The "Follower's" Special

I have decided to run another giveaway special!  I am so close to having 100 followers on my blog and I think that's a good reason to have a celebration of some sort.  So.... here it is!
The 100th follower on my blog will receive a $10 gift certificate to my studio.
The 125th follower on my blog will receive a pair of custom made earrings.
The 150th follower on my blog will recieve a custom made necklace.
 

BUT WAIT!  There's more.... I also want to reward those followers who are actively reading and commenting on my blog entries.  An active follower is worth their weight in gold to me.  Starting with my "Ask the Artist" blog entry, each time a follower comments on a blog entry I will enter their name into my hat for a drawing.  The drawing prize.... $25 gift certificate to use in my studio!

So get out there and be active!  There's only five more spots till the first prize will be given out!

Written With You In Mind

Today I would like to feature my next Artfire artisan: Written With You In Mind!

April is a 40 something crafter who moved from England to Southern Ireland in 2008 for a less stressful lifestyle. She loves trying creative things. She says she's tried just about everything crafty.

I asked April some questions about herself and her craft. Below are her answers!

How did you first get into your craft?

For as long as I can remember I have always been fascinated by the written word. At the age of 6 I was reading book for 10+ children and would spend most of my spare time reading or copying words form books, newspapers and magazines. I used to have exercise books full of copying and it used to drive my Mum insane! I've always written limericks and rhymes but didn't start saving any till I was in my twenties, married with a baby and I began to ponder the meaning of life.

Is there any particular artist or person in your life who influences or inspires you?

I've always loved rhyme that tells a story and makes you smile or is just plain silly. As a child I adored Dr. Suess, Edward Lear and Lewis Carroll. In late life I became a fan of Pam Ayres from England who read her poems professionally and also Spike Milligan.

What are your favorite materials to work with and why?

I love words that rhyme and poems that keep you guessing with a surprise twist at the end.

Is there anything that you do that you think sets your creations apart from similar ones/ your competitors?

As with most poets I write from the heart and take inspiration from my surroundings and experiences. Every experience is unique and personal to me but I try to convey humor in most of my poetry in the hope that it will make people smile.

You can see April's poetry, rhymes and limericks at http://www.artfire.com/users/writtenwithyouinmind