Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Artsy Wednesday T.6

Interview Karen

This wonderful creative lady makes stamps! How cool is that! And that is not the only thing she does! She is multitalented and we are proud to  introduce Karen on todays Artsy Wednesday!

Thanks Karen!!


Name: Karen Vandelaer
Age: 24
Occupation: Art (drawing) Teacher, Illustrator and Stamp maker

Country: Belgium

1. Tell us why, how and when you started crafting?
I have been brought up with a pencil and brush in my hand. Back then my father taught children himself. I was his guinea pig and tried everything out. Later on, I took drawing lessons myself and registered myself in to art school. A few years later I graduated as a art (drawing) teacher. In the following year my friends and I took sewing lessons and I started  -coincidently- carving stamps. I love being busy and learning new techniques. I wish there were more hours in a day…..  


2. Why do you love crafting?
It’s fun to just do your own thing. Without thinking and without someone telling you how to do it. Whilst forgetting the rest around you for a little! It’s also lovely to show the creations you have made to others and to provoke reactions. I love to make others happy with my handmade stuff.

3. What is your favourite type of craft?

Making stamps is my number one favorite type of craft. A year ago, in February, I cut my first stamp. I saw it on a blog and thought that would be fun to do. The stamp became a bird. This inspired me to make birds with my class. There were so many positive reactions and even someone that wanted to trade a stamp. Sometime later a colleague of mine wanted to order a stamp. That set everything in motion.

Besides that I love to illustrate children books, birth announcements, posters and I also like to sew. I also enjoy crafting with the students at school.


4. What is the most pretty thing you have made?
My first stamp. When I stamped this one for the first time, the result was really astonishing! Just because I did not expect that.
I love the skirts I make. Each of them are unique.

5. Tell us what makes your crafts special?
My stamps are created without an existing image. My work as illustrator helps me to create a personal design that suits the customer. This makes my stamps so very unique.

6. What do you use for inspiration?
I actually sit behind my laptop a lot. I follow several blogs and have a Pinterest page. Etsy is also something I enjoy looking at and to find inspiration! My students also create inspirational drawings. They draw in such a different way I do. If I really don’t have any inspiration I look through my collection of children’s books. Sometimes you need some patience, but eventually it will bubble up by itself.

7. Would you like to show us were you do your craft magic?
When I tell my students that my company is also my bedroom they look at me with wide big eyes and with little understanding. Within a year my boyfriend and I will live together and then I hope I will have a room that I can use as a small atelier.


8. Would you like to share/include a fun craft tutorial with us?
I would if could but at the moment I don’t have one.

9. What sort of crafting would you still love to try out?
Decorating cake and cupcakes, papermaking, hand puppets like at theater FroeFroe, sculpture, molding fimo beads….so many things!

10. Have you got any advice for those who would love to start crafting?
Don’t give up after the first try! There are a lot of things you can make where you won’t succeed the first time.
Always believe in yourself! When someone doesn’t like it, there will always be others that will share your passion!

5 comments:

  1. Juij! Dank je wel.. erg mooi :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow great story about Karen. I'm a follower of her since a couple of weeks and she definitely is very inspiring to me. One of these days I will start making my very first stamp but don't know yet what to make but inspiration will come ;) for my 365 days creative project. Thanks for sharing this great interview! Creative greets from Susan

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you for your comment Susan! We thank you for reading it! Happy Crafting.

    ReplyDelete

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