FINAL BLOG POST: Second Saturday Giveaway: Win a Pillow from Yasmin Ladha of Circle Cat Studio!

Posted by Crystal Pepperdine, Founder and Executive Director of Flint Handmade 

After three fabulous years, Flint Handmade has decided to retire our blog.

We had a fantastic run and now we want to focus on some new endeavors, including our brand new website, Facebook and (coming soon) bi-monthly e-mail newsletter!

For our final post, we will be doing our final Second Saturday Giveaway, featuring none other than our amazing graphic designer, Yasmin Ladha of Circle Cat Studio!

We felt it was only right to retire the blog with a bang and feature the fabulous artist who has given Flint Handmade its signature "Knuckles" logo and style.  Enjoy!

This is Yasmin (aka Yaz) in her very spacious, well-lit craftroom situated between her kitchen and living  room.   Notice the awesome curved arch into the living room...

...and the fabulous vintage door beads into the kitchen featuring mushrooms, a common motif in Yaz's apartment.

I asked Yaz to tell me about her workspace:

"My workspace is always a cluttered mess. I really do try to organize it sometimes, but the trays and bins just add more items to the art explosion. 

I am kind of a pack rat when it comes to craft supplies and I have to keep everything in case I could use it someday for some project I haven't even thought of yet, like when I used an old book to make a hanging sculpture.  I'm pretty sure this is a common quality in artsy folks.

Also, the walls must be covered in things to look at because it makes me feel more comfortable."

Yasmin really does have a large variety of items on her walls.  In additional to the above prints, she also has...

...a little book nook with an iron scroll on the wall and...

...her collection of tiny things!

Her book nook also features books of course...

...and her sewing machine when it's not in use.

On the opposite side of the arch to the living room, Yaz has a work table with a self-healing mat because her favorite tool is "my Xacto® knife, always with a fresh blade. I would probably actually die without it!"

She does a lot of her design work by sketching or cutting out paper first at her desk with her trusty sidekick, Lucy.  Notice the blue "H" above her amazing collection of art markers?  Letters are just another something that Yaz likes to collect for inspiration.

Although Yasmin now has a dog, I know there is a very special place in her heart for cats, so I asked her how she came up with her company name, Circle Cat Studio:

"Well, I love cats. If you've ever had a cat, you know how adorable it is when they curl up into a little fluffy sleeping circle! If any cat near me is caught in this heart-warming act, I will joyfully utter, "[insert cat's name] is being circle cat" in an accusatory manner.  Also, the first thing I started making for craft fairs were eco-friendly catnip toys."

Yasmin's boyfriend, Kyle, knows just how much she loves "circle cats" so he got her one asleep on a stack of books all carved out of wood!  (And, if you scroll back up to the photo of her tiny things collection, you will see another of Yaz's "circle cats" in the very center in blue!)

Of course, Yaz's favorite cat is her friendly feline named Stu.

As if on cue, Stu had to jump into a photo!  Here, he poses with Yasmin's vintage record player and collection of albums.

Noticing the records, I asked Yasmin what she likes to listen to/think about/watch while she crafts:

"It depends on my mood or what I am doing. If I'm making earrings or drawing I usually listen to girl bands or folky tunes. If I'm just stuffing a pillow or making cat toys, I am most likely watching How I Met Your Mother or some food documentary on Netflix."

As a graphic designer, Yasmin also does A LOT of work on her computer, which is just across from her work desk.  Notice all of the wonderful items on her walls for inspiration, including the letter "L" for her collection and "L" for Lucy!

Hanging just to the right of the "L" is one of Yaz's favorite vintage treasures...

...a needlepoint collage of mushrooms that her mom made decades ago!

Assuming her mom might have played a role, I asked Yaz how she got into crafting:

"I technically started when I was only a few years old. I was the youngest of four and my crafty momma always did fun projects with us (Mom and I now bond over this trait), so I owe it all to her. Even being the youngest, it was noticed early on that I was the creative one of my siblings ;) I was always being told that I was too little to do something, so that just made me want to do it more to prove them wrong.

I started doing it more recently (as a small personal business) to earn a profit while I was interning and freelancing as a graphic designer after graduating college. I didn't (and still don't) really know what kind of grown up job I want so I am just testing all the waters to see what I am capable of. I can't really help but make stuff."

Yasmin also does gorgeous pen and watercolor drawings.

The one that probably appeals most to crafters is her lovely "Craftiness is Happiness" drawing.  It just makes you smile!

To wrap up our interview, I asked Yasmin what projects she would like to work on in the future:

"Hmmm, I want to gain access to some screen printing materials and let the idea of easy multiples take me to a far off land of wonder and brightly colored ink. Since I am also a designer, I would love to produce some posters or t-shirts or somesuch." 

Well, Yasmin has produced some amazing event posters and t-shirts for Flint Handmade and for that, we are forever grateful!

We are also grateful for the item she donated for our final Second Saturday Giveaway!

"For the giveaway, I am donating a 14" square pillow I made from vintage floral material adorned with a wool felt cat bust silhouette. It's the first I have made (one of a kind!) after having had the idea in my head for months. Once I make more to sell at future shows and in the shop, I think they will be priced at $18."

For YOUR chance to win the Cat Bust Silhouette Pillow (valued at $18) by Yasmin Ladha of Circle Cat Studio, just complete steps A and B:

A) "Like" our new Facebook page or add yourself to our e-mail list through the form on the bottom of our website.

B) Leave us a comment in response to this blog post by 5pm on Saturday, August 25, 2012 answering the following two questions:

1) What other "cat crafts" could Yasmin make?

2) What is your email address?  Feel free to leave it in "name [at] gmail [dot] com" format.

Please be sure to answer BOTH questions to qualify for the drawing. 

The winner will be selected at random and emailed within one week after the deadline.

We hope to hear from YOU and we hope you enjoyed our blog, the entire Second Saturday Giveaway Series and this interview with Yasmin Ladha in particular! 

FYI, Yasmin can also be reached at:
Etsy: circlecat.etsy.com
Facebook: facebook.com/circlecatstudio
Email: y.ladha@yahoo.com

And, don't forget to keep in contact with us through Facebook and our website, which was designed by Yasmin!  :)

THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT!

Second Saturday Giveaway: June Winner!

We want to thank everyone who commented on our June Second Saturday Giveaway featuring Dieshawn Holmes of Angelic Soaps and Gifts!

The awesome commenters for June were Nicole Lewis, Missy, Glamour4You and Elizabeth.

And now, the moment you have all been waiting for!

The randomly selected winner of the Lotion & Soap Gift Basket is...

...Glamour4You!!! Congratulations! 

Glamour4You, send us an email at flinthandmade@hotmail.com and we will make arrangements for you to receive your item! You have 30 days to claim your prize. :)

As usual, we will be taking July off from the Second Saturday Giveaway, but we want to encourage everyone to participate in the next Second Saturday Giveaway to be posted August 11, 2012!

Second Saturday Giveaway: Win a Lotion & Soap Gift Basket from Dieshawn Holmes of Angelic Soaps and Gifts

Posted by Crystal Pepperdine, Founder and Executive Director of Flint Handmade

For our June Second Saturday giveaway, we are featuring Dieshawn Holmes of Angelic Soaps and Gifts!

This is Dieshawn in her craftroom/office.  Can you tell she loves the color purple in all its various shades?  :)

Dieshawn also has a "lab" in her basement where she creates and designs her products, but we focused on her lovingly decorated upstairs craftroom/office.  She said:

"As of right now I have just enough space for the amount of soaps that I'm crafting. Eventually I plan on opening up a gift shop. And I will locate my soap workshop within my gift shop."

If anyone is going to open a gift shop, it will be Dieshawn!  

She is very aware of the importance of having a well-organized creative business, so she is taking at class at the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center at Kettering University and working through The Right Brain Business Plan by Jennifer Lee.

Dieshawn also has great signage in her craftroom/office.  I asked her how she came up with her company name:

"I always knew that I wanted to operate my own business someday. I wanted my business to some how up lift and give a sort of 'happy' vibe. "Angelic" to me evokes this type of feeling, so Angelic Soaps and Gifts was perfect to name my business."

Dieshawn's craftroom/office really does radiate a professional and happy atmosphere.  Her desk is just gorgeous!

Dieshawn also has a large aloe vera plant that she uses in some of her formulations.  She keeps family photos around to keep her grounded and focused on the important aspects of life.

One of Dieshawn's favorite photos is of her grandmother that she keeps right underneath a framed Flint Journal article about her being "Soap Savvy" from 2005. 

Dieshawn's grandmother came up from the South and worked very hard in an auto factory to provide a better life for her family.  She is Dieshawn's major inspiration to be an independent business woman.

I wondered if her grandmother was particularly creative, so I asked Dieshawn how she got into crafting:

"Actually, I'm an only child, so crafting helped to keep me busy as a kid. Crafting and making neat things has been with me ever since I was little.

As an adult, I started attending enrichment classes that were offered by The Flint Community Schools. In one of the classes, we crafted a herbal Mother's Day gift basket with herbal bath soaps and bath gifts.

This class is what sparked my interest in soap making and eventually opening up my business in 2002."

Yes, that gift basket that Dieshawn is holding in the above photo, in fact, the very one she made in her first class!  She has kept it for 10 years as a reminder of where she started and how far she has already come.

Dieshawn is constantly working to learn more and develop her creativity and business acumen, so she takes as many classes as she possibly can.  She has framed certificates all over one wall in her craftroom.  This one is for an "Introduction to Jewelry Making" course.

She already does so much, but I asked Dieshawn what projects she wanted to work on in the future:

"I would like to start making Shower Gel crafted with herbs and skin loving ingredients.

I also would love to learn how to quilt and I already have a new machine for when I am ready to start sewing.  I love the pink designs."

Dieshawn crafts in all mediums, not just soap making.  Walking from her craftroom/office to her kitchen, she has a rolled paper wall hanging in her hallway that she made in another class she took!

In the kitchen, Dieshawn started working on her next batch of lotions and potions.  I asked her watch she likes to listen to/think about/watch while working:

"Usually while I'm making my products I like to be in silence, so that I'm able to focus on what I'm making. Soap is made with lye, which can burn the skin, so I have to really pay attention to what I'm doing.

Sometimes, I'll brainstorm the next cool product or soap that I can create."

I truly enjoyed interviewing and photographing Dieshawn and even took pictures on my way out the door!  This is an herb planter on her front porch and she has just started growing more herbs in her backyard.

I said my good-byes...and then noticed that even the flowers by her mailbox were purple, so I had to stop for one more picture before I left.  :)

For the Second Saturday Giveaway, Dieshawn has graciously donated a gift basket with a Lavender & Lemon Shea Butter Lotion and a Patchouli Bath Soap.

For YOUR chance to win the Lotion & Soap Gift Basket (valued at $20) by Dieshawn Holmes of Angelic Soaps and Gifts, just complete steps A and B: 

A) Follow Flint Handmade via the blog, Twitter, Google Reader or whatever newfangled "following application" tickles your fancy. Or, if you don't do the whole following thing, email us at flinthandmade@hotmail.com and we will add you to our email list.

B) Leave us a comment in response to this blog post by 5pm on Saturday, Apirl 21, 2012 answering the following 2 questions:

1) How do you follow Flint Handmade?

2) What other herb combinations could Dieshawn use in her products?

Please be sure to answer BOTH questions to qualify for the drawing. 

The winner will be selected at random and posted on the blog within one week after the deadline. The winner will have 30 days to claim the prize. You must check back with the blog to see if you won!

We hope to hear from YOU and we hope you enjoyed our June Second Saturday Giveaway!

FIND ANGELIC SOAPS AND GIFTS ONLINE!
Web: http://www.angelicsoapsandgifts.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/pages/Angelic-soaps-and-Gifts/100947708399
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/angelicsoaps
Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Angelic
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dieshawn-holmes/15/ab6/718

NOTE: As usual, we will be taking July off from the Second Saturday Giveaway, but we will be back in August with another great giveaway featuring a local crafter!

Second Saturday Giveaway: May Winner!

We want to thank everyone who commented on our May Second Saturday Giveaway featuring Pat Merewether of Patsarts!

Special thanks to Nicole Stevens of Curious Goods for such a great interview and photos!

The awesome commenters for May were Teya, Amanda, Cplanck77, popantalone1 and Sandy.

And now, the moment you have all been waiting for! The randomly selected winner of the "Blue Butterfly" Art Print is...

...Sandy!!! Congratulations!

Sandy, send us an email at flinthandmade@hotmail.com and we will make arrangements for you to receive your item! You have 30 days to claim your prize. :)

We want to encourage everyone to participate in the next Second Saturday Giveaway to be posted June 9, 2012!

Second Saturday Giveaway by Nicole Stevens: Win an Art Print from Patsarts!

Posted by Crystal Pepperdine, Founder and Executive Director of Flint Handmade

We have another guest post for our Second Saturday Giveaway!

Last year, I annnounced that whenever possible, our featured crafter from the same month of the previous year will do the interview and take photos with a new featured crafter!

Our November 2011 Giveaway featured an interview and photos of Carla Gibson of Chuber Pottery by Ali Misner Harris of Alexandria's Soap Garden who was featured in our November 2010 Giveaway.

Our February 2012 Giveaway featured an interview and photos of Deanne Neiburger of Deets by Kate Kehoe of Chicaloo Photography & More who was featured in our February 2011 Giveaway.

This month, our May 2011 Giveaway featured crafter, Nicole Stevens, interviews and photographed her friend and fellow crafter, Pat Merewether.

Check it out!

Article and Photos of Pat Merewether of Patsarts by Nicole Stevens of Curious Goods for May 2012 Flint Handmade Second Saturday Giveaway

Walking up to Pat Mereweather's house is like stepping into a favorite movie. A rambling farmhouse with gardens, a gargoyle perched atop a balcony...right away you know you're at the home of an artist.

The inside of the house is no different - a pile of books here, a stack of sketches there, everywhere you look your eye is drawn to some other painting or curiosity.

The second floor of the house is Pat's studio, with vaulted ceilings, skylights and two balconies. Her husband helped her design the studio so that she would have a space of her own to work.

Pat began crafting when her children were young and money was tight. She wanted to give them gifts, so she made embroidered books, dolls and costumes.

Loving idea of making 'something' from 'nothing' Pat began making gifts for other people, too.  She added making candles and crocheted items to her ever growing list of skills. It amazed her when people began wanting to buy her crafts!

Eventually, she began using the name Patsarts when selling her goods. The name suits her, because she truly loves all forms of art.

One of Pat's current something-from-nothing projects is to take old wine bottles (collected from family and friends) and form beds in her garden for herbs and vegetables. The effect is eye-catching when the light glints off the bottles. Plus, it's a great way to upcycle a material that usually gets recycled or trashed.

Pat's garden is a craft project in itself! Everywhere you look you see another flower pushing its way out of the ground or another statue peeking out of the brush. The property backs up to forested land, so Pat has lots of space to create vegetable beds and intriguing little pockets of natural art.

 

One of the best views from Pat's garden is back into the forest - an old hammock covered in moss provides cover for the tiny flowers springing up underneath. It's those tiny details that Pat notices and the kind of thing that will probably show up in a painting some day.

Back in the house, Pat's love of nature and gardening continues. Tiny sprouts are carefully raised in teacups on the kitchen windowsill.

While Pat's studio at home is wonderful, with a retired husband and three active dogs, it's sometimes difficult to get any work done at home. Her youngest dog, Boo, is especially “helpful” when she's trying to work!

Luckily, Pat was given an amazing workspace at The Elms Gallery in Flushing. The building was once part of McLaren Hospital, but now is a set of workrooms and a full scale gallery.

Pat's room was once a lab, and is equipped with cabinets, a counter-top and even a sink!

 

While painting, Pat listens to a lot of music. She loves classic rock, but after reading about the Mozart Effect (the idea that Mozart's music can create short-term improvement at certain tasks) she listens to more classical music now.

Pat finds inspiration in music, books, nature and even her family and friends. Her workspace is filled, not only with her art, but with the things that invigorate her creativity.

The Elms Gallery opened in April and Pat had paintings displayed in several hallways. With more events scheduled, Pat is planning to do more paintings as well as some mixed-media artwork in the near future.

You can find Pat's work online at Zazzle and in person at The Elms Gallery in Flushing.

For the Second Saturday Giveaway, Pat has donated a print entitled “Blue Butterfly." The print is a part of a larger watercolor piece that is very special to her.

For YOUR chance to win the "Blue Butterfly" Art Print (valued at $15) by Pat Merewether of Patsarts, just complete steps A and B:

A) Follow Flint Handmade via the blog, Twitter, Google Reader or whatever newfangled "following application" tickles your fancy. Or, if you don't do the whole following thing, email us at flinthandmade@hotmail.com and we will add you to our email list.

B) Leave us a comment in response to this blog post by 5pm on Saturday, May 19, 2012 answering the following 2 questions:

1) How do you follow Flint Handmade?

2) What is your favorite 'something-from-nothing' art/craft project?

Please be sure to answer BOTH questions to qualify for the drawing.

The winner will be selected at random and posted on the blog within one week after the deadline. The winner will have 30 days to claim the prize. You must check back with the blog to see if you won!

We hope to hear from YOU and we hope you enjoyed our May Second Saturday Giveaway by Nicole Stevens of Curious Goods!

Second Saturday Giveaway: April Winner!

We want to thank everyone who commented on our April Second Saturday Giveaway featuring Missy Healey of Mah Hemp Jewelry & Accessories!

The awesome commenters for April were EngelAugen, handleber, Misty Bentley, natterchatter87, Dreamzy, KC @ Papercrane, Judy T, stephgoodell, Beth P., Nicole Lewis, Christina, Yuniikuyou and Jennisnyder.

And now, the moment you have all been waiting for! The randomly selected winner of the Hemp Necklace with Flower Charm is...

...Jennisnyder!!! Congratulations!

Jennisnyder, send us an email at flinthandmade@hotmail.com and we will make arrangements for you to receive your item! You have 30 days to claim your prize. :)

We want to encourage everyone to participate in the next Second Saturday Giveaway to be posted May 12, 2012!

Second Saturday Giveaway: Win a Necklace from Missy Healey of Mah Hemp!

Posted by Crystal Pepperdine, Founder and Executive Director of Flint Handmade

For our April Second Saturday giveaway, we are featuring Missy Healey of Mah Hemp Jewelry & Accessories!

This is Missy holding bunches of her colorful hemp necklaces on the balcony of her apartment.  When the weather is nice, she likes to spread a blanket on the grass and make jewelry in the sunshine!

Missy's indoor workspace is a cozy little dining nook.  She says:

"I have a VERY small apartment.  Therefore, my entire home turns into my work space at times.

The shelving unit I use as storage was made by my father when I was a child. It was initially used as a shoe shelf. When I got older and moved out of my parents’ house he painted it from baby blue to black to match my living room. Now I use it to place all of my beads, hemp and other craft materials."

Can you guess Missy's favorite craft material?  Hemp, of course!  She says:

"My favorite material to use is hemp twine. It is a natural material that has thousands of benefits for the environment and over 25,000 uses. I enjoy utilizing it, as well as educating other about the plant properties, uses, and benefits."

In additional to her necklaces, Missy has started making home decor with hemp.  Above are hemp-wrapped flower vases made from upcycled glass vessels such as frappacino, spaghetti sauce and pop bottles.

"Lately I have been working on hemp bowls, baskets, flower vases and other containers. This is a new field of hemp crafts I have not done before. I was inspired to create these types of items after I had seen them on Pinterest.com. Next, I want to make wind chimes and mobiles."

I asked Missy what she likes to do while crafting:

"I like listen to people who inspire me to be the best and most creative person I can be. Therefore, I typically watch Oprah Winfrey while I am being crafty. If she is not on the television at that time I watch Create TV or I listen to Bob Marley because his music is very relaxing."

Missy's other crafty hobbies include sewing.  She has two machines, one of which (in the background of the above photo) was given to her by her aunt.

I asked her how she got into crafting:

"I definitely got the crafty gene from my mother. She has always been making arts and crafts since she was a child. My whole life she encouraged me to be as creative as I could be.

Mah Hemp Jewelry & Accessories began in February of 2009. I initially started doing macramé just to pass the time after I had a minor surgery. Within days my friends all wanted a necklace, anklet or bracelet. Before I knew it I was heading to craft shows and it grew much bigger than I ever expected it to."

I can attest that Missy's mom, Cindy Healey, is very creative.  She makes photo quilts for her family members with vinyl pockets that allow the photos to be easily changed out.

Missy has an attractive black and white photo quilt by her mom on display in her her living room, which is right next to her craft nook. 

(I'm hoping to get one of Cindy's unique quilts to display at our Flint Festival of Quilts "My Favorite Things" Exhibition!)

Missy has other great crafts on display in her living room.

If Mah Hemp didn't keep her busy enough, Missy also manages the Grand Blanc Farmers' Market and one of her craft vendors gave her this lovely arrangement.

(She gave me one of pinwheels to use a template for a future Flint Handmade craftLAB.  Yay!

In addition to Mah Hemp and the Farmers' Market, Missy a social work major at the University of Michigan-Flint and she is participating in a study abroad class this spring to bring free health care and health education to orphans and disabled children in Cambodia.

In fact, Missy and her classmates have organized a craft fair to raise funds for their study abroad.

Crafts for Cambodia will be at the Davison VFW Post 4087 (9474 Lapeer Road, Davison, MI 48423) on Sunday, April 29, 2012 from 10am-4pm.  The event will feature over 30 vendors with handmade crafts, home party goods and local foods as well as a silent auction, 50/50 raffle and kid's games.  Admission is only $2.

"Mission: Hempossible" is the name Missy used for her study abroad fundraising endeavor:

"I’ve been saving all of my money that I earn from jewelry sales to fund my study abroad program to Cambodia this May. I have an amazing group of supporters that have encouraged my growth within my business...which in turn has helped me grow as a person."



Well, we think that Missy's dedication to the handmade movement, eating locally and global health care are very inspiring and could help all of us grow as people, too!

For the Second Saturday Giveaway, Missy has graciously donated a beaded hemp necklace with a bronze-colored flower charm. 

For YOUR chance to win the Hemp Necklace with Flower Charm (valued at $8) by Missy Healey of Mah Hemp Jewelry & Accessories, just complete steps A and B:

A) Follow Flint Handmade via the blog, Twitter, Google Reader or whatever newfangled "following application" tickles your fancy. Or, if you don't do the whole following thing, email us at flinthandmade@hotmail.com and we will add you to our email list.

B) Leave us a comment in response to this blog post by 5pm on Saturday, Apirl 21, 2012 answering the following 2 questions:

1) How do you follow Flint Handmade?

2) What other crafts could Missy make out of hemp to help fund her study abroad?
Please be sure to answer BOTH questions to qualify for the drawing.

The winner will be selected at random and posted on the blog within one week after the deadline. The winner will have 30 days to claim the prize. You must check back with the blog to see if you won!

We hope to hear from YOU and we hope you enjoyed our April Second Saturday Giveaway!