Feature Friday - Asspocket Productions

Today's feature is Stacey from Asspocket Productions.

Stacey makes clear stamps in so many different, unique designs. My personal favorite is the woven heart template. I love tools that help creativity. I also love collaboration. In the listing she points to some great instructions by Sweet Alyssum Dolls . For the example picture she uses some handmade paper from yours truly. I also really like her self inking, personalized monogram stamps, in particular the Celtic design. It would look so cool on envelopes or at the top of stationary.

Here is a bit more from Stacey:

How did you become an artist?

As long as I can remember I have always looked at things in a creative way, I was a childhood collector of ephemera, a sculptor of mud pies, and I even carved little totem poles out of crayons at school in kindergarten. This might have been because I was raised as an only child and I was isolated in Rural Canada, I had no playmates other than my own imagination and the occasional furry caterpillar and other little beasties.

Where do you like to create things?

The short answer is everywhere! Every time I move into a new house I claim more art space, so now I have a studio for "serious" art, the spare room is my sewing nook, my computer is in a comfy cubby and my stamping paraphernalia is in a corner of the living room. I take many of my product photos at the kitchen table to take advantage of light streaming in from 3 sides. I can also be found folding my napkin and twiddling straws into shapes and figures in restaurants and when hands are idle the mind is cooking up the next caper.

What is my biggest inspiration?

Everything! Live music energizes me tremendously. Seeing other people's art on Etsy and elsewhere spurs me on to try and do more. The process, any art I do is messy, and I have a lot of those "happy accidents" that help me push the limits of the materials I have on hand.

What do you do besides create?

That's a difficult question, I am a full time graphic designer with Amazing Arts, I handle wholesale accounts as well as sell my own designs on Etsy, and Artfire, its long hours. When not doing commercial art, I paint, alter books and other items, I have a class once a week in advanced pottery and I dabble in lampwork bead and marble making. I have the best dog in the world and she keeps me from working too much. I do all of the other routine stuff that people do to live, but art and creating are part of nearly everything I do. It wasn't always like that, my sons are grown now, but while I was raising them I had little time and less space for art in my life.


What is my favorite thing in your shop right now?

I absolutely LOVE this ship ex libris;



Is there anything else you would like to tell us?

I also do graphic design in the form of custom postcards and coming soon, custom designed pillow boxes.

I made my very first tutorial a few weeks ago about our unmounted Clear Cling stamps, to help people feel more comfortable with this stellar new stamping system. Check Stacey out on youtube, the tutorial is really clear and informative.

Want to know more about Stacey and all her artistic endeavors?
Follow her on Facebook
Asspocket Productions on Etsy
Maidenearth on Art Fire
www.Amazingarts.biz
YouTube Tutorial

Transformation - Part 1

Making paper is such an exhilarating experience for me. I take paper that has served it purpose, and turn it into something new and beautiful. Here is the story of how all that works:

First I have a rather large pile of paper to start with. Old bills, junk mail, flyers of events gone by, lots of paper from Ivy's school: notes from the teacher, notes from the principal, notes from the secretary, (lots of colored paper), old homework papers, math, spelling, grammar etc.

I pick out one or two sheets of paper in a colors that look good together.

Then I take it and tear it into teeny tiny pieces (about quarter sized)

Stay tuned for our next installment: the blender!!

Etsy Update - Card Sale

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Originally uploaded by hollyspinner

You are MY sunshine. This week only FREE shipping on all cards.

Valentine's day is over, Mother's day isn't for more than a month. What a better time to send out a nice card with an encouraging message to someone you love, or like, or just think is spiffy.

This "you are my sunshine" card is currently my favorite. I love the way it looks. It is truly one of a kind.

Check out the sale at HOLLYspinner and IVY.

Feature Friday - Beadwork by Amanda

Featuring Amanda from Beadwork by Amanda, an Etsy shop chocked full of beautiful jewelry.

Amanda does the most amazing things with resin. My personal favorite (and going on my wish list, I might add) is her computer pendents. She cuts a computer chip or other eletronic stuff to fit a particular shaped bezel, then applies resin for a smooth, beautiful pendent. She also does really cool stuff with beads, tiles and even gummy fish (you can't eat it, but it sure looks like the real thing)

Here is more from Amanda:

How did you become an artist?

I believe it all began when my mother gave me a few crayons and a whole stack of paper. When I was 9 my aunt gave me a box of beads and a loom. That started the beadweaving and jewelry making process, but I had been into every art form as a kid including quilling, painting, sculpting, and candle making. For some reason, bead weaving was most appealing so I stuck with it. My middle and high school art teachers were very supportive and brough out my talents in colored pencil, as well as mixed media.

Where do you like to create things?

If I had my way, I'd be in a cabana on a Caribbean island! I'm better off working at my desk so I can lay out all of my supplies. I like to be able to look at a variety of things at one time so that inspiration will strike.

What is your biggest inspiration?

My biggest inspiration is the tropics. I love everything colorful and
fun and I think it really shows in my jewelry.

What do you do besides create?

When I'm not creating, I'm busy as a full-time undergraduate chemistry student. I'm excited to start research next month on the interactions of carbon nanotubes. I also play the clarinet in a concert band and a pep band.

What is your favorite thing in your shop right now?

Right now, my favorite item in my shop is the Lime and Teal bracelet. The
colors are so energetic and I love the way the cube beads mesh withthe seed beads. I also like the way my circuit pendants are coming. Ilove finding interesting circuit boards with hints of other colors like blue and yellow.

To find out more about Amanda check out her blog at beadworkbyamanda.blogspot.com and buy something beautiful and fun at Beadwork by Amanda.

Etsy Update going somewhere

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Originally uploaded by hollyspinner

Maps are great to help us get from one point to the next. These recycled map envelopes really help us get one one point to the next. They use unwanted paper, helping our planet get from one generation to the next. They house personal notes, getting our ideas and feeling from one place to the next. Yep these six little, unassuming envelopes, upcyled, but still fulfilling their purpose.

These envelopes can be yours check it out in our Etsy Shop.

My desk today

Here is a view of my desk




Desk may be a bit of a glorification. My creative space moves where ever there is room enough. I've been experimenting with lino cut. It is so much fun. I need to play with it a little more to get a saleable object.

Etsy Update - Rainbow Magic

Color is so much fun to play with. I have been playing with combining colored paper to make new colors, not just rehashing the copy paper colors you can get at any office supply store. Half of this paper will go to a fabulous custom order, half will be in the hollyspinner & ivy store this week.

I hope to bring a little color to everyone lives, especially here in the Northern hemisphere, where it is cold and bleak.