Artfire Shop: CreativeCritters.artfire.com
Facebook: facebook.com/CreativeCritters
What do you do? I sculpt in polymer clay- fantasy characters and scenes, miniature houses, pen sculptures, animals, whimsical characters, and jewelry. I sew plush World of Warcraft characters as well as cloth dolls for children or collectors. I also knit stuffed animals using my own patterns. I'm always trying new things though, so you never know what you might find in my shop!
What made you start selling your creations? A combination of running out of room to display everything and my friends and family insisting my work was good enough to sell. Making extra money didn't hurt either.
What is your most likely distraction? LIFE! Actually, I live with and care for my 93 year old grandmother, who can be somewhat demanding at times (usually when I'm right in the middle of working). Left alone, I can work for hours on end on a project. These days I just don't have that option, so I do what I can when I can.
We all have projects that fail, or don’t come out as planned, tell us about one of yours. Early in my sculpting career I was attempting to make a female elf warrior. It was my first try at using a wire armature. I only wanted the sculpture to be a maximum of about 8" tall, but I measured the armature wrong and by the time I had most of the head and body sculpted she was about 18" tall, and I'd run out of clay. I never did finish her, but I still have her in storage. I never throw anything out!
What is your favorite artistic or crafty website? ARTFIRE! I get tons of inspiration from all the great artists there. Plus I can buy my supplies there. My Polymer Clay Smooshers Guild is also a wonderful site for inspiration, friendship, and artistic challenge. ByHand.me is another great artistic site. Those are probably my top 3, but I'm drawn to anything artistic or creative, so I regularly find new sites.
What is your favorite quote or words of inspiration? "Just do it!" As I sat there wondering whether or not I should join ArtFire, that quote came to mind. It was the best artistic move I've ever made. I've followed that advice many times in my life. Everything from pushing harder during my workout, to moving in with my Gramma to take care of her. Not that I don't think things through, just that sometimes it comes down to simply doing what needs to be done.
What advice would give to someone wanting to start selling their creations online? First, promotion is very important. You have to get yourself and your work out where people can see it. The internet can be a wonderful tool for promotion. And don't be afraid to learn from others. The things I've learned from my fellow ArtFire artists since Febuary could fill a book. I'm also always trying to learn new artistic techniques and improve my skills. Guilds can be wonderful places to learn, promote, and make friends with similar interests. I adore my Polymer Clay Guild, and have gotten tons of exposure simply by being active within the guild.
What song gets you going? I've loved Guns 'N Roses "Welcome To the Jungle" since it came out. It reminds me of my wild teenage years.
What’s your favorite blog? I don't think I can pick just one!
If money were no object, what would you be doing right now? Living in a big farmhouse on a lake, with lots of animals, and my own (big) craft room. I'd be able to make all the things I've always imagined making, but couldn't afford the supplies.
3 words that best describe you are: Creative, empathetic, active
1 comment:
Cool creations! I'd love to try sculpting or pottery at some point :)
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