YOWZA! It's the Sunday Featured Artist...Reindeer Girl!

Nope. Reindeer Girl isn't a reindeer. And, she doesn't SELL reindeer's either. Reindeer Girl Designs is a fab shop with oodles of fun handmade jewelry brought to you by artist JoAnne, who's 33rd birthday happens to be next Friday, July 6th. (But, more about that later...with some PRIZE GIVE-AWAYS!...)

Sit back, relax, enjoy a cup of handmade love while you read on about another amazing artist...

Where were you born, where are you from, where did you grow up, & where are you living now?I was born in Brockway, PA, a very small town in northeastern PA (near the ever-famous groundhog in Punxsutawney! :) See... there's NOTHING else up that way! ;) I lived there until 17, then a brief stay in New Mexico, before moving to the Philadelphia area for college and grad school. I now live in the Steel City- Pittsburgh, PA!

What inspires you?

Hmmm, as far as jewelry making, I really love the gemstones and all the colors, and just seeing all the possibilities in the raw materials—and I have always loved to look at and wear all kinds of jewelry! I also really dig making things specifically for special people in my life—those are my best pieces, I think. And I like to see things in stores or magazines or whatever and figure out how I can make an even cooler version! I like having things exactly how I would want them had I thought of it first!!

How long have you been crafting?

Only about a year—before that, I had resigned myself to thinking I just didn’t get any “Scarnati genes” (my Grandma’s last name—and SHE, besides Nik, of course, is THE ultimate crafty chick!!!). I started making jewelry in May 2006--just playing around at first...and it's been GREAT!!!!! It was suddenly like using a whole part of my brain that I never knew existed. And now I've also taken up drawing and painting—having a ball with that! And I flirt with (still from a reasonable distance- LOL!) sewing, stamping, and other little projects (like my favorite one, where I redid some plain picture frames with ribbon and beaded trims and stuff, and then decked out two of the photos in my Marilyn Monroe collection!

Share about, or describe your favorite piece.

Probably a tie between my “Obsidian Black Cat” necklace and “Opulent Amulet” (in my ‘sold’ stuff on Etsy! Yay Etsy!!) and a custom piece I finished recently, using these gorgeous beige cat’s eye beads, silver, and a rockin’ crow pendant by bibbidibaubles. I’m so proud of it!! http://www.flickr.com/photos/8169882@N07/502327404/in/set-72157600224974653/

What’s your favorite color?

Orange! Totally... :) Though I am also a girlie-girl and love pink--tons of it in my wardrobe!

How much time do you spend on your craft?

It depends…sometimes I’ll go a week or weeks without making anything. But Friday nights are a big craft night for me—Law and Order SVU, What Not to Wear on TLC, and I’m good! But even when I’m not actively ‘making’--or I should probably say ‘finishing’!!-- I have lots of UFO’s! I stay fairly socially active on Etsy. What a community!! It has been a wonderful thing, being there.

What were some of your most recent purchases from other Etsy artists?

I just bought some cute fabric-button barrettes from BellaJean, my very first ACEOs from laurali (I bought one of her fab ‘Zen Cats’ and also a phoenix), and some amazonite calla lily beads from jenNco2! (I have yet to buy some Whimsy goodness though!!)

Use three words to describe yourself.

Sincere, kind, and I guess I should make the 3rd ‘modest’?? LOL!

How awesome is WhiMSy love? (just joking!)

She is off the HOOK, for shizzle!! :D For real...that is one crafty chick! :)

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given on pursuing your craftiness? Just to do whatever feeds your soul. I think that’s good advice for everything, don’t you?

What are your goals or dreams in regards to your art?

I’d like to build a bigger customer base so I can start making ‘bigger’ things—using really good stones, fancier components, etc. Right now I don’t feel like it’s safe for me to make some things I want to (because they’d be more expensive). I also want to learn some new techniques—get better at wire and learn some weaving. And I want to keep having fun with it.

What is your favorite flav of ice cream?

Oooh, I SO love ice cream!! Very few I DON’T like! Black raspberry’s a fave from way back, and I love peanut butter cup—in vanilla ice cream—that’s hard to find!

What do you like to do when you are not being super crafty?

If sleeping were an Olympic event, I would be a gold medalist!!! Sleep, play with my fur-babies (2 super kitties), go to the movies, and I love good food…

What's your favorite thing to do in the summer?

Go to the beach, hands down! Especially my favorite place in the wooooorld, Stone Harbor, NJ. (And eat lots of ice cream, of course!)

What else would you like people to know about you?

How ‘bout: I love all things Marilyn Monroe, I really wish everyone would spay and neuter their pets and care for them for life (no more homeless pets!), I wanna take up ballroom dancing next, and Friday is my birthday!!! (Oh yeah, and I wish my mom had made ME a puppy party!!!)
Thanks, Whimsy!!!

No, thank YOU JoAnne! (As in: JoAnne Fabrics!) And, by the way, I love your Yummy Creamsicle Earrings! What a fun summer accessory! They remind me of an OrangeSicle ice cream shake I got at Carl's Jr. the other day. Mmmmm....

I think it is so inspiring to read about all these different artists. If you'd like to hear certain questions asked of the artists I interview every Sunday, drop me a line & let me know!

**Oh, yes, I almost forgot! Since Reindeer Girl is celebrating the big "33" on Friday, I thought I'd have a fun little "contest"/prize give-away! The 33rd person to leave a comment, wishing JoAnne a special happy birthday message will get a special treat from WhiMSy love in honor of her special day!! AND the birthday girl will ALSO be giving a present to the winner too! Cool, huh?

(One post per person please! Come on people, I think I can squeak out 33 comments, right? Help a girl & her reindeer out!) Thanks!!