Interview with Artist Carla Trujillo Hastypearl

Interview with Artist Carla Trujillo

Hastypearl

I love the Mystery of Attraction.

Attraction's of All Kinds, go on All Day Long.

You love That flower, she loves the other one.

You love That song, he loves the other one.

There is no explaining it, but its a Beautiful thing!

It's an easy thing for me to say, 

that I am Attracted to ALL things, Carla Trujillo.

A good while back, I found her blog...and read the WHOLE thing.

That happens, when you find that you share 

Important Life Themes with someone.

I feel that I share some very important ones with Carla.

While its likely, that we wont ever meet (but you NEVER know :), 

she is a person that I will always follow 

through this wonderful world called, the internet.

I was pretty excited, when she agreed to do this interview with me.

I'm sure that she has done plenty.

I know you will enjoy getting to know her and seeing her great Art Dolls.

Lets get started so that if you don't know her yet, You can....!

*

1. Laura: Carla, at what age did you recognize/feel, 

that you had an ability to express yourself artistically

 and what medium was it?

Carla: My artistic journey began around twelve years of age. 

I had won an art contest with a pencil drawing of Christ,

 and my prize was drawing lessons.

2. Were you encouraged? 

My parents were always encouraging me 

and they even went so far as to let me paint images on my bedroom wall.

3. What/Who inspires you?

I think I learn a little from many different artists, 

but the one who really inspired me to explore 

mixed media art dolls is Patricia Anders. 

I first came across Tricia's art dolls in a magazine publication 

several years back and was blown away by her talent. 

I was instantly hooked.

4. What percentage of the time, do you like your finished product?

I would say about 75% of the time.

5. Do you start and finish a piece, 

or do you work on multiple pieces at a time?

I have multiple pieces going on at the same time. 

When one stumps me, I set it to the side and move on to something else. 

Most of the time I return to finish the piece, 

but there have been times where it is 

dismantled and integrated into other works.

6. What gives you the most satisfaction in your work? 

i.e. The idea? The process? The materials? or none of these?

I would have to say that I get the most satisfaction in the process. 

I usually come into the studio with no preconceived ideas 

of what I will be creating. 

It just happens as I experiment and fiddle with stuff.

7. I hear people talk about running out of ideas? 

Does that ever concern you?

Not really. 

When I feel like I have come to a road block, 

its usually because I am burned out. 

That's when I know it's time to walk away 

from the studio for a while.

8. Carla, you know that with pleasure, 

I have read your WHOLE blog all of the way back to 2007! 

It was great fun, to see the changes/evolution of your art. 

You have mostly had a figure, and often a female figure, 

central to your art. 

Can you share where that comes from for you 

or is it just the most fun thing for you to assemble?

I have always been drawn to the female figure. 

I guess I view her as a powerful and mysterious image. 

She can range from simplistic to very complicated 

and I just love exploring those aspects. 

My desire is for simplistic, but the muse usually has other plans.

9. Carla, when I was gathering up your link information, 

I found that you aren't the only Carla Trujillo out there! 

But, your name comes up First and certainly as an Artist!

You have your indiandollartworks blog, 

which is usually the mother-ship for everyone, 

and  your shops on Zibbet and Big Cartel, 

a FB, Flicker and Pinterest presence...

plus you do gallery and art shows! 

Whew!

But your most recent accomplishment was to your surprise, 

being contacted by Art Quilting Studio Magazine, 

for submission of some of your pieces. 

OF COURSE they were accepted, and not only that, 

they were Featured in a 5 page article 

in their Summer 2014 issue!

I wonder, if you could briefly walk my readers 

through the nuts and bolts of how someone submits their work to a publication. 

Did you send them photos/images or your actual pieces? 

How did that work?

I do share the same name with some very interesting people. 

Its funny that you should bring that up. 

My husband had taken a class in ID theft 

and one of the things to check was to Google your name,

 to see what comes up and that leads to some interesting finds.

As for the magazine submission, 

it was not as intimidating as I thought it would be. 

I mailed in the art quilts, 

so they could be professionally photographed in their studio. 

You do have to pay postage both ways and write the article. 

The first paragraph of the article is information about yourself and the art piece,

 and everything after that is about technique. 

The entire article should be no more that 700-800 words. 

It seems like a lot, but when you write the technique, 

it fills up the pages real quick. 

Once everything is submitted, they will email you a rough draft 

for the article with photos for your review.

Then you have to be patient for the magazine to be published. 

I received a complimentary magazine as payment for submission. 

It was exciting to be published!

10. Finally, what is next for Carla Trujillo? 

Is there something brewing that we should be on the lookout for? 

I have so many things in mind and never enough time to do it all. 

I'm hoping to publish assemblage work in other magazines 

and I have been approached about teaching a class online.

I also have been working with clay and love it! 

So, keep an eye out for new materials in my work. 

*

So, there You are!

Thanks Carla, for participating in this interview.

I know that your fans will drink up Every word, 

and that you will make NEW fans after they see your amazing pieces.

Your work is One of A Kind.

It means a lot, for someone to see art and say...Oh, that is______'s.

Well, We all say, Oh, that is Carla Trujillo, when we see Yours! :)

And just like happened to you with Patricia...we are Hooked on You !

And Thanks Dear Readers, for checking in again with hastypearl!

I love that you do...

I hope that you are enjoying these Wonderful Days.

In these exceptionally Busy days, make sure that you Take Time to look around and drink it all in!

There are Free Gifts for us...Everywhere we look :)

Best...Laura  

Red Oak Book Workshop My Books Hastypearl

Red Oak Book Workshop

My Books

Hastypearl

Hopefully, you have already read my previous posting 

about a fantastic workshop 

that I recently hosted, with Roxanne Evans Stout 

and Leslie Marsh...in the teaching seats.

While we are still floating along in Post Workshop Bliss, 

that's not what this posting is about:)

I thought that I would simply show you... what I created!

No two students book covers were alike 

 and no two pages were alike, either.

We were given technique and tools 

and left to our own imaginations!

Ahhh...so refreshing.

I will apologize, but Once.

When I say that, you will understand.

If you want to know what these books 

look like from the hands of the talented teachers, 

you would be wise to go to their websites.

That is not to say that I'm not amazed and proud 

of our work.

Its just important that I direct you to look 

at what Years of practice in these techniques, can look like!

Our books had Soldered and bound covers.

Some people sent Leslie pictures that they wanted to use on their covers, 

but she somehow and amazingly found for me,

Vintage pictures 

of the town that I live near.

I had never seen any of the pictures that she found.

This one is undoubtedly of the river 

that runs through the city and its original bridge.

I will Treasure this Sentimental Find.

My book will Never lay flat, Nor close!

That's OK.

I love FILLING the pages.

That's my style!

We were all amazed at the simplicity of the graphics 

that the string made on our paper and fabrics, 

from winding it around and around a copper pipe.

After dropping our "wands" into the boiling water, 

the leaves made their own beautiful tracings. 

Those of us addicted to Mixed Media Art, 

are always scavenging materials.

I retrieved the strings that came off of our pipes 

from the trash cans and along with some ribbons, 

made a little weaving.

Again, I could hardly pay attention to Roxanne's 

copper box making tutorial, 

because all I could think about was 

grabbing her little copper squares, leftovers :)

She also told us a story about where 

she illegally   ;)

found this metal grate, 

but again, I cant remember it, 

because all I wanted to do was grab it :)

I tied it to one of my pages and cut out the openings.

I love how light pours through the holes 

and even better, how it looks from the back on the pecan leaves.

It was fun asking the owners 

of the Turn of the Last Century Old Time General store

 that I shop at, if I could have leaves 

from their Century Pecan Tree! 

They were actually curious 

and asked if I would bring the art that I made with them!

I'm a talker, and find that most people 

love hearing about other peoples interests AND, 

that same store owner, gave me a really great suggestion 

about who I might invite to future art workshops!

One thing leads to another, right ? :)

As you have seen, I've made Many more pages.

I will post them 

along the way on my Facebook timeline.

I hope that you will stop by there 

sometime and see what I'm up to.

There is a button on the right side 

of this page that will instantly link you to it, 

and to my Etsy shop and more! 

Next, are a few images of a mini book that we made.

Leslie sells AMAZING books with beautiful embossed lead covers, 

in her Etsy shop and at Shows.

I was fortunate enough to buy one 

from her last year, and I wear it all of the time.

I look forward, to making another embossed cover.

It is definitely something that repetition will help with.

It was another opportunity to practice 

the bookbinding stitching that she taught us.

*

* 

So, there You are! 

A little continuation of my previous blog posting.

Its an Understatement that 

Both ladies opened many new doors, 

for ALL of us.

There are workshops of Every Kind, 

available around the country, All of the time.

Do be Bold and Try New Things!

Its a great way for us to build our brains, feed our imaginations and souls,  

and Discover things that we Might just fall in love with!

So, Thanks for stopping by my hastypearl blog.

I hope that You find Wonder, wherever you are!

Fondly...Laura

Red Oak Book Arts Workshop with Leslie Marsh and Roxanne Evans Stout Hastypearl

Red Oak Book Arts Workshop

with 

 Leslie Marsh and Roxanne Evans Stout

Hastypearl

NASA called, and said that they use fewer steps to launch a rocket, 

than we did in the three day workshop that Leslie Marsh and Roxanne Evans Stout

 taught us last week! :)

Some background first.

I have Never held an art workshop. Ever.

I had Never met either teacher. Ever.

In fact, Leslie realized, that the two of us, 

had never even talked on the phone about any details. Ever.

Maybe I should have instead titled this posting...Ever, 

because it was often the theme of the workshop!

None of the students had Ever met each other or either of the teachers.

Yet...in three short days, an overwhelming bond 

occurred between ALL of us, 

so much so, that you would have thought 

that it was our Tenth reunion!

Leslie and Roxanne arrived to our home in Texas LATE, 

the night before the class began.

They hit the ground running setting things up 

the first morning and they never stopped smiling...Ever!

Leslie started the first day, by leading us outside to gather 

leaves and flowers for the eco dyeing 

portion of the workshop. 

We got the large Tamale pot boiling with 

my alkaline Texas water, 

a rusty piece of iron, some black walnuts 

and a cup of vinegar.

That recipe only changed each of the three days 

by the addition of water and vinegar.

The beautiful thing to witness was, 

how Each Days pieces changed so dramatically.

Once the papers and fabrics (three kinds) were in the dye pot, 

she started us working on the book covers.

No, these weren't Just book covers, 

these were Leslie's beautiful soldered covers.

And no, we didn't just make ONE book, 

we made TWO!

In Three days...What??

Day Two began with Roxanne asking how we felt about 

the previous day and if we would share.

It was amazing and touching, to hear how deeply, 

we had each already been effected and in so many  Different ways.

It is said, that you get out of something what you put into it.

Every woman that attended, had already put themselves ALL IN, 

and that was before we even got our hands stained :)

She then had the idea of taking us to my back garden 

to get our collage juices going. 

We gathered bits of nature and made Mandalas, 

and placed them on the shredded bark in the shade.

I'll stop and say, that I sent exterior pictures for our promotion 

from this EXACT same time of year last year, 

and the Fall Colors in the Texas Hill Country were ablaze!

This year...nothing! 

Ladies left their colorful and cool October homes, 

to arrive to 88 degrees and green!

Completely ironic to the name of the workshop, 

but as we know, we cant do ANYTHING to effect Nature!

It is on its OWN time clock!

Back into the house we went to some beautiful 

collage tutorials done like only Roxanne can do them.

Every supply was provided.

And provided.

And provided!

What an amazing opportunity it was for us to be 

so Richly Filled by Two Such Talented Women.

They went Above and Beyond anything 

that could have been Dreamed! 

   

Please notice how neat the tables are at this point!

YOU know what I mean.

Its just a matter of time, before everything got Wild!

...except for Elissa (in the lime green top)

Her space was ALWAYS neat as a pin...

yeah, you know, there is Always one of THOSE 

in every workshop ;)

From there, it went back and forth from the dye pot, 

to more soldering, to more collaging and 

finally to a beautiful binding of our books.

I think that I speak for most of us, that had never done one or 

more of every category, 

and yet, somehow, we got ALL of our projects completed!

(pecan leaves)

Every time something came out of the pot, we were Delighted!

It was like a Gift being opened.

I am now sooo addicted!

Now, I see why all of the dyers out there, 

are buried with scraps of fabrics and paper fresh from their dye pots :)

We set up on my kitchen island for demos.

This is Roxanne showing us idea number one, thirty, 

four hundred.

Roxanne and Leslie, were so compatible.

I don't know if I have ever been around two 

More pleasant people.

The three of us went at it HARD, for 5 days, 

and it was seriously, Pure Joy the whole time:)

Night number two, the three of us, the moon and the stars ate 

leftovers on our upstairs deck and talked. 

Then on night three, we did leftovers AGAIN 

but this time...I think that we were so tired and relaxed, 

that we laughed our heads off until wayyyy Late!

Yes, Leslie and Roxanne knew each other, but it felt like we had become fast sisters...

we were...Kindred Sisters!   

Finally, we finished and it was time for Show Time!

We took our Two Books and Fabrics into the Dining Room 

and had our own little Art Show.

I was so proud of what we had accomplished.

Noses to the ground, we surprised ourselves.  

*

*

*

Neither Leslie or Roxanne are New at this.

Many of you have taken their classes and already KNOW 

what I am talking about, so you are going down memory lane.

If you haven't taken their classes, 

and you see their names come up as instructors at an Art Event...

TAKE THEIR CLASSES.

If they collaborate again...and I hope that they will....

TAKE THAT CLASS.

Its not just the skill set or the style that they bring...its the Heart.

Beautiful Hearts.

Generous Hearts.

Honest Hearts.

And to the Ladies that came from all corners of the United States, 

You were Exactly the women that were SUPPOSED to be here.

The event wouldnt have been the Same with even One of you missing.

I love how that happens.

If you haven't already been drenched in our 

Workshop Honeymoon Honey 

on each of our Facebook walls yet, 

you will!

Like I said, I've never seen anything like this before...

and I'm SO HAPPY THAT I WAS BLESSED TO BE A PART of it!!!

Roxanne, it wasn't an accident that we were on FB 

at the exact time that this workshop was 

conceived and contacting Leslie, was Brilliant!

*

Elissa, Carol, Kip, Laura, Roxanne, Leslie and Melody

And to You, my Dear Readers, I'm so glad that you stopped by to read my blog.

I'm Always glad!

Out of all of the blogs out there for you to read, 

it means So Much to me that you join me.

I hope that you will again...soon.

Feel free to post a comment...I always love to hear from you :) 

...Laura

Mixed Media Assemblage Angel Hastypearl

Mixed Media Assemblage Angel

Hastypearl

As many of you know, I love Two things that both show up over and over in my art.

One...Angels...the second ....Building Angels :)

My stash of found objects continues to grow.

I cant "help" it :)

Just let me in the doors of a closing estate 

where there was a Curios Minded Gentleman with a workshop, 

and I AM going to find what he tinkered with!

As happens, I recently met at the Church of Redstone, Colorado, 

a woman with a never ending smile named, Betty.

It didn't take long for us to discover 

that we had a number of friends in common.

That same morning, I "randomly" sat next to a woman 

that I had met all the way back in the 70's named Melissa.

Both women were dear to my SIL's family, Bess and Jim.

Bess and Jim, are the common denominator to us all.

Well, eventually in the story, 

Betty wrote me to tell me about an important 

fund raiser that was to be held in the Crystal River Valley.

It was for a ministry that Melissa and Louis McBurney 

established 40 years ago for Pastors and their families.

I don't think that we think about Pastors 

as people that might need ministering to, as 

THEY are usually the ones doing the Serving.

Well, Melissa and Louis knew better, 

and their Marble Retreat ministry continues, today.

After reading a letter of mine and seeing my blog and hastypearl etsy addresses,

Betty sweetly contacted me and asked me to be a part of the 

Marble Retreat fundraiser.

I was honored and thrilled.

This Angel was what I made for the event 

and I thought that you would enjoy seeing her.

Her body, was built on the most amazing wood finial. 

I realized, that I never took a photo 

of her from behind. Oops. Sorry!

I layered and layered.

Many of the brass gears and pieces, 

came from my stash from the estate of a clock repairman.

I traveled  to that estate for three days straight 

and people continued to pour out of it with bags in their arms.

It will be a while, before I go to an estate sale to match that one!

You know that I also love casters.

This porcelain caster 

was a perfect match for her mother of pearl button heart.

We just got back from 11 days in the Crystal River Valley, 

where the Marble Retreat is located.

This would be a very similar view 

to what those seeking healing there, would 

see from the home in Marble.

Its a very Restorative view for All!  

one of the verses that they have on their website:

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. -Psalm 46:1

It was my Joy to participate by 

submitting this Angel piece for the event, 

and I was very delighted to learn that it sold!

I always think about the person/s that will end up with my pieces.

I know that for every item that I create, 

that there is a Special Person just waiting to be matched with it.

I hope that you are enjoying these beautiful days.

Cooler for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere 

and Freshening and Spring like for you in the Southern part of the World.

Thank you so much for stopping by...

I hope you will often.. :) xo Laura

Hastypearl...Backstage!

Hastypearl...Backstage!

I got the idea, to show you the Backstage of a Hastypearl sale, 

after Seth Apter issued a call 

for artists to send him pictures of their Studio Tables!

It has been fun to see the responses and the sad  state of affairs 

of Art Tables from around the world ;)

I wont just show you my table, 

but I will also show you what happens After the table!

Lets face it...Your kitchen, garage, sewing table, garden, office

...anywhere that you are in the middle of a project, 

can turn into a "Chaotic Zone" in a hurry.

Ahh...but such are the Wonders that can happen There :)

So, here is my table this morning.

I'm currently working on some angels.

Not so bad, really, but the piles on the floor 

surrounding it, make me look like I'm playing 

the Twister Game sometimes.

What I thought would be fun to post about today, 

is the "step by step" of what happens when

 I have a sale in my Etsy shop, called Hastypearl.

We will go...Backstage!

And by the way, all you have to do is register

and have a credit card, to purchase something from Etsy.

Etsy has made it Incredibly easy to shop online.

If you haven't shopped there yet, you HAVE to take a look.

Its mostly about Handmade, and Vintage Resale.

A Perfect combination, for me!

So, when you have an Smartphone and you have an Etsy sale, 

you hear the sound of a cash register.

It literally says...Cha Ching!

Mostly Anywhere that I am when I hear that Cha Ching...

I do a Happy Dance!

I LOVE knowing that someone, 

from literally Anywhere in the World, 

has found me and loves either my Art, 

or a Vintage Item that I have found!

I still consider myself an infant in the Etsy game, 

and I have had my Hastypearl Store 

for a year and a half, but I confess, a sale Never Gets Old!

So, yesterday, while I was listing some new items, 

I heard the sound...Cha Ching!

Happy Dance Ensued :)

This time...a sale came from Houston, Texas!

My sweet... dear, deer...was to leave home !

I keep most of my items, in labeled boxes in a closet.

That way, I can dependably get the purchases out the door, in a day.

I usually get them out the Same day. 

I do the typical packaging that You do when You ship....

However, when I have an item that is extra fragile...

like the ears are on my little polymer clay deer, 

I turn to my dependable egg crate foam mattress!

OK. Its a little unconventional, but its super affordable and 

its worked to safely carry my art all around the world :)

Here is a picture of my deer, safely packed inside.

Im telling you. I felt a little sad. 

Like I was sending a child to camp!

He looks so cute, don't You think!

So, I happen to KNOW this Particular customer...

yep, its my youngest Son!

Hes been such a Great customer.

I always feel a little silly...because...he could come here 

and take anything he wanted for free, but he wouldn't.

He constantly encourages me. 

Its nice when you know that someone that loves you, 

is also proud of you, right? :) 

Plus, I think he kind of likes the convenience of 

comfortably shopping, 

and knowing that I will wrap his gift for him ;)

He bought... dear, deer, for his girlfriend Valencia's, birthday.

Shhh. Don't tell her.

Its a surprise!

EVERY person who buys a treat from Hastypearl, 

gets a handwritten thank you note 

from me, and some surprises.

I think this is actually one of my favorite parts.

I love thanking and connecting 

personally with my customers!

I couldn't help but slip in a necklace 

that I had made and a pouch of lavender.

The resin filled charm has 

a piece of vintage ephemera of a butterfly, 

a beautiful piece of vintage bridal lace, 

a garnet bead, and the word...become. 

Finally, it was time to put it all together.

I happily do this for customers, that are sending a gift to someone. 

I added one of my Hand Painted Watercolor cards 

with a message about... becoming.

Etsy is set up for us buy our shipping labels, 

even International labels, through them,

but if I can save money by using the USPS, 

I will use Click and Ship.

Its sooo nice and easy, to buy postage at home. 

By now, I'm in the home stretch.

Three of the One Million things that I have learned 

in the last year and a half are....

1. Never put your packing tape over your bar code. 

It causes issues with the machines 

trying to read the numbers.

2. Use a black marker, and scribble over any other bar codes 

that are on the outside of your box. 

The machine reads the first bar that it scans, 

and your box may go to who knows where!

3. Before you tape, shake your box. 

If the contents rattle inside, add more "stuffing" 

until the rattle goes away! 

You've already seen that I use foam, 

but I also use Larry's plastic,

 that covers his clothes returning from the cleaners. 

Its free and a great way to recycle.

I asked my lady mail carrier, 

if I could put my Domestic boxes in our mailbox 

for her to take to the PO for me. 

Being that we live in a small rural community, 

she agreed. 

That has really saved me time :)

Of course, even though I can buy 

my International postage at home, 

it always has to be checked in

 and scanned at the nearest US Postal Office.

Then, I come back to the house,

 and start the process all over again!

Creating or Finding, Photographing, Photoshopping, 

Researching, Listing and...

 Waiting to hear that Awesome Cha Ching! :)

I always ask my customers what they 

will do with their Hastypearl purchase.

I have heard some of the MOST AMAZING STORIES!

People have the Greatest Imaginations.

Then there are the unusual, 

like four of my Wire Ornament Hangers, 

were used on the set of 

last years top Tony Award winning 

Broadway play, 

and I haven't heard back yet, 

but I recently sent an item to a 

Set Decorator in Burbank, California. 

Gets the imagination going, right? :)

So, Farewell...dear, deer.

I will miss you, but you will bring Joy!

So, I hope that was fun for You, 

or maybe even helpful for you in some way.

Now, you know what its like Backstage...Hastypearl!

And I Gladly join the ranks of Messy Artists and Humans around the World!

Where there is a Mess...there has usually been some Fun!!

I hope that you will consider doing your up coming 

shopping on one of the many Online Handmade sites. 

You cant beat finding original items AND 

having them delivered right to your front door! 

As Always, I'm So glad that you stopped by...

and thanks for the challenge, Seth!

xo Laura