FEATURED SELLER - BRANDIE GROGAN

Tell us a bit about yourself
Hi, My name is Brandie Grogan.  I moved to San Francisco 9 years ago from Dayton Ohio.  I have been working as a college printmaking instructor here in San Francisco for 5 years. 
Apart from creating things, what do you do?

Most of the time I am creating something!  I can't help it.  I always have to be doing something.  When I'm not teaching I love going out and taking photographs of rural areas, searching salvage yards for materials to make new work with, and keeping up on the local art show circuit.

Where does your inspiration come from?

Etsy is an amazing source of inspiration.  To see the art people create from all over the world is unbelievable.  The amount of talent out there is very inspirational.  What's nice about living in a city like San Francisco is having access to so much art.  I feel like I'm constantly surrounded by creative energy.
What does handmade mean to you?

Handmade is what is keeping the art world alive right now.  With so many things in our life mass produced and disposable it is one the most personal things out there.  

Who has been most influential in your craft?

Teaching is an incredible influence on my work.  To see this constant flux of new ideas is so refreshing.  Just when I think everything has already been done, a student just blows my mind with something I've never seen before.  The students energy and willing to try new things reminds me of why I love to create art.
When did you know you were an artist/maker?

I fell into art very naturally.  There was never a point in my life where I really considered anything else.  I had a lot of support from my family.   They really encouraged me the whole way.  I was aware that I wasn't necessarily the best artist at the start  but I think the people around me recognized that it was something I really wanted and loved.

 How would you describe your creative process?

Being a printmaker I am naturally drawn to the process of making art.    Printmaking has so many stages and steps, so much preparation.  I tend to create this somewhat rigid methodical routine in sculpture and installation work as well.  It's very natural for me to get into the repetition of these steps..  Through this process the work starts to waiver from the original idea that I started out with.  The time I've spent working with these pieces through each stage breeds new ideas and thoughts along the way.  Sometimes the work doesn't end up working out.  This is the reality of being an artist.  Despite this I don't feel that there is any wasted time.  When a piece ends up turning out better than I imagined it is all worth it.
If you could peek inside the studio of any artist, designer or craftsman (dead or alive), who would it be?

Where do i start.  I would love to witness anyone from Rembrandt and Durer to the starving and struggling artists throughout history.

What handmade possession do you most cherish?

I have a beautiful armoire that was made by a great great uncle.  It was covered with several layers of old paint when I acquired it years ago.  In the process of stripping everything  off I noticed all of the tiny imperfections and inconsistencies that made the piece so unique.  There were hand written notes on the bottom of the piece.   I could completely relate to this person putting so much energy into something they really wanted.  

How do you get out of your creative ruts?

I step away from what I'm working on and start something else.  It's not that I get tired of the creative process but I sometimes get tired of the boundaries I subconsciously create for each piece of art.  Sometimes I leave a piece unfinished for a few days, sometimes a few months.  There's really no point into trying to force something out of myself.  I am confident that it will get done but I may not have as much control as to when.  It just goes back to the trials and errors process.  If something doesn't end up working out well, I will take what did work and put that towards another project.

Where would you like to be in ten years?

Well, I think of it like this.. the best experiences I've had in my life have never been planned.  They ended up being better that I could have ever imagined.  I hope that in 10 years I will look at myself and realize that I am in one of those moments.

more info here

FEATURED SELLER - DIANA JAHNS

Tell us a bit about yourself

My aesthetic combines elements of east and west, no doubt due to my heritage. My mother was born in Japan. My Oregon-born father met her there. They married and settled in California.

I am juggling four etsy shops...! I am doing this so that each shop will have a single focus. And, that's because I go in so many directions. For nearly 25 years I wove fabric on a wooden handloom and then cut and sewed the fabric into handmade clothing. I sold the clothing in boutiques and fine craft stores, like Freehand in Los Angeles and Julie's in New York. After a break of several years, I am sewing again and love it! Currently, I am showing my handmade clothing in a retrospective exhibit, along with other fine artists from the 80s, at Freehand. I am not showing this work on etsy for now, but may sometime in the future. Meanwhile, my four etsy shops are devoted to art and photography. I make both realism and abstract or non-objective. I started early in life in the direction of painting, much later picking up photography. Sewing and weaving are a passionate side-trip. All the art forms inform the others.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I love to cook and take trips out of town. I enjoy all kinds of music. I like to see what other artists are doing.

Time with family and friends is precious time.

Where does your inspiration come from?

Through my heart.

What does handmade mean to you?
A beautiful way of connecting.

Who has been most influential in your craft?
My family: mom, dad, brother, grandmother, son and friends. And, facebook friends, too.

When did you know you were an artist/maker?
Very young. I think I connected to creative energy even before I could articulate it. My grandmother was an artist, so I had her footsteps to follow.

 How would you describe your creative process?
"Creativity is like driving a car at night," said E. L. Doctorow. "You never see further than your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way."
This is my favorite way of explaining how I feel when I am making art.

more info here

FEATURED SELLER - ANDY VE EIRN

Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Yael Scharaby and I live in Tel Aviv, Israel. I recently married my high school sweetheart in a beautiful outdoor ceremony. Our newlywed existence would be pretty calm if we didn’t have a charming and hyperactive dog. I graduated from Shenkar College of Design a year ago and immediately began to work on my own textile brand. Most of my clothes are hand-knitted on a manual machine, as I enjoy overseeing the entire process — from the manufacturing of the fabric to the final piece.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I am currently working on new pieces and promoting my brand in local stores and on Etsy. In addition to the creative aspects of my work, I still have a lot of work on my Etsy shop as well as general business promotion. When I do have a free hour or two I love spending some time in the kitchen, cooking and baking.

What would be the title of your memoir? 

Hard Work Pays Off. I truly believe in that phrase as a way of life, and implement it every day. I work very hard in all aspects of my life, and I feel confident results will come.

Where does your inspiration come from?

Basic and simple geometric shapes are my greatest source of inspiration. I love minimalism and clean lines that create beautiful shapes. On principle, I always design clothes I would be happy to wear.

What does handmade mean to you?

Handmade to me is taking my dream, my vision of how a piece is meant to look, and turning raw material into a beautiful product with passion and hard work. The final piece makes me happy and proud, and is designed to make the wearer happy and beautiful.

Who has been most influential in your craft?

My grandfather was an extraordinary person and a gifted ceramics painter. He kept many of his paintings in a small cabinet, and every time I visited he showed me one and I would do my best to copy it. He passed away during my first year at college and my brand is named after him.

When did you know you were an artist/maker?

When I was younger, I wanted to become a lawyer, but a casual stroll in the mall changed my plans. I noticed a woman sitting in a shop, embroidering peacefully. It was so inspiring that I instantly knew that this is what I wanted to do with my life.

How would you describe your creative process?

I look around me all the time to discover the world’s beautiful patterns. Even the simplest things, like sidewalks, or the shades on buildings, inspire me. I then process these views into patterns which I later try to knit. The knitting process is very time consuming, and it usually takes a couple attempts until I am satisfied.

If you could peek inside the studio of any artist, designer or craftsman (dead or alive), who would it be?

I would love to visit the workshop of Ottavio and Rosita Missoni. It would be a dream come true to watch the work of two of the greatest knitwear designers of all times. Their patterns and colors are marvelous and I feel every minute would be instructive, inspiring and meaningful.

What handmade possession do you most cherish?

A few years ago my mother gave me her wedding dress, which she sewed using an embroidered-lace tablecloth and a white sheet. To me, it is the most beautiful and valuable dress in the world!

How do you get out of your creative ruts?

I try to distract myself with other activities, although it is not always easy. I always enjoy baking and going for long walks on the beach with my dog. If this does not help, I drive to my parents’ house and spend a few hours with my mom, who always knows how to cheer me up. These breaks are usually very invigorating and provide all the creative fuel I need.

Where would you like to be in ten years?

I hope to be a successful and well-known designer, still as excited about each garment I create. I would also like to expand my business and create a full textile lifestyle collection — menswear, bedding and stationery. In my private life, I look forward to having children, and I am sure they will be an endless source of satisfaction and creation.

more info : here