Introducing Amy McCarthy of AmyOrangeJuice

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Next up: Amy McCarthy of AmyOrangeJuice

How long have you been an artist, and how long have you been active as a business artist?
I have always been creative and studied art at college and university. I intended to become an art therapist after I finished university, but life took me on a different path and I was a mental health worker in London for a long time. I started a stained glass course in 2003 as a hobby and was soon addicted! I set up in business 3 years ago and I have never looked back. My work is very varied; from small gift items made with recycled and waste glass (which I sell on Etsy and Folksy) to large stained glass window commissions and public sculptures. My work is shown in galleries around the UK and I love being able to be an artist for a living, its like living in a lovely dream!

Are you an artist full time?
As full time as I can be with a 5 year old and a 3 year old! (lots of late nights and weekends make my hours up to at least that of a full time job)

Who or what inspires you to create?
I live in Devon, which is a stunning part of the UK with the high tors of the moors turning into rolling countryside which leads to the sea and wonderful beaches on 3 sides of the county; so inspiration is all around me in the natural world and the vast majority of my work reflects nature in someway; from landscapes to flowers to insects (and everything in between). My creative friends and children also give me a wealth of ideas and I am a bit obsessed with Art Deco.

Describe your work space.
My lovely dad built me a studio on the side of our house and it is 2m wide and 6m long with a clear plastic roof to maximise light and electrics and running water. This is essential to my work as I cannot work with lead, glass and chemicals in the house and being in my garden makes me able to work flexibly around my children. The walls are lined with jars of recycled glass and I have a purpose built rack so I can flick through my sheet glass stock. I have a light box for glass painting and I have to keep the space as clean and tidy as possible as I work with sharp, hot and poisonous materials The kiln is in the garage, so no hope of getting a car in there!

What kinds of things do you like to do in your free time?
Spending time with my family and friends is my most favourite pass time, we love messing about at the seaside and walking in the forests and moors a short drive away. When I get the chance I love to knit and embroider, but sadly there is not much time for that. I swim 3 times a week as working from home can be a sedentary life and I find this a great time to work though creative blocks and ideas.

What is your favorite handmade item, made by you or given to you?
Cheesy as it sounds the creations of my children are some of my most prized possessions an abstract expressionist piece by my eldest daughter and a jelly fish and 2 fish made from paper plates and tissue paper are my favourite of their art works presently and are framed and displayed in our home along side paintings, prints and photographs by fellow artists.

What does being an Amy to you?
I have always liked my name, its short and sweet and as I am dyslexic I have always appreciated this! I am Amy McCarthy and if you google that you find I share my name with a very famous porn star; which must have shocked several people looking for my artwork over the years!


www.amyorangejuice.co.uk
amyorangejuice.wordpress.com
www.facebook.com/amyorangejuice
www.twitter.com/amyorangejuice

Introducing Amy Barber of EllaSueDesigns

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Next up: Amy Barber of EllaSueDesigns

How long have you been an artist, and how long have you been active as a business artist?

I have crafted since I was in the 5th grade when I taught myself how to cross stitch. I scrapbook, embordary, and sew. I started working with yarn about 4 years ago. My husband and I were trying to get pregant and the medication made me very sick. I needed something to take my mind off things I could do sitting on the couch. I got a Boye, Teach Yourself to Crochet Kit and the rest is history. Now I am addicted to yarn. I have since taught myself to knit. It has only been a business for me since the Spring of 2011. I started doing custom orders, then decided to go on etsy.

Are you an artist full time?

I am a wife and mother full time. In between doing that, I do my craft. Sometimes I forget and put it first; my husband helps remind me, lol.

Who or what inspires you to create?

My daughter, I make a great deal for her, hats, legwarmers, sweaters. She gets so excited when I make something new. I make a lot of my own designs so they fit her better. I also like to look at magazines and Pinterest and see what others are doing.

Describe your work space.

I have a craft room, but my husband says I have a craft house. I have a place it is suppose to go, but I like being with my family, so it usually ends up in the living room or our bedroom. I am very messy. I know where most things are, but I like to work and not be bothered by the clean up until a project is done. The problem is I have so many on going projects.

What kinds of things do you like to do in your free time?

I crochet and knit. I know that is my "work" but I love it. I do not go anywhere without yarn. My three-year-old daughter always ask if I have my yarn purse when we go out the door. I also like to watch old movies and read.

What is your favorite handmade item, made by you or given to you?

I have two crocheted blankets my grandmother made me when I was born. We used them when our daughter was born. I love the heritage of that.

What does being an Amy mean to you?

I always liked being an Amy. It was a popular name when I was in school, but I liked that it was simple and down to earth.

I live in the country, am learning to embrace my life as a stay at home mom. I was a professional for half of my life until this summer, but I like the simple life of making my own dish soap and cooking eggs from our chickens. Having my art and creativity has helped my make the transition this year. I am able to find purpose in simple things, even a string of yarn my daughter uses as a "rope" for her Barbies.

twitter: drabarber

facebook: ella sue's flowers

etsy: ellasuedesigns

email: aparmenterbarber@gmail.com

Please contact me. I would love to have everyone join me on facebook.

Introducing Amy Kephart of KPhotographyDesign

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Next up: Amy Kephart of KPhotographyDesign

How long have you been an artist?
I started graphic design about 6 years ago when I designed for a local band. They broke up, I started college and started to get into drawing/painting . I also started doing photography about 6 years ago. I have always loved photography and gotten serious about it in the past 2 years.

How long have you been active as a business artist?
About 6 months on Etsy and Facebook.

Are you an artist full time?
Not full time, part time yes. I have another etsy shop with handmade items (knit/crochet, bows, headbands, etc.) plus 3 children, house work and college. But I do spend most of my free time designing or taking photography.

Who or what inspires you to create?
My children are definitely my main source of inspiration. Nature and music also inspire me a great deal.

My work place is my living room mainly, outdoors sometimes.

What do you like to do in your free time?
knit/crochet, photography, spend time with my husband and children, learn new songs on my guitar, hang out with friends, enjoy being outside.

What is your favorite handmade item?
Probably my owl hats that I sell and made for my children.

What does being an Amy mean to you?
As with anyone, we're all unique. Being an Amy to me, means that I'm unique and creative, I strive to make and create unique items that are sometimes personal and unique to me, which could prove useful and unique to other people .

Find more KPhotographyDesign on Facebook!

Introducing Amy Lund of aclhandweaver

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Next up: Amy Lund of aclhandweaver

How long have you been an artist, and how long have you been active as a business artist?

I've been spinning and weaving since I was a teen, but started to pursue it more seriously after college. I tried to follow the academic route through study and work in museum settings, but eventually decided to work for myself and follow my dreams sometime in the late 90s, working for other craftsmen to find out how to be an artist and then hitting the shows. I fell into helping a friend run an open weaving Studio & Gallery about and took over the idea when she could no longer do it about 10 years ago.

Are you an artist full time?

Full-time and Over-time...

Who or what inspires you to create?

I enjoy the orderliness of weaving and the focus of creating, combining textures, colors and yarns. It's very tactile and just seems right when things come together. The process of making is what inspires me, when everything works together.

Describe your work space.

I just moved last Oct into a new space in an old Grange utilizing 2 rooms, one for the Studio workspace and the other for the Gallery, where I also showcase other local artisans in a cooperative-style manner. I have found that the mystique of weaving and seeing the studio helps to sell the work through visibility and interaction, though the drawbacks of an open/public studio space are sometimes unscheduled interruptions, higher overhead than working at home, and having to be open and ready to make and sell everyday. It's nice to be able to work when it's quiet, though, and not have to haul things elsewhere and set them up just for a weekend show. Sometimes the interruptions are also pleasant distractions.

What kinds of things do you like to do in your free time?

Free time? What's that? It's all about work, isn't it.... Well, sometimes I get a chance to read, take walks, or travel. I'm always thinking about work because I love to create and really have to make an extra effort to find ways that get me outside the studio or outside my head.

What is your favorite handmade item, made by you or given to you?

I really don't know. This question stumps me...I'm not sure I have any one favorite. I love to make and love handmade. For me things have to fit the moment, the mood, the use, the style. I admire things made well that speak to me, sometimes of things indescribable under the surface.

What does being an Amy mean to you?

I've always felt my uniqueness and individuality. Growing up I only knew one other Amy and it doesn't seem that common to me. I also find it odd or disconcerting to run into someone with my own name wondering if they are like me, even if I've never met them before.

Amy C. Lund, Handweaver Studio & Gallery 3964 Main Road Tiverton, RI 02878 401-816-0000 Regular Studio & Gallery Hours: W-Sun 10-5
www.amyclundhandweaver.com www.etsy.com/shop/aclhandweaver www.flickr.com/photos/aclhandweaver/ www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Amy-C-Lund-Handweaver/230208813084 aclhandweaver@gmail.com aclhandweaver.blogspot.com/

"Do all the good you can, In all the ways you can, To all the people you can, In every place you can, At all the times you can, As long as ever you can."