EVA Featured Artist of the Month: Trish Arnseth

Provide us with background information, like where you were born, where have you lived, who is your family and what is your educational background.
I was born in Red Bank, NJ. My mom is a secretary and my dad is a mechanic, but my grandmother was extremely crafty and got me going from the time I could hold a bottle of glue or string beads. I have a degree in graphic design from Collins College and after college I worked for 5 years as head designer for Mayfield's Inc, Fine Jewelry in Scottsdale, then at Scottsdale Bead Supply for two years selling beads, teaching classes and stringing for the gallery.

What do you think inspires your creativity? Definitely movies, books and tv shows(Northern Exposure on DVD has inspired tons of projects and ideas in particular). Being outside and changing seasons, especially autumn. Also if I'm really stuck I like to go to Google Images and search for words that I like, like Vintage, Antique or Victorian. I get so many good ideas that way.

Who inspires your creativity and how? My grandmother always did, and I still base a lot of my designs off of the fun and funky style she had. She was big on leopard print and big, chunky jewelry! Also the other sellers on etsy, just browsing through the site reminds me of how creative people can be!

Outside of being creative, what do you do? I am a Property Manager for an apartment complex, and my fiancee is a filmmaker, so I am always helping him out by making props or holding up lights or filling in if he needs an extra actress. I also play with/talk to my two kitties a lot, Fizzie and Bella.

What are your top three favorite:

books - The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. The Harry Potter series, by J.K Rowling

movies - Jaws, Better Off Dead, anything Jim Henson

bands - Nine Inch Nails, Flight Of The Conchords, She and Him. Although mostly I listen to music from the 40's 50's and 60's.

web sites - cuteoverload.com, http://gofugyourself.celebuzz.com/, tarinatarantino.com

What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be a funny old lady with lots of good stories and lots of cool jewelry I can lend my grandkids!

And if you could be any cartoon character, who would it be and why? I think I'd be one of the little mice that helped make Cinderella's dress. They're all cute and clutzy!

Trish's work is featured here:
http://littlesilverstars.etsy.com
http://www.mayfieldsinc.com
http://patsymarella.wordpress.com

Inside the Bungalow Arts Market

Earlier today the East Valley Artisans were at Inside the Bungalow for their first monthly arts market. This will be happening the 3rd Sunday of every month from 11am - 2pm. It was a bit hot out today, but even so it was a great event. The awesome iced chai latte from the Inside the Bungalow cafe got me through the day. I thought I would share photos of all who attended ... except me. I didn't manage to get a photo of myself.

Nancy

Melanie

Sarah

Trish

Jeannie

Next event, there will be 2-3 EVA members weekly at MacFest from October - May. Look here in the near future to see who will be attending ... and where, exactly, on Main Street in Mesa we will be.

September meeting and ITB arts market

We had yet another great meeting last night!

Melanie designed our business cards and brought them ... just in time for our first event at the Inside the Bungalow arts market. They look great!!! Thank you Melanie for your work on those. You can see Melanie's work on her etsy site.

Nancy, Trish, Jeannie and I were also at the meeting ... all of whom will be at the arts market featuring our wares this Sunday. Sarah was unable to make it to the meeting, but she will be with us Sunday. I am very excited for the opportunity to get a little more exposure for our group.

Sunday 9/21 from 11am to 2pm at Inside the Bungalow. Come see the work of our EVA members. See the website for directions and details.


The theme of our exchange at this meeting was Halloween ... my favorite holiday and a fun exchange!

The next meeting will be October 15th and the theme is fall leaves.

Coming up soon: Our featured artist of the month ... check back to see who it is and what fabulous things she does.

Meeting this Wednesday 9/17 @ 7pm

We will be having another meeting Wednesday 9/17 at 7pm.

This meeting we will be discussing:
* The Inside the Bungalow arts market on 9/21.
* New ways to promote EVA
* Stork articles
* Reviewing items from August's meetings
* and stuff and other things

We will be filling out the forms for the ITB arts market. Don't forget your $10 to reserve your space.

The exchange theme for this meeting is Halloween (my favorite holiday)!!!

Meeting Wedneday August 20 @ 7pm

Our EVA monthly meeting will be held at Inside the Bungalow Wednesday August 20 at 7pm.

This meeting we will be discussing:
* etsy grants
* arts and craft festivals
* new policies for membership
* gearing up for the holidays
* EVA promotion
* whatever else comes up

Hope to see you there ....

July Meeting Review

Hooray! Our July meeting was another great meeting. Thanks to everyone for making it out to Inside the Bungalow/Coffee Talk.

Our first exchange went very well. I am glad so many of us participated. It was nice to have a little "take home." The magnets that Sarah of etsy shop BirdWatching made went right up on my refrigerator when I got home! Next month the exchange theme is fairy tales.

In attendance at the meeting were our jewelry designers, Nancy of NancysDesigns who makes some exceptional jewelry pieces using PMC, sterling silver and Swarovski crystals, and Trish of LittleSilverStars who makes some extremely fun and original jewelry designs. Also in attendance were Jeannie of JeansBeads who is going to teach me to be a real lampwork artist one of these days, and Stacy of lilsprouts who makes the most darling clothing and accessories for the little ones. And I was there, kandeslee - I do beaded jewelry, some painted wood pendants, and glass beads.

We also had two new members this time around Melanie of PaperMango who makes some terrific paper products - business cards, greeting cards and invitations. And also Sarah (mentioned above) who makes all sorts of creative items from bird pendants, to zipper pouches, to stuffed owls and soaps.

I am looking forward to August's meeting which will be Wednesday August 20th at Inside the Bungalow once again. And we have homework: research one or two East Valley events taking place this fall that we might be able to participate in. Dig deep - maybe find out fees, requirements and print applications.

Thank you to everyone in this wonderful group for bringing ideas and thoughts to share. Oh and also for the fun show and tell and exchange pieces.

July Meeting info

Our 2nd monthly meeting is this Wednesday 7/16 at 7pm.
It is at Inside the Bungalow - Main Street and
Robson in downtown Mesa. They are a few streets west of Mesa Arts
Center. It is also called Coffee Talk so if you see that name, don't
be confused, it is the same place. Forget my attempt at giving
directions ... here is the Google link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&f=d&daddr=48+N+Robson+Mesa,+AZ+85201&fb=1&geocode=1289847101365221299,33.416409,-111.836673&cd=1&z=16

As far as our exchange pieces ... make sure you wrap them up so we
can't tell what you've brought and we will keep the donated pieces
hidden in our purses or a bag until the exchange pieces are revealed.

Bring more show and tell items! I loved looking at what you all make.
Such wonderful creativity we have amongst us.