Artist Spotlight: Part Ninety-Five

I'd like to introduce you to someone you've never met here before, Karen of Wyndwalker Creations.  

She and her husband have some seriously eclectic talents going on, that lead to a wonderfully diverse and original shop.  They hail from South Carolina, and have been creating for many years.  It shows in the obvious quality of their work.

Just look at that beadwork!  That doesn't come without Karen's 30 years of experience, for sure.  Just for good measure, here's some more.

And I promised diversity, didn't I?  How about some gorgeous beading on a trinket box... or a serious statement necklace?

Now that's a necklace to give some personality to a little black dress!  I think I need to own it.  They enjoy creating one-of-a-kind functional pieces of art, and I think they've succeeded, no?

Enough of the beads.  There's more!  They work in natural materials to create a variety of things, like leather, bone, and antlers.

Karen also likes to weave on inkle looms and tri looms.  That's how she makes adorable dog leashes and beautiful shawls!

And on top of all that?  She crochets!  My only lament is that the adorable dog doesn't come with the sweater.

Right?  And last, but definitely not least, I have to show you one of their selection of gourd birdhouses.  Oh, how I love these birdhouses!  I need one of these too.  Seriously.

Believe me when I tell you this is just a small sampling of what you can find in their Handmade Artists Shop and Etsy Shop.  And despite the variety and volume of their currently-existing wares, they love to try out new ideas, techniques and designs, and absolutely adore custom orders, so be sure to contact them.

And to keep up with them, follow the blog or like them on Facebook.

Artist Spotlight: Part Ninety-Four

I'd like to introduce you to Debbie & John of Thunder Rose Leather, who have been hand-creating leather and beaded items in Arizona for over twenty years.  They do old style leather and beadwork, one piece at a time, by hand, with some serious attention to detail.

Most of their work reflects the style of the old west and Native American cultures.

These items are made to last for many years, wit elkskin the primary choice of leather, though they also use deerskin, cowhide, and buffalo.

Because everything is done by hand and by them, even if something you see and like is not beaded, they can add beadwork if you choose.

Because the color and texture of each hide will vary, these pieces are truly unique and one of a kind.  No two are ever the same!

They can even make you things that aren't shown in their shop or on their site.  After taking a look around, be sure to like their Facebook page or follow their blog!

It's in the Bag... Handmade Holidays, Part 4

Remember the bean bags I made?  Made a gift bag to hold 'em!

I used this pattern, and it truly as easy as the name of it claims.

Also, I made a green set!  They've been purchased for a customer's godson.

Swimmin' with the Mammals. And Fishes. (AKA Handmade Holidays, Part 3)

So... remember those dolphin crayons I made for the nephews for Chanukah and Christmas?  I finally made the storage bags for 'em!

I used this tutorial, without the applique since I had that awesome shark fabric.  And yes, I know dolphins are mammals and sharks are fish, but they're all sea life, right?  So it goes.  Right?  The lining and base fabric is from t-shirts.  The hardest part?  The channel for the ribbon ties.  I've gotten more proficient at bags, though.  The first one took me about an hour and a half.  The second... about half an hour!

And each bag is the perfect size for an entire set of the jumbo crayons!  I knew they would be.  

Now to get the bags done for those beanbags...

Artist Spotlight: Part Twenty-Seven

The featured artist this week is one you've meet before here, Teresa Rusk of T.Rusk4u.

Not only does she still make phenomenal jewelry and bags, but holy crow, has she been busy since March!

She already had an Etsy shop, which she's updated with many new items like these.

She closed her Winkelf shop and replaced it with a Handmade Artists shop, which she has loaded with terrific pieces like these.  

Besides that, she's opening her own brick and mortar shop in Mebane, NC!  It'll be called Hollyhocks, LLC, and will carry her jewelry and bags for in-person purchase if you're in the area.  The target date for opening is August 1, so she's been painting and building to get it ready to hold her wares.

I wish her all the success in the world!  To keep up with the store formation, and to read more about Teresa and her work, be sure to check out her blog.