Getting To Know You/NewCreatioNZ aka Jocelyn

To start, please tell us a bit about yourself. What's your story?

Well I'm Jocelyn. Originally from Cape Town, South Africa but moved to New Zealand 13 years ago. I live in a little beach town near Auckland with my husband, our son of 17 years and two daughters, 16 and 9. I work at my children's Christian school as a teachers aide which fits in perfectly as I work the same hours as they are at school. I am passionate about painting and photography but delve into all sorts of other crafts too - I'm willing to give anything a go!

What is your favorite quote?

Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39

What is your favorite movie? Don't watch much these days but love the good period ones like Pride and Prejudice.

What is your favorite TV show?

Grand Designs (BBC programme)

Do you have a hero, if so, who? why?

My Creator. Not only did he create me, he saved me, sustains me, loves me, and takes care of my every need.

What is your favorite song at the moment?

Honest Questions by Daniel Bedingfield http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goNgpKPobjo

What kinds of music do you listen to?

Most things Mellow and laid back, all the better if it's Christian.

How long have you been creating? Since a child but more seriously since I have lived in New Zealand.



What inspires you?

God. And his creation. I am so amazed at His creativity. I love to study things close up and photograph them. He inspires me to paint when I read His word. Often I have to wait on Him before I am ready to put paint onto canvas.

Is there any kind of music you listen to when you create?

Christian worship music. Creating, for me is an act of worship. I am giving back to God what he has blessed me with talentwise.

What's your biggest artistic disaster to date?

Not sure what my biggest is, but I have had many. Fortunately I am not too precious about my paintings so if I paint a disaster, I just wipe it all out (overpaint it with white gesso) and start again.

What's your favorite piece that you've done?

Possibly a painting called "It is Finished" painted at Easter.



What's the best advice you were given when starting out?

To develop my own style. Not to compare myself with others but to know that God has given me unique talents that he wants me to use.

Do you have any advice to give others?

Don't be driven by money. (speaking to myself here too). Do your bit by whatever promoting you do but know that God will give you what you need. Trust Him and just enjoy the process of creating.

What's coming up for you; any big plans artistically?

My church's annual art exhibition called SoulArt is coming up soon. There happen to be a number of artists in my church and we get together once a year, and raise money from the exhibition, for community projects.



Where can we find you? Both online and in stores.

For a selection of my paintings:
http://www.artistportfolio.net/index.php?secret=140&artist_id=10595

For a selection of my photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jocelynfriisart

My blog:
http://jocelynfriisart.blogspot.com/

And ofcourse my Etsy shop:
www.NewCreatioNZ.etsy.com

TeamCAC will be going to Weekly Threads...

...starting the lst Sunday in July. I have to figure out all the lists and such for the front page. It has gotten so long, that I think it might not bee too inviting.
Any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this.

Get your heart set on happy! Those you come in contact with today, will be so glad you did!

Sales of the moment!

Please post any temporary sale you are having in the comment area of this post.
If you know the dates of the sale, please include them.
Don't forget to post your etsy shoppe name and the details of the sale.

Thanks so much!

I can hardly wait to watch this section. I love sales!

Saving money with TeamCAC

If you are a team CAC member and offer a discount to team members, please
post your discount and shoppe name in a comment to this post.

This is only if it is an ongoing discount only.
It is not for special sales.

Hopefully that will allow us to find you and your discount easier.

Thanks so much.

xoxoxxo

Getting to know you/ AMKreations aka Anita

To start, please tell us a bit about yourself. What's your story?
My name is Anita…hence AMK my initials…and I've been sewing and crafting for many years. I believe the creative gene runs in my family. =) I was born in NY to two wonderful individuals, Dad & Mom. They instilled in me an attitude for working hard and being faithful in whatever I do.

I've been married to my husband for ten years and we have two beautiful children, Rebekah, 8, and Stephen, 5. We live at a residential Bible College here in NYS, called Zion Ministerial Institute. We are in full time ministry here at the Bible School. After marriage and motherhood, my creativeness was put on hold for a bit. However, as my children grew I decided that I'd like to begin doing something again. My bent went toward bags, beginning with simple place mat totes and progressing on to my current creations. I don't like to use patterns, so most all of my bags are just simply rotary cut to a size that works for me. I've also made smaller bags and various styles as I feel the urge to be creative. My newest bags are quilted...however that takes a lot more time, which is limited in my life, so I don't get to make many like that. =) I also crochet, make jewelry, and craft in other areas too.


When I’m not doing all those things…I enjoy playing the piano, rummaging…flea markets, yard sales, thrift shop and the like, reading Christian Novels, spending time with family and friends, being outdoors on walks with my children, visiting parks and fun places, and just relaxing…which is rare. =)

What is your favorite quote? Well, that’s not an easy one-so many people said so many good things…but I do think this one is appropriate in life… “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!” or how about “Never, but never give up!”

What is your favorite movie? This is hard too. =) I like BBC’s Pride and Prejudice, but I also like Wives and Daughters, North and South and a couple others. I like clean period pieces.

What is your favorite TV show? We don’t watch much tv, but have mostly enjoyed the Amazing Race when it is on.

Do you have a hero, if so, who? why? Well, Jesus is my Hero! I can’t begin to imagine all that He endured for my sake…and how much He loves me…that He was willing to die for me…He’s my Hero!



What is your favorite song at the moment? “I Stand in Awe of You”

What kinds of music do you listen to? I listen to Praise & Worship Music and some Christian Instrumental.

How long have you been creating? Probably since I was a kid…but I remember vividly working to help make crafts for a church bazaar when I was around 10 or 11 years old. That was probably the time when I realized I was actually pretty good at being creative. Then my mother began teaching me to sew…after that I learned to crochet…and some things I just pick up along the way…I figure that I could make something and give it a try…it usually works. =)

What inspires you? Saving money and helping other people save money too!!! I guess that when you learn to live within your means and don’t always get to buy something just because you “want it” or “have to have it”, you get creative. I would look at bags and say, “That’s pretty, but it’s really expensive!” Then I realized one day that I could probably make my own bags. After that I thought I might be able to sell them inexpensively to friends and family…and since then things have just progressed nicely! I like to be creative, it’s an outlet for me, and I like to do things for other people…and make them happy. I think that many people have been able to buy a bag from me and enjoy it simply because they could afford too. That’s a great feeling!



Is there any kind of music you listen to when you create? I have my Praise and Worship going…I don’t like it to be too silent there…and the music is a sort of uplifting sound…and it causes you to meditate and think…as you hear the words.

What's your biggest artistic disaster to date? Ummm…..I don’t know about biggest disaster…some of the bags I’ve made have been too long…or have little imperfections, but they all tend to come out alright in the end. I guess if I did have a disaster, it was trying to alter an outfit I picked up second hand…it was a linen outfit and so pretty…however I don’t do alterations and ended up trashing it in the end…because I really destroyed it…about $4 down the drain, but it taught me never to buy something that was too big…cause I wouldn’t be able to fix it!

What's your favorite piece that you've done? Hmmm….I really like how Alycia’s bag turned out…I threw the bow on it just because it was a scrap of leftover fabric, but it really turned out cute. I think that most of my bags turn out nicely…it’s just finding the right buyer. =)

What's the best advice you were given when starting out? I was told that I should start trying to sell my bags…that they were so nice. I think that was good advice. I’m not the type to put myself forward…I’d rather have someone come to me. Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn’t. =)

Do you have any advice to give others? I would say, make sure that you are doing the Lord’s will. I prayed before I jumped into this bag making endeavor and talked it over with my husband. Sometimes we get ourselves into trouble just doing something because we want to do it…God blesses those things that are His will for our lives. So pray hard!

Also, be balanced…God, Family, then Others…don’t let your hobbies or things you want to do, take away from the important things in your life. “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” Psalm 37:5

What's coming up for you; any big plans artistically? No, I just want to keep using up supplies I’ve accumulated, trust the Lord to sell for me and enjoy it in the process.

Where can we find you? Both online and in stores.
My etsy shop is www.amkreations.etsy.com
I also consign locally in:
Briar Patch Candle & Gift Shoppe Inc
186 Front St., Owego, NY 13827
(607) 223-4033‎
http://www.webpagesbyme3.com/briarpatchcandles/

Getting to know you/ Knitblitz aka Kathleen

To start, please tell us a bit about yourself. What's your story?
Ooh, that could take a while. Uh. Well, I like to create things. Always have. Used to be mostly 2-D stuff though. When I was little I drew clothes. I recently go a sewing machine, so I hope to make some of those clothes I drew when I was a kid. Well, maybe not the same ones. I drew a lot of bell-bottoms.



What is your favorite quote?
It's from Isaiah. Not sure where though, and it might be more of a paraphrase. "Fear not, for I have summoned you by name. You are mine."



What is your favorite movie?
It's hard to say. One favorite, for a long time now, is Airplane! Another is Down By Law. It has Roberto Benini and Tom Waits and takes place in New Orleans. I love listening to Roberto Benini. One scene with him has me cracking up for like, 5 minutes!

What is your favorite TV show?
The Office

Do you have a hero, if so, who? why?

Jesus! Why? Just cause of how He is! And what He did for me, and anyone else who will accept it. ♥♥♥

What is your favorite song at the moment?
Oh, I don't know the name. It's a Rolling Stones song. Off of Tattoo You. I also have been noticing how their song Waiting for a Friend could be a song about Jesus. Maybe not, but it could be.

What kinds of music do you listen to? All kinds. Well, mostly. Nothing with pan flute. I steer clear of that. I have a new found love for Christian music. Not all of it. Some of it is lousy, as any music can be. But some of it is awesome and some is just plain adorable!

How long have you been creating?
Since I can remember.

What inspires you?
You name it!

Is there any kind of music you listen to when you create?
Depends on where I am.



What's your biggest artistic disaster to date?
The apple pie I made for a fellow church member's funeral- and dropped in the parking lot. I wanted to scoop it up and call 5 second rule!

What's your favorite piece that you've done?
I don't know if I have a favorite. I play music with my husband and some other people. Some of those jams are up there. And a capelet I made that is fuzzy. Probably also this cobbler that's in the oven.

What's the best advice you were given when starting out?
My mom told me not to waste the gifts God has given me.



Do you have any advice to give others?
Don't get discouraged. Do what is fun to you. Use the gifts that have been given to you.

What's coming up for you; any big plans artistically?
Hopefully more time here to make things. I go to a class on Saturday to learn how to spin and dye wool. So hopefully I'll be making some fun yarn.

Where can we find you? Both online and in stores.
www.knitblitz.etsy.com
www.MmmMmmYummy.etsy.com