Friday, March 5, 2010

{Featured Artist: Middleburg}

This giveaway is now closed.


Here at Gussy has a lot to say we love to look at all things beautiful. Beautiful home decorations, beautifully colors, beautiful stories about family life.

Today marks week #15 of my series on featured Etsy artists. I hope you've enjoyed the featured drool-worthy eye-candy shops. Don't worry, there's many more :) You can read all back Featured Artist posts by clicking here.

Please join me in welcoming Susan at Middleburg


***
What inspires you? So many things: at a conversation at dinner with family and friends, I have been known to whip out a mini sketch book to capture a thought. Also walking through a really great antique show has sparked some great ideas. I love to look at the way things were constructed. I have a thing for old pin cushions, the ones with all the needles and pins still in them, like someone stopped sewing yesterday. Little vintage make-do things. Nature is a huge one, being in the garden or looking at flowers. I'm consistently absorbing information, color, texture, then churning it up in my head for days, weeks, months or even years. I never understand when someone says they are having a creative block, I have enough ideas to keep me and a small army busy for the next 20 years.




Where do you call home? Are you from there originally? Home will always be Chicago! So much of my life was there. Just having a fling with a historic house here in North Carolina right now. It's something I've always wanted to do.


Name something unique to where you live. I'm so new to North Carolina, anything I think is unique is probably old hand around here. But I will agree with a stereo type of the south, they eat way too much fried food in my area, a good salad is hard to find or for that matter, a good cooked breakfast.


Share an interesting fact about yourself.
OK how's this, I once fitted Oprah for a bra... really! When I was in college, I worked at a lingerie shop on Rush Street in Chicago. One day Oprah Winfrey came in with her assistant in tow and they were shopping for a bra for her to wear under her gown that she would be wearing at the Academy Awards ceremony for her role in The Color Purple. And would you believe I forgot to have her sign the credit card slip, my boss made me call her and the assistant had to come back, how 80's. {tee he he}


How did you come up with your shop name?
Middleburg is just a portion of my studio's name. But the name came about because I lived in Middleburg, Virginia for about 13 months. My husband was working in D.C. and we choose to live out in the country, a crazy idea if anybody knows that part of Northern Virginia. But I loved it, it was the most beautiful place I have ever lived, everything looked like a picture post card. So when I named my little studio I wanted everything to feel like I did when I was in Virginia. To me Middleburg meant, a little history, a quaint place, charming to be around, not perfect, kinda quirky all rolled up in beauty.



Share a little bit about yourself. I can be a real work-a-holic, and think everyone around me should be, too. But I'm trying to keep more balance in life.


If you had to describe yourself in a word, what would that word be?
Tenacious - as a Jack Russell terrier, I'll never give up on something I believe in.


What made you decide to open up shop?
It really was a news report that I watched with Katie Couric. She talked about this phenomenal website called Etsy and how handmade was really coming into it's own again. I'm so happy I listened, feel like I got in a little ahead of the wave. It gave me a chance to grow at a good pace.



Name your favorite thing about selling handmade. Making everything for real people, one at a time, from what can be bought at a really good hardware store.


Do you have a day job or sell on Etsy full-time? I took the plunge early on before I joined Etsy, about 6 months before. I had quit my position as a creative director and pretty much decided I was going to make this work or go scrub floors. Like I said, thank God for Etsy.


Give us a little glimpse into what a typical day in your life looks like.
It sounds like so many other sellers. Usually by 7:30 am I'm sipping hot tea, in my pj's, I'm on the computer printing out orders, answering convo's, e-mails and keeping everything on the computer end rolling. Then a quick shower and back to the studio, looking at what has to go out that day. Then papier mache is usually pressed in the morning so it can bake all day. Lots of painting and details then.

A mid-day computer check and back to orders after a bite to eat. The afternoon seems to fly, we have only one post office that is convenient now and it closes a 5 pm right on the dot. So it is a race to see what will be finished, packed and dropped before the post lady slams the door.

See, I'm spoiled, my last post offices (in Illinois) would stay open until 6 pm and I had a post lady who would even order supplies for me and she would always have extra plain boxes for the international orders. She was the kind of the post office lady you wanted to clone.

But back to the day, I usually will stop about 6:30 and check the internet one more time before bed. Some nights I will come back after dinner and work a couple more hours during the busy times.




Share with us a favorite Etsy purchase or shop? There are so many on my 56 pages of favorites to-date, but here is a goodie -- Poodlebreath. I love her rabbits, horses, foxes and well, the animals, check her out.


List a few of your most favorite pastimes?
I decided when I moved I was going to have a normal life again, I was going to garden, ride my bike, go on walks, plus redo this old house I bought. Happy to say most of it is coming true. Just planted one part of the garden, my lettuces and spinach patch. Have joined the local tennis and health club and painted a good portion of the inside of the house. So life is little more balanced.




Read any good books lately? I'm reading everything I can get my hand on about SEO (search engine optimization). My bedside table lamp is being used elsewhere right now so that's putting a cramp on reading, but I usually have a couple going at a time.

What is your most prized possession?
I once said to someone, "There is nothing in my house that is so precious that it can't be repurposed, rearranged, repainted or recycled. She gasped. I have a lot of things i love, but with age have realized I would be fine with out any of them, too.


What are three of your favorite foods? Chocolate, mayonnaise, and Champagne. But if you mean cuisine, I absolutely love Thai, really good Italian and French. Oh, and mashed potatoes any day or everyday!


What would you like to learn to do?
I have always want to try Skeet Shooting. Strange I know, I hate guns.



What are you listening to right now? I'm not a great music person, but a habit I could not break is listening to Chicago radio in the studio, I stream WXRT (www.93xrt.com) all day. It makes me feel at home, and thinking I'm an hour earlier than I really am. So by day I live on Chicago time. A few of our favorite studio artists include Beck, Cold Play, Dave Matthews, Spoon, and Fleet Foxes.


***

Now for something fabulous!

Susan is gifting one winner with a garland of their choice
{click photo to enlarge}



{L: Hydrangea, R: Poppy}


{L: Rose, R: Dogwood}

{L: daisy, R: Coneflower}



To enter:

Leave a comment sharing which garland you'd pick and why.



For additional entries
{leave a separate comment for each}:


-Comment that you follow my blog

-Comment that you follow Middleburg's blog

-Comment that you follow me on Twitter

-Comment that you follow Middleburg on Twitter

-Tweet about this {leave a comment with your Tweet}

-Blog about this {leave a comment with your post URL}


RULES:
  • The giveaway will close Sunday, March 7 at 10 pm CST, and the winner will be announced the following day
  • An email address must be listed on your blog profile or in the comment you leave

Please check back Friday, March 12 for another featured artist post!

90 comments:

. said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Christy @ MCH PHOTOGRAPHY said...

So cute, I'd love to have one of those to hang in my craft room.

m.chenderson@tidewaterpt.com

Christy @ MCH PHOTOGRAPHY said...

I am a Gussy blog follower & I follow you on twitter!

m.chphotography@hotmail.com

Amanda said...

I love the poppy garland!

amanda_bryant@snet.net

Amanda said...

I follow you on twitter too!

shana said...

i like the white flowers with the green in the center. so cute!
shana
kirbyandshana {at} gmail {dot} com

shana said...

i follow your blog!
shana
kirbyandshana {at} gmail {dot} com

Kristin said...

I'd chose the white daisies for my daughters nursery! it'd be adorable in there!!

jordenandkristin at gmail dot com

Kristin said...

i follow you!!

jordenandkristin at gmail dot com

Sandi said...

Love the dogwood garland. So simple and yet gorgeous.

Linda said...

this is hard!! while hydrangeas are my fave flower, I'd choose the daisy garland because the colors are perfect for my son's 1st bday party coming up!!

mommy2luke2008 said...

I love the daisy garland!!!
maryw1981 at yahoo dot com

mommy2luke2008 said...

I love the daisy garland!!!
maryw1981 at yahoo dot com

mommy2luke2008 said...

I follow your blog!!!
maryw1981 at yahoo dot com

Jingle said...

I would choose the Red Poppy Garland because it would coordinate beautifully with my home and it makes me happy!

Jingle said...

I follow you on Twitter!

Laryssa Herbert said...

Dogwood for sure. We live on 5 acres of wooded land and have beautiful white wild dogwood trees all around us. They turn brown so quickly when cut. If I had this garland I could keep spring going a little longer!

Laryssa Herbert said...

I follow your blog, sweet Gussy. :-)

Laryssa Herbert said...

I follow her blog.

Laryssa Herbert said...

I'm following her on Twitter.

Laryssa Herbert said...

I'm following you Gussy on Twitter.

Laryssa Herbert said...

HeavenInTheHome

Beautiful art birds and more! Giveaway too! Look at http://maggiewhitley.blogspot.com/2010/03/featured-artist-middleburg.html

My tweet.

wishful nals said...

her stuff is so whimsical! i am going to see alice in wonderland tonight, so this helps put me in the mood! i think i would choose the carrot garland, how fun!

wishful nals said...

i follow gussy on twitter!

wishful nals said...

i follow middleburg on twitter! :)

Heather said...

I love the poppy garland. I would hang it up on my 1st floor somewhere. I am in love with red right now and it would look awesome in my blue dining room.

Unknown said...

Oh, I LOVE the red poppy garland. Again, my daughter Kayla is soo whimsical and giggly. This reminds me of her and I'm sure I could do something with this in her room. Fingers crossed again!!!

Thanks
Kelwood9@gmail.com

Laryssa Herbert said...

Here's my post!

http://www.heaveninthehome.com/2010/03/05/beautiful-art-sculptures-birds-and-more/

Gretchen said...

Absolutely the dogwoods. Similarly to how Susan identifies with Middleburg as a quirky, charming, and historic home, I grew up in the southern warm summers of Georgia and am currently transplanted to The big city in DC. I miss the south most when spring comes to them earlier than it does to us here, this year especially with all the blizzards and snow. The dogwood garland would remind me of who I am and where I come from with a warm southern heart whether its springtime or not.

seehearfeelwrite.wordpress.com
gretchenfry@gmail.com

czstout said...

Hi Gussy...I would pick the Rose one because it would totally fit in my daughters green and pink room!

I am a blog follower of you :)

stoutfamily@rocketmail.com

czstout said...

I follow you on Twitter too :)

stoutfamily@rocketmail.com

susan said...

i love the dogwood garland. maybe i can finally add a 'girly' touch to my daughter's room!
susanerios at hotmail.com

susan said...

gussy blog follower
susanerios at hotmail.com

Kizmo said...

I would choose the poppy one because I can completely visualize where I would hang it in my living room. It would add so much fun and whimsy to anyone's home. I love it! :)

Unknown said...

I LOVE the poppy garland- it's precious!

Unknown said...

I follow your blog!

Unknown said...

I also follow you on twitter!

Unknown said...

I tweeted, too! http://twitter.com/mandiegirl/status/10037124825

Laura Stewart said...

i love red and the poppy garland!!

Celeste said...

Oh! Hydrangea for sure! Hydrangeas are my absolute favorite flower --- and this would look lovely in my room :)

contact me at:
celeste@mail4me.com

Celeste said...

I follow your blog

contact me at:
celeste@mail4me.com

Celeste said...

Added middleburg's blog to my reader --- it's wordpress - so I can't really "follow" it.

contact me at:
celeste@mail4me.com

christa said...

I think I would have to have the poppy or rose garland. It would look so cute in my office!

christa said...

I follow your blog!

christa said...

I follow you on twitter!

christa said...

I also follow Middleburg on Twitter!

christa said...

I wrote a post about the giveaway, too!

http://christas-art.blogspot.com/2010/03/garland-follow-up.html

caplingers2002 said...

I LOVE the dogwood garland!!!
oh so cute!

kathy
caplingers 2002 @ yahoo . com

Anonymous said...

I love the poppy garland. Poppies are such beautiful flowers - I am reminded of the Wizard of Oz. =)



wardhouse AT yahoo DOT com

Taylor Bartik said...

DOGWOOD. All the way! My absolute fave colors! Perfect for my graduation party! And they match my announcements!! Match made in heaven.

Brooke said...

They're all gorgeous, but I love the poppy garland. Poppy is one of the names we've picked for our adoptive daughter; to us it is a promise.

Brooke said...

I follow your blog :)

Brooke said...

Following you on twitter :)

K said...

Oh goodness, those are lovely! I'm having a hard time deciding which I like the best; it's nearly a tie between the hydrangeas and the roses. I think I would go with the hydrangeas, mostly because I think they would match the decor in my living room best.

krystalbagley1@gmail.com

Sarah Seitz said...

I'm a Gussy follower!

Sarah Seitz said...

I also follow Gussy on twitter!

Brooke said...

Tweeted here: http://twitter.com/BellaCatalina/status/10042706693

K said...

I follow you! :)

K said...

I follow Susan's Middleburg blog, too!

K said...

I'm following Middleburg on twitter, as well!

K said...

Just tweeted the following:

krystalbagley: Win a simply lovely garland from Middleburg http://maggiewhitley.blogspot.com/2010/03/featured-artist-middleburg.html
less than 5 seconds ago via web

K said...

I follow you on twitter!

K said...

Blog entry can be found here:

http://mommysavvy.blogspot.com/2010/03/ready-for-spring.html"

Old World Primitives said...

I really enjoyed reading this interview - I am a fan of Susan's art & it was fun to learn more about her. I was not expecting the fabulous part at the end - how nice!

I would pick the Dogwood garland because I think it would complement the big mustard colored cabinet that I would hang it on the best... if I won. :)

~Stephanie

Old World Primitives said...

I follow you on Twitter.
@old_world_prims

Old World Primitives said...

I follow Middleburg on Twitter.
@old_world_prims

Old World Primitives said...

I follow Middleburg's blog (in Google reader).

Old World Primitives said...

And finally, I also follow your blog (in Google reader).

Tanya said...

Oh I love the hydrangea, although it's a bit hard to decide. I love the color and I love hydrangeas.

crystalball137@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

i like rose garland!!too cute

allison.leman at gmail dot com

Tempest Ahoy said...

I just love the Poppies one. I love Poppies because they are stunning and for what they stand for, including rememberance. I'd love to have a visual reminder in my home to remember loved ones and time past.

Anna said...

I subscribe to you!---what a great featured artist... love her stuff!

The Clines said...

I would choose the daisy garland. It would look so sweet in my 4 year old daughter's room!
teresacline2001(at)yahoo(dot)com

The Clines said...

I follow your blog, Gussy!

Chacoy said...

Her stuff is fabulous and colorful;}

I would choose the Hydrangea-Love the colors;}
chacoyaguayo{at}yahoo{dot}com

Chacoy said...

i follow Gussy has a lot to say {and sew}
chacoyaguayo{at}yahoo{dot}com

Chacoy said...

following via twitter @Ma21cuteboy
chacoyaguayo{at}yahoo{dot}com

Chacoy said...

followng Middleburg via twitter @Ma21cuteboy
chacoyaguayo{at}yahoo{dot}com

Laura said...

I would choose the dogwood garland for my bedroom.

Laura said...

I follow your blog!

noreen said...

Rose, coneflowe, or daisy. I love all three!!!

noreen said...

follow blog

noreen said...

follow Middleburg on Twitter

sillymommy

noreen said...

I follow you twitter but the link in your post is not the correct link

sillymommy

Biteofpunkinpie said...

LOVE the poppy garland! so sweet and so colorful! beautiful work

lace said...

I'd choose the poppy. I adore poppies and their bright orange/red color.

Stephanie C. said...

I love the poppy garland - the red is so vibrant and pretty!

Stephanie C. said...

blog follower

Stephanie C. said...

twitter follower!

Stephanie C. said...

middleburg twitter follower