodie. I love food. I also love fashion and adore crafting. I am a big time thrifty girl and will stalk my local thrift shops looking for vintage goods to decorate my house with or use in my crafts. I collect certain Pyrex dishes and handmade aprons.

How long have you been in business?

 I have been selling for almost 7 years.

How did you get started?

I started feeling really crafty in my early 20's and would spend hours bejeweling and working with sequins on shirts for my friends and to sell. After the 80's ended I started to make clothing for babies because I was a new mom. I took a sewing class to help me learn the workings of a sewing machine that was offered at my local high school. I then started making Halloween Costumes for my kids and my friends kids. I then moved to adult costumes. I then quit costumes and started making dolls in 2004. It was the best thing I have ever done. I was truly happy making rag dolls that looked as if they were vintage. I love vintage. I then just continued my sewing love and it takes me to new places of creativity every day.

What is involved in making your craft?

I sew a bunch on my sewing machine. I sew dolls, aprons, dresses, bags, purses. I also make doll houses out of crafty little things I can find. So I am painting. I also love to repurpose items. So I will take a vintage pillowcase and make it into a shirt or a bag. I am very crafty with a few baby jars. I love turning trash into treasure.

What is your favorite thing to make?

Currently? Oh dear. Doll Houses at the moment.

Do you have set hours to work?

I treat my crafting like a job. I start at 9am. I finish at 4pm. However I have been known to work the late shift and pull a few weekend shifts too. I can't shut it off sometimes. I  love to craft and seeing how there is just me making everything, I don't mind when I get a little overtime in.

What are your future plans for your business?

There are many goals and plans that I have for my business. I would love to write a book and actually get it published. I would love to have an Annies Cupboard's doll in every single state across America and then work my way around the country.

What does handcrafting mean to you?

 Handcrafted to me means someone who took the time to love something so much to make it with their hands and experience the process and put all of their focus and time and love into what they made.

Where do you sell your crafts at?

I am currently selling my crafts at local indie craft shows and online. 
My upcoming craft show is this Oct. 2, 2010 at Stitch Rock in Delray Beach, Fl. 
On Etsy:      http://www.etsy.com/shop/anniescupboards 
My Webstie:  http://www.anniescupboards.com.

Today's Featured Artist - Cat's Designs

Today's featured artist is Charlene Tennison of Cat's Designs. 

Hi,  I'm Charlene Tennison and I live in sunny California. I've been married to my high school sweetheart for 43 years.  We have three daughters, one still lives at home.  She is a special needs child and will probably live with us til I can no longer do it.  I have four grandkids and my eldest grandson is serving in the Marines in Afghanistan.

I have been crafting off and on since 1972, but really didn't get started selling seriously til the 90's when I sold in a craft shop on consignment.  

I had this friend that took lessons at Cabin Craft with Jo Sonja Jansen and I fell in love with her paintings, so I took a basic strokework class and it all started from there.  I started selling my paintings and dolls at Christmas time for extra cash and then I started doing some craft shows.  I started selling on Ebay in 2002 and Etsy in 2008.  I like dabbling in several crafts such as jewelry, ceramics, soapmaking and sewing.

  There's really a lot of steps to making my woodcrafts.  I cut all my wood, prepare the surface, paint, and then seal with varnish.

  I sew my dolls in between the various steps of my painting projects.  I love working with material and the colors.  Since I have a special needs child I work during the morning while she is at her school and then at night while she is sleeping.

  I really don't have any big plans for my business.   But I would like to start designing my own doll patterns.

  Crafting is a way for me to express myself and I love to see others faces brighten up when they see my items.   I  would like to enjoy making my crafts as long as the Good Lord is willing to let me.

 You can find Charlene's work at these places:


http://catsdesigns.etsy.com

http://enchantedgemgarden.artfire.com

http://catsdesigns.blogspot.com

http://picturetrail.com/ctennison