What is your artistic
contribution and why do you love it? I
create soldered charms from old papers, photographs and vintage ephemera.Similar to making stained glass.I love what I do because I'm able to use
myhands to create something I truly
think is pretty.Also, I enjoy
photography and anything vintage, so I get to put all the things I love into
one little creation.
Where do you practice your craft?
I have an extra bedroom in my house I'm lucky
enough to use as a home office.(Home office, studio, garage, the kitchen
table?)
When the well runs dry how do you recharge your
creative spark?
What I do involves a lot
of repetition, and a girl needs a break to keep going.So I end up going for a bike ride by the
beach, and I've recently started lifting weights.Getting the blood flowing really helps with
my creativity too, and many times I come up with new ideas when exercising.
What is your life motto?
Never take life too seriously, keep the
faith, and remember to laugh.Confront
your fears, and don't let them stop you from going forward.Learn by doing, because much of your success
comes from failure.
What is the biggest enemy of your
creativity?
I think the biggest enemy is
exhaustionand also time.I work alone, so it takes me a lot of time to
finish a project.
What are some of your inspirations?
I find inspiration in so many things.I love listening to music when I work, and it
really keeps me going.I'm also inspired
by movies and other artists especially their blogs.People, places, things?
List some of your favorite inspirational and
creative websites or blogs for us to bask in!
Let's see, I have so many and you
can find them listed on my blog.I
really enjoy some of the Swedish blogs out there with their dreamy cream and
white decorating.
Who influences you?
I'm influenced by so many creative
people.My mom was my greatest influence
creatively growing up.She made stained
glass windows, drew beautifully, and played the piano.
How does your family support and/or participate
in your artistic endeavors?
I'm married
with 3 kids, and my entire family participates in my business by helping me at
craft shows, and generally picking up the slack at home when I haven't kept up
with chores, or am too tired to make dinner.They are my biggest supporters.My teenage daughter Kristin especially tells me when she likes something
(or doesn't!), and I value her honesty.My boys Michael and Matthew and my husband Jim all have helped in my
craft booth, and believe me it's a girly girl booth, dripping with crystals,
white and ruffles!Men usually run and
hide when they see it, but my dear husband and boys have the guts to work in
it.
What was your first job?
Working as a hostess in a crummy
restaurant.I think I lasted 2
weeks.Then I got a job at a pet
store.Now that was fun.
What do you know for sure about the creative
process?
That you have to face your
fears when creating.I mean you may have
to face your fear when learning a new art form, and you also have to face the
fear of rejection when you go to sell it.Making art is very personal, you are pouring out your soul into it, so
it can be very scary allowing others to critique it.But it's also great when your pieces are
loved.
What do you know now that you wish you’d known
when you were younger?
I wish I didn't
listen to others who made me feel that you can't go after your dreams when it
comes to a creative career.I wish I had
listened to my own heart and faced my fears and gone for it at an early age.
Is there any current or upcoming project that
you’d like our readers to know about?
Well, I'm in the process of re-doing my website and making it more user
friendly.I'm also getting ready for a
fun show called Glitterfest that will be held Oct. 10th in Santa Ana, CA.
Can you share with us a teeny tiny short bio
about your creative process and the background behind it?
I've always been a person who needs a project
going, and who must work with her hands.The way I got into making charms is I saw one in a magazine and said to
myself " I have to make that."So I learned how to cut glass, solder and work with Photoshop to put
together the images inside.It's taken
me sometime to get good at soldering, actually years.
My
dad influenced me growing up because he was an engineer, and always had a
project going.My very first creation I
can remember being proud ofwas a robot
made out of coffee cans and cardboard boxes.I thought it couldn't get any better than that!
You can visit Martha at her beautiful blog and website.
Are you interested in being a Featured Artist of the Month or know someone who you'd like to see Featured? Please contact me
with the details including your name, website or blog, and a brief
description of your creative inspiration and talent. Please submit
your email with Featured Artist of the Month in the subject line!
