What did one interview say to another interview?

Heck if I know!  Read below to find out more about......

Featured Artist: Dani Gudowski

We were fortunate enough to have Dani contribute not one, but two amazing designs for the Back on My Sweets book.  Check out her designs for the Corn Muffins and Chocolate Beet Cupcakes.  I hope I don't get flour all over her beautifully designed pages!  And after she was able to grab some time and answer our questions, here's what she has to say...

What is your favorite muffin/cupcake?

I love zucchini and feta muffins with a little lemon zest!

What reality TV show would you love to be on?

I would love to be on No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain, preferably while he is in France.

What sound or noise do you love?

Love the sound of music (not the movie)

What sound or noise do you hate?

Hate the sound of potato chip bags.

Apart from making beautiful artwork, what else do you do?

I do graphic design, drink coffee and walk dogs. 

Tell me a bit about yourself.

I am in a serious transitional period, I recently lost my husband to cancer and my shih tzu to a car. Although it's a very emotional and hard time, I get a lot of comfort from doing art or crafts and making something to express myself. There is always a bright side to things, and sewing a seed like doing recipes for other people in need makes me feel good about life and passing on the positivity. 

What would be the title of your memoir?

"You never know what life is going to throw you, so pull up your boots and get ready."

Where does your inspiration come from?

Knowing you could lose everything in a moments time makes me know there is nothing to fear. Just do it in other words, no matter what. 

When did you know you were an artist/maker?

When I was young and would order my crayons so they looked like the color spectrum. I guess that's when I knew I was slightly obsessive compulsive too. 

Describe your creative process...

I love drawing things, so I always start there. Then I usually use a scanner and computer to help make my vision a reality. 

If you could peak inside the studio of any artist, designer, or craftsman (dead or alive), who would it be?

William Morris

What is one artistic tool you can't live without?

Sharpies

Check out Dani's blog and website for more artwork..

Just a runner with a sweet tooth!

-Andrea

2nd Annual Silent Auction Fundraising Event for Back on My Feet

Who has two thumbs and will be at the Fund raising Event for Back on My Feet this Saturday at Lir from 3 to 6.  THIS GIRL!  My fellow bomfer, Joslynn Lee, will be running the Marine Corps Marathon and needs your help!  So come on down to Lir to show your support for Josylnn, sign her shirt for her upcoming race, donate to the auction, or just say hi, because we are that awesome!  I'll be bringing along some copies of Back on My Sweets available to purchase!  Here are some details

**SAVE THE DATE**

Come join us in a fun and friendly atmosphere to bid on some great items! A raffle drawing will also take place too! You will be benefiting Back on My Feet.
 

Josylnn worked hard to make this a fun auction, which includes donations from restaurants, Aerial Aircrafts, Fit Corp, and many more.  Check out her site here!

Auction Start Time: 4PM
Auction Stop Time: 5PM

Come sign a tee shirt for Joslynn to wear when she is running the 2011 Marine Corps Marathon in October!

Finger food will be provided and there will be a cash-bar.

And if you can't make it, feel free to donate to Joslynn's fund raising page!

Hope to see you there!

Just a runner with a sweet tooth!

-Andrea 

Back on My Sweets - Now Available to the public!

No it wasn't my birthday yesterday, but I was all smiles and giggles!  I just received approval from the staff at Back on My Feet to go public with the Back on My Sweets illustrated recipe book!  So click below for all your holiday present needs, or just because you love artwork, muffins, and want to support an amazing organization... 

Back on My Sweets

And big hugs to all that helped out with this project!  Stay tuned for more artist interviews!

Just a runner with a sweet tooth!  Nom nOm noM...

-Andrea 

It's Interview Time!

So to get to know our Back on My Sweets contributing artists, I've compiled a list of interview questions and nagged and nagged until I was blue in the face and our talented group of illustrators, graphic designers, and watercolor artists finally got back to me...  So drum roll please....

Featured Artist: Johanna Pabst

And here goes!   

What is your favorite muffin or cupcake?
Vanilla/vanilla - As a cupcake aficionado, it is more about the particular recipe than a specific flavor.  Vanilla/vanilla is the perfect test case for comparing different bakeries' cupcakes.


Apart from making beautiful artwork, what else do you do?
I am pursuing my PhD in Sociology at Boston College.  I also teach sociology at undergrad level.  My interests are on media and technology, the digital divide, pop culture, and culture in general, and gender.  I've been working on this for a long time, hopefully I'll finish sometime soon.  But art certainly distracts me!

Where does your inspiration come from?
From the world around me, from the things I love. I painted for awhile before I became really prolific about a year and a half ago, and honestly, my inspiration was cupcakes. That was when I realized I didn’t have to paint fruit and flowers all the time, as we had in my watercolor classes. I could paint anything I wanted, and the prettiest little things I knew at the time were cupcakes. So I went crazy. Since then, I just try to look around me and remember when I see something that I might want to paint a picture of. I also save lots of photos on my computer- sort of my inspiration folder! I am also inspired by many artists, especially the artists around me on Etsy. 

When did you know you were an artist/maker? 
I'm not sure if I know it now, but it's definitely more now than before I had an etsy shop and people requesting me to do things. It's always amazing when someone wants my art (and is willing to pay for it). Before that, artistic and crafty things were definitely occasional hobby only, and hardly even that. Now it's a part of me and something I have to do. Of course, now I worry about turning it into too much work and ruining the fun.

Check out more of Johanna's art on her Etsy Shop, JoJo La Rue!  I'd like to also congratulate Johanna on her first solo show at Petite Robert in Brighton, MA.  The reception is this Saturday, Oct 15th from 4:30-6PM, click here for the facebook invite.

I know I'll be stopping by!  

Stay tuned for the Back on My Sweets book for Johanna's contributing recipe, Pineapple and Cream Cheese Muffins!    

Just a runner with a sweet tooth!  Nom Nom Nom...

-Andrea

Status Update

I just submitted the final edits for the book and hopefully ordered the last copy before making Back on My Sweets available to the public!  The book is due to be delivered Oct 12th, so once again I'll be one antsy lady until then.  I'll need lots of distractions so feel free to bombard me with jokes, story telling, charades, puppetry, and or just standing on your head to keep me from going crazy!  Hopefully I won't drive the mail carrier too nuts with my, "is it here, is it here, is it here" comments every 5 seconds.  I think that whole "watched pot never boils" thing is horse crap....

Just a runner with a sweet tooth*

-Andrea