The Handmade Movement: Home of the Sneak Attack

September 1st: August 27 Sneak Attack Report–ardiegaye and janiece59

ElephunksTrunk sponsored the August 27 Sneak attack on ardiegaye and janiece59. Ardiegaye sells a little bit of everything, including jewelry, cards, soap, and blankets. She got 24 sales from the attack Janiece59 sells beautiful artwork and got 15 sales from the attack. They agreed to be interviewed for this blog.

Celeste: What was your reaction when you first realized you had been sneak attacked?

ardiegaye:This was a wonderful experience. That week was especially busy because my out of town guests were leaving the next morning and I had to fit gym and special dinner parties all in. Friday evening after coming home from the airport, I got on my computer and learned the great news. I was shocked and so happy, I decided to make personal gift wrap for everyone who purchased. It was my way of saying thank you and giving back.

LAVENDER TO GO by ardiegaye

Janiece: Wow, what an awesome surprise. I was talking on the phone to my daughter and opened my email to 42 emails and saw the first Etsy transaction. I was so excited and still wondering why so many emails so I started scrolling to find one transaction after another. I tell you I started shaking with excitement and a little confusion. It took me a while to figure out what was going on and when I did the biggest smile came over my face and stayed. What a awesome, friendly, giving, game to play. What a great sense of community you all have to use your time and money to give someone a hand up. I’m am impressed beyond words. It wasn’t the sales that left me speechless it was the giving and I can’t thank you enough. I want to join in your merry prankster world as often as I am able.

Dance as if no one where watching from Janiece59

Celeste: Anything else you’d like our blog readers to know?

ardiegaye: When I was four, I recieved a child’s needlepoint kit for Christmas, I have been crafting ever since. I have always entertained myself with craft. My husband gets tiffed because when I leave the house my purse, book, and craft bag usually follow. I don’t like to waste a minute of crafting time!
I worked for years outside of the home and did not have alot of time for crafts. Since retirement, crafts became my life. There are not enough hours in the day. I made my first bracelet when my mom passed away. I made a breast cancer bracelet to wear in her honor. Friends and co-workers asked for them. The rest is history one bead at a time.
A life-long dream was to own a gift coffee/shop. I never dreamed everything in my shop would be made by me.
I am honored to be attacked and given notice by the team!

GOLD FLOWER by ardiegaye

Janiece: About me…. I have been making things with my hands for a very, long time. When I was 5 my grandmother handed me a needle with some bright colored yarn in it and said make me something pretty. She taught me simple embrodry stitches that I would use to make flowers and such on the edges of pillow covers that we would then donate to charity auctions. My mother then taught me to crochet edges on these pillow cases and I loved it. My grandmother would take me across the creek to where a public dump had been long ago. We dug trough the piles of old bottles, chunks of metal and such in search for treasure. Basically any thing that looked interesting. With that she taught me to see things as they could be and not just what they were on the surface. I have used the skills of my ancestors to jump start me in to the world of art having won many awards and scholarships along the way. I have had the privilage to do my art for movie studios, theme parks and many large corperations. I have been blessed to be able to make my living with my art for 30 years now, throw in a few real jobs and a lot of bartending and waitressing. LOL My shop, my work, it’s all about my family, my friends, the people who always show up when you need them, (and attack you, lol) It’s about trying to see things as they could be beyond what they are. I hope you all enjoy your purchases. Know that they have a lot of my heart in them. I am honored that so many bits of me are about to travel in so many new directions.