Feature Artist - Julie Ann

~Happy Tuesday all,
~Today we have the uber-talented Julie Ann, this lady does the most fabulous mixed media items - she rocks. She also designs for the very cool site For The Luv Of Art, make sure you give her some love:
I started scrapbooking officially in 2004 although I have been doing it all my life in my own way, collecting ephemera - greeting cards, mementos, travel brochures, journaling for photos, etc. I started in 2004 right after my wedding when my cousin gave me a mini-album to scrap honeymoon photos. I was hooked! And I mean seriously, feet first jumped in totally addicted from the start offering pages for sale on ebay, then by the end of 2004 I was submitting my work to be published and the first things to get picked up in print were my wedding invitations and papercrafts by Scrapbook Trends, items I had made before I officially started scrapbooking! You see, as I said, I've always been artsy, in fact I have a degree in Interior Design from Michigan State University. I have loved journaling for always too, so scrapbooking combined my love of art, journaling, and documenting all in one!

I have been so very blessed to make many friends through scrapbooking, it is amazing how it brings people together across the country and internationally! I love that I've met people online and then been able to meet them in person at CHA, CKC, crops, retreats, etc.

My blog: http://julieannshahin.blogspot.com
Tumblr: http://julieannshahin.tumblr.com

Who is your biggest inspiration???

I don't focus on just one person as an inspiration however, I can share that Mary Ann Moss is one of my recent biggest inspirations, as well as Kara Haupt. I took an online class by Mary Ann called Remains of the Day to make the coolest shabby journal of recycled scraps, and I am eager to take more classes by her as well. Kara Haupt has been creating amazing pages for awhile now, as I've seen on Flickr, and I stumbled upon her Summer of Love 2010 online class, so I am taking that now. It's a fun art journaling class with photography prompts for daytime and nighttime. I was amazed to learn that Kara is eighteen, which I suppose shouldn't make a difference, it's just neat because I'm going to be turning forty this year and it was fun to take a class by someone with such an age difference.

Why did you start creating?
I can't remember a time when I haven't been creating something or other. From a very young age, my mother had me in crafty classes of some kind such as paint-your-own-pottery to teaching me to sew to trying out calligraphy. Her father was also artistic, tumbling stones, polishing then and turning them into beautiful jewelry as well as creating amazing stained glass creations. It's like I have to create to breathe.
What is your favourite thing to create?
I definitely love documenting/scrapbooking/art journaling/photography. If someone said I couldn't do those things anymore, I'd move on and find a way to do what I love. I love using Photoshop Elements as needed, and using items I find in flea markets. I have to keep it fun or else I won't do it. That's the whole point of this hobby, fun!

What are your favourite manufacturers?
My favorite manufacturers are the ones that go with my "shabby chic/flea market/vintage" style. I love K & Co. Brenda Walton, 7Gypsies findings, Prima flowers, Tattered Angels, American Crafts Thickers, Punky Sprouts albums, Hambly rubons, Basic Grey, etc.
You design for For The Love of Art, what is it that drew you to apply to the DT??
First of all I admire owner Norma Kennedy and Creative Director, Suzy West greatly! I was also attracted to Norma's concept of focusing on scrapbooking as art, offering scrapbook kits and offering digital and hybrid products as wellthat coordinate with her kits! I have been a hybrid scrapbooker since 2006 and this is the first time I've been involved in a store that is willing to go this route! It's very exciting. Norma is so talented that she is manufacturing her own awesome stamps and products as well for sale at For the Luv of Art.

You create alot of mixed media items, what is your favourite product to use on one of your pieces???
I love it for mixed media and also for scrapbooking, I just love Tattered Angels Glimmer-Mist.
What are your 3 must-have creative items?
Vintage music sheets, K & Co. Brenda Walton Diecuts, Pop-dots

Have you ever created anything you've hated?
Definitely. In fact, for the Paper-mache self-portrait, I tried making a body cast first. It turned out terrible, in my eyes. I tried using a homemade formula instead of a purchased cast kit. I think my husband saved it somewhere.....I have no idea! LOL

~Wow thanks Julie Ann for that AWESOME interview, it was such a pleasure to interview you and get to know you more.
~I'll be back tomorrow with WOYWW (hopefully),
~love, Vicki xxx