SUNDAY'S FEATURED ARTIST...BELLA COLLE!!!

(Ok, I need to come up with a more schnazzy title. Something rhyme-y & nerdy would be fun! Any suggestions are more than welcome...)

I'd like to introduce you on this fine Sunday to a beautiful artist, with a kind soul & a sweet spirit. I call her "bella" or "bella baby", but her real name is Christine. She's a self-taught collage artist & her Etsy shop, bellacolle, is filled with wonderful collage artwork in the form of pendants, necklaces, charms, & bracelets. Her items are sweet & charming &, in a way, they take you back in time. A tiny piece of the past. Artwork with an innocence.

Bella is Italian for "beautiful" and Colle is French for "paste and glue, or collage"... And Christine believes that your life should be surrounded by beautiful things, your life should be a beautiful collage of family and friends.

And now, for the question & answer portion of our piece entitled "SUNDAY'S FEATURED ARTIST...BELLA COLLE!!!".....(applause....)

What do you find as an inspiration when creating

To tell you the truth, it's my God and my family that inspire me daily.

How long have you been crafting?I

have been crafting as long as I can remember...I have always enjoyed working with my hands, painting and sewing. If something catches my eye-like something someone has made- I get sassy and think "I can do that." Most of the time it flops or I realize it's harder than it looks, but through it all I have found a few things that really get my excited! Collage and Art charms is what I love doing now.

Share or describe your favorite piece...

Right now, it's kind of silly, but the larger collage I have listed in my etsy shop, "the remote fairy". The picture in the piece is actually of my husband when he was 10! Yes, he was the inspiration because he always loses the remotes!!

Cheerios, Froot Loops, Shredded Wheat or Lucky Charms?

The mom in me picks the Shredded Wheat, but the "gal" in me picks Lucky Charms. I love the marshmallows!

How much time do you spend on your craft/art?

I try to do at least something everyday to promote Bella Colle... I probably make a collage or charm every other day, which takes me 3 or 4 hours. Time slips by when you are doing something you love.

If you could try out a new craft/art, what would it be?

I have always wanted to take up photography! You know, develop your own film, learn special techniques for lighting..etc.

Anything you'd like your adoring fans to know about you?

I'm just your average gal, nothing exciting. But, I would like to say, I love my God and my family and my country deeply. I enjoy creating something new from something old. I want to create things that would inspire others, make them feel special and smile when they see it. I have really enjoyed all the etsy friends I have met. I hope to make many more friends. Let's have fun, let's create!

(applause!.....standing ovation!....more applause!!!)

I love bella's work & I do have a favorite piece of hers, but I don't want to share it with you because one day it will be MINE & I don't want you taking it!! But if you are quiet & don't tell anyone, it's right here. Shhh!

Bella can also create custom pieces for you to call your own. Visit bellacolle's blog, mybellacolle, where you can peek into the life of this southern born/Wisconsin residing gal, view her artwork-in-progress, & meet her HOT new assistant Rosie! The mood she creates is an informal & relaxed one. Christine says: "Like the beautiful front porches of the southern homes I grew up in... we can sit back and talk, and enjoy a nice glass of sweet tea."

So go pull up a rocker, grab a thirst-quenching beverage, & check out this artist that you'll soon call "friend". Oh, & tell Rosie I said, "Hi!"