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What is your design/art background?
This is where I have to confess I have no formal training in design, art or anything. I've been drawing, painting and sewing my whole life. Separately, I felt mediocre at all of them. But once I combined them I felt I had found my niche. That was the point when I started to truly enjoy what I make.
Are you obsessed with octopus (octopi)?
I don't think so. Maybe that's denial? One of my favorite designs to do is the octopus wearing glasses (Octowuss) because it appeals to my inner nerd. And because it's huge; I like making things big.
Do you ever customize designs for people?
Yes, yes! Although my most common custom request is to put one of my pre-existing designs on a piece of clothing they already own.
Who wears your appliqués?
People who don't take themselves or life too seriously. A friend recently asked me if I ever know what my online customers look like. I told him they're all gorgeous. I have noticed that many of my online buyers are in the teaching profession; I think that's pretty cool... Only the very smart and cool wear my appliqués.
Where do you sell your appliqués?
There are a few brick and mortar shops across the Midwest I sell through, and I'm opening a store in Lincoln, Nebraska (soon, friends, soon), but right now I mainly sell through Etsy. Find me. I'm aorta.etsy.com.
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It's sad for me to see the cigarettes in this artists work. I can understand the perspective of her and others who think it's funny and cute to have cigarettes in the mouths of cuddly characters. Sadly, it's naive to keep a blind eye to this lifelong addiction that kills more people than alcohol, terrorists, spousal abuse, heroin, rednecks, stupid presidents, and guns combined.
Sorry to rant, but the only relatives I've lost were cancer victims who wished they wouldn't have started smoking when they were young.
Seth
it's sad for me to see the extent to which the politically correct brou ha ha regarding smoking has carried over to the point where someone can't even appreciate a simple applique obviously made with a bit of tongue-in-cheek sarcasm.
i've known so many deer that have been run down by: drunk drivers, terrorists, those fleeing the police after abusing their respective spouses, heroin addicts, rednecks, stupid presidents (well i'm sure the v.p. has shot a few) and guns combined.
maybe the deer thinks of this cigarette as his last respite before heading off to the big world where he is surely to meet a grisly fate.
hey deer, guess what, if you come over to my house, i'll serve you a jack on the rocks, get you a couple of sexy doe to meet your every need and light every last cigarette you want to smoke.
PARTY TIME!
seth, i respect your opinion but i have to disagree. i am not at all glorifying smoking or turning a blind eye to cancer. i also don't think of my characters as cuddly. when you get past the loud fabric you'll notice they are seldom smiling. there is plenty of sarcasm and sadness in my work- i am not sanrio.
I think of your characters as cuddly. They're not smiling? Well, maybe they need a hug. Children and young teens who feel alienated might look at this, relate to the smoking boy, and think they can get fulfillment from a cigarette.