Artist Series - LazyTcrochet

LazyTcrochet has the most beautiful crocheted creations in her Etsy Shop. I love the pieces that she creates with warm, earthy colors. The shrugs, hats, bags....oh be still my beating heart. I also learned that she loves one of my favorite authors...you'll have to read further to figure it out. Her blog is fun to read and makes me homesick for Ohio...she recently blogged about fresh corn on the cob, zucchini, and waiting for the first tomato. I can't tell you how much I miss freshly picked vegetables from the garden. They just don't taste the same here in Arizona.

1. When did you become interested in art and did you choose art, or did it choose you?

I first became interested in photography when I got a 35 mm Pentax for high school graduation. I had a summer job during college as a "Roving Reporter" and was lucky enough to learn how to develop and print my own black and white photographs. As far as needlework goes, I just sat down one day and decided that I wanted to learn how to crochet. I just kept at it and eventually learned to knit also.





2. You get to spend one weekend each with three historical figures, an artist, a writer and one of your choice. Who are they and what will you talk about or do?

I imagine a scenic walk with Ansel Adams. To see the beauty as he saw would be a great influence. It's too easy to point and shoot with my little digital camera. I may be dusting off some of my old equipment to work with film again.

My favorite author is Diana Gabaldon. I really enjoy listening to the recorded version of the "Outlander" series (unabridged, of course). It's a wonderful story and listening allows me to get some work done at the same time! If I could meet with Diana, I would push for a big screen version. At one point I thought Mel Gibson would make a great Jamie Fraser, but that was some time ago.

As for another...to spend time with my great-grandmother, Eleanor, would have been amazing also. She was apparently very crafty, creative, and spirited.

3. Do any of these choices influence your work? and why?

Yes, I suppose I'm influenced by a desire for the simple life and realizing the beauty of old-world styles. I love seeing knit and crochet work in old movies. It makes you realize that people would wear a shawl because it was chilly in the house. I try to create items that people would enjoy wearing. I love making shawls, and it is especially fun to make them with all the gorgeous fibers available these days. It doesn't have to be the drab wools of the depression.

4. How has the popularity of the internet affected your work?

The internet has been inspiring! It has been so much fun being able to have my own online boutique and I enjoy my blog tremendously. I love browsing Fashion blogs, from NY to Paris, to Street Fashion worldwide. While there are many many knit and crochet patterns available online, I find it fun and challenging to come up with ideas and make my own. I like making things fun and functional. I always felt limited to what styles people were interested in at local craft shows. The internet allows for that extra freedom of expression. Just because something wouldn't go over well in my neck of the woods, doesn't mean I can't reach for the sky globally.



5. Have you discovered any new technique to creating your work that you can share?

There are so many standard techniques and stitches to both knit and crochet, but the fun part is what you make of it and how you combine the stitches. I do find myself looking up a particular stitch in needlework books, and sometimes designing a project around the stitch. I enjoy combining both knit and crochet and mixing in fabrics as well. Spinning is something I've wanted to try, but have been avoiding. I love to knit and crochet and I know that, if I learn to spin my own fibers, I won't have as much time to work with them. I may try it someday, but for now I'll just admire the spinners from afar!

6. How do you overcome artist block?

Anyone as addicted to yarn as I am knows that there is never a shortage of ideas. Most often, I have so many ideas floating around in my head that it can get overwhelming sometimes. I have notes attached to yarn bins with ideas for the different colors and fibers, relating to the different seasons and styles. I'm not sure if I'd call it artists block, but there are times when there are so many possibilities for a yarn that I have to take a step back, maybe work on something else for awhile, until I'm really sure what would work best for that particular yarn.

7. If I walked into your studio this moment what would you show me first? What would you want to hide?

Knowing your love for embroidery and textures, I'd show you the hooked rug that my great-grandmother made. It's in need of repair. I just haven't gotten around to it. You would probably trip over a rug frame that I made. I started a twined rag rug a few years ago, but haven't finished it yet. I do hope to finish it and post a tutorial on my blog. What would I hide? I might hide the box of Christmas crafty stuff that I attempted for craft shows years ago. I'm just not crafty like that anymore. I've packed away the glitter and glue gun.

8. Describe something that comes up in your work because of a life experience.

A friend of mine knew that I wanted to learn how to weave rugs and he gave me a loom. I haven't had time to fix it up or to take weaving classes, but he insisted that I should have this loom. He has since passed away and I haven't brought myself to work with it yet. It's not meant for rugs, more for fabrics. I will have someone show me how it works some day. For now, it's waiting for inspiration

9. Is there anything else that you would like to share?

Thanks so much for noticing my work and for choosing me for your Artist Series. I've never thought of myself as an artist and I still don't. I can't draw or paint to save my life. I have to keep telling myself that I AM a Fiber Artist. I'll just have to get used to that title now. I love your work, especially the details and textures of the embroidery and the materials that you use. It's beautiful!

Tatting is not a Lost Art Challenge!

I love tatting, but I generally don't do any since it takes a while (at least for me) to get any sizable piece accomplished. So when TotusMel offered a challenge that involved her making the tatted piece and selling it in her shop, so that we could make something creative with it --I thought, "I'm in." I've had this piece for a month and a half and until today I didn't have a chance to do anything with it. You know how vacations just get in the way of things! I imagined how I would work this into a cuff...So here it is....and, visit the flickr page and see all of the other creative pieces that were made with this tatted rosette!

Did you guess Ouray Colorado?

It's amazing to me that someone actually stopped by my blog, almost as soon as I posted it, and guessed correctly on where I was headed to for vacation! You certainly made me laugh Wakegrace. And, it was great to know that people looked back through my blog to see if they could figure out the destination.

We did go to Ouray, Colorado for a "LOT" of off-roading and other fun. The picture of the huge building tumbling down (an old mining camp) was on the way to Imogene Pass, which reaches a height of 12,500 feet. (last summer there was snow on the ground, I got out to take a picture, and got zapped by a mild lighting strike --I didn't get out this time!).

The preceding photo is a photo of the ghost city of Carson on the Continental Divide. It is the newer city of Carson which was in existence between 1898 and 1903. There is an older city as well, but we didn't have time to go further. I have a lot more pictures to share and I will try to control myself on the number that I post here. I think I will have to put up a flickr link, since I took around 3,000 pictures! The wildflowers were out, there was snow, and incredible views from 14,000 feet up above Telluride!

And, now for the winner, chosen by the list randomizer:

Congratulations to WakeGrace!

Wake, come visit my etsy shop, link is in the upper right, convo me and let me know your size and preferred colors.

Ghost Town at 12,000 Feet

I'll tell you more about it after the contest!

Here I am ...or close to

Where am I going?

Rather than where have I been...this time...

I'm going on vacation! To celebrate I am including some photo's of where I'm going. They are from last July. This is an awesome place to vacation which is why we are heading back there this summer. In comparison to Phoenix it is green, cool, and has snow --even in July!

If you can guess what city I'm going to (I'm sure the state will be easy), then you will be in the running for one of my embroidered felt rings. Color and design of your choice.

While you are busy guessing I'm going to finish getting ready. To tell you the truth, sometimes I don't know if I ever have enough time to get everything ready just to go on vacation. This contest will run until I return, plus a few days. So, leave your comments by Thursday, July 24th at midnight. I will announce the winner on Saturday, July 26th.

If I have a chance I will add hints. Good luck and enjoy your week!

Folk/Peasant Cuff and Contest Tomorrow!

I'm getting ready for vacation and wanted to share with everyone my newest cuff. I love this yellow wool and the mottled look. The wool came out of the collection that I posted previously. I'm using up this collection slowly, since I love it so much. Not only the colors, but also the texture. I think this one has a kind of folk/peasant appearance.

I'm working on another for a friends girlfriend and I will post that before I leave as well. It has a totally different look and is in purple.

Come back and visit tomorrow --I will posting a new contest for your enjoyment!

Cumulative Effect of Advertising

On the Etsy forum I see the question asked over and over again in various forms—

• Is it worth it to have a blog or website?
  
• Is it worth it to advertise with Entrecard and Project Wonderful
• Does it make sense to have Flicker, Facebook, Social Spark, My It Things, or Stylehive,
• Should I spend time in the Forums, Chatroom, or making Treasuries?

I would answer with a resounding yes to all of them! Why? Have you ever noticed that every company that is successful doesn't use just one form of advertising medium. Back in the day, the choices were print, tv, or radio. Look at all of the choices we have today and you say…yes and all of the time I need to spend utilizing all of it. But think about this. The first time you see a logo/brand you may not even click on it. But, then you see it a second time in a different place, then a third time somewhere else. Your curiosity is now whetted and you click. See how this works?

You are thinking, I don't have time to spend doing all of this, keep track of it and make my beautiful creations. That is why if you want to become successful and stay that way you need to set up a marketing campaign. On a calendar or a spreadsheet. ON PAPER! You don't want to advertise all at one time it is better to stagger your campaign and overlap your efforts. So if you are already using Etsy plan the days/hours that you will spend in the forum, or choose how many times a week/month you want to make a treasury, or how often you want to chat. Put all of this on a calendar. Then look at Entrecard and plan your time there. Perhaps begin that campaign in a week or so. Visit Project Wonderful, give yourself a budget of $10, and look for blogs that fit the segment of the population that you want to reach. Set up your Project Wonderful marketing campaign so that it starts in another two weeks and lasts for a month or more.

It is important to have a campaign that is consistent, visible, and ongoing. If you are using the same avatar people will begin recognizing your avatar (which means you should have one that you like really well and is clickable). This is a good reason to create a brand for yourself so that if you like changing your avatar every so often people will still recognize it. Otherwise, you need to keep the same look so that when people see your logo/avatar they say, Oh that is ABC, they make XYZ. Perhaps you want to be known for also making LMN and OPQ. If you create a brand using the same colors, text, or images with a twist for each product it will pull your entire line together and people will recognize you as making all of those products.

Think about the big companies, McDonalds, Apple, Johnson & Johnson, Neiman Marcus, Intel…you may see their brand in TV ads, on radio, on the internet, in print, or on a billboard. Now ask yourself why they advertise in all of these medias. It's because they know that the more you "see" them the more likely it is that you will recognize, feel comfortable, and remember them. You may only see an apple or golden arches without any text, but you immediately know who the advertiser is. Think about Etsy and the colors they use, now when you see that shade of orange don't you think about Etsy? In essence, they are also growing your trust by becoming recognizable which means that you will be more likely to think of them when you want to buy something that they produce. And, how do they do this? By advertising in many mediums over sustained periods of time.

Fabulous Petroglyphs Three Rivers New Mexico

These are the last group of photos from New Mexico. This is Three Rivers petroglyph site which I wanted to share before we leave for vacation. These petroglyph's are amazing. We learned that if a picture is upside down it doesn't mean that the rock fell over, it was their way of releasing the being or person from death. If you do visit this site, while it is easier to get to then some other sites, it is a hike up a hill to a higher elevation so take your time and enjoy the scenery. And, as anytime you visit the desert SW make sure you are carrying plenty of water...and drinking it.

Rings on my Fingers

I made some new felt rings and thought I'd share them with you.

I am also getting up close and personal with Photoshop CS3 and have been experimenting with backgrounds and other techniques. Let me know what you think

--constructive criticism is always welcome!