Artist Profile - The Happy Monsters

Artists profiles are back for 2014.  This year we're hoping to take a peek inside more studios, see more California art and meet more California artists.  If you know someone who you think we should profile (yes, you can suggest yourself - and you should!) leave a comment with your shop name and we'll contact you on Etsy OR post a message on our Facebook group.

First up for 2014, the wonderfully talented Jacqueline Myers-Cho of The Happy Monsters.  

How would you describe your style?
My style is fun and whimsical with an edge. My daughter and I started The Happy Monsters together because she wanted to make cups with pick up lines on them and wanted to learn how to run a business. I was already painting the monsters and girls so the cups fit in well. I have been on etsy for a while now, my first shop was JMC Designs www.etsy.com/people/JMCdesigns?ref=pr_profile  and Bob N Stitch www.etsy.com/people/bobnstitch

When did you learn to do what you do?
I have been an artist since my 20's and have had many opportunities to sell and show my work. I consider myself a mixed media artist. I really love to paint and I really love to play with fabric and 3D sculptures. I guess that comes from my theater background, I have a degree in costume design and a minor in scene painting.

What are your favorite pieces to make?
What ever I am working on at the moment is my favorite.

What inspires you?
Questions. My mind always has the question of what if. The questions come to me during the process of creating and then wanting to see the idea. 

Where would you like your shop to be 5 years from now? To have my name known and many sales.

How do you spend your time when you're not creating?
I run an art school and spend time with my daughter and husband.

What does your work space look like? see photos, I didn't show you the other side of the room that has my sewing machine and my mess ;)

What is your favorite thing to have for breakfast? A cup of coffee with a cookie.

Where else can we find your work? My work is in two local shops; Mindfulnest in Burbank,CA and Leanna Lin's Wonderland in Eaglerock, CA. You can also find it here:
www.facebook.com/pages/Jacqueline-Myers-CHO-paintings/101784545399
www.flickr.com/photos/myerscho/
www.pinterest.com/jmyerscho/boards/
www.amazon.com/Jacquelines-Coloring-Book-Jacqueline-Myers-Cho/dp/1482725...

Are you doing any craft fairs this year? At this moment I am not.

Where can we learn more about you?
I am big on posting to facebook, I find it is an easy way to stay in touch, www.facebook.com/myerscho

Summer Fun Guide from the California Crafters Club on Etsy

Contributed by Melissa Kojima --- Artist in LA LA Land

I hate to brag, but summertime in California is just the best!  Right?  Right!  Below is my guide to making summer the most fun, and of course, it's a California summer!  No place better!

Discussion: A Permanent Craft Marketplace at the Port of Los Angeles Opening Summer 2012

Contributed by Melissa Kojima, Artist in LA LA Land Shop

I just received an email about this permanent marketplace opening at the Port of Los Angeles (San Pedro) this summer, 2012, called, CRAFTED.  For $500.00/month, you would receive a permanent 10' x 10' stall with a locking, closing gate to keep your wares there.  It would be open Fridays-Sundays, but with major holidays off.  It seems like there are a lot of benefits to doing something like this, including having a constant influx of tourist and those looking for unique, handmade items see your goods.  But I was wondering if any CCCOE members could think of the down side, worries or possible problems?  I'd love to hear your thoughts and discuss it in the comments below.  Read more about them at this link.

Renegade Craft Fair

Call for Applications in LA and San Francisco. Deadline is May 1st. Go to the site for more info and the application.

CCCOE Member Studio Tour: Featured Artist: HideABook

Japanese Plum Blossom Book Cover Tell us a little about yourself and how it all began. My name is Shanna Vaughn and my shop is HideABook (http://hideabook.etsy.com). I make vinyl book covers with attached ribbon bookmarks to hide and protect paperback books. I love to read romance novels but I find many of the covers to be goofy or embarrassing. I also like to take a book with me pretty much everywhere I go so that I can have something to read while waiting in line at the Post Office, doctor's office, etc. I wanted something pretty to cover up my books and to keep them nice while bumping around in my giant purse. I couldn't find anything stylish out there so I decided to make my own covers. Other friends who are readers loved my idea so I figured that random strangers might too. I've been a shopper on Etsy for a few years and I knew that it would be the perfect place to set up my online store. Where do you work? Show us your space please! I share an office in my apartment with my husband who is an IT professional. I'm working on annexing his space :) My dream (and goal) is to eventually have a nice big work space where I can have some elbow room and plenty of space to lay my delicate papers flat. What is your favorite tool? My favorite tool would have to be my super sharp guillotine I use for paper cutting. What time of the day are you the most productive/inspired? Definitely evening, my brain doesn't start cranking until at least noon. What inspires you? I get inspired by gorgeous handmade papers. The Paper Source store is my favorite place; I could spend hours browsing their amazing Japanese and Indian papers. How do you promote yourself and your shop? I have two book blogs that I use to run promotions and ads for Hide-a-Book and I stay involved with communities of romance readers online. They're my peeps but also my customers. How long have you been on Etsy? Since May of 2008 What else do you enjoy doing other than creating? Whenever I get some free time I love to read. Just give me a comfy chair and I can lose myself for hours in the fantasy world of a book. What would you like to see happen/change with CCCOE? I recently got to meet some other OC/LA area Etsy sellers which was really cool. I would love to regularly get together with people who share the same goals, joys and frustrations that I do. I'd like to get advice from sellers who have been doing this for a while and have wisdom to share. What is your favorite thing about CCCOE? Everyone is really friendly and helpful. I couldn't have asked for a better group to join. What is your favorite food? Mexican food for sure. I could eat it every single day. Favorite book or movie? I think my favorite book would change depending on what day you ask me, but right now I'd have to say Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. One thing you absolutely cannot live without? My iPhone. It allows me to compulsively check my sales when I'm away from my computer and to read ebooks. Lastly what piece that you have created is your favorite and why? I love my Japanese bunnies book cover in gold. The bunnies are just so cute and the contrast of the pink and the vintage gold is so pretty. The ribbon I used for the bookmark matches just perfectly. Thanks to Shanna for taking the time out to share her studio and work with us. Be sure to check out her shop on Etsy. And if you are are a CCCOE member and want to be featured simply copy these questions and send your answers along to Heather or I.

SoCal Bench Project Wrap Up!!!

The SoCal Bench Project Nails It! The SoCal Bench Project Artisan Fair is met with outstanding support from it's local community. August 10, 2008 On Saturday, August 9th, 2008 the small grassroots organization TheSoCal Bench Project held it's first annual SoCal Bench Project Artisan Fair in Culver City, CA, west of Los Angeles. Over 25 artists fromacross California gathered together selling their artwork to help raise awareness and funds for New Directions Inc., a local non-profit organization that provides a variety of services for our homeless military veterans community. Supporters from the Los Angeles community shopped for fine art, photography, lithographs, clothing, contemporary craft, jewelry and a variety of other gift items from candles and soap products, to stuffed animals with crazy personalities and beautiful art dolls. Incredible items from local businesses and artists were raffled off to an excited crowd. ABC, Benefit Cosmetics, Kreation Cafe, The Factory and Color Me Mine were among local businesses that supported this years raffle held to benefit New Directions. Participating vendors as well as numerous members of the group California Crafters Club of Etsy (CCCOE) also provided artwork as well as monetary donations. Sandy Collins, Amanda Lockrow and Heather Palleiko, (founders of The SoCal Bench Project), met through the website Etsy.com in early 2008 where the three are members of CCCOE, the largest street team on the indie craft site Etsy.com with over two hundred - fifty members. What originally started as an idea to have a small home show quickly grew into an annual event of California artisans coming together to create positive change in our local community. This year The SoCal Bench Project and it's supporters raised close to $2,000 for New Directions Inc. If you are interested in more information about The SoCal Bench Project and it's founders or vendors please email info@socalbenchproject.com. For information on New Directions Inc. and it's programs please go to www.ndvets.org. http://www.socalbenchproject.com http://sandysimone.etsy.com http://www.aklockrow.com http://www.palleikodesigns.com

The SoCal Bench Project - August 9th

The SoCal Bench Project (Created by CCCOE Los Angeles members) Benefiting New Directions Inc. Saturday, August 9, 2008 9:30am-3:00pm (these are NEW TIMES PLEASE TAKE NOTE!) The Veterans' Memorial Complex Garden Room 4117 Overland Avenue Culver City, CA 90230 Contemporary Craft Fine Art Gifts Home & Garden Jewelry Photography Fund Raiser: Raffle (would love if each vendor participating would donate ONE item - if other non-participating CCCOE members want to donate an item that is fine too) Vendors reserve the right to donate 10% of sales to the non-profit if desired If you are not a participating California CCCOE vendor but are interested in providing promotional items please contact one of our event co-chairs. 2008 VENDORS

A

Abyssal Gems

Amanda K Lockrow Jewels*

AnnieKDesigns

AskDesigns

B

Birdie Designs

Birds Soy Candles

C

Chocolate & Steel

CombustionGlassworks

D

Deirdre Ryan Photography

E

F

FlakyFriends

G

Glass Action Studios

H

H. Palleiko Designs*

HauteBebe: By The House of Lux

HeartsandLaserBeams

I

IggyJingles

J

Jacqueline Myers-Cho

K

kelsodoesntdance

KnitterGirl

L

LaveMeSoap

luckyfinddesigns

M

Michelle Caplan

Miriam Dema

mrsm

MuchaMuchacha

N

O

P Porterness

PreciousCreations

Q

R

RainaLee

RaghouseInternational

S

SandySimone*

SheilaSatin

T

TakeitEasy

Tresijas

U

V

VisionQuest

W

WeeBeaks

X

Y

Z

* denotes event co-chair

If you have any further questions feel freel to contact us: Heather http://palleikodesigns. etsy. com Sandy http://sandysimone. etsy. com Amanda http://amandaklockrowjewels. etsy. com