Interview with Tomka Sorokina from YaTomkaStore

Today I present you talented artist and my friend who work with polymer clay and other matherials. Her creations alwasy remind me about fairy tails, they are so airily and magic! 

-- Tell me a little about yourself

Hi,  My name is Tomka Sorokina and I live in the most beautiful place on the world near the sea with amazing nature. I love my husband and my two children, I like ice cream and rain, I like to leap over the plashes like a child... 
I like child’s books and illustrations and once I will learn to draw, I promise! But now I happy to create jewelry, teach my husband and being taught by my children. Thanks for them I discover something new in this world every day.

-- What types of items do you sell? What's your favorite material and techniques to work with?

I’m a very compulsive personality. From my childhood I always got lessons of something but after short time lose interest. But since I saw in internet polymer clay jewelry, and it was more than 7 years ago, I hold true to it. After my son was born my creations became something more for me then a simple hobby. It became a job that I like and I dedicate all my time to my shop, of course, time free from my family)

I like to work with polymer clay, mix it with glass, glaze and I always try to invent something new and creative. 
Now my favorits are bracelets with miniature flowers and handmade glass, pocket mirrors with drawing made from polymer clay and transparent butterfly wings.

I enjoy when my people like my creations. I think from this point the story of my store had a beginning. First I gifted my creations, then somebody asked me to make to order and then my shop YaTomkaStore was born. This is small shop with my creations – handmade jewelry and accessories.

-- Where do you get your inspiration?:

Every weekand me and my family we are making little trips. My junior girl is almost a year old that’s why we can’t go far but our trips are always intensive and interesting. I like a see and mountains. The nature around our town is so various that every time I find something new and it inspire me. Often I inspired by my family, my husband is my main critic and encourager. It is thanks him and his backing that I began to make polymer clay jewelry. 

The advantage of being self-employed is that I’m a law unto myself, I control my schedule. It allow me  to give as much attention to my family as they need and also much more)) I can wake up at 5 AM with new idea and began to turn it into reality… I can be awake till very late  until I won’t finish a piece and next day stay with children all day: slug in a bed, see cartoons, read books… Creativity became an essential part of my life and also if I don’t keep my tools in hands, in my head deas are tumbling about 


--  Are there other places on the net we can find you?
I have a small Etsy shop: www.YaTomkaStore.etsy.com

My Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/YaTomkaStore

Fine Embroidery's lampshades

I already wrote in my blog about FineEmbroidery - Featured seller - interview with FunEmbroidery.  Its owner, Lana, is an embroidery designer with many years of experience. Her specialties are unique embroidery, custom monograms, OOAK suede accessories and stunning 3-D embroidered artworks.

Today, I would like to tell my readers about a new direction of her work - unique lampshades sewing by hand. 

Are you familiar with that feeling when walking alone on a cold, windy winter night you accidentally glance inside one's window and see a little cozy place with a nice lampshade on? The light from the lampshade is warm and welcoming. It is mesmerizing and inviting one to enter the home, be warmed up with a cup of tea and be comforted with an apple pie. 

All of Lana's lampshades are special. Each one has its unique form, embroidery decorations, beaded fringe and tassels. Lana is using vintage lamp bases and finishes her work in various vintage styles that so many adore. 

For example, this lampshade is done in Victorian Style:

It is made out of deep honey color fabric in the shape of a tulip. It is decorated with 3-D embroidered butterflies whose wings and antennas are flexible and can be rearranged to give it a real feel. Finally, there is hand assembled glass beads fringe. A lamp with such lampshade offers soft and warm light inviting one to cozy up in an armchair with a cup of tea and a good book to read. 

Next lamp is done in the Art Nouveau Style:

A delicate, sugar color alabaster lampshade of mid past century is harmoniously matched with a flower shaped lampshade made with vintage dupioni silk of two colors: pearly cream and soft pink. It is further decorated with a stylish embroidered dragonfly which was specially created for this lampshade in the Art Nouvean Style. This touch emphasizes the feminine side of this design. 

Further, the lampshade's romantic feel is achieved by adding silk tassels of delicate peach color. This lampshade would look lovely in a girly boudoir especially if matched with white and pink décor details of the interior. 

Next lampshade is made in the Hollywood Regency design:

An early 1960th lamp base is decorated with two chain hanged crystal plates that are imitating a balancing scale of justice. The lampshade's classic form is covered with vintage dupioni silk of milky white color. This sample is decorated with amber color embroidery of Damask pattern which was specially created for this lamp. The decorative fringe is highlighted with vintage style beads of deep honey color. This piece would be a perfect dining room decoration. Its crystal plates could serve as candle holders or dessert/fruits serving plates. 

Lana offers lampshades in different stiles and for every taste
- for a kid’s room

For a living room

For a luxurious bedroom -

Lana's lampshades will make your home more comfortable, will add glamour to the interiors and show your personality and impeccable taste.

Featured Artist - Valery from Alery Etsy shop

Hello! I’m Valery and I'm owner of Alery shop. 

I was born and lived in Ukraine – beautiful European country. Some time ago work brought my family to California, USA.

As long as I can remember myself, I was interested in creativity and handmade. I tried many different kinds of crafts and finally started making jewelry. At the beginning I worked with seed beads, then tried wireworking, and at last started working with metal. 

It’s a great time now – we have so many opportunities to learn! So I started learning metalsmithing and silversmithing. Then I took some enameling classes in a local jewelry school with an amazing teacher… and fall in love!

Enameling opened a whole new world for me, it fascinated me! 

I love to experiment, to discover new techniques, to combine traditional with contemporary. 

 The world around us is full of inspiration – sophistication of nature, beauty of architecture, simplicity of minimalist man-made designs.

 All items in my shop are true artisan jewelry. They designed and handmade by me.  I use raw materials – sheet copper, silver wire, powdered glass enamels. I add my skills, my creativity, and a fire from a hand torch to make enamel earrings, necklaces, rings.

 I make both practical jewelry for the everyday wear and one of a kind whimsical items for the special occasions. For all my items I think a lot about making them not only beautiful, but also comfortable and durable, so people can enjoy them for a long time. 

Interview with Tamara from shop MagazinIL

Today I present you my other friend Tamara and her shop MagazinIL. She is creating very particular but beautiful and useful for young mom necklaces and toys for kids. 

Where are you from? A little bit about you
My name is Tamara, I live in Israel and am a mother of two wonderful kids: my son Adam and daughter Nika. I love to cook and to knit. I like to read an interesting book or watch a good movie. Most of my time I devote to parenting and to crochet.

What items do you carry in your shop?
In my shop you can find crochet jewelry for the breastfeeding moms and for the lovers of jewelry made from natural materials. All items in my shop are handmade by me. I use only organic threads of the highest quality (cotton and linen) and only natural wooden beads (juniper and maple).

What is teething necklace?
It’s very beautiful and fashionable accessory for mom and baby. Crochet texture of the beads allow the kid to develop fine motor skills as well such beads are indispensable for breastfeeding period and during wearing a sling. Teething necklace should be made ​​of natural materials: cotton or linen thread and wooden beads made from oak, ash and apple etc. Care this necklace is very simple: just wash them in warm soapy water and rinse thoroughly. Tumble dry on a towel in a dark place (not in the sun)

What's your favorite material and techniques to work with?
For a long period of time cotton had been my preference, I like to work with it very much. However, recently I've tried linen threads and was pleasantly surprised. High quality of these threads allows to create very beautiful items.

How long have you been selling?
I sell my handmade jewelry for more than three years.

Do you have a blog, twitter, or facebook page?
Yes, I have a Facebook page www.facebook.com/MagazinIL
Also you can see, order and buy all my jewelry items on my web-site www.momsnecklace.com

Interview with me

Oh dear readers I understood that I never post something like interview with me on my blog) Thats why I put here this link where you can read one:
HeartHandmade blog

Interview with Irina from IrinaPhotographyCard

Today I present interview with talented photographer and my friend Ira. She sell hers photos in  IrinaPhotographyCard etsy shop. There you will find amazing photos for home decor and beautiful greeting cards to send to your friends:

Tell me a bit about yourself! 
My name is Irina. I grown up in a beautiful country Ukraine at great and beautiful Crimea Peninsula. It's southern part of Ukraine that was very famous in Soviet Union like tourist place.

 How did you get started?
I took this passion from my dad who's been done photography since his teen age. I remember from my childhood a lot of photographs of my mom and dad, my grandmas and grandpas. They all were done by my dad. They were black and white pictures developed at home. He taught me how to do that, and I have began with black and white film photography, with developing and printing. I clearly remember how it was exciting... My dad, mom, and I always printed photographs at very late night. We didn't have black room, so there wasn't choice to do that at day time. My parents set up printing tools, and for me, it was like a some kind of magic. :) We still keep the gear in my parent's home. :)

Do you have a daily job, and what do you do?
Yes, I have a daily job. I'm a software quality assurance engineer. Photography is my hobby that soothes my soul and  helps me to relax at the end of the day. :)

Where do you get your inspiration?
I guess, my main source of inspiration is mother nature. At first glance, landscapes are still. But this is not true. Every moment changes all around us: look at the sky... it's in motion, look at the light on hills.. it's in motion. :) I like to come back in my favorite places such as Yosemite park and others... I have a lot of pictures taken from the same point, but the photographs all different. So yes, definitely mother nature is my source of inspiration. :)

What is your ideal vision for the future for you and your work?
Honestly, I want to keep it as a hobby. I would love to sell a lot of photographs but not because of money. When people buy, it means they like my work. And this is the most important. :) 

Interview with Aleksa Torri

Today I present to my readers interview with talented handmade artists Aleksa Torri. She has a shop on Etsy called CitrusCat.

- Please tell us a little bit about yourself

What can I tell about myself?
I'm 23, I have a young, ambitious and full of hope for a brighter future
By education I am a psychologist, but psychology does not attract me as a profession.

I'm a self taught handmade artist trying to turn my favorite hobby into life style and profession.

I create unusual jewelry. But sometimes I move in the other direction. Spontaneously I can start making greeting cards or decorative items for the home. In short, I am a creative person and quite unpredictable even to myself. I guess that's my trick.

- How long have you been creating? How did your journey in art and creativity begin?

 I loved to make things since I was small. As far as I can remember as a child I drew a lot, asked my grandmother taught me to embroider. Then I wanted to make clothes and I wanted to be a designer.

My path to the creation of jewelry was long. At some point I started to sew felt brooches.

After a while I realized that I like to make jewelry and I started trying different techniques and materials.

Now I’m fond of creating resin jewelry. I chose this material and technique because it allows me to create different things without limiting the imagination. 

In future I want to try to use other materials and techniques.

-What is the most important about your work?

I can identify several aspects that are important to my business. This is a good mood, inspiration, and support of my family

In my work I like the fact that I’m the owner of business and can do what I want.
No doubt, it creates a good mood which I put in my work.

One of the most important events for my business was opening a Citrus Сat shop on Etsy. This was a good incentive for me.

 - What would you say makes your shop unique?

The original approach to the creation of my jewelry is making them unique.

I am a self-taught and eclectic artist, who works with a variety of techniques.
My jewelry is a world full of colors of life.
With my jewelry I want to make the world more beautiful and colorful.
I hope you enjoy my creations, as much as I enjoyed creating them!

Please come to my CitrusCat store. And get a portion of happiness ))

Gifts from Yury Tarler for Father's day

I found very unusual unique store on Etsy. The owner of the store is very talented artist Yury Tarler. His store filled with variety of graphics and watercolors, artworks which that show his professionalism. Besides that Yury offers wide range of gifts, house ware and clocks.

I would like to bring some attention to clocks as gifts for upcoming father’s day.


“Tango” clocks could be a great gift for fathers who admire dance. If father unable to dance, he will be pleased to recall his first “Tango” with his Lady.

“Street Light” clocks are for Chess lovers
Combination of Street Light and Chess board is very elegant and unique.
These clocks can decorate any father’s work room, office or even hallway

Old timers will appreciate “Retro” clocks.
Elegant shape of woman won’t let any dad stay unaffected 

“Lady with Glass” clocks won’t let any dad stay apathetic either.
These clocks can be great addition to the interior of home bar room.

No questions. Some dads will appreciate “New York policeman” clocks.
May be because dad is a Policeman himself.

And, not only fathers would be delighted to receive clocks with image of St.Petersburg, print from original watercolor made by Yury Tarler.

Please come to the store of Yury Tarler, you can find a lot of great items!