Check Out My Interview as a Featured Artist on Etsy's Whoa Team Blog

Link to Interview: http://whoateam.blogspot.com/2009/12/featured-artist-steph-hanson.html
Featured Artist: Steph Hanson

Our featured artist is Steph Hanson of StephHansonCreations. Steph lives in Arizona and donates a portion of all her sales to Dreamchaser Horse Rescue.

To read more about Steph, please visit her blog, Spirit Horse Art.

How did you find Etsy and how long have you been selling there?

I think I found Etsy while searching the internet for handmade jewelry. I was beyond excited to discover such an awesome online marketplace. I had dreamed of being able to shop for great handmade items for years! It was also a dream of mine to sell my art and use the money I made to help animals. I opened my shop in July, 2008. I began with acrylic paintings and ACEO's, then added clay pendants and clay art. Just recently I started beading Dreamchaser Horse Rescue's new pewter pendants, and realized that I really enjoy beading as well as painting and working with clay!

How long have you been creating jewelry?

I have always been really into art - especially drawing and painting, but when I became a new mom and was able to stay at home, I started dabbling in clay and other new mediums. I have been creating my clay pendants for about 2 years now. I am new at beading! I just recently tried my hand at it a few months ago, and I really enjoy it! I have become a gemstone and bead addict!

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

I am incredibly inspired by the horses and other animal friends at Dreamchaser Horse Rescue. Words cannot describe how amazing these animals are, and what a privilege it is for me to call them my friends. I could be having the worst, most uninspiring day ever day ever - but a trip to the Rescue fixes that. Being around these beautiful, majestic creatures, as well as being surrounded by what I think is the most beautiful desert country in the U.S. is unbelievably inspiring.

Do you have any favorite artists?

Many! I love the Impressionists - especially Van Gogh. I love contemporary Southwestern Artists such as John Nieto, Pablo Milan, Aleta Pippin, Barbara Meikle, Earl Bliss, Nancy Cawdrey, Kevin Red Star, Ginny Hogan and many, many others.

Please tell us a little about your pets?

We have three kitties we adopted from Cat Rescues and two very LARGE dogs. Cody is a 90 lb mutt and was adopted from the County shelter. Daisy is half German Shepherd and half Australian Shepherd and she came from a German Shepherd Rescue here in Phoenix. I am very close to a horse at the Rescue named Sinatra. He is a "Pintaloosa" (Paint crossed with Appaloosa) and he is a five year old former Premarin foal.

Anything else you would like to include?

100% of sales from my new beaded necklaces goes to Dreamchaser Horse Rescue. They make great gifts for horse lovers! I enclose a Thank You card and brochures from the Rescue with each order.

Posted by Jennifer MacNeill-Traylor at 8:16 PM

Dreamchaser Open House Jan 16th, 2010

                               

I had such a blast at Dreamchaser's Open House last Saturday. The turnout was great, the music was great, and I had a fabulous time giving tours, seeing old friends, and making new ones!

Visitors checking out some of our Adoptable's.

Listening to live music and shopping at our "Gift Shop."

Many thanks to the entertainment!

The animals got plenty of love :)

Here I am with my gemstone necklaces. We sold four of them!

What a great day!

Only one thing could have made it better... Susan is recovering from knee replacement surgery and was stuck in her room. She was missed but got lots of visitors! Get well soon Susan!

Its The Holiday Season

I cannot believe its already December! Time has just been flying by. Feels just like it was Halloween and now Christmas is right around the corner!

The Fall season was busy! In October I had record Etsy sales and was able to make some nice donations to the Horse Rescue! I worked like crazy the whole month through to keep merchandise in my shop. November sales have actually been super slow, and I have been focusing on painting rather than my clay creations. I attended the Thunderbird Artist's Art and Wine Festival in Carefree in November, and I was really inspired by all the bold Contemporary Southwest Art that was on display there. I hope to join in and exibit at this Festival soon - maybe even next year. So...I need to get busy completing some paintings!

I have also been making gemstone beaded necklaces for the Rescue. Susan has purchased some great pewter pendants and I have been beading them for her. You can find the necklaces in my Etsy shop: http://www.stephhansoncreations.etsy.com/ 100% of sales from these necklaces are going to the Rescue! They make great Xmas gifts.

Horse Lover's Park Event Continued...

Some more pics from the Event on Oct. 4th:

Four of Dreamchaser's Adoptable Horses

Honey

Solara

Gracie

and Fancy

Horse Lover's Park Event

On October 4th I went with the Rescue to Horse Lover's Park in Phoenix, where we set up a table at an event that was going on for Scottsdale Riding Club. It was partly overcast so the weather was gorgeous! It was so nice to not be fried to a crisp for once!

Benjamin and I at the event. He has been around horses since he was 5 months old.
The trailer and sign.

The Dreamchaser table. I donated the basket of goodies on top for the raffle... a wall plaque, ornament, magnet, and necklace.

Susan with some adorable little barrel racers. Oh boy, would I have loved to have a horse at their age! Lucky girls!

Bracelet Focals

Something new! I started making these bracelet focal beads a couple of weeks ago and they are selling in my Etsy shop really fast! I'm so glad people like them. I'd better get busy and make some more!

Tucala Had His Surgery

Manitukala made it through hernia surgery and castration on Sept 23rd. He has two critical weeks to go. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers; he has been through so much for a three month old.