Thank you, Mary Thomas, of WickdCreation for taking the time to answer some questions about your items and the great things to see and do in Tennessee. Mary operates http://www.etsy.com/shop/WickdCreation, where the selection is always interesting, varied, and colorful. I purchased some wooden flower basket magnets from here that were adorable and well made. She often has Tennessee themed items, like Jack Daniel's whiskey shotglass candles, made in Lynchburg, TN.
I live in Duff, TN. That's about 20 minutes from the Kentucky border in the northeastern part of the state and just under an hour from Knoxville. It is very beautiful here, especially up on the mountain I live at the very top of. Our most historical place in this area would have to be the Civil War Trails in the next town over, Lafollette, TN.
2) What are your favorite places in TN for shopping, dining, and outdoor fun? What destination would you recommend near your city for tourists?
For four years I lived in Johnson City, TN. Aside from the wonderful college, ETSU, it is also a great place to shop, eat, go dancing, whatever strikes your fancy. Knoxville has two great malls, hundreds of restaurants and of course anyone stopping in from out of town has to see the Sun Sphere, which was built for the 1982 World's Fair.
3) Tell us a bit about your crafts. What do you make and how did you learn to make these things?
I am a Soaper, Candlemaker, Jewelrymaker and Papercrafter. I am self taught and I have a great love for all of them. I have worked with paper the longest. I became a scrapbooker in high school but that quickly evolved to cardmaking, collages, etc. I haven't purchased a greeting card in 5 years, not even Christmas cards. I make them all myself. I also learned to make Candles in high school with my best friend. I decided last year to try making glycerin soaps, learned very quickly that I had knack for it and that I was in love with mixing the fragrances and colors to achieve the perfect result. I just took up jewelry making in March of this year, but I have built up quite a large collection of beads, findings and other supplies. My only issue with jewelrymaking has been wanting to keep everything I make.
4) What are your future plans for your handmade items?
In the near future, I want to learn to make Hot and Cold process soaps as well as expanding my jewelrymaking beyond earrings and the occasional bracelet. My dream would be to open a boutique where I, and other local sellers, could sell a varitey of handmade beauty products and jewelry. We don't have many opportunities to really experience a handmade market in this particular area and I would love to be able to change that.
5) So, you are also the captain of April's Army team on etsy? Please tell us about that team and the money they raise for charity.
Yes, April's Army. We are one of the largest teams on Etsy, and in my opinion, we are also one of the very best. We work directly with April Winchell, the creator of the humor site, Regretsy, to raise money for other Etsy sellers in need. Our wonderfully dedicated team members donate handmade and vintage items to a collective shop right here on Etsy and all the proceeds go to our chosen recipient of the month. Our shop is only open the last week of the month, so that the members have time to create new items and our wonderful buyers have time to re-fill their wallets. During that week, Regretsy and April's Army also promotes the charity recipients Etsy shop in hopes of selling out their current stock and greatly increasing the money raised for their particular cause. So far we have helped a young lady whose fiance needed money for cancer treatment, a lady who lost everything in a fire and a family who needed help with their massive debt after the father's long battle with cancer. Between the April's Army shop and the shops of the recipients we have raised nearly $20,000 in just 3 months.
6) Can you describe some of the items you have donated to their charity shop and tell us about how we can buy from it?
Well, in the spirit of Regretsy, I have donated cupcake scented Mustache on a Stick soaps and 4 sets of my super special Zombie BFF clay pendants.
As I stated above, we are only open the last week of each month, but there are plenty of items, lots of variety and something in every price range. During the last week of each month, just check out www.aprilsarmy.etsy.com and know that any purchase you make will go directly towards helping another seller improve their life.
7) Is your shop having any sales or promotions right now?
Yes, code: FRIENDS20 will get you 20% off any purchase from my shop.
What better way to celebrate Mother's Day than to feature a jewelry shop? Kim Mullins' jewelry shop is vibrant and her jewelry is versatile, to say the least. At Gemama you'll find handcrafted jewelry..."with an attitude."
This swarovski crystal wrap bracelet makes a bold statement. It would be great to add some flavor to a t-shirt and jeans ensemble. You could even use it to spice up your little black dress.
If you want to add a little fun to your day, use these long volcano swarovski crystal earrings. Do you like the style, but think 1.5 inches is a little long? Well, Kim also has shorter ones.
The greens in this pendant are beautiful. It would be fabulous with a little silver clutch and some black earrings. Any simple chain would be great for it. Keep it simple though, because this pendant doesn't need any help. It's gorgeous.
What got you interested in making jewelry, Kim?
About six years ago, a friend's girlfriend showed me some of her beaded jewelry and gave me a necklace and earrings. My husband said my eyes lit up. He remembered that I used to paint and thought I would enjoy making jewelry. He gave me some tools to get started that Christmas, and I've been hooked ever since.
Where do you find your inspiration?
I find inspiration just about every where, but my favorite inspirations come from nature's colors: fall leaves, daylilies, the sun setting on the ocean, etc. There are so many wonderful color combinations in the scenery around us.
What is your favorite thing to create?
Currently, my favorite thing to make is anything that involves wire working and hammering sterling silver. My wirework pieces take the longest to make. The featured wrap bracelet takes me about an hour to make, but I get instant gratification from the finished product. I started out beading, then added wire work and fused glass. Next, I want to start soldering pieces and make pendants, rings, etc.
What are some of your other interests?
Can't pass up an opportunity for some more shameless self promotion. I sell Mary Kay and get to use some of the same creativity I use in making jewelry when helping women select make up colors that compliment their hair color, eye color, skin tone, etc. I also love scary movies and books. I'm currently reading the new Sookie Stackhouse book, Dead Reckoning.
Thank you so much, Kim!
-The Murfreesboro Etsy Team: http://www.etsy.com/teams/5505/murfreesboro-etsy-team
featured shop: gemama
Zephyr Art is the shop you go to if you're looking for quirky and fun accessories.
Their pieces, jewelry and otherwise, are bright, chunky and colorful. Especially this first piece. I love how all of the different textures and colors come together in this Cuff Bracelet.
I would call their pieces bohemian chic.
I love these Fabric Earrings... the almost-pearl button against the bright blue yarn. It's fun and eye-catching.
Did I mention that they are also artists? Well, it's not like something this creative could come from anything less than an artist's hands. Or a couple of pairs of them.
Okay Julie, how long have you been crafting and what got you started?
As a business Eppie Cataldo Bailey and I (Julie Barrett Cataldo) started in 2001. When we met, Eppie was primarily illustrating and I was primarily painting. We realized we have a common Art Philosophy of using the freedom and joy we feel in creating to spread our conviction that Art can and should be part of everybody's lives. Because we believe collaboration makes a bigger impact, we joined forces.
Your shop is a "close collaboration of creativity" with you in Tennessee and your sister-in-law in Pennsylvania. It can't be easy when you're 800 miles apart. How do you make that work?
We talk on the phone A LOT. (We are on the phone together right now, answering these questions!) Some days we feel like the phone is an extension of ourselves. Computers are helpful for transferring images and ideas and we spend considerable amounts of time in either place together. We have artist networks in both areas with which we are involved, because we believe real experiences create better art than a solitary vacuum.
You have three kids, one on the way, and one is being home schooled. How do you find the time?
Eppie also has 4 children, three of which are home schooled. The way we find time is to refuse to the alternative: to not have time for our passion. We incorporate Art into our school and we live "school". There is no distinction between "school" ,"Art" or "life". Sometimes we have to do lessons when we want to paint and sometimes we paint when we should be doing lessons, it all evens out for us. There is no miracle here, sometimes things (laundry, dishes) get done and sometimes they don't, we've learned to accept this. We strive to balance structured education with our tenants of freedom and creativity.
I think we can all agree with Eppie and Julie on how important art and creativity are in every day life.
Be sure and stop by their shop and check out the rest of their fun and funky work!
Thanks so much for sharing, Julie (...and Eppie in Pennsylvania)!
-The Murfreesboro Etsy Team
http://www.etsy.com/teams/5505/murfreesboro-etsy-team
featured shop: zephyrart.etsy.com
featured shop's fb fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Zephyr-Art/112101272164246?sk=wall
