Meet the Creative: Anita of Little Paper Crane

Welcome to our second installment of the Meet the Creative series. We hope these short question/answer posts help you get to know each of are talented contributors on a more personal level. 

Name: Anita Fontaine
Brand/Company: Little Paper Crane

How did you end up doing what you do now?
When I was in high school I took a jewelry making class, on a whim. I had no prior interest in it, but I needed to fill my schedule and it sounded intriguing! I loved it, so I took a second class. For years I never revisited jewelry making. When I moved to Virginia in 2007 my husband was roofing and tearing copper roofs off of historic homes in downtown. I had been making beaded earrings to sell to friends and thought it would be fun to invest in tools to try cutting metal and use some of the roofing scraps from my husband. I started selling really rustic pieces at a local boutique called Folk (it used to be open where Bittersweet is now). That began the baby steps of my career in jewelry making.

What is your favorite thing you have ever created?
Can I be really cheesy and say my favorite things I have created are my two girls? Besides that I think my favorite jewelry design to date is my Dreamcatcher necklaces. They are a labor of love but I really enjoy playing with the composition of each one, choosing charms that compliment and balance one another.

Photo Credit: Little Paper Crane

Are you working on any new projects or learning any new techniques?
I'm really hoping to branch out into working with some sterling silver this year. I'm also dying to learn some new skills including soldering and casting. It will really broaden my horizons!

Photo Credit: Little Paper Crane

Where is your favorite place to create? 
I love sitting on my porch in the spring and summer. Most of my work is really mobile; I can carry it to various places in my house and set up a little studio of sorts. Though I do have a home studio...I like my porch better!

Photo Credit: Little Paper Crane

What inspires you most?
Other artists inspire me more than anything! I love seeing what other people are working on which is part of the reason Pastiche is such a lovely store to be a part of...so many creative people to bounce ideas off of.

What is your creative soundtrack? 
I am usually so in the zone that I don't even hear the music I put on!

What do you love most about what you do?
So many things! I'm bad at choosing favorites but I'll say I love that I can draw an idea on paper then cut that idea out of copper!?!! That's why I love custom work! I can cut your ideas out of copper too!!

Photo Credit: Little Paper Crane

Where to find Anita online.
Blog: http://littlepapercrane.wordpress.com/
Instgram: http://instagram.com/littlepapercraneshop#
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littlepapercranejewelry

And of course you can always find Anita's pieces in the shop! 

Furniture Feature Friday (1st Edition)

One of the things I love about walking into Pastiche is how inspired I feel. The first time I walked in I hadn't created anything in about six months and  walked out ready to sit down at my sewing machine. Now I find myself popping in whenever I am in need of a quick creative boost. From new color combinations, to a new home decor piece, to a fun way to style something, I always come away with fresh ideas to try at home. 

One of my favorite things about Haley is her ability to take pieces from a variety of creatives and stage something beautiful and cohesive. The best part is that almost every piece you see is something you can take home! I love Pastiche for gift items, but did you know that most of the furniture pieces there aren't just for display but for sale? 

To help bring a little extra home decor inspiration to your life we will be doing a Furniture Feature Friday here on the blog! And, unlike a picture in a magazine, these pieces are easy to track down. See something you like? Stop by the shop and take a look in person. 

This little white table makes my heart skip a beat. I can see it by my bed, or writing chair, or see it in a bathroom even. So many uses! 

I love a good hutch, and this blue is a popular color right now. I can see this in an entry way as a very contained mud room.

How would YOU use these pieces? We would love to hear your thoughts and see pictures of pieces from Pastiche you have styled in your home!

First Fridays at Pastiche at Main

Looking for something a little different to do this weekend? Tomorrow is March 7^th, which means… First Fridays! 

What is First Fridays?

Once a month over 20 different art organizations and galleries stay open late making it a little easier for the public to enjoy them. In case you have never attended a First Fridays Event you can find out more about them over HERE.

First Fridays at Pastiche at Main.

This month we are featuring a local artist as well as holding a Meet the Creative at Pastiche.

Emily Flint:

Emily earned a BFA in Photography from the Savannah College of Art and Design and a BFA in Art Education from the Virginia Commonwealth University. After a brief career teaching art in Richmond Public Schools, she decided to pursue painting. Emily recently returned to the Lynchburg area to live and work in a little cabin on the James River with her bluetick hound, Simon. She began showing her work in the spring of 2013, and was the recipient of the Best in Show Award at the 2013 Lynchburg Art Festival. Emily recently received Second Place in the 5th Annual Riverviews Juried Art Show. See more of Emily’s work at www.emilyflint.com

Mikael Blido:

Mikael Blido is the creative behind Blido Pottery. You will have the chance to browse his amazing work and have a chance to meet him and get to know more about his inspiration and creative process.  

So brush of the winter blahs and head down town for an evening of creative insight and inspiration. We can’t wait to see you there!