Get to know me :) {+ some other bloggers!}

Recently the super talented and oh so lovely Riikka Kovasin invited me to join her on a little (grand) blog hop that's happening. So --- read and get to know me ♥ At the end I will link to some people who inspire me, and you can visit them on the 14th!

I adore everything about the Crafting Industry. I have a Bachelor's of Art Degree in Industrial Design (mass production based design) and my pre-college era was dedicated to fine arts. I feel that all of my background has really come full circle and gives me great opportunity in this industry. Not only do I get to partake in the amazing products out and about, but I also get to design some. Including paper collections for 7 Dots Studio, stamps for Viva LasVegaStamps! and chipboard/flair/stencils for UmWowStudio. It's a good life :)



1) What am I working on? 
     I am currently working on a May Arts piece, a 7 Dots Studio piece, some coordinating products, some projects using a fab kit from Scraps of Darkness, some submission pieces, some chunky ATCs... goodness, it never ends! :) I'm definitely ALWAYS working on SOMEthing including product design.

2) How does my work differ from others of its genre? 
     My work tends to be pretty paint/technique heavy on top of graphic paper. There's always a bit of stamping and small embellishing that gives it a graphic look. I love color, but I also love big bold black and white patterns. I think my work mostly differs.. because it's MINE. Only MY work has my likes, my loves, my hates, my talents, my memories, my FEELINGS in it.

3) Why do I write/create what I do? 
      I create what I do, because I WANT to. It doesn't matter what it is.. layouts, cards, tags, altered bits. I create it because I want to. Even on and for a team. I try very hard not to dedicate my time to a person or company that I'm not totally in love with, gotta have, can't NOT use it. I mean that's what it's all about right? Part hobby, part job, all dedication :) -- and on the complete opposite side, a business doesn't want half @ssed work from me either!

4) How does your writing/creating process work?
     It really depends on what I'm working on.. sometimes I start with a sketch, theme or idea. Sometimes I just gather supplies I love! Either way, I never finish anything in "one go." I always work on a project some.. walk away, come back and work on it some more. sometimes over an entire week! But .. I need time to think about it. stew it over. figure out bits n pieces. :) It's how I do what I do. It also makes "Start to finish" videos very difficult, lol. 

And now a bit about some amazing creative talents that I continuously draw inspiration from! In alphabetical order we have ... 

Jen Matott : Hi! I am a mom to 2 VERY active boys, wife to a slightly OCD hubby, art teacher to over 400 kids and a practicing artist! I find time to create because I NEED to! I love working in mixed media such as encaustic, scrapbooking, sculpture, and ceramics. Art is my passion and my life! There is nothing I won't try and I adore texture! I've designed for Prima Marketing, Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft, and UmWowStudio. My style can be described as artsy and full of messy fun! I'm inspired by fine art styles, everyday life, textures, and nature. I love creating and teaching art every day!
Jen has got a super unique style along with an uber full plate. I'm inspired her style, talent, and the fact that she also teaches fine arts to kiddos. My favorite works of hers are generally Faber Castell based, like the ones for the kit she designed.

Miae Rowe : Hello! I'm a mixed media crafter who lives in sunny California with my super supportive husband and our two fun girls. I "stumbled" across scrapbooking in 2006 and I'm so happy that I did! What started off as a hobby has become a passion....my creative outlet!

I love working with bright colors and layering different mediums to create my own backgrounds for my scrapbook pages and art journals. I'm also very lucky to be on the design teams of some wonderful companies who challenge me to flex my creative muscle!
Miae has the most amazing arty style. Full of color and passion. I love picking up tips and techniques from her, and she's never afraid to share them. I cannot pick a favorite of Miae's --- I adore each and every layout by her, including the ones that are now gracing the Crafter's Workshop blog.

Tina Walker : I live in Salt Lake City, Utah, but am a Mid West girl by heart. (Go Buckeyes!) My current obsession and love is getting my hands messy with all sorts of mediums: paints, inks, sprays – you name it! The more mixed, the better. But, you can frequently see me ‘jump’ from project type to project type. As they say, variety is the spice of life! You can see more of my Scrapbook, Home Décor, and Mixed Media projects on my blog, A Dog's Life.
I adore Tina's VORACITY for crafting. She is super talented, her artwork is varied, she hits all styles and mediums, and in RECORD time. My absolutely favorite pieces of hers are the mini albums she does for My Mind's Eye. 

Please take time to visit these super talented ladies!!! They'll each have posts of their own this time next week :)