Sunday, March 23, 2008

Pretty Things Spotlight: * TamaraDrama *

Update:
Congratulations! BUNNY B. is the winner of the Tambatoys "Can You See Me" art magnet contest! Thanks so much to everyone who entered...and be sure to check out this week's give-a-way photography print by Mikiep!

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When you first see Tamara's art for Tambatoys, you get a sense that she really loves what she does. Tamara's art truly comes from some magical wunderland.


There are floppy-eared bunnies, pretty flowered birdies, girlies in striped socks and MaryJanes and dot-filled bouncy balls...all moving about in her magically muted colours.
Each whimsical character is having fun in Playland and we want to be there too!


"I spend way to much time 'making stuff and admiring other people's art' and not doing dishes, etc..."


Spotlight: TambaToys


* Tel
l us a bit about yourself
My name is Tamara Maguire I live in inner-city Sydney, Australia. I
love designing and creating and have been doing since I can remember. I spend all my free time making or admiring art.
I like to use lots of different mediums from the sewing machine to the computer to create my art.

* What inspires you?
I have been ‘making stuff’ all my life, in
one medium or another. I’m inspired by classical artists and modern contemporary artists to cartoons (I’ve been watching The Simpsons for 20 years!)
I am one of those people who live mostly in my head and I find
inspiration everywhere. I often have great ideas sitting on the bus going to work. I get inspired by movies, children’s books, nature, even buildings. I find I have too many ideas and not enough hours in the day to pursue them. I am driven by a creative urge that is a necessary part of my sanity, but also to develop an idea from it’s visualization all the way through to the finished piece.

* Apart from creating things, what do you do for
fun?
Love seeing live music, going to art galleries, watching DVDs the usual fun!!

* What has been your most memorable moment selling your art?
Seeing a painting for a yet to be born grandchild, because the customer wanted her first gift to be art!

* Any advice for fellow artists...
One of the things that held me back when I was younger was fear, and always thinking that other people were better than me. But my dad died a few years ago and it had a very profound impact on me. It made me look at what really makes me happy and to try and pursue it, instead of letting fear stop me. I decided to use other people’s talents to inspire me instead of inhibiting me. My advice is don’t compare yourself to other people and don’t be afraid of creating bad art. The important thing is to get in the habit of being creative and working at it all the time, don’t give up because you write one bad story, or paint one bad picture. There are a few people who are born with natural talent but most of us have to work really hard at it. Art is like everything else in life, practice makes perfect, try and create as often as you can, you may get frustrated but you will definitely get better!

* If you could be one of the things that you draw/make, which would it be and why?
It would be fun to be an imaginary being, …any of my characters look like fun!

*Anything else you'd like to add about yourself or your work.
I started designing t shirts 6 month ago which sell through redbubble.com which have become my latest design addiction and
doing well.


Etsy Shop: www.tamaradrama.etsy.com
Blog: http://tambatoys.blogspot.com



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Enter this week's Give-a-way!!

You must enter for this cute little magnet entitled "Can You See Me" by our featured artist, TamaraDrama!

This cute little magnet features original artwork and will brighten your fridge and your days!

How to enter:
Take a peek into TamaraDrama's shop and leave a comment here regarding your favourite item! If your favourite TamaraDrama/Tambatoys cutie is not part of your comment, your entry will be disqualified...sorry, but true.


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All entries must be received before next Sunday..., meaning the deadline is to the very last most littlest minute and second of Saturday, March 29th, 2008, PST. This contest is open to everyone around the globe, but please leave a viable way for us to contact you. Duplicate entries will be deleted. The winner's name will be drawn out of a hat...the good ole' fashioned way to do things.

Best of luck to you, My Pretties!

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Bunnies & Other Springtime Cuties...

Here's a sweet little treasury full of bunnies and other Springtime cuties by Mikiep. He's included a funny little joke in the title that I'm sure will give you a little chuckle. ...and all just in time for Easter!


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...and here are more goodies from Mikiep, who does wunderfully inspiring illustrations.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Pretty In Pink...


Those adorable little Devil-kins are back again...and this time in antiqued sweetly sassy pink and white stripes...so simple and wunderful!


















Due to requests, Angel Boy and Angel Girl Silhouettes will be back soon too...Stay Tuned!


xxx
Raven

My Heart is Like a Red Stain...

I'm feeling a bit moody today. Here's a peek inside.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Pretty Things Spotlight: * Elephantine *

Update:
Congratulations! Amber is the winner of the Elephantine "Menagerie Tour" notecard contest! Thanks so much to everyone who entered...and be sure to check out this week's give-a-way treat by Tambatoys!

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Elephantine is a whimsical little shop full of quirky little monster plushies, cards and stickers. Each little cutie plushie is lovingly handcrafted and therefore has a unique personality of its very own.




"I love making things. For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to open a little
shop and share my creations with other people."



In my own little wunderland imagination,
these little critters seem to come alive... romping about the flowers in a lush green meadow or hiding behind the mushrooms in the forest, just waiting to jump out and play!



Spotlight: Elephantine



*Tell us a bit about yourself

My name's Rachel Blakley and I live, work, and play in Sea
ttle, WA. I'm an interactive designer by day, then trade in my keyboard and mouse at night for some felt and a needle. I'm an only child, I took German during college, I used to make a magazine when I was really young called "Kid's World" but sold it to my (adult) relatives, my contacts are different colors so I don't mix them up, I like 80's music and 90's movies, I would eat pasta for the rest of my life if I could, since the very beginning I've wanted to be a novelist, and I've known my boyfriend since we were in kindergarten.


* What inspires you?

Other Etsians constantly inspire me – I love having that, "wow, I would have never thought of making it that way," reaction to something. Before I starting creating things, I had this kind of hard-to-pin-down idea in my head about what I wanted the overall look and feel of my work to be like, and I've been working hard since then to attain that daydream. Usually I'll sketch a lot until something evolves that I think would work as a plushie or as an illustration.


* Apart from creating things, what do you do for fun?

Pretty typical activities, I think: watching movies (a sucker for sci-fi and good foreign
films), cooking (nothing gourmet), both window and splurge shopping, reading (salinger, plath, and ellis are some of my favorites). I like to play tennis during the summer. My moody, complaining cat named Rufus keeps me on my toes as well.



* What has been your most memorable
moment selling your art?
Being contacted for wholesale and custom orders is a great confidence booster. I
also always love when someone lets me know how they found my work, or what occasion they're purchasing it for. Etsy is such a great support system for both brand new and experienced artists.

* Any advice for fellow artists...
I think what's most important is
to make things because you love to do it. And try to show not only what you can make but who you as a person. People are more drawn to work when they can learn about the process or know a little about the artist's life. It makes perfect sense... when you really think about it, the point of all this creating and crafting is to connect with other people.

Etsy Shop: http://elephantine.etsy.com
Blog: http://elephantine.typepad.com




(¯`'•.¸(¯`'•.¸(¯`'•.¸ * ◦ *¸.•'´¯)¸.•'´¯)¸.•'´¯)

Enter this week's Give-a-way!!

The give-a-way for this is week is the sweetest little notecard entitled "Menagerie Tour" by our featured artist, Elephantine!

The "menagerie tour" notecard is a print of an original artwork illustration drawn first in ink, then colored digitally. Printed on a natural colored card.

How to enter:
Take a peek into Elephantine's shop and comment here on what your favourite item is from her sweet little shop! If your favourite Elephantine goodie is not part of your comment, your entry will be disqualified.



All entries must be received before next Sunday's feature, meaning the deadline is to the very last most littlest minute and second of Saturday, March 22nd, 2008, PST. This contest is open to everyone around the globe, but please leave a viable way for us to contact you. Duplicate entries will be deleted. The winner's name will be drawn out of a hat...the good ole' fashioned way to do things.


Best of luck!


Saturday, March 15, 2008

Dirty Pretty Things: Fashion Crimes

How to Look Like You've Dressed in the Dark...

I know, I know...you think you're fabulous.
And you will always find someone else who will tell you that you are because they are desperately trying to be in your circle of friends. Examples: Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears...

There's just one thing...You look like you dress in the dark and your idea of fashion should be no where near the pages of Vogue.

Let us today use Chloe Sevigny as our example. Chloe recently designed a collection for a line called "Opening Ceremony". Think: Laura Ashley meets Esther Williams meets 80's and 90's fashion faux pas, seriously.

First of all, allowing a girl who can't dress herself to "design" clothing for other people is just wrong. That's like asking Britney to watch your children.

Secondly, the pieces aren't unlike what you might find in those cheapy stores such as Rainbow Shops or Fashion Bug, etc, ...in the 90's! I suppose they thought that if they threw it together and took terrible, badly lit, blurry photos, people would think that they had a pulse of what is fashion forward. Sorry. It's just a horrible horrible crime against...well, fashion...and photography.

Here's a [bad] taste of what you could look like this Spring...






So, take note of what you've just witnessed...ALWAYS dress with a light on and spot check yourself in the mirror before you leave the house. If your clothes look like something that Chloe, Bai Ling or Phoebe Price might wear, go and change...Quickly!


Thursday, March 13, 2008

What Great Timing!

Oh Miss Gwen Stefani...I do so love your Harajuku Lovers watches! I definitely have a fatal attraction to such cuties.

Let the cuteness begin with some of my faves...


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Do you have one of my Gwen Stefani prints yet? Well, if you love Gwen as much as I do, then yer definitely gonna want one of these!



"The Sweet Escape" print is available now and you can get yours here or here today!

Oh, and I know I've been a real bad girl too... just like the rest of you Cuties! ;)
*hee hee*

Isn't good to be bad??

xxx
Raven





Sunday, March 9, 2008

Pretty Things Spotlight: * Jenna Colby *


Welcome to the magical world of Jenna Colby...


I came across Jenna's work one day by chance...and it's a bittersweet story. It was around the time of what would have been my brother's birthday, but sadly he is no longer with us. Around that time of year, I celebrate in my own way, by purchasing a little something in his memory. It is at that time, I came across this print "No one Remembers" [right] in Jenna's Sooopajdelux shop on Etsy.

“I make it a point to take note and assign a story to the passer by, giving each moment in time purpose and creating color.”

I was instantly entranced by her work...mesmerised by her quirky characters and the melancholy mood that each portrays.
I now own two of her prints and she will forever be one of the artists near and dear to my heart.


Spotlight: Jenna Colby


*Tell us a bit about you
rself... i live in a little hut like house behind two full grown appletrees the way i see it... it is very hello kitty meets smurfland-- altho to the untrained eye it is just a simple craftsman. the trees are old and gnarly... very magic... and they make apples too! it is nestled in a town on a chunk of land floating in the puget sound which is the water separating the large squareish chunk of washington state on the right from the smaller sliver on the left... close enough to seattle... but not right up in it.. best thing about it is that the commute to seattle is via boat. to a kid from the midwest.. it is a trip.
fun facts... hmm this can be dangerous... my mom tells me that when i was a wee one in diapers...(oh jeez.. these stories never end good) she would put me to bed in my crib all safe and snug as a bug next morning she would often find murals made of poo from my diaper on the wall ...i actually remember it sorta (sans the poopy details) but i do remember forming shapes and color variations on the wall... it was a tad bit sculptural too. iwould always find things to make things out of... always. paper bags and teacups and cookies and anything i could find. my grampa was a junk collector... so it was extra fun. i never really grew out of it altho i have been introduced to other media over the years... and have gotten better dexterity... what im doing now has come from years of full time tinkering. im not "a natural" by any means... i am obsessed.

*What inspires you?

extreme moods... thinkers... stories... animals... books... faces in
a crowd and the stories i make up about them... politics... justice and injustice... strong women... real rags to riches stories... people who overcome ...wow... it is endless...

*Apart from creating things, what do you do for fun?
i dont know about "fun" but i do try to be as active as i can politically.. i am really concerned about the state of things. i often fantasize about being a us congress person. i would love to have that access. im a c-span junkie... but i can see why i am a minority in that there is absolutely no overt WOW to c-span... but once i got into it... it is ADDICTING! and the CRAZY goings on affect us all. i think it would be cool to go in and shake up c-span by acting all crazy and doing some extreme truth telling to get more people watching. i could and would do that as a congress grl but yah... since i promised the moon and stars that i am serious about this "art" thing and i have made the commitment to do this full time... i dont do much else. it is like working 2 or 3 full time jobs... but im not complaining. im chasing dreams and there isnt a better place to be in this life i used to be really into nature activities... anything active that gets me into the dirt, moss and ferns (even the snow covered kind) ESPECIALLY since moving to washington. the pacific nw is unexplainable how magical it is. i would love to get back into snowboarding... i used to go all the time and was passionate about it. i feel like i am cheating on a lover... i chose art over snowboarding.. but art always meant more... and for some reason i had to choose and i chose art. i still have massive love for snowboarding and in quiet moments when i close my eyes i can still feel it.

*What has been your most memorable moment selling your art?
my first time having art hanging on a wall would have to be it. it was at a show called re-start in seattle a few years back. it was such a wild mix of emotions... i spent most of the night overwhelmed with emotion crying and hiding in corners. once i realized those little red dots next to the paintings meant they sold... and not that i was in some sort of trouble... i was so transformed... sad to see something that i spent time with and created go... selling a piece for the first time can be a tad bit sad... but at the same time... this thing that was nothing i made into somethng and now it has value to someone and they want to spend time with it on their wall in their living space!!! wow!! i had been painting my entire life and had stacks of work piled up around the house... but never really felt like it was anything anyone would want to look at. people told me i should.. and FINALLY the opportunity revealed itself and i went for it. seeing my paint hung on a wall in an official way for the first time was lifechanging.

*Any advice for fellow artists...
be strong
if you arent dont bother.. this shit will eat you alive if you give a damn about what you are
doing.. you will find yourself hurt quite abit (but the good parts are SO worth it!!!) if you dont give a damn about what you are doing you will be no good. this thing has been so much more than painting pictures to go on walls... everything changed.

*Anything else you'd like to add...
a dash of yubness <3

Etsy Shop:
http://soopajdelux.etsy.com
Website: www.soopajdelux.com






Friday, March 7, 2008

Pretty Things: Shoe Porn

We're all a titter about some of the new hot, sexy and sometimes quirky boots, booties and stilettos for the coming season! Here are some of our favourites from the shows in Paris for you to drool over...
And, in case you'd like like to send any of these beauties my way, I'm a size 8 1/2 and my address is...





photos: Getty & Imaxtree

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Project Runway...Christian Siriano "Made It Work"


Surviving 12 rounds of design challenges, Christian Siriano was the sure winner of the fourth season of Project Runway, his work standing out as visionary amongst the other contestants....and for good reason.

After graduating from the Baltimore School for the Arts, he moved to London to attend American InterContinental University and landed jobs with extreme visionary, avant-garde designers such as Vivienne W
estwood and Alexander McQueen.

Now, at 21, he's the youngest to win
Project Runway, with those "fierce" avant-garde designs we all love to look at...even if some of you wouldn't ever wear them. For me personally, I'd wear them all!

He's already working on his next collection, so hopefully he'll be on the runway again or in stores soon.



Here are some of my Christian Siriano favourites from the
Project Runway show...I'd work all of these!


photos: People Magazine

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

A Shopping Day...


What a great day to go shopping...as is any day if you're anything like lil' ole' me.
*hee hee*

Here are some sweet treats and cuties to choose from...


  • Mineral Bath Soak - 16 0z - Choose Your Scent - $12.00
    • Choose from: Ginseng Pear, Cherry Vanilla, Mandarin Orange, Water Lily, Tahitian Vanilla, Thai Lemongrass
      • Also available: Devil Boy, Angel Girl, Angel Boy.
      • Choose your own background colours too!
  • Bunny Love Card - $3.00 - Choose your inside message
    • Choose: "I wuv you" or "Some bunny loves you"

Buy securely via Etsy, an online source for handmade goodies, by clicking on the links. See my Etsy shop feedback & shop confidently.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

A Little Angel...

I'm not a huge fan, but I was very touched by the recent photos of Joel Madden & Nicole Richie's new baby, Harlow Winter Kate, born January 11th.



Nicole looks very serene and supremely happy in them...and the baby like a little angel.



Nicole says, "I don't even remember what life was like before her. She gives life a whole new meaning and a whole new purpose."


"She's never out of my mind," says Nicole.
"I stop doing things for me anymore. Everything is for her."







photos: Andrew MacPherson for People

Monday, March 3, 2008

Dirty Pretty Things FEATURED!



Yay!
Here's another GREAT feature on my work. Go here to read all about Dirty Pretty Things!!

I was excited to see this sweet little feature by Tizzlicious and to also read all of the wunderful comments left by You on this blog feature.
Thank you all so very much!

And, if you've not yet checked out the Tizzalicious blog and shop, you just have to! It's full of Kawaii, Kitch and Rockabilly inspired jewelry, softies and accessories that everyone could love!


Here are some of my faves...




Saturday, March 1, 2008

Pretty Things Spotlight: Element Clay Studio



Strange. Rough. Spine. Sharp. Texture...


All words that describe the work of
Heather Knight's Element Clay Studio.

But, then again,...
Beautiful. Imaginative. Modern. Futuristic. and Whimsical also describe her sweet, quirky clay creations.

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Inspired by all the charming, enlightened aspects of nature, she sculpts her simplified forms, urchins, orbs and other wunderful ceramic shapes, delighting herself in the technically challenging composition of her work.


Simply delightful!



"My goal is to make work that reflects my touch and recalls the complexity and beauty found in the natural world."
*Tell us a bit about yourself...
My name is Heather Knight. I live in Asheville, NC. I am obsessed with ceramics. I make work in my dreams, when I am driving, even when I am
out with friends and supposed to be listening.


*What inspires you?
I am inspired by the wealth of visual information that is found in the world around me, but only in those rare moments when I can quiet my mind and
really look. Observation and awareness are at the root of everything I do. I can walk to the grocery store and find an amazing spiky seed pod, or go to the beach and find barnacles on a rock and be totally moved by the beauty of it all. I absolutely loathe winter, so when its cold, I usually Google all sorts of things and flip through magazines to get my ideas flowing.


*Apart from creating beautiful things, what do you do for fun?
I work seven days a week, so fun is what you make it, but when I can, I like
to cook, run away to the beach, go on walks and look for interesting things to make. My favorite thing right now is a hot bubble bath and a movie, simultaneously.




*What has been your most memorable moment selling your art?

I have had many wonderful conversations with people that purchase my work, and I love that I get to communicate directly with my buyers and hear
their stories. I cry tears of gratitude at least once a week as a result of the positive feedback I get from buyers on Etsy. I just made my biggest sale yesterday. It was one of those moments when I could be proud of myself, and I can fell like the universe is supporting my dream.


*Any advice for fellow artists...
If you
believe in yourself and are dedicated to what you do, You are already a success in my eyes.


Etsy shop:
http://elementclaystudio.etsy.com

Blogs:

http://www.heatherknightceramics.blogspot.com
http://www.elementclaystudio.blogspot.com