Artisan Snapshot: Jen Johnson of Mama's Magic Studio

And now, for our final installment of our "Artisan Snapshot Series" - Jen Johnson of Mama's Magic Studio! Jen is our fearless SF Etsy Team Captain (for almost a year now) and we couldn't have made it this far without her. 

Get to know a little more of what's behind the magic by reading just a bit more about Jen:

• Who are you? And what drives to you create!?

I'm Jen, the Mama in Mama's Magic Studio, and I make Handmade Magic. I've always been a crafty, creative sort. Before my kids were born, much of that creative energy went into writing (I'm a published poet). When I became a mother, all that changed. My son was born in 2005, my daughter in 2007, and even as life has settled down a bit after those whirlwind baby days, I still find it really hard to carve out the kind of time and focus that my muse requires. (Aside from blogging, I don't do a lot of writing these days.)

Bird's Nest Pendant for a Boy & a Girl
by MamasMagicStudio - $37 USD

 But I still have a lot of creative energy, and I find myself going a little crazy when it doesn't get used. Handcrafts and jewelry design are good outlets for that energy for me right now while I'm staying home full time with the kids. When the kids see my hands busy making something beautiful, they are able to understand "Mommy is BUSY!" Sitting in front of a computer screen or staring at a piece of paper with pen in hand doesn’t have the same effect!

When & why did you start your Etsy shop?

I opened my first Etsy shop (bfbeads) in 2006, when Etsy was still in Beta. I closed that shop shortly after I opened Mama's Magic Studio in 2008.

I believe that something truly magical happens when an artist's hands create. When the hands finish the work, something new and beautiful exists in the world. To me, that's magic -- even though I know and experience the effort and skill required by every step of the process. Handmade magic is not the result of a wave of a wand! It's a labor of love, and (aside from being a Mama) the most satisfying thing I know. I opened my Etsy shop to share that magic and love with the world.

Knitting Needles & Yarn Earrings in Magenta
by MamasMagicStudio - $20 USD

What other favourite hobbies/activities do you enjoy?

I'm a bit of a crafting junkie, and I enjoy learning new skills and techniques. I've taken classes in basket weaving and millinery (hat making). I enjoy knitting, quilting, sewing, cooking, and playing with my kids. My husband and I used to be pretty good swing dancers; I wish we had more time to keep in practice. I'm also a huge bookworm, and when my hands aren't busy with parenting or crafting, they are usually holding a book.

To find out more about Jen & her awesome creations, please click on the links below:

ETSY // WEBSITE // BLOG // FB // TWITTER 

ARTFIRE // SF ETSY BLOG

Check out Mama's Magic Studio & 16 other artists at Winter Wonderland Craft Bazaar - Saturday December 4th, from 1PM to 9 PM at Urban Bazaar (1371 9th Ave, San Francisco).

RSVP on Facebook!

Artisan Snapshot: Samantha Barsky of noteify

• Who are you? And what drives you to create?!

I am a freelance art director/designer and a crafter/creator of the stationery line, note•ify. I love to create things from photos to cards to big messes.

I consider my work Farm Chic, inspired by the farms and animals I run across in my life.  Most all of my cards are based on my original photography, so I spend a lot of time around animals, but I like people too!

 When and why did you start your Etsy shop?

I started my Etsy shop in 2006 before anyone really knew what Etsy was.  I wanted to try selling the note cards and gift tags that I had been making for my friends and family who kept saying, "You should sell these."

How do you combat "creative blocks" in your life?

I leave my apartment.  I work from home, so I spend a lot of time there.  I get outside and take a walk with my camera, or I drive out to the coast, go to the zoo, or visit some farms in Petaluma.

To find out more about Samantha & her wonderful wares, feel free to click on the links: 

BLOG // WEBSITE // TWITTER // FB

Check out note•ify & 16 other artists at Winter Wonderland Craft Bazaar - Saturday December 4th, from 1PM to 9 PM at Urban Bazaar (1371 9th Ave, San Francisco).

RSVP on Facebook!

Artisan Snapshot: Heather Logsdon of Heathered

• Who are you? And what drives to you create!?

I'm Heather of Heathered- backpacker, musician, and tragically seasick ocean-lover. I hand-make everything in my San Francisco studio from materials that would otherwise end up in landfills- vintage newspapers, maps, postcards, books, airline safety cards, scraps of fabric. 

I create to share with others. Every wallet I make has had a former life. My vintage postcard wallets are the best example of this. One postcard was sent from Germany to San Francisco in 1962 and ended up in a thrift store in 2010. The writer told his friend the museum was closed so he walked around the countryside and made friends with a goat, also to say hello to his cat. The person that bought the wallet wrote the 1962 postcard recipient a letter and asked about her trip and enclosed a photo of herself holding her former postcard that I had made into a wallet. We never heard back from the recipient but the people that live in the Larkin St. apartment now probably had a good time reading the letter. I call them "Found Adventures Furthered". 

Marshall Half Stack guitar amp felt wallet w/ pick pocket
by Heathered - $22 USD

 When & why did you start your Etsy shop?

I opened my Etsy shop in December 2007. My first sale was about 3 minutes after I listed my first wallet. I was hooked. 

It all started after I made a few painted canvas wallets for friends and family. That turned into me sitting at the sewing machine after work, cranking out mustache wallets and cat toys shaped like speech bubbles and Narwhallets (wallets with narwhals on them). I didn't need more than one (or maybe two) wallets and I didn't have any cats. It seemed creepy to keep the stockpile I had amassed so my Etsy shop was created so I'd look like less of a crazy cat lady. 

• What other favourite hobbies/activities do you enjoy?

Scooting and band practice are my two favorite activities. My trusty Vespa S150, Sergio, will soon appear on a new wallet design and I just joined a newly forming orchestral indie-pop band called, Hungry Hungry Ghost. If anything is "meant" to be done, playing in a band is my thing. 

To find out a little more about Heathered, feel free to click on the following links:

PORTFOLIO // BLOG // ETSY //

ETSY (VINTAGE) // FB  

Check out Heathered & 16 other artists at Winter Wonderland Craft Bazaar - Saturday December 4th, from 1PM to 9 PM at Urban Bazaar (1371 9th Ave, San Francisco).

RSVP on Facebook!

Artisan Snapshot: Moriah Hart of Moriahart

Who are you? And what drives to you create!?
I'm a California native who caught the clay bug while still in school and is now a full fledged clay addict. 
When & why did you start your Etsy shop?
I started my Etsy shop this summer because I make more pottery than I can possibly take to shows. And not everything does well at every show.

Describe your creative process 
My creative process is usually, hey I bet I can make that or that would be cool on clay 
How did you come up with your business name?
First name & last name essentially, also used it for my website I made ages ago.
 
Moriah's Photography Assistant
What does a day in your life look like?
Day job, then claywork or sketching for claywork. 
What other favourite hobbies/activities do you enjoy?
I enjoy reading and traveling.  
How do you combat "creative blocks" in your life?
I don't really have creative blocks, I have so many notes and sketches and pictures of things that have inspired me that I have enough ideas for a couple lifetimes. 
 To find out more about Moriah & her wonderful wares, feel free to click on the links:

ETSY // WEBSITE

Check out Moriahart & 16 other artists at Winter Wonderland Craft Bazaar - Saturday December 4th, from 1PM to 9 PM at Urban Bazaar (1371 9th Ave, San Francisco).

RSVP on Facebook!

Artisan Snapshot: Gabrielle Lessard of Mangosteen Jewelry

• Who are you? And what drives to you create?

Who am I?  I'm nerdy, but not cool tech geek nerdy - more like high school literacy society nerdy.  I'm a loner with communitarian ideals.  I don't understand how people can't love animals.   I think that being intellectually honest requires a through mastery of the details and that you don't understand something if you can't explain it in simple terms. 

What drives me to create?  I'm inspired by nature.  KIDDING!  I don't know, I've always made things.  It just took me a while to find a medium that allowed me to produce stuff I like.  When I was a kid we had this craft book called "100 Things to Make and Do."  I wish I still had it.  I think I only made 97 of them.

Ivy Leaf Fine Silver Casual Necklace
by Mangosteen Jewelry - $40 USD

•  When & why did you start your Etsy shop?

I started my etsy shop in 2009, after my friend Anna told me about etsy.  I had started making and selling beaded jewelry about a year before, which was an outgrowth of an importing business I had started. I wanted to put the imports and jewelry on two different sites, especially as I moved the importing business in the direction of fair trade.

•  How did you come up with your business name?

Blue Quartz Drop Earrings
by Mangosteen Jewelry - $26 USD

My business is named for my favorite fruit, which only grows in tropical climates like Southeast Asia. The name made a lot more sense for the imports side of the business, since it was about something wonderful that you can't get here. Unfortunately, after I chose that business name, mangosteen juice became widely available in the U.S. and was widely promoted as having various health benefits.  People who drink the juice often come up to me at craft fairs and want to talk about it. You can't imagine how much I enjoy that.

What other favourite hobbies/activities do you enjoy?

I love to travel, usually alone, and focus on photography when I travel.   Most recently I was in Bhutan and Laos.  I bicycle, which I need to do more, and volunteer usher at the Berkeley Rep.  I also volunteer for a lot of events at the Crucible.

 To find out more about Gabrielle & her wonderful wares, feel free to click on the links:

ETSY // ETSY (DESTASH) // FB

Check out Mangosteen Jewelry & 16 other artists at Winter Wonderland Craft Bazaar - THIS SATURDAY December 4th, from 1PM to 9 PM at Urban Bazaar (1371 9th Ave, San Francisco).

RSVP on Facebook!

Artisan Snapshot: Even Howard of nadene

• Who are you? And what drives to you create!?

I'm Even Howard, a maker of many things and a dreamer of more.  I have a mind that observes and then transforms, it's difficult for me to not create!  Since moving to San Francisco from Montana two years ago, I have found a good hide-out above the ocean and I let my mind work on the combining string with the moods of the natural world at play around me. 

I love to learn from the techniques of the past and then give myself creative challenges like taking a technique of historical value and bringing it into modern accessories or thinking of a design element and imagining how a matched set for a pair of lovers would work.  I identify with my pioneer ancestors, actually familial as well as kindred in spirit; every medium is of interest to me and it all comes back to building up one's own life and home.  An expression of self or a created scene to share.

Custom Bridesmaid Friendship Necklaces
by nadene - $58 USD

When & why did you start your Etsy shop? 

I'm an original Etsy member, the 'oldest' still selling.  I started on Etsy because I was living abroad so any connections to the creative processes of my worldwide peers was a joy that wasn't always easy to find.

How did you come up with your business name? 

Nadene was a beloved raven.  I knew her during one of my summers in Alaska.  She had been pushed from the nest and adopted by my uncle.  She knew her name, sung out in two ringing syllables, and would come tottering to see, especially when it was he who called.  She never quite learned to fly and became as domestic underfoot as a dog.

Custom Driftwood Bib Necklace
nadene - $68 USD

 Her parents often flew over and I watched them converse with their daughter.  She was friendly and would cuddle in your sleeping bag during the night and happily sneak salmon scraps from under the porch by day. Her health deteriorated within one season and she spent the last few days of her life at a raptor center where they thought she had a spinal degeneration issue, perhaps the reason she was pushed from the nest.  I've always been inspired by her expressive voice, her dark eyes, and her great presence.  When I set out to open a shop to celebrate my creative heart melding with travels and the natural world, I wanted to honor her gifts.

Tea Time Set - by nadene - $48 USD

 What does a day in your life look like?

My boyfriend and I sometimes joke about this because some days it is *so* ideal... On a morning when I rise early I like to have tea outside while overlooking the ocean and just see 'what's coming' as I watch the west.  I keep a majority of my string in one box, so it's very portable.  If it's sunny out, I'll sit outside and work on designs.  Later I might go to the art studio which I share in the Sunset and do some finishing work or sewing.  If it's a 'work' day I may teach up to three yoga classes.  My favorite days often end with a burrito.  

Other days I worry because I am far from my family, can't pay a bill, or have little of the trappings that make up the modern 'secure' lifestyle.  I try to turn those days into burrito days.

To find out more about Even and her amazing wares, feel free to click on the following links:

WEBSITE // ETSY // FB // TWITTER // BLOG

FB (Art Studio Group)

Check out nadene & 16 other artists at Winter Wonderland Craft Bazaar -  THIS SATURDAY December 4th, from 1PM to 9 PM at Urban Bazaar (1371 9th Ave, San Francisco).

RSVP on Facebook!

Artisan Snapshot: Kevin Clarke of Bug Under Glass

• Who are you? And what drives to you create!?

My name is Kevin from BugUnderGlass and learning about all the fascinating stories, strategies and designs in the natural world really drives me to create.  I studied ants in Grad. School and I believe they are one of the most creative animals around – they are my inspiration. 

• When & why did you start your Etsy shop?

I started my ETSY store in January 2009 and wanted an online outlet that had lots of eyes.  EBAY seemed too generic for me and not really for artists.

Awesome items in the "Flea Circus" can be found here.

A few of Kevin's Favourites: 

BOOKS

Travels with Charley – John Steinbeck

A Journey of the Ants – E.O. Wilson

Where Does the Money Go – Scott Bittle (everyone should read this – I love macro economics)

Guns, Germs Steel – Jarad Diamond

 MOVIES

Microcosmos

Shawshank Redemption

Murderball

Nature Documentaries

Baraka

Nowhere in Africa

• How did you come up with your business name?

A fun acronym for B.U.G. – Bug Under Glass

• What does a day in your life look like?

I wake up at 6 a.m mainly because my wife is a teacher and then start  answering emails.  Next, I start packing and sending orders until 9am and take a break by walking my dog.  Then it is bugs all day, usually until 8 or 9 o’clock.  I work way too much.

• How do you promote your work? Do you have any best tips & tricks of the trade?

My work is very easy to promote because the insects pretty much sell themselves.  A products story is a biggest selling point and if you can tell that well you should do okay.

To find out more about Kevin & his wonderful wares, feel free to click on the links:

ETSY // WEBSITE // FB // TWITTER

Kevin will be showing his works from Bug Under Glass at Winter Wonderland Craft Bazaar on Saturday, December 4th from 1PM to 9 PM at Urban Bazaar in the Inner Sunset! Come check out more of his works on display and find out a little more about the process that goes into his work while shopping for a unique gift.

RSVP on Facebook!

Artisan Snapshot: Amy O'Brien of Me Make Stuff

As one of the curators for the Winter Wonderland Craft Bazaar, I take great pride in the fact that we exclusively hand-picked local artists for this event. We got to know a little more about their products and their stories. 


Before December 4th, we'd like if you came to the show knowing a little bit more about the creator behind the hand-crafted gifts you'll be purchasing. 


Please take this opportunity to discover a little bit more about what it means to "Shop Local & Support Handmade" by reading our Artisan Snapshot Series!

• Who are you? And what drives to you create!?

Hi there! I am Amy Lee O'Brien, I am someone who goes coo-coo if I do not have a creative outlet. I am an only child so much of my childhood was spent using my imagination and I think that has guided me through my life.

• When & why did you start your Etsy shop?

I have had my Etsy shop memakestuff.etsy.com for two years now. I started it as a type of excuse to put a lot of energy into being creative, if I make a couple of bucks at something that brings me happiness...GREAT!

• Describe your creative process.

My creative process....the most important thing is to carve some time out just for me to do my thing...I am seeking inspiration all the time, running errands, hanging out with the kiddos, driving....if I see some colors or an image that looks good to me, I will just quickly sketch it out or take a photo. Then (usually late at night when the fam is sleeping) I play with what has inspired me and create something with it. Sometimes beer or wine is involved.

•  How did you come up with your business name?

My son, who is now 10, used to say things like "me loves you" and "me can does it", this was very endearing to me so I used his 2 year old language and came up with "Me Make Stuff."

•  What does a day in your life look like?

Pretty chaotic to be honest, I have two kids, a husband who travels A LOT for work and a dog...I also teach fitness classes...so every day is a new juggling act really...sometimes the balls are flying gracefully through the air...other times they are rolling all over the floor like crazy.

• How do you combat "creative blocks" in your life?

Hmmmm....beer?

• What other favourite hobbies/activities do you enjoy?

I love to spend time outdoors, hiking, bicycling, skiing...just being calm in nature. Reading is also HUGE for me, I just got a Kindle and I'm getting into a little financial trouble with how freaking fast books are now available to me.

To find out more about Amy & her wonderful wares, feel free to click on the links:

ETSY // BLOG

Check out Me Make Stuff & 17 other artists at Winter Wonderland Craft Bazaar - Saturday December 4th, from 1PM to 9 PM at Urban Bazaar (1371 9th Ave, San Francisco).

RSVP on Facebook!

Featured Artist Series: Katy Atchison

Our first pick for the Featured Artist series will be Katy Atchison from Katy Atchison Illustration! A member of the SF Etsy Street Team, Katy has just finished doing the graphic design for the upcoming Winter Wonderland Craft Bazaar that's being sponsored by Etsy, INC. A talented artist with real desire to create beauty in the world, it's a pleasure getting to know the story behind Katy.

KATY ATCHISON ILLUSTRATION

Photo of Katy Atchison by J. Astra Brinkmann

• Who are you? 

I’m Katy! Katy, Katy Atchison... A Graphic and Web designer who has a soft spot for anything so cute you want to instantly pinch its cheeks.

•  And what drives to you create!?

More like...who...as the daughter of a Potter and a Weaver. Granddaughter to a painter. I’ve always been surrounded by art my whole life. Having an art studio incorporated into my home was natural, and a general requirement for a happy life. Creating art is so much of who I am...that I’m pretty sure if I wasn’t doing it...everyone around me would tell me I’m not being true to the core of who I am. 

Really tho...by day I sit at a computer...so at night, I try my best to unplug and deflate my brain into a mush of paint and varnish fumes.

I’ve always had that drive behind me where I feel that if I stop creating art, I’m doing a disservice to myself.

•  When & why did you start your Etsy shop? 

Hoot by Katy Atchison
Available at Three Twin's Ice Cream

 My Etsy shop is my “overflow” shop. It’s a place for my fans to come and shop. About a year and a half ago I started putting up my work at Three Twin’s Ice Cream in the Lower Haight here in SF. They have been so kind to me...allowing me to keep my artwork up this whole time. I have sold around 3 paintings a month...but there’s always that painting that just doesn’t grab that particular audience...and after a few months, I just need to allow other people to see it. So it lands on Etsy. I really LOVE that I’m able to have an Etsy shop because I can even allow some of my fans to preview new items...get a first grab at it before it hits the shop and it’s been a venue where people have been able to reach out to me via Etsy Mail and ask questions...It’s been a great way to connect to people.

Also, I believe that art should be affordable and available for people. Having a painting or a drawing or even a beautiful piece of pottery in your home to enjoy each day brings a lot of warmth into a home. I want to give people the opportunity to have a piece of art, or gift one to make someone’s home warm and inviting. Etsy allows me to reach people that wouldn’t be able to see my work otherwise. 

"Katy's Beautiful Apartment: The Pullback"
by J. Astra Brinkmann

• Describe your creative process

I carry around a sketch pad with me all the time. And If I forgot it, I’ll sometimes use a receipt during an emergency. If I get an idea for a painting, I’ll sketch it out during my 25 min. commute ...and usually the saying comes last. 

I love to get ideas from my friends – so recently, I painted a little head of garlic and asked my Facebook fans what they would have him saying. Lauren Puff won with the saying “I Stinking Love you”. It made me giggle and I just know that little painting will sell quickly.

"Katy's Beautiful Apartment : The Table Spotlight"
by J. Astra Brinkmann

I sit down at my art table or with a sketch pad and my Prismacolor markers about once a week (usually Friday evenings when most people my age are out partying it up...). I have this insane closet that is chalked full of art supplies. Sometimes I feel a little overwhelmed by the large # of available creative outlets I have in my house... So usually...I just start simple with backgrounds...I’ll commit to getting some backgrounds done for the evening first. Then, I’ll take a background that has been painted and remember all the little ideas that I had bottled up for the week and paint one of them if I have time.

It’s natural for me to steer towards the cute side of this world. Whimsical lines, lots of lashes on the eyes of my characters and usually at least one heart fill the canvas.Lately I’ve been painting on wood and have enjoyed how the softness of the colors enhance my work. Sadly, they take SO long since the wood sucks up so much of the paint... I usually like to work quick and dirty – paint on pre-stretched canvas. It keeps the cost of the painting down.

"Katy's Beautiful Apartment: Over The Shoulder" by J. Astra Brinkmann

•   Top 5 fave books, movies, music, artists...

I listen to Pandora A LOT when creating art. My favorite station right now is the one that my boyfriend made from me which is called "Bet Katy will Like this"...and it's created from multiple seeds... Passion Pit, Wallpaper and I think he threw in some Katy Perry - so every once and a while there's a random Chris Brown song that will come on (insta Thumbs Down)...

but really I just LOVE me some pop. Keep the beets thumping, get my butt wigglin' from side to side and I'm down. Everytime I hear a Chromeo song I start to get all hyped up.

But then again...I get just as excited when I hear some good ol' Disco on the radio. 

•  What does a day in your life look like?

"Katy's Beautiful Apartment:
Big Cat Little Lady"
by J. Astra Brinkmann

I’m the busiest person you know....but as I’m thinking about this now, it just seems like I’m really very vanilla-regular. 

Everyday I get up at 7 – maybe 7:20am really cause I like to hit snooze...

Tuna and I get up and hang out for a bit. Yeah....my cat’s name is Tuna and she’s the best roommate I’ve never had. (‘cept she steals paint brushes...she’s conspiring to end my painting career)

I work 8:30-5:30 weekdays and then come home and work some more for other online clients, dinner with friends, craft night at my house, cooking classes at my house...or my boyfriend will come over and we will make dinner together. I spend most all of the weekend creating art and trying to keep myself on time for commitments...I volunteer my time A LOT and it allows me to stay connected to my community. Living alone, I’ve found that keeping myself busy is the only way to keep myself active. Also...it helps that I don’t have a TV...so I’m challenged to keep my mind active by being active in the world around me or keeping my hands busy with a new craft concept.

I love to cook. So often, I'm experimenting with a new cookie recipe often or making a new batch of roasted veggie soup. 

• How do you promote your work? Do you have any best tips & tricks of the trade?

Make your cards and flyers so amazing that people HAVE TO HAVE IT! I get about one email every other week from a person has picked up my card somewhere and they researched me online. I go through nearly 200 cards per month! No joke!

How does this happen for me?! My cards are adoooorable... And I have more than one design. So people will take one, and I’ll watch their friend take a different one. Offering up something for them to enjoy and keep and just have has allowed me to expand the # of people who look me up online.

Also – keep your community growing online! This has been the hardest for me personally because I’m just one person. I keep saying I need to get an assistant. Keep your work fresh...keep creating...this will keep people talking about you, what you’re up to... Your current fans – even if they are just your friends WILL TALK ABOUT YOU BEHIND YOUR BACK... Let this be the thing that keeps your community of fans growing. Encourage sharing online with a contest. Tell your friends you need their help. Use your community to build your community. 

Also, make sure your blog and website have ways for people to connect with you through their favorite site... Twitter, Facebook or whatever. Keep the options open. Don’t pigeonhole your business and keep it from growing by not opening up yourself to other communities online.

One iPod and Two Owls by Katy Atchison - $80

Check out Katy Atchison's work in person starting 11th November at the "Tiny" show on Polk Street in San Francisco, CA! 


Look forward to shopping for some great goodies from her during our show on 4th December at Urban Bazaar!


But in the meantime, cruise her awesomeness online by clicking the links.

ETSY // FB // WEBSITE

The Featured Artist Series will be posting new profiles for the vendors in our upcoming Winter Wonderland Craft Bazaar show, giving everyone a chance to see the story behind the gifts you'll be buying this holiday season. Thank you for buying local & supporting handmade.