The Artist Behind The Etsy ~ 20 North Ora

 

Being a part of the Etsy community, not only as a seller but as a customer, I have come across many talented individuals.  With this series, I hope to introduce you to some of these creative people, finding out where they find their creativity, and a little bit more about them.

This week, we welcome Judy from 20 North Ora, which is also the name shared by her blog.

 

Hi everyone!  I'm Judy Clark from the Etsy shop 20 North Ora.  Everyone always wonders where the name came from.  That is my parents' one and only address of their home.  It is where I grew up and learned to sew and do all kinds of arts and crafts.

 

 

 

I am an Interior Designer but have always loved to make pillows and anything else using a sewing machine.  I have done many large arts and crafts shows up until three years ago when I started my Etsy shop. 

 

 

 

I love the freedom of my Etsy shop - no more of that cramming, getting everything finished and then, being on your feet for 2-3 days at a craft show - and that's after you've loaded and unloaded everything and put up your display.

 

 

 

So, in August of 2010, I started my Etsy shop - 20 North Ora.  The photo in the header is my folk's little house at that address.  I started with about 100 pieces - mostly pillows and it really took off.

 

 

 

Needless to say, my busiest time of the year is usually October thru the first of December.  I do a lot of Christmas stockings, pillows, tree skirts, etc.  I also do a Christmas in July sale where I try to list a new Christmas item each day.  I started doing that because I could not handle the quantity of orders coming so close to Christmas.  This way, they can order and I have plenty of time for custom orders and/or multiple orders of one item.

 

 

 

I get my inspiration a lot from fabrics.  I love to mix and match fabrics and trims.  When I look at a fabric, I just automatically think of what would go with it and then start the hunt in my craft room.  I usually always find something that will coordinate with the original fabric.

 

 

 

I love the option of working either full time or part time as I want.  I try to keep enough items in stock and add to them when I have the time.  The shop has been especially great for me this year because my husband has been very ill and I can work when I can from home.

 

 

 

I have never regretted starting my Etsy shop and thoroughly enjoy all of my customers. 

 

I have a great love of vintage fabric, lace and doilies.  I love using them when I can.

 

 

 

Probably my most requested items are my Memory Pillows.  I make them out of vintage lace and doilies and always put a reproduction of a vintage photo and a vintage postcard in the pocket that I created out of the lace and doily.  They are especially great for Mother's Day, but I also do them for Christmas, birthdays and other occasions.

 

 

My next venture for my shop is to start selling vintage items.  I go to a lot of flea markets and Estate sales and am going to start listing various items.

 

 

 

 

I started a blog by the same name http://20northora.blogspot.com and have enjoyed getting to know so many people between the two avenues - like Kathy.
 

 

 

It was not hard at all to start my shop - I was very computer illiterate - but I got it started and it has been a real pleasure and blessing.

 

 

 

I was also fortunate enough that last year Romantic Homes did an article on my dress form - Miss Begonia.  She is completely covered in vintage lace, doilies and buttons.

Thanks so much to Kathy for including me in this series.
 

Please come visit me at www.20northora.etsy.com

Enjoy!

Judy

 

Thanks so much for sharing your story with us, Judy! I think many of us are in love with your beautiful dress form.  You can visit Judy’s Etsy shop here and her blog here.

Giveaway Winner

I almost forgot I promised to announce the winner of the print offered by Vanessa of A Fanciful Twist, during her feature this past Sunday, today.  In case you missed it, you can find that post here.

Without further ado, the winner, via random.org is

#28, The Blakk Duchess!

Congratulations!

I have sent you an email requesting your choice of print and your mailing information.

Once again, I’d like to thank Vanessa for this generous giveaway!

Outdoor Project

When we moved from New York to Ohio 2 1/2 years ago, into a condo, I never thought I’d be sharing an outdoor project with you.  Except for when I showed you the bush we removed and replaced with a small Japanese Maple, or the different flowers I pot up for our little outdoor seating area.

We have talked about putting a patio in this area.  Just up to where you can see the a/c unit. It would basically measure out to 7 ft. by 13 ft.

This would extend our seating area, as well as allow us to keep our BBQ here instead of stored in the garage (and pulling it out on the driveway area when we want to use it).   We had to put some border fencing up because our 14-year-old Husky keeps getting herself tangled up in the bushes on her lead.

We would use grey toned flagstone or patio pavers, and put a vinyl white picket fence around it for a little bit of privacy and in keeping with the rest of the community.  You can see the style of fence in the first picture of a condo across the way from us. The existing bushes we will move forward to the outside of the fence, as well as the Japanese Maple.

We’ll be doing the work ourselves.  I’d like to say this will be a weekend project, but my gut says “uh-uh”.  Either way, I’ll be sure to share our progress! 

Fabric Covered Mouse Pad & A Winner

Mouse Pads ~ we never use them at home because we have laptops.  I have one at the office at my new part-time job and it is a weird shape.  I knew we had about a hundred of them at home, so I figured I would just grab a regular square one.  I found a decent one with no crazy logo but decided to cover it with fabric anyway.

I found a couple of different ways to adhere the fabric to the pad on Pinterest and they are saved to my Craft Projects Board if you are interested.

I went with this owl fabric that I had left over from when I made my daughter a messenger bag for Christmas.

  I used Heat n Bond to attach the fabric to the mouse pad.

After cutting the fabric out {using the mouse pad to trace it}, I followed the directions on the Heat n Bond to iron it onto the fabric and then onto the mouse pad.  

A new mouse pad in about 15 minutes!  This is at home before I brought it into work. 

A nice way for me to personalize my new desk space and bring a little cuteness in to the work day!  Plus, I already had everything on hand to make it. I love when that happens!

Finally, the moment you’ve been waiting for ~ the winner of the Bowdabra bow maker is

#23 ~ Laurie Ritchey

Congratulations, Laurie!

I have sent you an email and will need for you to email  me back with your information.

A big thank you to Bowdabra for so generously offering a bow maker to one of my readers!

Linking up with:

Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Show and Share at Coastal Charm

Swing Into Spring at DIY by Design

Treasure Hunt Thurs. at From My Front Porch To Yours

 

The Artist Behind The Etsy ~ A Fanciful Twist

Being a part of the Etsy community, not only as a seller but as a customer, I have come across many talented individuals.  With this series, I hope to introduce you to some of these creative people, finding out where they find their creativity, and a little bit more about them.

You enter a world of fantasy and whimsy when you enter the world of Vanessa from A Fanciful Twist.  Fairy tales come to life when you visit Vanessa’s blog of the same name.

My name is Vanessa Valencia and I am an artist living in Southern Arizona.

I started making art when I was about 11 years old, and then more regularly when I was 17 years old.

At that time I also started a jewelry business, where I made all sorts of jewelry, which I still make today.

While attending the University of Arizona, where I majored in International Retailing and Consumer Studies, I continued making art during my free time.

It was the most important life line to my heart, which became a way for me to stay sane, and added a great amount of balance to my life.

During those years I sold my art at a gallery and shop in downtown Tucson.

I was about 19 years old and was meeting artists and having so many wonderful and memorable experiences in the art realm.

I graduated from the U of A in 1999 and went into interior design, all the while having art and jewelry shows like mad.

In 2001 I went into real estate, but still continued to do art and jewelry shows.

In 2006 I heard about Etsy and blogging, and I was instantly hooked.

I was stressed out and run down from my real world job, and I needed a change.

I decided to pursue a dream, just plunge, and make art full time.

It was really scary but ever so fun.

The blogosphere was hopping and there was so much excitement in the air.

So, I fully plunged and became a full time artist.

Etsy was an easy and open venue for an artist like me.

It allowed me to share my work all over the world.

Sending art to places close to home, or as far away as Paris and Australia.

It's been a miraculous tool really.

I always had a vast well of inspiration and creativity.

I honestly have no idea where it comes from?

But it proves to be invaluable to running such a business.

I love to garden, and being in the garden also refuels my inspiration.

I love making things and trying new things.

This I think is part of the motor that keeps you creating regularly.

I love painting and playing in clay.

I have sculpted in every clay medium I could find, from low fire to high fire, and now polymer clay.

My mood reflects what I make.

Sometimes it's ballerinas and old papers with glitter stars.

Other times it's bright candy colors and little hand sculpted cake heads and elves.

I love making so many different things, but as I said, it depends on my mood as to which direction I will go in.

I don't set boundaries for myself, I just go with the flow.

Never really knowing what I shall make.

It's not easy, being a full time artist, but it is very rewarding.

I run my entire business myself, from making the art to photographing to blogging to packaging and shipping, to every single little detail in between and beyond.

So, sometimes it can be daunting, but it's worth the freedom it affords me.

Although, it gets harder and harder to not just lollygag my day away in the garden.

So, I may need to start implementing some sound rules.

Making art is the only "place" I know that is truly me.

I love it with my whole being.

It's a happy place, a safe place, a healing place and much more.

Everyday is a changing evolution, and I am always excited for the journey.

In fact, I can't wait to see what tomorrow shall bring...

Blog: www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: www.VanessaValencia.com

Stunning artwork and such an interesting journey!   Thank you so much for sharing your story and your artistic talents with us here today, Vanessa!  

As if that wasn’t enough, Vanessa is very generously and graciously offering a giveaway* to a print from her shop!  To be entered to win, just leave a comment below. You do not need to have a blog to enter, but must leave an email address in your comment so that I can contact you.  This giveaway will be open until June 5, 2014, at 12 midnight EST.  A winner will be selected via random.org and announced on June 6, 2014.

*Open to U.S. residents.