Feature Friday with A. L. Stasiak Photography

Please give a warm welcome to Amy Stasiak and her Etsy shop A. L. Stasiak Photography

Now to discover Amy's creative story and journey...

Spider Web Dreamcatcher

What is your first creative memory?

When I was four years old, my grandmother was crocheting Sesame Street characters for all the grandchildren. I did not know how to crochet so instead I used my magic markers, glue stick, notebook paper, and safety scissors to replicated them. I taped them to the kitchen wall until the whole street was represented.

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

When does one really "become" an artist? I've always loved art and writing. I thought being a writer was my course in life but after seven years of college I began to doubt it. About five years ago, I picked up a camera seriously and never looked back. I absorbed photography like a sponge and taught myself photography and Photoshop by reading old textbooks and surfing the web. I opened a photography studio in Marshall, MI last May.

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

I have been on Etsy since May 5, 2012. My husband stumbled upon the website while looking for a handmade camera case for me for Christmas last year.

How did you come up with your shop name?

My shop name is my studio name, that's who I am- ALStasiakPhotography.

Lucy

Are you an artist full time?

I am a full time artist who pays her bills with her night job at a casino.

What inspires you?

I am inspired by storytelling and the emotions invoked through at image. I like to make people see the wonders that really exist in this world.

Red Pop Zinna

What do you listen to or watch while creating?

I love Pandora radio. I'm either listening to the Arcade Fire, Vampire Weekend, Outkast, The Cars, or Patsy Cline station.

Describe your work space

My work space is covered in images I found either in my travels or personal pictures. I love being surrounded by inspiration.

What does being an Amy mean to you?

Amy is who I am. I am beloved, pleasant and driven.




Where else can we find you?

www.alstasiakphotography.com

Featured Friday - Meet the Captain and the Leaders of your Amy's In the Arts Team

To kick off our first Amy's in the Arts features...I would like to introduce you to your fearless leaders and their Etsy shops



Please give a "WOOT WOOT" for our Team Captain:
Amy Dionne and her Etsy shop Heart of Autumn

How long have you been on Etsy?

I'll have my one year Etsyversary on Saturday June 23rd!

Describe your creations in your shop

Art quilts, bags, notebook covers

Are you an artist full-time?

Nope - I have a full-time day job.

What is your goal as our Team Captain?

My goal for the team is an active community of networking in a safe environment.

What does being an Amy mean to you?

Names are powerful, and sharing the name Amy creates an instant bond. No matter how different we are, or how different our shops are, we still have
a common element that brings this team together.

Where else can we find you?

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Website and Blog

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Now can we hear a "YAY YAY" for team leader:
Amy Richardson and her Etsy shop Designami

How long have you been on Etsy?

 I have been on etsy since 2008, however just became actively involved in 2012. I have joined several teams to include Amys in the Arts, Wired Team, and 2012 Jewelry Making Challenge Team.

 Describe your creations in your shop

I sell jewelry. I really enjoy wire-wrapping tumbled glass, shells, and anything that has a "natural" feel to it. I focus on jewelry making, but have begun to expand my product line to include photography, corn bags, hair accessories, and my favorite: Scarf jewelry. I pride myself on selling my jewelry at reasonable, affordable prices. I sell online but also frequent craft fairs in southern Maine.

Are you an artist full-time?

I am not an artist full-time, but I wish I could be. I work in health care full-time and creating is my way of destressing and it is very much a part of my everyday life.

What is your goal as a Team Leader?

My goal as a leader on this team is to engage the members. I have begun treasury challenges that offers opportunity for members to be promoted by selecting an item from their shop to serve as an "inspiration" for treasuries. I would love to see more members get involved. I also hope to start themed threads for the Amys to showcase holiday items, seasonal items, etc.

What does being an Amy mean to you?

Being an Amy means being unique, being compassionate, helpful, and a friend. My shop name is Designami which is a french twist on "Designs by Amy" and "Designs for friends". "ami" in french means friend.

Where else can we find you?

I am not a social networking kind of girl, so you won't find me on facebook, twitter, etc. I focus on promoting on Etsy. I do have a website where I advertise my upcoming craft fairs. Visit my website at: www.designami.com


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Give a "ZING ZING" for your team leader:
Amy Averitte and her Etsy shop fAveritte creations

How long have you been on Etsy?

I joined Etsy as a buyer in 2009, but did not list anything in my shop until January of 2011.

Describe your creations in our shop

Fun, unique, bright, silly, custom and personalized decor and handmade toys for the young and young at heart!

Are you an artist full-time?

I am very blessed to be able to be an artist full-time and stay at home with my toddler son.

What is your goal as a Team Leader?

I will be featuring Amy's in the Arts team members on our team blog. My goal is to help provide another source of promotion and marketing to help broaden traffic to our shops and web presence.

What does being an Amy mean to you?

Strength. Creative soul. Caring. An abundant amount of sillyness and dancing. A passion for life and complete joy in the small things.

Where else can we find you?

Facebook
Twitter
Blog
Pinterest

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And finally a "YOW YOW" for team leader:
Amy Barber and her Etsy shop ellasue designs

We will have to catch up with Amy Barber later on...she will be in charge of keeping up with our team Twitter.

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Please check back every Friday to discover Amy's, Aimee's, Amie's, Amee's...ok you get the idea...and their stories behind their creations and shops!

Week 8 of the Nine Weeks of Amy ... win a $20 gift certificate from AREjewellery

It’s week eight of nine in the Nine Weeks of Amys and it’s nearly Christmas! So Merry Christmas to you all! I’m Amy of AREjewellery. I’m a UK based Amy (hence the English spelling of jewellery!). It’s great to be involved in a team with such a variety of sellers from all over the world.

I make bead jewellery and have done so for about 6 years now. Beads are my biggest weakness – the bigger and shinier the better! I just love browsing for unusual beads and love it when I find something that I have never seen anywhere before. I had these earrings in my shop for a while but they haven’t sold – I’ve decided I love the beads so much I’m keeping them for myself.

I also love using different materials: ribbon, fabric, wire, cord. I’m always experimenting with something new. I’ve just bought some tulle and am coming up with some ideas to incorporate it.

I make jewellery in my spare time as I have a full time job as a graduate surveyor. I just moved to a different part of the UK and am just settling in. Where I lived previously I was a member of an arts festival committee and one of my main roles was organising a handmade craft fair. Hugely rewarding but also pretty stressful – it’s an outdoor even and the weather in the England is highly unpredictable! I am helping out again this year – from a distance! I love the handmade community and support it by buying the majority of my Christmas presents on Etsy.

To enter my giveaway to win a $20 voucher in my shop, leave a comment on this page with your favourite item from my shop.

Earn additional entries by:

- following @amysinthearts on Twitter

- sharing this giveaway on Twitter by tagging @amysinthearts in your tweet

- following the Amys In The Arts blog,

- Follow me on twitter @AREjewellery

- Follow my blog

To get credit for your additional entries, please be sure to let us know what you’ve done. You can earn one additional entry by doing each of the above actions, up to 6 entries total. Competition closes 25^th December. 

Amys Challenge Competition - Please Vote!

The Amys have been set a challenge! The challenge was to make something that fitted the theme of:

'Oh I do like to be beside the seaside'

Here are the entries. Please vote for your favourite in the comments below!

Sewartsy made this Lighthouse reusable giftbag.


These Mommy Business cards are by amyzo.


This seashells fabric tote bag is by Amy305

Mermaid inspired ribbon brooch by AREjewellery.


This Underwater Sisters clutch is by Adoration


Tough choice?! Please vote in the comments below and do check out the Amys' shops! Voting closes Friday 16th October.

SewArtsy's Featured Amy

PetiteAmi: Everyday Whimsy!

This week I'm featuring incredible artist Amy Mottola from Petite Ami. She's a multi-talented lady, and you'll see that in her shop. Amy is student teaching right now, and in all that spare time we know teachers have, she is still able to create these beautiful pieces. Her latest series of work has centered around the Saints, but the renderings are populated by animals rather than humans - like this one - quite interesting and inspiring. Amy lives in NY, and is also a member of the NY Hudson Valley Street Team. In her shop you'll find anything from etchings and deeply colored paintings to knit and crocheted items.





My favorite item in her shop is this Sleeping Wolf charcoal drawing! Right now I could use a little more sleep in my life, and this guy looks so peaceful and rested. I love that his fur looks so soft in 2D - such beauty!

Amy's artwork would bring holiday joy to any art lover this season - check out her shop!



Find Amy and her work at: petiteami.etsy.com and art = life

Happy Friday! Amy

SewArtsy Feature - Amy Singley

Another feature of my Amy teammates this week!

Adorn By Amy Singley: custom aritsan jewelry

Oh, what fun and gorgeous jewelry! And what an amazing lady! Adorn By Amy Singley's shop is saturated with incredible color and unique detail. It's just like a candy shop where you want to grab up every last morsel! Each beautiful bead full of color. Each design exquisitely unique.

Amy lives in Tennessee, and is a breast cancer survivor. It was during her period of surgery and chemo 5 years ago that she learned to love beading. Her first design was called "Survivor" as a reminder of strength, courage and hope! My favorite item of Amy's is the pair of Kyoto earrings. I love the curve of the hook and the beauty of the bead. They are darling, and understatedly glamorous! In her shop you'll find necklaces, earrings and bracelets. She also has a selection of sale items you won't want to miss.

Check out Amy's store today! AdornByAmySingley.Etsy.com

Happy Thursday! Amy

SewArtsy's Featured Amy

ARE Jewellery, handmade bead accessories

We all need a little sparkle, no matter what time of year it is. I love the sophisticated, yet textrual and artsy look of Amy's pieces. I'd wear her unique designs from day to evening, and always feel I was wearing the right stuff. Her mixture of bead sizes, shapes and hues add interest and flair, and are pieces you will sparkle in!

Amy hails from Leicestershire England. She strives to find beautiful beads of glass, semi-precious stones and crystals to make thoroughly wearable items. Amy is a fellow Amy in the Arts, and also participates in the Etsy Midlanders Street Team.

My favorite item is the Pretty in Purple Necklace. My birthstone is the amathyst, so I'm always drawn to purple jewelry. I love the smoky quality of the beads, and the mixture of the different shades - and, of course, that gorgeous tear drop commands my attention! Check out Amy's shop today! She's offering free shipping until the end of Monday, December 1 - you won't want to miss it!

AREJewellery.Etsy.com and AREHandmadejewellery.Blogspot.com

Happy Monday! Amy

Back Into the Amy Swing!

Back into the swing of things, I offer you the next featured Amy:

Think kitsch and harajuku, think fabulous and unique - think Wonderland Boutique

Looking for colorful fabulousness this season? Take a journey through the Etsy looking glass into Wonderland Boutique! Bold, vivid prints meet ribbons and bows. There's flair in every detail on Amy's totes and coin purses - you'll love 'em!

Amy is a new member of the Amys in the Arts Team, and has been on Etsy for only a few months. She adds a bit of love to each handcrafted accessory. I love her mixture of color and print, and the little additions like buttons and charms that make her items so eyecatching. Each piece has a truly original look. Check out her shop, and browse through the lush images of bags and accessories you'll definitely want to use day after day to bring yourself a bit of sunshine. Amy looks forward to making uniquely-yours, custom totes in whatever size, style and look you're going for - contact her today! And keep an eye on this talented seamstress in the future to see what else she brings to the world!

Personally, I adore the Liquorice Delish Mini Tote. I love allsorts, and carrying this tote would just make me smile from ear to ear. Having one of Amy's matching coin purses to accompany it would keep me very happy! If you're looking for an outstanding, stand-out bag, then this is your shop.

WonderlandBoutique.Etsy.Com - Spread the Wonderland word.

Happy Thursday! Amy

Featured Amy: Amy Esther Ceramics

The next Amy in my Amy series:

Amy Esther Ceramics

I find that I instantly warm up upon entering Amy Esther's Etsy store. Warm and rich pieces of wheel-thrown pottery adorn the walls of her shop. Take a browse and you'll see what I mean!

This 25 year old from Rochester, NY who currently lives, writes and throws in Philadelphia, spends her evenings creating her beautiful pottery pieces with her own modern take on ancient African designs. Time spent studying abroad in Botswana led her to an apprenticeship which would instill a love for pottery she brought back to the states with her. You'd expect to find bowls, cups and vases in a shop like this, which you will, but you can also find gems such as pendants, magnets and votive holders. The deeper you look, the more you'll fall in love!

Having a love, myself, for all things African, I just adore the Elegant Gold Vase. I love the authenticity of the design, and the peaceful feeling I get looking at it. Amy is presently accepting custom orders for the holidays until October 20, so act quickly! Her pieces will make great gifts for any occasion!

Checkout Amy's Etsy profile to learn more about her, and check out her blog, too, In the Night Kitchen!

Happy Wednesday! Amy

Featured Amy: Handmade by Amy

Next up in my featured Amy series:

"cards they'll never want to throw away" Handmade by Amy

Elegant card-making doesn’t come easily! Here’s an artist who has painstakingly designed and constructed pieces that you truly won’t want to throw away. “It’s all in the little details” is her motto, and you can see it in her work. Amy’s designs are classy and streamlined, and filled with punch. Whether you are looking for note cards, wedding or baby announcements, gift tags, labels, or birthday cards, you can look no further. Check out Amy’s Etsy shop: Handmade by Amy. Amy started selling her handmade creations on Etsy in November of 2007, and pursues her passion for paper card-making full time from her home in North Carolina. Take some time to browse her shop today! Amy offers a loyalty program, so the more you buy, the more you save. She’s taking pre-orders for Christmas cards, so please contact her soon if you are interested in fabulous Christmas cards – which, in my opinion, would be a gift in themselves. Check out the awesome Peacock Family Mommy Cards – business cards for the hip, modern mom! A striking design, and a fabulous idea! See Amy here: www.handmadebyamy.com, www.amyzo.etsy.com, her Flickr page and on Facebook.

Sew Artsy's Featured Amy Team Member!

Feature by Sew Artsy


“Old jeans never die, they just go to…”

The Recycled Jeans Co.

“Old jeans never die…” Isn’t that so true? I love the look and feel of jeans. Denim is probably one of the most recyclable fabrics because its durable, great looking whether brand new or faded and shredded, and it only gets softer with age. Amy, from The Recycled Jeans Co., takes great care to offer you adorable, quality products that are made from mostly reclaimed fabrics. She’s an Army wife, a homeschooling mama, and a self-professed fabric-aholic (just like me!). 30 years ago her grandmother taught her how to sew, and now she loves to hunt down fabrics at thrift stores and yard sales to head on to the next challenge of making them new again! 10% of her profits go to local charities – gotta love that! Take some time to browse her shop today! My favorite: The Funky Denim Heart Pillow. I love the zipper pocket – so unexpected! You’ll find lunch bags, drink cozies, bears, totes,laundry bags, quilts and pillows, and much more!

Check out this Amy’s blog, website and Etsy store!

recycledjeansco.blogspot.com and www.recycledjeansco.com and www.recycledjeans.etsy.com