Cartwheels In My Mind

Jumpstart On A Tuesday.

Happy Tuesday everyone! Hopefully by now you have noticed the little Twitter graphic along the top of the blog and have joined in on the fun by following us so we can let you know what's going on over here on a daily basis. The fabulous Christy Berkhouse is the new Cartwheels Communications Girl here and she'll be keeping you informed of everything that is going on on the site and will also be doing some fun giveaways from over there in the following weeks so make sure you check it out!

Anyways, on to the art! :) This little owl art piece is the epitome of a jumpstart project...I literally grabbed a bunch of felt and fabric and just started cutting freehand in the shape of how an owl looks in my mind...and then i stuffed some cotton balls inside the 2 body pieces (which i cut together so they would be exactly the same size) before sewing the edges and adding embellishments in place of the body parts with fabric glue. Then I printed the "i love art" onto a piece of printer paper and cut it into the shape of a word bubble, glued everything down on a yellow wood block that I got at a thrift for $.25, and it was finished in less than an hour and a half. It was super fun, super easy and totally got me in the mood to create more art...which is the entire point of my jumpstart projects!

What do you create when you are trying to get those creative juices flowing? I'd love to hear what inspires you!

xoxo, Cheryl

p.s. Don't forget about joining in on Twitter!:)

Art Shoppe Interview: Life with Tigers.

Etsy is truly known for being a marketplace full of innovative handmade finds and today I am so pleased to share with you one of those wonderful places, Life with Tigers. I have been admiring Karen's shop for quite some time now and so excited to feature her this week. I truly enjoy every inch of creativity shown in Karens topiary work; filled with a great mix of colors, texture and attention to detail. Her quirky art prints are brilliant, such a delight and make me happy! Everything Life with Tigers has to offer makes for a great gift to a loved one or even yourself. I was lucky enough to grab one of her mushroom topiary's not long ago and when it arrived, I couldn't wait to open my package and display it. I love every bit of detail and how pretty it sits at my desk! I admire it daily!

Karen is a creative soul. She has a wonderful personality, witty and fun. Read over her answers she's shared with us today and you'll see why her art is truly unique and one of a kind.

Tell us a little bit about yourself:
My name is Karen Brazell and I am a web designer living in Brooklyn, New York. When I'm not pixel-pushing, I enjoy creating handmade toys, dolls, soft sculptures, art prints and greeting cards for my business Life with Tigers.

Describe your business:
It's one part science experiment, one part art project and one part therapy session. My products include Severed Leg Catnip Toys, dolls of monkeys, cats, dachshunds and robots, mushroom topiaries and mobiles, plus some other good stuff. I want to make things that would be given as gifts to special recipients!

What made you decide to open an art business?
I spent way too much time on the computer as a part of my job, and I felt I was missing something. I discovered that it was the joy of working with my hands. Not in a "command-option-shift" kind of way, but the feeling of pulling needle through fabric, or cutting paper and even the feeling that the ink or glue on my hands will never come off.

When did you start doing art?
I started when I was a youngling, but didn't get paid for it until I was 17, when I got my first "art job" working in a screen printing facility. I do remember when I was a teenager, me and a friend would cut out people's heads from magazines, paste them on paper, draw in cartoonish bodies and we would create stories and comics that we would trade with each other.

 

Where does your inspiration come from?
My inspiration comes from all kinds of sources, including books, museum visits and the internet, but a lot of it comes from my cats. They each have such distinct personalities, and I always try to catch a bit of that in each doll I create. It's the joys and challenges of living with them that inspired the name of my business. Too many times I would mumble "that's life with tigers" when cleaning up their various messes.

What are your long term career goals?
I've been very fortunate to have already attained some of my career goals, but what I really crave is the chance to work with creative people, in an environment of mutual respect and great humor. Of course working for myself would be great too! I sometimes call Life with Tigers my "empire" so I would like to see it grow and evolve.

What kind of music do you enjoy listening to while you create?

I'm afraid I've been in kind of a musical vacuum lately, and have been listening to the same songs for the past 6 months! What has been on repeat lately is Stars, Camera Obscura and a few old throwbacks, like Belly.

What and/or who are your influences?

Well, aside from the cats, I'm also influenced by my business partner Jed. Together we run Ink and Sword, through which we sell art prints. He is an amazing draftsman and he always has a creative solution. Plus he has great taste, so when he finds something really cool, he shares that with me.

Please share with us your favorite childhood memory...or one that includes art!
In the 3rd grade, made a 5 foot long alligator pinata. I remember making his teeth out of styrofoam that was cut with a hot wire, and cutting endless amounts of green tissue paper to paste to his extra-super-long body. After a week of work, he was done and fabulous, but I then had to carry that thing home! The expression on my mom's face when I arrived at the door was priceless. He hung over my bed for years.

 

Do you have a motto you live by?
Not really, but my brother once said "whatever blows your hair back" and I think that's a good one.

Where do you see yourself & your business in the next 5 years?
In 5 years, I still see myself fighting the never ending battle with cat hair and fabric. I will have gone through 2,430 lint rollers by then.

Describe your creative process.
I sketch things out first, fighting my natural inclination to just start cutting stuff, and work from those sketches. Many of them are on sticky notes. I had to teach myself how to make patterns for the dolls as I'm not used to working in 3D. Trial and error mostly...there are some mighty strange prototypes around the studio. I've got a fantastic workspace with lots of natural light, but most of the time I end up working on the floor, engaged in a tug-of-war between me and the newest member of the pride, Moo the Kitten.

Advice you would like to share for someone looking into starting their own art business?

Know who you are making things for and sell what you would like to buy or receive as a gift!

Can you cartwheel? If so, we'd love to see a photo! :)

Of course I can, but I'm sure that any video of that would end up on FailBlog. I do, however, have a video of me doing a cartwheel when I was 15, in all my Goth-rock-crimped-hair glory.

Thanks for the humor you shared with us today Karen, it was delightful!! If you'd like to see more of her wonderful creations, you can find her at the following places:

www.lifewithtigers.com (from there you can find my blog and my etsy shop)

http://www.facebook.com/lifewithtigers (where I've begun collecting photos and videos of cats who've received severed leg catnip toys)

www.brooklyngrand.com (which is Ink and Sword, a collaborative art print shop)

Life With Tigers is kindly sponsoring a giveaway and two of our lucky winners will be chosen to receive one of some amazing prints: 1 Brush Cat 5x7 Art Print ( see a sample here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/32921517/brush-cat-print ) and 1 Dachshund Block Print and Fabric Greeting Card (see a sample here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/35280915/dachshund-block-print-and-fabric ) All you have to do is leave a comment to this post and you will be entered in the drawing. Winners will be announced on Monday, July 11th.

Thanks so much Karen for sharing your world with us and I look forward to seeing what more wonderful things come to Life with Tigers!

Cheers Cindy :)

A Little Bit Of This...A Little Bit Of That.

 
I had so much fun searching etsy shops and visiting blogs to
find little pieces of internet "eye candy" to fit this
month's theme....SWEET SHOPPE.

Of course, one of the first things that comes to mind when I
hear sweets is cupcakes.  I got hooked on cupcakes after
visiting Magnolia Bakery in NYC and have definitely become a
cupcake fan.

These sno-cone and ice cream cupcakes would be so fun for a
summer party or a child's birthday treat.

photo: www.hoosierhomemade.com

I love rootbeer floats in the summer.....but how about
rootbeer float cupcakes???

photo:  www.smittenkitchen.com

I definitely need one of these t-shirts....

etsy seller:  dressingontheside

....and maybe this variation of the Keep Calm sign....

etsy seller:  keepcalmshop

Ice cream would be another sweet shoppe favorite of
mine....especially with sprinkles on top. How cute is this
graphic?  The etsy seller has t-shirts, notecards, and
buttons with this ice cream cuteness!

etsy seller: bubbledog

I love everything about this ice cream print - the colors,
the giant ice cream cone, and especially the quote!

etsy seller:  whimsystudios

I love how this print uses the swirls of the lollipop as a
type of abstract art.  I'd love to try it, but I don't think
candy would last long enough at my house to photograph!

etsy seller:  ara133photography

What inspires you when you're in search of something to put you in the mood to create? And how do you turn that inspiration into art? I'd love to see any bits of inspiration you have to share with all of us!

Amy

Art Shop: Vol25 (EyeCandy Overlays).

Good Morning, everyone! I am so excited to bring you our first "official" article that will be running on a regular basis (in this case weekly)...Art Shop Interview.  Each Monday at 8am a new interview will go up about an art shop/company/photographer we love, along with any discounts or giveaways they might be offering to go along with it, and you will often see our design team playing with some sponsored products as well in the art we share throughout the month. So let's make a date...Monday mornings, you, the ever fabulous Cindy and/or me (every other week), a cup of coffee and a little bit about a very inspiring place...   
For my first art shop interview I interviewed Jessica Rose, from Vol25.

 
I just recently discovered Jessica and her supercool art this year when for my birthday in January, my good friend Amy sent me a very special gift...a canvas print of a maternity shot of my husband and I with our hands touching my very pregnant belly. Above our hands were colorful hearts that were so subtle and whimsical that they set the whole mood for the entire photo. I was so excited I immediately put it up in the nusery above Gracie's bed, and when I was finished I sent an email asking her where she got the hearts and where I could get some myself, so imagine my excitement when she told me to check out the rest of my package...which held my own Lovey Dovey set of Jessica's overlays! And that's the story of how Cheryl became obsessed with EyeCandy Overlays...:) I have used them over and over in the months since on both photos and hybrid art projects. They are just so quirky and unique and fun...the best kind of creative to me, which is why I was so excited to hear Jess's answers to the interview questions Cindy and I compiled for her as well as the photos she sent along of her art and creative space:

1.    Tell us a little bit about yourself:

Hi! My name is Jessica Rose and I am the artist behind VOL.25. I married my best friend 6 years ago. We have 2 little girls ages 5 and 2, and they constantly remind us that time goes by all to fast. I Love Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream, and currently have a HUGE crush on the color yellow, I am a night owl and definitely NOT an early bird. I love the sun and the heat of summer... I am a pisces and someday I would love to own a vintage airstream trailer.

2    Describe your business:

VOL.25 is an art shop stocked with positive, inspirational art. I sell prints and recently started a new venture selling my "Eye Candy" photoshop overlays. Photographers and scrapbookers use them to add a creative finishing touch to they're work. 

(this photo features Jessica's Feeling Cloudy overlay set...shown below) 

 
  

3.    What made you decide to open an art business?

I've always enjoyed drawing, and when I opened my etsy shop I really never intended for it to turn into a business. I had hoped to make a little extra money doing something I enjoyed.... but definitely didn't expect things to go as well as they have. :) I feel incredibly fortunate!

4.    When did you start doing art?

I guess I'm not really sure... I have memories of being in Kindergarten and doing arts and crafts. My parents bought me my first art set when I was in third grade... I can remember drawing herds and herds of horses... I kind of had an infatuation with horses. :)

5.    Where does your inspiration come from?

Hmmm... really the randomest of places. Design magazines, Clothing stores, Design blogs. I am really inspired by quotes though... one simple quote can inspire an entire print!

6.    What are your long term career goals?

Honestly, I should probably have some long term goals... but I simply do not have any whatsoever. I would like to keep my shop at a manageable level, so that I always have time for my family. These last couple weeks I have been doing quite a bit of thinking along the lines of time management... sales have been so good and steady that I am struggling to find a good balance between VOL.25 and my family and life. Today my husband and I worked out a plan that should accomplish just that. :)

7.    What kind of music do you enjoy listening to while you create?

Right now lights is my favorite artist. Owl city is another favorite!

8.    What and/or who are your influences?

I am fortunate to be surrounded by family that have always supported my talent. My husband has been my sounding board for many many ideas, he is the silent partner behind VOL.25.

9.    Please share with us your favorite childhood memory...or one that includes art!

Wow, definitely hard to narrow it down to one... but this particular memory has always stuck out in my mind; I am probably about 6 and I think I must have been working on a project for easter. We had a little craft area set up in our basement, I remember gluing cotton balls to a piece of a paper in an attempt to make a bunny, when we ran out of glue. I was so disappointed that I couldnt finish my bunny. My mom so cleverly whipped up a batch of glue using flour and water. I can still remember the smell of the glue and the darkness of the basement but what sticks out the most is how amazed I was that my mom had just made glue!! :)

10.    Do you have a motto you live by?

Yep!! Well, I guess it is a quote and not so much a motto but I do try to live by it... the quote is by Roy Goodman "Remember Happiness is a way of travel not a destination."

11.   Where do you see yourself & your business in the next 5 years?

Well, like I mentioned earlier I am not really sure that I want my business to get much bigger then it already is. I kind of believe in quality over quantity. As the number of sales I make increases, I find it harder to have the time to really connect and remember each of my customers. :) BUT, 5 years from now I would like to have a routine and schedule set in stone that I can follow daily. I would LOVE love to finally have my own studio space, just a separate dedicated room in our house. Oh- and I would like to be a few pounds lighter too... ;)

12.    Any tips and tricks to other artists/business owners?

Oh yeah I definitely have some tips! :)

One: Believe in yourself.

Two: Remember that it costs money to make money. My BEST advice is to spend time and money researching your target audience/customer. After you have established just WHO your type of customer is, spend money advertising on blogs that are speaking to those people. If you don't have a ton of money to invest into your business right away then consider hosting giveaways on those blogs. You are only out the cost of your item, and they are always great exposure! :)

Three: Keep plugging along. When you have a slow period use that time to brainstorm new product ideas or create new pieces.

Four: I know this one has been said time and time again.... but the customer is always right. :) Even if they're wrong and you know it. Of course, there are some exceptions to the rule... but remembering this has allowed me to turn some sticky situations into honey! I really do want all my customers 110% satisfied with they're shopping experience... whatever the reason. Besides, in today's time you never know WHO you are talking to and what influence they can have positive or negative on your business, so treat everyone with care. :)

13.    Describe your creative process.

Ideas, doodles, and sketches usually grace the pages of my notebook before they make it to the computer. I generally try to take nap/quiet time to "play" on the computer. I use a wacom wireless pen and photoshop to take those ideas into a finished product.

 
(overlays in this photo are from Jessica's Lovey Dovey set, shown below.)

14.   Advice you would like to share for someone looking into starting their own art business?

Well, I guess the advice from question 12 would be repeated here. I would like to add that you need to be confident and not doubt your talent, others will pick up on this.

15.   Can you cartwheel? If so, we'd love to see a photo! :)
 
Gee... I havent for AGES. I use to do several perfect cartwheels in a row... I may have to get back with you on that one! ;) I will officially start my cartwheel training first thing tomorrow, and I WILL get you guys that picture. :)

I loved reading through Jessica's answers...she is totally deserving of all the business coming her way! If you'd like to see more of her creations, you can find her at the following places:

my blog: http://www.vol25.typepad.com
eye candy overlays blog: http://vol25.typepad.com/eyecandyoverlays/
shop: www.vol25.com
flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/26335640@N00/
zazzle shop: http://www.zazzle.com/volume25

I am so thankful that Jessica agreed to be our first interview for our art shop article. It's so inspiring to read about someone who started out small and grew over time because of great art, hard work and good service. We'll keep in touch with her and hopefully she'll share when she has new releases with us so we can spread the news and keep you updated on the latest and greatest...courtesy of Vol25.

(all photos copyright Vol25)

Peace and Inspiration,

Cheryl

P.S. We'd also like to mention that Jessica is having a buy 2 get 1 free sale on ALL overlay sets AND prints starting saturday the 5th and ending the following saturday the 12th so it's a great time to purchase something new and inspiring from her.

And best of all, she is sponsoring a give-away here on the Cartwheels blog...2 lucky readers will receive a free set of Eyecandy Overlays so you can see for yourself how amazing they are! You just have to add a comment to this post in order to be added to the drawing.