A Crafty Questionnaire: Meli Anna A

Meli Anna A is a spirited and spiritual person. Conversations with her, whether in person or via email, are regularly punctuated with references to divine love, mystic gifts, and unwavering belief. In many ways, Meli Anna feels it is inevitable that her creative life gives voice, as she puts it, to her "soul growth."

A big part of that growth and of her connection to the inner mysteries of life is her faith, and the love and support of her family. Meli Anna's jewelry is in part inspired by her relationship with her husband, whom she calls her soul mate, as well as her desire to demonstrate through the creative process the strength of her relationship to God. As an artist, she feels it is important to "have faith in everything you do...good always comes true."

Meli Anna returns often to familiar motifs, reflecting her interests in specific designs. Her sterling silver vintage jewelry collection features handcrafted circles and abstract flowers, while her enamel jewelry explores modern color concepts.

You can read more about the relationship between faith and inspiration in Meli Anna's jewelry at her blog, soulcharms.blogspot.com.


What is your idea of perfect happiness?
To simply enjoy what ever life brings at the present moment. Happiness is like breathing, happiness is like the beat of the heart, happiness is inside of us, it is our own self. Happiness exists every time we choose to smile. Happiness is not something that happens to us, happiness is our duty in life! We owe it to ourselves to be happy, it is the only spiritual thing we can achieve in life. This is why true happiness can not be taken away from someone who has discovered it.

What is your greatest fear?
To not be good enough

Which living person do you most admire?
My husband! That is why he is my husband.

Do you have a theme song, and what is it?
Any and all of Snatam Kaur's songs! I go into a "trance" when I listen her music. That is when I create the most. It comes from my heart then, not from my hand.

What is the trait you most like in yourself?
Openness to diversity, tolerance.

What is the trait you most like in others?
Kindness

When and where were you happiest?
Now.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
To be absolute in everything.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Raising my child. Just imagine polishing someone's character for the best...out of love for themselves. It truly is a divine job!

If you were to be reincarnated as a person, animal, or thing, what do you think you would be?
A butterfly.

Which talent or skill would you most like to have?
I lack too many things to say one!

What is it the one thing you dislike the most?
Egotistical people. The more they brag about themselves, the easier it is to see that they are just hiding the fact that they don't feel so wonderful. Why not just be humble?

What is your motto?
Go get the technique, then forget it, and make it your way.


What's the first thing you remember making?
My goodness, I've always made everything I could possibly make...my way!


Shop all of Meli Anna's creative inspirations at www.etsy.com/shop/meliannaa.





Susan
persuede.etsy.com
jewelry made for you

A Crafty Questionnaire: Lisa Fu

Lisa Fu (known to her Aunt Bea as "Fu Baby!") is just finishing up a summer in residence at the {NewNew} Treasure Chest on Governor's Island (BTW, this weekend is the last weekend for the best pop-up store in New York City!!). Her Pretty Stationery for Beautiful Souls studio is the award-winning culmination of years of thinking about personal expression big and small.

As a stationery designer, Lisa focuses on helping people communicate their sentiments, whether in a grand wedding announcement or simple greeting to a loved one. Just the act of wanting to share a thought, a feeling, an emotion with someone, of taking the time to put it down on paper, inspires her to create the right context for personal expression. Lisa says knowing that her personal touch makes a difference is her biggest reward.

Like love delivered on a little note, Pretty Stationery for Beautiful Souls makes a lasting impression. Check her our this weekend at Governor's Island. You can also view Lisa's work on her website prettystationeryshop.com and purchase handmade note cards, invitations, and other pretty paper goods online at her Etsy shop.


What is your idea of perfect happiness?
My idea of perfect happiness is watching the sun rise (or set) on the beach. It's laying on the grass, looking up at the blue skies, watching the clouds go by. Or laughing so hard tears are falling and sides are hurting.


What is your greatest fear?
Not being able to finish everything on my "to do" list, and regretting I didn't take the time to do it.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Maya Lin is a sculptor and architect who is best known for designing the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington D.C., and more recently the Museum of Chinese in America here in New York City. Her designs are always deep with meaning even while being minimalist and clean lined. I'm a huge fan of minimalism and symbolism.

Which living person do you most admire?
My mom is the person I most admire. She rocks. She reused and recycled even before it was cool to do that.

Do you have a theme song, and what is it?
I don't have a theme song, but if I did, it would definitely involve some sort of happy island melody on an acoustic guitar. (Hey, someone wanna write me one?)

What is the trait you most like in yourself?
I love being creative. It's just who I am. I love being able to express myself in different forms, and being able to convey a feeling or emotion through design. The best thing about being creative is being able to attract other creative people and collaborate on all sorts of fun projects. It's very synergistic and rewarding at the same time.

What is the trait you most like in others?
Positivity. I really like people who look at the glass half full. We all have moments when we're down, but it's mentally draining to be around people who are constantly negative, and have nothing but complaints and criticism. I tend to avoid people who are negative, only because it takes away my focus on the bigger picture, (whatever that bigger picture may be at the time). Life is too short to be negative all the time.

What is your greatest extravagance?
I'm a pretty frugal person, but once in a while, I really feel the need to unplug from the rest of the world, so I'll do random searches for tropical destinations, and book myself a vacation. Currently working my way through all the "Saint" islands, (St. Thomas, St. John, St. Lucia...)

When and where were you happiest?
A couple years ago, my husband and I took a trip to St. John. It was our first real vacation together, and we had a blast. The soft powdery sand. The beautiful lush island, the crystal blue waters. I remember just floating in the sea and not having a care in the world. Just us and the beach. It was definitely a moment of bliss.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I would love to be a bit more organized. I'm a right-brained person, I think most of my brain power goes to making things, not putting things away. By the end of the week, my studio looks like a tornado swept through. But I try!

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
On a professional level, I'm most proud that I built this little award-winning studio with my own two hands. On a personal level, there's nothing quite like running and completing a marathon. Both require an extraordinary amount of dedication and commitment of time and energy. But the rewards of all that hard work is what makes me wanting to keep doing what I do on both levels.

If you were to be reincarnated as a person, animal, or thing, what do you think you would be?
I'd be a colorful, tropical bird hanging out in the rain forest, flying high and singing songs with my fair-feathered friends.

What is your most treasured possession?
My memories.

Which talent or skill would you most like to have?
I'd love to be able to play a musical instrument, either the piano or guitar. Learning music is on my "to do" list... So I guess I'll learn it and come up with my own theme song!

Who are your heroes in real life?
My family. They rock.

What is it the one thing you dislike the most?
Licorice. And fake lavender scents. Okay, that's two, but seriously, I really don't like either of those things.

What is your motto?
Do your best, and forget the rest. (Oh wait, that's from my work out DVDs.)

Who are your favorite artists?
I'm a big fan of Keith Haring and photographer Mary Ellen Mark. I love street art and photojournalism.

Is there any invention you wish you had thought of?
The camera. How cool is it that you can capture a moment of time with a click of a button?

What's the first thing you remember making?
I remember when I was around 3 or 4 sitting next to my mom when she used to work as a seamstress. She used to give me the scraps of kraft paper that separated the pieces she had to sew, so I can draw on them. I'd spend hours drawing figures until it was time for dinner. (To this day, I can still remember how to draw those figures.)






Susan
persuede.etsy.com
jewelry made for you

A Crafty Questionnaire x 2: Sarah Hull and Phil Miner

Sara Hull and Phil Miner met working together in a natural foods kitchen. Their mutual interest in the principles of sustainable trade and in an organic creative process lead to the development of Rocks and Salt, their accessories design and manufacturing company.

Based in Brooklyn, the duo designs and handcrafts accessories coupling contemporary urban sensibility with timeless style and functionality. Working as a team allows Sara and Phil to bounce ideas off of each other, eventually shaping their individual brainstorms into an even better result.

You can see for yourself how two heads are sometimes better than one by checking out the Rock and Salt display at the {NewNew} Treasure Chest of Handmade Gifts on Governor's Island through September 6. There's only one week left to get all your holiday gift shopping done in a surprisingly bucolic setting in the middle of the East River. Don't miss you out!


What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Phil: Living now.
Sara: Theoretically, peace and harmony, but then that would probably be boring, wouldn’t it?

What is your greatest fear?
Phil: Not conquering fear.
Sara: The consequences of man’s ecological destruction of the planet.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Phil: Mark Twain.
Sara: Henry David Thoreau.

Which living person do you most admire?
Phil: My brother.
Sara: Jimmy Carter.

Do you have a theme song, and what is it?
Phil: No, changes too often.
Sara: The theme is in perpetual flux.

What is the trait you most like in yourself?
Sara: Compassion.

What is the trait you most like in others?
Sara: Tolerance.

What is your greatest extravagance?
Phil: Good wine.
Sara: Rubbing my cat’s fluffy belly.

When and where were you happiest?
Phil: New Years Eve 2005, Copacabana, Rio De Janeiro.
Sara: February 2002, in a hammock strung under the roof overhang of an abandoned beach shack in the N. E. of Brazil during a thunderstorm.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Phil: Broken bits like my shoulder and big toe.
Sara: I would be able to accomplish by the end of each day all the things that seem possible in the mornings.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Phil: Mild level of self actualization.
Sara: Learning the basics of permaculture in a foreign language.

If you were to be reincarnated as a person, animal, or thing, what do you think you would be?
Phil: Just another everyday person, hopefully with a little more enlightenment.
Sara: A redwood tree in Muir Woods.

What is your most treasured possession?
Phil: Solid, carved Mahogany arch-top guitar.
Sara: My Mother’s Dutch oven.

Which talent or skill would you most like to have?
Phil: Balance.
Sara: Multilingualism.

Who are your heroes in real life?
Phil: Ronaldo O Fenômeno.
Sara: People who, on any scale, effect positive change in our society.

What is it the one thing you dislike the most?
Phil: Lies.
Sara: Haters.

What is your motto?
Phil: You can do more.
Sara: All mottoes lead to sloth.

Who are your favorite artists?
Phil: Paulo Coelho, Djavan, Ronaldinho
Sara: Mary Ortner, Os Gêmeos, John and Nancy Jack Todd

Is there any invention you wish you had thought of?
Phil: Google.
Sara: The in-home machine that turns your junk mail into toilet paper...oh, I did think of that.

What's the first thing you remember making?
Phil: Mother’s Day cards.
Sara: A pair of pink and white checkered gingham pants when I was five years old.


You can learn more about Rocks and Salt on their blog. And if you happen to be in the neighborhood, look for Rocks and Salt at Bumbershoot in Seattle, which also means you'll probably be indulging in fresh handpicked blackberries breakfast, lunch, and dinner!



Susan
persuede.etsy.com
jewelry made for you

A Crafty Questionnaire: Martin Lopez

Martin Lopez started making jewelry for theatre, recreating period jewelry for plays and musicals. Intrigued by how the jewelry reflected and furthered the story being told on stage, Martin continued to develop his interest in personal adornment, opening his own shop, Adornments NYC, and incorporating inspiration from vintage elements.

Designing these one-of-a-kind pieces allows Martin to create something new out of something old, and also allows him to creatively explore the delicacy of vintage elements in combination with modern materials.

Martin's jewelry is featured in The {NewNew} Treasure Chest of Handmade Items on Governor's Island this summer. The unique pop-up store is open a few more weeks, through September 6, 2010. So don't miss your ferry ride to this wonderful summer treat in the heart of NYC, and the opportunity to try on, and buy, a piece of jewelry made by Martin.


What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Good times with family and friends, all of us together, making and sharing a good meal somewhere with a beautiful view, good music playing, and laughing until our faces and sides hurt.

What is your greatest fear?
My Sallie Mae loans from getting my MFA from NYU’s Department of Design for Stage and Film. When I’m not making jewelry I design sets and costumes for Theatre and Opera.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Do the characters on Glee count as historical figures? I identify with all of them, except for the fact that I can’t sing well and I never sing in public.

Which living person do you most admire?
Set and costume designer Alison Chitty, a brilliant, smart designer and one of the most kind and generous people I have ever had the opportunity to work with. I’m also blessed to be able to be able to call her my friend.

Do you have a theme song, and what is it?
It would have to be the “Mahna Mahna” song from Sesame Street, especially the Tiki Mix by Piero Umiliani.

What is the trait you most like in yourself?
I’m not afraid to jump in with both feet. (Others might see that as stupidity.)

What is the trait you most like in others?
Honesty.

What is your greatest extravagance?
I’m not very extravagant these days, but if I were to treat myself it would definitely be to travel.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I wish I could master punctuality, especially early in the morning. It’s a challenge for me. I’m a total night owl and find myself working far too late far too often, which makes the mornings come all too early.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Just that I have survived 10 years of living in New York, pursuing my dreams, doing what I love. It’s not always easy, but I can’t imagine doing anything else.

If you were to be reincarnated as a person, animal, or thing, what do you think you would be?
I don’t know about the future, but in the past I must have been a magpie – I love shiny things. Seriously.

What is your most treasured possession?
My greatest treasures are my friends and family, but as to actual possessions...probably all my photo albums, and then all my art and design books.

Which talent or skill would you most like to have?
I wish I could sing well.

What is it the one thing you dislike the most?
People who are disrespectful and oblivious to the world around them.

Who are your favorite artists?
Oh, there are so many! But to name a few: Traian Alexandru Filip, Modigliani, Ingres, Sargent, Tim Hawkinson, Turner, Kandinski, Joseph Cornell

Is there any invention you wish you had thought of?
The iPod.

What's the first thing you remember making?
I don’t have any idea what the first thing was, but I’ve always been making things, from drawing and painting, to macaroni necklaces for my mom, to dioramas for class and “sets” for my Star Wars figures when I was a kid… But mostly in my younger years I took things apart because I had to know how they worked.


In addition to The {NewNew} Treasure Chest on Governor's Island and on Etsy, you may also find Adornments NYC online at www.adornmentsnyc.com.





Susan
persuede.etsy.com
jewelry made for you

A Crafty Questionnaire: MaryAnne LoVerme

MaryAnne LoVerme of Wabisabi Brooklyn turns humble elements into eye-catching jewelry.
The unusual name under which MaryAnne sells her unique designs is an amalgam of her native borough and the Japanese aesthetic concept of “wabi-sabi,” which roughly translated means “beauty of imperfection.”

Combining vintage elements, images from recycled paper, coins and other ephemera in unexpected ways, Mary Anne's jewelry references an up-cycle aesthetic that has been finely-honed into a personal statement. Many of her design ideas are the result of an almost daily walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. MaryAnne says some of her most inspired moments have come during this walking meditation, suspended between Brooklyn and Manhattan.

If you like the idea of crossing waterways to find such treasures, Wabisabi Brooklyn is one of the featured designers at The {NewNew} Governor's Island Etsy shop. However, if you're more of an armchair shopper, you can dive into the full Wabisabi experience without crossing a body of water by visiting MaryAnne's online shop and blog.


What is your idea of perfect happiness?

A morning of hard rewarding work followed by an afternoon nap and an evening of cocktails, delicious food, and delirious fun.

What is your greatest fear?
Being helpless.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Mae West.

Which living person do you most admire?
Dalton Rooney.

Do you have a theme song, and what is it?
"The Lady is a Tramp." I especially like the Alice Cooper version.

What is the trait you most like in yourself?
Wit.

What is the trait you most like in others?
Generosity.

What is your greatest extravagance?
Professional massages.

When and where were you happiest?
Every night when I settle into bed with a good book.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I would slightly alter my brain chemistry so that I panic less and I don't get the winter blues.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
I recently obtained an Italian passport through completely legitimate means. Italian bureaucracy: 0 MaryAnne: 1

If you were to be reincarnated as a person, animal, or thing, what do you think you would be?
A lizard.

What is your most treasured possession?
I don’t have any possessions that I couldn’t live without.

Which talent or skill would you most like to have?
Really good stage presence.

Who are your heroes in real life?
Martha Stewart. More "role model" than "hero," but still.

What is it the one thing you dislike the most?
Fundamentalism of any stripe.

What is your motto?
I have two: "I'd rather regret doing something than not doing something," and "Anyone who doesn't like me either doesn't really know me or is a jerk."

Who are your favorite artists?
Rather than choose one particular person, what inspires me in art is the sort of work found at The American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore. These are artists who may not have name recognition, but their drive to create is such that it often inspires creative use of whatever is on hand to make some truly wonderful work.

Is there any invention you wish you had thought of?
The iPhone.

What's the first thing you remember making?
I have a very vivid memory of weaving a place mat out of paper when I was about four. It stayed in the kitchen for at least a decade, and I remember especially loving the patterns that faded into the paper when a staple came out and I could see how it had aged.


In addition to Governor's Island, Wabisabi Brooklyn will be in Baltimore this August to participate in her first wholesale show, the Buyers Market of American Craft. You can also support local retailers by shopping for Wabisabi Brooklyn at Mongo on Smith Street in Carroll Gardens, Eidolon on 5th Avenue in Park Slope, Nice Things Handmade in Philadelphia, Red Tree on the Avenue in Baltimore, and Lark in La Crosse, Wisconsin.




Susan
persuede.etsy.com
jewelry made for you

A Crafty Questionnaire: Aliza Deutsch

Aliza Deutsch loves to make beautiful things, especially out of paper. She creates scrapbooks to tell life stories, record memories, and just to hold on to the sensory experience of photographs on paper. Working primarily with calm, neutral, earth tones and clean lines, she finds the most beauty where two complementary ideas intersect. You can learn more about what makes Aliza tick, and how she enhances everyday items with a keen eye at www.designsbyaliza.blogspot.com.


What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A clean apartment, hours of open time ahead of me, and a crafty paper project to work on. With kids, the first 2 are somewhat hard to come by, but I take what I can get. And while I’m imagining perfect happiness, let’s throw in a cup of coffee and a never-ending stash of fresh baked cookies and cake.

What is your greatest fear?
Immediate fear: Talking on the phone. Long term fear: Debilitating illness.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Not really sure. I’d probably identify with the people in history who don’t make it into any books; the people who just lived their lives, working and caring for their family and friends. I’m not really a mover and a shaker, and I’m not fond of the spotlight.

Which living person do you most admire?
I’m just gaga over Jane Goodall. I love that she always loved nature and animals, made her way to Africa, lived in the jungle, and pioneered a new way of studying the natural world. And now, many have followed in her footsteps. I don’t think she meant to change the field of science, she just did what she wanted to do.

Do you have a theme song, and what is it?
Hmm, I have a few. I think I’d narrow it down to “Dresses” by Betty Blowtorch, and maybe the theme to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I am pretty nice and quiet, but I like my music angry.

What is the trait you most like in yourself?
Well, I used to dislike that I was quiet and shy, (and it can still be a drag sometimes) but I have learned to accept it as a part of me. Being this way also means that I observe things closely, take the time to think about things, and I can see things in a way that is different than other people. I also think I’m pretty open-minded.

What is the trait you most like in others?
I like people who are passionate and not afraid to do things.

What is your greatest extravagance?
I buy expensive bras. Totally worth it.

When and where were you happiest?
I’m pretty happy right now. It seems my kids are turning into interesting, smart, funny, creative people, and I like spending time with them. I have an outlet for my creativity, and people seem to genuinely like my work.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I am imperfect. I’d like to be perfect.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
I made human babies. That’s pretty cool.

If you were to be reincarnated as a person, animal, or thing, what do you think you would be?
I often say that in my next life I’d like to be Jane Goodall. Which by that I mean, I’d like to come back as a person who grows up to be a field biologist.

What is your most treasured possession?
I love tools. I don’t have one tool in particular, but I love how a well made tool (whether a paper crafting tool, or a power drill) can help you make beautiful things.

Which talent or skill would you most like to have?
Super human strength. Or, maybe just photography.

Who are your heroes in real life?
I don’t know. I don’t really think about heroes much.

What is it the one thing you dislike the most?
Mucus.

What is your motto?
It’s all part of the process.

Who are your favorite artists?
Oh, I feel like when you go to the video store, and suddenly you can’t remember all the movies that you’ve been wanting to see (my analogy is a bit outdated, I know). There are many, but now I simply can’t think of them. All I can remember is Van Gogh.

Is there any invention you wish you had thought of?
Not that I can think of. But, back to my love of tools, I was working in construction and some of those tools are so well designed for specific tasks, it’s just a beautiful thing to see.

What's the first thing you remember making?
Every time I think I discovered the first thing I made, I find an earlier piece of work. I definitely remember always having a desire to make things, but only in the last five to six years, when I discovered scrap-booking and card-making, have I felt like I was making things that I am proud of. And, I think, back then I started with a card with a turtle on it.



You'll find Aliza's card designs at her Etsy shop, Designs by Aliza, and in person at the Hester Street Fair and the Brooklyn Indie Market.

For more card designs and other treasures, don't forget to check out the {NewNew} Treasure Chest on historic Governors Island, where a crew of artists and craftsmen have created a one-of-a-kind boutique of handmade treasures.





Susan
persuede.etsy.com
jewelry made for you