Wednesday Featured Seller & Giveaway

I love to browse Etsy…it just amazes me how many shops there are and the variety of handmade items out there. While browsing I happened upon joojoo’s shop and absolutely fell in love with her tiny sculptures and jewelry…they just really took my fancy. Afi agreed to do an interview and provide us with a giveaway. First, the interview:

1) Tell us a little about yourself
Hi there! My name is Afi, I am 31 years old and I am living in Toronto, Canada. I am originally Persian, I was born in Iran and now it’s only 3 years that I have come to Canada. I was born and raised in a family of artists. My grandfather was a famous musician and composer and his father was a famous painter and miniaturist who his paintings are now in national museum of art in Tehran. So I was always surrounded by all kinds of art.

2) How long have you been making your miniatures and how did this art form come about?
I really don’t know! But since I was a child I was always drawing small things and making small things! I remember that I was learning to paint with watercolor and I had a teacher who was my mom’s friend. She was always complaining that you paint everything so small! A little bit bigger please! And I had a hard time listening to her, and after a while she just accepted me like that and told me she can’t change me and now she likes my work even though it’s small!!!

3) What inspires you?
Almost everything! Nature, other people’s designs, magazines, children’s books…Sometimes I even dream about the things that I want to make! I draw whatever comes to my mind as soon as I find a pen and piece of paper, because I may forget them and this way it helps me a lot to remember them.

Thank you Afi for a delightful insight to you and your work. Now for the good stuff. Afi has designed and sculpted a cherry blossom magnet. She said, “since Friday is the Spring equinox and beginning of Persian new year (Nowruz) I thought it's a nice idea to have something relevant”. Isn’t it adorable and you probably want to know how you can win it. Visit joojoo’s shop and choose your favorite item and come back here and leave me a comment. Comments will be open through Friday; I will draw a winner on Saturday morning.