Member Interview

1973

Hi there! Please tell us a bit about yourself.

Hello! My name is Colette and I live in Mount Shasta, California. Raw Art Letterpress is my main Etsy shop. 

 

abandon de creance (forgive the debt)

'Raw Art' is basically defined as art made by the unschooled artist, that would be me. I took a printmaking class but because I'm not a very precise person and I don't follow directions well. I hated it, never turned in an assignment and failed the class. I did have an idea of what I wanted my prints to look like so I began experimenting. Eventually I found my way to what I call the 'raw art letterpress process.' 

rubber stamp version of silent

My prints are made entirely by hand - I cut the plates from cardboard, I cut out every letter and shape and I press each print with my own two hands. The final product has a lot of quirks, I like to think of them as perfectly imperfect. The style isn't for everyone, but it works well for me ... especially the part where I make it up as I go along!

Most of my prints have words and most of them are my own 'sayings' but I also make prints of other people's quotes and a lot of custom prints. I get so many requests for faith-based and recovery quotes that I just opened a second shop called Pure Heart Letterpress that is dedicated to inspirational work.

How did you learn about Etsy Project Embrace?
I learned about EPE through treasury making. I liked the sport old treasury system - it is through the enthusiastic comments of so many EPE members that I discovered the team.

l'amore (love that moves the sun and other stars)

Around the same time I made a print for my friend whose wife has had cancer for many years. They have a wonderful relationship and the first thing that came to mind for them was Dante's "Love that moves the sun and other stars." After that I wrote to Kristin at LoveArtWorks and joined up. 

What is your favorite item in your shop at the moment? 

my first wordprint from 1998

The print that is most significant to me is "Silent-Listen." It was the first wordprint I made back in 1998 from hand cut rubber stamps. The words have the same letters in a different arrangement. I have found that one of the most difficult things to do is to just be present with another person, to listen and say nothing at all. This Quaker quote says it a bit more eloquently: "to listen a soul into disclosure and discovery is the greatest service one human being can do for another."

What is your favorite possession, and why do you cherish it? 

I would be sad to lose the first necklace my sister at Lulu Bug Jewelry made from my 'Speak Love' print.

Speak Love

What do you collect? 

It seems I've started a sea glass collection - I have a few pieces from Latvia via Rita from her alatvian store and Peggy at TheBeadAeire just sent me a wonderful gift - two pieces of sea glass made into a necklace.

Do you have a blog?
Yes ~ http://rawartletterpress.blogspot.com 

Where would you like to be and what do you hope to be doing ten years from now?
I'd like to be making prints and living in a beautiful place ... sort of like I do now!

my live-work dome in winter

inside the dome

Anything you'd like to add?
I have really enjoyed getting to know other Etsy sellers and that has mainly come about through treasury making especially with EPE members. I know so many people from all over the world, and the majority of them I have met through EPE. When I became an Etsy seller about a year ago, I had no idea that I would find such a wonderful community. Seeing people's art or their selection of vintage pieces reveals a lot about who we are and offers an opportunity to really get to know people - something I didn't think was possible to do on the internet!

the view from the dome

Etsy and EPE specifically have been great blessings to me - it is really uplifting to get a note from a team member or to be able to create a treasury with pieces made from such wonderful people. I look forward to getting to know more EPE members. thanks for all your love and support, I certainly have received much more than I have offered.

turkish quote 'peace at home, peace in the world'