Sunday Featured Artist

Today I'm going to start a new series called 'Sunday Featured Artist' where I interview a lucky Etsy Artist and showcase their work here. Our first artist is A Keeper's Jacket.

1) Tell us a bit about yourself: name, location, anything else that strikes your fancy.

My name is Jackie, I live in Upstate New York, at the southern end of the Adirondacks. I am a Medical Technologist in a hospital microbiology laboratory and I'm married and live with my two cats.

Desert Rose Earrings

2) What do you make?

I mostly make jewelry, but I've been experimenting with polymer clay, decoupage, crochet, and I'm really bad at knitting. I sell beaded jewelry, and wire jewelry, bookmarks, and lanyards. I would like to sell polymer clay beads and decoupage pendants, coasters, picture frames, wall plates, and maybe more in the future.

3) Why do you craft?

My mom crafty mom got me into it as a kid, and I outgrew the phase. Somehow I grew back into it a couple years ago. Maybe because I'm a married woman now. Anyway, unlike my regular job, it allows me to be creative. It keeps my fingers moving :)

4) How did you learn to make your craft or how did you get started doing your craft?

My sister (in law) made me a necklace, I thought it was really cool. She showed me some, I learned other techniques on my own. My mom taught me how to crochet. Co-workers taught me how to knit. I learned decoupage from the local bead shop while being cashed out, inspired me to decorate stuff around the house.

5) What inspires you?

Sometimes a focal piece, like a pendant or bead will inspire me for making the rest of the necklace, earrings, or whatever. Sometimes I accidentally get an idea when another goes awry. Other times I'll start making something and decide to change it into something completely different, like with my Mood Swing Jasper Necklace and Bracelet set. I also get vague ideas from magazines, but I like to put my own style into it.

Lake Havasu Falls Necklace

6) Who is your idol or someone you look up to for inspiration?

I guess it depends on what I need inspiration for in the moment.

7) What do you do besides crafting?

I recently got super into hiking. I'm in the Adirondack Mountain Club with my sister. I like camping and exercising, and baking/decorating cakes.

8) What books or movies do you like or is your all time favorite?

My favorite book that I've read in Book Club is the Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. Can't think of an all time favorite right now. Favorite movies... I like anything ridiculously stupid and funny. When I watch a movie I don't want to have to work for it, understanding plot. I just want to be spoon fed humor.

9) What websites/blogs do you frequent?

My own, of course, (A Keeper's Jackpot) http://akeepersjackpot.blogspot.com
my mother-in-law's (Journeys) http://dmcordell.blogspot.com
Blaze Danielle: http://blazedanielle.wordpress.com/
EtsyBlogger's street team blog: http://etsybloggers.blogspot.com/
and useful blog tips: http://tips-for-new-bloggers.blogspot.com/

Mood Swing Jasper Necklace and Bracelet Set

10)What other artist do you like (Etsy or otherwise)?

The wife of a co-worker: Brodeur: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5670253
Lucid Studios: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=45591
and JoeyandAleethea: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=80947 - I don't have any use for what they sell (baby clothes) but she is so very helpful with advice on blogging.

To learn more about A Keeper's Jackpot aka Jackie, visit her blog: http://www.akeepersjackpot.blogspot.com.

To shop her Etsy store, visit: http://www.AKeepersJackpot.etsy.com.

Thanks for reading and write to you guys later!