Sunday, May 24, 2009

Brooke Mortensen-A Boutique Frenzy Heartisan!

I was really impressed when Brooke, owner of Ritzy Misfit, sent an email telling me that Jillian, on this season's The Bachelorette will be wearing one of her pendants on the show. I love Jillian and The Bachelorette, so I had to find out more! After emailing back and forth and checking out Brooke's pendants and her blog, I must say this girl has style! Definitely an artist with heart! It was an easy decision to give Brooke Mortensen the Heartisan Award!


This is what Brooke told me about herself:


"My name is Brooke, and I love to make almost anything. I get obsessed with figuring out how to do things, and it seems I try it all. I sew, make jewelry, decorate, re-finish furniture, and use all the big boy toys to make my creations. I don’t, however consider myself a “real artist” because if you ask me to draw a sketch of any of the things I make I couldn’t do it to save my life. You’d have a hard time guessing what it was. I respect artists and their talent so much, I just don’t feel I’ve earned the title as of yet.

I really like to be unique, and think outside the box. With as many amazing and beautiful things there are out there these days, that becomes more and more of a challenge. But I’m up for it.

The way my creative process works is usually this: I will see something, whether it be a piece of metal, some old weathered wood, or a simple glass jar, and an idea sparks. Sometimes this spark is inspired by someone else’s work, but I make it my own by tweaking it or even doing it the complete opposite way they did. But I love to be inspired by other people’s creativity. One of the things that makes the world go round, I think.

So as far as my pendants, which are so much fun to play with, it all started with a gift I got for my birthday. I was inspired, and the rest is history. I’m very blessed because people have had such a great response to my pieces.

These pieces really can tell you a lot about yourself. I have found, and hopefully will continue to, that people will choose pendants that reflect themselves as a person, down to their wonderfully unique soul.

I feel I have described this well in my description on etsy:

“No one is perfect, but we are all beautiful. These pendants give the feeling of being beautiful, unique and rough around the edges all at the same time. My work reflects the wonderful, flawed idiosyncrasies in us all. And it makes us breath-taking.”

My style is asymmetrical, quirky, and sometimes dark. And sometimes… sparkly. I love all things vintage, and if my things don’t incorporate something old, they tend to have that older, nostalgic feel. I definitely don’t hold back when I like something though. If it’s made completely of glitter and sequins, and I happen to love it, then so it is. Again, outside that bow, I guess.

As far as Ritzy Misfit, it has just grown in such a wonderful way! I’m blessed to have been contacted by some wonderful people who have helped me so much by giving support, and opportunities for growth. I’m pretty shy when it comes to showing people my work and telling them it’s great, so it makes it much nicer when they find me. Etsy has been such a wonderful tool in helping me to get started. I’ve been featured in several awesome blogs, had invitations for consignment around the country, and my pendants are actually going to be on this season of the Bachelorette! Worn by the beautiful Jillian. I have big hopes for Ritzy Misfit, and hope to continue to grow and evolve."


Awesome job Brooke! Love the pendants...very unique and stylish! I think that you are definitely an ARTIST!


You can see Brooke's pendants at RitzyMisfit.etsy.com

Check these out....so neat!


Jillian, "The Bachelorett" wearing one of Brooke's pendants with a "J"





Monday, May 11, 2009

First Heartisan Award goes to Lauricia Grimshaw-Cox



The first time I saw Lauri's artwork, I was stunned to say the least! I loved the uniqueness, the creativeness and style! When I met her, I was even more impressed! See for yourself...

The following was taken from Lauri's blog Epiphanies of an Art Girl:

She knew she was strange and peculiar- A little diddy about an ArtGirl

I am a self taught mixed media artist living in Salt Lake City Utah with my love, Dwight, my two children, Sheldon and Madi and step-daughters Julia, Megan and Erika...and two pugs and a very fat cats.

I got my start selling my offerings years ago at the Downtown Farmers Market for three years. I moved and travled from show to show aspiring to be a full time art show gypsy. Exhausting physically, financially and spiritully but OH so much fun! I have never let go of my dream and vision of when I will make my living full time the "creative play way"........creating, teaching, organizing shows, inspiring women and girls through creativity and the many other business ideas and life enrichment ideas I have!

Since my 1st market I have been honored to be in many wonderful home boutiques and holidays shows and amazed to be represented along side remarkable artists in fine art shows such as Jackson Hole Arts Fair, West Coast Artists in Palm Springs, Art In Kayenta, Sundance Harvest Moon and Trails Village in NV. My work adornes the homes of many around the US as well as in India, Sweden, Columbia, Moldova, Costa Rica and Poland.

I have been a part of many shows and also organize my own annual backyard boutique, The Garden Of Art, which displays the works of local women artisans in the whimsical Garden Of Joy, an outdoor art boutique-y show.

In 2005 I was thrilled to be an invited intructor with Woman Create, an event hosted by Chapelle ltd Publishing Company, which brought together teachers and artists from across the country in addition to many long loved HGTV and DIY show hosts, authors and speakers. It remains one of the most pivotol, bittersweet yet influential moments in my life for which I will always be grateful for.

April 2009 launched my leap from Artgirl to SpaGirl as I ventured into a partnership with my mother, Marcia. Bungalow 8 Day Spa will now be the home to my own artwork as well as continuing to support my favorite thing, local art! The bungalow also provides me a venue to teach my own creative workshops, Soul UnLeashed! Bungalow 8 is now open!!!



I am a kindred spirit with many who adore and own my work. My thrill and reward comes from the reactions of people who embrace the work I create to the soul it tickles inside themselves.

My art contains oddness and magical whimsy combined with inspirational and empowering thoughts and appeals to little girls all the way to great grandma's.

Although a challenge at times, I strive to embrace the imperfection and realism of life and do so by creating imperfect and whimsical art which adds charm and organic originality to each piece I make.

I strive to live my bliss, my creativity allows me to live that and is play for me as I strive to embrace the oddness's and whimsies of life that surround us and truly live my joy.

Artfully yours,
Lauricia Grimshaw-Cox
The Happy ArtGirl and NOW SpaGirl
www.epiphaniesofanartgirl.blogspot.com
www.bungalow8utah.com


Check out Lauri's beautiful artwork at the Bungalow 8 and on her website and blog listed above.

You can also purchase Lauri's Artful Goodies at these fabulous shops:


Thanks for making the world more beautiful Lauri!!!
 

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