Felicia Kramer is in the house and we're doing a DOUBLE GIVEAWAY!

Today, I have Felicia Kramer in the house, a very talented artist, who has been a really good friend to me on Etsy, always generous with her suggestions and ideas.  Also, I do a LOT of treasuries on Etsy, and Felicia's art covers so many facets and fits my themes, her name always pops up no matter what theme  I'm looking for to put in my collections.  Anyway, we've been talking a good bit thoughout all this and decided we'd like to do a double giveaway!  Felicia is featuring me on her blog today and we're both offering giveaways.  I'm offering a set of 6 blank cards; with YOUR choice of the image on them and she's offering your choice of one of her delightful vintage wooden blocks.  So without further ado, HERE'S FELICIA!

What’s your morning “cuppa?”
Coffee, coffee, coffee – can’t function without it.
Oh me too, I don't feel human till I've had at least two cups......

Tell me about your online venues …

My Etsy shop is http://anotherbrightidea.etsy.com/; my blog is http://www.feliciakramer.blogspot.com/. I’m in the process of setting up a shop on Zazzle, but it’s not ready yet – I keep running out of time to stock it properly.

Do you have a family? Where do you live?

I’m the quintessential middle child – right smack in the middle of nine children.

I am single (previously married), no children of my own, but I have a huge extended family and tons of nieces and nephews that I adore. I love being “Auntie Felicia” to all of them!

I was born and have lived most of my life in Michigan. I’m in Bloomfield Hills, which is due north of Detroit. My previous career was as a producer for automotive training programs and if I hadn’t retired early for medical reasons I could easily have been a downsizing statistic. I lived a few years in San Francisco, still my favorite city, and didn’t want to leave. But that’s a story for another day!

How long have you been on Etsy and what do you sell?
I’ve been on Etsy just over a year. I found Etsy while recuperating at home from yet another back surgery (I have had four, and that’s another story for another day). I had plenty of time to surf the net so I started investigating Etsy and opened my shop about a year later. I have digital collage prints, handmade paper collages, photography, greeting cards and ACEOs. I absolutely love doing digital collages and altered photographs, although I don’t think I’ll ever learn everything there is to know about Photoshop.

My main focus now is on Christmas items. I have several vintage style decorated wooden blocks, holiday wreaths, card/photo holders, and greeting cards. I love Christmas – the decorations, the carols, warm family feelings, sharing traditions. It’s my very favorite holiday.
Oh me too, I adore Christmas, it totally brings out the silly little kid in me!

How long have you been an artist? Are you formally trained or self-taught?

I always wanted to be an artist and I did art and crafts for fun, but I was never encouraged to pursue it seriously. I finally enrolled in college at the ripe old age of 30 and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Michigan State University. I have never regretted that decision.

What inspires you? Where’s your “quiet place” – somewhere you go to rest, refresh, meditate?

Nature inspires me. The change of seasons in Michigan is breath-taking. I have a small enclosed garden which I have crammed with as much as I can fit in that small space, and flowers and natural materials appear in a lot of my art. My garden is also my quiet space. If I need to take time out to refresh and meditate, I’ll sit on my garden bench and just watch the birds at their feeder and the chipmunks chasing each other. It calms me down.

What part of being an artist is hardest for you, or that you dislike the most?

One thing I didn’t anticipate when I chose to become a full-time artist was the amount of time that must be spent on getting yourself and your work known. Like most artists, I’m not very comfortable selling myself and my art, and would much rather spend all that time creating instead of being in the business of marketing and advertising. I wish I had some great marketing whiz standing outside my studio door and when I completed some work, I could toss it out and say, “go sell it!” Until that angel shows up I guess I have to do it myself.

What do you do when you’re not being an artist? What activities do you enjoy?
When I’m not doing my art, thinking about my art, or thinking about doing my art, I enjoy gardening, reading, decorating, spending time with family and friends, and traveling, although I haven’t been able to do much traveling lately. After the holidays I have a huge family history album to put together with all the photos, letters and ephemera from my parents and their siblings.

Tell us something that most people – maybe even your family – don’t know about you.

My friends and family would find it hilarious if I told them that at times I’m very shy and insecure. I can hear the raucous laughter now ….

NOW for the Giveaway!  All you have to do is make a comment to this post to be eligible to win one of these fabulous vintage Christmas blocks! That’s all! But be sure to wander on over and visit Felicia's shop, and take a look at her fabulous selections, she offers far more variety than I could list here! 

Also, don't forget to enter my giveaway at Felicia’s blog: http://feliciakramer.blogspot.com/2009/11/double-giveaway.html

A name will be drawn from all the comments by random number generator AFTER NOON NEXT WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25. That’s the day before Thanksgiving and, yes, this giveaway is just for one week. It is open to anyone, domestic and worldwide, with free shipping. So don't wait!

Thank you for taking time with us, Felicia, it's been great fun, and thanks for offering that lovely giveaway!