Discover This: IlzesCreations

The Discover This Series is on a roll!  Today I bring you a wonderful artist named Ilze all the way from Latvia.  Talk about talent!  She crochets, she knits, she felts, and she creates some of the most stunning pieces on Etsy.  I am always inspired by the talent of others, and Ilze certainly brings inspiration.  Enjoy this Q&A with her, and be sure to visit her links posted at the end.


Name: Ilze
Location: Latvia
Description of work: Freelancer

How long have you been creating your items?  I've been creating handmade items as long as I can recall. At first it was sewing. I made simple clothing for my dolls. At age 10 I learned to knit and crochet. Since approximately age 14 I had learned mostly all the basics and was able to earn some pocket money with selling my handmades. 

Felt Case in Black with White Daisy
for iPhone

How did you get started?  Art and crafting is in my family tree. My great grandmother was a teacher in craft school. Both my grandmothers had good skills in sewing and crafts. Also my mother is an artist and creates handmade items. Spirit of handmade has been there already before I even was born.

What inspires your designs?  I'm getting inspiration from color combinations, nature, flowers, internet, movies, magazines, my own mood and from many other things. For example, I was inspired from my own photo of a bee in my garden and I made felt bee hair clips.

Do you sell your items?  I'm an individual merchant. I have a small shop where I sell my crafts and different amber jewelery and souvenirs. Also I accept custom orders. Recently I joined Etsy where I offer felt and crochet accessories - felt flower brooches and pins, felt hair clips, felt purses and cases, crochet hats and knitted items. 

Red Flower Felt Brooch

Are you a formally trained or a self-taught artist?  Mostly I'm self-taught. At first I learned from books and my mother gave me advice. I have also taken several courses. I find information on the internet, in magazines, from other artisans, then I try to turn my ideas in reality. I don't stop self training until I get good results and myself and others are satisfied. 

Why would someone benefit from purchasing your designs?  Accessories have the capability of changing any clothing look to more brighter and stylish. For example, felt flower brooch can change boring, casual black shirt or dress in seconds. Even if they are served as a gift, but gift receiver doesn't wear brooches in the regular way, brooch can be pinned to a bag or a hat! There are many options how to use brooches, so all can find best way of using them. I also offer felt iPhone cases, they are a great and useful gift if you are not sure about gift receivers taste in style. Here in Latvia we have quite cold winters, therefore it is important to keep body warm and crochet hats, shawls, knitted socks can help in that alot! 

Anything else you’d like to share?  I have many ideas, therefore check my shop often for new crafts and designs. 

My Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/ilzescreations
My blog: ilzescreations.blogspot.com
Twitter: twitter.com/ilzescreations

3-6m Baby Pink Beanie with Cherries

Wednesday Wishlist: Circle of Friends

It's been a while since I posted a Wednesday Wishlist...heck, it's been a while since I posted at all (shame on me!)...so today I'd like to pay tribute to some of the fine, talented folks that can be found in my Circle of friends on Etsy.  As of last count I've added about 90 artisans to my Circle and am always on the hunt for more.  I'll dedicate more Wishlists to these fabulous friends of mine but for now, I present you with a random selection of pure awesomeness.  To learn more about the featured item and the artist's shop, right click on the shop links to open up a new window. 

Handmade Coptic Bound Journal with Skeleton Key

in Pale Green by Thenibandquill

Fine Art Photo Print ~ Nesting in Numbers

by TheGinghamOwl

Magnetic Denim Pocket ~ Leopard Spots

by ItsSoSue

 Handmade Knit Hat ~ The Seed Beret in Citron Yello

by pixiebell

Brown Trout Coffee Mug Etched Glass

by bradgoodell

Hand Felted Light Green Scarf/Shawl

by avivaschwarz

Mini Men Crayons

by LilDoodlers

Light My Fire Hand-dyed Wool Yarn

by dye2spin

Dirty Bugs Cocoa Butter Cold Process Soap

by BuzzPlanet

Small Blue Ceramic Watercan

by NicePots

Wednesday Wishlist: Bits of Whimsy

For this week's Wishlist I once again turn to those fabulous Etsy sellers (I can't help it, really.  I could do 10 years' worth of Wishlists and not even scratch the surface of all the wonderful talent to be found on that site!).  Having been feeling a little overwhelmed lately, I sought out a little whimsical fun, and just look what I came up with!  Please show their shops some love by right clicking on the links to open in a new window.

Thanks, and have a whimsical day!

Lisa Snellings Lavender Blue Poppet

from Strangestudios

Robot with Headphones Print

from randomhouse

Clockwork Orange 5x7 Print

from kahlaw

Let's Talk from jeffclaassen

Sock Creature Casey from beezmiller

Goldi Golden Skeleton Key Dangle Earrings

from VintageMusings

Hot Air Balloon Ring

from MintyFreshFusions

Cow Bag-Purse Crochet Pattern

from sonicka

The Witch's Mushroom Garden

from WanderingLydia

Elephant Rain from Phizzychick

Discover This: Jannio

This installment of the Discover This series takes us all the way to France with two friends Janine and Isabelle who make the most delightful felted accessories I've ever seen.  One day while browsing the Etsy forums I was intrigued by their shop's avatar, gave it a click, and fell instantly in love with every single listing!  The color combinations and styles of this pair's items are so uniquely beautiful that I'm finding it difficult to pick just one item as a favorite because I love them ALL!  So it is with great excitement that I present to you Jannio.
(Please right-click on the link below each image to enter their Etsy shop in a new window.)

Name: Janine and Isabelle

Location: We are lucky enough to live in the south west of France. The region of the perigord vert. Castles, grape vines, cepes (wild mushrooms) and much more.

Description of work: We create felt wear: hats, scarves and bags by using merino wool.

Faizah Handmade Felt Hat

How long have you been creating your items? We have been creating together for about five years now.

How did you get started? I think we can say it was through our friendship. Isabelle had already started to learn the basics. Thanks to our sons being friends we also formed a friendship. Isabelle was making a hat one day so I joined in and loved it.

Where do you get your inspiration for your designs? That’s easy:  all around us. The seasons here are so inspiring for us. The colors in this area are amazing sometimes! Also we inspire each other when we work together. A great team!

Do you sell your items? Mainly through our shop on Etsy. Sometimes we do Christmas markets and fairs. Friends of friends also buy our work.

Paquita-Felt, Leather, Cotton Handmade Bag

Do you have any formal training, or are you self-taught artists? Isabelle: I have had no formal training at all completely self taught.  Janine: I started off in Art College in Textile Design and Photography. I left all that for awhile to bring up my family. Isabelle taught me the art of felt making.

Please tell us why someone would benefit from purchasing your designs. We think that our designs are unique, each piece is handmade by us using the purest merino wool from Germany. We also incorporate the technique called nuno-felting" technique (felt and fabric). This is made by using pure merino wool, and cotton fabric. Merino wool fibers are spread thinly upon a cotton or silk fabric. The result is a light, soft and warm hat. We try always to use only the best materials available.

Libby Handmade Felt and Cotton Scarf

Anything else you’d like to share?  Hats and bags are what we like to make the most. There is so many shapes, forms, and color combinations. Endless possibilities. The bags we make are a challenge for us. There we can let our imagination go wild. We use the wool like an artist uses his paint pallet, mixing and trying different color combinations.

Special thanks to Janine and Isabelle for kindly agreeing to participate in the Discover This series on the JMO blog.  Ladies, you're awesome!

Wednesday Wishlist: Fabulous Finds From Fellow Etsyans, Part III

Gah!  With everything that's been going on in my life lately, I hadn't thought about a specific theme for this week's Wishlist.  But thanks to the wonderful world of Etsy, I don't have to look far to put together a variety of items I'd love to call my own.  These beauties are in my current Favorites list, and it's easy to see why.  Aren't they all fabulous?  As always, please show their shops some love by right clicking on the shop names to open in a new window.

Croque-Monsieur - Sterling Silver and Copper Bracelet
from 3squares

Noir Wool Felt Daisy Pin from hatsofancy

Heart Flock Fine Art Photo from theeye

Enchanted Shea Butter Lotion, Sweet Fruit with White Musk

from BLSoaps

Whyyyyy Darren the Drama Hound Amigurimi Dude

from UglyGerbil

Dance Like No One (Living) Is Watching Photographic Print

from BACLORI

Handmade or Die Mini Embroidery Art
from imfromthewoods

Handmade Art Doll Miniature - Madame Butterfly

from UneekDollDesigns

Peaceful Lotus Pin Cushion from BabyNest

Day Dreaming Pig Fine Art Print

from janeheller

Discover This ~ The Curious Pug

I am so excited to present the newest featured indie artisan in the Discover This Series, Alycia of The Curious Pug on Etsy. Located in California, Alycia creates some of the most unique and adorable magnets, cozys, ornaments, and brooches made from felt and clay, and even has a few glass tile creations, too. One look at this shop and you'll be squealing with utter delight! Alycia has officially been on Etsy since November of 09, but has been creating all her life. She's pretty much self taught in her craft, with her only real "training" coming from her mom who taught her how to sew when she was a kid. After graduating from an xray training program in June of 09, she had (and still has) a hard time finding work so she took matters into her own two hands and started up The Curious Pug in November of 09. It keeps her busy, and she says "it's been wonderful having others enjoy my work." What's not to enjoy?


When asked where she gets inspiration for her designs, she says "Basically from things that I think are cute or colorful. And I get lots of ideas that just pop in my head at night as I'm trying to fall asleep." I can certainly relate to that!


Alycia is glad Etsy has given her the opportunity to open her shop since selling her designs "has always been something I've been interested in doing but never got around to because of busy schedules and time constraints. But as of now, I can focus fully on my shop and creating more items for customers." She says a whole new floodgate of creativity has opened up since she started her shop, thanks to the wonderful Etsy community. "Anytime I've had a question or concern the forums would be my number one spot for answers. Everyone has been so helpful and insightful so to them I am grateful."

If you're looking for something unique and different, or maybe even a little quirky, then that is what you'll get from Alycia. So head on over to The Curious Pug and check out all the offerings!

Be sure to follow Alycia's blog for all the latest news.

Special thanks to Alycia for participating in the Discover This Series on the JMO Blog.