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 Rolyzcreations - Polymer Clay Artist

 http://Rolyzcreations.etsy.com

RolyzCreatins is a one of the Polymer Clay artists whose work I admire. From her beautiful beads you can create necklaces and bracelets, earrings, cell phone charms etc.
I have observed the excellent quality and colorfulness of her beads.

Here is her story:

She was born 33 years ago.
She studied behavioural sciences at the Open University, but never had a job related to that subject. Her last job was as a graphic designer for a large web site.
Over 2 years ago she had to resign her job due to health reasons.

As she was looking for something she could do as occupational therapy, and as
she has always loved creating,  it was clear to her she wanted to do something artistic.
One day her sister took her to a beads shop. It was her very first time at such a shop. When she saw knitted beads, something just “clicked” and she felt she had to learn how to knit. She took two lessons, bought a large supply of knitting wire and had knitted a many jewelry items. Since she does not wear jewelry herself , her mom and sister got almost all of it. She has tried to sell her jewelry at a mall fair but had only two sales which concluded her attempts to sell on fairs.

 Then she went back to her “old love” – pottery, but since it’s physically demanding it only lasted for few short months.

 She started to look for a new hobby and saw many ads for polymer clay classes. At that time she had no idea of what polymer clay was, so of course she looked it up online and found the polymer clay forum on Tapuz. From that forum she got to Daniellart’s studio and took lessons for 3 months. During that time on  she kept practicing a lot at home.

 Polymer clay turned out to be a very good occupational therapy for her!
Soon enough she had a large stock of creations that she didn’t have what to do with. Of course again her mother and sister got a lot of my creations, but they run out of place for any more!

Then she remembered that a long time ago she stumbled upon  a site with a weird name which  was dedicated to selling handmade creations. She googled it and found the Etsy commun on Tapuz.

It took her some time to learn how things work on Etsy and some more time for all the bureaucracy to become a legit business, and on August the 13th she opened her shop!

She thought she knew everything there is to know about maintaining a shop on Etsy, but every day she finds out new things.
 
She knew Etsy will be time demanding but had no idea of how much time consuming Etsy REALLY is.

Since she opened the shop she has less time for actually creating new things!

 
The item that she loves the most is a Hamsa mobile, custom made for a friend.
http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=19235709

 

The customer asked for an orange colored Hamsa, and orange is… well not her favourite color. But since the customer chose it , she took it as a challenge and it turned out to be one of the favourite items she has created.
As for other hobbies - these days Etsy is taking up most of her time, so she has no time to attend to others.

 

 Her hope is that one day she will be able to earn her living from selling creations she loves creating - polymer clay for now and maybe something else in the future.
 

 

 

 

 

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Dvora Schleffer - Jewelry Designer

http://DvoraSchleffer.etsy.com

http://rainbowmetal.etsy.com

Dvora has been creating jewelry ever since she  can remember herself. When she was 14 years old she found a few tools and beads in her parent’s home and started playing with them . Soon this became her big passion. At first she learned through experimenting and reading  craft books. Later when her desire to learn had grown, she went to study metalsmithing. This opened a brand new world of creative possibilities for her.

A few years ago Dvora decided that she wanted jewelry making to be more than a hobby. She quit her boring “real job” and started her business. She sold in craft shows, retail stores etc., until finally  opened her  own shop. For 3 years she had a b&m store where she sold her designs. This was very challenging and exciting but also very time consuming and difficult. Eventually she decided she  wanted to spend more time with her family and the leasure to focus on creating. She closed her b&m store and began focusing on her online stores.

Dvora  works mainly with Sterling Silver and uses gemstones to add color. She  loves working with silver wires and transforming this simple material into beautiful and delicate looking jewelry items. She  is mainly inspired by Nature and organic shapes. This inspiration has grown even more since she moved from the city to the country.

 Dvora is  quite a restless artist. She  always feels the urge to learn new techniques and create new things in totally vaious styles.  This is why, about a month ago ,She opened a second store called “RainbowMetal” where she creates colorful metal jewelry and also small home decor items like magnets, pictures, mezuzah’s and more.
Dvora’s jewelry is delicate and feminine. What I personally  like about it is her special talent for using simple materials and creating unique , delicate and feminine jewelry.
PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS ON THE HOME PAGE

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Limitz - Recycling Artist and The founder of our ISART (Israeli Artists) Team on ETSY and of our Etsy Forum (in Hebrew

My name is Limor Matityahoo (AKA Limitz), and I am, amongst other things, a Textile Designer (Bsc from Shenkar college). As far back as I can remember, I am involved in some craft projects. Usually its simultaneously, usually the projects  are from various fields of expertise, some of which  I initiated, and  some were ordered by others..

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I love surface design, I knit, and when I graduated Shenkar my final project included experimental fusing of synthetic knits which I then turned into garments inspired by underwater life…

I went through many design projects in the past 15 years, while working my way in Internet and Communication Hi Tech Companies, first as a webmaster, then as a Project , Product and QA Manager.

I am also a makeup artist, I have decorated cakes since I was 15 or 16. My first  cake decoration was for my cousin and  The cake  had 3 layers and many flowers which I created with sugar RFM my mom prepared them all by herself..

For the  past 3 years I have been the founder and owner of OTIOT - Personalized Products for  Babies and Children (www.limitz.etsy.com). I also run the Hebrew forum of Israeli Etsy sellers, I created an index for Israeli artists to present their work locally (www.handmadeinisrael.co.il) and today I also teach and help Israeli Artists to open their ships on ETSY com.

A few months ago I had been assigned to attend a workshop to make bags from fused grocery bags. We were asked to collect many bags. I had tons, and as I was so excited about it I was SO prepared for it. I was thrilled at the fact that I could learn how to recycle materials which surround us, and that finally I will be able to contribute  my share to making our earth greener, with my own two hands.

Unfortunately, the workshop was canceled a day before it was due. I couldn’t believe it …I was utterly disappointed, and so I decided to learn on my own and experiment with the material until I had something that would satisfy me. I learned how to make PLARN (Plastic Yarn), and very soon also experimented with fused sheets with which I create new fashionable designed products from these awesome materials!

I believe recycled products  from plastic bags must be both innovative and well designed. With this approach to my projects, I opened my ETSY shop (www.ECObyLimitz.etsy.com) as an international shop and gallery to share my designs, and to my happiness I had 2 orders on the very first week!

I am absolutely in love with recycling plastic, knitting it, fusing it, and I cannot even express how happy I am to start from scratch in each project- I feel the sky is the (ECOby)Limitz when it comes to creating designer-recycled products from… Plastic bags!

I hope to be involved in designing eco-friendly projects and products, all from grocery bags and plarn.. The techniques are amazing, the possibilities are endless.

For the forthcoming year, I wish to see more and more Israeli Artists open successful shops on ETSY - I know we have great talents to join the International market and I hope to reach them all and let them see they can make a  nice income on the net too. I also hope to be involved in designing eco-friendly projects and products,  all from grocery bags and plarn..The techniques are amazing, the possibilities - endless!

Thank you for letting me share,
Limitz

Limitz is a kind of pioneer and a real “fighter”. To be successful in being  innovative and creative while utilizing  new materials  and being able to sell them,  is no  easy task. Limitz is a true artist and I wish her great success on the way she chose to express her ideas and personality!

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Gaialai and gaialaiknitted  - Sari Glassman’s etsy shops

www.gaialai.etsy.com

I met Sari at the team gathering in Karkur. A n energetic  and most talented young woman. This is her story:

Ever since Sari can remember, Art and Mathematics have been an integral part of her life.

For the past two decades, she has been working as a Mathematics Instructor.  Her  artistic tendencies  have been always implemented in her work and in a major part of the mathematical assignments she wrote.

Circumstances in Sari’s life drastically changed seven years ago, when her son Elai was born and diagnosed with CP (Cerebral Palsy). Sari decided  to quit her job at the Ministry of Education and to dedicate all her available time to Elai,  in order to enable him to fulfill as much of his potential and to raise him as an independent  person as possible. As  time passed by, she returned to Art as a hobby, and later the hobby became a business.

Thus, the idea of Gaialai came into being, and had slowly taken shape.

In the beginning Gaialai was a small business, based only in Israel with a few sales to the United States, Canada and South Africa.  In 2006, with the encouragement and help of her family and friends, who saw the potential for success in Sari’s art and design, the company expanded the market to Europe and the Far East.

On February of 2007 Gaialai attended Bijorhca, the largest and most famous European art & design show, which takes place bi-annually in Paris, France. Many famous Worldwide jewelry companies started out there, and many others expanded from local based to global.

Gaialai designs are a mixture of mathematical ideas, Ethnic styles, Nature and Glamorous combinations. Sari  creates her designs by using Swarovsky Crystals, Handcrafted glass beads, semi-precious stones, Natural elements such as shells and ceramics, all combined with gold-filled metal, silver and nylon based thread, metal wire, hand knitted forms - ending up with combinations that show her jewelry as stylish and glamorous. The unique look of her jewelry is an outcome of the combination between the knitting method ,the Ethnic touch, and the special beads - the glamorous and modern side.

Gaialai has added fused glass and Lampwork beads to her extensive collection of created items. You may view The Lampwork and other creations in her website: www.gaialai.com and on Etsy - www.gaialai.etsy.com and Artfire - www.gaialai.artfire.com

Lately she sees herself  mostly as a Glass Artist (I’m a SRA member: SRA membership number: #G67)- and she is totally addicted to it !!! She combines her lampwork beads with her other love - knitting.
www.gaialai.com

What I wish for Sari is – first and foremost - to succeed in her efforts in raising her son, and secondly , great success with her remarkable and outstanding art!

 

 

 

 

 

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rafya  - Alona Lahav’s Etsy shop

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6467

Alona is 36 years old, and a  mother of two kids.

She has always been attracted by Handmade jewelry and other items. Nowadays  she makes her living from her art and enjoys it very much.

Alona works, mainly, with cold clay, which is called DAS in Israel, by creating various interesting textures. Sometimes it is a belt buckle, a sole of a shoe, or any piece of metal with an interesting finish.

Alona grew up in Tel-Aviv, but has always loved to visit the country side outside of the city,  knowing that when she grows older she would live in a pastoral areas ,and so she has made her dream come true. Nevertheless, she still misses the city every now and then….

Alona has always loved to be creative. As a young girl, she would go into a bead shop, very enthusiastic and expectatious,  and return home with a collection of beads, feeling elevated as one who has discovered a treasure.

Beside handcrafting, she loves to go out on excursions with her family and take numerous photographs.

In 2005, one of Alona’s friends had heard about Etsy and told her about it . The Etsy site was new and Alona did not grasp its great potential. Nevertheless she enlisted as an Etsy seller. Until then she hadn’t considered selling her handmade items abroad) At that time her work had a different style, and people from Israel had a problem in being paid through Paypal). She returned to the site two years later and was overwhelmed  by its success. She vigorously began enlisting items for sale. By that time the Paypal problem was solved, and sellers could draw their money, so that  things became much easier for Israeli sellers.

It has taken Alona some time to learn what she should do to promote her sales.  She had learnt much and is still improving  it on  every day that passes by.

When I met Alona at our team gathering, she was wearing a pair of earrings from one of her collections. Though the earrings were tiny, they stood out in their unique classic beauty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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ISART ISRAEL TEAM   September 4th 2009

noadesign  - paintings

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6080014

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Noa is another artist from our team who lives in the U.S.A. She  is 36 years old and  is the mother of two small kids. For the last 4 and a half years Noa and her little family have  been  living in the Silicone Valley near San Francisco.

A graduate of the Bezalel Art School in Jerusalem, Noa has worked as a professional graphic designer before arriving at the U.S.A.

Noa dedicates her time to art . She has always  loved to illustrate for children. In  Israel she used to paint on the walls of children’s rooms. To date she paints on canvases for her own kids, her friends kids and more.
The reason she likes to paint for children is her affinity for strong colors and textures.
On the other hand, there are other forms of art which  inspire her, therefore she divides her time between both styles.

What she enjoys most, is to get  up in the morning, send her kids to school, sit across a canvas or sheet of paper and start working. For this she is most grateful.

 

 

She discovered Etsy just by chance. A friend of hers  suggested to try and sell  her paintings, and so when she heard of  Etsy. she started her shop.

Next week she will be opening her house for  sale of her art. This will be the very first time in which she will be exhibiting her art to the public and not only through the internet. She is very excited about it.

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Galit Barak from
http://galit.etsy.com

Our group of Israel Arts  Etsy team was welcomed by  Galit and her mother Ilana Barak in their beautiful home in Karkur.

Galit  is 22  years old. She has always loved to be creative, and had studied fine arts in high school. At the same time she learnt to knit and crochet and strived  to explore more techniques. Galit  began by using simple metal wires. When she gained more experience, she began using Sterling silver and gold filled wires to create her jewelry.

Galit treats each one of her jewelry items individually to give each item a unique touch. She combines colors, shapes and textures while using high quality materials such as 14 karat gold filled wire, sterling silver, semi precious stones and pearls. As it is very important for her to continue to develop and improve her jewelry, she is about to begin her Bachelor degree studies  in Jewelry Design.

I personally love her unique colorful  and feminine jewelry . I predict that this ambitious and talented young woman will reach her goals and will become a leading jewelry designer. Mark my words!

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Our friend - MyMoms

MyMom’s Jewelry  is  Ilana Barak

I met Ilana and her daughter galit about a month ago, at our team’s meeting in Karkur. It so happens that they’re house is located about two houses near my old grandad’s house, which was sold years ago. I was filled with pleasant memories from this place where I spent two happy years of my childhood, and it was a unique experience for me to meet Ilana  and Galit there. Here is what she tells us about herself:

“From an early age I have loved to design jewelry. I used to travel to the big city, picking up supplies. When I grew up I studied architecture, which is my main occupation nowadays. After having married and having given birth to two daughters, while they where growing up, I returned to jewelry design, this time more intensely, and it became a very central part in my own and my daughter Galit ’s life.

In my work I was attracted to creating beautiful shapes, most of which are made of woven beads in the Peyote technique, utilizing interesting color combinations. This work constantly corresponds to issues in the world of architecture.

When I create, I observe how the jewelry pieces appear on the various parts of the body, and I strive for it to be flattering to the client, so that whoever wears it will be complimented for her choice. Each piece is designed by me impeccably, knowing it needs to serve as a long lasting and durable item.

I love using high quality materials like Miuky Japanese glass beads, Czech glass beads, crystals and semi precious stones. Metals in use are Sterling Silver and 14k gold filled metal. All the jewelry is handmade, mostly  unique and one of a kind.

You are welcome to view my work in my Etsy shop.”

http://mymoms.etsy.com

Ilana’s work is an example for excellence in craftsmanship!

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ISART    ISRAEL   TEAM      -      August 22nd,   2009

Our friend Ayala Levinger

Ayala is a young Israeli woman who has been living in the Netherlands for the last 7 years. She has a part time job in a computer company and is a mother of a boy who will soon be 4 years old.
She had always wanted to sew but somehow was doing other things. She used to sculpt in papier mache for a number of years, but when she got pregnant decided to stop using toxic materials. One day she told her boyfriend that her grandmother is a professional seamstress and she wishes she had a sewing machine. He said: “why don’t you go ahead and get one”?
Within a week a sewing machine was at her door. She had purchased it through the internet.
Ayala began to learn on her own by trial and error, and with help from her mother on the phone. She started  with clothes and ended with patchwork and bags.

From there she went on to widen her horizons, each time in a different direction - cloth dying, quiltings, knitting, crocheting, felting. She learned everything on her own because she enjoyed doing it, and also because she did not have enough free time to herself, which would enable her to attend courses.
After having sewn a few bags embroidered with beads, her boyfriend offered to try and sell them. She already knew about Etsy, and other people encouraged her too, and so she opened her Etsy shop.

Even though she does not get to sew much, she still enjoys every minute of it. It is real fun!. She loves making new contacts with other sellers, and as she creates a lot and has many friends to whom she can give gifts, she lists in her shop what is left.
Ayala works in her attic. Once she will organize it and make it look more photogenic, she will add it to her own blog.

Here are a few great photographs of Ayala’s work. Most elegant and professional.

I believe  they could serve as wonderful gifts for yourself and your favorite people..

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August 15, 2009

v e r o q u e

Vered Skolnik   http://Veroque.etsy.com is another member of the Isart Israel Team . Vered  is a mother of two beautiful children and happily married. She has travelled around the world and has been inspired and influenced  by many cultures and experiences she has gone through . She continues endlessly to search for new ideas.

In creating her jewelry Vered uses most complex techniques which she has learned mostly from the Internet.

Being a woman with a mind of her own , she decided to quit her day job so she would be able to dedicate most of her creativity to her family  and her Etsy shop.

She believes that one should never be afraid of trying to learn to do new things, and never gives up when something seems to be too complicated or intricate. One can learn a lot from the net, forums and books.
When someone like Vered, learns new things and methods on her own, her sense of accomplishment is most satisfying.
Keeping the balance between her family life and her work has been a great challenge to her.

I love each item she adds to her shop. Way to go Vered

COMMENTS : Please leave comments on this blog on the Home Page.

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My ISART ISRAEL  team friend

T a l c h e n

Talchen is friend who lives a little far away from us –In San Francisco Bay area , California – but Etsy has a way of bringing all friends together, and this is a great example!

Talcen was born in Tel Aviv, but grew up in Gedera. Around Gedera there are many Kibbutz settlements. Ever since being a small kid and until today, she has loved to ramble through the country, especially in the Kibbutz settlements where there are small houses with large lawns and gardens between them, which is like a paradise for kids

Talchen has always been attracted to drawing and painting, and she knew, somehow, that this is what she would be doing when she grew up.

Talchen has many wonderful childhood memories, so her art concentrates around memories and childhood experiences, those of her own and from children’s story books, which she has read .

Today, as a mother of two beautiful children of her own, she has been  inspired by many situations she has come across with her own kids.

She plans  to illustrate a children’s book in the near future. I believe she will succeed
As one can feel the great love she holds within for this subject.

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July 26th 2009

My ISART Team
About a week ago, the members of our team had decided to get together and meet the ISART team  members face to face ( which was not very hard to do, as Israel is a small country).
We met at the lovely Galit’s house in Karkur (Sharon area) and got acquainted to one another…It was a happy and lively event, and it was great fun!
Today I shall introduce two of the ladies to you:

1.  Yoola

Whose shop is defined as

“Crochet jewelry and tutorials”

and you can find her Etsy shop  right here:
“http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5818541&ga_search_query=yoola&ga_search_type=seller_usernames
These  are two gorgeous and delicate  different  items which I held in my hands.  They are unique,  and dainty and her artistic work is immaculate. You can feel in your hands   the love with which they were hand crafted.

The second artist I met  there was

Efiwarsh

her etsy shop URL:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5793300&order=&section_id=&page=1
Efi creates Designs in Polymer clay. Her designs are most intricate and colorful. She creates jewelry and fun items.
Efi told me that it takes her 6 concentrated hours to create a Sayonara doll:

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The Hafteam
I joined the HAFteam abut two weeks ago. I have joined this team because I found many items there which touched me as highly artistic and creative, and I wanted my shop  to be included in such company.
Here are two examples:
1.  Rabbithollowprims
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5125705

Some of the most stunning hand made dolls I’ve ever came across, whose work I would recommend as Keepsakes. The following listings speak for themselves:

Primitive Fall William and Mary Webster Pilgrim set

Primitive Fall Fruit:

2. Another favorite shop from the hafteam which I lovingly hearted and added to a recent treasury of mine are:
bigsister’s shop
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5250722
Watch these heart warming and decorative wool & felt items:
Brown Betty Egg Cozy  
Tiny Spiral Box:

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Now that you have viewed these  Etsy listings wouldn’t you agree with me?