Mom and I had the great pleasure of chatting with Marta Harvey.  Marta has participated in #CarveDecember for many years and her tessellations have gotten more and more impressive every single year.  On the podcast we discuss the tessellation lesson she has put together for the upcoming #CarveDecemberClass as well as her journey as an artist (hint: she had to raise her family before she could really get started). 

Meet Marta Harvey:

Originally from Portugal but now living in the Boston area, Marta loves to draw and design patterns.

She creates hand-carved blocks that she then uses as a starting point for her art.

Each hand-carved block creates a unique pattern, ranging from simple iron-work inspired patterns to complex tessellations varying from flowers and leaves to whimsical animals.

Marta says: “I hope you enjoy my art as much as I enjoy creating it.”

Some things we discuss on this episode:

• what makes someone an incredible teacher
• art as a business
• MC Escher, and in particular, this print:

Also, Marta sent me this information after the podcast:

“My first tessellation (the one that took days):

I learned stamp carving around 2006/2007 in one of the Yahoo groups I was mentioning; we were working together through Gloria Page’s book “Art Stamping Workshop”.

This is the next tessellation, created while going through your book (Carve Stamp Play):

This is what I meant by having to create 2 stamps as one of the shapes is the inverse of the other. I think I used this online tool to get the tessellation shape.

And here are some of the ATCs where I experimented with lots of different techniques – just so you have an idea of what I was talking about.

Fun to see some of the carved stamps – the flowers on the top left and right, and one of the first continuous patterns I created on the bottom right.”

Find Marta Online:

• Instagram: @martaharveyart 
• Website: martaharveyart.com 

Our Recommendations from this episode:

• Julie: Yeti Cup
• Eileen: NY Times Article: To Build Emotional Strength, Expand Your Brain 

I hope you enjoyed this episode.  If there are topics you’d like us to cover or guests you’d like us to invite, please let us know.  Thanks for stopping by!

All podcasts are archived here.  Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Music here. 
And if you like the podcast, please post about it on your social media so that other people can find the show!

I’m pretty sure that Rowan and I could have talked non-stop for about six hours.  But we had to limit ourselves to just one hour.  She’s smart, funny, hard working, thoughtful, and you’re going to love today’s podcast.  Give it a listen!

Rowan Sivyer, AKA Little Rowan Redhead…

…is a NZ born, Sydney-based printmaker, painter, avid crafter and educator.

As a largely self-taught artist, Rowan believes in the power of a daily artistic practice, risk-taking and creative play.  

She is greatly inspired by Australian flora and fauna which frequently features in her work but she is also drawn to colour and pattern.

Some things we discuss on this episode:

• art as therapy
• #CarveDecember and the upcoming 2020 #CarveDecemberClass!
• business vs. art
• niche-ing down
• The 100 Day Project
• being kind to yourself
• gratitude
• Katherine Hepburn: “If you always do what you want, at least one person is happy.”

Find Rowan Online:

• www.littlerowanredhead.com
• www.instagram.com/littlerowanredhead
• www.facebook.com/littlerowanredhead

Our Recommendations from this episode:

• Julie: laptop stand
• Eileen: crochetcoralreef.org

I hope you enjoyed this episode.  If there are topics you’d like us to cover or guests you’d like us to invite, please let us know.  Thanks for stopping by!

If you like the podcast, please post about it on your social media so that other people can find the show!

It was my great pleasure to spend an hour chatting with Sandy McTier recently.  We discussed how she built her business and her core beliefs about people and business relationships.  Sandy is smart and passionate and I think you’re going to love today’s podcast.  Give it a listen:

If you enjoy the podcast, please give us a shout out on social media or tell a friend about the show.  This helps other people find the show.  Thanks so much!

Sandy is a published artist, designer and International Travel Teacher.

Sandy creates in a variety of mediums, from acrylics to oils and clay to colored pencils.

Sandy is a proud DecoArt Helping Artist, DecoArt Art Ambassador and in 2018 became a DecoArt Creative Consultant working closely with Marketing and Product Development, Product Testing, Demoing and Representing DecoArt at a variety of trade shows.

She is also a Dynasty Brush Brand Specialist and ChartPak Art Ambassador.

She is a wife of 30 years to a U.S. Air Force Veteran and mom to three amazing young men, ages 25, 24 and 23.

You can find Sandy at painting conventions around the country as well as on Facebook at Sandy McTier Designs and on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram under Sandy McTier

Some things we discuss on this episode:

• DecoArt Fabric Paint
• DecoArt Media Line — especially their Fluid Acrylics
• Dynasty Brushes
• The Decorative Painter Magazine from The Society of Decorative Painters
• Chalky Gesso 

Find Sandy online:

I hope you enjoyed this episode.  If there are topics you’d like us to cover or guests you’d like us to invite, please let us know.  Thanks for stopping by!

Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Music here. 
And if you like the podcast, please post about it on your social media so that other people can find the show!

Mom and I have an argument on this episode — like a talking over each other and accusing the other of being wrong argument.  Give it a listen!

Here are our recommendations this episode:

• Eileen: article: How To Add More Play to Your Grown Up Life
• Julie:  George Land’s TEDx talk (watch it below):

I hope you enjoyed this episode.  Thanks for stopping by!

All podcasts are archived here.  Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Music here. 
And if you like the podcast, please post about it on your social media so that other people can find the show!

Depending on how long you’ve been reading this blog and listening to this podcast, you may or may not know that I am a scrapbooker.  I still pocket scrapbook, even though I gave up the 12×12 layouts.  The fact is, I love memory keeping and I thought it was time that we had a tried and true scrapbooker on the podcast.  And so, Mom and I chatted with Paige Evans.  Give it a listen!

If you enjoy the podcast, please give us a shout out on social media or tell a friend about the show.  This helps other people find the show.  Thanks so much!

Meet Paige Evans:

My name is Paige Evans and I have been scrapbooking since I was 16 years old when I got my very first job at a little local scrapbook store in Redmond, Washington.

Now I’ve been scrapbooking over half my life and love it as much today as I did back then.

I have 10 signature scrapbooking collections with American Crafts.

I have taught classes in 7 states and 9 countries – I love teaching how to create eye-catching layouts as well as coptic bookbinding courses.

I live in the suburbs of Denver with my husband of 13 years, our son Fox, and daughter Jane, as well as a menagerie of pets – we have a dog, cat, bunny, and guinea pig (named Joey, Rachel, Phoebe, and Richard – we love the show FRIENDS!).  I love to create something every day!

Here are our recommendations this episode:

• Eileen: article: What is a Museum?
• Julie: china markers in plastic 

Find Paige online:

• Blog: https://www.paigetaylorevans.com/
• Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/pagebypaige
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/paigetaylorevans
• Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/happyscrappyplace/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paigetaylorevans/

I hope you enjoyed this episode.  If there are topics you’d like us to cover or guests you’d like us to invite, please let us know.  Thanks for stopping by!

All podcasts are archived here.  Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Music here. 
And if you like the podcast, please post about it on your social media so that other people can find the show!

Mom and I had a wonderful conversation with Wendy Solganik, aka “Willa.Wanders” this week.  We probably could have talked to her for several hours.  Our conversation covers making a living, pricing, business killing creativity, Black Lives Matter, authenticity, love of instagram, and more.  Give it a listen!

If you enjoy the podcast, please give us a shout out on instagram or facebook.  This helps other people find the show.  Thanks so much!

Wendy Solganik is a life long artist and crafter, currently working in book arts…

…mixed media…

…and watercolor.

From production wheel pottery to scrapbooking to knitting and so many more passions, Wendy always dives deep to master a craft. After a fifteen year stint as the co-owner of Luscious Verde, a successful, award-winning, custom invitation design, printing and manufacturing company, you can find Wendy at home in her studio, crafting handmade, colorful, and highly custom art journals for clients… 

…while caring for her large extended family.  You just never know where she will wander to next!

Some things we discuss during the podcast:

• Wendy’s daughter tibbleslimes.
• Louise Fletcher’s online class, “Find Your Joy.”
• Lauren Hom’s passion projects.
• Kelly Wynne Conrad’s class, “The Layered Page.”
• The Society for Calligraphy in Los Angeles
• Evolutionary Psychology
• Social Credibility — what is it?

Here are our recommendations this episode:

• Wendy: On instagram: iamtabithabrown – vegan chef mom actress who promotes healthy relationships with food and self.
• Eileen: 2007 article from The New Yorker called, “What’s the Trouble: How Doctor’s Think.”
• Julie: The book, “How to Make Hand-Drawn Maps.”

Find Wendy online:

• instagram: willa.wanders
• website: willawanders.carrd.co

I hope you enjoyed this episode.  Thanks for stopping by!

Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Music here. 
And if you like the podcast, please post about it on your social media so that other people can find the show!

Today I’m bringing you a podcast in two halves.  The first half was recorded right after I came home from New Jersey and filming some videos about new ScanNCut product (which was released yesterday).  The second half was recorded right after I came home from recording season 9 of Make It Artsy.  The podcast covers travel during COVID-19, some thoughts on filming during these odd times, and much more.  Give it a listen!

Here is a favorite project from Make It Artsy:

I made 6-foot vinyl banner, which we stuck to the wall.  (Note the masks.)  And speaking of masks, here I am in New Jersey all glammed up for the camera but keeping things safe:

Here are our recommendations this episode:

• Eileen: The TV show Norsemen.
• Julie: The app Daily Art.

I hope you enjoyed this episode.  Before you go, I’d love it if you’d take a moment to answer the survey below:

Thanks for stopping by!

All podcasts are archived here.  Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Music here. 
And if you like the podcast, please post about it on your social media so that other people can find the show!

Our guest today is Jackie Jimerson.  Learn all about Jackie and her first time experiencing gelatin printing, gain insight into her thoughts on designing her own stencils, and listen in on our chat about paying for content or not, design teams, and a bit about being a black artist in the mixed media world. 

If you enjoy the podcast, please give us a shout out on instagram or facebook.  This helps other people find the show.  Thanks so much!

Jackie Jimerson…

…is a mixed media artist and designer.

She found her way to mixed media through papercrafting about five years ago, and it has continued to feed her love for learning and experimenting with no end in sight.

After a few years of creating mixed media art, Jackie realized that she also enjoys making for makers, so she opened The Artisan’s Caché on Etsy. There she sells her stencils, stamps, hand-bound journals, and carefully curated ephemera packs.

In early 2020, she joined the Gel Press Creative Team where she is able to let her passion for gelatin printing reach a wider audience.

Jackie lives in a south suburb of Chicago, Illinois with her son, where she works full time as an IT Data Specialist.

Here is some info about Pass the Brush:

• “Pass the Brush” is the mixed media community’s version of “Share the Mic Now.” The objective of this event is to show solidarity within the mixed media community and to amplify black mixed media artists so their voices can be heard and their art can be seen by a broader audience.
• On July 17 & 18 Jackie will be taking over my Instagram and Facebook accounts in order to share her art and her story.
• As part of Pass the Brush, there will be giveaways of some fun art goodies, including a $200 gift certificate to my online classroom.
• Jackie and I will be doing an Instagram LIVE together on Friday, July 17 at 1pm EST.  It will last about 45-minutes and we will be making art and taking your questions.  You can follow me on instagram HERE and Jackie HERE.

I hope that you will join Jackie and me for the live event on Friday.  We’d love for you to be there!

Here are our recommendations this episode:

• Jackie: imawonder/Tina Tran – her youtube on kintsugi:

• Eileen: Manhattan Theatre Club – the student monologue challenge
• Julie: A Beautiful Mess Podcast, Side Hustle Episode

Find Jackie online:

• Etsy https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheArtisansCache
• YouTube https://www.youtube.com/creationsbyjsheri
• Facebook https://facebook.com/creationsbyjsheri
• Instagram https://instagram.com/creationsbyjsheri
• Twitter https://twitter.com/creationsbyjs

I hope you enjoyed this episode.  Thanks for stopping by!

All podcasts are archived here.  Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Music here. 
And if you like the podcast, please post about it on your social media so that other people can find the show!

I had so much fun recording today’s podcast. Mom and I were actually in the same room and that gave the whole thing a different feel.  I have to say that I feel so energized and excited after our chat and I hope that you do too!

If you enjoy the podcast, please give us a shout out on instagram or facebook.  This helps other people find the show.  Thanks so much!

The article our main conversation is based on is called, “Starbucks Just Announced a Drastic Change. What Every Company Can Learn From It.”  Even if you don’t have a company, as we suggest on the podcast, you can take the advice and apply it to your art making.  Here are the three essential questions:

1. How have your customers changed in the last 2-5 years?  (For your art, change it to: How has your life changed in the last 2-5 years?)
2. What are you currently not offering that would be interesting to your customers? (For your art, change it to: What are you currently not doing that would be interesting to you?)
3. How can you improve your customer’s experience? (For your art, change it to: How can you make your art-making experience easier?)

• Eileen: NY Times Article: Museums Embrace Art Therapy Techniques for Unsettled Times
• Julie: The Big Flower Fight on Netflix

And here are the two map-making books I just ordered: this one and this one.

I hope you enjoyed this episode.  Thanks for stopping by!

 Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Music here. 
And if you like the podcast, please post about it on your social media so that other people can find the show!