Guest Giveaway – Variation

Hello everyone, it’s the start of the Weekend and that means a giveaway, we hope you’re ready to play..

‘I don’t consider myself an “artist.” I’m just someone who has always had crafty hobbies or side-projects.’ – A Quote from Variations interview at Zig-Zags Handmade This N’ Thats blog,

Let’s find out more:

Hello Guest Giveaway lovely! Please tell us a little bit about you , who are you, where you’re from!??
Hi Gorjuss, I’m Variation and I love to work with and explore a wide variety of mediums, hence the name of my Etsy shop! It’s really satisfying to explore a technique or craft by developing variations – sometimes subtle, sometimes more dramatic – and watch the work evolve. I love the surprise of discovery! Variation is located in the USA.

Tell us about what you make & your inspiration?
In addition to beadwork, I also knit, crochet, embroider, sew, dabble in bookbinding, letterpress, metalsmithing, collage, and digital graphics and animation… I do have a 9-5 job (tech industry), so I have to balance my time well. My online shop is “extra-curricular,” so to speak, which means I can only devote evenings and weekends to Etsy. For example, I might paint a half dozen doll heads after I get home from work, let them dry over night, them start wiring them together with beads the following evening.

My influences and inspirations come from anyone or anything that makes me say, “I want to be a part of that!” I’ve always been inspired by the amazing work I see from many, many artists and designers, past and present, across all mediums. I love work that introduces me to new forms and methods of creating, and I’m inspired by excellent craftsmanship (something I aspire to). I love the community that comes with sharing your work and learning from fellow artists. I’m also influenced by the world around us — nature, culture, science, travel. Even seemingly mundane things. All of this informs and inspires my work, and drives me to create!

What is your favourite item to make/sell ?
Since officially opening my shop last February, my focus has been the beaded doll charms. They’ve proved relatively successful so far, and don’t demand a lot of equipment or space (unlike sewing or letterpress, for example). I’m trying to transition into other types of jewelry like pins/corsages, and also paper goods and little handmade books.

Do you have any favourite Etsy items you’ve bought?
Other Etsy artists I admire and have bought items from are misakomimoko.etsy.com, quirkybeauty.etsy.com, and astulabee.etsy.com.

Whats the best advice you’ve ever been given?

The best piece of advice I’ve been given is “keep at it.” Persistence is so important!

Thank you for your Interview Variation, thanks for letting us find out a little bit more about you and your creations ! Now, lets see what you gave the lovely gorjuss Readers a chance to win this weekend..

YOU COULD WIN: little handmade doll charm/pendant/ornament made w/ vintage beads!

To Enter On Blog: Variety is the spice of life, and so tonight we want to know the spiciest food you love.. and how HOT it is… come on.. share the spice… keep the garlic breath tho!!!

For an EXTRA entry, we will accept you to VISIT variation, find your favourite thing there ( warning: It may take a while, you’ll love it all!!) and copy the URL ( the www.sitename/faveitem.php bit!) and paste it into your comment here! Variation would love to hear your fave items & it will DOUBLE your chances of winning to do both !! ( I’m sure she’ll read your comments too, so please let her know what you think of her lovely Creations and wonderful interview she did for you all !)

…. Good Luck and have fun, Remember if you are new to the blog, it can take upto 12 hours for your post to be checked an authorised… once its given the ok all further posts should appear instantly. So don’t panic…

To Enter on Twitter: We have a $7 GorjussArt Gift Certificate prize available for a twitterer winnerer too ! Just hit the RETWEET button at the top of this blog and your RT will be entered into a draw too ( the winning tweet will be chosen by random.org too!)

Closes: Sunday Night at around 10pm GMT ( gorjuss time is shown on the blog clock!) Winner decided by Random.org. For Facebook readers, comments must be submitted on the actual blog www.gorjussart.co.uk/blog). You can enter as many times as you want on the blog ( but only one entry on twitter) just no back to back posting ( i.e someone should post between your posts!)

Good luck everyone, and a big thank you to”variation” for joining us this weekend and of course her generosity with the prize!