Audrey Country Crafts is our featured artist today

Who are you?
Audrey Friesen

Where are you located?
Manitoba, Canada

What do you create?
I do Decorative/Tole painting on anything that will sit still long enough. Everythng from wood (which I cut out myself), tin, jean blankets, jean tote bags, sleighs, stools, you name it. I've also started making raggedy tote bags.

Where do you sell your creations?
On Etsy mostly, I do have one other shoppe, and for Oct - Christmas my friends and I have a "Christmas Craft Store" in the local mall. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6272600

Where do you create?
I have a wood shop attached to my hubby's shop, and also have a room in the house where I can paint and sew. It's nice being able to close the door on the mess sometimes.

What inspires you?
Oh my - well, I would have to say nature, other crafters, things I see at the store, on T.V. or anywhere really.

What are your goals?
Well, it would be nice to make enough money selling crafts to make my hubby happy (LOL). I would like to be able to support my crafting addiction with what I sell.

Are you able to support yourself with your creations?
Not even close! It would be nice though.

What do you friends and family think of your creations?
They are quite impressed. Most of my friends also are crafters/artists but we all create different product. It's still great to get together and compare experiences and ideas.

What do you do when you are not creating?
Laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning - the everyday duties of a mom/wife. I drive a school bus to help support the family and my crafting.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
I've been crafting for about 15 years now. Started when the youngest was 2 years old. I saw an ad in the local paper for a beginner folkart painting class and hubby suggested that I go as a way to get out of the house for awhile. At the time I was a stay-at-home mom. Obviously he didn't realize it would become an addiction and take over a room in the house and part of his shop!! He might be sorry now. (LOL)

Please list your blog, twitter, Facebook or other address you would like to promote.
Three blogs: http://audreyscountrycrafts.blogspot.com
http://audreyscountrycraftsgiveaway.blogspot.com
http://audreysrecipes.blogspot.com

Thank you for answering my questions and sharing with us.

Thank you for entering my contest

We have a winner! Congratulations daisycakesoap!

I inputed the 5 commenters names into random.org. I listed the results below.

There were 5 items in your list. Here they are in random order:
daisycakessoap
Digital Misfit
Liz
LizardQueen
bijouxdesignsforyou
Timestamp: 2009-02-16 14:00:53 UTC

Thank you everyone for giving me some insight to what you want to see in my Etsy and Artfire shops.

Featured Artist CaffeinatedFrenzy

Who are you?

Kelsey, also known as CaffeinatedFrenzy

Where are you located?

I live in a suburb just outside of Cleveland.

What do you create?

I create hand knit accessories, gloves, scarves, hats, pillows, coffee sleeves, steering wheel covers, and more. I like to create knits that people wouldn't have thought of before.

Where do you sell your creations?

I started by selling at a local boutique, then moved on to Etsy. Now I sell on Etsy, Artfire and 1000Markets.

Where do you create?

My bedroom is my studio. More than often it has more yarn than anything else. :)

What inspires you?

The yarn itself inspires me. The color, the texture, I think the yarn sort of figures out what it wants to become itself.

What are your goals?

I would like to continue CaffeinatedFrenzy as a side job. I think keeping the business small will keep the personal, handmade charm of my shop.

Are you able to support yourself with your creations?

It certainly helps! But right now I have two part time jobs as well. What do you friends and family think of your creations? They're very supportive. One of my friends just bought a scarf from me!

What do you do when you are not creating?

I cook, I dance, and I drink too much coffee.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

My favorite orders are custom ones. I encourage buyers to not shy away from special requests! I love to create one of a kind things that reflect the people my customers are.

Please list your blog, twitter, Facebook or other address you would like to promote.

Here is my facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Cleveland-OH/CaffeinatedFrenzy/124801195234 My blog: http://caffeinatedfrenzy.blogspot.com/

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.

Giving my contest a bump

What do you want to see more of in my shops? Wallets, purses. money clips, or what? Any designs you wish I would make? Like what I do now? Tell me. =)

My contest:Leave me a comment of what you want to see in my shop and any designs you want to see. I will randomly pick one winner (using random.org) who leaves me a comment between today and Feb 15 at 11:59pm EST.

Please leave comments on http://copperspringsleather.blogspot.com/2009/02/little-contest.html Thanks. Right now you have great odds of winning. I only have 2 comments.