Spotlight: Katwise

Outstanding handmade clothing by designer Katwise!

Bio:

I am Kat O'Sullivan, a free-spirited hitchhiking girl who has spent most of her life bumbling about the planet in search of senseless adventure and community.

These are my original hoodie designs, which have evolved with much love over the past 20 years of my wanderings. I try to infuse my work with the bohemian spirit in which I live my life. I know that sounds like a bunch of hippy drivel, but IT'S TRUE! haha.

I reckon I have vagabonded though close to 100 countries. I've spent years on the festival trail, following the Dead, mermaid parading, moshing, granfallooning, standing on my head in India, and just staring at the campfire. I have hitchhiked to Timbuktu, Kathmandu, Kalamazoo, and pretty close to Xanadu too...

For years and years I have funded my personal carnival by selling my patchwork gypsy wares.

I am a painter as well as a seamstress, and these sweaters are a combination of both of those passions. I think of the creations process as sort of "sweater expressionism". (okay, actually, i just made that term up when i was typing this, but, it seems about right.)

I have sewn literally thousands of sweaters in order to perfect my technique and arrive at this elf coat confection. These are rough and tumble garments, expertly tailored to last you through many years of rambling. Some of my sweaters have been around the world a few times, and only look better for the wear.

Katwise Shop
Katwise Website

Spotlight: KRT Wood

Check out KRT Wood! His work is truly astounding!

KRT Wood

  Bio:
I made my first jewelry box six years ago for my sister. I've built many more and learned a great deal since then but I still use the same level care as the first time.

I never imagined I would end up working with my hands. Though I studied to be an engineer I gained a greater appreciation for the machinists that actually made things. I found in wood a material that I could learn to work with on my own. A piece of wood can have its own unique character and beauty so it is not just about forcing your own ideas onto the material but a partnership with it.


KRT Wood



KRT Wood



Spotlight: Crankbunny

Wonderful handmade cards! You really must check out this artist! His work is stunning!

Crankbunny

Bio

Crankbunny is an animation director by day and paper puppet magic rabbit fish at night.

Crankbunny's shop sells all sorts of different paper puppets, greeting pop up cards, and other paper novelties designed and handmade by the artist. All the goodies are created, cut, and produced by one set of hands and printed in the United States of America.

*Keep up with Crankbunny news, shop secrets, paper puppets & popup card trivia at http://crankbunnyshop.blogspot.com/

Crankbunny
http://www.crankbunny.com/



Crankbunny



Crankbunny



Spotlight: Charan Sachar

Charan Sachar of Creative with Clay is one of my favorite artists! I love the ethnic flare that exudes from each of his handcrafted pieces. Bold designs, vibrant colors, and mesmerizing detail makes each piece an exquisite work of art.  

"My name is Charan Sachar, and I am the potter behind Creative with clay.

I have lived in India for a significant part of my life where my mother ran a boutique designing clothes for brides and bridesmaids. The colors, fabrics, embroidery and designs I came across then have a strong impact on my work now.

My work also reflects my love for Bollywood movies and my fascination with life in India. I strive to give life to clay, decorating it with Indian influences keeping functionality and uniqueness in mind.

Pottery has given me the much needed respite from the monotony of everyday life. Working with clay and giving it form feels as satisfying as organizing and bringing peace to all the chaos that is there around you. My goal is to continue to work with this medium to create art work which is cherished for life."

-Charan Sachar



Charan Sachar's Website, Etsy Store and his Blog.

Spotlight: Carla Trujillo

Amazing mixed media artist Carla Trujillo! I am a huge fan of her work and I am so pleased to have her in todays spotlight! She has an Etsy Store as well as a really cool Blog, both you must check out!



Flutter

"Printmaking was the beginning of my love affair with the arts and through the years, I have expanded my talents into the world of mixed media art. My focus currently is in assemblages and art dolls, and when I find some spare time I will revisit my first love which is printmaking."

-Carla Trujillo



Angel Magenta



Dollie

 Visit Carla's Etsy Store and her fabulous Blog!

Spotlight: Cynthia Toops and Dan Adams

Today's Spotlight is on the fabulous duo Cynthia Toops and Dan Adams! Together this husband and wife create some of the best jewelry of our time. Cynthia Toops is the polymer goddess and Dan Adams is the master of glass beads, together their work is magic! You really have to check out their website you won't be disappointed.

Bio: Cynthia Toops

Cynthia has been working with polymer clay since the 1980s. While she is known for her figurative micromosaic pieces, in the last few years she has been concentrating on thin sheet work, creating the cone and claw necklaces and the rolodex series. Most of her work is inspired by ethnic jewelry and ancient beads which she and her husband collect. Cynthia has a BFA in printmaking from the University of Washington and a BA in Biology from Drake University. She spends long hours researching and planning work with Dan Adams, her husband and collaborator. Besides her jewelry work and teaching, she enjoys sushi.

• BA. Biology, Drake University, Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, 1979
• BFA. Printmaking, University of Washington, Seattle, WA., 1983
• 2007 Artist Trust fellowship award



 Bio: Dan Adams

Dan works full time at a laboratory, making glass beads and jewelry at night and weekends. Originally trained in Anthropology, he is intrigued with the history of glass and the use of beads in the world’s various cultures. Warring States beads were his initial inspiration but tribal design, contemporary design and natural history all have translated into beads. We have both also worked in various collaborative pieces with ourfriends, Seattle metalsmiths Chuck Domitrovich and Juan Reyes.

• B.A. Anthropology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. 1988
• A.A.A.S. Histotechnology, Shoreline Community College, Seattle, WA. 1994

Click here to visit Cynthia Toops and Dan Adams Website

Spotlight: Laurie Goldstein

The Spotlight today is on ceramist Laurie Goldstein. Her work is exquisite so please have a look and visit her Website and Etsy Store.

Laurie Goldstein Teapot

"Think of a mug, the most intimate pot one can make; we look at it, we touch it, hold it and bring it to our lips to drink from. Something had attracted us to the one we chose: its look, its feel, maybe we were drawn to it by some memory or association it provoked.

Making functional pots grants me the rare privilege of being part of peoples' lives, through their daily rituals of eating and drinking, alone or in social settings. It allows me the pleasurable and sensual work with clay while applying my artistic, aesthetic and engineering skills. Ultimately, it lets me be a part, humbly, of the tradition of ceramics making."

-Laurie Goldstein



Laurie Goldstein-Cups



Laurie Goldstein-Jewelry Box

Biography

When Laurie Goldstein's family moved to Israel from New York, she was very concerned that she'd have to speak Hebrew
with her kids. Luckily, she was eight years old and still had enough time to learn the language before her kids would be born.

Her childhood experiences include being "the new kid in class" many times, watching her parents adjust to a new country, playing and fighting with her sister, a lot of dance classes, books, an artistic and cultural education from her parents and finally, her own love of making things, always.

After completing her bachelor's degree in set and costume design at Tel Aviv University, she set off to NYC to do a lot of drawing and ended up in the MFA program for theatre design at New York University. But then something happened that changed the course of events; she took a throwing class and fell in love with clay - completely.

Starry-eyed, she moved to a small town seven hours away from the city, in the snow belt of America, and spent the next two years passionately studying ceramics at Alfred University.

She came back to Israel, set up her own studio, joined "Altogether 8," a cooperative gallery in Jerusalem and has since participated in many exhibitions. She continues to make functional work and is committed to the ongoing quest of combining function, aesthetics and beauty.

Visit Laurie Goldstein's Website, Etsy Store, Blog (english readers), Blog,(hebrew readers)

Spotlight: Artist Sylwia Calus

Check this out! Great artist Sylwia Calus!

Sylwia Calus

Polish jewelry designer Sylwia Calus! She works primarily with resin but you will see jewelry work incorporating metal as well. I first saw her work on Etsy but this other website I found IQONS showing her work is far superior! There are several “film style” clips that you can watch, each one showing off all her jewelry designs. I was totally impressed! The whole website IQONS is impressive actually but I think that’s something I’ll cover another day. Make sure you visit her online store and check her out on IQONS! Trust me you won’t be disappointed.

Sylwia Calus


Visit Sylwia in IQONS and Etsy.

Spotlight: Carrie Boucher of Pink Crow Studio

Love this artist! Her work is exquisite! You have to check out her shop! Please read on to learn more about Carrie.

Carrie Boucher/Pink Crow Studio

 My name is Carrie Boucher, and before anything else I am a collector.

From the time I was a child, I've had the compulsion to combine different materials with the intention of making these separate materials somehow better within their new context...somehow more intriguing and provocative. I believed from a very young age that within each collection there truly was the the opportunity to create a whole that was greater than the sum of its parts, and I was always on a path to find that whole.

In art class I quietly broke the rules and used tools and materials in any way I imagined might lead me to a new discovery. I began collecting the most unusual objects and materials...anything that appealed to my sense of wonder, and I was always in search of a proper way to show the world just how precious these finds were.

My need to create (and need to do something productive with my ever-growing collection) eventually led me to study sculpture at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where I finally found metalsmithing. I knew I was in love.

In my studies, I learned that the word "jewel" has its origins in the Latin word "jocale", meaning plaything, and in all of my work I strive to bring jewelry back to this idea. I truly believe that each piece I produce must be a plaything on one level or another.

I currently work out of my studio in Chicago (where there are no rules). There I have drawers, baskets, boxes and jars overflowing with my found "treasures". In addition to all of that, somewhere in that studio can be found 2 cats, and at times my very supportive husband Martin, always doing his best to be most understanding about my enduring need to collect.

Visit Pink Crow Studio to see more of her work.

Spotlight: Jessie Turner



Jessie Turner



Today’s blog is all about Canadian Jeweler Jessie Turner.  This girl does fabulous work! Jessie’s signature piece is the necklace posted above. Beautiful angel wings accented with gold leaf and adorned around the neck. Absolutely stunning! Much of Jessie’s work has gold leaf accents and concave elements. Her designs are modern, chic and fun.

Jessie has a Website as well as an Etsy Shop. You can also find her work in various galleries in Canada and Australia.

One of my personal favorites is this sweet open heart bracelet.

Visit Jessie Turner's Etsy Shop or her Website!

*To enter the draw for the Eclipse ring (seen located at the top of the page on the left) email me with The Style Loop in the subject line. Draw is November 30^th.