The ‘Daily Artisan Spotlight’ is a regular feature on Mindless Pursuits intended to provide insight and exposure to the tons of talented artisans working today. Please comment and give them some encouragement and check out their work!

What is your shop?
fede (http://fededesigntextiles.blogspot.com)

What is your art/craft?
Handcrafted Cushions + Children’s Toys

Describe your style in 2 words:
Gorgeous textiles

What is your favorite piece and why?
A Cushion titled “Masai Giraffe” made of vintage & new fabrics from my collection. It was designed for an art exhibition at the Melbourne Zoo called “Natures Diversity”. The cushion was inspired by my travels to Africa and features a series of panels & appliqued organic shapes.

What is the most memorable piece of advice you’ve ever received?
It’s with regard to parenting. “Pick your battles”
With regards to life in general “Everything happens for a reason”

What is the one piece of advice you’d give?
Be true to yourself & your style. Don’t follow fashion or trends. Inividuality if what makes the world so wonderful!

The ‘Daily Artisan Spotlight’ is a regular feature on Mindless Pursuits intended to provide insight and exposure to the tons of talented artisans working today. Please comment and give them some encouragement and check out their work!

What is your shop?
Blue Orchid Handbags (http://www.blueorchidbags.etsy.com)

What is your art/craft?
I design handbags, all are handcrafted by me in my studio.

Describe your style in 2 words:
Creative, Fun

What is your favorite piece and why?
My favorite piece is Meredith - Asian Cherry Blossom. It’s made of a beautiful fabric creating a fun, creative, yet sophisticated look to it. I think my addition of a tassle gave the piece a signature look as well.

What is the most memorable piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Patience is a virtue! Success will not happen overnight…it comes from hard work and even more hard work. Those who have the patience to succeed, will.

What is the one piece of advice you’d give?
Don’t try to copy other artists. Do your own thing, make it with passion, and make your art the best it can be.

The ‘Daily Artisan Spotlight’ is a regular feature on Mindless Pursuits intended to provide insight and exposure to the tons of talented artisans working today. Please comment and give them some encouragement and check out their work! If you would like to be in the Spotlight, click on the ‘Free Press’ link above!

What is your shop?
Borealis Art (http://norablansett.etsy.com)

What is your art/craft?
Actually, I work in a wide variety of mediums. First and foremost, I am a fantasy artist and work in colour pencil, watercolour and watercolour pencil. I also work in photography, jewelry design, beading, dolls, miniature quilts, stone carving and pyrography.

Describe your style in 2 words:
Unique, varied

What is your favorite piece and why?
I honestly don’t think I could pick a favourite piece! I work in so many mediums that I tend to have favourites in each medium, and the favourites change as I improve on my skills and create new works. My most current favourites are the following:
“Invitation to the Sun” ACEO 
“Drift” (Photography)
“Jasper Bead Embroidered Pendant” 
“Mermaid Pyrography” (Wood burning)
“Miss Darling Blues” (Doll)

I’m sure you can see why I can’t choose just one!

What is the most memorable piece of advice you’ve ever received?
I think the best advice I ever got was to stop comparing myself to other artists. There’s nothing worse than trying to compare apples to oranges and worrying that you’ve only got prunes. You can never base your talent on that of others.

What is the one piece of advice you’d give?
Probably the usual cliche’ “Never give up!”. It’s a hard road — especially if you are trying to make it your livelihood. I also think it’s important to expand; don’t just work in one medium. It’s nice to have different paths to take according to your mood. Right now, my jewelry is flying off the shelves of local stores, but my dolls are taking a backseat. In another month, my dolls may pick up again as well the photography with the visual change of seasons occurring. I try to keep the artwork moving at a gentle pace, never putting too much out at a time and making every piece special because I keep it so limited.

The ‘Daily Artisan Spotlight’ is a regular feature on Mindless Pursuits intended to provide insight and exposure to the tons of talented artisans working today. Please comment and give them some encouragement and check out their work! If you would like to be in the Spotlight, click on the ‘Free Press’ link above!

What is your shop?
hi.cutie.pie (http://www.hicutiepie.etsy.com)

What is your art/craft?
Mixed media art! From the art work, I also create prints, notecards, keychains, and mini art-to-go necklaces.

Describe your style in 2 words:
Uplifting, whimsical

What is your favorite piece and why?
“We Grow Together”, a piece I created after I met up for tea with an old friend who always finds a way to inspire me. I came home that evening and let my feelings project onto a new creation. Beginning with a recycled canvas where I once painted images representing loneliness, I took my old college math notes, found papers, buttons, fabric, yarn, thread, ink & paint and covered the lonliness I once felt, with my new feelings of gratitude for the journey I have taken along with my friends. We have grown together, and continue growing in a positive direction. I decided to keep this piece. It’s very close to my heart.

where she lives…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sonyagallardo/1095120561/in/set-72157600636911193

What is the most memorable piece of advice you’ve ever received?
It’s an oldie but goodie… “you have nothing to lose”.

I like this one for its directness and simplicity. The meaning I find in this advice is this: take a chance, take a risk, and allow yourself to be vulnerable. I have nothing to lose. I like to sit and ponder this idea and think of ways to apply this into different aspects of my life. We all like to feel safe inside our own box that we create, but when you make the effort to step up and out of that box, stretch your limbs and go for a walk, we are challenged to take long strides on the streets of Vulnerability. It’s in vulnerability where you learn a lot about yourself, about others, and about life.

What is the one piece of advice you’d give?
Make sure that the work that you do mirrors who you are. When your art is a true representation of you, everthing feels whole, complete and right. You will show pride in your work, and your work will show pride in you. It’s an energy that’s felt and that people respond to.

The ‘Daily Artisan Spotlight’ is a regular feature on Mindless Pursuits intended to provide insight and exposure to the tons of talented artisans working today. Please comment and give them some encouragement and check out their work! If you would like to be in the Spotlight, click on the ‘Free Press’ link above!

What is your shop?
MKP Art Jewelry (http://www.mkpjewelry.etsy.com)

What is your art/craft?
Art Jewelry

Describe your style in 2 words:
Eclectic, fun

What is your favorite piece and why?
“Possiblities” I made this last year for a artistic challenge group I belong to. The theme was for mother’s day. I thought about mother’s day, and being a Mom myself, what it meant to be a mom. Some wonderful way it twisted in my head and I ended up making a piece of what it FELT LIKE when your in the process of becoming a mom for the first time. All the worries, all the hopes all the fears as you feel the little thing moving inside of you….. I wanted to design something that showed what that means inside a woman’s head. I sketched this out, and then did a dummy up in copper, wanted to make sure I could capture what was in my head. And this pendant is the result. It’s made with sterling silver wire, and a hollow lampwork bead by Jodie Marshall. I stuffed the lampworked bead with Swarovski crystals, all of my favorite colors, as many as I could fit and still have them tumble about like snow in a snow globe. Then I wired the ball between her hands, like a soon to be momma feeling for her child’s kick. Then I added just a thin red line in her face.. her smile. And realized it was a happy piece, and it dwelt on only the hopes and dreams of the soon to be born child.. it dwelled on the happy possibilities of that child The “baby” actually rotates on the frame, and I realized it was kind of like a lottery ball.. just like being pregnant you never know what number was gonna come up!

What is the most memorable piece of advice you’ve ever received?
I didn’t recieve this directly, I was listening to NPR and the guy being interviewed was a photographer. He was talking about his influences, and one of his idol’s told him to always leave a corner for the viewer to turn. This really hit me.. he was talking about photography, but it applies to any art.. always leave some of the story for the viewer to create within themselves. That’s the best kind of art, that invites the viewer to be apart of the story.

What is the one piece of advice you’d give?
Don’t be afraid of mistakes. you will make them, both business-wise and artistically. Just accept that, and try new things without getting hung up on if it’s “good” or not, or sellable or not. Just create for creation’s sake. You learn so much by not being afraid to try.

The ‘Daily Artisan Spotlight’ is a regular feature on Mindless Pursuits intended to provide insight and exposure to the tons of talented artisans working today. Please comment and give them some encouragement and check out their work! If you would like to be in the Spotlight, click on the ‘Free Press’ link above!

What is your shop?
alisonkelleydesigns (http://www.alisonkelleydesigns.etsy.com)

What is your art/craft?
I designs and make unique handcrafted jewelry for any occasion.

Describe your style in 2 words:
Colorful, unique

What is your favorite piece and why?
My favorite piece has to be a necklace that I call “Square Rainbow Necklace”. It’s very colorful and goes with just about anything you are wearing. I love this piece because of it’s colors. It makes me feel very happy just looking at it. Color has always made be smile and makes me feel alive. What can I say, I’m a lovers of colors.

What is the most memorable piece of advice you’ve ever received?
A good friend of mine gave me this book called “Meditations For Women Who Do Too Much” with it came a simple saying “May you live everyday of your life”.

What is the one piece of advice you’d give?
Being an artist is not always easy. It can come with many financial burdens. Balancing your creativity while trying to earn money is not easy. In some ways that can take away from your creativity. Don’t ever let that happen. Money will come and go, we all need it and want it. If you are lucky enough to have a tallent that you can share with the world that alone is priceless. Be true to yourself and to your art.

The ‘Daily Artisan Spotlight’ is a regular feature on Mindless Pursuits intended to provide insight and exposure to the tons of talented artisans working today. Please comment and give them some encouragement and check out their work! If you would like to be in the Spotlight, click on the ‘Free Press’ link above!

What is your shop?
magicouture (http://www.magicouture.etsy.com)

What is your art/craft?
Primarily, I craft unusual jewelry from glass, stone, and wire. I’m known for very outlandish rings.

Describe your style in 2 words:
Eclectic extremes

What is your favorite piece and why?
I have a ring called Honeywine Brass Ensemble that I dearly, truly love. It feels wonderful on the hand and design-wise, it just “flows.” It reminds me of an ultra-fantasy take on a musical instrument and the colors are so deep and rich and sultry.

What is the most memorable piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t give up. As far as advice goes, you can’t beat that, really.

What is the one piece of advice you’d give?
Let your art be what it is. Often, I’m tempted to make the sort of things that might have a broader appeal but I feel like I would lose the integrity of my art.