Featured Friday with ACAmour

Please help me welcome ACAmour from the Amy's in the Arts Team!!!

Chevron Diaper Bag

What is your first creative memory?

 I was always big into coloring books, sketch pads with water colors, decorating with glue glitter and sparkley things, but I guess my first creative memory was taking photographs when I was 7 and making collages out of the pictures.

How long have you been an artist and an active business artist?

I have been an artist all my life and have explored almost every art form you can imagine. I have been an active business artist for 6 years.



How did you hear about Etsy and how long have you been selling on Etsy?

I found Etsy a little over three years ago through a Google search. I had just taught myself how to sew and decided to give it a go at selling my bags. I've been selling on Etsy ever since.

How did you come up with your shop name?

Au Courant Amour (ACAmour for short) means new love and I'd like to think that I am uniting individuals with their new loves all the time. While I love the full name of my shop, I thought ACAmour might be more memorable (and easier to say :)

Gold Chain Braided Bracelet

Are you an artist full time?

Oh yes. Even in the most mundane of tasks I find some way to incorporate art. I am now lucky enough to sell on Etsy and explore my creativity full time. I couldn't imagine my life any other way.

What inspires you?

Haute Couture collections, Vogue, color, other cultures, utilitarianism.

What do you listen to or watch while creating?

I try not to watch too much tv while creating because im almost always distracted, usually I'll just put pandora on shuffle and let it play my daily soundtrack.

Hand Embroidered Slouch Bag

Describe your work space

Haha, on most days a hot mess! while I try to keep everything organized and in its place when I'm working you're likely to find things piled and stacked on top of each other, fabric laid out all around the room and my cutting table overflowing with ideas waiting to be constructed.




What does being an Amy mean to you?

Through meeting other Amy's (Aime's, Aimee's) I've found there's usually a lot of power and a lot of personality behind a name so simple and short.

Where else can we find you?
acamour.com
acamour.etsy.com
facebook.com/acamour
twitter.com/acamour
pinterest.com/acamour
instagram: acamour

Featured Friday with Sunbreak Soaps

Please offer a round of applause and help welcome Amy and her Etsy shop Sunbreak Soaps

What is your first creative memory?

I think I was a bit of a late bloomer when it comes to creativity! I remember doing art projects in school as a kid, and I even took art in high school. But I always thought that I wasn't very creative - probably because drawing and painting just aren't my strength! I was involved in music and drama in both high school and college, so I used that as my creative outlet.

Lemon scented glycerin soap

How long have you been an artist and an active business artist?

After school, my focus turned to my career in real estate. When the market took a hit and I discovered that I was pregnant with twins in 2007 I took that as my message from the Almighty that it was time to quit! Thankfully, my husband's job was enough to cover our expenses, so I became a full-time mom. During that time I spent a lot of time perfecting my cooking skills and watching a lot of cooking shows. It wasn't great for my waistline, but it was awesome as a creative outlet! I thought about starting a business somehow involving food, but after looking into what I would need to do to make that happen I realized that just wasn't going to fit with my life. I have little kids and dogs, there's no way I'd be able to get a certified kitchen in my house! I thought, well maybe I could rent a kitchen somewhere, but then it would mean carting my kids somewhere to be in a less than child-friendly environment. So that left me kind of stumped.

I've always loved soap, but I thought that in order to make soap I'd have to work with dangerous chemicals, and that idea didn't sit well with me with kids in the house. But then I saw a blog article about melt & pour soap, and I was intrigued! Here was a craft that was somewhat like cooking, that was beautiful to look at and smell, and it didn't involve caustic chemicals! Bingo!

Soap bath crayons

This all coincided with my children growing up, and becoming less demanding of my time and able to entertain themselves for longer stretches of time. They just turned 5 in June. :)

So this past winter, we were sick with back to back colds for a stretch of 4 months. I was bored, tired, stressed out, and ready to try something new. Oh, and I felt like a hermit from self-isolation in the name of not spreading cooties. I decided, well, now's as good a time as any to learn how to make soap! I reserved every book in my library system about soap making. I read about melt & pour, cold process, hot process, essential oils, colorants, molds, and on and on and on. I read as much as I possibly could, and then I watched as many videos on YouTube as I could. This went on for several months, of just researching. Finally, in February of 2012 I made my first batch of soap. It was love at first pour! I got my business license, insurance, and Etsy shop in March and I've been making melt & pour glycerin soap ever since!

How did you hear about Etsy and how long have you been selling on Etsy?

I've known about Etsy for quite a number of years. I live in the Pacific Northwest, an area that values small businesses and where the buying local movement is in full swing. I was a shopper for a long time on Etsy before I became a seller.

Gardeners herbal soap

How did you come up with your shop name?

When I came up with the name for Sunbreak Soaps, it was early spring here in the Northwest. I wanted a company name the carried meaning for local residents, yet had a bit of something that everyone could relate to. I know it may come as a shock, but it rains a lot here. lol Early spring is especially terrible in that regard. I needed some sun, in a bad way, and I thought that making soap was kind of like my sunshine. It brought me joy and fun during a time when the world was dreary and depressing. Making soap was my Sunbreak! And I hoped that's how people would also feel while using it.

Are you an artist full time?

I consider myself to be a full-time mom; part-time artist. My kids are always my top priority. We intend to start homeschooling next month, and I know that most of my time will be devoted to them. Making soap is my escape as a mom. It's my way of using my creativity (in a way that doesn't involve calories!) and regaining my sanity.

What inspires you?

I find a lot of inspiration while gardening. The smells and the colors often lead to soap. Cooking is also a big inspiration to me. I heard once that if something smells good together, it will probably taste good together too. So I try to think in reverse, if things taste good together then it will smell good together too! I also look at a lot of great "soap porn" online, and lately I found some inspiration on a trip to Seattle while looking at art glass. You can read about my art glass inspiration here sunbreaksoaps.blogspot.com/2012/08/art-glass-inspiration.html and here sunbreaksoaps.blogspot.com/2012/07/chihuly-me.html

2 lbs. homemade powdered laundry detergent

What do you listen to or watch while creating?

Does childrens programing on TV in the background count? lol Honestly, when I'm not trying to entertain my kids so I can finish a project, I usually just like silence. Other mom's out there will understand what I'm talking about!

Describe your work space

My work space is my kitchen. We do have plans to set up a dedicated space in our garage soon. 

What does being an Amy mean to you?

Amy means beloved, or friend. To me, it has always meant love. Obviously my parents loved me very much to give me such a pretty name! I always used to hate it that it was so common, especially in school, but I'm happy with it now.



Easter Island Statue party favor soaps

Where else can we find you?


www.etsy.com/shop/SunbreakSoaps
www.facebook.com/SunbreakSoaps
sunbreaksoaps.blogspot.com/
pinterest.com/ariagirl77/
twitter.com/SunbreakSoaps
www.flickr.com/photos/sunbreaksoaps/
plus.google.com/u/0/103912059984689552578/posts

Featured Friday with Over the Fence Art

Everyone please welcome Amy Wright and her Etsy shop Over the Fence Art

What is your first creative memory?

My first creative memory would be my mom teaching me how to make pottery in our basement. She had her own potter's wheel and kiln. We would spend hours creating together.

Labradors running on the beach photography

How long have you been an artist and an active business artist?

I have always enjoyed creating custom birthday cards for friends and family. I have been artistic since I was a little girl.Sketching animals, photographing my surroundings. Always creating and finding joy in the process.Over the years I have found that art and photography are my true passions.
I have concentrated my efforts in building my Etsy shop www.etsy.com/shop/overthefenceart over this past year.


How did you hear about Etsy and how long have you been selling on Etsy?

I heard about Etsy through my cousin, who is also an Etsy shop owner.
My shop opened in Nov.2010 but it hasn't been until 2012 that I have been concentrating my time towards marketing and listing more.


How did you come up with your shop name?

My shop name? Funny story. I had a picture of my three labradors up on their hind legs ........all with their front paws over the gate. That picture lead me to thinking "outside of the box" and "over the fence". Hence the name Over the Fence Art and Photography.

Two grazing bay horses sepia photograph

Are you an artist full time?

Life threw me a curve ball. Life changing divorce. New challenges and circumstances have lead me on a personal journey to find what makes me feel alive..I didn't want to put my heart into any 9-5 job. Art and Photography, nature and animals. Those are my true loves, my passion. So, here I am! Part of the Etsy community and enjoying every minute.

What inspires you?

I am inspired everywhere I look. By color, shape, arrangement. By far animals and nature are my top inspirations. I love to capture the whimsical joy on a dog's face or photograph that fleeting moment in time. It's the creative process of finding the moment, and recording it in art and photography that makes me happy. Seeing joy on other people's faces as they view my work is the ultimate reward.

Orange dahlias photography

What do you listen to or watch while creating?

Every Sunday I listen to breakfast with the Beatles on the radio. Always sparks my creative juices. Old songs from my teens that are now on my ipod are always a motivator!

Describe your work space

My work space is "in transition". It is a room upstairs in our 1920's farmhouse. I will be painting it soon to add more light. It is cozy and I have favorite art pieces on the walls (other artists as well as mine), as well as inspirational quotes.

What does being an Amy mean to you?

"Being an Amy" means feeling honored to be surrounded,supported and inspired by other talented Amy's !


Where else can we find you?

You can find me on :
Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/overthefenceart
facebook: www.facebook.com/overthefenceart
pinterest: pinterest.com/awinslow1/
twitter: twitter.com/#!/overthefenceart
email: overthefenceart@comcast.net

Featured Friday with Don't Panic Design

Please give three cheers and help welcome Amy Vanderhoof and her Etsy shop Don't Panic Design

Let's discover Amy's story...

Custom color chevron stripe bridal shower

What is your first creative memory?
We used to stay with my grandmother for two weeks every summer. I remember being in her backyard and painting used soda bottles with this green crackle paint. It was weird and cool and fun, and I still have that bottle. We also folded butterflies out of magazine pages. I remember being amazed that you could make something so pretty out of something so ordinary. 

How long have you been an artist and an active business artist?
I have been actively creating art in my personal life for about 14 years, like collages and drawing (which I am terrible at). I began learning layout and design skills at a job I had in college, and slowly over the years I have added to that skill set. I have been making invitations for friends and family on and off this whole time. I've been in business for 9 months.

How did you hear about Etsy and how long have you been selling on Etsy?
I had come across etsy before on stumbleupon, and came back to look at the unique jewelry (my first exposure to steampunk, which I love) and other things you can't find in stores. Last year, my sister encouraged me to open a shop. So I did, my first attempt at business, on the eve of October 31st, 2011. My first sale was November 1st, 2011, which was super exciting and very encouraging, because I didn't make another sale until January of this year. 

How did you come up with your shop name?
I had a hard time with this one. I originally tried to come up with something that had to do with Montana, but when it came down to it, I had to choose my life's motto: Don't Panic. Ever since I was in college, this has been my personal tag line, as I am prone to panic, and have dealt with many others over the course of my work who are panicking at the last minute of a project. But, things will get done, and they will be fine, so we should all not panic. Besides having a personal connection to this name, I felt it was apt in the realm of invitation (primarily wedding) design.

Custom colors thank you cards

Are you an artist full time?
I am a full time person. I work on my business all the time. I do lots of other things part time, including work two different "day" jobs, create and sew purses for myself and my friends, read and continue to learn, create, build (with power tools as often as I can), help my friends and family with DIY projects. Much of this utilizes the skills of an artist. I am not even sure I am a part time artist, much less a full time one. However, I use creativity every single day. 

What inspires you?
Helping people get something they love is the first thing that inspires me; after that, everything! I am constantly looking around myself and picking out the things that surround my life that I am drawn to, and then I pick out elements to incorporate into my designs. Art, nature, jewelry, color, packaging.

What do you listen to or watch while creating?
Just about anything can be on in the background, including nothing, and I probably wouldn't notice. I have eclectic taste in music, and what I listen to is dependent on how I feel on any given day. 



Save the date feather custom colors

Describe your work space

I work on my laptop, and I can do it anywhere. I sometimes sit outside, or at the kitchen table, or on the couch. My computer is well organized into a series of folders and my laptop desktop is usually littered with work in progress or proofing files. 

What does being an Amy mean to you?
It means simplicity, bravery, compassion, attempting to stay grounded, something red, and less is more.

Where else can we find you?
dontpanicdesign.etsy.com
dontpanicdesign.blogspot.com
facebook.com/dontpanicdesign