Marietjee

Elst, The Netherlands
www.etsy.com/shop/Marietjee

Let’s start by telling us a little about yourself:

My name is Maria.
I'm 18 years old and I live in the Netherlands with my parents, my two little brothers and little sister.
I study mathematics, physics and astronomy. I totally love it, but it takes a lot of my time.




Besides working with clay, what other things do you like to do?


I love going to university! I also really like cycling, cooking, baking far too many cupcakes, shopping, music, roller skating, hanging out with friends and playing with my little brother and sister :)




How long have you been working with polymer clay? How did you get started?


I’ve had a DeviantArt account for 4 years now. I saw people make great stuff out of polymer clay and I decided to buy some clay.






Do you have any formal training or are you self taught?


I’m self taught. But the things I make aren’t extremely hard to make ;)






How do you best describe your designs and your brand?


Cute. I hope people consider my designs cute.






How do you get ideas to create a piece? What inspires you?


Whenever I feel like it, I just start claying. And that usually results in something I like. It might sound weird, but I’m often inspired by food. Miniature food is really fun to make, because cupcakes, ice creams and cakes look great!
Robots and old school video games are also inspiring :)

Do you work with any specific styles or subject matter?


As long as I consider something cute, I can use it as inspiration for my creations.






What is your favorite piece(s) to make?


I especially enjoy making jewelry. Rings and necklaces are my favorites!






What challenges have you faced in your work?


I’ve just started my first Etsy shop. It’s difficult to sell stuff. But I try to promote my shop as much as possible!






Have you ever had a clay project “disaster” happen while making an order for a customer? If so, what happened?


Nope. And I hope I never will.






How has the internet impacted your art?


Because of the internet, I started claying. Therefore internet had a great impact.
Besides, I use the internet to promote my shop.






What things do you do to market your business?


I’m active on DeviantArt and on forums. My friends help me to promote my new shop too.






How do you decide upon what products you are going to sell?


I ask friends and my little brother for advice. If they are enthusiastic about an item, I decide to sell it.






Where do you create?


At home. My brothers and sister like to watch when I’m creating.






Would you like to share a photo of your studio?


No, sorry. I don’t really have a studio. A picture of our kitchen table isn’t very interesting, I think..






Is there a favorite polymer clay supply you can’t live without?


No, except the polymer clay itself, I don’t use any supplies. Sometimes a knife or a skewer.






What are your upcoming collections that we should look out for?


I’m planning to come up with more clay jewelry, like little chocolates, donuts or flowers.

Stylish Blogger Award

I received a special surprise!

 The Stylish Blog Award 

 From Trina, the very talented clay artist of Trina's Clay Creations.

Thank you so much Trina! :)

The Stylish Blog Award works like this:

You have to:

- Thank and link back to the person who awarded you;

- Share 7 things about yourself;

- Pay it forward to 15 blogs you like (but 3, 5 or any number is ok!);

- Contact those bloggers about the award!

7 things about me....

I am a Federal Officer for the Department of Homeland Security. 

I have 2 Keeshounds, Zoey and Doop!

I am obsessed with Etsy and playing Farmville.

I religiously watch, Say Yes To The Dress! 

I love crafts. 

I'm always trying out new things from

beads, clay, fabric, ribbon, wreaths, paint,etc!

I am a certified floral designer!

I am 5'0" - weigh 100lbs - and have 40% hearing loss!

I will share this award with the following stylish bloggers:

 

Cheeky Jewels By Sonja 

"Bow"dacious Boutique

Cupcake Craft Challenge

Etsy Promo Love

 

Trina's Clay Creations

Artist Trina Prenzi of Midland, MI 

                                   Let’s start by telling us a little about yourself:

 I am the mom of two wonderful and amazing children!

A daughter and a son, all grown up. 

I live in Michigan and work in a law office.

Creating with clay is my passion and I feel so fortunate to also be able to

spend time in my studio, sculpting and creating with clay.

Besides working with clay, what other things do you like to do?

 Spending time with my family is important to me. 

Photography is one of my favorite hobbies and I also love to write. 

I enjoy being outside, I absolutely LOVE the beach. 

I enjoy cooking (love getting creative in the kitchen!), 

 I also enjoy a nice long walk and reading a good book.

How long have you been working with polymer clay? How did you get started?

 I've been working with polymer clay since about 2004. 

I was obsessed with this medium from the minute I opened my first block of clay! 

Lots of creativity in my family while I was growing up,

and we did a lot of dough ornaments every year at Christmas time...

I always enjoyed sculpting from when I was a little girl.

Do you have any formal training or are you self taught?

 I am a self taught "clayer"

and the small details of clay creation is definitely my favorite part.

How do you best describe your designs and your brand?

 I have done a lot of sculpting, from figurines and boxes to clocks and vases. 

Most recently I began creating cake toppers.

My clay creations are very fun and whimsical.

How do you get ideas to create a piece? What inspires you?

 I am inspired by so many things! 

 Life itself is very inspirational to me. 

I would say that I have a very artistic eye,

 I can see so much in the smallest of things,

and it can really get my imagination going. 

I like to keep a notebook with me all the time,

to jot down my ideas for later clay creations. 

I always say that I hope to have all my ideas come to life from a block of clay one day!

Do you work with any specific styles or subject matter?
 I especially love creating animals and children...

I like to play with the poses and expressions on the faces.

What is your favorite piece(s) to make?

 My newest creation is most times my favorite creation!

What challenges have you faced in your work?

 I like to be challenged, so if I think it'll be difficult,

it's usually more fun for me to create. 

In the beginning it was challenging for me to create sturdy pieces that had substance. 

 I wanted to make sure the delicate details on my creations would not break off. 

As a newbie to polymer clay back in 2004,

it took me a while to learn all the important ways to create a nice sturdy item

worthy of presenting for sale.  

 

Have you ever had a clay project “disaster” happen
while making an order for a customer?
If so, what happened?

 My biggest clay disaster happened a couple of years ago

when I finished the cutest Dalmation and put him in the oven for curing. 

Not realizing that the oven temperature was too high,

the little guy burned right up! 

 What a big mess that was. 

Then, of course, I had to re-create the whole thing. 

In my mind the first one was cuter! 

 Poor little burned up thing.

 How has the internet impacted your art?

 I just love the internet because it reaches out to a much broader audience! 

 I have buyers from all over the world now, and that is wonderful!

What things do you do to market your business?

 I have my Etsy Shop where I showcase

and sell my creations from cake toppers and figurines to boxes and vases.

 

How do you decide upon what products you are going to sell?

 I've made many things that I have not put in my Etsy Shop to sell. 

 I start with an idea and begin working on it. 

I think it's just a matter of whether or not I really love my creation...

 if I am really happy with it, then I will list it in my Etsy Shop. 

My Website is up and running as of December 2010,

and my plan is sell my cake toppers there as well.

Where do you create?

 I just recently set up my studio and love it. 

It's a whole room here at our house. 

 After working where ever I could find a flat surface for such a long time,

my studio is a dream come true!

Is there a favorite polymer clay supply you can’t live without?

There are many,

but probably can't live without my pasta machine.

 What are your upcoming collections that we should look out for?

 

 I am planning to add clocks to my collections. 

 I have so many ideas for different clocks and can't wait to showcase them all.

To view more of Trina's Clay Creations,
You can find her at any of the following sites:

Trina's Etsy Shop

Follow Trina's Blog

Trina's Clay Creations Website