Interview with Glen's Workshop

1. Glen, can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got started making handcrafted pens?

 I have been a woodworker for many years having done much DIY work around my homes and handmade items for family members including cradles and high chairs for grandchildren, end grain cutting boards and other small household and kitchen items. In 2005 I purchased a handmade pen from a campground host in North Dakota which became my inspiration to become a pen turner. While preferring wood, I also make pens in acrylics and other materials. As a lover of wood my preference is for natural finishes but I will also be offering the more durable and high gloss finishes commonly found today.



My handmade pens and other wood crafts are a continuing development of my being inspired by a handmade pen purchased from a retired Navy member while camping several years ago. I was moved to try making pens and offering them for others to enjoy.

A number of my Army brothers and sisters supported my efforts by purchasing nearly 100 pens during the final year of my retiree recall tour at Ft. Knox, KY. This permitted the learning of new skills and exploration of new products and techniques.





2. Do you believe it was the craftsmanship of the first pen you purchased that caused you to want to learn? Or Where you drawn to learning because the person you purchased it was Retired Military?

It seemed like a route into turning that could be learned readily and I really like the walnut burl wood in that pen.




3.Can you run us through a basic on how you create a pen?

Select material (blank) and components (hardware). For some pens I create the pen through segmenting.
Size the blank to the components for length then drill through the center of the blank for the brass tube to be installed.
Drill the blank piece(s) for the tube.
Glue in the tube to the blank piece(s)
Square the ends of the blank to the brass tube.
Turn the blank to fit the component set getting to final dimensions via sanding.
Finish sand and apply the finish. I use either a hard water and oil based finish or a shellac based friction finish on wood blanks.
Synthetic blanks (acrylic, poly resin, tru stones, other) are wet sanded to a high gloss and then may be polished with a plastic polish.
Assemble the finished blank and the component pieces in to the final pen being careful to achieve correct alignment of blank grain or pattern.





4. Do you find making pen's enjoyable?

Yes; it's usually rewarding but sometimes frustrating.

5. Anything else you would like to share?
Not sure how to approach this.


6. Any words of wisdom for someone that might want to start crafting?

If you have a passion for creating something, just do it!

Where to Find Glen's Workshop:

Etsy Store                                                         Facebook   

Pinterest          





If you would like to become the next featured artist please contact us by e-mailing us at: ashleychapmandesigns@aol.com Subject Line: Featured Artist

Interview with Ashley Chapman Designs

I would typically not be up for this but, I thought it a great way to let you all know about me, who I am, and what I do. Rather than an about page that really does not say it all. 

Me un-edited.

My name is Ashley Chapman. I am 26 years old, I have been married for 7 years at the end of this month. My husband and I live in a very small town in Southeast Missouri. We have 3 small dogs, Colby whom we have had for 8 years, Max the same, and Princess about 5 years. We also adopted a kitten, Melody,from outside a few months ago after her mom ran off. I grew up with very successful family members, my grandmother who ran her own Beauty Shop for 30+ years, and a Stepfather than ran a Landscaping Business for about the same. My family is my first priority and love of my life. Next is my babies (Colby, Max, Princess, and Melody). My business, Ashley Chapman Designs is my next love. 

I first started the business back last year right at the end of Spring, because I was going to college and I have a family concern of working away from home. My husband whom is nearly 30 years old suffers from Severe Epilepsy, which he has had since he was a teenager. 

Short story about why I chose to start my own business verses working for someone.

With my husband's disability, unable to control his seizures, and no one at home to make sure he does not have a seizure, fall down, hit his head, etc. The stress of working away from home was more than I could handle. If you have ever known someone with this type of disability you can understand my reservations of working away from home even for a short while. After seeing a specialist and learning my husband's seizures were not just the reason for the daily problems, I was faced with the hard fact that I had to find an alternative that would work for us as a family. I love my husband dearly and at that time could not hire someone to stay with him and I did not feel it was someone else's place to take care of my husband. 

I had experience in crocheting & sewing so when I ran across the Etsy site it was really a blessing one night. I was about to loose hope of ever finding a way to help us survive on a monthly basis until his disability goes through. Etsy provided me the hope of a better tomorrow. I had some items I had crocheted, and some I had sewn from a few years back as I had been sewing and crocheting since I was 12 years old. I decided to list them, and start adding to my collection. 

Roughly, a month into owning my first store on Etsy I realized that having a website would go further. I contacted many web developers just to find that their prices were way into the thousands, and in my words a down payment to a vehicle. I knew if I ever wanted a website I would need to learn how to create a website on my own. Now at this point and time you have to understand Summers are very rough on us because with the heat and humidity my husband has many more uncontrolled seizures. With running on little to no sleep I got online to search for ways to learn how to code a website. I ran into a academy that teaches you how to code every aspect, even though it was a foreign language to me at first. I poured every night into it as my husband slept right behind me, and within a week I had my first attempt at a website finished. 

From there I redid my own website many times for the first few months, and realized I could easily do this for someone else that may not be able to afford something expensive. I sat down and figured out some prices I was satisfied with and immediately started promoting it. Within a few days I had my first contact. I was thrilled. 

From there I have branched out from web design, to now blog design, print design, graphics, clip art (coming soon!) and I also still offer my handmade collection. 



Now I work directly with small business owners, Etsy Shop Owners, Companies, Bloggers, and Individuals looking to make their business grow into something successful and to give them something to be proud of. 

Specialize Area: Web Design, HTML, CSS, Javascript, Blog Design, Twitter/Tumblr Backgrounds, Banners, Avatars,  Print Design, Business Cards, Brochures, Flyers, Posters, handmade apparel and home decor, as well as much more. 

I offer custom designs, custom prices to fit nearly everyone's budget, and great resources to help you get further in your business career. 




My goal has been to not only have a career I could be proud of, a way to support my family, care for my husband as he needs, provide clients with unbelievable custom service, offer businesses needs at more affordable prices for small business owners/ Etsy Shop owners, and to work from home.


Please feel free to ask questions, comment, etc. I wanted this to be a way for you to be able to get to know me better today.




I would like to thank everyone that has not only participated as a Featured Artist, been an wonderful Client, but also whom have just stopped in. I really love hearing from all of you, and I would love this opportunity to help you with your business.





Become a Featured Artist by e-mailing me at: ashleychapmandesigns@aol.com Subject Line, Chapman Design Addiction Featured Artist.
                       

                               

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Featured Artist Little foots Lullabies

   Little foots Lullabies

1. Rachel, could you tell us a little about yourself and your store?

I am a full time law student, recently married, have a part time job, and I use crocheting as a way to relax at the end of my day.  

My store came about not only because all the items I was making kept piling up in my spare room, but also because I wanted to have an excuse to go shopping for yarn. I have a huge stockpile of yarn, but always seem to find a reason to buy more of it. My store allows me an excuse to make new items and buy more yarn. I love it.

2. What made you decide to open a store with crocheted kids items?

I have a rather large extended family, and my older cousins started having babies around the time I was learning to crochet, so a lot of the items I started making when I was younger involved smaller items for babies. In the long run, these items are also quicker to make which allows the turnaround time in my shop to be shorter than if I was making full-sized items. The other reason was that kids items are always so much more fun. 

                         

3. Have you always crocheted?

I've been crocheting since elementary school. I tried to learn how to knit a few times, but for some reason adding a second hook makes it impossible for me to figure out what I'm doing. So crochet is the only way for me!

4. Do you find it easier to crochet “free style” or by pattern?

Honestly, it depends on what I'm in the mood for. Sometimes, I need to have a pattern so that I can get a basic idea down. From there, once I've mastered a pattern, or I have a general idea of a new stitch, I will free style from there. At this point, I have certain patterns memorized (beanie bases, lovey bases, etc) and from there, the fun part is free styling a design or whatever to go with it.

Blankets only offered on Facebook Page

5. Do you remember the first item you crocheted? (funny story, something to share)

I'm pretty sure I spent at least a year stuck on learning how to add stitches on top of a chain (foundation row). So I ended up making a ton of single row chains and calling them different things… My mom had a lot of headbands, bracelets, and necklaces that I made for her during this phase. Eventually I was able to get past this, but it took a while.

6. What inspires you the most with each piece you choose to crochet?

It really depends for each piece. For the TMNT beanies I make, I got the idea from my husband wearing a TMNT shirt around the house. Other times it is because I find a really pretty yarn at the store that I must buy and then I create something based on the colors. Sometimes it's because I'm feeling festive or particularly seasonal. And then there's sometimes where I have no idea where the inspiration comes from, I just end up making something.

Blankets Only Offered on Facebook Page

Any advice for those starting out with crocheting or a business?

For those starting out with crocheting, don't get frustrated and give up too soon. Sometimes it comes naturally to people, other people hit a speed bump they can't get over right away. Stick with it, you could surprise yourself. If you had told me that I would have my own online crochet store 15 years ago, I would have said you were insane because all I made were "headbands" and "bracelets."

Where to find Little Foots Lullabies:

Facebook Etsy

You could be the next featured artist on this blog. All

you have to do is e-mail us at 

ashleychapmandesigns@aol.com

Let us know what your talent is and we will get you 

featured as soon as possible.

Be sure to Follow this blog for regular updates and more 

artists.

                                         

                                    

Featured Artist of the Day: Aussen Wolf Designs

1: Judy, would you tell us a little about yourself and what it is that you do?

I am a jewelry designer who lives in the beautiful San Jacinto Mountains in southern California along with my husband, daughter, and 3 unruly dogs.

2. How did you start making jewelry?

I started making jewelry 11 years ago, although my early efforts were pieces for my family and friends.  But the minute I started creating jewelry I knew I was hooked.  It is an incredibly wonderful medium for self expression.  After moving to Idyllwild I found a great little local bead store and joined in on some of the classes offered to learn new methods and advance my skills.  The owner of the shop saw my own personal designs and invited me to sell my jewelry in her store.  And that is how AussenWolf Designs was actually born.  Our local bead store closed during the recent recession and I started doing local craft and art shows.  Four years ago I branched out once again and opened my first online store through ArtFire.

3. Have you always wanted to be a jewelry designer?

No, not really.  But I have always been fascinated by jewelry and gemstones and have always wanted to create items of beauty.

                   

4. Where you creative when you were a child?

Yes, as all children are.  Arts and crafts at school was one of my favorite times.  When I was about 6 years old my aunt taught me how to crochet and knit and I still enjoy those crafts to this day.  On the other hand, I was always a bit intimidated when it came to drawing or painting.  Both my father and his mother were exceptional in those mediums.  I can remember as a small child thinking that I could not draw any where near as well as Daddy so I just was not going to try--despite all the encouragement he gave me.  In fact, I made him draw a "report cover" for every single project I did in elementary school.  Don't worry, I gave him full credit for the artwork (not that I could have fooled anyone) and my teachers loved it.   Now that I am grown I realize that it would have taken a rare talent at the age of 6 or 7 to be as skilled as he was!  And I still can't draw!  But I found my own avenue of expression with jewelry.

                    

5. What is your favorite piece of jewelry that you have created?

That is difficult--if not impossible--to decide.  I am fond of my wire wolf pendants, perhaps because the prototype required some drawing effort.  But usually my most favorite piece is whatever I have just accomplished or anything that requires a new skill.  I have been blessed to have taken classes with well known artists in the jewelry field such as Sharilyn Miller and Dale Armstrong.  Those teachers still influence a great deal of my works.  There is something deeply satisfying in taking a piece of wire and wrapping it, twisting it, and molding it into a work of art.

6. What do you find most challenging when making jewelry?

Settling down to one design!  Whenever I start a project so many design possibilities jump into my mind and I want to incorporate all of them.  But when designing a piece it is necessary to keep an overall flow, rhythm, and balance in the forefront.  The second, and I admit this with chagrin, is cleaning up my work space!  With so many design possibilities running through my mind as soon as one piece is finished I often start a second project, and then a third, and then.....Well, you get the idea.  Soon my work space is littered with beads, wire, and findings from so many projects that it looks a bit like a bomb went off in my studio. 

                                                                                                                           

7. What do you find most rewarding with making jewelry? 

One of the reasons I love doing art shows is the immediate interaction with customers or potential customers.  When someone steps into my booth at a show, spies a particular piece or set, and offers a heartfelt compliment I am thrilled.  Creating a piece of art, whether it is a sculpture, quilt, shawl, or necklace and knowing that you have done well is a great feeling.  Connecting with another person through that art is exhilarating!

8. Any interesting story come to mind about your first few creations?

I was primarily self-taught in the beginning and can remember being so proud that I had finished this wonderful necklace with gemstones and sterling silver and how great it looked.  Just about then my husband got home from work.  I was so excited to share my newest creation with him that I grabbed it up off the table and held it up for his inspection!  And instantly there was this shower of gemstones bouncing off the table.  I had completely forgotten to finish the crimp on one end and beads were flying everywhere.  Thank heavens he did not laugh--well, at least not until I got over my shock and started laughing myself.  And, gentleman that he is, he got down on his hands and knees and helped me collect every single bead.

                    

9. Any advice you would like to give to people thinking of starting their own jewelry business?

It is always good to explore new techniques even if you find that they are not your favorites.  And, you will have well meaning friends and family that will tell you what's "hot" and what styles you should make.  And they may have great ideas and insights that resonate with your artistic inclinations, but always follow your own vision and passion.  It will show in your designs.

10. Anything else you want to share.

I hope everyone reading this--whether they make jewelry, knit, craft greeting cards or anything else--will take the time to enjoy their craft and to pass it on to the next generation.  In this era of high tech gadgets and our mass produced "everything" world a hand crafted work of art is unique and special and a joy to the receiver.  Sharing your passion is sharing a bit of yourself.

Where to find Aussen Wolf Designs Outside of this Post:

Website                Facebook              Twitter        Pinterest

Would you like to be the next featured artist??? If so E-mail me at: ashleychapmandesigns@aol.com (Subject Line: Design Addiction Featured Artist Spot)

Featured Artist Jen's Tangle Threads

1. Jen, can you tell us a little about yourself and what you do?

I'm a single mom, a dance mom, and a crafter. I'm a paralegal in my day job. I'm also the booster club president and class mom for one of my son's dance lines.

I crochet and this year I've learned how to rhinestone and knit. I also cross-stitch on the side.

I went to college, then joined the Army to earn money for law school. I ended up getting married, had a wonderful little boy, and divorced. I moved back to Minnesota and I live in a small apartment with not enough storage space.  

2. How did you get started crocheting?

When I moved back to MN, I lived with my mom while I saved enough money to get an apartment. My mom is one of the most crafty women I've ever met. She sews, she cross-stitches, is a wiz with a grommet gun and hot glue gun. So, when she is home from work, she crafts while watching tv.

I've never been able to sit still and watch tv. I guess I have a little ADD and OCD. I learned how to cross stitch at a very young age, but I wanted to do more. I wanted to make my own patterns, but I am not an artist by any means.

I read a lot. One of my favorite series is The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. The women in this series wear elaborately embroidered shawls. I wanted one. But, I don't sew and I don't know the first thing about embroidery. My mom sews, but just short of having her read the books, she will never understand what I want. I figured the only way I would get what I wanted was to make a lace shawl. So I taught myself to crochet.

I jumped right in. I didn't start with a scarf or a washcloth. I practiced the basics, then learned how to make lace. And I've never looked back. I constantly challenge myself with new patterns. I have my favorites, and more patterns in my library than I could ever try. 

3. What made you decide to start a store on Etsy?

Back when I was making my lace shawls, I made them for friends on a fan site. I was the only one making the shawls like this. I searched for websites and found Etsy. Now, I didn't sell any of my shawls on Etsy - they only appealed to a specific clientele and they weren't going to pay $200 for a shawl. Hey, it took me the better part of 2 months to make one. So, I left Etsy for awhile until I had my great idea. 

As I said, my son is a dancer. He is in his 5th year competing. One thing I've noticed is that the girls will walk around these competition venues in half ballet shoes or bare feet. Which makes me cringe. So, I decided I was going to make a pair of slippers for the girls on my son's dance line to wear. Thus, the Flip-Fur was born. It is a fun slipper, furry and girlie, and completely customizable. One of the moms suggested I sell them online, so in April 2012, I re-opened my shop on Etsy.

4. What do you find most difficult with crocheting?

Going through a pattern for the first time is hard. But probably the most difficult part of crocheting is that I can't do it fast enough!  And it hurts my hands. I have fibromyalgia and mild arthritis. I crochet very tightly, so when I make lace, I have to wear a bandaid on my wrap finger to prevent yarn burn. I have spent weekends where I crochet for over 12 hours a day, and I pay for it. After 8 hours of typing at work, I usually spend at least 3 hours crocheting at night.

5. What part of crocheting makes it worth it to you? (i.e relaxing, fun, enjoyable, all, etc.)

I love crocheting. I love taking a pattern and making it my own. One of my next endeavors is to learn how to write doily patterns. 

Crocheting not only relaxes my eyes after staring at a computer screen (except for when I'm making lace), helps me burn more calories while watching tv, but it is also a stress reliever. I am a perfectionist, so when I make a mistake, I will rip out my project no matter how far into it I am until I find the mistake. This usually happens when I make lace. And, usually, I end up with a knot of thread or yarn. So then I will spend hours untangling that knot. 

I know, it is a bit backwards, but it works for me.

6. What is your favorite piece you have created?

That's easy. I love this shawl. This is one of those lace shawls I was talking about. I designed it myself based on a flag in The Wheel of Time. 

7. Do you have any advice for newbie crocheters out there?

I don't know how good of advice I can give. I went about learning how to crochet completely backwards. I found what I wanted to make, then learned the stitches I needed in order to make it. 

But, I would say practice, practice, practice the basic stitches. Invest in good crochet hooks. Start by making something useful and small. Finishing a project is a wonderful high.

Find Jen's Tangled Threads Outside of this Post: 

Etsy               Facebook                   Twitter           Blog

Interested in Becoming a Featured Artist? E-mail us at: ashleychapmandesigns@aol.com (Subject Line: Featured Artist Spot- Chapman Design Addiction)

Your Feature Could be next!

Paper Pastiche- Featured Artist

Paper Pastiche's Featured Artist of the Day.

1. Would you tell us a little about who you are & what you do, Angelene?

I just closed my shabby chic/vintage brick and mortar store which I have had in one guise or another for 20 years or so. The economy in my little town in the foothills of California has not recovered and I am in the mood for 'retirement' - from retail at least. I hope to continue to do the occasional fair or art show and work on my etsy shops. I have two shops on etsy - my paper goods shop and a vintage shop: www.etsy.com/shop/TrulyMadlyVintage?ref=si_shop.

Has crafting always been a hobby for you? 

What made you decide to open your own business?
4. Have you always been talented and creative?

I have always made a living from my craft work. I owned and operated three florist shops, a book store/folk art shop, and a series of shabby chic/vintage stores where I also sold my jewelry, paper goods, and vintage revamp creations. I don't seem capable of working in the corporate world (managed to work for the phone company for three days) so I have always created my own employment.

5. Anything else you can think of sharing.

My current passionate affair with paper, scissors, inks, and glue is one that I am returning to after a hiatus of decades (yes, I AM that old). I dabbled in collage before, but after discovering, a couple of years ago, all the incredible new products on the market for paper crafting, I haven't been able to stop. I have always collected old books and ephemera, now I actually have an excuse!! I call my style 'girlie grunge'. For now anyway. I enjoy layers - peeled away and distressed - of color, of texture, of images. Like the chipped paint on shabby furniture. I do not like the cookie-cutter, assembly line look that many of the new die cutting techniques yield. The edge of torn paper is so much more interesting. I have only touched the tip of this creative iceberg and I can feel it rumbling inside me waiting to surface - bit by bit. I'm very excited.

Do you have any advice for others starting out?

Do what you love. Do it as well as you can. Embrace change. Don't be afraid of failure (still working on this one myself). Set goals. And with all these things in mind - experiment and find your own artistic voice.

Where to find Paper Pastiche outside of Blogger:

Etsy Store- Paper Pastiche                     

Etsy Store- TrulyMadlyVintage

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