Artist Interview Feature - Cindy from Dixie Pixie

Artfire seller and artist Cindy Thomson let me interview her for this artist feature. Cindy creates jewelry and sells them in her Artfire shop here. Check out some of Cindy's products here:

Tell us a bit about yourself and your family!
I am 31 years old and I currently work as a public school elementary school music teacher.  I currently live in SW Kansas and teach here in a small school district but I'm a native of northern MN.  My immediate family lives up there.  I have a younger sister and brother.  My sister is married with 3 beautiful little girls... my lovely nieces.  My parents still live up there as well and I try to visit them at least 3 times a year but we are working on visiting each other more.
I have a wonderful boyfriend down here in Kansas.  His name is Lee.  He makes me laugh and is the best dance partner ever.

How did you come up with your shop name?

One year a friend of mine and I decided we wanted to make hand puppets to take the Renaissance festival with us.  She had an old pattern stowed away and we set to work making the king, princess, queen and jester puppets.  The jester ended up being my favorite.... so I made more of them.  I also had gotten into making my own jewelry about the same time and thus the name.... Fools and Jewels.  Sadly, the jester puppets don't seem to sell well so I quit making them.

Where do you create your items?
Most of them are created at home while I am sitting on my bed watching/listening to the TV.  Sometimes I take my stuff on the road and create things on my lunch break, out in the park, at a craft show and at my bf's place.

Tastes of the Season - Handmade Picks

A bit of Artfire love for a change. I am a member/seller there, too. Try not to get TOO hungry!

Be Fruitful and Multi-Pie

  Curated By: ViragoCreations

ArtFire.com

Unique Gifts

Living the Life of Dreams - Shop Talk Tuesday

This article makes me happy. Two Canadians about the same age as Greg and I move to a completely new-to-them province to live the life of their dreams. Did I mention that they also came from Vancouver?

These two people took up residence in a run-down place and fixed it up. . .just one of the things on my list of things I want to do in my life. . .although, their place seems a bit less liveable than I'd like mine to be. Still, I do dream of having a cheap fixer-upper.

Within a year, I would love to have studio space to support a letterpress machine.

What are your dreams and goals for your handmade business or creative practice?

Two Bears One Heart on Etsy - Shop Talk Tuesday

Discount and Intro to Two Bears One Heart - my new Etsy shop.

Studioahimsa is solely stationery and limited edition prints now, with lots more cards, calendars, note books and more coming in the near future!

My new shop, Two Bears One Heart is focused on handmade gemstone necklaces and original paintings.

The new Etsy store has a new Facebook page, which you should follow for special discounts and promotions!

Tazim Damji likes

Two Bears One Heart

Create your Like Badge

For followers of my blog, I would like to offer a 15% discount in both my shops until September 15th. Just let me know you follow my blog, mentioning Being Tazim.

Giveaway 3 Custom Fortune Cookies! Open to All

Just Say It is the creative venture of Allison Book. Allison creates buttons, magnets, greeting cards and these:

Here is a bit about the fortune cookies, from Allison's shop listing: 

A custom cookie makes a perfect gift, especially for Valentines Day, wedding favors, birthday gifts, Christmas ornaments, or for no reason at all.

The fortune cookies are handmade. They are constructed of velveteen, cotton thread, and cotton rag paper.

Each cookie comes with its own individual fortune, the materials to convert it into a hanging ornament, and a small take out box, in which it is stored.

The fortune cookie itself measures 2 x 2 inches (about the same size of a real fortune cookie). The fortunes attached to the cookie extends approximately 2 inches out of the cookie’s edge

If you are thinking of ordering a custom fortune cookie please remember the following:
There is a maximum of 30 characters (including spaces) per row x3 rows. If you went any higher the font would have to be very small and it would be hard to see.

Other than the adorable and unique fortune cookies, Allison also has a great selection of 'wordy' buttons and mirrors:

Allison answered a few of my questions about herself, her art practice and her
life outside of Etsy:

Poster Art - Brown Background Natural Colours

As an art historian, it's no secret that I love art (it's a requirement). I'm not picky when it comes to what I consider beautiful art, though. Unlike a certain art history professor I once had (who happened to be the head of the department!), I believe in relativism. I don't think that there is just good and bad art ( I mean, who decides, anyway?), but that all art has its place. I appreciate poster art because of the strong graphic qualities - one doesn't stand reading a poster for 10 minutes. . .it needs to immediately grab a viewer's attention. 

I have no idea what the Black Keys' music sounds like, but this poster makes me want to have gone to the show. It might be appealing because of the trend towards all things Alice in Wonderland, though?!

I love these Avett Brothers posters:

Whimsical Hair Accessories by Green Pickles

U.K. artist  Aimee of Green Pickles shop and Green Pickles blog creates gorgeous vintage-inspired hair accessories.

About the artist: I am a designer and crafster who loves creating and making accessories! I adore pretty things that remind me of the fun I had as a child, fairytales, whimsical romantic feelings and sunny days. I have a lovely Fiance and I AM GETTING MARRIED THIS YEAR! Hooray for happiness!


Aimee has offered this lovely hair clip for giveaway during BlogFest - which is a blog hop of sorts, where you jump from blog to blog to enter giveaways and check out new some new blogs! I will be participating September 10-12th! 

Which of Aimee's hair accessories do you like the most? 

What hair accessories do you most use?

Product Design Inspiration - Shop Talk Tuesday

Personal Experience and Filling a Need Leads to Great Product Design

Jasmine Bashaj shares with us how she created a line of Canadian-made eco-friendly vibrant (and cute) children's clothing. On Saturday, I showed you some examples of her line, which I will show you a glimpse of again here: 

Using her own experience as a mom, graphic designer, illustrator and – perhaps most importantly – practical thinker, Jasmine Bashaj has created the So Rad line. It’s the funky and functional solution to the pet peeves parents have long had about children’s clothing, and the great news is time-strapped parents (and those tethered to a nap/feed schedule at home) can now click ’n’ buy on So Rad’s new website, www.shopsorad.com.

Polymer Accessories by Cinnamon Haven Feature

Cinnamon Haven Craft Boutique is Ally's Etsy shop, which features delicious-looking charms, earrings and more.

Be sure to check out Ally's Facebook page to keep up-to-date on her new products and what is going on in her world!

I am excited to show you what Ally will be offering for giveaway during Blogmania. . .here is just a glimpse (the rest is a surprise!):

Jenny's Treasures Feature

Jenny creates accessories for everyday use, weddings and other special occasions. I especially like her wire creations and her jewelry made with vintage beads! The shop Jenny's Treasures features hair accessories, necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets and even a hat!
Here are a few of my favourite things in the shop:

So Rad! Sponsor Feature

Jazz's So Rad shop on Etsy features greeting cards and clothing for babies and kids. This Toronto-based online store has beautiful greeting cards that are suitable for framing, some of which will be given away right here on Being Tazim, in September!

Even though I don't have children of my own, I am really impressed with So Rad's products! Jazz discusses some of the benefits of these clothes here:

- 70% Bamboo 30% Certified Organic Cotton

- Ribbing is 100% Certified Organic Cotton

- Made and designed in Canada - by a Canadian!

- Even the fabric is knit in Canada!

- Triple stitch cover seam for durability and no inner seam (and it looks so nice)

- Super quality and well made

- All around environmentally responsible

- Environmentally responsible inks

- No flame retardant chemicals


- Matching and colour coordinated

- Contrast thread colour (green items have brown thread, blue items have avocado green thread, pink items have orange thread)

- Hypoallergenic 


- Anti-bacterial properties

- Heat regulating 


- Prewashed for minimal shrinkage and super softness

- Very generous sizing

- Functional clothes designed with thought

- Making Mummy Madness Manageable!

Hair Accents - Flower Clips and Accessories Sponsor Feature

Southern-California based artist, mom and home stager Yogi Gray is multi-talented. I am happy to be working with Yogi to promote her businesses, and to have her as my newest Blogmania sponsor! In addition to being a sponsor for Blogmania, she is also my new blog sponsor. Please take the time to look at her two stores by clicking on her ads in the sidebar! 

A little about just one of Yogi's creative ventures from her Etsy store bio:

I create beautiful hair accessories inspired by the most beautiful things in the world--flowers.

I strive to bring you beauty and joy in something so simple as a flower to brighten your world.

I'm a full time wife and mom of two adopted-at-birth children, now 5 and almost 4 years old. We were so blessed and honored to have these children! 

Yogi started out in the home-staging business and later moved to creating paintings, which she sells in her Distinctive Color Art store, and these beautiful flower accessories in her Hair Accents store:

Designing a Space that Inspires Creativity

Do you feel inspired to work creatively in the space you've set aside? Meg Mateo Ilasco's book Craft Inc.: Turning Your Creative Hobby Into a Business includes a great list of tips to keep your space inspired:

• Make your space a reflection of yourself, whether that means being colorful or minimalist.
• Maintain an inspiration board on wire and hang photographs, clippings, and swatches. Feel free to layer images over one another and to change images often to follow your whims and interests.

Ecclectic Ladyland Studio Feature

Angelique from Ecclectic Ladyland creates beaded jewelry items, which she sells on Artfire. Do check out her store, if only to take a look at her great store banner! Angelique shared some information with me about her life and art practice, as well as some photos of her studio and a work in progress:

Crafting Full-Time Shop Talk Tuesday

Kara from Secret Safe Books shared her studio with us on Saturday, in the feature I did on her shop. Here, she returns to share with us a bit about herself and how she recently quit her regular (night) job to focus on her craft full-time. I guess you could say that Kara isn't keeping her secret safe:

I was born Kim Soon Ae in Seoul, South Korea (I'm now 34) and was adopted by an American couple in Minnesota at 6 months old and then got the name Kara. Fast-forward to 1993...I met my husband and we eloped 10 years later and now my married last name is Witham and we live in Chicago. We had a wonderful cat named Angelo who died a few years ago. I would LOVE to get a new cat or dog, but as we travel a lot, it's probably for the best that we don't have one...

I have my BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in painting and drawing, but last year rambled into the wide world of crafting after taking up the hobby of crafting hollow books. Now it's turned into a full-time job. A few weeks ago I quit my day job (more like night job), as a museum guard to work full-time on my business. I'm definitely missing being part of the gang at the museum, self-employment can get lonely, that's for sure. So now my new co-workers are the people at my local cafe where I go to list my items and do computer stuff. The Baristas pretty much know I will get either a banana smoothie or a coffee, black. (Or both).

A Hobby Business: 3 Reasons You Should Start One

I had the pleasure of being contacted by Cavyl Stewart to write a guest-post about turning your hobby in to a business. This post fits in perfectly today for one of the two Shop Talk Tuesday posts.

Why would a hobby business make the 

perfect home business?

Well, finding people who are interested in starting their own business isn't too hard. After all, who wouldn't like to make money being their own boss? However, one thing many would-be entrepreneurs seem to have in common is an inability to decide exactly what kind of business they should start. Many of them never consider that making a list of their hobbies is the perfect place to begin. Largely because many people can't imagine making money doing something they already enjoy.

However, there are many good reasons why you should consider starting a hobby business.

Why not make money doing something you enjoy?

For many people, the idea of a hobby business just doesnít compute. After all, there are people out there who never had a job they actually enjoyed. To them, work equals boring, and mind-numbing. Being able to make money while doing something they like seems like a pipe dream.

But there are thousands of people out there who will tell you it is possible. Who have successfully started their own hobby business, and who actually have fun while fattening their bank accounts. And, if they can do it, you can too.

Secret Safe Books Studio Feature

Kara from Secret Safe Books' niche product is a series of books with their insides cut-out so that valuables can be hidden within.

What I love about these books is that they are real. Kara is happy to accept custom orders if buyers want a specific book used or a particular shape cut-out from within the book. This customization ensures that the book looks perfectly natural in your home/office. This is important because you can use these Secret Safe Books to hold your passport, money, keys or other valuables. . .and the uniqueness of the book means that it won't easily stand out on a shelf.

Check out Kara in her studio:

Even if custom ordering isn't what you're after, I'm sure you'll find something that you'll like from the extensive collection of books in both the cult classics/pop culture and classics/keepsakes sections. Just take a look at some of the 'pre-made' books Kara has on offer:

Joyous Treasures Studio Feature

A handmade gift is a joy to give and a treasure to keep.

Today, I have the pleasure of introducing you to Johanna, who specializes in crocheted nature-inspired bookmarks. Johanna creates these beautiful pieces and sells them on her Etsy site.

Johanna answered a few of my questions:

Tell us a bit about yourself

I grew up in Illinois. My family moved to middle Tennessee when I was in my preteens, where we began farming. The rest of my years have been spent enjoying nature and family.
My family is large...I have 7 brothers and sisters and wonderful parents!

How did you come up with your Etsy shop name?

I wanted something that reflected one of my most cherished possessions. My joy! And since I consider each of my creations to be a treasure, it seemed only fitting to call my little business Joyous Treasures.

What is your favourite item in your shop and why?

I absolutely love my bookmarks. Right now My favorite bookmarks are the daffodil and lily, though my favorite flowers do change from time to time.

I love my bookmarks because they are so unique. I love to read, and they come in handy. My books always look neat with a flower in them, and they always cheer me up.

Apart from creating beautiful pieces, what else do you do?

I have a variety of passions and hobbies. For some time photography has been a huge passion. I started out with my dad's film camera when I was young, and eventually invested in a nice digital SLR. I've begun adding more and more equipment, and have started doing photography for people locally.

I also enjoy music, I play the piano. I especially enjoy improvising orchestral pieces, and reconstructing them so they fit the piano.

I also enjoy a little bit of jewelry making when I get the time, I love sparkly crystals.

What are you working on at the moment, or what future plans do you have for your shop?

Right now I am working on honing my niche, and adding new and unusual designs.
I am trying to take this one step at a time...once I have determined what products I should be creating (aside from my bookmarks), I would like to focus more on marketing to my target market.

Any other sites you can be found on?

I have a blog, This is where I promote fellow Etsy sellers, and share business advice.

I also write articles for Handmade Spark, a site Timothy Adam created to share advice and business tips with the world. Click here to find me.

And I can also be found on Twitter

Once Upon a Peony Studio Sponsor Feature

Marissa's Once Upon a Peony shop sells romantic, sweet "accessories to brighten your wardrobe and your life." Just check out some of the many items Marissa sells here: 

Want to purchase one of Marissa's lovely creations? Lucky for you, Marissa has offered a special 10% discount for my Being Tazim readers only: use code TAZIM10 at her Etsy store from today (Wednesday) until Sunday! 

Giveaway Sparkling Bliss Pink Flower Earrings

Michelle, who has a shop named Sparkling Bliss, has a great love for jewelry design, which is evident when looking at this week's giveaway item, a pair of pink glass flower earrings:

Pink Glass Flower Earrings

Here is Michelle's description of the item: Vintage inspired and oh so pretty. Designed and quality hand-crafted with loving care by jewelry artist Michelle Hynek. These earrings were created using pretty pink glass lily beads dangling from pretty copper hoops with copper findings. They measure about 2 inches and are finished off with copper French hooks. Comes beautifully packaged in a lovely gift box for immediate gift giving or as as a treat for yourself!