Etsy Alberta Blog

A new blog about Albertan Etsy sellers has just started and I was lucky enough to be the first person featured on it. Read the interview by clicking on the blog title. If you're interested in being featured on this blog or have some information to contribute go ahead and look her up on etsy (her seller profile is katelynjane).

Here's a spot of info on the creator, Katelyn Jane who has an etsy shop that features wonderful handmade bags:

Well, I'm the oldest of eight kids. I grew up in Victoria, BC but moved to Dawson Creek when I was in my young teens. I love it here and would never have stayed in Victoria if I had a choice. I got married two years ago this past summer and am LOVING it (: We bought a house last year and are doing it up, right in the middle of renos as we speak! I've actually only been making my bags for the past month or so. I saw the idea somewhere and thought "I can make that" and so I did. It now fills all of my spare time, it's an addiction!! I can't watch TV without cutting out a bag. I dont' really sell them anywhere else other than to friends and whoever is in my town and hears about them. I'm not full time but would LOVE that to be in the near future. Maybe when this starts on a roll I will be. Talk about dream come TRUE! I wanted to start the group because I love to get together with other crafters and love inspiration from others and brainstorming with people who are interested in the same stuff. I guess really, I love my schedule to be packed full...haha.

Roberts Snow

Lately all I've been spotting is snowflakes (not outside the window, but on the "web") and they're everywhere I look! I really wish I had some money this year to buy a very exciting christmas present because so many of the most exciting children's book illustrators have contributed to "Roberts Snow", a charity auction of hand painted snowflakes, that I'm practically rolling around with glee thinking about them.

Here's the "scoop" from the Roberts snow website (title is linked to the site):

Own a piece of art from your favorite children's book illustrator while helping to fight cancer. Participate in Robert's Snow: for Cancer's Cure, a unique fundraiser for cancer research. Since 2004, this online auction has raised over $200,000 for Dana-Farber, and with your help, we can continue this holiday tradition in 2007.

"Robert's Snow" is a children's story about a mouse not allowed in the snow. Children's book illustrator Grace Lin wrote the book, which was inspired by her husband Robert's battle with Ewing's sarcoma. After the book was published, Grace gathered artists from all over the children's book illustrating community to create special snowflakes to be auctioned off, with the proceeds benefiting sarcoma research at Dana-Farber. These snowflake auctions became known as the event "Robert's Snow."

Farmers Market Update

I'll be at my booth again this saturday at the down town farmers market (104th street and Jasper ave-103street) from 9am to 3pm with some new things:

ATC Artist Trading Cards

I just joined this interested artist community called Monday Artday "Artist Trading Cards" or ATC for short. While watching the last couple episodes of Veronica Mars last night I created three cards that are up for trading. Unfortunetly one of them falls a bit short of the standard size of 2.5 x 3.5". Click the title of the blog to start trading!

Greeting Card Sale

A few months ago I found a fun website that allows artists to sell greeting cards with their own images on them. It's one of three places you can buy my work online (the others being etsy and cafépress) because it's free to upload as many images as I like and I get a bit of a royalty every time something sells. This, I feel, has been a good opportunity to make a little money off of images that I have created that are not yet owned by someone else.

I just received a bit of a coupon via email for this site which I'd like to pass along to anyone interested in buying some cards from artists such as myself. The promo code you have to enter is FALL 199 (which you enter at the checkout). This makes each card only $1.99 US which currently is almost on par with the Canadian dollar.

Click on the title of this blog to go to Greeting Card Universe.

Also, all of the cards on my site are now available as free personable ecards.

Silent Auction for Bissell Centre

The silent auction for the bissell centre will be at City Hall this Friday from 6pm - 10pm. The last pieces are being fired in the kiln (i can't wait to see them!). Hope to see some of you at the auction.

The picture is of my finished piece (not yet fired, so colours will change quite dramatically and it will be glossy). Comes with matching cups (how sweet!)

Linda Fisher: Art Show on this September

Last week an art show opened up at Stony Plains Multicultural Centre (5411 - 51 St Stony Plain, AB) featuring the work of Linda Fisher. These paintings embody vivid portraits of landscapes, still lifes and portraits of "watchers". If you get the chance you really must go to the gallery to see these paintings up close (my pictures quite frankly do not do them justice). Each painting utlizes an amazing balance of colour (I wish I could grasp subtlety as Linda has), form and shadow. Each brush stroke is beautiful and expressive. These paintings look fantastic up close.

Linda was one of my instructors at Grant MacEwan back in 2001. I have since grown very fond of herself and her husband, Steve, with whom I worked at the Royal Alberta Museum. I'm not sure there could be a finer family. Thank you so much for coffee and cookies this weekend and a tour of your show. I was inspired and very very humbled. Can't wait for your next show!




images © linda fisher. all rights reserved.

Farmers Market This Weekend!

I'm going to be at the downtown farmers market this Saturday (all by myself this time, but same spot). Come see me for a chat if you have some time. Each week people think I'm at the Strathcona farmers market... well, I'm not. Here's the address for the Down Town farmers market: Located outdoors in Downtown Edmonton, Between Jasper Ave & 103rd Ave, On 104th Street. It's RAIN or SHINE from 9 am to 3pm.

Meanwhile, here's some new products.

Chicken Lil' Bulletin Board $60
(link to board can be found by clicking on the title of this blog)



Foxy Coaster Set $55

Sketching Sketching

Instead of creating more birdybear products (those wood burnt creations you may have seen posted here lately) I've been getting back to drawing. Not drawing for a client or a specific target audience... just for me. And it's been fun, sort of a relief actually, to have some time to do this.

click the title to see more images.

Midway Fun

I've been working on updating the way I draw children. Here's a sketch I was finally able to finish last week.

© crystal driedger 2007. All rights reserved.

Colour palette generator

Here's a fun way to dissect your paintings and photographs. Done by "Big Huge Labs" you simply upload a picture or connect to your flickr site and ta da!... your very own colour palette.

Bissell Centre & CrankPots fundraiser

A unique fundraiser came to my attention earlier this month and I gathered some close artistic friends of mine to help out. The Bissell Centre in co-operation with Crank Pots on Whyte ave has allowed quite a few Edmonton artists to paint a piece of pottery to sell during a silent auction later this month (I'll update you exactly when this happens). Some of the pieces are so good you'll whip out your wallet in a jiffy to buy them up as Christmas gifts.

My piece, in progress.


Mermaid Teapot in progress (the piece will get darker once it's been "fired" in the kiln).


My sister in front along with some other friends painting away, creating masterpieces. Can't wait for the show! I'll post more pictures of the pieces after the auction for those of you who aren't from Alberta and can't make it out.

Intructional Skills Workshop

The last four days in my life were incredibly intense. I am, in fact, still completely in the moment of it all. My two instructors, Jayne and Lisa were phenomenal. I had forgotten that they were in fact instructing us with the they way the days moved so smoothly. I met a great group of new instructors as well (Doug, Deb, Connie, Donna & Annette) with whom I wish the most succsess to in their first classes.

For those of you who haven't been keeping up with what I'm talking about, I'm going to be teaching part of the illustration techniques class at Grant MacEwan College. So far they have shown themselves to be the most amazing employer I've ever heard of, let alone been able to work for. Everything they offer from the educational upgrades, workshops, funding, opportunities for growth in so many areas of life and support is outstanding.

It will be nice to think of the teachers of this world in a new light this September instead of feeling sympathy for the students.

Market Dates

I have been told the dates I will be at the Downtown farmers market (and I'm so so sorry that my cell was locked in my trunk when two friends who drove two hours to come see me missed me because they thought I meant the Strathcona farmers market!) and hope to see some familiar faces there this weekend! I have made some new funky objects which I had so much fun creating this week around my classes and freelance work (no wonder my house is a mess). These are also available to purchase online via paypal if interested. I can ship them to any country.

DATES for DOWNTOWN market (Jasper Ave & 104th), 9am - 3pm
AUGUST 18, 25
SEPTEMBER 8, 22
OCTOBER 6

Here's a sneak peek of some new items for sale this weekend:

Foxy Bulletin Board (24 x 18", woodburnt and painted) $40 or $45 with three designer tacks.



Teresa Fine Art Bowl (10" diameter, Wood Burnt) $100



Mini Chalk Board, Magnetic (5x7", woodburnt, varnished) $25



click on each image to see it larger. To see more images click on the title of this blog (flickr site).

Big News!

I've been saving some big news for when it felt more official and now that it does I'm going to spill the beans. I'm going to be an instructor at our local community college, Grant MacEwan, teaching three weeks of a course called Illustration Techniques. So far the experience has been very welcoming and professional. I haven't met or talked to a single person that hasn't been of the utmost accomodating and hasn't made me want to set up residence and live there again (I didn't really live there while I was a student but did spend many a long hour there). I can hardly wait! I'm already planning up project ideas that will make their passion grow and their knowledge wild and crazy.

Meanwhile, the next couple of weeks I will be learning how to be a teacher as I'm sure it will be very different from the other side of the easle. It will be a great new challenge which I will undertake if all goes as planned this November.

Miss Dishy & Crystal went to the market

The farmers market was fabulous fun!
My table (sold the mailbox quite early sorry to those of you who were asking about it)

Miss Dishy at her table early in the morn (warding off the cold!)

Some of my cards (click on the title of this blog to see the entire batch of them)

BirdyBear Pins

Here's a sneak peak at my new BirdyBear Pin collection which will be up for sale for the first time at the Down town Edmonton Farmers market (104th and Jasper ave) this Saturday from 9am to 3pm. After this I will upload some of them (those left over) to my etsy page. They are handmade: woodburnt, original drawings which are painted in high grade acrylics then varnished. The pin is gold on the back. A couple of the pins are adorned by a gemstone which is inset in the wood. Too see all the pictures I've posted and probably lots you haven't seen from other projects I've worked on click on the title of this post (it'll take you to my flickr page).

Cheers!

ReUse

Oh yeah and here's what I got from my last trip at Edmontons ReUse Center!

August 18th: Farmers Market Down Town

I'm going to be at the....

DOWN TOWN FARMERS MARKET! (rain or shine)

When: This saturday from 9am to 3pm.
Where: Between Jasper Ave & 103rd Ave On 104th Street

Here's a shot of something I made for a friends wedding a couple weekends ago. It's similar to a couple items I'll be selling although most of the bowls feature girls, not animals and kids. Look for my new and hot item called "BirdyBear pins" which are mini original fine art pins that are woodburnt, painted then varnished. Each one is individual, drawn on the spot on the pin from my imagination. You'll never see clip art on my pins or other artists works copied (eek!). These little treasures should be treated like fine art (they are just really tiny). I really hope to have pictures up soon!

Michelle McBride: Illustrator/Designer/Crafter

I've been wanting to blog about Illustrator and good friend Michelle McBride for so long now and finally the time has come. Michelle and I met at our last full time job where we illustrated for years together creating many images of snowmen, santa clauses and reindeer (as well as some children's books and a very savvy set of CD covers... remember those michelle?). Michelle is simply brilliant at Adobe Illustrator and knows not only the program inside out but can create vector artwork like nobody I've ever seen before. She's fast, trendy and her colour palettes are always at the height of trendy. She's been a teacher, illustrator, designer and even one of only two bridesmaids at my wedding (yes, we're this close!).

Michelle has always amazed me with her multi-talented guru skills (yup, you heard me correctly). She took up silver smithing, jewlery making, crafting and lately sewing her own creations/plush toys. It seems whatever she puts her heart into becomes a fabulous, quality product that anyone would be proud to own. The pair of us have decided to put our crafting skills to the streets and have signed up for the Downtown Farmers Market. You will be able to visit MIchelle in person on August 18th at our booth. I'll give you more information as the time comes closer.



Here's the interview (michelle's comments in ALL CAPS).

Michelle just spent the last couple years living in New Zealand as an illustrator. I'm curious to know whether this move has helped or hindered her professional life and how a big move such as this can affect creativity/her views on illustration.

1. How does the Kiwi Illustration world differ from the North American world and how has living abroad changed you professionally?

BEING THAT NEW ZEALAND IS SUCH A SMALL COUNTRY, IT IS DEFINITELY EASIER TO FIND THE ARTISTIC COMMUNITY. WITH SITES SUCH AS, www.thebigidea.co.nz, YOU ARE ABLE TO LOCATE CREATIVES ON ALL LEVELS. WHETHER IT BE A GRAPHIC DESIGNER, JEWELLERY DESIGNER, OR A LANDSCAPE ARTIST. IT IS A COMMUNITY WITH ALL FACETS OF CREATIVITY. FINDING WORK SEEMED HEAPS EASIER THAN IN NORTH AMERICA. HERE, IT SEEMS A TREND TO NOT ADVERTISE YOUR POSTING AND THAT WORD OF MOUTH IS THE ONLY WAY TO HEAR OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES. WHICH I FEEL IS VERY UNFORTUNATE, BECAUSE BOTH EMPLOYER AND ARTIST ARE MISSING OUT ON GREAT RELATIONSHIPS.

AS FOR THE ARTISTIC WORK BEING PRODUCED, I FOUND NEW ZEALAND WORK TO HAVE A DELICATE EDGINESS TO IT. WITH INFLUENCES FROM THE PACIFICA ISLANDS AND THE MAORI CULTURE, I FEEL THERE IS AN ORGANIC-NESS AND A WARMNESS TO A LOT OF WORK. NEW ZEALAND ALSO HAS A FREEDOM THAT I FEEL NORTH AMERICAN COMMERCIAL ART IS LACKING. THEY HAVE AN EASY GOING ATTITUDE, AREN'T AFRAID TO SAY ANYTHING, AND HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOUR REMINISCENT OF THE UK.

I LOVED BEING IN NEW ZEALAND, I FOUND IT REFRESHING AND IT REALLY REVITALIZED MY WORK, LETTING ME EXPLORE NEW PATHS IN MY ARTISTIC VISION. I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD LIVE ABROAD IN THEIR LIFETIME, OR AT LEAST TRAVEL WHEN YOU CAN. I FOUND THAT I BECAME VERY ISOLATED IN MY ARTWORK, AND (HOW CAN I PUT THIS?), MY WORK FELT STRICTLY INFLUENCED BY NORTH AMERICAN CULTURE. GETTING OUT AND SEEING NEW STYLES, NEW INFLUENCES, NEW CULTURES AND DEFINITELY SEEING WORK FROM A DIFFERENT COUNTRY'S BEGINNINGS, REALLY OPENS YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND AWAKENS YOU TO EXPLORE NEW IDEAS.




Michelle owns a company called Miss Dishy which currently encompasses the great realm of Michelle's craft and creative line/products which you can view by clicking on the title of this blog. Her products speak of high quality, creativity and of course safety.

2. What's on your horizon and what do you see your new company, Miss Dishy, becoming?

WELL. I CURRENTLY HAVE 8 CHILDREN'S BOOKS ON THE GO. I FOUND MYSELF WRITING A LOT IN NEW ZEALAND, AND CAME UP WITH MANY STORIES THAT I JUST ADORE. I HAVEN'T FOUND A FULL TIME JOB YET, SO I AM JUST CONCENTRATING ON MY ILLUSTRATION AND OF COURSE MISS DISHY CRAFTS. IN THE VERY DISTANCE FUTURE, ONE OF MY GOALS IS TO BECOME A MARTHA STEWART TYPE. I LOVE MANY THINGS BEAUTIFUL, AND I HOPE TO INSPIRE OTHERS THE WAY SHE INSPIRES ME. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO HER MICHAEL'S CRAFT AISLE, DEAR LORD GO! I LOVE CREATING SOCIAL STATIONERY, AND I LOVE ILLUSTRATING, SO, MY FUTURE HOLDS A LOT OF GLITTER AND SQUIRRELS I THINK. MISS DISHY REALLY IS A MISHMASH OF EVERYTHING THAT I LOVE, AND WHATEVER INSPIRES ME THAT DAY. FROM SEWING TO JEWELLERY MAKING, YOU'LL SEE MANY THINGS THAT I LOVE. NOT TO SAY THAT I AM UNFOCUSED, I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT ALL.



I admire your work ethics. You have always been so quick at designing such beautiful vector illustrations and now you're moving back into a more hand-made world. Do you see yourself moving more of your efforts in the future to designing toys, house hold objects and the like?

HAHA. I AM ADDICTED TO VECTOR! BASICALLY, I WAS FORCED INTO THE HANDMADE WORLD. WELL.. A LITTLE INSPIRED TOO. I MET A FASHION DESIGNER IN NEW ZEALAND WHO WAS WRITING A CHILDREN'S BOOK. BASICALLY, SHE DREW EVERYTHING BY HAND, SCANNED IT IN, THEN OVERLAID COLOURS, PATTERNS AND TEXTURES. SHE REALLY LOVED HER ORGANIC PENCIL LINES, AND NEVER TRACED OVER THEM. I REALLY LIKE THE IDEA OF THAT, SINCE MY ILLUSTRATIVE BEGINNINGS WERE REALLY JUST, SKETCH IT, TRACE IT, COLOUR IT, SEND IT. I WAS FORCED TO RETURN TO MY HAND MADE ROUTES WHEN I DIDN'T HAVE A WACOM TO DRAW WITH ANYMORE. I DIDN'T HAVE A MOUSE EITHER, SO TRYING TO DRAW ON A LAPTOP TRACK PAD WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. BUT NOW I AM REALLY EMBRACING MY REGRESSION BACK TO HAND MADE. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. MY LINES FEEL FREE, AND MY OTHER CREATIONS FEEL MORE PERSONABLE. I PUT LOVE INTO ALL MY WORK. LOVE AND PERFECTION... I'M A LITTLE BIT OF A FREAK. LIKE I SAID, I WANT TO DO IT ALL. I LOVE CREATING THINGS, AND WHERE EVER THAT PASSION TAKES ME, I WILL FOLLOW EAGERLY.

You and I are going to dabble in the world of farmers markets & art/ craft fairs. Our first confirmed show is August 18th, downtown, for their summer weekly farmers market. I have to say that your line of plush toys are so adorable and original! What sorts of inspiration helped you create these quirky characters?

WOW. YOU KNOW... I CREATED A MONSTER CHARACTER ONE NIGHT, AND THOUGHT, HEY, THIS WOULD BE GREAT TO SEW. MANY OF THE INDIE CRAFTERS ARE VENTURING INTO THE PLUSHIES REALM. WITH SOCK MONKEYS IN THE LEAD I THINK. THERE IS A REALLY FANTASTIC GIRL IN NEW ZEALAND THAT MAKES THESE WONDERFUL HANDMADE DOLLS (HER WORK IS OUTSTANDING!) www.geekfreeks.com SHE REALLY INSPIRED ME TO CREATE EXTREMELY WELL MADE PRODUCTS. WHEN I WENT TO SEW MY WEE LITTLE MONSTER, HE NEEDED LARGER EYES, AND POOF! MY LITTLE GUYS WERE BORN. I'LL NEVER SELL THE FIRST TWO I MADE, FOR SENTIMENTAL REASONS, AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT THEY ARE HORRIBLY MADE.HAHA.




What else will you have at your table?

I LIKE TO HAVE MY HANDS IN ALL POTS. I MAKE A LOT OF JEWELLERY BECAUSE I AM DYING TO BE A SILVER SMITH. UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T HAVE ALL THE TOOLS, SO IT'S A DREAM I HAVE YET TO FULFILL. I 'LL ALSO HAVE MAGNETS, GREETING CARDS, PLUSHIES, COIN PURSES, FABRIC BRACELETS AND SOME NEW ZEALAND WOOD NECKLACES.

You mentioned on your blog that you have 8 children's books in progress. Can we have a tiny sneak peek on what they are about or see a sketch?

HAHA. HMMM... ANOTHER ARTIST KEEPS THREATENING TO STEAL MY BOOKS... SO I AM A LITTLE PROTECTIVE AT THIS TIME. BUT I WILL HOPEFULLY HAVE ALL MY COVERS COMPLETED THIS WEEK, OR AT LEAST HAVE MY CHARACTERS FULLY DEVELOPED.

(She has promised a jpg of her characters which I will post very soon)

What's been your biggest challenge since graduating from University?

HONESTLY, MY BIGGEST CHALLENGE WAS TO BECOME LESS EMOTIONALLY ATTACHED TO MY WORK. WHEN YOU ARE YOUR OWN CLIENT, LIFE IS BLISS. (WELL SOMETIMES, I FIND I AM VERY HARD TO PLEASE.) BUT WE ARE IN A BUSINESS PROVIDING A SERVICE, SO, MANY TIMES I HAVE HAD TO LET MY EMOTIONS SIT WAYSIDE, TO KEEP A CLIENT IS SATISFIED. ONE THING I HAVE LEARNED SINCE MOVING TO NEW ZEALAND IS TO KEEP ALL EMOTIONS AT THE DOOR WHEN DEALING IN BUSINESS. WE WORKED AT A COMPANY THAT REALLY UNAPPRECIATED AND TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THEIR STAFF, AND I FOUND THAT VERY DIFFICULT TO NOT GET UP IN ARMS ABOUT. NOWADAYS, I PICK MY BATTLES AND LEAVE EMOTIONS OUT OF IT. IT DID, HOWEVER, HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF EMPLOYEES AND HOW TO KEEP WORK ENVIRONMENTS POSTIVE AND INSPIRING. SOMETHING I WILL ALWAYS KEEP IN THE FRONT OF MY MIND.

What is your favorite illustration medium to use and why?

HMM.. I STILL LOVE MY VECTOR. I HAVE A STRANGE EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT TO IT. I THINK IT IS BECAUSE IT IS FAST, AND NOT PERMANENT. BECAUSE I HAVE HAD NO FORMAL TRAINING IN ILLUSTRATION, I'VE MERELY DABBLED IN WATERCOLOURS AND ACRYLICS. BUT I LOVE TO DO BOTH, SO THEY WOULD BE MY SECOND.



Are there any inspiring illustrators out there you follow?

OH! SO MANY. KIRSTEN ULVE (www.kirstenulve.com) AND JIM PAILLOT (www.jimpaillot) WERE THE FIRST TWO ILLUSTRATORS I STOOD UP AND TOOK NOTICE OF. SOMETIMES I FEEL I CAN BE VERY SELF INVOLVED IN MY WORK, AND SINCE WORKING WITH YOU, I ACTUALLY HAVE REALLY GONE OUT AND LOOKED AT OTHER PEOPLE'S WORK. NOW IT'S A HOBBY. I LOVE FINDING NEW ILLUSTRATORS AND SEEING THEIR SUCCESSES. KATE SUTTON (www.sleepycow.com) IS REALLY TERRIFIC. I'D HAVE TO SAY ANOTHER PLEASURE WOULD BE CHICKEN GIRL DESIGN, JANNIE HO. (www.chickengirldesign.com) SHE HAS QUITE THE INSPIRING RESUME.

Best Illustration gig/client ever:

I DID HAVE AN AMAZING JOB BEFORE I MOVED TO NEW ZEALAND. IT WAS A JOB THAT LAUNCHED MY CAREER TO WHERE IT IS TODAY. UNFORTUNATELY IT DID HAVE SOME NEGATIVES, BUT I CHALK THAT UP TO A LIFE EXPERIENCE.

What blogs are you addicted to?

HMM.. I HAVEN'T REALLY BEEN KEEPING UP MY BLOGGING SINCE I MOVED HOME. BUT I LOVE ANYTHING QUIRKY AND FUNNY. I'VE BEEN HANGING ROUND HERE LATELY:
weewonderfuls.typepad.com
katesutton.typepad.com
illosaurus.com
jeffvictor.blogspot.com
boygirlparty.com
nutandbee.com
feltclub.com
thesmallobject.com
danger.uk.com
....etc...




Last but not least if you could have a super power what would it be?

TRANSPORTATION (NOT LIKE, CARS OR TRAINS) BUT THE ABILITY TO TRANSPORT FROM ONE SPOT TO ANOTHER. THEN I CAN GO TO NEW ZEALAND WHENEVER I LIKE, WITHOUT HAVING TO TRAVEL 36 HOURS.


this was a little bag michelle made for me! Isn't it darling?


Thanks for the great answers michelle! Look forward to seeing more of your work as your career progresses.