Monday, June 1, 2009

June Featured Members and Giveaways!

This month, please give a warm welcome to Lauren from Raspberry Pink and Sophie from Strat Designs, as they give us a sneak peak into their fabulous worlds of crafty goodness, and give away some of their wonderful handmade items to two lucky readers. To enter is simple - just leave us a comment at the bottom of this post. For more info (and to find out how to score an extra entry) read The Rules at the bottom of the post. Good luck everyone :)

Introducing BrisStyle member...


NAME:
Sophie Straton - Ferrier
ETSY SHOP NAME: Strat Designs

1. Can you please describe the items you are giving away to one of our readers?

I'm seriously into felt balls this Autumn/Winter so I'm giving away two items using my new favourite matierial!


1) Cherry felt ball triple drop pendant, and
2) matching little cherry felt ball drop earrings.


2. How would you describe your work?

Colourful, stylish and fun.


3. How did your Etsy shop come into being?

A friend told me about the handmade expo. From their website I followed a link to the BrisStyle blog and from there...ETSY! And wow! That was such a mind blowing experience, I just read and read and looked and looked. I was totally hooked. I couldn't rest until I was signed up and listing stock.



4. Who or What inspires you?

My whole life has been involved with jewellery, antiques and collectables . I'm a very visual person, so beautiful things always get my attention and inspire me but overall it's colour that does it every time. The older I get, the more attracted I am to colour - I suspect I'll be one of those grannies with fuschia hair.. I find colour, like music, can really affect people's mood, and so I'm inspired to create pieces that bring "visual happiness". I enjoy architecture too, especially old buildings, and of course nature always has a wealth of inspiration in form and balance, colour and texture.


5. Do you ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ as part of your creative process? If yes, how is your art / craft eco-friendly?

At this stage only the felt balls have the potential to be made from recycled products, however I have a strong desire to bring in an element of vintage to my designs in the future - buttons and antique/vintage jewellery bits are things I'm actively collecting right now, so hopefully yes, in the future I'll at least have a section of my Etsy shop dedicated to recyled.



6. Can you describe your studio / work area?

My spare bedroom! Well it was once. Now it's totally taken over by my workspace and my long suffering husband has done a great job of building it in with workbenches and shelves. There's never enough room though is there? I've been eyeing off the garage for a while now..


7. What is your favourite thing in the shop at the moment?

Like I said - I'm very into my felt balls right now! This is my Autumn leaves felt ball lariat. You can wear it really long, or wrapped around twice, even three times. It's lightweight, cosy and textural and very colourful! Great for those dreary cold days ahead.



8. Do you have any other places that people can view your work?

I haven't made the leap into blog world yet, so other than my etsy shop the only site I have is my website www.stratdesigns.com

********

Introducing BrisStyle member...


NAME: Lauren Hillard
ETSY SHOP NAME: Raspberry Pink

1. Can you please describe the items you are giving away to one of our readers?

I’m giving away one of my gorgeous new Socrates the Sheep phone charms!

Socrates the Sheep likes to spend his days hanging around on your phone pondering the meaning of life, the universe, and your text messages.


2. How would you describe your work?

Colourful and cute. I love all things brightly coloured and gorgeously cute so they tend to be my favourite things to make. My characters are quite varied because most of them started as custom orders, just like these guys:


3. How did your Etsy shop come into being?

I discovered polymer clay early last year and in my research into all things clay, I stumbled onto Etsy and having already made far too many things to ever use myself, and still with so many ideas I wanted to try out, it seemed inevitable!



4. Who or What inspires you?

Everything inspires me. I have folders full of thousands of images that have inspired me and continue to do so. I find it hard going shopping because everything I see, my brain wants to translate into ‘clay’. As something to use to texture clay, store clay, shape clay, display clay, decorate clay, decorate with clay.. The list goes on!


5. Do you ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ as part of your creative process? If yes, how is your art / craft eco-friendly?

There is literally no wastage with polymer clay unlike other mediums. Single colours are stored and used in future projects, attractive leftover patterns are made into beads or incorporated into other projects, unattractive colours (I always end up with lots of strange shades of red for some reason?) and patterns or colour mixes become tools and texture plates.



6. Can you describe your studio / work area?

Messy. As much as I try to organize it, I have so many tools and colours and works-in-progress that I have a desk covered in clay, tools and findings, a box of findings on the couch arm, a bookshelf shelf (gotta love Ikea) that doubles as a semi-portable work area and boxes of stuff all over our unit!


7. What is your favourite thing in the shop at the moment?

I love everything glow in the dark. I keep forgetting to get photos of them glowing though!


8. Do you have any other places that people can view your work?

Blog and Clay Shop: http://raspberrypink.com.au
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/raspberrypink/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Brisbane-Australia/Raspberry-Pink/95765001207
Twitter: http://twitter.com/laurenhillard
Workshops: http://www.tangledyarns.com.au/


Thank-you Lauren and Sophie!

The rules:


Simply leave a comment on this post to be in the running to win one of these two fabulous giveaways. Be sure to leave a way for us to contact you. If you don’t have a blog, please include your email address. Only one entry per person. You may enter twice if you mention this giveaway on your blog. If you choose to do this, please pop back after posting to your blog and include the url address to the post it was mentioned on here in the comments. This will count as your second entry. International folk are welcome to enter. BrisStyle members and their immediate families (ie: husbands/partners, dependent children, and their computer savvy pets) are excluded from entering all BrisStyle giveaways. A name will be randomly drawn on the 25th of this month and the winner will be announced on the blog on that same day.

Once again, the very best of luck to you all!

69 comments:

Amanda W said...

Oooh please enter me into this fab giveaway!

Ali said...

Lovely goodies up for grabs Sophie and Lauren! And nice reading a little bit about you too - thanks :)

Deb (Two Cheeky Monkeys) said...

Fantastic giveaway! Thanks for the chance. I'm loving those monkeys by Raspberry Pink.
debyeo@hotmail.com

Rie said...

First thought that popped into my mind was 'Soap on a Rope' but better cos it's 'Balls on a Rope' - Too Cute!

Grace said...

Love to be entered. Thanks.
Email on my blogger id.

Lara said...

Love the felt necklace--both giveaways are SO cute!!! Thanks :)

Me and My 4 Fellas said...

oooo, I love a good giveaway. Thanks for the mention as well...we are massive fans of Brisstyle.

Liesa

Car said...

The sheep are just too cute :)
Count me in for two points, have just posted a link on my blog :)

http://carrose-creations.blogspot.com/2009/06/giveaways-galore.html

undeadgoat said...

Wow, those earrings are beautiful. Count me in!

littlechrissy said...

Beautiful stuff. Love getting this insight into BrisStyle gals!

Wilma Simmons (Empress Wu Designs) said...

Thanks - I love entering these giveaways with such wonderful goodies . I really enjoy reading profiles of creative people too - their thoughts are very intersting.

Roman Ezekiel Young said...

how cute! love them both. please enter me in!

Anonymous said...

Such creative work! I am loving the felt ball jewelery. I have been wanting to make some felt balls but had no idea what to do with them. Thanks for the contest.

alittleteacher at gmail dot com

Kylie said...

What Fab prizes by two talented artists - they are both lovely

Your Cheeky Monkey said...

I would love to enter thank you!! Will blog about this shortly too :)

Your Cheeky Monkey said...

Just blogged:

http://yourcheekymonkey.blogspot.com/2009/06/june-brisstyle-giveaway.html

Rachelle @ Aud and Crafts said...

Thanks for this great post and giveaway. I love reading about crafters and their "behind the scenes" information!

Anonymous said...

I *love* the sheep. Please count me in!

Hey Harriet said...

Fantastic feature! A very enjoyable read!

Unknown said...

Lovely stuff ladies ... I know I can't enter (poo) but nice to know some more about you!
Hey Lauren those monkey's are rockin'!

Mrs Robot said...

Oh, I love, love, love those felt balls! And my two year old daughter is monkey obsessed, too! Too cute.

Mrs Robot said...

OK, I've made a post... can I have a second entry now, please? ;)

Unknown said...

These are cute. :)

Thanks for doing the giveaway, to you and to the artists! :)
Cassie
cmdoduck(at)gmail(dot)com

Bec said...

Well, I can't enter, but good luck everyone!!! I really loved reading these interviews :)

Kylie said...

Just back to let you know that I have blogged this giveaway.

Thanks Kylie

http://craftedbykylie.blogspot.com/2009/06/blogland-love-giveaways.html

Becky said...

What lovely creations and great interviews :)

Becky said...

Just adding the link to the post on my blog for my second entry!

http://beckyetal.blogspot.com/2009/06/shhhh-dont-tell-anyone-about-this.html

Raspberry said...

What a fun giveaway!
Yay!

Jeanie said...

Please enter me for this lovely giveaway ! Thank you !

Trish Goodfield said...

Sophie, me thinks you tidied before taking that photo of your workspace. Lauren's looks more like mine at the moment. Creative spaces both.

Little Munchkins said...

We LOVE Shaun the Sheep here! Great giveaway.

Emily said...

Two gorgeous products! Sheep are so cute!

Chasing Snails said...

As usual, some gorgeous goodies from talented brissy chicks : )

becanne said...

So glad to have been pointed to this blog.
Lovely works by both creators.
I've seen the monkeys on another blog, and the sheep are cute - would need to hide them from the Shaun the Sheep addict in the family!

Anonymous said...

oh man, love those sheep :)

Elsie said...

Socrates the Sheep would be welcome here,
I could use his cute and curious stare,
To bring a smile, to inspire a tune,
Socrates please visit soon!

Adorable site!
pumpkinlady430@yahoo.com

Lilly said...

What a great giveaway!
The little sheep is so cute! And the pendant and earrings are gorgeous!
Thanks a lot and please count me in.

♥ meninheira ♥ said...

Ohhhhh I love all!! :D

Hugs from Spain

meninheira at gmail dot com

Melissa said...

so cute, I'd like to enter :)

thank for the chance to win!
JanuaryWish at verizon dot net

JuliaA said...

i love the phone charm! thanks for the giveaway.

Cabootique said...

Love the jewelry & the phone charms are so cute!

carethediva[at]hotmail[dot]com

Wehaf said...

I love the jewelry and the charms. Socrates looks like a soccer ball!

urchiken at gmail dot com

TopHat said...

Love the sheep! So cute!

Tammy said...

Such nice stuff :D

tmmylm at gmail

Spoolofplenty said...

Your work is so cute! I love the glow in the dark ones! I would love to have a sheep on my phone!

spoolofplenty@gmail.com

zofia said...

Beautiful giveaways! Thanks for the chance.

mos513@sympac.com.au

PretaPawte said...

These are so cute.

Socrates the sheep is the highlight for me.

Naomi said...

Fantastic! Count me in!

crystal said...

I enjoyed checking out the shops. Everything is so unique!!
I am looking forward to visiting your blog again;)
cyclona66(at)aol(dot)com

Miccosukee said...

Having just moved from a farm into the city, being able to have Socrates the Sheep around or a pair of his buddies for earrings would help the days pass. Plus I am addicted to wool as a rug hooker.

trisha
briarrosefarm{at]hotmail[dot]com

Kaizen Fashion Project said...

Such gorgeous goodies! Enter me pretty please!

Anonymous said...

ohh i just love your Socrates the sheep,looks very similar to a sheep my 3 yr old loves.
i would love to win one for her♥

robyn said...

i would love a sheep for my daughter who sooooo loves shaun the sheep..

thanks robyn
ravenn_64@hotmail.com

MooBear Designs said...

Just when I thought there couldn't possibly be anything left in the world to create... I find this blog... Truly amazing Ladies!!

xo Steph

Aik said...

Socrates the Sheep phone charm looks ssooo cute! I'd like to participate. Thanks!

aikychien@yahoo.com

Le said...

love love love Sophie's designs - I have some of her fab resin shapes necklace - braclet combo - too cool for words ... am fixating on the felt now.

and those wee animals - too sweet for words - love the way the sheepie has swirls - too clever :)

thanks le

Le said...

here we go posted http://www.thirdontheright.com/2009/06/bris-style-june-freebies.html

thanks le

Hot Fudge said...

I could cry - I'm ineligible to win one of these gorgeous give-aways. It could be worthwhile resigning from BrisStyle and then re-joining ... just a thought.

Unknown said...

Oh, that sheep is gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

The sheep is very cute. I'd love to win one.

LY
sweety_rylin AT hotmail DOT com

MayY . C 五月媽媽 said...

I love the sheep, I am a sheep lover, I collect sheep! and this sheep is so adorable and irresistible!
Very creative and I hope I am the lucky one!

puffpastryshop said...

Such cute stuff! The balls are colorful and the sheep remind me of Wallace and Gromit!

x said...

What neat pieces! Raspberry Pink's little animals are way too cute! =)

~kathy

kathymartinstudio@yahoo.com

janil said...

Great giveaway!!!! All so cute!!!!

thanks fo rthe chance!

cal_rubies at yahoo dot es

Ammieloris said...

Oh, I have seen Raspberry Pink's stuff popping up all over the place, and I LOVE it! And those felt balls are so fun. Thanks!

Thea said...

I'm a sucker for sheep but these ones are especially cute! Love them.

babalisme said...

I'm not Brisstyle immediate family so, I'm entering!! Those sheep reminds me of that animated clay show in Disney channel. I think it's Shaun the Sheep.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Oh enter me. I love Socrates the Sheep. He's cute as a button :).
isabellelee44@yahoo.com