M.I.C.E. logo by Jill N. Hamilton-Krawczyk

M.I.C.E mini with Barrel Of Monkeys's
Jill N. Hamilton-Krawczyk.

For many of you who do know and some who may not. Jill and I have been friends for almost four years now. I met Jill when we both worked at Michael's craft store. I was always amazed at her drive! She was going to school at the time and very determined to become a Graphic Designer. It seemed like over night she not only earned her BA in Graphic Design from Madonna University in July of 2008, but now she works for Madonna University as the schools graphic designer! She is one of the most successful M.I.C.E members on etsy with 4,727 sales and counting. She is talented, funny and extremely gifted when it comes to her artistic flair and her savvy business sense!

I asked Jill three questions:
1. What is your favorite item of yours?
2. What is your inspiration?
3.Where do you see your shop in 5 years?
Here is what Jill had to say:

1. What is your favorite item of yours?
My favorite item usually tends to be the button I just finished designing! But I do have some consistent favorites including:
Halo & Horns - my silly martians from outer space
and my Cute Little Owl button (which was a design I originally created for my niece and then made it into a button)
I'm also digging my new retro Dear Deer square button necklace
but I have created so many that it's hard to pick only one or two.
2. What is your inspiration?
My inspiration comes from lots of different sources - color combinations I happen to see, phrases, shapes, what happens to be "in" at the time, experiences - the good and annoying (that's where the sarcastic ones come from). A lot of times my customer's custom requests turn into buttons designs offered in my shop. And then a lot of the really GREAT ideas come from my very good friend Scottie who is very clever and witty!
3.Where do you see your shop in 5 years?
Continually growing... more designs, more products. I'm addicted to buttons! Currently I offer 1.25 inch round, 2.25 inch round and 1.5 inch square items. Maybe in the future I will another button machine or two of different sizes to my arsenal... we shall see. But one thing is for sure - my shop will always be evolving.

M.I.C.E. Mini View with Barrel Of Monkeys's


M.I.C.E. logo by Jill N. Hamilton-Krawczyk

M.I.C.E mini with Barrel Of Monkeys's
Jill N. Hamilton-Krawczyk.

For many of you who do know and some who may not. Jill and I have been friends for almost four years now. I met Jill when we both worked at Michael's craft store. I was always amazed at her drive! She was going to school at the time and very determined to become a Graphic Designer. It seemed like over night she not only earned her BA in Graphic Design from Madonna University in July of 2008, but now she works for Madonna University as the schools graphic designer! She is one of the most successful M.I.C.E members on etsy with 4,727 sales and counting. She is talented, funny and extremely gifted when it comes to her artistic flair and her savvy business sense!

I asked Jill three questions:
1. What is your favorite item of yours?
2. What is your inspiration?
3.Where do you see your shop in 5 years?
Here is what Jill had to say:

1. What is your favorite item of yours?
My favorite item usually tends to be the button I just finished designing! But I do have some consistent favorites including:
Halo & Horns - my silly martians from outer space
and my Cute Little Owl button (which was a design I originally created for my niece and then made it into a button)
I'm also digging my new retro Dear Deer square button necklace
but I have created so many that it's hard to pick only one or two.
2. What is your inspiration?
My inspiration comes from lots of different sources - color combinations I happen to see, phrases, shapes, what happens to be "in" at the time, experiences - the good and annoying (that's where the sarcastic ones come from). A lot of times my customer's custom requests turn into buttons designs offered in my shop. And then a lot of the really GREAT ideas come from my very good friend Scottie who is very clever and witty!
3.Where do you see your shop in 5 years?
Continually growing... more designs, more products. I'm addicted to buttons! Currently I offer 1.25 inch round, 2.25 inch round and 1.5 inch square items. Maybe in the future I will another button machine or two of different sizes to my arsenal... we shall see. But one thing is for sure - my shop will always be evolving.
August 11, 2009

Out of all the stories and characters we read as children. I can't help but feel very drawn to the simple art work and curious story of this little girl and her adventure. We can relate to her in our every day life's. In peculiar situations or even with odd relatives. A crazy uncle, a dominating mother in law, odd coworkers and mix them up with our everyday life. I love Alice and all the wonderful versions of Alice out there..... She is reinvented and recreated in so many ways. How many artist have interpret and intertwine her story, her face and her ever challenging endeavors? A simple little tale, A simple little girl and her extraordinary impression on artist everywhere!




Art Work by Scottie Magro

OBSESSED With Alice.


Out of all the stories and characters we read as children. I can't help but feel very drawn to the simple art work and curious story of this little girl and her adventure. We can relate to her in our every day life's. In peculiar situations or even with odd relatives. A crazy uncle, a dominating mother in law, odd coworkers and mix them up with our everyday life. I love Alice and all the wonderful versions of Alice out there..... She is reinvented and recreated in so many ways. How many artist have interpret and intertwine her story, her face and her ever challenging endeavors? A simple little tale, A simple little girl and her extraordinary impression on artist everywhere!




Art Work by Scottie Magro
August 11, 2009

LOVE 7-31-98

August 06, 2009

I am creating little mini interviews with members of M.I.C.E , Michigan Indie Crafters of Etsy a etsy street team dedicated to promoting Michigan artist and crafters. miceetsy.blogspot.com/http://groups.google.com/group/micetsy. I ask three questions about my favorie item of theirs. My first mini is with Teresa Thompson of TiLT creations.
My three questions to TiLTcreations were:
1 With kids where do you find the time? ( I always want to know that answer!!!)
2 What's your greatest inspiration?
3 The best thing about your item ( or item's.) Here is what Teresa had to say!

"TiLTcreations
1) Time? Um, I magically add more ever day...don't believe me? Me neither. I just take full advantage of nap time and since my youngest is 4 & goes to bed at 8pm...I work in the evening until my eyes won't stay open any longer or my hands can no longer sew straight. Preschool rocks too...but it's only 3 hours & I usually do my computer time then .2) Inspiration? I wish I knew. I love hearing about people who have specific things that spur them into creative action...but I just make stuff after it pops into my head. Occasionally there is something > like my Venus bags - the alien pods from the movie Aliens brought that one on. And of course the Whedonverse - that brings about many ideas, mostly in the embroidery & stuffie realms.
3) The best thing about my stuff? Aside from going beyond your basic totes...each one is truely it's own. One of a Kind can apply to any item made by hand, even if it's the same thing over & over since it is impossible to recreate exactly. But with mine, I never even use a certain fabric more than once on a style...so it's very OOAK (unless custom ordered). I line all my bags (except market totes), use a triple stitch on the stress seams & I always have fun with it...just take a quick peek into the bags to see the linings I tend use or the theme of the embroidery (like on this bag)"
Listing:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27030655

M.I.C.E. Mini View with TiLTcreations


I am creating little mini interviews with members of M.I.C.E , Michigan Indie Crafters of Etsy a etsy street team dedicated to promoting Michigan artist and crafters. miceetsy.blogspot.com/http://groups.google.com/group/micetsy. I ask three questions about my favorie item of theirs. My first mini is with Teresa Thompson of TiLT creations.
My three questions to TiLTcreations were:
1 With kids where do you find the time? ( I always want to know that answer!!!)
2 What's your greatest inspiration?
3 The best thing about your item ( or item's.) Here is what Teresa had to say!

"TiLTcreations
1) Time? Um, I magically add more ever day...don't believe me? Me neither. I just take full advantage of nap time and since my youngest is 4 & goes to bed at 8pm...I work in the evening until my eyes won't stay open any longer or my hands can no longer sew straight. Preschool rocks too...but it's only 3 hours & I usually do my computer time then .2) Inspiration? I wish I knew. I love hearing about people who have specific things that spur them into creative action...but I just make stuff after it pops into my head. Occasionally there is something > like my Venus bags - the alien pods from the movie Aliens brought that one on. And of course the Whedonverse - that brings about many ideas, mostly in the embroidery & stuffie realms.
3) The best thing about my stuff? Aside from going beyond your basic totes...each one is truely it's own. One of a Kind can apply to any item made by hand, even if it's the same thing over & over since it is impossible to recreate exactly. But with mine, I never even use a certain fabric more than once on a style...so it's very OOAK (unless custom ordered). I line all my bags (except market totes), use a triple stitch on the stress seams & I always have fun with it...just take a quick peek into the bags to see the linings I tend use or the theme of the embroidery (like on this bag)"
Listing:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27030655
August 03, 2009

@SCOTTIE.MAGRO