Meet our Members: Lapis Beach

Meet Lauren of Lapis Beach.


Tell us a bit about yourself.
A little bit about yourself. I have always loved to create and have been knitting for over 15 years. About 3 years ago, I visited a knitting convention, picked up rayon, beads and the tiniest needles I have ever seen...and I never turned back. I made hand knit bracelets for family and friends...and due to inquiries about the unique bracelets...lapisbeach was born. I love to create different color mixes for my pieces and I try to add new designs often.

Apart from creating, what do you do?

Apart from creating - I am a mother who is constantly "on call" due to one of my son's having epilepsy. I feel very fortunate I can be a stay at home mother who is able to offer my creations through etsy.

What first made you want to become an artist?
I think deep down I always wanted to be an artist- but shyed away from the idea in college. I took many art classes - but thought to be successful, I needed to focus in other areas. A Masters degree and a PhD degree later- and I am back to what I love to do...art! Hindsight is a funny thing;)

Please describe your creative process.
My creative process comes from many things. I am inspired by color and nature. I used to write all of my knitting patterns from scratch and have done the same with my knitted line of jewelry. I see a piece in my mind, and I take the needles and start to create....sometimes it works out...sometimes it does not. I constantly tweek my designs and color combinations.
What handmade possession do you most cherish?
Hmmmm...I would have to say a book one of my son's made. There was such effort put into that handmade book...I will always cherish it.

Name your top five books, movies, musicians, and websites besides Etsy.
My husband and I love to watch movies and I am usually knitting a piece every time- so I will go with movies I love for this one.
Overboard
The Princess Bride
So I Married an Axe Murderer
Forrest Gump
Silence of the Lambs
A Christmas Story
Music- My taste is too eclectic to desribe...I can listen to everything from classical to modern top 40 hits.
Books- I love a quick beach read...anything from James Patterson will usually do.
Websites- I guess there are a few- but when I steal moments on the computer- most are spent on Etsy.

What advice would you give to artists who are new to Etsy?
Advice....I am not sure I could give advice, as I am somewhat new myself. I guess I would encourage them to list new items often. Have really good photographs and even when you think they are wonderful- re-photograph items often. You would be surprised at how much better a photograph can be. It is about time for another re-shoot on my items again. I would also encourage them to read Etsy's blog. Read the marketing emails, they can inspire new creations fitting themes and color schemes.

How do you promote your work?
I stink at promotion- no matter how hard I try. I am much better promoting a friend's items- then my own. I do have a twitter account, fb account and I am considering a Kaboodle account- but I am not sure where I would find the time to fit another one in. Thank goodness I have met some wonderful friends through Etsy - who help me promote my work.

In ten years, where would you like to be?
In ten years I would love to still be creating. I would love to grow my business every year. It would be a dream come true if lapisbeach could become a full time business. I am passionate about my work and for that to be my "job" would be amazing.


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Visit Lauren's Etsy shop at http://lapisbeach.etsy.com
Follow her on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001218641369&ref=ts





Cheers,

Fen Li

Bead Flora and Jewels

Sweets Swap

Sweets Winter Swap... yeah, we're starting early this year. Names have  been matched. Deadline to get to your sweet is November 15th 2010.

You can still enter your info to be on a waiting list if you've missed sign-up and will match you up if there are more than person in the waiting list.
Waiting List form

I have sent everyone an email already with the form info. Convo me if you haven't received it.
Convo Me


Now the fun begins!
After reading the form and you still would like to ask your sweet a question without revealing your identity, ask her here by using this form:
Ask Your Sweet a Question

What next?
So what happens after you send that question into the black hole of the form? Stuff happens... ;) I forward your question to the appropriate Sweet and a link to the question form. I will be sending emails daily (if there are daily answers)

Questions are welcome :)

Cheers,
Fen Li.
Bead Flora and Jewels

May's Challenge

Happy May Day!

Boy, time does get away from me somehow. Anyway, after informally polling members posting in the thread, it has been decided to continue April's hand embroidery challenge into May. Several Sweets had plans to embroider, but just not the time, or the health to get to it. Holly Anne's morning sickness is hopefully fading fast, and she can make an adorable bib for her little bean.

Michael's always has lots of cute little kits that come with everything you need, except maybe needle and scissors.

Happy Sewing,
Elle
Jenna Belle Designs

April's Challenge

The vote is in! Of course, you can all see the run off poll over there, but hand embroidery is our challenge for the month. One quick search of the interweb and you can find plenty of how to's, but here is one to get you started. Feel free to continue on with the other challenges. Ginny had some great late entries to January's ACEO challenge!

April Craft Challenge Poll

The April Fool's joke is on me this month, and April totally fooled me and is showing up tomorrow. The poll for the craft challenge is up now, and since it's late, I've shortened the time for voting. Voting ends Sunday at midnight, and as always choose up to 3.

How are you doing on the March challenge? I confess that I have not made any flowers, but I did take some arty photos yesterday, and will post them tonight in the Daily Sweets Pool (or at least one of them). Don't feel bad if you didn't get to the challenge because there are always more challenges around the corner. And we all know that sometimes it's a challenge just to get our own craft taken care of.

~Elle
Jenna Belle Designs

Spring is in the Air- More Beautiful Creations from the Daily Sweets

February Bonus Craft Challenge -- Drink Up

I wanted to post the results of the Bonus Craft Challenge For February... decorating porcelain mugs with special pens. Ten of us dedicated some time and resources tracking down Pebeo pens, and some appropriate mugs to discover an easy, and thoroughly addicting new craft. After experimenting with another kind of pen that says it is designed to write on ceramics, Kila found out that yes, indeed, the kind that require baking in the oven to achieve permanency are what you need. Any type of porcelain mug will do. Deb discovered that Pebeo pens are not food/beverage safe, so her mug, with a beautiful sun on the inside, has become a pen holder.

I think Sue made the most mugs, making one for everyone in her family for Valentine's Day. Take a look at some of our efforts:

Well done, Deb, Elle, Kila, Kim, Meagan, Melissa, Sarah, Sue, Wendy and Kylie! Click here to see the larger versions of the pictures, so you can see the great quotes, and to see some other views of these mugs.

 Have you started on your paper flowers yet or checked out what's blooming with some great spring photography? I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!