Me? I’m an artist. I’ve finally come to accept it. I’ve tried to stop it, and it keeps coming back. I remember my Mom asking me one time when I was going to get a “real” job. What did that mean? I finally decided that if I’m going to spend more than a few hours a day doing something, I should enjoy it. Life is too short to spend a lot of time doing anything you are not passionate about. These days there is nothing I enjoy more than the time I spend working with glass. I am completely fascinated by glass. You can cut it, break it, and melt it. You can’t destroy its beauty. You hold it up to the light and its personality changes. It’s amazing.I love being surrounded by color.
I was the little girl who used all the crayons in the big box. I spent 16 years as a floral designer. My quest for a “real” job led me out of that field, but my desire to create things and be around color never went away. I took my first stained glass class in 2003 and my life has not been the same. I first melted glass with a torch in 2005. It was unbelievable! I have never had that “I need to do this” kind of feeling so strongly before. Now I’m doing something I love every day. Sorry Mom - no “real” jobs here. Just days filled with magic – and glass.
You can view LeAnn's work here:
www.leannchristian.com
www.LeAnnChristian.etsy.com
Monday, April 7, 2008
Vendor Spotlight: Winsome Expressions
Winsome Expressions - your place for greeting and note cards, stationery, invitations and other items for all occasions.
For a Winning Expression on any occasion, shop our online catalogue
About Us
Owner / Artist: Winsome Jean
Years in business: 8
Our Motivation for Creating
To do good and be good by providing unique, quality, afforable graphic design solutions to corporate and individual clients. Winsome Expressions is a perfect avenue to parlay the owner's God-given design talents and business skills born through twenty years in management positions for government and industry.
External Return: Satisfied customer who keeps coming back and refers others.
Internal Return: Satisfied soul.
http://www.winsomecards.com/
For a Winning Expression on any occasion, shop our online catalogue
About Us
Owner / Artist: Winsome Jean
Years in business: 8
Our Motivation for Creating
To do good and be good by providing unique, quality, afforable graphic design solutions to corporate and individual clients. Winsome Expressions is a perfect avenue to parlay the owner's God-given design talents and business skills born through twenty years in management positions for government and industry.
External Return: Satisfied customer who keeps coming back and refers others.
Internal Return: Satisfied soul.
http://www.winsomecards.com/
Vendor Spotlight: Gifts on a Mission
From Jackie Brantley, Founder
"It all started in a Moscow flea market where I was buying a beautiful, hand painted nesting doll. I said to my fellow mission-team member, 'why don't we buy several of these, take them home and sell them to raise money for the orphans we are working with here?' We knew it would help the artist we were buying from who obviously wanted to support herself in a very tough city. It was a simple concept and one that had certainly been done before, but I knew there was a need to do more. That was five years ago now and I have learned that God sometimes unveils his purpose for us bit by bit. I also learned that God can speak through a variety of methods. For me it was Rick Warren and his "Purpose Driven Life", several other books about understanding God's will, a variety of mission trips to South America, Mississippi and Russia, dear friends and mentors, and of course His word, the Bible.
Then, another bit of His plan, some friends of mine introduced me to a pastor from Kenya who was visiting the U.S. Shortly thereafter I went on a mission trip to Kenya and I knew God was calling me not only to start this business He had been planting in my head, but to start first in Kenya.I believe that people want to help themselves. They just need a chance, a break, an opportunity. You can give a person money but if they don't have some investment in what they are doing, it won't stick. They will be waiting for the next time you can give them money. I believe this ministry is just about leveling the playing field a bit so that everyone can do better for himself.
The last element is that my passion is 100% children. They have so much potential. Unlike adults, they can't always create opportunity for themselves. They need a "hand up" for sure.So, Gifts on a Mission was born.
Today, we are small but mighty and working primarily in one country. Tomorrow, we will import from a variety of countries and bring you even more opportunities to make a difference. What a privilege! I pray that those I am helping are half as blessed as I am for working with them. We seek out the best products and the artists who don't have a lot of opportunity for sales. Then, we seek out the opportunities to help children, whether it be building schools, buying school supplies, assisting orphanages – anything that will give a child a fighting chance to grow up and contribute back to his community!"
www.giftsonamission.com
www.giftsonamission.blogspot.com
"It all started in a Moscow flea market where I was buying a beautiful, hand painted nesting doll. I said to my fellow mission-team member, 'why don't we buy several of these, take them home and sell them to raise money for the orphans we are working with here?' We knew it would help the artist we were buying from who obviously wanted to support herself in a very tough city. It was a simple concept and one that had certainly been done before, but I knew there was a need to do more. That was five years ago now and I have learned that God sometimes unveils his purpose for us bit by bit. I also learned that God can speak through a variety of methods. For me it was Rick Warren and his "Purpose Driven Life", several other books about understanding God's will, a variety of mission trips to South America, Mississippi and Russia, dear friends and mentors, and of course His word, the Bible.
Then, another bit of His plan, some friends of mine introduced me to a pastor from Kenya who was visiting the U.S. Shortly thereafter I went on a mission trip to Kenya and I knew God was calling me not only to start this business He had been planting in my head, but to start first in Kenya.I believe that people want to help themselves. They just need a chance, a break, an opportunity. You can give a person money but if they don't have some investment in what they are doing, it won't stick. They will be waiting for the next time you can give them money. I believe this ministry is just about leveling the playing field a bit so that everyone can do better for himself.
The last element is that my passion is 100% children. They have so much potential. Unlike adults, they can't always create opportunity for themselves. They need a "hand up" for sure.So, Gifts on a Mission was born.
Today, we are small but mighty and working primarily in one country. Tomorrow, we will import from a variety of countries and bring you even more opportunities to make a difference. What a privilege! I pray that those I am helping are half as blessed as I am for working with them. We seek out the best products and the artists who don't have a lot of opportunity for sales. Then, we seek out the opportunities to help children, whether it be building schools, buying school supplies, assisting orphanages – anything that will give a child a fighting chance to grow up and contribute back to his community!"
www.giftsonamission.com
www.giftsonamission.blogspot.com
Vendor Spotlight: PhemSoul Fashions
Kenyetta Chinwe started crocheting when she was 14 years old. She was taught by her mother who is a skilled crochet artisan. Over the last 20 years she has evolved from her humble beginings into a designer of original crochet fashion and jewelry. She is currently in the process of launching her latest enterprise "PhemSoul Fashions". It is a hip urbane line of clothing and accesorries aimed at the women who likes to stand out from the crowd and a cut above the rest.
Kenyetta resides In Atlanta,Ga.
Her contact info:
Phone: 404.914.4980
Email: PhemSoul@yahoo.com
Kenyetta resides In Atlanta,Ga.
Her contact info:
Phone: 404.914.4980
Email: PhemSoul@yahoo.com
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Vendor Spotlight: Kyra's Kreations
Kyra Crawford owner of Kyra's Kreations will participate in the I AM HANDMADE MARKET at Irwin Street Market on April 18th. Kyra's Kreations consist of hand crochet and knitted accessories. Come by and peruse the great items that Kyra creates.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Vendor Spotlight: Cherice Rush Harris Author of "Lyricism"
Poetic words meant for songs that I didn't have enough gumption, nor clout to put into song form brought about Lyricism. It is a collection of poems I wrote about love, enduring pain, relationships, karma and simply living. Great lyricist and songwriters like Prince, Stevie Wonder, Babyface and Mariah always draw a vivid picture and story for me in their songs and I am touched deeply. I aspired to do the same for my audience. Cherice Rush Harris is available here www.myspace.com/inkddreams and here http://store.i-proclaimbookstore.com/lyricism.html . Cherice will be on hand April 19th with autographed copies of her book for purchase.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Vendor Spotlight: Stacy The Last Supper
I AM HANDMADE would like to spotlight Stacy Phillips of Stacy Phillips Photography and The Last Supper she will be participating in the I AM HANDMADE market on April 18th, 19th and 20th at Irwin Street Market. Stacy takes some great photographs that will be for sale at the I AM HANDMADE market in April. She also creates great mixed media boxes that are really great works that speak artistically about different cultural ideals.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
