Featured Artist Patricia Sweetland

 

 

Happy hello all!

 

 

Today, I am featuring Patricia's Shop!

 

 

Patricia is an old time Etsy Friend! I am so excited to share her shop with you!

 

SweetlandArts

https://www.etsy.com/shop/Sweetlandarts?ref=pr_shop_more

 

 

Patricia sells Digital Art and Digital Photographs.

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/98429216/wedding-procession-8x10-print?ref=shop_home_active

 

 

But, she is branching out into several other categories in the next month.

So, make sure you pop by her shop to see all her new Goodies!!

 

 

Grab your coffee.... Here we go!

 

 

How did you get started with Etsy?

 

I knew about Etsy and set up my account, then I spent a year selling on Zazzle, learning how to make art and how to work the computer and Internet aspects, and everything else I needed to run my own business. When the year ended (and Zazzle is a great place to start!) I opened my Etsy shop.

 

 

When did you get interested in making your Art/Craft?

 

I was a writer, and I was pretty good at it. In fact, everyone who knew me had pretty high expectations. Since I am someone who wants to please everyone in my life, the expectations started to be too much for me to handle. Eventually, I started feeling sick whenever I sat down to write.
Nobody had expectations of me as an artist or photographer, but I simply have to create...so I switched to art.

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/99578486/old-chapel-by-the-sea-5x7?ref=shop_home_active

 

 

Where does your inspiration come from?

 

My faith. I am so happy to be alive, to experience every aspect of life, even the sad and difficult parts and the mistakes. Everywhere I look I see the beauty created by God. My love for Jesus, my Savior, is always with me. When I create, I am sure God the Father is watching me and smiling because His daughter wants to follow in His footsteps. I hope my art and my faith will encourage others to feed their souls by adding bits of creativity to their own lives.

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/98884226/art-the-lords-day-8x10-print?ref=shop_home_active

 

 

Who taught you or how did you learn your art form?

 

There is lots of creativity in my family. My parents and my siblings and I spent lots of time "pretending" and using our imaginations together, and we always felt we could develop any God given ability. So I sat down and started to draw and went out and took pictures. After lots of practice with both, I was making items people admired enough to purchase.

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/79651683/shells-in-the-basket-5x7?ref=shop_home_active

 

 

Where do you see your Shop in 5 years from now?

 

With more sales and more of a variety of items and a showcase for wholesalers. Right now I have several items licensed with
DiaNoche. DiaNoche sells lights that have art on the front. It is a lovely, innovative idea and I am thrilled to be one of their artists.

 

 

How do you manage your time between Etsy and the rest of your life?

 

I wish I could manage anything, but I am not good at organization. My time is totally unplanned and I move from one thing to another mostly by whim.

 

 

Is this a hobby, part-time job, or full-time job?

 

At this point, I am not making enough financially to consider it a "means of living", however I certainly put in enough time, effort and love for it to be my life....the rest will come.

 

 

Do you make or stock items you love, or what will sell?

 

I make what I love and I know there will be others who will love it too. It makes me very happy when someone tells me something I made will have a special place in their home.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/77435477/gerri-giraffe-8x10?ref=shop_home_active

 

 

Where else can we find you online?

 

I don't have a website yet. I do have a facebook store, Sweetlandarts will get anyone to my shop.

 

 

Did you always want to have your own business?

 

Absolutely! I craved the freedom of choosing my own paths and of taking the responsibility from start to finish of what I do each day.

 

 

Any other thoughts you want to share with us?

 

If you don't already, add some creativity to your life. Doing just simple things: put a flower in a bottle on your table, even if it's a dandelion in a water bottle; dance to answer the door the next time someone knocks; when you have to write a note, try printing it in bubble letters or add a decoration at the end of it. When you do this, you will start to notice the details. Then you will begin to see more clearly, the beauty filling the world. The benefits? A feeling of peace, an inner glow giving you a boost in your energy and in your attitude. I guess you begin presenting an "attitude of gratitude" to each person you meet and it feels good.

 

 

 

I want to thank Patricia for this interview! I love her work! I know you will too!!

 

Here are few more of her pieces! Enjoy

 

 

About Patricia:

 

Happily married to my prince for many years; we have seven children and fifteen grandchildren to love. Creativity is both inspirational and spiritual to me. Find little ways to add creativity to every corner of your life. If you love music, sing LOUD; if you like art, keep pens in different colors close at hand so you can write every day notes in glorious color with squiggles and dots. Let everything inspire wonder in you, and always be grateful for the unique, amazing person that is YOU. Thank you to all the small business entrepreneurs who have inspired me and so many others to follow in a path you forged. I hope you like my shop items and I am thrilled to have you peruse them.