Feature Me Friday: catpainter

This week for Feature Me Friday, we have Isabel of catpainter from Littleton, CO

Who is catpainter?
The name of my Etsy shop comes from my nickname from my husband...cat. Although, I craft in various mediums(scrapbooking, sewing), painting has been my first love and it is through decorative tole painting that I discovered that I am an artist.

What’s the first thing you remember making?
Clothes for my Barbies.



Why work with recycled materials?
Until four years ago, I lived in Houston for 20 years. When I moved to Colorado, one of my first friends introduced me to felting wool sweaters. I just feel in love. In Colorado, finding wool sweaters in the thrift stores is not hard. In Houston, where it is extremely humid and hot for many months of the year (with mild winters), finding wool sweaters would be extremely difficult. My husband was a recycler long before it was a common practice; so, finding a craft that allows me to recycle a material into something new and functional supports our belief in recycling as much as possible.

Where do you work?
I am very lucky. I have an area in our finished basement that is 100% mine. My husband calls it craftland, I call it my happy place.



How do you get from A to Z?
I read a lot of craft books, magazines, and visit blogs... I let them inspire me and add my own twist to things.

What are your favorite tools?
Sizzix Die Cut Machine, Sewing Machine, Paint Brush, Bind It All (assemble my own scrapbooks)

What music do you listen to while you’re working?
Muse, Kings of Leon, ColdPlay, Owl City, The Fray, Green Day, --Alternative Music



What are the five best things you’ve purchased on etsy and where did you find them?

1. Crochet Trimmings by Sweetvintage78
2. Vintage Buttons from Oridotan
3. Vintage Dress Forms by Littlepinkstudio
4. Twilight Charms by FabBeads
5. LadyBug Tape Measure and Leaf Scissor Case PDF Pattern by Betzwhite.

Read any good books lately?
Vampire Diaries Series and will soon start Dead in the Family (Book #10 in the Sookie Stackhouse Series)


Been to any great exhibits?
Several, over the years, especially when we lived in Houston. Perhaps my favorite was (I don't recall the name of the exhibit) The Jewels of the Vatican/History of the Popes - exhibit traveling through Houston.

Who inspires you?
My crafty friends, my daughter, son and mother.



What do you do for fun?
Love to go to the movies with my kids. Spending quality time with my family, we love to attend festivals. Spend time with my friends -- sometimes go have dinner, movie or have craft nights at my home.

Besides Etsy, where can we find you work?
During the Fall, my friend Staci and I share a booth at the Columbine High School Craft Fair.

How do you promote your work?
All my handbags are my own upcycled felted wool so people see them while I am out shopping, I give out my business cards to people to show interest in them. I post photos on Flickr and joined Trashion Team. Just started my own blog, I hope to share some of my work and what inspires me. I also started submitting my work to several magazines published by Stampington and Company.



Have any words of wisdom?
Everything I make, I enjoy creating it. I create every item as if it is for me. The quality of my work is not different because I intend to sell it. I think if you enjoy what you make, it will come through and people will appreciate it.

What’s in your future?
A healthy family. At the moment I am a stay at home mom. Now that my son is in Kindergarten, I want my Etsy shop to become successful so I can earn money but continue to stay at home. I would love it if my Etsy shop became my part-time job...I would have flexibility as to when I would work and I can do it all from home.