7/23/10

Crafters with Heart - Maddo (Maddabling)


Crafters with Heart is going to be a regular feature. The idea behind it is to spotlight crafters, their philanthropic passions and what that looks like in their world......<3

When it comes to spreading the love there's none better than Samara from Maddo - Maddabling.  I am starting this new feature on my Blog with Samara because not only did she kick me off with my first sale on Etsy but she has consistently gone out of her way to encourage fellow crafters with either her mad shopping skills or her enthusiastic promotional campaigns.  

Samara has a colourful and eclectic style with a touch of whimsy and romance.  You can feel the passion oozing out of every piece she makes from the arty photos the 'made with love' tag in the titles or the carefully selected song lyrics underscoring her descriptions.

This is Samara's story.

  1. Tell us a little bit about yourself
I work full time – creating is my sanity. I have a loving husband, creative friends and am “mum” to the sweetest pair of scallywags Keshi dog and Neko cat.
I love to cook, create, garden, read, adore listening to music, watching indie or foreign films and participate in the DUST team forum whenever I can.

2. What words would you use to describe your craft style

Eclectic, Unusual, Bold, Made with Love

 


3. What do you enjoy most about the creative process

Having an idea that consumes you, that you just have to make it right now because you are so impatient that you can’t wait to see how it turns out !
Oh and creating a lovely big mess hehehe !



4 How did Maddabling come to be?


Honestly, it just kind of happened. One day a friend said to me – you should do a market stall, so I did. Then I encouraged Del at DELiciousDesignz to open an ETSY store and she encouraged me to join the DUST team and to open my own store. I have many supportive and creative friends – I am self taught and found that people like what I create. I love being able to bring a little bit of joy in this crazy world through my creations.


5. Are there any causes, aid projects that you are passionate about and why

RSPCA - I feel very strongly about the work that the RSPCA do as they look after those creatures that are neglected, abused or abandoned that don’t have a voice of their own. They provide a second chance and new hope for all creatures great and small – a cliché I know but a fitting one. The job the RSPCA does not always have a happy ending and I have a great deal of respect for those involved as it must be absolutely heartbreaking at times.


6. Have you been involved in any causes/aid projects lately. And how were you involved

Around 12 months ago, we adopted a kitten from the RSPCA. He is very much a part of our family, spoiled rotten and well loved !

I have also been involved in a facebook charity auction for the Slammers Online Relay for Life Page which was raising funds for Cancer. I donated a custom pink themed kilt pin brooch and encouraged many others to donate/bid as well through my fanpage. 


7 If you could give 1 piece of advice to someone wanting to sell their craft what would it be.

Never ever give up ! Believe in yourself and what you do, don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things, be ready to learn new techniques and be ever evolving in your creative pursuits. Remember that you are unique and that each piece you create has a little piece of you in it – figuratively of course, not literally !

8 Ok this is Samara's top 5

Favourite music/band/singer
I really really love music – so it’s really really hard to narrow this down to just
One artist etc.
Music – anything from Trip Hop to Johnny Cash to Indie to World Music to
Hip Hop to Blues & Roots and everything in between
Band - currently – The Drums, Doves, Pink Floyd, Bank Holidays, The Pixies
Singer – currently Camille, Sally Seltman, Nick Cave,  Dave Mann, Sia

Favourite movie –
currently it’s a split between My Lovely Bones, Whip It or Cashback. Of all time – Breakfast at Tiffanys or Donny Darko or Life of Brian

Favourite item in you wardrobe –
any of my several pairs of I Love Billy Shoes or boots and anything that I have sourced from ETSYthere are sooooooh many things !

Favourite Blog


Favourite Etsy/craft shop.

My current favourites would have to be these etsy shops :


There are so so many more but I can’t list them all here !

I want to thank Samara for being my 1st Crafter with Heart I hope you have learned a little more about this lovely lady.  You can connect with Samara here:












7/10/10

Celebrate with me! - There's a fab journal to be won.


 I am so excited to be at this point 1 year down the track.. There are so many kind and generous spirited crafters and customers who have helped get me here I wish I could do an honor roll for you all but I would most certainly forget some....well... perhaps a lot, but that happen now and then :P (to me it does)

So I say a big heartfelt, hugs and kisses THANK YOU.  To everyone who well, firstly chatted to me.  It was so nerve wracking walking into my 1st ever forum and saying Hi.  To those who answered my many questions with patience, who offered tips and critiques (invaluable). To those who commented followed, tweeted and fb'd and of course finally to those of you who actually bought something from my shop and brought a warm glow to the heart of a nervous crafter.  Hey if that's you MWAH.  I loves ya.

So what do we  do to celebrate this momentous occasion?  Well I took a poll and it seems all of you would like one of my journals.  (it was a short poll and not many took it but hey they all wanted journals)  

To give it a twist I'm going to let you decide your choice out of 3 vintage books you would like to have as a OOAK journal
                                                                                                                                                                   
Here's how to play "Happy Etsyversary re:deem"

To enter:                                                                                                 

Become a FOLLOWER of my Blog or LIKE my facebook.  Leave a comment here to tell me and don't forget to say which book you would like as a journal (please leave me a way on contacting you eg email)

For additional entries:

Become a follower of my blog or a liker of my FB page which ever you didn't do in step 1 (leave a comment)

Go to my shop and let me know what item you like the best (leave a comment)

Twitter about this giveaway (leave a comment)

Facebook about this giveaway (leave a comment)

Blog about this giveaway (leave a comment) 

Easy peasy :)


Your book choices from left to right (original pages from these books will be included in the journal)

A) - The Philosopher's Notebook by Monty Blandford pub 1952 ( a collection of poetry)
B) - The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley pub circa 1970 (children's classic)
C) - Curtain of Fear by Dennis Wheatley pub 1974 (fiction story based on the iron curtain/cold war)



This giveaway will only be open for my Etsyversary week (not like my birthday month haha) so closes
Sat 17th July at 10pm AEST.

Ok, now its time for cake and balloons!  Good Luck everyone.