Candles for Charity

Our local junior high school is the hub for all the "Santa's Helpers" activity in this community. Our gym hosts the evening when all the gifts and supplies are passed out to the families in need. The choir sings, there are soft drinks and punch available and families go home with new coats, socks, shoes, blankets, food, and toys for the little kids. It's a nice evening.

This year there's a raffle for a gift basket at the junior high with all the proceeds going to Santa's Helpers. And I have built two small candle holders to go in the basket. My deadline for this is Friday, November 14, but it's already finished and ready to go tomorrow morning.

My wood of choice for this project was mesquite. I wanted to do something with a southwestern theme and, since I don't trick up my designs very much but leave the natural beauty of the wood intact, mesquite seemed to be the obvious choice. And I had a little less than one board foot of it in my shop.

These are small candle holders, measuring 5" x 5" and only 4" to the top of the candles. Someone will enjoy them for themselves or will give them to a friend or family member for Christmas. And the money from the raffle will help other families through another north Texas winter. 

Now I have to buy some more mesquite and build a few more of these. I think they'll sell like hot cakes, which is ironic because the hot cakes really aren't moving.

Colleen Cannon: Etsy Artist from Hawaii

Colleen Cannon is an amazing conceptual artist from the big island of Hawaii. I've had the pleasure of visiting her shop at Etsy and her other website on several occasions when I just sat gazing in wonder at her work. It turns out she's a pretty nice person, too.  And you can find out a lot more about her by reading my interview with Colleen Cannon...

1. What is your shop name and what do you sell?

UV Light Studios Designer Boutique - I sell illuminated cosmic landscapes in various formats from photographs of the illuminated imagery to backlit prints incorporated in frames that actually light up. My latest creation is the QuantumLyte where the imagery is incorporated into an acrylic tube and lit from within. Many of my products function as both ambient light and abstract art. 

2. What is your shop URL?

http://www.uvlightstudios.etsy.com for designer discounts.

http://www.uvlightstudios.com is my home website where you can find more images, design and custom application etc.

3. What long series of events led to you doing this?

I joined Etsy after hearing about it over the summer on GMA. I checked it out and was amazed at the high level of excellence in both web design, interaction, information and sheer numbers of talented artisans from around the world.  I thought Etsy would be a great place to offer my imagery to the public for the same discount prices I offer to the interior design industry.

4. When did you start selling on Etsy?

I joined Etsy last August but didn't start listing until September 12. There is a  lot to learn about navigating the site and developing marketing strategies so I am still getting up to speed.

5. What is your favorite thing about Etsy?

My favorite thing about Etsy is having access to so much worldwide talent, such a wide variety of “handmade” goods. 

Pretty astonishing! I also like the Treasury. I think its a great idea to have these curated pages. In fact, I just got selected for a Treasury for the first time.

6. What is your favorite thing about what you sell?

My work is multifunctional and unique - cosmic art that lights up. When I figured out how to light up my imagery I was very excited because I knew I was on to something. I don’t want to get too esoteric but my work is highly conceptual. I have spent years studying physics and metaphysics and have sought to find visual ways to show the inherent energy that exists in all of matter. I have developed a proprietary imaging process where I create 2 or 3D prototypes that I cover with wet media including fluorescent. The resulting cosmic like imagery is photographed under ultraviolet light (that’s how I get the otherwordly color and amazing patterning) and captured digitally for use in a variety of formats. Because the images are digital they can be customized in color and shape to meet a wide variety of design 

applications.

7. What is your favorite item in your own shop and why?

My latest creation - the QuantumLyte is my favorite. I have spent months experimenting and developing prototype after prototype to come up with the winning design. It works as a piece of beautiful sculpture as well as a light source. Looks great lit or unlit. 

8. What teams do you belong to and what do you like most about 

them?

Design Style Guide

Artists of Color

Fashion, Design, Lifestyle

Mad Scientists

Photographers of Etsy

Visual Arts Street Team

I really like Etsy teams [because] they allow you to work in groups to broaden your marketing, promotional, and support efforts. I just joined these teams and am getting up to speed. I am very excited about joining the Design Style Guide and being on the new DGS website. I really appreciate all the work and effort made into developing this one stop shopping destination for interior designers and am glad to be part of the team.

9. What is the most fun thing you do to promote your shop?

Besides other things I recently joined Facebook to market my site. I’m not much into online social networking so its been an interesting experience especially since I have ran into old childhood, high school and college friends from decades ago.

 

10. What are some of your favorite finds by other sellers on Etsy?

There is so much great stuff on Etsy that I love I will just name a few here:

formfireglassworks - great jewelry

amysfunkyfibers - beautifully crafted and funky knitwear

theivorymagnolia - delicious looking body products

frenchlandscapes - beautiful art

sweetiepiesdelights - the name says it all!

11. What do you do in your spare time?

I live in Hawaii so I like to go to the beach when I can. These days with gas being still expensive here I enjoy the sanctuary of my beautiful property in the Hawaiian Rainforest. This year I have been blessed, some very exotic and cute little birds - Java Sparrows - have moved into the crawl space in my attic. They perch on my eaves and I enjoy watching them interact and frolic in the trees. In these difficult times I seek some peace and solitude in the beauty of nature. I also like to enjoy local art and cultural events, spending time with good friends.

12. Do you have anything else you would like to share?

Yes, for the holidays I haved reduced the price of my QuantumLytes from $125 to $95 until the end of the year. A truly unique gift that is both beautiful and provocative. Art + Light = QuantumLyte!

I was delighted to do this interview.  Thanks Jay!

You are most welcome!