Featuring - MoeArt of ArtFire & Etsy

I should have been here sooner to post this, but I got side-tracked on Moe's blog. Who is Moe, you ask? Well she is the Moe of MoeArt, and if you've never visited her blog, you are missing out on a treat, and alot of laughs. I spent the better part of the day LOL at her adventures with Westinghouse products, her vaccuum cleaner, her cats, and just her way of looking at life. So today was not a total loss for me. I needed a break with a lot of laughs. And I didn't even mention all the polymer clay items she has presented on her blog. And have you looked in her shops? She has a shop on Etsy and a shop on ArtFire. Truly a talented lady!

I am happy to give you all the opportunity to get to know Moe. She recently joined the ArtFire Polymer Clay Smooshers, but said she has been on PCC (Polymer Clay Central) for years. I am so glad she has found our guild. She sounds like one happy go lucky lady. And who can blame her? She lives in Paradise after all. It's quite obvious that she loves her life and what she does:

What is your favorite item in your shop? Yikes! My dragon, I guess. I love dragons and have several even though there is only one listed. I can't decide what I like to make the best. It's all such fun! But there actually is another dragon listed in her ArtFire shop

What inspires you to create? Color. Anything with lots of color makes me think, "I can make this in clay!" Silks, sunsets, clothing, jewelry, gemstones, just about anything colorful.

Do you have any inspirational advice for other artists? Do what works for YOU! Doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. If you are inspired by steel mills or lambs in a meadow... go for it! Creativity is inside each individual. It is not dictated by something that's "popular" or trendy or from somebody else's mind. It belongs to you and you alone. So, go forth and make what works for YOU!

Do you create in more than one medium? I used to do painting on rocks and quilling and several other crafty things. I still quill once in a while but generally, clay is THE thing. I love it!
These earrings are GORGEOUS!!! I love, love love them. And also the monarch set. Beautiful job, Moe!

If you could live anywhere else in the world where would it be? and why? Hee. This is a no brainer for me. I live in Honolulu. Would you want to move? :D Okay, okay... maybe Maui. :D

Favorite food? Wine. That's a major food group, right?

Favorite Animal? Our two kitties. Allie and Ipo (that's "sweetheart" in Hawaiian) Ipo is THE most misnamed kitty in the world. Her *real* name is Destructo Kitty or BratCat of the Universe.

Favorite color? Orange! Burnt orange is my absolute favorite. Followed only by bronzes and golds and reds.

Do you have a favorite quote you'd like to share? Hmmmm, maybe not. But if I had to make one up it would be "Go for it!" Or "NEVER give up!' I guess that's pretty close to Winston Churchill, isn't it?

Sites where you can find moe

her blog http://www.moeart.blogspot.com/

On Etsy http://www.moeart.etsy.com/

On ArtFire http://www.moeart.artfire.com/

ArtFire Polymer Clay Smooshers Guild http://artfiresmooshers.ning.com/profile/MoeArt

This was fun. Mahalo and aloha! moe

Thank you Moe for taking the time to do this interview. Please be sure to visit MoeArt on Etsy and MoeArt on ArtFire . I know you will find beautiful polymer clay items there.

Featuring ArtFire Shop - Unique by Karlee

I met UniquebyKarlee in the ArtFirePolymer Smooshers Guild. She not only creates with polymer clay, but also crochets and sews as well. When I first entered the shop of UniquebyKarlee, my eyes were immediately caught by several striking coffee cup cozies. I have been drinking a lot of tea lately due to cold and rainy weather, and these cup cozies would be ideal for someone (like me) who drinks warm/hot beverages. Then I poked around in her shop a little more, and found all kinds of different treasures. I had to find out a little more:

What is your favorite item in your shop?

I'll let you choose your favorite. I don't have some stuff listed yet, and I have some fairly neat stuff to list. :) I absolutely love it when I get to pick the fav, and since it has been terribly stormy for the last couple of weeks, I was immediately attracted to this Lightning Striking Coffee Cozy. But wait this gets even better!!! She is having a SALE right now 5 cozies for the price of 4! These would make excellent stocking stuffers at Christmas. I'm thinking gifts for the neighbors, office workers, and family; PLUS there is a great selection. You're sure to find one for everyone on your list, and if you click on this picture you can see all the different views of this cozy.

What inspires you to create?
Colors, textures, letting my mind wander. I don't really go looking for clay inspiration, I just start playing with the clay and let it happen. I've come up with some neat stuff this way, and other times some serious train wrecks.

And do you have any inspirational advice for other artists?
Sometimes thinking outside the box will get you that really great piece that you may not like, but someone else can't live without. You never know what a customer is going to look for, so unless it is REALLY bad, go ahead and make it then list it. It very well may the thing that puts you on the map.

Do you create in more than 1 medium?
Oh yes. I started my artfire shop by sewing. Clay is the latest addition. I've been sewing for most of my life, and quite often sew more things than I have room for. My husband, family, and friends suggested that I start selling my wares to free up space for new things, and for a little revenue.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose? And why?
Birmingham, Alabama. My best friend lives there with his family, and they are more like my extended family without actually being family. I visited him for a week a few years back, and fell in love with the area (and the magnolia trees).

What is your favorite food?

Schnitzel. I grew up on German cooking, and can't seem to get enough schnitzel.

Favorite animal?
My favorite animal has always been, and will always be, horses. I am lucky to own a horse, and if you ask her, she will tell you she is spoiled rotten.

Favorite color?

Chrome. LOL, just kidding. Blue, hands down. 90% of my horse equipment is blue, my purse is blue, seat covers in the car are blue, favorite coffee cup is blue...the list goes on.

Do you have a favorite quote you'd like to share?
“Life is not a journey to the grave with intentions of arriving safely in a pretty well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming ... WOW! What a ride!” LOL! I love that :)

Other places UniquebyKarlee can be found:

UniquebyKarlee on ArtFire (I only sell on artfire)
UniquebyKarlee's website (All but one product on my website is linked to my artfire shop)

Unique by Karlee's blog

Also a member of the ArtFire Polymer Smooshers Guild

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview and giving us a laugh or two. Be sure to visit UniquebyKarlee and get some of those coffee cozies while they are still on sale.

Featuring -2Good Claymates

I found 2 Good Claymates when I went blog jumping one day. When I came across this blog I was mesmerized by the blog header and one particular gecko on it. It was absolutely beautiful! The green swirls on it were perfect; not a crooked line or distortions on any of it. I was envious to say the least. Needless to say, I was quite happy when she answered my call for blog features. Here's a little more about this shop:

What is your favorite item in your shop?
I have a lot of favorites but I like my candle collars the most. They were something I dreamed about making and I love how they turned out. I have several pairs I use in my home and get comments on them all the time.
This is one of my favorites as I love the colors and the mokume gane design.

What inspires you to create?
I would say colors inspire me the most. One of the first things I did with my clay was mix my own colors! And I was so excited when I discovered you could actually save the “recipe” and make that exact color again. I have all my color samples and recipes on index cards and organized in a photo album. When I’m trying to decide what to make I will usually browse through my album and pick out color combinations I like and then dive in. When I see the colors together it will help me decide what to do next -- a mokume gane -- canes, flowers, etc. One thing I like about my work the most is the wide range of colors I use -- there is something for everyone!

And do you have any inspirational advice for other artists?
Don’t worry about trying to find your own “specialty” technique or “trademark”. Just dive in and have fun and it will eventually find you! Then again that may never happen -- lol -- I enjoy so many different techniques with the clay that I don’t think I will ever settle down and focus in on only one or two.

Do you create in more than 1 medium?
I use to oil paint as well as papier mache. I also sew a lot and have designed and made most of my own clothing and accessories. Years ago I use to have a line of specialty eyeglass cases I designed and made myself and sold to various Optical stores. I'm now making my own jewelry pouches (a simpler version of those cases I use to make) which makes the pieces I sell a little more special.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose? And why?
We lived in Mexico for 9 years and that was an adventure of a lifetime. We moved back to Canada in 2001 and last fall we moved from the big city and settled down in a cute little town and absolutely love it here and can’t imagine living anywhere else now.

What is your favorite food?
I don’t have too many favorite foods -- I like most things as long as it is meatless!

Favorite animal ? My favorite animal is a dog -- although I loved the geckos that were in our home and yard when we were in Mexico! Maybe that is why I like making those out of clay the most.

Favorite color? My favorite color is green -- preferably yellow greens like lime or olive. Whenever I see something in a shade of green I like, it immediately causes my head to turn and I can’t help not feeling attracted to it. Many people have told me it is because that is the color of my eyes.

Do you have a favorite quote you'd like to share?
I have a lot of favorite quotes and most of them centre around happiness and laughter. (My middle name is Joy and some people have nicknamed me “giggles”). I guess I would say, “The shortest distance between two people is laughter” by Victor Borge. He is my favorite artist who has always made me laugh the hardest!

Do you have anything else you would like to share? My name is Carolyn Good -- my hubby (and best friend) is Dave Good and that is how we came up with the name “2 Good Claymates”

2 Good Claymates can be found in several places on the web
Blogs (3): http://www.2goodclaymates.blogspot.com/
http://wearableartgallery.blogspot.com/
http://jewelryforthehome.blogspot.com/
(last 2 blogs are set up in a magazine style with links to our Art Fire Studio or Etsy Shop)

Art Fire Studio: http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&seller_id=28096
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/2goodclaymates/
Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6563828
Member of the Art Fire Artisan Jeweler Guild

Member of the Polymer Clay Smooshers Guild
I'm a new member of The Shuswap Lake Festival of the Arts Society in the area where I live -- I have 4 pieces I'm entering in the juried part of the show this year (3 jewelry pieces plus a mosaic tiled coffee table) as well as selling a lot of my pieces in the gift shop that will be set up for the 9 days at the festival. I will also be demonstrating on making my floral canes at the show.
Thanks again!
Carolyn Good--

Thank you Carolyn for taking the time to share your talents with us and showing us your many beautiful peices. Please be sure to check out 2Good Claymates on Etsy and on ArtFire. I fell in love with several of their pieces, and you may just find something you just can't live without any longer, too!

Featuring Artfire shop- HaffinaCreations

I found haffinacreations one day when I was blog jumping. I noticed a purple something or other, and since I am a purple freak I figured I would check this blog out. After all, anyone who shows purple is worth a few minutes of my life...and then I saw the giveaway.... In order to win the prize you had to pick out your fav in her shop. I immediately clicked on her ArtFire store link and was amazed with all her work. I had seen very little chainmaille jewelry up to that point, but when I saw haffina's, I was in awe! It took me nearly an hour to pick out my fav. (I take opinion polls very seriously..lol) I had never seen any such kind of workmanship and colors. Then when I saw she was in the ArtFire Polymer Smoosher's Guild and incorporated polymer clay with her chainmail, I knew I would have to find out a little more about her:

What is your favorite item in your shop? I don't have a favourite really, so I am quite happy for you to pick your favourite. So, you know what that meant, don't ya?...I lingered and labored for a couple of days trying to pick just the right thing. I mean, have you peeked into her shop? Can you pick out just one fav? I finally settled on this one; how did I do? The pattern is so intriguing and the colors mesh so well. I just love it!
What inspires you to create? Anything and everything. I get ideas from really weird things sometimes, and I tend to dream in clay and chainmaille.. its a bit freaky.


And do you have any inspirational advice for other artists? The greatest source of inspiration is within each and every one of us, just find the outlet that lets you tap into yours. Try new things, never stop exploring, and you will find it.

Do you create in more than 1 medium?

I create chainmaille, seed bead pieces, jewellery in general. Plus I paint mandalas when the mood is upon me. I have been known to knit, crochet and cross stitch, but not as much any more. I also write, mainly poetry, but also short stories on occasion.


If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose? And why? Halfway up a nice hill with a great view, in a big house with lots of room and light. I would prefer it to be in South Australia, because it is home to me.


What is your favorite food? Black Forest Cake

Favorite animal? Butterflies

Favorite color? Purple with Teal.


Do you have a favorite quote you'd like to share? 'If words and ideas flowed like water and wine, I'd never be thirsty or sober.' Its one of mine, and I think it sums up creativity, and how sometimes it seems to dry up. LOL

When someone gives me a quote I usually look it up on the web to see who wrote it, and guess what? This quote IS actually haffina's! She is one talented lady. She hasn't mentioned it, so I will, she also writes for handmade.org She is an Adminstrator on an online forum, a Moderator on another forum, Guildmaster of the ArtFire Chainmaille Guild, a member of four other guilds, including the ArtFire Polymer Clay Smooshers, maintains two blogs and to top that off - she is a stay at home mum of 5 children.

haffinacreations can also be found on the following sites...and be sure to look at her Flickr . She has some pictures of her beaded work there.
Wordpress blog - http://haffinacreations.wordpress.com/
Blogspot blog - http://haffinacreations.blogspot.com/
Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/haffinacreations/

The Original Haffina Creations - its on a forum - http://www.theacforum.com/index.php?board=121.0
Haffina Creations Facebook Fanpage - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Haffina-Creations/62034704023
I'm also on Plurk, Twitter, MySpace, IndiePublic, CafeMom, byhand.me and lots of other places.

Thank you so much haffina for taking the time to share a little of yourself with us. Be sure to check out haffinacreations on ArtFire. If you're like me, you'll find a favorite in her shop to put on your wish list.