AJ's Designs: The Paper Peddler and Etsy Paper

I think there’s a few of us who know Sarah, be it face-to-face or in cyber space. And we know she loves PAPER. But she loves something more…that’s being a mother. Her two daughters, Sydney and Natalie, are really her first love (you really need to check out these two adorable girls), paper takes a second. Her creations in paper show her love of life, she definitely lives in the present, where it counts the most.

Sarah’s third love would have to be the Etsy Paper Street Team. She is so involved with this group. She is involved with membership, promotions, the team blog, and team twitter.

Enjoy this interview, visit her shops and blog. Let her know how much you enjoy her spirit.

How did you get your start in the world of art?
I have been an arts & crafts lover since I was a little girl. My dad had (still has) an art studio in the basement and I used to enjoy sitting down there with him and watching him work on his art. I liked to keep him company and I would often have my crayons, paper & coloring books with me so we could work on our art side by side.

Do you have a ritual you perform before you start creating?
I don't really have a ritual but my craft room has to be organized before I can really get into things. The funny thing is that it seems my mind is much more creative when I have a huge mess. There are times when I have a clean and organized space and I just sit at the craft table with no ideas or motivation - go figure?

What do you like best, the creative process or the final creation?
Hmmm....Hard to say. I do really enjoy the whole process of creating, especially when the ideas flow smoothly from one thing to the next and I'm in "the zone" or the "crafting mode". I enjoy the planning and putting together of my projects but I do also love the final creation. I make my husband look at just about every card I make, lol.

What are your favorite art media, tools, and supplies?
When I think about the tools I couldn't live without (or better yet, I would absolutely have to replace if something were to happen to them), I would say that my laptop (listing items, my etsy shop), my Xyron machine and my Cricut machine would be the three main things I use constantly. As far as my favorite supplies go, that answer is easy. It would of course be paper!

When a creative block happens, what process do you go through to get the creative juices flowing again?
Sometimes, I like to sit on the floor of my craft room and just go through all of my paper collections/pads. Organizing and thumbing through them usually sends a flow of ideas through me. There are other times when I really want to create something but I sit and stare blankly around the room. I generally find that when this happens, if I leave the craft room for a while and go do something else around the house or with my girls, I can return to the table and get busy without any blocks.

What do you hope your art says about you?
I guess I would like it to say that I am happy & love what I do:)

What is your greatest dream and greatest fear as an artist?
I don't really have any fears so to speak. I love crafting/creating & I try to enjoy every minute I get to spend doing it. I really feel that if I am in the present moment while I am creating, nothing but good will come out of it. I also feel that if I am moody it is not a good idea to create at that time. I believe that those "vibes" good or bad transfer into my work and it will be noticed by others. I try only to craft and work on my shop when I am at peace and happy.

Dreams? I guess I am living them now. I have a great and very supportive family, I haven't had to work a "real job" in over four years. I get to spend as little or as much time in my craft room as I want and no one gives me a hard time or guilt trip about it. I tell my husband he's a good boy & I do know how lucky I am to have him and my girls. I am in the process of learning to "live in the present moment". The past has passed and tomorrow is not guaranteed.

What are your goals in art, and in life?
For both art & life... To be happy with who I am and fulfilled by what I do/create.

Tell us a little bit about yourself—where you grew up, your life now, other creative pursuits, other interests and hobbies.
I was born in Atlanta and raised in metro-Atlanta. I have lived in Georgia for 32 years. I am happily married and have two wonderful girls (ages 6 & 4 1/2) that keep me busy outside of the Etsy world. My girls attend a private Montessori school (we are entering our 5th year there) which requires a lot of parent participation and volunteer hours - so I put a lot of time into their school & education. I served in the Marine Corps Reserves for six years (many years ago) and wouldn't trade the friendships or the experiences & training for anything. As far as hobbies go, my love of paper is at the top of the list. I also enjoy reading and music, Sudoku, Cryptograms and math puzzles (I was in the Intelligence field when I was in the Marine Corps), spending time with my girls and helping them find and focus on their creative energy (my 6 year old loves to write & illustrate stories and make her own books). I am not a religious person but am currently very much into exploring my spirituality. At this time, I am enjoying learning about Physics and the Universe and how to live my purpose. I have spent a lot of time reading and learning about life and where I fit in over the last two years. It's a learning process but I am happier than ever and wish it hadn't taken me over 30 years to discover how things "work".