Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Meet Featured Artist Patrick Burger or Unique Fused Glass!


What is your business name?  Unique Fused Glass by Patrick Burger

What sort of items do you make?  Primarily kiln formed colorful jewelry


When and how did you learn your craft? I began 35 years ago as a stained glass artisan switched to fusing in 1986.

Where do you get your inspiration from?  I love to design and mix colors. Inspiration comes easily and from my own experimentation.




How did you get started doing this as a business? Soon after I learned the art of stained glass, people noticed how unique my work was and wanted to own pieces I had made. The fused glass jewelry items I make are all original designs and are desirable because they're so different from mass produced retail store products.



Do you have any advice for other crafters/artisans just starting out? Learn to trust your instincts and avoid copying other artists' style. You will establish your own following and clientele which is very satisfying.




Unique Fused Glass will be a featured artist at the First Friday Indie Market on November 7, 2014. The market is located on the corner of MLK and Elm St in Downtown Greensboro, NC and is open from 4-9 pm.

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Are you ready for the November First Friday Indie Market?


Are you ready for some holiday shopping?  Come out to the First Friday Indie Market on November 7th from 4 - 9 pm! The market is located on the corner of MLK and Elm Street and see what all our artists have to offer!

And a big THANK YOU to Amethy Knox on the beautiful poster design!

Featured Artists:
Adrialys Handmade
CreativeBordersX3
Josandi Crafts
Unique Fused Glass

November Artist:
Bespoke
Cindy's Crochet
Clara Marie's Bakery
Dangles
dwan
Delwood's Barbecue LLC
Donna's Delights
EBL Designs
Gate City GlitterZ!
Ginger Pi Crafts
Grace & Elegance
Home Crafted Jewelry
Itty Bitty Animals
Jade Rabbit Apothecary
Lamb's Emporium
ParkesHill & Co.
Savor The Moment
The Bluebird's Feather
Twisted Cork
Unique Fused Glass
Wood Creations by Jerry

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Meet Featured Artist Theresa Boarders of CreativeBordersX3

What is your business’ name? CreativeBordersX3 and I'm Theresa Boarders!

What sort of items do you make? I’m a Recycle Artist, so I’m not limited to or restricted by any category, however, I have found myself drawn to rehabbing/re-purposing furniture in creative and useful ways.  I have salvaged pianos and re-purposed them into Piano Clock tables.  I have re-purposed old sewing tables, head boards, TV’s, etc.  On a smaller scale, I love to craft hanging Wine bottle luminaries.

When and how did you learn your craft?  Growing up in a large family of seven, and on one income, a teacher’s salary, you learn quickly how to be creative and also how to make do with what you have.  I remember ‘rescuing’ stuff from friends , or on trash day and hauling back my ‘treasures’  and redoing these items for my bedroom.  So, I guess, it started as early as when I was large enough to drag stuff home J

Where do you get your inspiration from?  I have a skewed sense of how things work or their original intended use.  In my world most items can be used, re-purposed and then used again.  We live in a very disposable society, and I think we’re beginning to learn most items can be used in a multitude of different ways.  I love recycling things in an unexpected or unintended way.  This is the VERY best of recycling.  I hate seeing anything go to a landfill that still has some life left.  That item still retains a value or purpose.  I’ll rescue an item and have no idea what I want to do with it at the time, but I know I’ll think of something purposeful eventually.  I also love seeing what other Recycle Artists have done, and their inspiration lights a fire under me.  Recycle Artists, are always ‘Thinking Outside of the Box’, figuratively and literally!

How did you get started doing this as a business?  I had more stuff than our house and 2 car garage could hold.  And the phrase, “just put it on the front porch” made my husband crazy.  I said it so often, that, ‘On the Front Porch’ almost became my business name.  So, my inventory had to move, just not into our house, and rule became, nothing goes in, without something coming out J

Do you have any advice for other crafters/artisans just starting out?   You’ll need Patience, Persistence, and lots and lots of LOVE.  You better Love what you do, because as your craft or art becomes a business your work will evolve into a job, requiring more, and more of your time.  Finally, you’ll need Passion.  If you have no Passion, it will show in your work, in your craft, in your art.  Lastly, sometimes the items you create will be appreciated by many and sometimes by few.  Art is very discretionary.  Do not be defined by negative people or negative comments.

Anything else you would like to share? My Dad was a very smart & handy guy.  He would always let me watch, and sometimes help, whatever he was building or repairing and explain the tools and the process as he went along.  This happened back in a time, when father’s normally passed this knowledge on to their sons, not their daughters.  For this gift, I’m SO very thankful, and in honor to him, I've continued this process of sharing our love of constructing items (new & old), with my three daughters. 


CreativeBordersX3 will be a featured artist at the First Friday Indie Market on November 7, 2014. The market is located on the corner of MLK and Elm St in Downtown Greensboro, NC and is open from 4-9 pm.

Friday, October 17, 2014

Meet Featured Artists Jose and Brandi of Josandi Crafts


What is your business’ name? Our business name is Josandi Crafts and we are Jose and Brandi.

What sort of items do you make? We make hand-crafted items out of various metal wires and beads.  All of which are hand-made pieces including bracelets, necklaces, key-chains, and bookmarks.   Our booth at the indie market features a various array of different styles of necklaces and bracelets, most of which are chainmaille.  We also make bracelets made from glass crystals, charms, and various gemstones. 

When and how did you learn your craft? I learned how to do chainmaille and other forms of jewelry a good time back.  Since I'm self-taught, learning was as easy as watching a few Youtube videos and giving things my own kind of take.

Where do you get your inspiration from? I was actually watching Shark Week on discovery channel a while back and Mike Rowe was fixing a chainmaille shark suit.  I wondered if that style of craft would look good as a jewelry.  I did my research and realized its quite a common form of jewelry-making.



How did you get started doing this as a business? We decided to start doing this as a business when we were working on projects at our places of work and school during breaks and people would approach us with design questions and ask to purchase our items. 



Do you have any advice for other crafters/artisans just starting out? If you have fun doing what you are doing, try not to focus on the money aspect of it so much.  Just do what you do, and the money part will usually come along with it.  All of your pieces will be admired and desired by somebody somewhere, you just have to be patient and wait for that person to get a chance to see what it is you've done that suits their own personal needs.  Who knows, maybe one day your pieces will be on public figures. :)



Anything else you would like to share? A lot of the times when you hear the words 'chainmaille' and 'jewelry', your thoughts instantly go to armor, diamond rings and Pandora© bracelets.  But with Josandi Crafts, it's more than that.  Our jewelry is 100% hand-made, and our chainmaille is put together piece by piece to ensure that our product is worth being put on the shelf with a price tag.  The last thing we want is for someone to purchase an item from us, and not have it be worth their money.


Josandi Crafts will be a featured artist at the First Friday Indie Market on November 7, 2014. The market is located on the corner of MLK and Elm St in Downtown Greensboro, NC and is open from 4-9 pm.