1. What is the name of your Etsy shop and why did you choose that name?
RomaLandWoodcrafts—Roma Land is the name that Mother gave our Farm back in the early 50s. It was popular to name your farm, so she took the first two letters of my Father’s name, Robert, and the first two letter of her name, Martha, to get ROMA. We had a small dairy farm and raised row crops to feed the cows. Daddy also farmed our neighbor’s land, since most of our land was used for the cows to graze.
2. How long have you been on Etsy?
Since May of 2013. I had been told for YEARS that this is what I needed to do, but I didn’t really know about it, so I resisted—silly me.
3. What type of items do you offer?
I offer original QUICK AND EASY decorative painting patterns—I have 77 ready as INSTANT DOWNLOADS and I also have over 100 hand painted items—most of them are original designs. I love items that will put a smile on your face and that reflect my belief in Christ as a follower of HIS.
4. How long have you been crafting?
I always doodled as a child. I took a watercolor class in college, but hated it. I started painting railroad ties in college, since our school was built right by the railroad tracks that had been moved. In 1984, I moved to Russellville, Arkansas as a Christian Education/Music Director in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and started to discover decorative painting. My Daddy decided he could cut some wood for me and I thought I could paint, SO the joke goes that he sent me back to Arkansas with a bag of lop-sided hearts and some small houses. I am a self-taught painter.
5. Who or What inspires you?
My favorite designer was Helena Cook, BUT of course, my Mother and My Father have always been my greatest inspirations. Mother was the MOST creative person EVER…she sewed, knitted and did most every craft that came along. She took a tole painting class that introduced me to the world of decorative painting. Daddy could do a little bit of everything and he ALWAYS did what he could to make my crazy desires come to life in wood…I miss them, but their love runs through EVERY single brush stroke that I make!
6. What is your favorite item in your shop and why?
I have a cross with a sheep on it that I designed that says, “The Lord is my Shepherd”. It is a reflection of WHOSE I am. I LOOK to Christ as my example—many days I fail to follow the example HE set for me, but I am thankful for GRACE to start afresh each day as I try to FOLLOW where HE leads me.
7. Other places where you can be found (Ebay, webstore, blog)
Facebook: www.facebook.com/romalandwoodcrafts
Website: www.romalandwoodcrafts.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/RomaLandWood
8. How do you describe your artistic style?
I have a tough time putting my art into a category…I dread that question on each listing! I guess ultimately, I think of my designs as WHIMSICAL. I use a twist of COUNTRY, but with a more modern touch. I like Primitive elements, but try as I may, I have a tough time getting that “dark, rustic feel”. I just think of my creations as HAPPY.
9. Do you have set days or times to work on your craft?
I TRY to paint every day, but with doing a Facebook post and now a blog post each day, that sometimes just does NOT happen, BUT I work on my business EVERY single day.
10. What words of advice would you give others or to someone just starting out?
Do what you LOVE. PRACTICE. Do NOT worry about following someone else’s patterns and colors—MAKE THEM YOUR OWN. Be UNIQUE. VARIETY is the spice of life. Listen to your HEART and follow it. Develop the gifts that God has given to you. SUPPORT and ENCOURAGE others. BE PROUD of what YOU do. There is NO ROOM for negativity in your life—it will DESTROY your creativity. BE HONEST…NEVER claim to be what you are NOT…Treat others as YOU WISH to be treated. GIVE credit where credit is due. NEVER cheat anyone else. Be HUMBLE. Be Thankful. BE YOU!
11. Tell a bit of personal info about yourself.
I am from Springfield, Tennessee—30 miles North of Nashville—Music City USA! I was raised on a small dairy farm by WONDERFULLY GODLY Parents. I have two older brothers who are married and have families. I went to College at a small Cumberland Presbyterian School, Bethel, in West TN where I was an English major and a member of an audition-based singing group, The Balladeers. I sing, play the piano, autoharp, dulcimer (very little), and organ and I love to cook. I design, cut out and paint and that is about all I have time to do! I have had a shop for 13 years, BUT the last two years I have ignored it, but have plans to get back into it in the New Year. I was the lone caregiver for my Mother, who died in March of 2012 and finding ME again has been tough. I have an Old Black Lab who will not be on this earth much longer and a new kitty that FOUND me a few months back…RECENTLY, I just adopted a new Elf, Prince Charlie, who is going to be a HANDFUL…I LOVE to laugh and kid around. I enjoy writing as is evident in my Facebook posting and now, my new blog! I am BLESSED beyond words.
.JPG)
3 comments:
What a wonderful blog post.
My etsy shop is threesmallfy primitives , I chose this name because, I married a man with the last name Fry. I had a small son when we got married, so our little family of 2 became 3 and so the name became.
I sell things I've made on Etsy, although my friend has been giving me heck for not making patterns. I think it's for lack of confidence, she says I'm lazy lol
I think in part I just like to create and patterns look hard to make.
Anyways, I live in Alberta Canada
Our son is now 17, and we have 2 little dogs Calvin, and Levi.
Very nice work! Hugs to you all, Laura R.
Thank you SO much for all of your hard work in featuring my shop...I am honored and humbled...
Post a Comment