Today we welcome someone a little different to the blog – Aussie artist Lee Sargent. Lee does awesome comic-book style art, and blogs over at Quit Your Day Job(practice your craft…). He’s also a great guy! I know a number of my readers are geeks like myself.. so enjoy…

Where about in Australia do you live?

I live in not so sunny Brisbane (at least at the moment – I’m told by reasonably good sources that the sun shall return).

What’s your favourite place in the world, and why?

That’s a hard one because to be perfectly honest I am yet to see all that much of it. Right now I think, at least in Australia my favourite place would be Melbourne, I picked up some great art from a street vendor down there and I just don’t see the same thing in Brisbane.

Where does your online ‘handle’ come from?

I always use my actual name, that’s who I am and I chose a while back not to hide behind an online handle.

Tell us a little bit more about yourself! Your ‘day job’ or business, family, hobbies…

Well, for the day job I am a web/social media consultant who is currently contracted to the Queensland government, so my day job is pretty cool in itself. I’m really into a lot of popular culture related things, comics, animation, science fiction, etc.

What did you want to be ‘when you grew up’?

A Ghostbuster, and I proudly told my guidance counsellor that too, needless to say that my guidance counselling sessions were not very productive.

How did you first get into your craft/art?

My father drew and painted and I guess I first started drawing to be a little like him, probably not the best reason in the world. I discovered comic books when I was quite young and the imagery really captured me, in fact it ruined me for high school art because I fixated on the style of American comic book art.

What do you do/make?

I draw in comic book style, I’ve recently been doing quite a few artist trading cards in comic book style. I actually, as I type this, have just inked the first page in a comic book that I’m producing based on a character that I launched via my blog and got some really cool feedback on.

What is your favourite media to work with, and why?

Copic markers, especially for my artist trading cards. Otherwise Copic black ink, water colour and Indian ink.

Where do you get your ideas?

Comic books, of all genres, from throughout the world.

What do you like the most/least about selling your wares online?

Finding the right fit for your online store is what I like least, finding that initial point to start and then the whole promotion of your work.

What’s your favourite word?

Awesome, and it is awesome that I get to use it a lot.

If you could sum yourself or your work up in one sentence, it would say…

Something extraordinarily funny, that you would remember and find charming.

You can find more of Lee’s work, and more about his sci-fi/comic book/movie obsessed musings over at his blog – and don’t forget to check out the awesome Goodies and Baddies – a comic-book inspired artist trading card collection that he has created!

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Pssst… next week Mondays have a new look! We’re still having a featured artisan each week – but now they will be paired with a giveaway! That’s right, every Monday there will be some gorgeous handmade goodie up for grabs, so come back – next week’s is a beauty!

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This week’s featured Australian artisan is Sharon – the jeweller behind Shazzabeth.

If you are an Australian artisan or craftsperson and you would like to be featured – please click here.

Where about in Australia do you live?

I live in Ipswich Australia.

What’s your favourite place in the world, and why?

Favourite Place in World – Hard to pick but I loved Corfu – gorgeous scenery, crystal clear seas, brilliant sunsets.

Where does your online ‘handle’ come from?

“Shazzabeth” comes from amalgamating my first two names Sharon Elizabeth. I originally used it for breeding dogs and its still registered with the Canine Control Council!

Tell us a little bit more about yourself! Your ‘day job’ or business, family, hobbies…

I’m a qualified accountant and am the Finance Manager for the Australian subsidiary of a US computer company. My family all live in NZ and I live with my three gorgeous Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. As well as designing jewellery and breeding dogs I also play violin and piano, and for pure relaxation I love reading.

What did you want to be ‘when you grew up’?

To begin wih I wanted to be a maths teacher – and then a pro violinplayer in an orchestra.

How did you first get into your craft/art?

I used to do crochet but when I moved to Australia it was too hot for crochet. Since I’d always been known for my earring collection I thought it might be fun to learn to make my own. I took a couple of lessons at the local bead shop and as the saying goes, I’ve never looked back!

What do you make?

I used to do crochet but when I moved to Australia it was too hot for crochet. Since I’d always been known for my earring collection I thought it might be fun to learn to make my own. I took a couple of lessons at the local bead shop and as the saying goes, I’ve never looked back! I make Jewellery – usually wire work or chainmaille.

What is your favourite media to work with, and why?

I mostly work with sterling silver, its a nice metal to work with and brings quality to the finished product. I also like working with gemstones – they go great with the silver!

Where do you get your ideas?

Not really sure where I get my ideas – no one place in particular, usually they just come from playing around with my materials

What do you like the most/least about selling your wares online?

Like most about selling on-line is receiving the great feedback, seeing my items getting hearts etc. – having the opportunity to share and get others opinions.

Like least is the fact that I am not a natural promoter and worse of all – trying to get good photos!

What’s your favourite word?

Hope

If you could sum yourself or your work up in one sentence, it would say…

Sum up – A designer who brings the love of her work into her creations.

Visit Sharon at her shop or blog!

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Where about in Australia do you live?

I live right next to Moreton Bay in Brisbane, Australia

What’s your favourite place in the world, and why?

Well, I haven’t actually been that far yet. But the place that feels like home to me is Ballarat in Victoria,  Australia.  It’s a beautiful town and one of the oldest in Australia. It snows in winter and is scorching in summer. I love it.

Where does your online ‘handle’ come from?

I’m PinkLizzy Sews after my favourite flower, the pink lisianthus. I had huge bouquets of them at my wedding and my husband buys me a bunch every year for my birthday.

Tell us a little bit more about yourself! Your ‘day job’ or business, family, hobbies…

Well, I’m tired alot. I’m 26 with two children and I’ve been married for 8 years. I have sciatica and I started sewing to help keep my mind of pain but I just completely fell in love with it and I can’t have a day where I don’t sew. I also homeschool my children. It all keeps me nice and busy. I have an amazing creative family who keep me inspired. And my husband, who is my rock and my strength.

What did you want to be ‘when you grew up’?

So many things! I wanted to be a lawyer (seriously, at 15 that was the plan), then a business consultant, then I wanted to work in advertising and I think I’m settled on studying sociology…but we’ll see.

How did you first get into your craft/art?

My grandmother. She sewed so many of our ‘best’ clothes when I was growing up and she could do the most intricate work. Although, I didn’t realise I wanted to sew until I was in my early 20’s. I’d finished Ballet and had this creative shaped hole in my chest for years until I had a daughter. Suddenly I got desperate to make skirts, and tops and bags and well, everything! When my Grandmother heard how much I wanted to sew she bought me my first sewing machine. I started sewing the next day and I haven’t stopped since.

What do you make?

I make children’s dresses as a boutique sewer for Oliver + S, New York www.oliverands.com  and my own Arty Skirts for women and girls with the odd accessory thrown in for good measure.

What is your favourite media to work with, and why?

I love handsewing. I find it incredibly relaxing and I can watch Friends while I do it! My idea of heaven really.

Where do you get your ideas?

All over the place. I’m inspired by other people’s work and I get ideas in my head that kind of fester until I actually put them together. I love it.

What do you like the most/least about selling your wares online?

I love feedback! It’s just the most rewarding thing ever! But I’m not a fan of listing items over and over. It can get a little tedious but if you don’t concentrate you can get lots wrong and have to edit over and over.

What’s your favourite word?

“GAH!”

If you could sum yourself or your work up in one sentence, it would say…

Something pretty, bright and simple from me to you.

Learn more about Rachel by visiting her blog – PinkLizzySews – or visit her Etsy shop below!

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Today I’m starting another semi-regular feature on my blog – Australian Made. Every so often I will feature an Australian artisan, and let them tell us a little bit about themselves!

If you would like to be considered for Australian Made, please contact me!

Today’s Aussie Artisan is Sharlene, whose current creative focus is paper – particularly paper dolls!

Where about in Australia do you live?

Beautiful, bright, blingy Brisbane !!!!
Where else would you want to live?  Not too big, not to small, not to busy, not to boring, if Goldilocks was trying places to live, this would be the place.

What’s your favourite place in the world, and why?

Floral Room Gal

I think I have said it all before …. Only Brisbane would do.

Where does your online ‘handle’ come from?

Sharlzndollz comes from my passion for all things doll.  I play Barbie with my daughter, I reroot doll hair, I rescue unloved dolls from second hand stores, and I explore my inner child with paper dolls galore.  So obviously a name that means me and my dolls is the one for me.

Tell us a little bit more about yourself! Your ‘day job’ or business,
family, hobbies…

I am a creative person trapped in an admin world at work but my dream is to break free and climb the dizzying world of craft.  All craft is good craft but right now my craft is with paper and dolls.

What did you want to be ‘when you grew up’?

I don’t know.  I still haven’t grown up yet.

How did you first get into your craft/art?

I have crafted forever.  When you grow up with creative parents, it becomes an extension of learning.  I try and make that flow to my daughter as well.  The first project I can remember loving was a picture of a rabbit for Easter when I was 6.

What do you make?

Paisley Flowers

I tend to graze in the field of creative options, trying a little of many: ceramics, sewing, paper craft, needlework, painting.  Recently I have been cutting back on my all crafts diet in favour of some rich grazing on just Paper and particularly paper dolls.  So far the meal is very yummy!

What is your favourite media, and why?

I love paper. Have I mentioned it?  Paper Paper Paper.  It is a tool of all trades, so tactile, so varied, so many possibilities.

Where do you get your ideas?

I get a lot of inspiration from my daughter’s bed time reading.  Children’s books, especially the pop up ones are so rich and wonderful.  I also love history and digging into the past creates inspiration for the future.  There are no new ideas, only wonderful Homage’s.

What do you like the most/least about selling your wares online?

I love the immediacy of selling online.  You can create, present and list so fast.  You can get feedback to fast from forums etc.  This is great for the making process.  The thing I like least though is not seeing the persons face when they receive your goods.  You hope they feel wonderful, but you never know.

What’s your favourite word?

“Manky”  it sounds like it is and yet makes yucky things seem kind of fun.

If you could sum yourself or your work up in one sentence, it would
say…

The old proverb:  “Every journey of a thousand miles begins with a first step.”

Peta Picks a Posie Tote

Visit Sharlene:

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