Art Fired Up -- an Art Fire Blog

I was browsing through Artfire yesterday and came upon these amazing Rainbow earrings by Artfire Artisan Mu-Yin Jewelry. I love the way she's used tiny 4 mm faceted gemstones (including garnet, citrine, peridot and amethyst) to represent the colours of the rainbow, and I love the hammered sterling silver setting. Really stunning work. She makes other pieces (bracelet, ring and necklace) with the same theme.

The bio of this South Carolina artisan says:

Mu-Yin Jewelry specializes in custom wire wrapped jewelry made with high quality colorful freshwater pearls and natural gemstones. All items are made to order to fit customers' size, be it a ring, necklace, or bracelet. While Designer Mu-Yin Mollie Chen received professional training in various art areas including literature, fine art and classical music, her wire wrapping skills are completely self-taught. A huge fan of handcrafted jewelry herself, one of Mu-Yin's goals is to provide the general public trendy and well-made handcrafted jewelry without the high price tag. Many designs are limited editions featuring rare colored freshwater pearls and natural gemstones collected by the designer from all over the world.Mu-Yin's Designs are noted for their vibrant colors, often simple yet meticulous construction and the delicate balance between the wire and pearls/gemstones. They are girly, sweet, sexy and easy to wear. Mu-Yin's Designs are never overwhelming -- they are simply addictive as that chocolate which makes you want to have one after another!

Here's an example of her work with pearls. Mu-Yin does a few gorgeous peas in a pod pieces like the Necklace shown above. Colourful freshwater pearls and sterling silver -- yum!

And here's another example of her work with tiny faceted gemstones. I love this fresh, pretty aquamarine ring, which is also available in a number of different stones/colours. It's pretty but not too sweet -- the rusticity of the hammered sterling silver plays well with the faceted gems and keeps it from being too calculated :)

Mu-Yin's Artfire store is muyinmolly.

Holiday Red -- curated collection at Artfire

2010-11-29T16:45:00.001-08:00

Holiday Red

Curated By: dangerousmezzo

ArtFire.com

Indie Design

Faces of the Artfire Visuals Arts Guild -- Collection

2010-11-28T00:20:00.001-08:00

Face of the Artfire Visuals Arts Guild

Curated By: dangerousmezzo

ArtFire.com

Fine Art Photography

Frosty Night Curated Collection at Artfire

2010-11-27T19:03:00.001-08:00

Frosty Night

Curated By: dangerousmezzo

ArtFire.com

Handmade Gifts

Kenneth Rougeau: Featured Artfire Artist

2010-11-17T15:32:00.000-08:00

I'm pleased to feature the digital collages of artist Kenneth Rougeau today. Kenneth Rougeau is a 34 year old digital artist who currently resides in Portland, Oregon. He has created numerous surrealistic fantasy images and has also created collages to illustrate Lewis Carroll's Alice In Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass.

I find these collages satisfying on many levels, but particularly because each image mines a rich and often elegantly grotesque vein of visual reference and art history.

This is Metamorphosis, a beautifully-composed piece which manages to combine references to traditional iconography of St Bartholemew, a Victorian-era naturalist's notebook and, perhaps, The Silence of the Lambs into a very pleasing whole :)

Here's one of Rougeau's extraordinary series of illustrations for both Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. This is Wool and Water, the scene in Looking Glass with Alice in the shop with the Sheep (the Sheep always used to bother me, well, all of Tenniel's illustrations are rather unsettling :) While clearly influenced by Tenniel in terms of the composition, this illustration delights me with the richness of its colouring and references. And I love how very specific the breed and markings of the Sheep is!

I love the terrifying chaos of this one, Pig and Pepper, showing the Duchess, her Cook, the Baby (who later turns into a pig) and the Cheshire Cat from Wonderland. I particularly adore the backwards reference to Quinten Matsijs' famous 16th century grotesque of an ugly old woman, which was Tenniel's original inspiration for his own illustration of the Duchess and her pointy little chin :) I don't know the reference used for the Cook -- she looks very Blakeian to me -- so would someone else let me know the source? She's fabulous -- I love the fact that she's on fire, herself!

And here's the surreal Desert Passage. The lighting in this one is just extraordinary.

Actually, I think I may love every single piece in Kenneth's studio --- so instead of going on and on about it, I'll just send you his way:

krougeau's studio on Artfire

Gaelic Forge: Featured Artfire Artisan

2010-11-16T19:26:00.000-08:00

Gaelic Forge is a new Artfire shop that I found when I was searching for items for a recent collection. They are a small family run jewellery business "located up against the foothills of the great Sierra Nevada Mountains" and their work is evocative, textured and stunning!

The piece at the top of this feature is a copper brooch. I love the sinuous lines and combination of patinas.

There's a wonderful mix of simple and more complex pieces in Gaelic Forge's studio. These Celtic Copper earrings are very simple, and very beautiful:

GaelicForge says of themselves:

GaelicForge offers Celtic inspired handcrafted jewelry. Unique and artistic copper pendants. Celtic treasures of organic and earthy earrings. Artisan designed brooches and charms. Bits of metal designed to wear to Renaissance faires. Ancient and Bohemian. Tribal style hammered copper and hammered nickel. All jewelry designed, hand forged and created one of a kind originals made in old world style.

Here's a hammered and forged copper pendant that I'm particularly fond of :) There's something so rustic and romantic about this piece -- it's elegant without being polished.

Do check out GaelicForge's Artfire shop to see the rest of the gorgeous pieces in their studio!

Pookie and Pierre: featured Artfire Artisan!

2010-11-15T13:46:00.000-08:00

This is exactly the kind of earring I most love -- operatic, dramatic, blingy and rich-looking. These earrings are by Artfire Artisan Pookie and Pierre, and I'm just captivated by them. They're woven and wire wrapped and I think they're divine!

For a cooler look, how about these aquamarine woven earrings? I think the maker has an amazing eye for colour and form.

Pookie and Pierre also sells beautiful photographs, largely of European scenes. Again, I love the composition of these. Here's an atmospheric Parisian view available as an 8 x 12 inch print:

Check out Pookie and Pierre's Artfire Store for more!

Pearly Curated Collection at Artfire

2010-11-14T08:19:00.000-08:00

Pearly

Curated By: dangerousmezzo

ArtFire.com

Vintage Fashion

I was working on a warm-toned baroque pearl bracelet yesterday that I was making all for myself, and the colours of the pearls inspired me to curate my first Collection at Artfire -- I called it Pearly :)

I want ALL these items!

For those not familiar with Artfire lingo, Curated Collections are somewhat analogous to Etsy's Treasuries.

Vote for Artfire on AuctionByte's poll for Favorite Online Marketplace!

2010-11-10T11:20:00.000-08:00

Make your voice heard!

AuctionByte's Nominations for Favorite Online Marketplace

And think about leaving a comment on the article about why you voted for Artfire :)

Florence Wang -- featured Artfire Artisan!

2010-11-10T10:06:00.000-08:00

I search ArtFire every now and then for pieces labelled "opera" or "operatic" partly because of my profession and partly because "operatic" also describes my personal style (when I'm not totally slouchy :)

Today this search led me to Brooklyn jewellery artist Florence Wang.

Here's what I found:

This is the Night at the Opera necklace by florencewangdesigns, for sale on Artfire. I think it's stunning and totally diva-worthy! If I had to pick a specific diva to wear it, it would be Turandot, of course :)

Florence has other lovely pieces in her shop; I particularly like this cute Orange Koi Necklace:

It's bubbling "Christmas gift" at me -- I know so many people who would love this :)

Do check out her Artfire shop -- florencewangdesigns

Planet June -- featured ArtFire Artisan

2010-04-16T15:54:00.000-07:00

I'm not one of those people who think everything in life has to be cute. But sometimes you just need a dose of extreme cuteness, and if you can crochet (or know someone who will crochet for you, possibly for beer), then I recommend you check out Planet June's shop on ArtFire.

I know you want to crochet some alpacas. Or this triceratops. Hell, I think it's worthwhile learning to crochet for these cuties.

The artisan and pattern maker is fellow Canadian June Gilbank, and she sells these crochet patterns and many, many more from her ArtFire shop. She's a technical writer, so she knows how to make these patterns (and the ones she sells for punchneedle embroidery) clear and easy to follow. Which is a good thing for folks like me who can't crochet to save our lives :)

The Twelfth Dimension -- featured ArtFire artisan

2010-04-14T18:21:00.000-07:00

I've been fairly obsessed with 1:12 scale dolls' house miniatures for the last 8 months or so, so I've been shopping all over the place for minis. ArtFire has some great artisans in this area, and I think The Twelfth Dimension is one of them.

This is a tiny, handmade Giraffe Pull Toy for a dollhouse or 1:12 scale toy shop (wouldn't a shop like that be fun to put together? :) It's no more than 1 inch high!

The seller says of herself, "I have been creating and designing Scale Dollhouse Miniatures and Kits to Make for 30 years. You can read articles featuring my miniature toys in past issues of Miniatures Showcase, Nutshell News, Miniature Collector and Dollhouse Miniatures magazines."

Isn't this chinese checkers set sweet?

While the artisan makes a lot of tiny pull toys and games, she also makes other sorts of miniatures, like this box of old cookbooks, perfect for dressing up an attic or a corner of a miniature bookshop. Look at how perfect the old cardboard box is!

She also sells on Etsy under the usernames twelfthdimension and VintageSams.

Vespertine Gallery -- featured ArtFire artisan

2010-04-11T18:46:00.000-07:00

I have some pretty strong Gothic tendencies when it comes to jewellery and fashion. I don't indulge too much anymore, because I tend to think that it's a young woman's look, (except for evening and performing, when I feel more comfy being in costume) but I adore beautiful, dark objets.

When you want beautiful, dark and detailed, try Vespertine Gallery at ArtFire. The maker, from the UK, says of her work:

Vespertine Gallery specialises in unique hand crafted gothic jewellery made from an array of components including antiqued brass filigree, Czech crystal and glass, vintage German glass and an assortment of delicate chains and vintage charms and findings.

This was the first of her pieces to catch my eye. this is the Wings of Valour Gryphon Bracelet; strings of rosary beads set off a cameo of a majestic mythical beast.

Here's a dragon pendant that I'd wear in a moment -- for any operatic encounter :)

And this is the Vampira Necklace, combining Renaissance styling and Goth iconography, including a tiny bat and a kitschy cameo of Vampira herself!

Three Paper Pigs -- featured ArtFire artisan!

2010-03-28T17:03:00.000-07:00

This is the work of ArtFire artist Three Paper Pigs -- an original 5" x 5" collage on watercolour paper entitled "Numbers". I really like this -- I find it pleasingly balanced and layered.

Three Paper Pigs was founded in 2004 by California artist Jeanne. She says of her work, "When I go to an exhibit, craft fair or gift show, I'm always thinking of ways to replicate or reinvent what I see. Like today I went to a quilting and textile museum, and I started jotting down notes on how to wrap silk fabric around a pipe with thread, saturate it with Japanese dye, and ... see what I mean? I can't shut off my creative switch".

I'm already picturing a grouping of these beautiful works -- original the collage above is entitled "Blue Mood".

Please check out Jeanne's shop at ArtFire! Three Paper Pigs

Joojy -- Featured ArtFire Artisan!

2009-01-19T10:14:00.001-08:00

This miniature print of a Sulphur Crested Cockatoo really caught my eye when it was on the front page of ArtFire. The artist is Joojy (the store is also called Jofoland) of Melbourne, Australia, and the print is part of her original series of Australian birds, created with collage enhanced with pen and ink and watercolours.

The artist says of herself:

I am a self-employed animator and illustrator based in Melbourne, Australia. I am a chronic doodler and a wouldbe baker and love making things that make both you and me smile!

Here's her Hummingbird original collage (not a print) with pen and ink and watercolour :) These two pieces are both ACEO sized -- that stands for Art Cards, Editions and Originals, and each measures the ACEO standard of 3.5" x 2.5".

I like them, and hope you do, too!

joojy's ArtFire Studio
joojy's Etsy shop
jofoland's Blog

Foxaz -- Featured ArtFire Artisan

2009-01-15T19:25:00.001-08:00

I'm pretty much addicted to jewellery, I admit it. It's why I started making it, of course, but I still buy a lot of lovely pieces from other makers. Earrings are my favourite little indulgences, and these two pairs from Arizona artisan Foxaz are just my type. The pair above are ocean blue faceted glass beads with copper findings, and I love the combination of colours.

Foxaz says of the studio:

I'm a retired postmaster with time on my hands. Always been crafty, artistic, now I have the time to enjoy myself. My husband and I work together on the shop- he does all the turquoise and antler pieces. We enjoy making beautiful things for others to enjoy.

I love glass flower beads, and the deep red colour of these clusters combined with the warmth of the copper findings are very appealing to me.

Do check out foxaz's shops at ArtFire and Etsy for more delicious pieces!

Fozax's ArtFire Studio
Fozax's Etsy shop
Fozax's Blog

PaperStreet -- Featured ArtFire Artisan

2009-01-11T16:36:00.000-08:00

PaperStreet is a well-known supplier of high quality collage sheets and supplies. It's a very-successful family-run cottage industry, and one that has helped supply many, many artists. Charlotte Self is one third of the family that runs PaperStreet, and she's also an extraordinarily talented artist. Browsing through her ArtFire store, I was particularly struck by this moving, delicate and detailed art card, Gypsy Soul. The artist says of it:

Gypsy Soul was created in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month as part of a series of pink themed ACEOs. This piece was inspired by the writings of Susan Griffin, an amazing writer who addresses the issues of feminism, the destruction of nature, and war, both internal and external. This Gypsy Soul's body is a map of her history.

(This art card is available in a limited edition print at PaperStreet's new ArtFire Studio.)

PaperStreet says of herself:

I am a mother, a poet, an artist, a clothing designer, and a chaser of shiny things. I "deconstruct" and "reconstruct" vintage clothing turning them into one of a kind art to wear pieces, paint acrylic on canvas, do collage both traditional and digital, and sell beautiful collage sheets.

The digital collage above (Siren) is a lovely, layered study in blues. It's available in PaperStreet's ArtFire Studio as a 4 x 6 print.

I encourage you to find out more about this talented artist and her family!

PaperStreet's ArtFire Studio
PaperStreet's Etsy shop
Sweet Acacia Art Etsy shop
PaperStreet's Website and Blog

yayabun -- Featured ArtFire Artisan

2009-01-08T09:55:00.000-08:00

I love vintage fabrics. I went through a long period when I collected all kinds of bits and pieces from every source from charity shops to flea markets. I still get a little quiver of pleasure from looking at vintage prints, so when I went shopping recently for lavender sachets on ArtFire, the ones pictured above really appealed to me.

They're made by yayabun of Flushing, Michigan, out of vintage tablecloths (she has other fabrics listed), come in a set of three, measure a generous 5 inches square and are filled with French lavender. It doesn't get much better than that, as far as I'm concerned :)

She says of herself:

My line of home decor and baby items was developed as a result of being unable to find that perfect something for that perfect somebody. I'm an avid collector of vintage textiles and have been sewing since I was very young. Putting the two together was a natural fit.

Here's a doorstop made of vintage fabric (again, yayabun offers different patterns).
All doorstops are 5" tall and hold approx. 2.5 pounds of rice or peas. Yayabun ships them empty and the buyer fills them him or herself from the bottom. Great idea!

And, best of all for me, if you ask her, she'll ship to Canada :)

Yayabun also has an Etsy store. Do check out her work!

yayabun ArtFire Studio
yayabun Etsy shop

EclecticOddities -- Featured ArtFire Artisan

2009-01-05T14:27:00.000-08:00

I love these glossy, rectangular OpArt magnets. I can picture them in all kinds of settings, from strictly modern and streamlined to warmer and retro. Each one is built on a wooden domino and embellished with Swarovski crystals by ArtFire seller EclecticOddities. This Connecticut-based former art and theatre teacher says of herself:

Retired art and theatre teacher at the High School level. A crafter, quilter, designer and seamstress for over 30 years. Love all things 4 footed and furry, as well as our feathered friends. Live with 4 cats and feed all the neighborhood strays. Have a variety of interests, thus the eclectic nature of my shop and handmade items.

This original collage, Paper Man, really appeals to me, too. I love the combination of warm and cool colours, smooth and rough textured edges and the whole theme of "I'm coming apart!" Beautiful and amusing!

If you'd like to check out EclecticOddities' shops, please follow the links below! (She's sold for a long time on Etsy under the name NoDuplicates).

EclecticOddities ArtFire Studio
NoDuplicates' Etsy Shop

Spreader of Love Award

2009-01-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

I want to thank All Wired Up TOO for nominating me for the Spreader of Love Award "for spreading the ArtFire love" :) That's so nice! Thanks so much!

Here are my awards for love spreadin':

All Things Handmade a.k.a. The Etsy Miniblog. This is a great community project spearheaded by SchoolLocker and dottyral and others, and a team of volunteers.
Ask Sister Mary Martha. A great Etsy seller and author of one of the most humane, sensible and funny religious blogs I've ever encountered.
Autonomous Artisans. This group blog shares the love by featuring a wide range of artists and craftspeople.
Craft Test Dummies. A well-organized blog about "high impact crafting" :)
High Desert Diva. This diva's beautiful blog, spiced up with thought-provoking quotes, features photos and stories about her life as well as work from favourite artists and artisans.

Award rules:
1-Post a copy of the award on your blog post
2-Mention who gave you the award
3-Pass the award on to 6 others
4-Leave a message on their blog letting them know the honor has been bestowed upon them

Jewelscapes -- Featured ArtFire Artisan

2009-01-01T08:38:00.001-08:00

How gorgeous is this ring? It is currently the avatar of Jewelscapes, and I love it so much I had to track down the seller. Washington artisan Deanna Dierks makes more than just rings, of course, but I've chosen these items because they appeal so much to me, personally. I love her chunky, bold style, with lots of wire and lots of attitude! This ring features a magnesite nugget. Yummy!

She says of herself:

I create from my humble home in the middle of our forested 20 acres. I look out my "studio" window, through a breathtaking patch of Aspen trees, through a peaceful field to some sweeping hills. Our little seasonal creeks miniature waterfalls gurgle and provide fun mini hiking adventures for me and the kids durring the day and then when they are all seemingly angelically asleep at night - I create my and your Jewelscapes handmade jewelry!

The ring above features three faceted lapis lazuli stones. I've always loved lapis lazuli because I was really interested in Ancient Egypt when I was a kid, and I'm still fascinated by this gorgeous, intense stone. This is a GREAT product photograph, too.

Jewelscapes has an Etsy shop, too, but Deanna notes that because ArtFire is a less expensive venue for her, that she's able to pass on the lower overhead costs to her customers when they buy from her via ArtFire. At the time of writing, she also offers free shipping worldwide on many of her smaller items, and free shipping in the States on many of the larger ones.

This is beautiful work, and tremendously good value.

Jewelscapes ArtFire Studio
Jewelscapes Etsy Shop

Nothin' But Wood -- Featured ArtFire Artisan

2008-12-29T08:47:00.001-08:00

I love miniatures. They appeal to the child in me (as I suspect they do for many of us), so I was captivated when I saw these tiny doors. Newfoundland artisan Kerry (of Nothin' But Wood) has created these small, decorative gnome or fairy doors for your garden, and I think they're adorable. From the hinge to the doorknob to the tiny lion's head door knocker, this one looks perfect.

Here's what Kerry says about this aspect of his work:

My interest in this unusual and, some might say, 'odd', path originated from a lady in Western Canada. This lady, who has her garden predominantly decorated with things "whimsical" was purchasing Gnome doors from the UK and found them to be terribly expensive. That, and the cost of high shipping, was adding insult to injury for her. She simply asked me "Hey Kerry, can you make these?" She showed me a picture of a Gnome door. I immediately purchased some plans, read them over and decided to make them my OWN way. :)

If you've never heard of garden gnomes, gnome doors and the like, you're missing out on a lot of charming fun -- and probably a dash of good luck, too. The Wee Folk are especially at home in gardens and backyards; if you make them welcome, they'll repay your kindness with healthy plants and pets, keeping your karma in order all the while. :)

Kerry also uses his scroll saw to make custom portraits of people. I'm so happy I found this talented Canadian craftsman, and look forward to seeing more of his pieces. You can investigate all his work at his ArtFire Studio!

Nothing' But Wood's ArtFire Studio

ArtFire's Goals

2008-12-28T00:03:00.000-08:00

On Christmas day, on the ArtFire Fora, the question was asked "What are the goals of Artfire, apart from being a better Etsy?"

Tony Ford, the Executive Vice President of Marketing replied shortly afterward, and I think his comments bear repeating:

So let's talk goals. This isn't a top down broadcast kind of discussion. This site is the first of its kind. We are engaged in community directed development a process that creates the foundation of the site and then opens the development process to the members to direct our growth, functionality, goals, mission and vision.

So here is the ideas we have and the goals we have set, these are open to input and feedback from the community.

1) We want to help sellers sell - no matter where. Using the following:

a) Education - teaching and mentoring new sellers and helping experts strive to improve through rich media lessons, expert consulting, third party support, and community mentoring.

B) Systems - creating a selling platform that is functional, simple, customizable and most importantly - fully integrating, to the best of our ability, your promotion and management of all selling sites through the artfire platform. We seek to be a hub that allows you to manage your business, no matter where you are selling.

C) Bringing Buyers - Reinvesting money from the site into buyer marketing. This will start on Internet sites and print channels, then shift to include broadcast, new media and more traditional channels. We intend to champion the handmade movement using all of our marketing and PR resources to shift this trend from micro to macro and create an environment where handmade buying is much more the norm.

D) Positively impact the planet and our fellow humans - cooperatively build a site that pools our indivdual resources, money, service, impact and creativity to improve our environment, help those less fortunate and support humanitarian efforts in research, education and the arts. By collecting and focusing a little from each of us we can make a dramatic impact in many of these areas.

E) Become the preeminent place on the Internet for artists and crafters to collaborate, partner, communicate and share via extensive, rich, functional community features and interaction points.

F) Create a self regualting, self supporting, self reliant community where each member can have both responsibility and interaction at a level that best suits them.

These are a just a start.

What else would you like to discuss?

MuiJadeDesigns -- Featured ArtFire Artisan

2008-12-27T11:26:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but I'm fascinated with precious metal clay (PMC). PMC consists of microscopic particles of pure silver or fine gold powder and a water-soluble, non-toxic, organic binder which burns off during firing. Some extraordinary work can be made using this material, as today's Featured Artisan amply demonstrates.

The necklace, above, features turquoise, fine silver (from PMC) and sterling. I think it's gorgeous.

MuiJadeDesigns lives in Maryland, where she designs and makes her jewellery, as well as teaching classes in jewellery making. She began as a beader, but has been inspired by the medium of PMC to become a certified artisan in that material. She says:

Each piece of my jewelry is individually artificial designed, soldered and polished. Each piece in my store is handcrafted with natural materials from Fine Silver, Sterling Silver and finest gemstones. Here you will find one-of-a-kind, handmade jewelry that is something special for you or someone you love.

I love the little bee on this honeycomb-textured pendant! Again, the work is all fine and sterling silver, with a little cubic zirconia for the bee's yellow body.

This is elegant, bold and original jewellery, and a great example of what PMC can become in a talented artisan's hands!

MuiJade's ArtFire Studio
MuiJade's Website

ImagineStudio -- Featured ArtFire Artisan

2008-12-26T09:55:00.001-08:00

When I saw the work above (Madame Paris Pantheon) on the front page of ArtFire, I was riveted. Canadian artist, Lise Marion of ImagineStudios, describes her work as "digital photo fusion collages". Often beginning with the work of the great artists of the past, her pieces are layered, altered, and heightened through digital techniques, and then printed on archival papers with archival inks.

She says of herself:

My professional background is in visual and creative arts as well as in social work. I presently live in the Montreal region where I share my life with the loves of my life, my husband and my two daughters. I’ve been creative all my life…literally. It all started with feeling the mud between my toes on the farm in the Canadian prairies where I was born and spent my childhood. Creativity is definitely a passion with me. In that sense, my artwork is neither a job nor a hobby but a need. The ideas just keep coming and I continuously strive to bring them to life.

Through more than 30 years, my one constant expression in art has been Collage, and for the past five years I have been working on transferring this art form into the digital world. Layers upon layers of thoughts, emotions and research have been turned into transparencies, textures, colours, depth, emotions, portraitures, etc. This virtual digital world of seemingly endless possibilities has given me a new take on my artwork, allowing me to pursue even further my undying need to produce lyrical, evocative and sometimes provocative images.

The piece above is called "Waiting for Spring". I love the contrast between the two works I've selected for this feature (there are many, many more exquisite works in her ArtFire Studio): the first is quite vivid and saturated in a photographic way, the second softer and more painterly. They both share a great sense of repressed emotion bubbling to the surface, and they both contain many details that are not evident on first viewing.

I encourage you to explore Lise's work at ArtFire.

ImagineStudio's ArtFire Studio
ImagineStudio's Etsy Shop

cctexan3 -- Featured ArtFire Artisan

2008-12-22T17:13:00.000-08:00

I first noticed cctexan3 on the ArtFire Forums. She is clearly a gracious and generous individual, and I liked her just for the sense I get of her being fully human and very kind.

Then I checked out her Studio. Man, can this nice woman make jewellery!

I fell in love with the colours of this necklace, but it's the name that clinched it for me: "Crabby Diva Agate Necklace". As a certified, 100%, all-natural Diva (often crabby, it must be admitted) how could I resist? :)

Turns out that cctexan3, the artisan behind the necklace, named it after the gorgeous crab agate that sets the tone for this piece, and matching earrings and bracelet, all available at her ArtFire Studio.

This 44 year old artistic mother (of an artistic daughter) says of herself and her work:

Howdy From Texas! I love jewelry and making glamorous Diva Style pieces. My style is loud and proud, big and bold... ( I m a Texan remember?)

I love making jewelry and teaching classes with senior citizens. I kind of fell into this; it is a hobby gone wild. I could no longer keep giving my stuff away since everyone had so many pieces of mine. So with my moms urging, I began to expand into shows, getting registered with the state for sales, business plans and all that jazz. I forgot how much time goes into owning my own business but I would not trade it for the world!

I empathize with the hobby gone wild, part, cc -- I think many of us do! And I love bold, myself. Well, I would, wouldn't I? :)

This necklace is the "Blueberry Surprise", made with dyed blue magnesite nuggets, red coral and pewter Bali style beads. Another bold and beautiful work of art from a very talented designer and a very kind and generous soul. Bless you!

cctexan3's ArtFire Studio
cctexan3's Etsy shop

Leader of Men -- Featured ArtFire Artisan

2008-12-21T06:38:00.000-08:00

Today's Featured Artisan is Alexandra, a.k.a. Leader Of Men, from Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada. There's a lovely, clean aesthetic going on here, as you can see from her Anomaly Ring, pictured above, made to order in sterling silver with two differently-sized little cups catching the light.

I am a self-taught jewellery designer with a background in architecture and design. All of my jewellery is handmande by me in my own little fortress in beautiful British Columbia, Canada, under the watchful eye of my helpful houserabbit, Attila the Bun.

I work primarily in precious metals and semi-precious stones. My designs are inspired both by my architectural background and the colours and textures of the lush Pacific Northwest.

(By the way, I've been choosing the artists to feature here from my hotlist on ArtFire. I swear I didn't try to find two Canadians in a row who were assisted in their artistic endeavours by rabbits :) (see Dame Named Redd, below). Who knew bunnies were so pivotal in the history of arts and crafts?)

This is the Wealh Necklace, which features soft blue-green aquamarine rounds mix with walnut-shaped vintage rosewood beads. No, that name is not a typo (that was the copy editor in me, wanting to insert what I thought was a missing "t" :) :

"Wealh" is from the Old English word meaning walnut. These beads are beautifully carved to show the wood's lovely grain, and are extremely limited in supply. Links and s-clasp are sterling silver.

Tactile, clean, simple -- elegant function meeting perfect design. That's the work of Leader of Men.

Leader of Men ArtFire Studio
Leader of Men Blog
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A Dame Named Redd -- Featured ArtFire Artisan

2008-12-19T05:46:00.001-08:00

I have a confession to make. I love kitsch. My home is pretty tasteful (but then, I guess we all think that, eh?) but my home studio is something else :) That's where I collect my funky 1950s lamps (I've got one with a panther on its base), my portraits of the Queen and that's where my most prized possession is displayed: a paint-by-numbers version of Leonard da Vinci's The Last Supper, bought at a Goodwill store in Toronto for $8. ( I'm still looking for an Elvis on black velvet ...)

This personal quirk of taste is one reason I freaked out when I saw the above cameo by A Dame Named Redd at ArtFire.

I always used to have a pink flamingo somewhere in my apartment. I realize that this is not unusual for people in their 20s, but mine stayed with me until I was 40 :) This cameo made me feel a tiny bit nostalgic for those days ...

And how about this Bad Ass Skull and Crossbones Cameo Necklace? I love the Halloween colours and the bold statement it makes: "I'm a bad ass and I don't care who knows it". And yet, it possesses a kitschy elegance all its own. The Dame also makes Tetris earrings which I think are a must-have for geeky fashionistas everywhere.

A Dame Named Redd lives in Ottawa (yay, Canada!) Here's a bit of what she says about herself:

I'm a jack of all trades and master of none. I love knitting, crocheting, beads, painting. I also stencil shirts and sew a little. I even have my own studio in my house that I share with my Holland Lop, Chloe.

All this, and a bunny, too. That's cool.

Here are her links:

Dame Named Redd ArtFire Studio
Dame Named Redd Etsy Shop
Dame Named Redd Website
Dame Named Redd Blog

Eleven days of listings on ArtFire

2008-12-18T18:06:00.000-08:00

I just want to draw your attention to ArtFire Artisan Rock Creek Creations' article comparing the number of listings in various categories on ArtFire on Dec. 2 with the number on Dec. 13. You can read the article on her blog here.

It's an interesting snapshot of the growth in listings that's been taking place on ArtFire lately, and if you're following the fortunes of this new site, you may be interested.

2008-12-17T18:15:00.001-08:00

Here's a great (and balanced) summation of one artist's view of the struggle between Etsy and ArtFire (with great Nintendo references). Cover That Mother is the blog of illustrator thepairabirds and I think her approach to choosing a venue is quite interesting to read. Her minimalist art is extremely cool, too :)

thepairabirds ArtFire Shop
thepairabirds Etsy Shop

Painted Bull -- Featured ArtFire Artisan

2008-12-17T11:22:00.001-08:00

Today's Featured ArtFire Artisan is JJ, Walts, a.k.a. Painted Bull, from Blairsville, Georgia in the United States. She's an historian by education and a fiber artist with a particular interest in using spinning and weaving to create "primal expressions". These expressions include woven jewellery, scarves, rugs and other fiber art which she weaves on an Inkle loom (a special, narrow loom) using hemp yarn and waxed Irish linen thread, often incorporating fossils and stones (see her woven choker with ammonite fossil, above). She says:

I am fascinated with the historic aspect regarding art and culture. I utilize ancient fossils, stones and cultural artifacts within my pieces to weave a tale about the primeval stories of earth and the history of people and civilizations.

This is work with a great deal of thought behind its aesthetic -- it seems equally intellectual and passionately textural. I really like it. The necklace, above, is stunningly beautiful, and could be from many cultures or times. Here's JJ's evocative description of it:

Woven Hemp and Linen Necklace with Ostrich Shell Beads, Old Tribal Disc Trade Beads, Pen Shell Heishe Beads

This necklace is in honor of many cultures and traditional forms of adornment.
There are two linen threads, one in a dark rich red and the other a vivid turquoise, woven into a soft space-dyed hemp yarn that changes from white to silver gray to black. The end length of the necklace accented with African Ostrich Shell, and Old Tribal Disc Trade Beads, and natural brown Pen Shell Heishe Beads.

There are lots of places on the web where you can learn more about JJ and her art, and you can even purchase her work right through ArtFire and Etsy.

Painted Bull Blog
Painted Bull Website
Painted Bull ArtFire Studio
Painted Bull Etsy Shop

ArtFire's new Shop Window feature is now working!

2008-12-16T19:08:00.000-08:00

This will let you feature four of your items in a similar format to the beloved Etsy "Mini". (You can see my Shop Window in the sidebar to the right, down towards the bottom of the page).

You can pick either your four most recent items, or actually choose which four to feature, which is a nice way to create an artful little composition for your blog or website.

You can find the Shop Window at "My Studio", on the left hand sidebar under "Promote". If you seem to have problems, try refreshing or reloading the page, that seems to clear up any problems I had with the code.

Thanks, ArtFire!

Top Shelf Totes -- Featured Art Fire Artisan

2008-12-16T06:05:00.001-08:00

How much do I covet this wristlet? A lot. Look at it: the perfect size, the perfect shape and that fabulous fabric. That's no accident, of course. Its creator, Top Shelf Totes from Los Angeles, is drawn to designs and fabrics that reflect her practical bent. As she says on her blog:

I hope you enjoy these. I can’t wait to use one of these sets on my next cruise. I think the wood handle tote with a wristlet would be perfect for my offshore time. I can pack it flat in my suitcase, but use it to collect whatever souvenirs I find while off the ship. Then I can use the wristlet back on the ship to carry the few things I need when out and about. I haven’t decided which fabric I’m going to use for myself… so many fun prints to hcoose from!
Anyway, as I continue to create, I am slowly realizing what I want my main focus to be. I’ve made many different designs, but a few really stand out to me. Especially the designs that I think work well for travel needs. I’m an avid traveler and am always thinking of new things to use on the road.

I adore the range of fabrics she's picked and each item looks well-made and sturdy as well as attractive.

She's just opened up a shop on Art Fire (she was already selling on Etsy) and she's started blogging not only about her craft, but about the growth and challenges of Art Fire.

It's well worth a read!

TopShelfTotes at Art Fire
TopShelfTotes Blog

Paw and Claw Designs: Featured Art Fire Artisan #1

2008-12-15T14:38:00.000-08:00

When I first landed at Art Fire, while I was uploading my own work, I wanted to do a little shopping. I love supporting other artisans, and I think it's important, if you're going to be selling on a venue, to really understand the entire shopping experience your customers are going to have.

I found these pretty earrings, and had to have them. (I know, it's simply ridiculous to buy earrings when I make them, but these are just so simple and elegant). I know Paw and Claw Designs from Etsy, so was thrilled to be able to buy from her on Art Fire, and I'm delighted to make her my very first Featured Art Fire Artisan!

Visit Paw and Claw's Studio at Art Fire

Here's some info from Paw and Claw's bio at Art Fire:

Paw and Claw Designs specializes in Handmade Bead and Wire Jewelry for One-of-a-Kind People with One-of-a-Kind Taste.

From a funky signature piece, to a stunning set for your wedding day, Paw and Claw Designs has the unique jewelry you want, at a price you can afford.

I love reading about and learning new techniques, so check back in my shop often to see what I've learned to do lately.

Check my blog for all the latest info!
http://pawandclawdesigns.blogspot.com/

I've just joined Art Fire

2008-12-12T14:23:00.000-08:00

Well, after a busy summer and autumn, the time has come for me to transition from Etsy to a new sales venue for my art and jewellery.

This has been coming for a while, but I had an "aha" experience lately, and realize the effort I've put into being an Etsy-booster isn't being met by a reciprocal effort from the company. In spite of all the recent changes, most particularly in staff, things seem to be getting worse, not better.

So I've started up a new shop at a new website: artfire.com

My first experiences with it have been entirely positive. Joining is very easy and listing items is so simple and intuitive (all on one page, all images uploaded at the same time) that it made my head spin.

The site is in beta, which means that it's still buggy. But most excitingly of all, it means that you can be in on the ground floor, and help shape the site into something very special.

You can see it in the Chatterbox Forums, where Admin reply right away to questions and suggestions, sometimes implementing things immediately, other times adding them to a list. By the way, the list of features the Art Fire team is working on is PUBLIC. That's right, Art Fire seems to believe in communicating with its users, something I find very refreshing after over year and a half at Etsy.

Art Fire currently has a special Artisan Stimulus Package being offered: unlimited listing and relisting, with no selling fees, for a flat rate of $7 US a month FOR LIFE. That's right, for life. That includes stats (STATS!), currency conversion and much, much more. The offer is only for the first 5000 shops that sign up, though.

Because I believe in this venue, and I believe it can deliver most of the things that Etsy, bless its heart, has failed to, I've started this blog to feature Art Fire Artisans and to help spread the word about this great venue.

I'm Dangerous Mezzo. If you'd like to check out my Art Fire Studio, go ahead! Check it out!