Indie Junction Featured Artisans for the Week of June 27th!!

  
The talent fest continues with this week's fabulous Indie Junction Artisans: Ambidextrous Octopus, Ida Michaeli ofIdale,  and Valerie from Additions Style!!
So let's start right in with Ambidextrous Octopus, a shop featuring salvaged, repurposed, upcycled, revamped, recycled creations (or however you wanna put it) and some pretty amazing photographs!  In the artists' own words: "The Ambidextrous Octopus is a brother / sister team effort which is why we are an octopie: 8 appendages means at least 2 hands cooking up new crafty goodness at all times!   We are totally enamored with remaking, salvaging, repurposing, upcycling, revamping, recycling or however you wanna put it. We love twisting and turning something obsolete into something awesome-tastic!  We also like to go on photo taking adventures into lost places. Peeling paint and rusty nails make us giddy. Abandoned buildings are our Taj Mahal. Graffiti spray is our Mona Lisa. Give us back allies and junkyards and we are a happy cephalopode."
Take a look at some of the goodies from their Etsy Shop!
  
Our next Indie Junction Featured Artisan is Ida Michaeli from Idale featuring exclusive handmade ceramic artwork, functional pottery, jewelry, and artifacts!  In the artisan's own words: "I have been in love with clay since i took part in archeological expeditions as a teenager. What do archeologists discover? Mostly ceramics. All the materials, all those bones and iron, turn into dust after centuries and millennia, only fired clay stays intact. It may break, but it is impervious to entropy... I remember my ecstasy as i washed disinterred beads in the river - and they sparkled and dazzled in the sun with shocking blue, deep purple and mellow yellow colours.  However, my style has nothing to do with the ground or archeology. I would call it Quasi Victorian Eclectic. My overglaze techniques and multifiring allow me to compose collages of images, ornaments and reproductions on ceramic surfaces. The work is completed by drawing with lustres, mostly gold lustre.  You are welcome to visit my website."
Now let's take a peek at some of her wonderful work!
  
Our third Featured Indie Junction Artisan is Valerie from Additions Style featuring her wonderful jewelry collection created from recycled & repurposed hardware.  In the artist's own words: "I am a jewelry artist who works with sterling silver, and a mother of a teenage daughter who loves jewelry. A couple of years ago I was ready for a change and wanted to try something new. I wanted the opportunity to try a new medium, experiment with new techniques, and create jewelry and accessories that were young, fresh, and affordable.  Working with my daughter we started a collection named ADDITIONS. When we started I did not know the design direction we were going to take, until one day when I went into the hardware store. My whole design process was recharged that day and I realized that I could create jewelry that looked like silver, using hardware to make it affordable. Since that day I have found great resource for recycled hardware to create the jewelry and accessories in our collection.  Working with the hardware has been inspirational for me. I get new ideas all the time and creating is exciting. Sometimes the best thing is trying to figure out what to do next, so check back often to see all the new items.  You can follow my design process and my adventures on running an online business on my blog." You can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter!
Here are some of the designs you will find at Additions Style!
  
We hope you have enjoyed this week's featured Indie Junction Artisans!  Indie Junction is a wonderful community that brings together artisans from across all mediums in the spirit of collaboration, support and growth.  Indie Junction now officially has a new home!  Due to changes within Ning and incredible growth of our community, we have moved to a brand new home!  Many thanks to the design team of Nicky (co-owner) and her husband Steph for creating a wonderful site for all of our members!  With this new site we can not only continue to add value for our members but also keep the site free!  For more information about Indie Junction, please go here!

Indie Junction Featured Artisans for the Week of June 20th!!

  
As we approach the first official day of summer, let's celebrate with this week's three talented Indie Junction artisans: Buddy Noone of  13 Coffin Nails, Jennifer of Simply Inviting Cards, and Frann from Armored Hearts!
Let's start with13 Coffin Nails, your home for all things VintagePunkPop Art... What is VintagePunkPoP Art you ask? In the artist's own words: "well it's the term I came up with to describe the work you see. A lot of my pieces contain some Vintage Imagery somewhere in the mix. What I do is take all those vintage images and mix em with a little grungy Punk spice; finally I toss those wonderful ingredients together with a lil splash of PoP Art. Bake for 60 minutes at 425 and what pops out of the oven is what you see... VintagePunkPop.
"  I've been a graphic designer for over five years and I enjoy sitting behind a computer doing this stuff. I am heavily influenced the the strange and or weird. I also find a lot of inspiration from the past through vintage magazines and advertisements."
Follow Buddy Noone/13 Coffin Nails on Twitter, Facebook,  MySpace, Etsy, and his website!
Now let's take a look at some of the awesome things you will find in his studio:
  
Our next Indie Junction Featured Artisan is Jennifer from Simply Inviting Cards where you'll find cards, albums, memory boxes, and all kinds of paper goodies.  In the artist's own words: "I find beauty in simplicity, character in imperfection, and charm in the everyday motifs and objects from the lives of generations past. In a world laden with frenzy, I create greeting cards, albums and other paper delights that let you express, share, and preserve your own sunshine!"
Places to find Simply Inviting Cards:

• Blog
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Flickr
• Craftgawker

Now let's look at some of the wonderful things you will find at Simply Inviting!
  
Our third Indie Junction Featured Artisan this week is Frann from Armored Hearts, featuring custom chainmaille jewelry and wearable art.  In the artist's own words: "I started Armored Hearts to explore my addiction for chainmaille. My goal is to offer unusual items, and customer jewelry through Etsy and local craft shows. I love to do custom orders and I have an ever changing inventory of items.  I'm seriously addicted to chainmaille, and have been incorporating beadwork into my work."
Places to Find Armored Hearts:

• Blog
• Facebook
• Twitter

Now let's take a look at the wonderful designs you'll find at Armored Hearts!
  
We hope you have enjoyed this week's featured Indie Junction Artisans!  Indie Junction is a wonderful community that brings together artisans from across all mediums in the spirit of collaboration, support and growth.  Indie Junction now officially has a new home!  Due to changes within Ning and incredible growth of our community, we have moved to a brand new home!  Many thanks to the design team of Nicky (co-owner) and her husband Steph for creating a wonderful site for all of our members!  With this new site we can not only continue to add value for our members but also keep the site free!  For more information about Indie Junction, please go here!

Indie Junction Featured Artisans for the Week of June 13th!!

  

There is so much talent here on Indie Junction and this week's three featured artisans are no exception!  Let's welcome: Vicky from Gourds Adored, Susan, owner of Lynwood Jewels and her second shop Lynwood Designs in  Wood, and Deanna from Year of the Tiger!!
Let's start with Vicky from Gourds Adored where you will find gourd birdhouses, purses, vases, bowls, night lights, oil burners, and lots of holiday gourds.  In the artist's own words: "I have been working with gourds for about 8 years. I sell at art and craft festivals each year, as well as leased space in a shop in Indiana.  It was all started when my sister bought me a gourd birdhouse for Christmas. I have done several different crafts through the years, wood working, handmade dolls, painting windows and glass, you name it, I have probably tried it. But gourds!! I didn't even know what a gourd was, but was fascinated. I started buying books, found growers and I've been hooked ever since.  I'm a gourdhead and proud of it!!!!"  Follow Gourds Adored on Twitter!
Now let's take a look at some of her wonderful work!
  
Our next Indie Junction Featured Artisan is  Lynwood Jewelry featuring handmade jewelry in sterling silver and semi-precious stones.    In the artist's own words: "Lynwood Jewellery or in other words, Bev and Susie, design and handcraft necklaces, bracelets and earrings, in sterling silver and semi-precious stones and beads. We create jewelry that is eye catching and unique and most importantly, that we ourselves would wear.  We love creating lovely things to wear that are a bit different and eyecatching. We work in sterling silver, even our findings are made of sterling silver and we use semi-precious stones and occasionally Swarovski crystals too. We hope you like our jewelry and more importantly, we hope you enjoy wearing it."
Places to find Lynwood Jewelry

• Blog
• ArtFire
• Folksy
• Twitter

Now let's take a look at some of the wonderful designs you will find at Lynwood Jewelry!
  
And here are some designs in Lynwood Designs in Wood:
  
Our third Indie Junction Featured Artisan is Deanna from Year of the Tiger where you'll find photography, collage paintings and assemblage (three dimensional collage). Basically, anything paper she can get her hands on.  In the artist's own words: "I'm a visual artist who likes to create something new every day. I'm passionate about found papers which I collect from multiple sources. These papers find their way into original acrylic collage paintings, giving each piece considerable texture and dimension. They tease the eye so that it's not immediately obvious that an image is comprised of hundreds of pieces of torn papers incorporated into paint and glazes. My range of work covers the abstract to the more realistic, like my avatar which is another (tiny) example of my work.  I also create collage boxes--three dimensional art technically considered assemblage--that begins with a handmade 6" X 6" origami box and builds from there. These lidded boxes are perfect all occasion gifts, since they function as presentation boxes in addition to art. They're unique and highly customizable, preserved in acrylic display cases.
Some of my photography is also featured in my shop. You have your choice between a print only or a framed, ready to hang piece. For framed prints, I offer both black and white mats and frames."
Places to find Year of the Tiger:

• Blog
• Slide
• Flickr

Take a look at some of the wonderful work by Year of the Tiger!
  
We hope you have enjoyed this week's featured Indie Junction Artisans!  Indie Junction is a wonderful community that brings together artisans from across all mediums in the spirit of collaboration, support and growth.  Indie Junction now officially has a new home!  Due to changes within Ning and incredible growth of our community, we have moved to a brand new home!  Many thanks to the design team of Nicky (co-owner) and her husband Steph for creating a wonderful site for all of our members!  With this new site we can not only continue to add value for our members but also keep the site free!  For more information about Indie Junction, please go here!

Indie Junction Featured Artisans for the Week of June 6th!!

   
June starts off with a bang as we feature three new talented Indie Junction Artisans: Jana Webb of Janabolic, Libby Gardiner of I Heart Charlie and Pink Bauble, and Mary Judy of Mary Judy Ceramic Art Studio!
Let's start with Jana Webb, owner of Janabolic, which features handmade chainmaille earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and keychains all of which were created by opening, weaving, and closing hundreds of rings, one ring at a time.  Everything you see in Jana's shop can be customized to your specifications.  If you see something you'd like at a different length, color, or material, just send her a conversation!  Here's some things about the artist, in her own words: "A few things about me! My name is Jana, I have a great boyfriend, I have 6 little brothers and sisters, I like silly hats, I'm left handed, I've lived in Tennessee my whole life, I do a little of everything, but my favorite things are making jewelry, books, pin back buttons, knitting, and taking pictures, anything else you'd like to know? Just send me a conversation! (I'm also friendly :])"
Places to Find Jana:

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Blog
• Flickr
• DeviantArt
• StyleHive

And of course here at Indie Junction!!
Now let's take a look at some of Jana's beautiful chainmaille:
  
Our next featured Indie Junction Artisan is Libby Gardiner of  iheartcharlie and Pink Bauble.  iheartcharlie offers an eclectic selection Hand Crafted Textile items and Photography.  All of iheartcharlie's items are either one of a kind or a very limited edition. Each item is created with attention to detail and care.  In the artist's own words: "...I reside in the beautiful Margaret River Wine region in Western Australia. My shop name is in honour of my 2yr old Kelpie x Border Collie Charlotte, aka Charlie. My passion is photography but I also indulge in all things creative. This shop was originally intended to stock my photography but some how the textiles have taken a life of their own and the design label 'iheartcharlie' was born.  iheartcharlie is an eclectic mix of all the things that have occupied my spare time over the last couple of years and continue to do so.  All of my textile creations are original designs created by me and have been individually hand crafted with care. "
And here's what she has to say about her shop Pink Bauble, a shop featuring a creative selection of handmade beaded brooches and keychains:  "The brooches and keychains listed in this shop were created over a 12 month time frame.  I've got a box full ready to sell and a few more waiting to be finished. After these have gone they will not be recreated. Consequently each on is an individual one of kind creation."
If you'd like to find out more about Libby and her shops, follow her blog and Facebook page!
Now let's take a look at some of the wonderful things you will find in iheartcharlie:
  
And in Pink Bauble...
  
Our third Indie Junction Featured Artisan is Mary Judy owner of Mary Judy Original Ceramic Art where you will find all original hand-built one-of-a-kind coLorful kooKy & fun ceramics! In the artist's own words: "I am an almost native of Colorado, living at just over 8,000 ft. I spend a LOT of time in my studio making the most colorful and kookiest ceramics. I am insired by COLOR, shape, form and movement. Always testing the limits of how far, how thin, how extreme I can make the mud.  Both fun & funktional, all of my work is one-of-a-kind, hand-built, original. All of it finished with non-toxic lead-free glazes -- making it safe to use for food or 10,000 other things."
Places to find Mary Judy:

• Website
• Etsy
• Artfire
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Flickr

Now let's take a look at some of the wonderful things created by Mary Judy:
  
Well, I hope you enjoy this week's Indie Junction Featured Artisans!  If you would like more information about Indie Junction simply click here. We're in the process of moving to our new home, so sign up at our wonderful new site and the rest of the community will join you soon! Indie Junction is a place where indie artisans across all genres form a synergy that helps each individual achieve their goals within the handmade industry.