Quit Your Day Job & Live the Creative Dream

Yesterday was a pretty full on day here, there was lots to do... I have managed to finish a whole chunk of my to-do list and am pleased to finally get a chance to sit down and finish compiling this Q!

Let's not dilly-dally!

Quit Your Day Job

I have wanted to write about this for while now and thought I should dedicate a whole post to it, as it leads to a whole lot of reading!

For anyone who is even remotely thinking about pursuing their creative dreams and throwing in their payroll employment, then Quit Your Day Job over on Etsy will get you inspired to DO IT!

What started as a one off article on Etsy's The Storque has turned into a resource of 60 or so entrepreneurial creatives who have thrown in the employment towel to pursue their dreams. They have even formed an Etsy Featured Team "The Full Time Etsy Crafters".

Each creative has a separate article written about them, which are full of handy hints and tips, like; what is the best form of advertising? What did you do to prepare to quit? What advise do you have for other potential quitters?

Above all it is an inspiring resource that shows how it is possible to live your dream - whether you make pottery, or jewellery, or knit, you just need to take one step at a time.

Quitting never looked so good!!

Pictured below are some of the featured 'quitters'. Jump down to the Notes below for links : )

(images from Etsy)

NOTES:
visit Etsy's Quit Your Day Job on The Storque

So if you are about to 'click through' prepare to write your resignation letter! All 60 or so reads are really inspiring, and no doubt if you aren't doing it already, you'll want to live 'the dream' too!

Have a great day!

See you tomorrow for R! xxoo

R ight-e-o!

I am excited about this R post! So many lovely things to share with you - and a couple of ♥Favourite Finds to round out the day too! Let's get going....

Roll and Tumble Press

I came across Roll and Tumble Press while collating my Quotes and Inspiration post. Instead of showing you just one of their prints in yesterday writings I wanted to showcase more of it here today. yippee!

Christie and Caleb are the dynamic duo behind this fab collection of works. Painstakingly hand cutting original drawings out of linoleum and woodblock, choosing a fab colour palette and slowly hand feeding each piece into their vintage Vandercook press.

"Charming painter turned letterpress printer + Art school dropout turned tattoo artist bond over a love of music, quirky collections and dusty junk shops. One, big, drafty house, three rescue dogs, and a chance meeting with a true old time printer."

Sounds like the perfect match to me : )

(images and quote from Roll and Tumble Press)

NOTES:
visit Christie and Caleb's store

Rachel Austin

The story of Rachel Austin is like a dream come true to many creative folk out there.

While working a part time job, Rachel started an esty store as an outlet to sell her artworks. Little did she know, plan or realise that her work would be so eagerly embraced by the art loving community.

A year and a half later Rachel was making more money out of her etsy sales than she was at her job - so she quit. Rachel is an etsy success story. Not only does she support herself through her etsy sales but her husband Jon quit his job too to work on their business together, and no wonder is it such a success - have a look at Rachel's work below...

(images from Rachel Austin)

NOTES:
visit Rachel's website
visit Rachel's store
read Rachel's blog

Jill Rosenwald

It was Jill Rosenwald's Studio Ceramics that made me want to check out more of her work. I hadn't heard of Jill before, but I am obviously behind the times because Jill's website tells me that her work is on the shelves of Barneys and Neimans and was featured on Sex in the City(!)

Jill works a bit differently than most designers. Not only does she produce her own range, she collaborates with some of Americas favourite brands and produces pieces as a licensed designer. This means that the works of Jill Rosenwald has grown to include bedding, furniture and rugs each one sitting perfectly alongside her own Studio Ceramics that I first fell in love with.

Earlier in the year Jill was a 'featured seller' on Etsy. Her interview is definitely a good read and a great insight into how she works and creates. I have just written out this quote and stuck it to my wall, it made me smile when I think of my own busy life "..I run around like a chicken with it's head cut off a lot of the time...but I would have to say I am one pretty happy chicken."

Check out Jill's Studio Ceramics below, and then jump over to her website for more...

(images and quote from Jill Rosenwald with special thanks to Esty)

NOTES:
visit Jill's website
visit Jill's shop here and here

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♥ Favourite Find #1:

The first of our favourite finds today are these gorgeous Beloved Birds Hairpins. Only $12.50 USD from The Sparrows Nest store. The Sparrows Nest have a super shipping offer available right now -

FREE U.S. SHIPPING! Shipping has already been marked to $0.00, no need to wait. INTERNATIONAL customers, enjoy a cheap rate of $1.25 shipping!

Can't get better than that!

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♥ Favourite Find #2:

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these Dreaming Spires Willow Playhouse from UK designer Judith Needham. I want one! Judith has a whole range of goodness that you can see here and here.

The Dreaming Spires Willow Playhouse is available for around £1500 plus delivery.. go check them out!

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And that is R! I do so hope you liked it : )

S is shaping up rather nicely too!

I look forward to having you join me tomorrow.

Have a lovely day xxoo

V is for ...........

You know, sometimes the letters that you think may be a bit tricky are the ones that come up trumps.. I really like all of the things featured today in 'V'... I hope you do too...

First up -

Ana Ventura

I love Ana Ventura's work! Her Cut and Paste series in particular is wonderful - and her website has such a fantastic look into the process of making each piece...it really is worth a look! I often fantasize about creating my own little range of goodies and I think I want to be as clever as Ana Ventura when I grow up!! - here's a glimpse:

(images from Ana Ventura)

NOTES:
visit Ana's website
see Ana's Cut and Paste series in progress
visit Ana's shop

Valentine's Attic

Ooh! Have you seen Valentine's Attic?? This type of montaging is one of my favourites - made using a mixture of photography, vintage photographs, photoshop, illustration and paint... what do you think??

"I collect and reclaim "unwanted" photographs and ephemera, mainly vintage, with the occasional contemporary find. With these images, I dissect and then reassemble them, weaving them with my own personal iconography to give them a new purpose."

Have a look:

(images from Valentine's Attic)

NOTES:
visit Valentine's Attic shop
read Valentine's Attic blog

Vessels and Wares

I first came across the work of Jeanette Zeis whilst browsing on Etsy... I have since immersed myself into her website and discovered just how clever this gal is. Jeanette's work immediately caught my eye and I think it was the patterns imprinted into the clay that appealed...

"I love to push the clay to it's limits, stopping just short of collapse (or not). Using this style of throwing is exciting. I am never quite sure if my next push will ruin the piece or make it great."

(images from Jeanette Zeis)

NOTES:
visit Jeanette's website
visit the Vessels and Wares shop

And that is V.. I hope you liked it : ) There is plenty on the way for W... see you back here tomorrow - Have a great day! x

mmmm it's M

Welcome to M. Sorry today's post has taken a while to get here, it has been a bit of a hectic morning.. but here we are.. enjoy!!

Mingus Designs

I love this range of screen printed products from Mingus Designs. Each item is hand crafted, hand drawn and hand screen printed.

Mingus Designs newest additions include a range of sustainable fabric purses, bags, t-shirts, scarves and brooches. This collection is becoming available in their store, so make sure you keep checking back!

(images from Mingus Designs)

NOTES:
visit the Mingus Designs store
visit the Mingus designs website

Maramiki

Mara Snipes is a Chicago based designer and textile artist. Her Maramiki collection is a crisp and fresh range of screen printed linen and cotton "sewn into something wonderful."

I am pretty excited that Mara also prints fabric for sale by the yardage - perfect for a summer (or winter if you are in the north) project!

If you are in Chicago this weekend be sure to drop by the Renegade Craft Fair (details in the ad to the right of your screen) to check out more of Mara's work (and a whole heap of other goodness!).

(images from Maramiki)

NOTES:
visit Mara's store

Magic Jelly

Ahhh! Magic Jelly! I have admired this brilliant collection form illustrator and artist Karena Colquhoun for a while now.

Karena's work is a fabulous range of products that you really should just go and check out!!

(images from Magic Jelly)

NOTES:
visit the Magic Jelly website
shop for Magic Jelly goodness

And there we have it.. I can't believe we have finished M already and are nearly half way through our second alphabet set!! - amazing!

have a great day! see you tomorrow for N! x