crafty-admin's blog

Jewelry and hair accessories for little girls. How awesome is that? I only wish Becky Sander had been in business back when I was a little girl. Actually, her designs are so cute, I'd wear them now, too.

Take a look at all the pretties at the Little Daisy Chains Etsy shop, and keep up with the doings on the Little Daisy Chains blog.

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How did you get started making accessories for youngsters?
I have a little girl who is very girly, which to me is a foreign concept. Growing up I was very much the tomboy. My daughter craves accessories, lip gloss and matching shoes. I think she has more pairs of then I do. I'm pretty simple.

I took her to find some clips for her hair, she'd been growing out her bangs and they were in the poke-your-eye-out stage. The products we were finding either had hefty price tags and were very cheesy, poorly made or very run-of-the-mill and were "boring".

I'd recently quit my job and was overwhelmed with the amount of time on my hands, and the fact that I was no longer contributing to the family income weighed on me. So on one of my sleepless nights I thought about all of my family members and friends that had ventures of their own and I started to think of things I could do or make and for some reason my mind went to my daughter's recent failed shopping trip and it all just clicked!!! I thought of a name that night and was so excited I got out of bed to write it down.

How do kids react to having their own jewelry and hair toys?
Some squeal, quite literally, and will pick up a piece at a show and run to tug on their mother's skirt. Other little ones become so attached to their hair accessories and their trinkets I get emails from Moms telling me how their daughter's will throw fits when it's bath time or bed time because they don't want to take them off. It's a great feeling to know I'm doing something right. Kids like to feel big and grown up and want any chance they can get to feel what it's like to be Mommy. I try to help with that.

What kinds of things inspire your designs?
Color, texture, crisp patterns, nature and children. I also love taking something that shouldn't be and making it into something that should!

You're very active in the Etsy community - will you tell us about some of the things you do over there?
I'm a member of PDX Etsy, Portland's local Etsy Street Team. The team is in the middle of some very exciting new changes that will benefit local artists new and old tremendously, I'm thrilled to be a part of such an active and inspiring group of artisans. The PDX team is actually gearing up now for a series of summer shows June 28th, July 19th & August 9th - they will be sistered up to the Portland Farmer's Market at PSU. The power of networking is amazing to me. I've also just become the Pacific Northwest co-leader of EtsyKids and am a member of EtsyMoms. I thrive on the people aspect even though I'm surprisingly shy.

How do you define the difference between "Art" and "Craft"?
Before I was introduced to the world of art and craft I used to think of art simply as paintings or drawings you'd see in a museum or in the lobby of an office building. I saw craft as something you'd see on the Martha Stewart show, I was very closed-minded. Now everything I see, I see as art. Art to me is an idea and craft is the manner in which you execute that idea. They're one in the same and it just makes sense that way.

What are some of your favorite creative spots in Portland?
I love to people-watch, so parks are good. I'm a fan of Westmoreland since I grew up in the Sellwood area and I find memories always have a way of inspiring me. Eating ice cream at Ben and Jerry's on Hawthorne has always been a secret favorite and I also enjoy walking around during Last Thursday, just the feel of it all is very energizing to me.

I first saw Kristina's work at the Trillium Artisans store, and loved its warmth (literally and figuratively). How cool, then to discover that she uses natural fiber and recycled clothing. Those chickens always make me smile, too.

You can see lots more at the Liv & Lotus websitee, and at the Etsy shop. Hope you enjoy Kirstina's interview, too!

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Tell us how you first became smitten with fiber.
My love for fiber intensified when I took a weaving class at the University of New Mexico. Village Wools in Albuquerque is an amazing shop that not only had weaving supplies but knitting yarns, bags spilling over with hand-dyed roving, and tons books with a comfy seat to spend hours investigating fiber fun. The owners were amazingly knowledgeable and generous with their info. I was addicted! I eventually worked and taught classes there for a few years before I moved here to Portland.

You talk about "letting your materials define your work." Will you elaborate on how this translates into your designs?
What that really means is I am working WITH my materials. I am allowing the quality of these unique fabrics speak to me and hopefully am creating exciting work because of that. This is one of the many benefits of working with reclaimed materials. Each piece of fabric is different in texture, drape, color and size, so each one lends itself to a certain form that I create.

I identify with the sculptor who sees what the piece of marble wants to be sculpted into. Well, I feel that way about an old sweater. For me, it is really about being inspired by the materials and the process to create something that is truly transformed from what I started with. This is what keeps me interested and excited in the studio.

What kinds of things inspire you?
Wow! I find inspiration everywhere. I worked as a ceramic sculptor for many years, so the tactile and sculptural experience of knit, felted and woven fibers appeal to me. So there is that palate of my reclaimed materials texturally, then there is the palate of color in that material, then the color/ material of the fibers I choose to embellish with. Finding great material in a thrift store, yarn or fabric store is euphoric. I really do love to play with materials, new and old. I get more ideas than I could do in a lifetime.

Really, everything and anything can be a source of inspiration for me when I am looking at the world with an open mind. When I am looking at say a flower in my garden, it can be more than just a flower when I am really experiencing the wholeness of it. It can be about color, shape, texture, mood, environment, and gesture. When I look at everything in this way, inspiration is everywhere.

I love your Lumpies! Where did the inspiration for these come from?
All I had to do was look in my own backyard! We are some of those Urban Chicken people and take care of some sweet hens. So naturally, I made the first Lumpy for my daughter as a Valentine’s Day present and made them both matching heart necklaces. That led to the Cozy Chick Tea Cozy, Hen Hat, and the Mini Lumpy.

The Lumpies are filled with remnants from my work so they are very solid and kind of lumpy. That is where the name came from, embracing their ‘Lumpiness’! They are a riot when I get a flock made in the studio and they are all gathered around me. I can see their unique personalities and just have to name each one.

What is your take on the difference between "Art" and "Craft?"
Well, there is art in craft and craft in art. I am always inspired by an artist/crafter that can make a piece communicate more than what it is, in any medium. I love the personal connection you can have with a favorite handmade mug that you use each morning. A painting that is thought provoking has it’s own function visually, conceptually, historically and emotionally. I think the distinction between what is art and what is craft is less applicable today. In the past, craft implied skill, as well as, mass production. Today ingenuity and intent are redefining the role of craft in the realm of art. Maybe it is that spark of life or individuality can make a piece sing whether it is defined as art or craft and it is a glorious thing when someone else connects to your song.

What are some of your favorite creative spots in Portland?
We are lucky to have so many great yarn shops in Portland like CloseKnit, though Yarnia is my new favorite find. You can go and create a custom yarn blend. I couldn’t help but choose five different yarns to make my blend. The Museum of Contemporary Craft is fantastic, many wonderful things in the gallery and in the gift shop. I love to browse Last Thursday on Alberta Street and find something new and exciting or you can duck into the many super crafty shops along the way.

Serena Barton is a wonderful artist, and a wonderful creative enabler. Her work involves painting, collage, and assemblage - and also, helping people break out of creative ruts and find new inspiration. I met her years ago when I took her "Art of Life" series of classes, which helped launch me on a whole new path.

Check out more of Serena's art and teaching at her website and blog.

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What kinds of things inspire your work?
I’m inspired by color and light, history and mystery, layers of objects and people’s personalities, Renaissance and Impressionist painters, beauty, and humanity. I’m also inspired by the materials themselves—l love the feel and glow of oil paint on wood and canvas and love to use oil glazes as the finishing touch on paintings.  I'm now doing some painting with acrylic because it dries faster and is easier to use when I have limited time.  I love encaustic -- the smell, the translucence, the unexpected discoveries -- everything.  Finally, I love collage and mixed media for the excitement of layering and putting pieces together whatever way I want, and how the layering evokes the layering of history and the seasoning and burnishing of human beings as they grow and age.

What is your art about? What is your artistic philosophy?
My favorite art of any period incorporates a magic and often breathtaking quality that makes me glad I'm alive.  That doesn't mean art has to be happy, happy.  Just that there's something about it that makes me feel more alive and inspired. I strive to let these qualities surface in my own work, whether abstract or figurative, and to get out of my own way! I think my art is about sharing the richness and wonder of living. ?

Tell me a bit about your teaching work. What kinds of classes do you teach??
I specialize in teaching people who are new to creating or who are re-connecting with creating, or who want to practice a new medium in an informal way. I facilitate a weekly, ongoing women’s creativity group and workshops in: acrylic, collage, encaustic, assemblage, altered books, painting faces, and torn paper paintings. I’m also teaching weekend or full term classes at PSU in Women’s Studies. All these classes involve making creative projects.

My classes are supportive and designed to help people overcome fears and negative messages about creating. They’re meant to be informative and fun.

You also work in therapy - how is art therapeutic?
??Art is therapeutic for anyone in that it allows us creative expression, a “container” for emotions, helps us see what’s going on inside us, involves learning and experimenting, is a way to “make our mark”, involves challenging negative beliefs, creates more beauty and meaning in our world and the larger world, and offers us just plain fun! I use many modalities in therapy work—art and writing are included when appropriate. (Note: I am an artist and a therapist who sometimes uses art with clients—a Licensed Professional Counselor rather than a Registered Art Therapist. Both are good—I just want to respect the distinction.)

What is your take on the difference between "Art" and "Craft?"?
I wish I could duck this question, smile. I see it from so many perspectives. I consider “art” any work in any medium that shows individuality, passion, and inspires people. That, of course, sounds like a put-down to craft and I don’t mean that. Personally, I like to work in any medium that can be done over and doesn’t have to be exact. I am terrible at weaving, knitting, or hand-made furniture, because I thread heddles wrong, drop stitches, and can’t measure. I think these mediums are art when people can do these things correctly and also show inspiration and innovation. I think people should call their work whatever they find most fitting according to their own definitions. Both art and craft are great, however you define them—I am thrilled by the grass roots creating that’s going on these days!??

What are some of your favorite creative spots in Portland?
Linda Womack's Hive: Encaustic classes for all levels
collage and DIY Lounge: Supplies and classes
Muse Art and Design: New and old favorite products, demos and classes
SCRAP: Scrounging and inspiration galore
The 100th Monkey Studio: Classes, groups, shows, and more
Paperdoll: Supplies and inspiration
23 Sandy Gallery and ONDA Gallery for inspiration
Scarlet Star Studios: Classes and inspiraton

I see Jen Fosnight's work at boutiques around town all the time - her label is called Never Felt Better. I'm always amazed by how diverse her product line is, and I'm a big fan of her soldered pendants, which preserve small pieces of fabric under glass.

After you read this interview, you should go poke around her website and Etsy shop. There's lots of cool stuff to see there.

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How did you come to start your crafty business?
Back in the fall of 2005, I was home with a newborn and just could not get out to shop and check stuff out like I wanted to. I missed being a manager of a local buy-sell-trade where I was surrounded by clothes, great vintage, fabrics and accessories all day, I figured I needed an outlet somehow. I found Etsy.com in November of that same year, said "What the heck," and opened a shop there. My website came the next spring and it continues to make me pretty happy!

I think it's really interesting that the things you make are vegan - tell us a bit about what this means exactly.
Simply, you won't find any animal parts or by-products here! No wool-bone-shell-feathers-pearl-leather-silk. Even the glue has no ground up animals in there! :) Some folks have a love-hate relationship with acrylic yarns and craft-felt but it hasn't been much of an issue with my customers, who aren't all vegans by any means. Being vegan helps keep my prices down and my conscience happy, so it is a definite win-win for everyone!

What kinds of things inspire your work?
I would have to say textiles - fabrics and vintage mostly. I am a true textile junkie, and which is why my soldered pendants with the vintage fabric appeal to me so much. I have scraps of fabric that are on their last legs, but when I encase them in glass it just fascinates me. That is why I leave the back of the fabric alone on the pendants. Sometimes the backs of materials are just as interesting as the fronts! I could not bear to cover them up with paper or little words.

You have so much variety in your product line! Do you have any favorite tricks to help keep you generating all these new ideas?
Oh god I know--it's a curse! I just re-did my sections on my site to organize my inventory and focus on not only the things that sell, but the things I love to make the most. I am really digging on the soldering and as a plus they are working out well so far so they are a keeper! And then I have my roots in vintage fabric covered buttons-big stitchy brooches-vintage component jewelry and crocheted items such as scarves, pouches and bags.

I collect vintage crochet books and magazines and like to browse them for inspiration, plus you can't help but be inspired by all the crafters you encounter in the PDX craft-circuit. I just keep trying out new ideas and see what generates interest and what bores people half to death!

What's your take on the difference between "Art" and "Craft?"
Man, you had to ask me the thousand dollar question didn't you? Hmmmm. Take wood block or linocut blocks for example - there is a definite craft to the actual cutting of the block, but the prints make the art. So, which is it? I dunno. I have personal pet peeves about some crafts just as I do about some fine art, but I don't count anyone out. I am cool like that.

What are some of your favorite creative spots in Portland?
I love anywhere that features local crafters. Such as the wonderful places that have allowed me to sell: Motokitty, In Other Words, Herbivore, Union Rose, Presents of Mind and more. You can't go in those shops without a warm and fuzzy feeling.

Since I have two little ones and one big one (my husband!) we love to go walk around downtown to check out as much as we can about our fair city. I love any chance I get to do "grown-up" things where i can people watch and check out street fashion too. The street fairs and "thursdays" we have here in Portland are a favorite for the whole family, and I plan to sell on Alberta at least a few times over the summer. If you are out and about be sure to stop by and say "hi"!

I love Karina Potestio's bird skirts - they're so happy. And I love that she's a self-taught seamstress. Her busines, Luna, is all about cute clothes and accessories for women, girls, and maternity. Definitely check out her Etsy store for more pictures!

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How did you get started sewing clothes?
I remember my mom sewing all of my clothes when I was a little girl living in my native Guatemala. As a teenager, I deconstructed clothing to learn how to make things for myself. As an adult, I moved to Portland and started a family. I have always sewn clothes for my three daughters.

What kinds of things inspire the garments you make?
What inspires my entire line is creating unique, handmade affordable clothing for families like my own. I started selling when I realized that on my husband's salary as a public school teacher, we couldn't afford most of the hip handmade clothes I was seeing around Portland. So when people tell me "you could sell this for more," I say "no." I want everyone to have an alternative to mass produce clothing.

Things that inspire the design of individual pieces include colorful fabric and textures, and mostly my own kids, what they are interested in.

What would you say is the biggest reward and biggest challenge of having a sewing business?
There are two things that come to mind. First, staying at home with my kids is important to me, and sewing allows me to do this, I also really love to see kids (and adults) wearing my creations all over town.

It is a challenge to balance family time and all of the time I spend sewing. Sometimes that means staying up later than I would like, but this is the trade off for having a home business. It is also frustrating to have to put off new designs for a while because I don't have enough time to make them.

Which is your favorite among the pieces you've made?
That's hard to say. I get excited when I am working out a new concept. But the guitar shirt and little bird share a special spot for me, they are signature pieces.

How do you think "Art" is different from "Craft?"
I think the two hold hands, at least in my experience. Art is its own language, it is an expression. Which is so nice for me because I am not a native English speaker. I am always translating in my everyday life and I don't need to do this with my creations!

What are some of your favorite creative spots in Portland?
I am too busy with my family and sewing so I don't really know a bunch of hip places to hang out. Creative spots for me are anyplace with my girls, especially when we have a little down time to spend in our backyard.

I do really like to shop for fabric at Cool Cottons on Hawthorne.

Many of you know and love collage on NE Alberta. Well, as of now, there's more collage to love - proprietress Maria Raleigh has just opened a second location at 4429 SE Woodstock!

The new store offers all the creative goodness you've seen at the Alberta store (which will continue on, of course): traditional art supplies, scrapbooking and card-making supplies, fancy paper, and those bins and bins of delightful little collagey bits you can't find anywhere else. I also love collage for hard-to-find goodies like encaustic supplies, German Dresdens, and funky jewelry findings, and coptic markers from Japan.

The new Woodstock store is bigger and already filling up with great stuff. Maria plans to add some basic sewing, knitting, and crochet supplies in the new location, too.

What's also great is that this new location will also have a DIY Lounge inside. So now Portland has two DIY Lounge locations, meaning twice the number of awesome classes in creativity of all kinds. Our favorite craft maven Jen Neitzel is working hard on the upcoming class calendar - visit that link and you can see who's teaching what at both Lounges. (Most classes at the new location will begin in July.)

Or, if you're more into freeform craft time, stop by Open Lounge Night, which takes place at both locations on Friday evenings from 6-10. For just five bucks, you can hang out in the Lounge and have access to its public supplies. Bring your own paper, glue, and crafty bits, and make stuff with other crafty folk.

So let's talk Grand Opening. The staff recently hosted a soft-opening party where friends of the store were invited to contribute to this giant collage covering the front counter. But the big celebration is on Saturday, May 31st from 12-4pm. Nicole Cipriano will be on hand with a free craft project table: micro collage magnets. There will also be a raffle of 100 goodie bags, plus snacks and lots of fun.

One of my favorite things about collage is how local it is - the staff is always friendly and knowledgeable, they're on a first-name basis with many of their customers, and the product range changes according to what customers want. Plus, Maria and Jen are super-supportive of local creative events. So be sure to support them back!

Collage is open every day, so stop by soon. Hours are M-F 10-8, Sa.-Sun 10-6.

I met Denise Castanon recently at Trillium Artisans, and really liked her cute, cheerful headbands and jewelry. She's also a great role-model for turning your hobbies into your livelihood - after being a magazine editor for years, she took the plunge into her new business, Crafty.

Check out more of Denise's work at her Etsy shop!

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You used to be a magazine editor - how did you come to switch over to a crafty business?
I hate to say it, but an innate sense of frugality. I actually started making jewelry when I working as an editor. I loved all the cute, chandelier-style earrings, but didn’t want to pay 45 bucks a pop. I said to myself “I could make those” and started making jewelry.

But moving to Portland is what actually got me started selling my jewelry and eventually headbands and knit creations. My husband and I moved here about three years ago from Los Angeles. I had saved up some money and thought I’d take some time off before looking for a job. I took a sewing class and started selling jewelry in a few stores. Then I decided to put more energy into my hobbies with the hopes of not having to get a “real job.” Portland is so supportive of handmade arts and crafts, so it’s a great place to try to do this kind of thing. I definitely wouldn’t be able to do it in Los Angeles!

What kinds of things inspire your jewelry designs?
For my jewelry, I basically wander around the bead and gem shows and look for stones that really catch my eye. Then I go home and play with all the colors. It’s as much fun as when I’d get a new box of crayons when I was little. So I’m really influenced by color. I start noticing what colors people are wearing, what you see in magazines and store windows, and go from there. I usually have some idea of what I want when I go to a bead show, but I always end up getting something else, too. The last time I went to a bead show, I was looking for orange because several customers had been commenting how much they loved the color. But I came away with these beautiful turquoise howlite beads, too. I always lean toward simple, clean designs.

Tell me about your headbands - how did you decide to make them part of your product line?
The headbands are, once again, an example of me saying “I could make those!” My sister-in-law and I were shopping one day, and she bought four fabric headbands. She was living in New Orleans at the time said she wore headbands everyday during the hot, muggy summers. I had learned to sew a few months before and had tons of scraps that were perfect for headbands. (I really hate wasting anything.) I thought they’d be great to add to my product line, because so many people make jewelry and it’d be good to have something else to take to shows. I started doing topstitching on them so I could dress up the fabric I had instead of buying more. Eventually I started selling more headbands than jewelry. Especially once I made them reversible. I’ve expanded on the headband line more this summer.

What future crafty plans do you have for your business?
The most fun thing I have coming up are my flip-flops. I deconstruct flip-flops and sew fabric straps and attach them. They are really cute and comfortable. I really like them. I’ve also started making skinny headbands and Stay-Put Bandanas, which have elastic in the back so you can just slip them on. The headbands have been so successful, that I want to expand that line.

Right now I feel like I need to help grow my business by getting someone to help me sew. I’m sewing at least 20 reversible headbands a week to keep up with sales at Saturday Market and my Web site. I am basically working six days a week and still feel like I‘m not quite keeping up. I’d still want to do all the pairing of fabrics, topstitching and appliqué work myself though.

What's your take on the difference between "Art" and "Craft"?
This is a hard one. Anything can be art. However, if I have to elaborate I feel like craft is something taught in the home and passed down from generation to generation. I have two crafty Aunts who taught me so many things: knitting, embroidery, crochet (which I never quite got the hang of), cooking, cake decorating. I also think crafts have a function besides adding beauty to the world. And art is something you need more of a formal training for.

Of course there are exceptions. Also, art doesn’t necessarily have to have a function besides evoking emotion. I feel crafts sometimes get shortchanged when compared with art, but they shouldn’t. They still add beauty to the world. I don’t consider myself an artist, but I definitely consider myself creative.

What are some of your favorite creative spots in Portland?
First off I’d have to say Bolt on Alberta. I love that store! Again, I feel like a kid with a new box of crayons when I leave there. They have so many beautiful modern fabrics. I’ve never been big on traditional floral prints, so it’s great to find so many cool, non-floral patterns.

The Farmer's Market at PSU always makes me feel like creating, too. I also love to cook, so that’s part of it, but I think also because it’s such a vibrant atmosphere. And I’m really blown away by my fellow Portland crafters. I’m part of the PDX Etsy group, and whenever we have shows I can’t get over how many amazingly talented people live here. It’s so cool. We’ve got a string of summer shows coming up. June 28, July19 and August 9 at Farmer’s Market at PSU. I can't wait to see what will be there.

I love gemstones and semi-precious stones in jewelry. They have such a quiet, earthy quality to them. And I love the way Stacy McAfee designs with them - the simplicity of her work makes for such nice showcases for these stones.

Stacy's company is called Kenton Beadworks. You can see more of her work at her Etsy shop, or on her blog.

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How did you get started with your jewelry business?
Just for fun at first. I started designing and creating necklaces and earrings for myself and then friends. People seemed to like my work and I had accumulated a stock pile of beads, so I thought, "Maybe I can sell my work?" So, I studied a few designs and styles I wanted to try, took a couple of classes, and got online. Now, here I am!

Tell me about gemstones and semi-precious stones. Why do you like using them in your designs?
I really enjoy using gemstones because each bead has its own unique character. Each individual bead makes for a one-of-a-kind piece - even if I make a similar design, I can use the same stone but in a different shade. For me, using quality gemstones really helps broaden the possibilities for unique products, and helps differentiate my work from designers out there.

What elements do you think make up the perfect piece of jewelry?
I focus on clean lines and an element of timelessness. I try to incorporate that into all of my designs. There can be so many elements that make the piece stand out, but I like to keep it simple.

What kinds of things influence or inspire your work?
Nature is by far my greatest source of inspiration. Right now I'm really into woodgrain and different textures. I try to incorporate beads with colors found in nature into my pieces. Basic, simple lines and silhouettes of every day things and playing with different color combinations. I'm really into circles right now too for some reason, but I can't say I see too many of those out in the wild.

How do you define the difference between "Art" and "Craft?"
I thought long and hard about it and came to the conclusion that art is the interpretation of the craft. People can master a craft, but their art, as a final product, is so unique.

What are some of your favorite creative spots in Portland?
I enjoy crafting at Coffee Crutch and perusing local bead stores. Dava Bead and SCRAP are are also some of my favorite spots - they have such helpful staff.

Gloria Kelman's jewelry is filled with interesting textures and shapes. She makes many of her components from Precious Metal Clay (also known as PMC), which gives her freedom to create so many wonderful designs in silver. Her business is named Glorious, which is very apt!

Be sure to visit Gloria's website for a schedule of her events and classes, and you can see more of her work at her Etsy shop. Or, meet her in person at the Mt. Tabor Art Walk this weekend.

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How did you first get into working with Precious Metal Clay?
I am a person who loves to create art in nearly any media. Craft mediums really work for me best. I've been making jewelry since I was in high school, just regular beading then. While I was in college, the daughter of my parents' friends gave me some sterling wire to play with. I created a huge line of sterling wire jewelry in the 1980's which I sold at over 100 craft galleries and boutiques throughout the country. I then moved into other wire work, combining it with wood for desk organizers and then mobile candleholders. That was in the 90's.

In early 2000's I started making jewelry pendants with paper clay, which I painted. Then I took a tile-making class where I used ceramic clay combined with the texture stamps I had already made to make wall hangings inspired by world architecture. In 2004, my friend's aunt introduced me to Precious Metal Clay, I became certified in 2006 and have been and selling around Portland at holiday sales, Mt. Tabor Art Walk, Portland Open Studios, and at galleries around the country. And I'm teaching monthly at Beads at Dusti Creek and at Bead Happy in Oregon City.

For those who are uninitiated, will you tell us a little about how PMC works? Is it really metal?
"Precious Metal Clay is just about the hottest new craft material of the decade. Imagine a material that you can sculpt and mold like other clay, but the end result, when fired, is pure silver!" - Sharilyn Miller on Amazon.com

PMC is made from microscopic particles of silver mixed with a moist binder to create a fine silver material that has the feel and working properties of modeling clay. Prompted by the need for recycling its by-products of technology, Mitsubishi Materials Corp., in the early 1990's, developed a process for recovering silver from computers, medical instruments and photography supplies.

This material is 99% silver and works like clay. It can be molded, formed, stamped, shaped with fingers or tools. After firing, the pieces are fine silver jewelry. You can create using any design sensibility you enjoy: traditional, modern, Victorian, floral, contemporary, etc. It's loads of fun to work with and can become addictive. The ideas keep flowing and you may just want to play with it more and take more classes!!

What kinds of things inspire your jewelry designs?
Inspiration truly comes from everywhere. I take lots of photos of textures and objects, and I often use these images to inspire shapes and ideas. While I was answering this question, I saw a promo photo of the bar at Doug Fir with its many ends of fir logs. It has a great visual texture and it could inspire me to make a piece that looks like that. I see design everywhere, from kids toys sitting around to exercise equipment to book covers to rugs to office packaging. Of course Nature is one of the most inspiring influences there is. I love images of leaves, flowers and trees. I often like to observe an image that is very unrelated to the type of work I'm doing and see how I can incorporate the feel or sense of design of it into my work.

How do you define the difference between "Art" and "Craft?"
Craft vs. Art is such a longstanding discussion. I'm in favor of it all. It takes craft to make art and of course it takes art to make craft. It takes one's sense of visual and 3-dimensional design while working with one's hands to create anything that Nature hasn't already made for us. The final result is meaningful to each person in an individual way.

What are some of your favorite creative spots in Portland?
My studio is definitely my most favorite creative spot in town. In my one space I create and produce jewelry designs, graphic design, digital photography, wool felting, garden designs, marketing plans, house colors, children's knitted sweaters, healthy food menus, travel guides and more. I do a lot of this work for myself, but I also offer this to others, and my customers always get inspired when they come here. Other favorite creative spots include friends' studios, bead shops, yarn stores. I really love Button Emporium in SW and the Craft section at Powell's Books for Home and Garden.

Rachel Austin's art has a charming wistful quality, and I love how she layers images and mixes media. You can enjoy more of Rachel's art at her website. Be sure to also visit her Etsy shop for some wonderful pendants based on her paintings. And her blog is a nice compendium of her creative work and creative friends.

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So you started your artistic career with woodworking. How did you come to transition from that to painting? And do the two relate to each other at all?
I started my creative career building and designing unique tables without any training or real woodworking experience. After a couple of years, I realized I really needed to further my skills if I was going to make it and enrolled in the woodworking program at OCAC. At the same time I was taking a drawing class, working at Art Media and had sold my first couple of paintings in an employee show window.

I had an ‘aha’ moment near the end of the term when I suddenly realized that every thing I was building, including sculptural pieces, were turning out exactly the way I originally designed them. It’s hard to be spontaneous with a quick moving saw. This was the moment I realized what made me happy, what I’d wanted to see myself doing in 40 years, was painting. I love how painting, for me, can turn out much differently than originally planned. There is learning and excitement in letting the materials take over.

The trouble was I didn’t have any experience in painting, either. I just really liked it and started out slowly. I’ve been very, very blessed that I am now able to paint full time.

You work in lots of different media - do you have a favorite?
Hmmm... That’s a tough one. I like them all for different reasons. I was very lucky to have worked in an art supply store where I learned in depth about most of the major mediums. I got into a bunch of them as I explored painting. I tend to do a lot of oil painting – used in both my mixed media series and lantern/poppy oil series. The colors and richness of oil makes me pretty happy. At the same time, I really love working in watercolors and ink or graphite. I think it depends on my mood. I like switching back and forth between series to keep myself interested and changing directions.

What is your art about? What kinds of things inspire you?
My art, mainly the mixed media series, comes from simple images inspired by sweet moments or glimpses. I like to paint things that seem a bit lonely and peaceful – a single bird on a wire, a random paper airplane floating above an abstracted field of flowers. I am inspired by color and simple shapes and patterns – especially circles! Circles show up all the time in all of my series – I’m kind of obsessed with them.

What would you say is the biggest challenge of running a business with your art?
I think right now is finding the time to work on new ideas while at the same time still trying to keep up with my other series. Stress was another big hurdle that I’ve been tackling. I have my paintings stocked regularly in 10 shops/galleries across the country in addition to direct online sales and shows. Just keeping up in addition to looking for more opportunities was wearing me out. I couldn’t sleep, was depressed and had pretty high anxiety. Thankfully, a couple months ago my husband was able to quit his job and come work with me. Much of the stress has fallen now that he’s taken over much of the business side of things - shipping, invoicing, bookkeeping, and marketing leaving me more time to paint. We are really happy to be working together at something we both love. We feel very lucky.

We are also expecting a baby girl in August – so ask me again in six months and my challenge probably will be balancing motherhood, the business and painting!

What do you think is the difference between "Art" and "Craft?"
Yikes - I think I’m still trying to figure this out myself! I’d have to say that very generally art is more one-of-a-kind, more unique - usually referring to painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing. Craft is more of a skill – sewing, ceramics, paper crafts. Of course within that we have all seen ‘crafts’ that you cannot view as anything except art and paintings or sculptures that feel they belong in the craft world.

What are your favorite creative spots in Portland?
I spend a lot of time shopping at our local art supply stores – Art Media, Columbia, and Utrecht. You can also find me working at coffee shops Crema and the new Albina Press on Hawthorne. I also like showing and shopping at Crafty Wonderland.