Stilosissima ~ full of style!

Isabella ...

Stilosissima

I was born and raised in Italy, in the Venetian area. Being Italian, I've been surrounded by fashion and jewelry my all life and even though my background is about sciences, I found myself so passionate toward something artistic and very creative, that this now is my life, together with my beautiful daughter and my lovely husband.

I have been living in Southern California for about 9 years, and I love it. I am very busy with my jewelry company, my classes, and of course my family and my house; everything I do makes me happy. I am in love with creating my jewelry pieces and my ceramics and I feel very lucky that I can dedicate myself to my art and my family.

My art is varied. I am constantly taking classes to add more techniques and to explore the many possibilities of expressing myself in jewelry and ceramic too.

Stilosissima is a new hot Italian word used by the young generation, it means full of style.

The story behind the choice of this word is that one day I sent few pics about some of my work to my young sister in Italy and she answered me using this "new word".

I sure understood the meaning of it, but I never heard that word before. Anyway I loved that new expression so much that it became the name of my company!

~Isabella - Stilosissima

http://www.stilosissima.com/

http://www.stilosissima.etsy.com/

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LAKE ERIE BEACH GLASS

LEBG...

meet the extraordinary Jodie Pastor

in her own words

I am a wife, a mom, a homeschooler, a business owner, and artist all wrapped up in one.

Lake Erie Beach Glass is where I freely express my artistic side and my love for nature. The jewelry and art I create range from traditional and classical styles to one of a kind, unique, and sometimes "way out there" pieces of art.

My family has dubbed me the "moody maker" because my jewelry and art often reflect a mood or feeling that I am having. One day I sat down and decided to make romantic looking swirls for earwires while on another day I slow fired copper to give it a rose patina, work hardened it, and hammered it for a rougher look!


I grew up in the small town of Spencerville, Ohio and often spent summers on Lake Erie swimming, boating, and of course beachcombing. The draw to the water was always very strong for me and I’ve always found myself with my head down wandering the beaches looking for interesting finds.

It wasn’t until I met my husband Andrew that I started seriously collecting sea glass among other beach found materials. Andrew grew up in the town of Erie, Pennsylvania where we reside now. My family and I enjoy weekly visits to our local beaches where we collect sea glass, melted aluminum, drift wood pieces, stones, and what we like to call, "flotsem and jetsem". Flotsem and Jetsem is the trash that gets left behind carelessly that can hurt our beaches and water. We try to collect as much as possible when we are beachcombing to give a little back to that from which we take.


Together, my family and I make up Lake Erie Beach Glass. We have found everything from Native American trading beads to antique black marbles and fragments of vintage shipwreck lanterns. Part of the intrique of a sea glass hunt is trying to figure out what the pieces were and where they came from! I enjoy searching through antique dealers looking for examples of what a piece could be. I also spend much time researching online and in various libraries and historical societies to further enhance my knowledge of glass history.


I have been collecting glass for over 8 years now widening my area from the western part of Ohio, Pennsylvania and now to the shores of New York state. We have traveled as a family of six to the shores of the Pacific, the Chesapeake, and to the shores of the Atlantic. I’d love to make it to Puerto Rico some day!


My educational history is varied as I have studied fine arts classes at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio along with continued metalsmithing courses here in Erie, Pa and in Cleveland Oh. I am currently embarking on a quest to catalogue the unique colors and rarites of glass found within the confines of the shores of Great Lake Erie.


Lake Erie Beach Glass jewelry is displayed at Glass Grower’s Gallery and KADA Gallery in Erie, Pennsylvania and at Pure Art Gallery in the Cayman Islands. I am an active member of The North American Sea Glass Association (seaglassassociation.com) . I also have jewelry and art listed on eBay and Etsy under lakeeriebeachglass.

www.lakeeriebeachglass.etsy.com

Robin Leath

I have the privelege of introducing you all to the gifted and incredibly warm artist ROBIN LEATH. Below I am copying a questionaire given to Robin by her son that gives you all a glimpse into her loving world and her beautiful art.

Enjoy,

katey~D, editor CAAT

http://www.blueyeduckstudios.blogspot.com/
http://www.blueyeduckstudios.etsy.com/

Hi Mom,

I have to write an artist bio for the Dayton Right to Life Viva program on you. What jobs in arts and crafts have you held (basket making, graphic design for church, etc.)?

1. I started as a teenager assisting our school district art teacher working with the elementary kids & I worked freelance drawing homes for a real estate company that used them to promote their listings.

2. I have always enjoyed teaching art to adults and children especially the homeschoolers!

3. After my youngest son started kindergarten I was offered the opportunity to make the baskets for Heart Warming Creations in London, Ohio - did that about 3 years...til I started having carpal tunnel problems.

4. Working at the churches I did all of the desk top publishing - brochures, bulletins etc, the PowerPoint presentations and Web Page design & publishing.

What age did you get really involve with your art?

Coloring books and paint boxes were always my favorite toys....by age 10 my teachers and family considered me the little artist.

What types of arts and crafts have you dabbled in?

I think I've tried everything but mostly enjoy pencil drawing, watercolor, acrylics, paper arts, doll making, wood carving, chair caning, basket weaving, glass fusing, & now, pottery

What types of your works have you sold?

I have sold original watercolors & acrylic paintings (nationally & internationally - thanks to Ebay!). I made & sold (over two thousand) hand made baskets to Heart Warming Creations.

Where do you see yourself going with your works in the future (selling, keeping as a hobby, contact works, etc.).

This is the way God made me and even at age 52 I'll never tire of learning new things or trying to improve what I'm already doing but whatever opportunities or challenges God sees fit to offer me I will be happy to take on!

~Robin in first person ~

Name: Robin Leath
Born: 9/8/55
Married 10/6/73 to Bill
We are the proud parents of two children, Kristi and Josh, both who are married and a beautiful 2 yr. old granddaughter, Allie.

I was a stay home mom and later after the kids graduated high school I happily worked at a couple different churches as an administrative assistant and media secretary but after 5 or 6 years I began to miss home and hobbies so now I am full time creating and enjoying my art. My husband's company closed up last fall so I am blessed to have him at home with me everyday as we adjust to our "empty nest" stage of life. My husband loves carpentry, gardening and yard work so with our combined interests we have been very busy this summer working on a number of projects:

The "yard art" is so much fun! I have been making fused glass windchimes and covering bowling balls and patio stones with glass and mosaic tile. I just finished up these two stepping stones this week. They are gifts for my son's anniversary and sister who is coming for a visit from Atlanta:

I've also been melting glass. My son needs 65 pendants for the Right To Life fundraiser this fall (he is the Public Relations person) so I am busy cutting and stacking glass to the make the cabs and making choker cords for all of them:

This is the painting I did for the Right to Life Fundraiser featuring Laura Ingraham. This was used for the stationary, invitations, posters and magnets. Laura will sign it and it will end up being sold at the fundraiser's auction.

I've been very excited about my new potter's wheel! I've been watching YouTubes at night that demonstrate how to throw pots...(Simon Leach's are the best) and spend hours and hours during the week practicing. Here are the tiny little pots I've come up with so far - oh, also I bought a OLD USED ceramic kiln at a yard sale a few weeks ago and took it the Vulcan Kiln manufacturer in Dayton, Ohio to get it all fixed up and will pick it up this week! WOOHOO!!!

I'm still painting ACEO's (2.5" x 3.5" format) to sell on Ebay:

I mentioned in the questionaire for my son that I was a basket weaver. I will still sit down at Christmas or special occasions and weave a few for gifts. Here is a picture of the lot I made last Christmas:

This is my studio....believe it or not I just "cleaned" earlier this week.

~Robin

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZleath

RIGHT TO LIFE CHARITY OPPORTUNITY
http://www.daytonlife.org/

I would like to spread the word that if there is anyone out there that has a "miracle birth" story, theirs or somebody they know, Dayton Right to Life is currently looking for their true life stories and as a charitible donation these individuals may submit their story and a piece of their own original art to be auctioned at the charity auction the night of the Laura Ingraham fundraiser. Please contact me a rrleath@woh.rr.com for more details and the address to send their contribution. THANK YOU!!!

Pamela E. Miller ~ in first person

Pamela E. Miller
Contemporary Art




About Me:

“By cultivating the beautiful we scatter the seeds of heavenly flowers, as by doing good we cultivate those that belong to humanity” ~Robert Heinlein

These are just a few words that I like to live by.
I feel that creating art is a way of sharing your soul with others.
As you will see in my artwork: sometimes I am very flamboyant and always colorful, sometimes confidant and peaceful, other times angry or chaotic.
I think all of my emotions; passions come out in my works.
Sometimes I layer it on thick (paint and words) and other times I flirt with the canvas with light feathery strokes.
My art reflects my beliefs in love, warmth, generosity, loyalty, and honesty.
I’m inspired by science, fantasy, martial arts, architecture, and nature (especially water).




Education~
Maryland Institute of Art- Summer School
Howard Community College-Liberal Arts
Capital College-Computer Engineering

Exhibitions~
DMG Artwork– Annapolis, MD “Let it Snow!” Dec 2006
Capital Arts Network Dec “125 Show” Nov 2005 & 2006
DMG Artwork- Annapolis, MD “Enter the World of Abstracts” Oct 2006
DMG Artwork– Marley Station Mall, MD “Paintings by Pam” May 2006
DMG Artwork– Marley Station Mall, MD “Kung Foo Circles” February 2006

Corporate Collections~
Days Inn-Annapolis, MD 80 “Volvo Boats in Annapolis” Prints

Gallery Representation~
DMG Artworks– Annapolis MD
Chesapeake Gallery– Prince Frederick, MD
The Gibraltar Gallery-Little Rock AL
Tutti Fruiti’s French Market- Fairhope AL

Awards~
Artist of the Year (Arts and Entertainment)- H.H.S. 1985
2nd Place: African Americans in Science and Technology Poster Contest 1985
Honorable Mention- H.H.S. 1984
Ebay Art Group-Summer Art Contest Winner 2006
Artwanted.com– 2007 Landscapes/Outdoor Calendar
Artists Spotlight Interview-Creative Spotlight -August 2006





Blog: pmillerabstractart.blogspot.com
Ebay Store: http://stores.ebay.com/P-Miller-Contemporary-Abstract-Art
Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=57441 or allyon67.etsy.com

Easing into green - zJayne's wonderful world of upcycling

Secret Garden Altered Art Assemblage ~ Approx. 7.5" x 3.5"

~

How I Found My Niche ...

If you would have told me a couple or so years ago that at the age of 50 I'd be writing this short article on how I found my niche, I would have just tsk tsk'ed and considered it wishful thinking.

Alas, I think it's happened. Why am I saying 'I think' when I should know? Well, that's because if there's one thing I've noticed a lot in the art community, it's the 'never quite sure' status of our psyche. With that said, I now share with you that I am blessed to have found my niche in art.

I guess I'm a closet recycler and find it hard to toss a piece of metal away that might have another use. Thrifting was becoming a hobby for me, and my favorite finds were vintage belts, purses, and fun tshirts. So when I took a buckle from a vintage belt and collaged a face under it, then cut a piece of soft leather to fit here and a broken piece of earring to fit there, the next thing I knew I was creating Altered Art Dolls. I like knowing that what I am doing has a name, so I found myself at the library looking for words for my art form. That's how I found Altered, Assemblage, and Mixed Media. These were words I was not familiar with, yet I felt like another person was making these dolls and I really liked that other person. It was me, but I was making excuses to those around me for how my art dolls kind of fell together. I was apologizing for my art. Imagine that? I can't believe it myself, but I worked on that behavior, and I've grown in my art and am proud to share.

Madonna Noire Altered Art Assemblage

~

Often, growing up, my friends would call me artsy, and I found myself always wanting to explain to them why. It was a way to justify why my brain works like it does, yet can you ever explain that to another living soul. My dolls come together in a way that works for me. Often I will not know what my intentions will be until I put on some favorite music and start setting my jewelry pieces before me this way and that. My children, who are grown now, always called my music "cleaning music" because I'd get into this mode where I could get something done. I clean much less now and create much more. Music and art make a difference for me on a daily basis.

Having a niche takes away the wondering if I am an artist or not. Often it's not about what I know, it's about how I feel after a piece of art is made and I'm sharing it with others. I do remember wanting to find my own niche. Pretty much all my life I wanted something that made a difference. Art and the wonderful art friends I've crossed paths with make a difference.

I like to call my dolls "Little Things" with this definition:

"No two dolls can ever be identical; each doll has been exquisitely designed and presented for enjoyment, conversation and the unique ability to take a shot at making a difference. Treat yourself to the experience of owning something you like but may not have a reason for… it's surprising how empowering little things can be."

Little things can last a lifetime.

~Jayne Pierce

aka zJayne

http://zjayne.googlepages.com/ or http://www.zjayne.etsy.com/

"Capricorn" ~ Copper ACEO Art Card

~

Amazingly useful wristlet(s) bag/purse and for storage ~ Sizes vary.

Approx. 5/6/7” by 7/8/9” …or smaller or larger (need an exact, just ask)

_______________________________

zJayne’s tShirt Market Bags

So Fun, So Easy to Use, So affordable – Make a Difference

::Upcycle::Recycle::Reclaim::Repurpose::

________________________

"Paper or Plastic No Thank You"

Paper or Plastic? How about neither.

It takes as much petroleum to make 14 plastic bags as it does to drive a car one mile.

Helpful answers to questions you might have:

Q: Do you make the bags from t-shirts or t-shirt material?

A: *All my bags are made from reclaimed tshirts. Even the pouches/wristlets are made from the sleeves of the tshirts cut for the market bags.

Q: If someone purchases a bag, do they choose what the front says?

A: *Yes they can, I have a list of bags that I try to keep current. I keep it on my Profile but it’s always good to pick an extra or two, just in case (or I can pick for you too, just let me know). Sometimes in a ONE bag listing, I will feature a rare, unique, fun bag and the listing says you can choose this bag or another from a current list.

Q: Why are there differences in bag prices?

A: *One bag is $5, Two bags $9, Three bags $12, Six bags for $24 w/low ship price and so forth. Pick the listing for the number of bags you want (ONE, TWO, THREE, SIX, THIRTEEN or TWENTY-SIX)…the more you buy, the better the cost. Not because any one bag is worth more than another…it’s the quantity that lowers the price. Even a ‘featured’ bag can be chosen in a multiple listing, if it’s requested and available.

It's always MAY

Hi all!

I'm May Terry. I'm 56 and live in Portland, Connecticut with my life partner John and three wonderful kitties.


I started working with the visual arts in 2005, and found myself increasingly drawn to digital collage and image manipulation.


While I enjoy working with many different media, digital work allows me a broad outlet for my imagination.


I love to blog, and put a lot of my art up there.


My listings can be found on etsy and on eBay


Stop by my blog and say hello!





(c) 2008 May Terry

SouthShoreArtist

I am Leola Walker. I am 54 and retired. I live in a resort community in Saskatchewan with my husband and two cats.

I started painting a few years ago. I painted on anything I could get my hands on…cement, wood, canvas. You name it, I painted on it.

By chance I learned of Artist Trading Cards (ATC) and mail art. Soon I had collected well over 400 cards. (I'm still collecting). I soon branched out to ACEO's (art cards, editions, originals - the same as ATC’s only ACEO’s are sold rather than traded. Both are always 2.5” x 3.5”) and miniatures (small format art).

Painting in miniature is a passion with me.

I use mainly acrylics, but have dabbled in oils and pencil. I am known mainly for my "element" paintings because of my love for the ever the changing western sky.


You will find me on ebay and on etsy when you search for Southshoreartist.

southshoreartist on ETSY

~

southshoreartist’s BLOG

~

southshoresartist on eBay

and

Living Sky Art Print Emporium
on CafePress

Robert Sloan ~ meet the artist

Covered Bridge ~ original ACEO art 2.5" x 3.5"

Robert's ART on ETSY

Robert A. Sloan, 54, is a disabled science fiction writer and ACEO artist and collector.

He lives in Lawrence, Kansas with his daughter, son-in-law, two toddler grandchildren, their Siberian Husky, Zoe, and his devoted Siamese Samurai, Ari~Cat.

Robert paints, draws, scratches, and creates ACEO's (art cards, editions, originals: always measuring 2.5" x 3.5") in most fine art mediums out there.

He is currently working on a series of oil ACEO's on canvas boards and masonite panels.

You will find more art and writing from Robert by visiting him on...

eBay , DeviantArt , and LiveJournal.

art & content (c) 2008 Robert Sloan

CaaT on ETSY - WELCOME REFUGEES

~ Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers ~


We got somethin' we both know it ~ We don't talk too much about it ~ Yeah it ain't no real big secret all the same ~ Somehow we get around it ~ Listen, it don't really matter to me baby ~ You believe what you want to believe ~ You see you don't have to live like a refugee ~ Somewhere, somehow somebody Must have kicked you around some ~ Tell me why you wanna lay there And revel in your abandon ~ Listen it don't make no difference to me baby ~ Everybody's had to fight to be free ~ You see you don't have to live like a refugee ~ Now baby you don't have to live like a refugee ~ Baby we ain't the first I'm sure a lot of other lover's been burned ~ Right now this seems real to you ~ But it's one of those things ~ You gotta feel to be true ~ Somewhere, somehow somebody Must have kicked you around some ~ Who knows, maybe you were kidnapped Tied up, taken away and held for ransom ~ It don't really matter to me ~ Everybody's had to fight to be free ~ You see you don't have to live like a refugee ~ I said you don't have to live like a refugee

Welcome To CaaT ~ Complementary Art and Things

CaaT was founded in 2005 by Blueyeduckstudios for artists on eBay in the form of an eBay discussion board. With all the recent fee and feedback changes imposed by eBay, many art sellers have fled to other selling venues to broaden their selling horizons. Dozens of CaaT members have expanded their vision, blueyeduckstudios included, to sell primarily on the HANDMADE venue of Etsy.com.

This blog is a gathering place for CaaT artists and the blogging community - to exchange encouragement and commentary. We will discuss our showcased art found on both ETSY and eBay - as well as on other venues. CaaT artists no longer need to feel like eBay refugees - scattered all over, alone ... we are a community no matter where we offer our art.

~~~~~~~~

CaaT ~COMPLEMENTARY ART & THINGS ~ is a fabulous place to talk about your art, your website, your ETSY shop, your eBay auctions, ETC! We are simply a gathering of friends and artists (with art of all sizes, styles, and mediums) discussing and promoting one another's art and/or other arty items.

We hope to COMPLEMENT one another in the creating process as well as help to make our fellow artist/seller find a completeness in her/his ART by way of fresh ideas, reviews, encouragement and brainstorming! Our arms are open to the art collecting community - to exchange meaningful dialogue as we showcase or wares and delight one another with our fabulous creations.

We are so much more than "just another group". We support and encourage the ARTIST - we promote the spirit of the Artist along with his/her art! We have a SUCCESSFUL group acronym (exclusive to CaaT members) for seekers to use to find our fabulous ART on eBay - which is now expanding to ETSY.

We welcome comments and discussion from buyers and the blogging community as we showcase our art here.

Joy in the journey,

katey-D / blueyeduckstudios (on etsy and eBay)

CaaT Founder