Update on my current Squidoo lens (web pages)

KNITTING CHALLENGE AND PATTERN - 911 Helmet Liners by 9/11/2009This project is developed to challenge others to knit helmet liners for our troops. These liners are knitted from a specific pattern of 100% wool worsted weight yarn and then donated to our troops that are being deployed overseas. Word back from the deployed soldiers in Afghanistan is that the liners are wonderful in both hot and cold conditions since wool wicks moisture away from the skin.

http://www.squidoo.com/knittedhelmetliners

If you have difficulty reading a knitting pattern, this lens is for you. It takes the above pattern and give explanations and illustrations of the techniques needed to create a helmet liner.

http://www.squidoo.com/lensmaster/new_workshop/readingknittingpattern

How about some humor to ‘kick start’ your day. This lens is designed to make you chuckle, giggle, or laugh out loud.

http://www.squidoo.com/AnimalAntics

A personal glimpse into a sturdy country woman of pioneer stock and how that determination helped shape my view of life.

http://www.squidoo.com/Country-Woman

Some ways to save both money and our planet.

http://www.squidoo.com/GreenAndFrugalLiving

Some of my favorite recipes and tips on how to save money while eating healthy food that is quick to fix.

http://www.squidoo.com/frugalcooking

Squidoo is open to anyone so how about sharing what you know about with the rest of us. It is easy and free to sign up. If nothing else, please visit any of my lenses and comment, rate them and let me know what you think.

I hope that if you decide you want to join Squidoo that you will click on my personal referral link below as I receive credit for all referrals.

http://www.squidoo.com/lensmaster/referral/TalesTrailsAndTips2

Living With The Angels Treasury

This treasury was created featuring many of my Mother's favorite things. She loved lilacs, kittens, and dogs. She made awesome jams and jellies and her cookies filled the kitchen with wonderful aromas and a hungry tummy with goodness. Sheep, sheep dogs and farm life suited her as did her love of the outdoors, the ocean and water.

A tribute to her had to include a hand sewn item and the apron was very appropriate - as she made her own aprons and then wore them daily.

Thanks to the kindness of Diane Clancy for capturing this screen shot since my photo program was being difficult and I didn't have the time to make it work.

Treasuries - much like life - come and go but now we can view this one as we wish.

Also, thanks to all who have emailed me, made comments on the treasury and convo'd me with hugs, prayers and love. We all appreciate it as I've been sharing the comments with my family.

Hugs back to all of you, my wonderful Etsy friends.

Kae

Eye-Popping Art Featured

Interview with Christine of EyePopArt

How did you get started with your art or craft?

I was 19 years old and living in a studio apartment in Great Falls, Montana with Chuck (who is now my husband, we have been together for 17 years). Chuck had bought some acrylic paints from the hobby store and painted a cool canvas. Then one day I just started painting on this old hardshell suitcase that I had, and found that it was really fun. It got a great reaction from our friends and from then on I was painting mad psychedelic patterns all over everything in sight, seriously, guitars, tabletops, a pop machine, the interior of our car. There are some pictures on my website at http://www.eyepopart.com.

Anyway one day, after we had moved back home to our native town (Portland - we were just in Montana long enough to live in the mountains for a while and then have a baby!), someone gave us some records and that's when the mandala thing really took off. I painted lots of mandalas when my kids were babies, then I went to work in the corporate world for about five years and tried my hand as a vendor at Portland Saturday Market in 1998.
That didn't last, there was just too much going on. We bought a house and I spent my free time painting murals on walls and ceilings. We've been in our house for ten years now. My house was recently featured on "Look What I Did" on HGTV.

So one day I found myself laid off from my big career as a commercial salesperson in the printing industry, and I decided to turn to Trillium Artisans, a local nonprofit, for help in starting up a business and selling my artwork.
Trillium works with low income artisans who use recycled and reclaimed materials in their work. Amazingly enough, I am now employed part time as the Program Coordinator for the organization. I sell my Mandala Record products through Trillium and also help to run the program, which serves a very cool group of about 26 (and growing!) artisans here in Portland, Oregon. Check us out at http://www.trilliumartisans.org.

What do you find the most satisfying about your creations?

I really enjoy the beauty of the finished product, and I am always eager to finish up a piece so I can simply look at it and love it. Mandalas are just so beautiful, no matter who makes them. I have done some wonderful projects with elementary and middle school kids, and I get the same excited feeling of just loving the design and wanting to see the finished product.

Of course, the process itself is very satisfying too, especially with mandalas because they are so powerful and are used throughout the world for centering, healing, and meditating. I enjoy the process equally when I am the one designing and painting a mandala and when the work is being done by kids under my advice. It's just fun to watch it all come together. There's something about the circle that truly satisfies the soul!

What do you find the most difficult about selling your items?

At shows, it can get really tedious to receive a lot of compliments from people who do not buy. It gets hard to keep smiling and thanking people for their kind words after several hours of no sales. This used to happen to me a lot and was one of the main reasons why I quit doing Saturday Market (both in the '98 season and when I went for it the second time around, between 2004-06). That was before I started making my record cuffs! Since I came up with a wearable product, I've done much better.

The hardest thing about selling on Etsy is just keeping up - with everything. There's so much going on and it's really hard to stay on top of it without feeling like I am getting sucked into my computer and never have time to make stuff!

How about sharing one time-saving or eco-friendly tip with the readers?

Time saving tip: use a planner. Set aside time once a week or even once a day for planning. It helps me stay organized.

Eco-friendly tip: use recycled boxes and packaging materials!

Tell us a little about your personal life â?" married, children, pets, hobbies other than your art, favorite food, place, activity â?" whatever you want to share.

I'm married to my soul mate and best friend, Charles Claringbold aka Chuck Thrust. He's that tall, weird guy with pink socks and dangly earrings and a tribal tattoo (an original Eye Pop design!) around his neck. I am also a doo-wop singer in his band, Dartgun, a loud, rocking indie punk group that performs at Portland rock clubs once or twice a month. Check us out at http://www.myspace.com/dartgun.

Two kids, Tangereen Velveteen, age 13, and Julius Elvis Chaos, age 11. Tangereen is a mad scientist and math whiz, and a beautiful, creative sweetheart. Julius is a flute player, squirrel lover, and comic book artist. Check out his shop at http://www.cafepress.com/juliuschaos.

My other big loves are READING, camping, and playing chess (I'm not very good, but I love it). I also enjoy blogging and you can check out my blog at http://eyepopart.blogspot.com.

Share a favorite quote or thought with us.

Kurt Vonnegut said, "A plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit."

Thanks!
Christine

FEATURED ETSY SELLER MT Designs 4 u

This is the first (of I hope many) interviews featuring other Etsy Bloggers in my blog. I plan to ask the same interview questions of each person featured so there will be some continuity in the features. I learned of Mary Lou because of her article on her closet workroom she wrote for her blog. After you've read this interview, be sure to go to her blog and see the awesome workroom she has created out of a closet.

How did you get started with your art or craft?

I have my "nana" to thank as I spent a lot of time in her care as a young child. Being from Portugal, it was instilled in her that girls were to learn from early childhood how to create beautiful items, heirlooms one might say.
Whether it be tatting lace, crocheting doilies or sewing clothing. I was blessed she took the time to teach me and share her talents throughout my growing years.

This picture shows how I feel about my art "As it has taken layers and layers (years and years) into evolving who I am today."

What do you find the most satisfying about your creations?

I find what is most satisfying is the joy I feel when I have decided to let my art come naturally: To create using my own visions, my own ideas and with my own two hands. Of course what we see, read and learn from others all make up what our own visions become, and to be able to express that in some form of art is most satisfying to say the least.

What do you find the most difficult about selling your items?

I get a little melancholy about some of my pieces. The process of going from stage one to final completion has enveloped many ideas, thoughts and memories. After all, that is how my art takes shape. I begin with an idea of what I'd like to create... the thought process starts.... and often pieces have a tucked in memory I might have thought about when creating the piece. So.....sometimes selling my artwork gives me a little tug at my heart strings.

How about sharing one time-saving or eco-friendly tip with the readers?


OK, this tip consists of both time-saving as well as being eco-friendly.
I like to keep 2 baskets close to my work space to catch my discarded fibers, papers and threads.
One basket consists of the small pieces that really can't lend themselves to another project due to their miniscule size. Once this basket is filled, I have a great assortment to make hand-made paper. With all the beautiful threads and fibers in there who needs to add more inclusions?

The second basket is for pieces that are being cut from the main project. These pieces are usually several inches or better. Since I create all the backgrounds I use these pieces lend themselves for future projects like ATC's, collage and even greeting cards.

Tell us a little about your personal life - married, children, pets, hobbies other than your art, favorite food, place, activities - whatever you want to share.

I've been married to the most loving, caring and tolerant man for the last 26 years. We have 2 beautiful daughters.... one of which is profoundly deaf. We use American Sign Language to communicate. I am proudly owned by a 15 year old, blind, toothless and selectively deaf 3 lb. Yorkshire terrier named Chaz.

When I'm not creating art you can find me at my full time job as a medical secretary. I enjoy cooking and my favorite foods are lobster, lobster, and did I mention lobster? I enjoy pretending to be watching a movie. (OK, you caught me.... it's really my way of taking a nap).

Share a favorite quote or thought with us.

My thought for you today is just this: ASPIRE TO BE

Any final thoughts you want to share.

Be who you want to be, create what you want to create. In the process of both, do it to the best of your ability!
Enjoy the process, have fun with it......

Thank you for taking the time to participate in this Etsy Bloggers interview.

Thank you, I am honored that you asked me...... I am worthy!

Mary Lou - mtdesigns4u

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HANDMADE ART FOR SALE: http://www.mtdesigns4u.etsy.com/

WHY HANDMADE? You are purchasing higher quality products, made with love and care by the artisan.

BLOG: http://www.mtdesigns4u.wordpress.com

"Art is neither a profession nor a hobby. Art is a way of being."
Frederick Franck