Featured Artist - SydneyAnn Malain/The Backwards Owl

I live in Redding, CA in the United states. I am currently working as a Make-up Artist for M.A.C cosmetics. I started my shop to occupy my time while my husband and I were dating because he lived in another city. Now I'm making hairpieces inspired by my bow I wore in my hair for our wedding. I am also currently taking a fashion design program to hopefully bring new inventory and products to my shop.

TheBackwardsOwl is a shop made for "girls who do things their own way". A statement about taking fashion trends and making them your own and being fashionable but still being unique. Our headbands are trendy and hip with some rustic-vintage inspiration hints here-and-there.

Handmade art is something made with passion and quality behind it. It lets you get to know the designer without ever meeting them because they speak through their work.

My inspiration is my husband, he is always encouraging me to try new things in my shop. He is my biggest fan!

The link to my etsy shop, FB shop, website, and other page:

www.etsy.com/shop/thebackwardsowl

www.thebackwardsowl.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/thebackwardsowl

pieces of Art:

Sydney

featured Artist - Ann Brown / memories By design

Hi,

I am Ann Brown and design and make jewelry. I am a retired secretary from our local school board office. I live in Roanoke, Louisiana with the my husband of 43 years. We have 3 wonderful children, 7 grand children, 3 great grand children. Our lives are very full and very blessed.

My shop is Memories By Design. You can find me here at Etsy under memoriedesigns. I have been making and selling jewelry for over 15 years. I began selling out of my office and participating in local craft sales. When I decided to make a business out of this hobby, I needed a name. I wanted something that would have a real connection to my customers. I came up with the name "Memories By Design". I wanted to take jewelry that someone had inherited which they would not wear and make a wearable piece from it. In this way, they could honor their loved one every time they wore this new piece of jewelry. So I try to make memories every time I work on a new piece.

When I think about "handmade art", for me this means putting a little of myself in each piece. I use my passion and design sense to make each piece. While some would argue that handmade items are not art, I disagree. Although I think that anyone can string beads on a cord and call it jewelry, not everyone has the design sense to know how to choose colors and shapes which work together to make a pleasing pattern. I don't think anyone could look at a bead workers weaving of beads and not call what they see art. Art is in the eye of the beholder.

I get inspiration from many things; people, colors, shapes. It does not take much to get me thinking about my next piece. If I had to say one person who has inspired me the most, I would say my husband. He has always encouraged me to try new things and has always believed that I could do whatever I set my mind to do.

Below are some of my favorite pieces:

If you would like to see more of my work, check out my Etsy shop at:

www.etsy.com/shop/memoriedesigns

You can also find me on Facebook at: 

www.facebook.com/pages/Anns-Memories-By-Design/111035738932814

Ann Brown

Featured Artist - Elizabeth Blanton/Yellow Elm fiber art and accessories

My name is Elizabeth Blanton, I'm the owner/designer for Yellow Elm fiber art and accessories. I fell in love with felt and the felting process after taking a fiber arts class in college and have been making felt accessories ever since. I live in the United States, specifically in the sunny town of Greenville, South Carolina, and have been married for just over three years. 

Each Yellow Elm piece begins with bright ideas, colorful thoughts and a natural material called wool roving. The process of wet felting dates back thousands of years and transforms the roving into finished felt. The fibers of the roving are torn apart and then arranged in a crisscross pattern. Then, the roving endures a boiling bath and rough scrub, but it’s all for the best—the fibers interlock and begin to dry and shrink. The felt forms, ready to be embellished with decorations like beading and lace.

The accessories boast a balance of both classic and modern appeal; the ancient process ensures a unique and natural quality while the design is original and current. 

I am a graphic designer, so for me personally I love to have a hands-on outlet like Yellow Elm. It's nice to be off of the computer and working on something artistic that I can actually touch and hold—it adds a whole new dimension to my creativity. I also love to support other handmade artists. It's super cool to know that everything handmade that you buy has a true human touch behind it. It adds so much meaning.

Lately I've found a lot of inspiration for my Yellow Elm pieces in nature. My husband and I spent a lot of time outside hiking, and there is so much inspiration to be found! I've been pulling color schemes and design ideas from space photos and photos from the US National Parks. (An example of one of my recent space pieces can be found here: yellowelm.com/blog/2012/07/starburst-headband/)

Links to my Shop:
Etsy Shop    : www.etsy.com/shop/yellowelm
Blog            : yellowelm.com/blog/
Facebook     : www.facebook.com/YellowElm
Website      : www.yellowelm.com/
Twitter        : twitter.com/YellowElm

Pieces of Art

Elizabeth Blanton

featured artist - Sienna/Princess Sienna

My name is Sienna, I am a 21 year old hair stylist from southern California.
In my shop you will find various hair accessories inspired by nature and the beauty of our environment.

Handmade art has a special meaning to me because I feel that it is so much more personal than the standard "made in China" tag.

My inspirations for my work vary from my Mexican heritage, the outlandish stylings of the 1960's, and the fact that I do hair makes me able to be creative and find things that are aesthetically pleasing and place them together.

Pieces of art

link to my shop: www.etsy.com/shop/PrincessSienna?ref=seller_info

Also please stay tuned for a wider variety of products coming soon; I will be upgrading and adding my own personal touches to thrift store and vintage finds!

Sienna.

Featured Artist - Zulema/Crooked Heart Creations

I am a 32 year old work at home mother to 5 kids. I have been crafting, sewing, crocheting etc. since I was about 5 years old. My grandmother taught me how to do a lot when we were out in the middle of nowhere, we called her ranch! I am married to an awesome guy who supports everything I do. 

I started my shop in November 2011 and it has changed my life! I like to offer an array of different items in my shop. Everything is handmade by myself. I like to sew and crochet the most but I will occasionally do something different! I have everything made everything from tutus, to aprons to headbands! 

It pleases me to know that my customers are happy to have a handmade item that I made myself! It warms my heart to know that they are smiling when they put on an apron I made for them to wear when they cook. Handmade means putting effort into items that others will cherish. I take time and patience when I sew. I have to get into a calm state of mind to make an item. I love what I do and I love sharing it with the world.

My grandmother is deffinately my inspiration. She is now 90 years old and when I go to visit her she is still sitting at her sewing machine just like she did when I was 5. She taught me how to hand sew my barbie clothes and how to crochet as well. She likes to give me vintage yarns that she has had for 30 or 40 years, to her they are just old, to me they are wonderful.

My Shop: 

www.zulemaann.etsy.com
www.facebook.com/crookedheartcreations

Piece of Arts

Zulema