Spotlight on AWEsome! Jade Dumpling

Good Day!
This is the first in a series of Spotlight on AWEsome,  where you can get up close and personal with the members of the Art Walk Etsy Team!  And the best thing here is, there may even be a giveaway involved!  You will have to read on to find out!

First up in Susan, from Jade Dumpling!  Here is Part 1 of our interview!

Tell us a bit about yourself:
My name is Susan Powell and I am the owner and artist behind the Jade Dumpling. Currently the shop is online only, but I am looking to move into a traditional bricks and mortar boutique by the end of 2011.   I have a B.S. of Education where I have a specialization in fine art.   I also have taken many classes in various graphic design topics and have just graduated last month with my MBA.  In the past 10 years I have had the opportunity to work as a graphic designer, a commercial photographer, and an educator.  I split most of my time these days teaching and working on my Jade Dumpling shops.  I am currently working at two local community colleges here in IL.  I am very excited to say that I was just approached by the Elgin Community College to develop the Susan Powell Art Academy there and I will be developing a series of 9-18 fine art classes to offer to the public with the end goal of helping new artists get into the business of creating for a living!  Our goal is to have two gallery shows one next Spring and one next Fall 2011 to show off both my work as well as the students who have taken my classes.

Floral Series Fine Art Print

 How did you get started in your art/craft?
Like many other artists I have been making art since I was a very young child.   One of my first memories is me and my mom on the kitchen floor coloring what she called little tweedle bugs!   I have always excelled at art and I loved trying new art mediums.  When I entered college I knew I wanted to immerse myself in the arts and I took as many art classes as I could along with my general curriculum courses.  I started selling my work pretty much right out of high school and did art & craft fairs in college to make extra money.  I even had tried selling in a local craft mall.  It really wasn’t until I learned how to make jewelry that I decided to come up with a line of art focused on Asian and tropical inspired works.  I am trying some new mediums again as I just bought a sewing machine and getting into fabrics.  I also am making some handcrafted fine art candles, which I will be listing in my Etsy shop next week.  They are noodle bowl candles that combine candle wax and polymer clays and have a really fun look to them!  My newest toy is a screen-printing machine and I am going to be spending the next month creating a line of t-shirts that I am very excited about.  I don’t have any one favorite medium, I just like to try new things but I know that I will also be working on canvas more for the rest of the year.

Rainbow Chain Classic Orange Necklace

Has any one person influenced you?
I would have to say my mom- she is very creative too. She likes to sew and do crafts. She was very encouraging as a child.

This is where Susan of Jade Dumpling can be found:  
My main shop right now is jadedumpling.etsy.com  but I also have a really cute shop at www.jadedumpling.winkelf.com/    I am working on my own site currently at http://www.jadedumpling.com/ however that one isn’t quite finished yet!   I am hoping to have it up and running by Sept. 1st.   You can also find me on Twitter and Facebook.

Susan has graciously chosen to host a giveaway!
 One lucky winner will receive a pair of Black Square Hoop Earrings from the Jade Dumpling!  These are really cool!  The giveaway is open to US residents only.

Black Square Hoop Earrings

The giveaway begins Monday, August 2, 2010, and  ends Friday August 6, 2010 at noon,  when one winner will be chosen using Random.org!

To enter:
To enter the giveaway please visit  Jade Dumpling's shop. Come back and let us know your favorite item! Also, Please leave contact info so you can be nofified if you win!  (Mandatory to enter)

For extra entries:

1.  Write a blog post about the giveaway, and leave a link to your blog.

2.  Give a shout out on Facebook with a link back here! Leave a comment telling us !

3.  Heart Jade Dumpling. Be sure to leave a comment here with your Etsy shop name!

4..Follow Jade Dumpling  on Twitter. Leave a comment here that you are a follower!

5.  Like Jade Dumpling on Facebook. Leave a comment here that you are a "Liker"!

Tomorrow, Part 2 of Susan's interview will be posted, so be sure to come back!  Wednesday Susan shares with us something she loves!!  Stay tuned!!

Wishing you all a fabulous, and peace filled day!
The AWEteam!