*Inspirational Dose*

Happy Friday everyone!! Our Muse today is the Sense Designer 'Miyake' and will be featuring some of her terrific ensembles this week to help kick start our mojo =)
She's a certified Ranger educator so get yourself ready for a creative interview with lots of oohs and aahs!! Lets see what she got for us:   

Name: Miyake

Blog: Sense Designer Miyake

1. Tell us a little about yourself and your family.

 I am a Korean. I live in Seoul, Korea with my father, mother and an older brother. My mother and brother are pastors! I originally majored in music.

I used to make songs for K-Pop singers and movie O.S.Ts. But, the irregular working hours and overnight jobs made my health deteriorate and I felt a sense of skepticism about the celebrity culture. So I quit the job. Now, I am working in a design company and running my own studio.

2. How and when did you start crafting?

 It was 2009. I found such a beautiful handmade card on the Internet while searching for collage techniques and images I could use to decorate my personal planner. I was very much surprised to find out that there were so many people in the world making cards. I did not have any stamps or techniques. So, I searched for the materials and started mimicking techniques of other crafters. There is an old saying in Korea, “Praises make even a whale dance.” The cards I made in the earlier days were so sloppy and awkward. But, my blog buddies complemented me, saying how beautiful the cards I made were. They also encouraged me and gave me advices. Thanks to them, I am enjoying this craft to this day!

3. From where do you draw your inspiration?

I have been reading a lot of books since childhood. I enjoyed picturing the contents of a book I was reading in my head. So, whenever I read a book or talk with people, I still tend to picture the contents in my head. This is how I get inspired for my works.

 4. How would you describe your style?

Colorful, something messy and chaotic in a way. This is the style I pursue. Dyan Reaveley. She is the reason I got to love this style. Her ideas and use of colors are amazing! In the earlier days, I depended entirely on tools thinking that I could not create pieces without stamps and tools. But, after observing Reaveley’s works, I began enjoying free-hand drawing and handwriting. What I want to point out is this. I realized that the best way is to draw things myself with my own hands.

5. What are the 5 top tools in your crafting space?

Vagabond, Archival Ink, Gesso, Dylusions Ink Spray, Distress Marker

6. What’s your favorite technique?

To apply gesso and then spray inks of various colors on top.

7. What are your go-to colors?

Purple! I pursue creating pieces with purple that is slightly dark and elegant!

8. Do you sell your projects?

I am currently selling my works and teaching techniques from my studio.

9. What do you do when you aren’t crafting? Job? Other hobbies and interests?

I originally majored in music. So, when I have free time, I enjoy listening to music. My favorites are new age and rock!

I also enjoy traveling. I have been to India, Japan, China, Thailand and the U.S. so far. My goal is to go to Tibet and Mongolia! Traveling, reading and listening to music always inspire me.

10. Are you currently designing for any blog?

In November 2013, I will begin performing as a member of [Susan K. Weckesser design team]. The designers in this team create the best works. I love their talents. I am also planning to work as a guest designer at the [Eclectic Paperie] in December 2013.

Miyake, I'm quite smitten with the clever pairing of drawings and techniques!! These projects have definitely captured all hearts... Thank you dear for sharing this beauty with us!!

Feature #111: May Park

Hello friends, it’s me Deepti and here I am with a fascinating artist on another Fascinating Friday. I got to know her when she visited my blog and left me a comment on some post… I visited her back and since then my visits to her blog have never ceased and nor has her amazing creations ceased to amaze me. Her style is CAS and fun, I love her creations… simple, bright  and stunning. So, let’s welcome her…

Name: May Sukyong Park

Blog: Mayholic in Crafts

1. Tell us a little about yourself and your family.

Hello! My name is May Sukyong Park. I was born and brought up in South Korea. I’ve done my Bachelors in Sociology and Journalism in Seoul, Korea. I’ve been happily married to the most wonderful husband for 7 years, and we moved to California, USA in Sep 2009. Currently, we are settled in Los Angeles County, CA. I started blogging in June 2012, to share all that I create and to submit my creations into some card challenge blogs. A few months ago, my husband and I adopted two cats, and they bring so much joy and love to our sweet home.

2. How and when did you start crafting?

I had not enjoyed any arts and crafts until my friend showed me her amazing scrapbook album in May 2010. I honestly didn’t know there was a paper-crafting world before. A month later, I made my first scrapbook page when I went to the Crop Night at Michael’s. Then I started scrapbooking with the encouragement of my hubby, and slowly moved in to making cards. Crafting is my passion since then. Sometimes I’m surprised to see myself who is passionate about paper crafting. Because I had never thought of myself related to creativity back in Korea.

3. From where do you draw your inspiration?

I get inspired with everyday objects like household items, advertisements, graphic signs, fashionable outfits. I also have a few wonderful blogs I check out everyday to get some inspiration with new ideas. I’ve been a big craftgawker fan, and I find inspiration there as well. There are so many incredibly talented crafters out there to admire. Like many card-makers, I also draw a lot of inspiration from sketch and theme challenges.

4. How would you describe your style?

Mostly clean and simple! Here is why I stick to the CAS style. I discovered the Kristina Werner blog in June 2011, and she’s been my idol card maker since then. I had been following her card designs for practice for a year. I also try not to rely on stamps, patterned papers, and dies. That’s why I love to make my own embellishments as focal points. The creativity is the most important element in my card. I like to be as creative as possible on the cards that I make.

5. What are the 5 top tools in your crafting space?

Aside from the true basics like stamps/inks/papers, these are my 5 top tools: white embossing powder, scoring board, glossy accents, precision tip scissors, and stamp positioner.

6. What’s your favorite technique?

One of my favorite techniques is heat embossing.

7. What are your go-to colors?

I’m definitely a red person. I love color pops of bright.

8. Do you sell your projects?

I don’t. I am such a slow card maker. I usually create my cards for fun, and most of my creations get given as gifts.

9. What do you do when you aren’t crafting? Job? Other hobbies and interests?

When I lived in Korea, I used to work with a franchise company and an online retailer for 5 years in sales departments. Back then I was kinda workaholic, since I had a passion for being a CEO in the future. But for now I’m a full heart and full time wife. Needless to say, my favorite hobby is card making. Other than paper crafting, I love making hair accessories, sewing, making mini albums, and repurposing projects. I also have a Korean blog which covers all my fun life in beautiful California.

10. Are you currently designing for any blog?

Yes, I design for the Catered Crop blog since April 2013. I absolutely love working with talented ladies on the team.

Wohooo, from workaholic to craftholic… I guess it’s always better to realize our passion just in time, I am glad that you got into crafts, coz you work wonders May. Thank you so much May for sharing with us. I am sure your creativity will be an inspiration for a lot of crafters like us.

Marie's Musings

Hello my sweet peeps!!! A new Friday with a new talent... its the jewellery designer Marie Papadopoulou. The sense of art reflects very well on her creations which make them always exceptional... Wanna know more about her?! Here we go...

Name: Marie Papadopoulou

Blog: baileyrosy

1. Tell us a little about yourself and your family.
I'm 53 years old , British and have been living in beautiful Thessaloniki for the past 24 years . I met my husband who is Greek in 1984 when we where both on holiday in Crete , it was love at first sight and a month later he moved to London to be with me and we were married two years later. We moved to Greece in 1989 were we opened a jewellery shop. We have two sons Alexis 22 who is an artist and Aris 18 who is a musician and plays in a band. We have two doglets Bailey and Rosy who have been known to eat several of my craft projects , in honour of the little terrors I named my blog after the little darlings baileyrosy.com.

2. How and when did you start crafting?
I started crafting in 2011 so am a bit of a newcomer really, I was on the internet one day looking for something totally unrelated and I came across the Silhouette cutting machine and I bought it on the spot! I had never made a card or any sort of paper project before in my life....I didn't even own an ink pad! The rest is history.

3. From where do you draw your inspiration?
We own a jewellery shop and both my husband and I are jewellery designers and have our own workshop were we produce our designs. We have about sixty independent designers from all over the world who also contribute so a lot of my inspiration comes from the beautiful objects I see around me in my working day. `I'm inspired by so many things , I'm especially inspired by other bloggers who are a constant source of wonderment to me and of course Pinterest another obsession!

4. How would you describe your style?
 I'm not really sure what my style is, I've tried most things but I keep coming back to CAS , although I do like to get messy from time to time.

5. What are the 5 top tools in your crafting space?
I would have to say my gorgeous Cameo machine is my first love as many of my followers will testify ,my eBosser, scor pal, heat gun and my Fiskars stamping block, oh did I mention I love my Cameo!!

6. What’s your favorite technique?
Goodness they have all been favourites at some time or another, embossing both wet and dry especially on leather, fimo and felt were firm favourites for a long time and I do love using Glossy Accents but not sure that's a technique. I do however have a passion for making my own moulds so I can reproduce my own embellishments be it with fimo or UTEE and over the past few months I have gone Modge podge crazy and revamped my craft room door and several radiators in my house.

7. What are your go-to colors?
Although I love, love , love bright and bold colours black wins hands down for me every time, red and cream are also colours I use a lot.

8. Do you sell your projects?
I sell many of my cards in my shop but I also donate a fair amount to charity mainly for our local dog rescue centre.

9. What do you do when you aren’t crafting? Job? Other hobbies and interests?
I work mornings at my shop, mainly window displays and of course helping our customers with their purchases . I don't design as much jewellery as I used mainly because I spend far too much time crafting ! I've had so many hobbies in my life, ceramics, dress making, cookery school, horse-riding and keeping fit I'm currently attending Pilates classes three times a week but none of them have ever lasted as long or been as costly as my crafting obsession.

10. Are you currently designing for any blog?
I’v'e been lucky to be on some great design teams over the past few years but  I currently design for Addicted to CAS  (ATCAS) an amazing group of talented ladies and of course our wonderful leader Kylie who has been very supportive.

Pretty projects... how could anybody not love them?! Perfect inspired pieces and such impeccable designs too... Thank you Marie for sharing your creativity with us... We are really in need of this dose :) Take care friends!!