Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Meet the Fabulous Robin Wade!

Druzzy Love to Dance by Robin Wade
Robin at Work


Work in Progress

 Robins Studio
Robin Wade is an amazing Artisan her creative process includes the use of the discarded and unused. I purchased one of her pieces a few weeks ago and was so delighted and touched that we decided it was her time to shine in the spotlight!

What prompted you to open an Etsy Shop?
For almost the entire three of so years I've been creating jewelry, people have been telling me I should open a shop on Etsy. It seemed intriguing but there were so many uncertainties that I stopped myself. I thought the process of setting up a shop and managing it would be too complicated and overwhelming. I reasoned that people might not want to purchase my creations. There was always an excuse not to open a shop, and yet there was also a tug to push myself to give it a try. Last June 16th, my friend Leah Peterson was visiting and staying with me for a week. She has an Etsy shop and agreed to sit down and walk me through the setup. I was blown away at how easy the whole process was!



 Your stories about each piece you create are intriguing, how do you get your ideas?
I had to have some kind of description for each post so decided to create little stories about each piece. The stories are based on how I see the piece as it's created.  Much to my surprise... the stories have become an important part of each creation. I get messages from people daily about how their special piece helped them deal with a physical or emotional struggle. Knowing that one of my little angels or other creations have touched someone's life in a positive way is amazing! My life has been enriched by the countless people I've met through my Etsy shop. I look forward to hearing from people who want to share a bit of their life and why the piece they chose has touched them. I will never regret pushing myself to take a risk and give Etsy a chance. My life has changed in so many good ways because of it. 

Tell us a little bit about your creative process ad how you got started.
I started drawing and painting several years ago as a way to express what I was feeling inside. I found that creating art was my passion and it has been very important in my life. I worked for many years with children from birth through 18 years that had been abandoned, neglected, and abused. I loved my work with children and I sometimes give them voice through my art today. I started to create jewelry after taking a basic silversmith class and learning how to solder a bezel. Once I figured out how to solder different metals together... I went my own direction and started setting all kinds of materials in silver. The angels and other little sculptured figures evolved out of learning those basic skills. It took a while to learn how to successfully solder several joints without melting the previous ones... or the entire piece. I've approached the jewelry as a sculpture. I sculpt wings, faces, and other pieces out of Fimo and then create molds so I can reproduce them with PMC. I cut, solder, and set different materials to create each piece. The challenge of incorporating different materials is always exciting to me. Each piece that I create kind of tells me how it want's to look. I don't gather specific materials for each piece. My workbench is full of bits of re-purposed sterling, copper,brass, rocks, broken ceramic bits, buttons,typewriter keys, and on. It's organized to me... but most people would probably see it as chaos.
  
What are your Favorite Shop on Etsy?
The true answer is I don't have 1 absolute favorite.... I have several for different reasons.  If we are talking Vintage stuff my favorite would be CoolVintage because I love the old dug up and found objects.  It's kind of like experiencing a small "dig" without actually digging.  If we are talking jewelry... I love QuenchMetalWorks.  She does amazing work with buttons and sterling.  I use both in my own work but in very different ways. I absolutely love KatHannah's paintings/prints.  Her work is deep, beautiful, remotely uncomfortable and quietly thought provoking.  If I had to choose one... (painful)... it would be her shop.
Please visit RobinWade today!

To win this weeks fabulous Vintage Ephemera Package!
Follow this blog!
Please Share this Article!
Comment on this article and copy and paste your favorite item from my shop, please tell us why you love it!
The winner will be announced next Wednesday!
You can see the winning items and a full description at Niftic Vintage


Monday, April 25, 2011

Mystery Guest Wednesday!
A Artisan who Recycles to Create Her Stunning Wares!
Gift this Week
 A Vintage Ephemera Vignette Pack!
The winner will receive a great assortment of goodies to use as a vignette, props for photo's
or to make something lovely!
You can view the whole package at Niftic Vintage.


Tuesday, April 19, 2011

To Even Say AMAZING Would be an Understatement!

 
I have just received the most Amazing Work of ART Pendant!
Words can not describe the pure beauty, workmanship, time and talent that have 
gone into this one-of-a-kind masterpiece. 
Delicate yet strong, obviously made with love, this pendant will be with me forever!
Please visit RobinWade
You will be thrilled as well, a true master at her craft in every sense of the word!
She is truly one of the most gifted on Etsy.


Saturday, April 16, 2011

Vintage Store Closing Soon! Brick & Mortar Closing...

 
The time has come to finally say goodbye to my brick and mortar
Vintage and Antique Shop.
It has been a  long hard road filled with excitement, energy and creativity. Unfortunately not the type of creativity that I enjoy. Long hours, tons of paperwork and so little time to enjoy the good things in life such as painting, sewing, assemblage and of course Etsy. The store is in total disarray and chaos for now, I have closed for a short time to try and sift through the many vintage and antiques items trying to decide what can go and what should stay to furnish my home and to resell on Etsy. I think you will enjoy the mess and the chaos, perhaps you will spy a treasure as well. Some of what you see will be going on Etsy, some will stay with me but most will be sold at my closing sale. Enjoy my friends, this is not a sad time but one of rejuvenation!
I'm so looking forward to getting back to a real life, this just wasn't for me any longer.
Just the tip of the iceberg on vintage linens! I have a whole back room full!
My back room, I NEED help!
 This baby took me forever to refurbish! Don't think I can sell it!
I'll be stitching back the pieces and moving on!
See anything interesting? Let me know...




Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Just Arrived TODAY!
I'm so pleased with this wonderful Art Deco Teapot!
Stop by and see

This Made My Day!
I just received this treasure from

She will make me smile every day!
Please visit this wonderful seller today