Friday Features! (On Tuesday!)

Hi everyone! Getting back on track with my blog! Found a couple of people I needed to still feature and wanna get a head start and get them featured! Will hopefully have another Friday Feature actually on Friday of this week! Im also changing up the style of my features hopefully it will make them a little easier to read and follow along with! Please feel free to share your comments, now there is no need to enter a word verification to leave a comment!

First up is Authentic Arts by Jenny Hoople! This shop is full of natural jewlery and is quite cute and wearable!

1. Tell me a little about you and your shop.

My name is Jenny Hoople and my business is Authentic Arts. I make glamorous, colorful, natural jewelry. I choose knotted silk because I like its history, it's more romantic! I choose "natural" materials (stone, bone, wood, shell, silk) because even when altered by human hands and arranged and strung by them, the beauty of the processes that formed them breaks through and dazzles me.

2. How did you get started in your craft?

A few years ago I had grown some grey job's tears seeds in my garden and I couldn't decide how I wanted to make a necklace with them. I was waiting for my mom in a craft store when inspiration struck. I brought home a few beads that would match the grey job's tears and once I got started I couldn't stop creating! A lot of things were coming together in my life, bringing me to this, so I jumped on it and started selling them.

3. How did you come up with your shop name?

I call my business Authentic Arts because my life ethic is one of authenticity, a more authentic life is a more meaningful one, and, for me, an authentic life is one that's handmade. I like that my business name could apply to oil paintings as much as to jewelry or to knit hats, it leaves me free to explore!

4. How long have you been doing your craft?

Just 6 months!

5. Where else can we find you? (blog, facebook, twitter, etc.)

On my website, twitter, facebook, myspace, my blog, tumblr, and indiepublic.

6. Anything else you would like to tell us or include?

It's so fulfilling to finally be using my creative side (B.A. in fine arts, millions of crafty hobbies) as a part of my livelihood. I really feel that my inner self is a craftsperson first and foremost!

Second up is Buddha Kitty Glass! A shop that has beautiful fused glass products! A must see for any glass lover.

1. Could you give me a little background information about you and your shop. 2. How did you get started in your craft? 4. How long have you been doing your craft?  These questions were combined to make for a better more chohesive answer.

My love of glass goes back many years. During a college trip to Europe, I became fascinated with the stained glass in the cathedrals. Upon returning home, I took my first class in glasswork and learned how to make stained glass windows. This served as a wonderful introduction to the world of glass art. From there I began to learn glass bead making and became intrigued by the amazing transformation that takes place in glass once heat is applied. These glass beads became parts of handmade jewelry that I gave to friends and occasionally sold at small craft fairs. A cross-country move and new neighbors served as my introduction to fused glass. My new neighbors commented on a glass bead necklace I had made which turned into a discussion about kiln formed glass. My neighbor’s mother taught fused glass. We talked about my fascination with glass she suggested I try one of her mother’s classes. I signed up for her class and was immediately captivated by kiln formed glass. Shortly after the class, I purchased my first small kiln and began perfecting the art of fused glass in my basement. After several years, I decided to relocate back to the Pacific Northwest. The Seattle area is renowned for its glass art and is a wonderful location to continue to pursue fused glass.

3. How did you come up with your shop name?

I had a cat many years ago who would sit with me while I made stained glass windows. He was fascinated by the glass and the way the light reflected on it. Also, this cat was quite large. He would sit up next to me with his back legs straight out and his front paws to the sides. His large belly would spill over to the sides and this reminded me of the laughing Buddha pose. When I started my shop, I wanted to honor my now deceased kitty who hung out with me on my first glass projects.

5. Where else can we find you? (blog, facebook, twitter, etc.)

Facebook, Blog, Flickr, Shop

6. Anything else you would like to tell us or include?

Most people do not allow themselves to do more than look at glass art, perceiving glass only to be something fragile that must be admired from afar. To me, glass should not be just a flat object experienced only with the eyes--glass is beautiful both seen and touched. For this reason, I endeavor to take fused glass from a two-dimensional object to a three-dimensional experience. To achieve this, I add glass dots, which are tack fused onto the glass base, adding both dimension and texture. My glass dots come from pattern bars that I have built, fired, cut into pieces on a tile saw, and re-fired into dots, creating tactile embellishments for my fused glass pieces

I hope you enjoy learning about each of these wonderful shops! Such great and unique products and of course all handmade! Please take a moment to check out these shops and if you like what you see it will only take a moment to comment and let the shop owner here what you think!