Friday Feature -- Alchemist Art & World Vintage

This week's featured Etsy artist is Denise, who runs 2 shops: Alchemist Art (handmade items and artwork) and World Vintage (vintage clothing and books). I loved exploring both her shops and especially enjoyed some of the finds among her vintage. They say turquoise is all the rage right now, and it's long been one of my favorite colors, so I was particularly taken with this fabulous vintage 1960's dress.

And check out this faux turquoise necklace!

Enjoy the interview!

1. Please tell us about the items in your Etsy shop. What do you make? How did you learn your craft? What is involved in your creative process?

I make mixed media pieces, dye and paint silk scarves and cotton bandanas, and I've recently started knitting.

I don't know what my creative process is, to be honest. About two years ago I just started painting--I was a creative writing major as an undergraduate, but I hadn't felt creative in years. I think it just burst out of me. My most successful pieces, I think, are those that begin with the question "I wonder what would happen if I did..." I've learned a lot from experimenting and from reading, and the encouragement I get from being accepted into art shows is rewarding enough to make me keep experimenting. I'm still very much a novice.

2. To which Etsy Teams do you belong?

I belong to Etsy Moms, Fashion Design Lifestyle, vintage market, and ACEtsy. I think the teams are one of the best things about selling on etsy. Even though I've never met any of the team members, everyone is very supportive.

3. How did you get involved with Etsy?

I had sold a painting and was trying to figure out ways to market what I do. I saw a reference to etsy in a magazine, looked it up, and I loved what I saw.

4. What inspires your creations?

Color and texture and the desire to recreate it or transform it.

5. What is your biggest challenge related to your Etsy shop?

Time is probably number one. I work full-time outside of etsy, and it's hard to put the time in to maintaining it. The second challenge is getting good photos. I'm still working on that.

6. What is your favorite item in your shop (currently for sale or previously sold)? Why is it your favorite?

My current favorite at Alchemist Art is my painting, Forest for the Trees. I love the texture and colors in it, and it came about in a very organic way: after putting paper on the canvas, I dripped paint on it to see what would come out of it. This is a piece you want to touch when you see it in person.

At World Vintage, my favorite piece is a vintage royal blue dress with elaborate cord detail down the front. I'm a sucker for that kind of embellishment. If this dress fit me I would not be selling it!

(Note from Jen: the dress has been sold to some lucky someone! No wonder, it's so gorgeous!)

7. What advice do you have for other folks selling or buying on Etsy?

I don't know if I'm someone to give advice--I feel very much like a novice although I've been on for about a year. I guess one piece of advice is to seek out teams that may give you a sense of community. Oh, and get good photos! :-)

8. Tell us two (or more) other interesting things about you.

Well, I'm a university Spanish professor, am married with 2 great kids, 2 nutty dogs, and 3 cats who tolerate the humans in their lives. I guess my hobby is making things, although I've been a bit slow in that respect lately. I was very proud to win a purchase award, though, for my mixed media piece, Road Map, at the National Juried Arts Show sponsored by the South Cobb Arts Alliance near Atlanta, GA.

9. Where else can we find out more about you and/or your creations?

Blog: http://alchemistart.blogspot.com/ I haven't been very active with this blog lately, though. As I write here, however, I"m feeling somewhat inspired to get back to it.

I also have a fan page on facebook and I'm on twitter at www.twitter.com/worldvintage.