Overcome artist Block

I reported one way to do this in an earlier post. It involved getting inspired from others and experiment in a new medium! I am now reporting another method: do custom orders! Often people make requests that throw you out of your box! They request an idea that you may not have thought of, and if one person wants an idea, chances are more people would be interested as well! I've recently been requested to do a screenprint of a Volkswagon van. Here it is with white paint!

To see my other crafts, check out My Website!

Why shop from local artisans and other local sellers?

My husband and I have been trying our best to shop locally.

WHY???!!!!!!!!!!! Here's why:

-To support local farmers who treat animals better than factory farms!

-To NOT support slave labor!

-To get better quality products (cheap jewelry (or cheap) anything breaks fast!)

-To keep dollars in our local economy!

-To help save our environment (it may cost a touch more but it'll last longer, not get trashed fast, and therefore save you money in the long run)!!!!!!!

-You get things that are so much more unique!

-You get way better service!

-You help create community!

-You make friends!

So shop local, go eco, yay!

If you want to see some of my crafts, check out my website!

Surrendering to the Universe and Wrapping Stones!

I learned most of my stone wrapping skills on the road. Usually when I was travelling with no expectations and no destination. I enjoyed surrendering myself to the universe because that is when the magic happens. Magical situations that is, meeting incredible people, finding yourself in incredible situations, being completely fascinated by the moment, and by nature. I found that when my travels let me closer to my hometown, situations presented themselves in which I was taught a new technique about stone wrapping. I began wrapping rocks that I would find, pieces of glass, and other curiosities. I then started going to scrap yards to get aluminum and copper, which are easy to wires to bend. I then realized, however, that aluminum has negative properties that can be harmful, and of course, it eventually tarnishes! So I started ordering tinned copper wire that has no harmful properties, and is anti-tarnish! I now also wrap semi-precious stones with healing properties for those who wear them!

Check out some of my wraps on my website! Thanks!

Ravens

I started painting ravens from a dare. A friend told me that a raven I had painted looked more like a chicken! So I was determined to paint the best raven I could! Then...it became an obsession! I couldn't stop painting ravens! Now I even make raven printed bags and T-shirts. Turns out my native horoscope is the raven. I also found out that the raven is known as the trickster because he stole the sun. But it was actually the raven who returned the sun back to the sky after he stole it from the real thief! So..the raven is a nature lover, like me.

If you would like to see my creations, check out my website!

How I began to paint native art

I was part of an activist group hoping to save a piece of native land from being paved. I spent a night in a teepee druming and put a lot of time planning a fundraiser to help support some of the direct activists. One night while painting posters for the fundraiser, I did a painting that most thought was unmistakably native inspired. Ever since then my paintings have all had a little haida and ojibwe flavor to them. I love to paint animals, especially birds. They are often accompanied by trees and rich sunsets.

If you would like to see more or my original paintings, please see my website at Kerri's Creations.

What sells on etsy

When I first created my etsy store, I put up mostly jewelry. I listed jewelry that I sold best when I vended at festivals. I soon noticed, however, that jewelry is very flooded on etsy. I than read some advice that suggested to list things that are very unusual. At festivals I also used to sell prints of very unusual ink drawings. Although they were interesting, they never did as well as my jewelry. On etsy, however, it seems to be the unique things that get noticed the most. So I listed one of my unusual prints and had my first sale! Check out some of my prints on my website!

What semi-precious stones looks best on you?

I dove deep into the art of knowing which color tones look best on which skin/hair/eye tone one day (when I was trying to figure out which I am!) and found it really useful in helping people pick a semi-precious stone to wear. People with dark hair are generally winters, people with light hair (blond) are generally summers. These two, which have red undertones in their skin, look best in cooler tones and can interchange what tones they wear. Falls and springs have yellow undertones in their skin. Falls have brown or auburn hair with brown or hazel eyes. They can have blue or green but only if there's brown or yellow mixed in. Springs do not tan, have red hair, and often have freckles.

Here's some stones I find look best with certan skin tones:

Winters look best in cool dark tones such as Onyx, Sodalite, Lapiz, amazonite, coral, purple agate, green agate, malachite, blue howlite, and serpentine.

Summer's look radiant in clear and white crystals, amathyst, rose quartz, and green aventurine.

Autums and springs look great in teal agate, tiger eye, carnelian, turquoise, amber, neutral brown agate, and copper.

Check out some jewelry made from these stones at Kerri's Creations!

Artist's Block - Screenprinting

I go through waves of creativity. Sometimes there's just not enough time to create all that I envision, and other times I reach an artist's block. My last artist's block ended when I went to a craft circle, stared at an empty canvas for several hours while occasionally glancing at my friend screenprinting t-shirts. After that evening began another wave of creativity! I began making screens of my art for printing. Sure, starting something new often leads to frustrating moments but then some nice creations as well! See more pics of my newest creation at my etsy store!

Fairy Wings

I wanted to create fairy wings with tassels that flowed in the wind. I searched and searched online but all I found were wings that were stiff as a board... I then proceeded to create a pair of wings with sheer flowing fabric, sewed them in multiple layers onto a flexible alluminum base that I twisted together and twirled, and added some fabric elastic bands so they stay on well and can fit all adults. After hours of sewing, I finally created wings that flowed as if they were real. Check out my wings at Kerri's Creations or on my etsy store at Etsy Store

Semi-Precious Stones - Meaning

I love to work with semi-precious stones because not only are there pretty but they also have healing properties. Sometimes when I'm selling my jewelry, I find people are drawn to certain stones and pendants. I like to think that on some level, they know what type of healing they need, which draws them to this particular stone. I like to tell people to go with their gut feeling and consider the first stone that really catches their eye. I guess you can call it the taosim of wearing jewlry!

If you'd like to see some of my wire-wrapped pendants, earrings, and bracelets, come check out my site Kerri's Creations.

How to Start an Artist Community

Every week I meet with other artists in St. Catharine's for an art circle. We share ideas, inspire each other, and have fun. We first met during other activities, such as environmental activism and vegetarian pot luck dinners. Each week we select a new craft for a focus group--one week it's screen printing, another it may be painting.

I really encourage other artists to try this out.

If you want to see some of my creations, check out my paintings on Kerri's Creations.