Antonia of Green Horned Unicorn has an amazing sense of style. Her use of colors and textures makes her work both warm and uplifting. And while reading her responses to the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 questions, you can’t help but get the sense that she is well-grounded in her creative endeavors. Bonus- Who doesn’t love a girl with a scissor addiction?!?!
One Project You Are Particularly Proud Of
1. The Rolled Paper Frame. I created the project as a challenge to myself to use my stacks and stacks of magazines for something good. Not only did the frame turn out well, it was the first project of mine to ever be published in a magazine (Simply Handmade April/May 2011). How fitting that a project made from magazines be published in a magazine!
Two Mistakes You’ve Made in the Past
1. Over-committing & setting unrealistic deadlines for myself. There are simply too many ideas running amok in my head. Too many things I want to explore, try out and accomplish. I set my sights high, usually unrealistically high, and often find myself overwhelmed and even stressed because of the expectations I set for myself. In recent months, I’ve forced myself to cut back and slow down in a lot of areas, including my creative endeavors. While this is a difficult thing to do, I’m much more at peace which, surprisingly in the end, allows me to be even more creative. Who knew?
2. Being a perfectionist. That darn perfectionist in me just won’t stop rearing its ugly head. It’s one of those traits that can be both my best and worst, often at the same time. Because of it, I strive do always do my best in everything, which is usually a good thing. Unfortunately, even when I’ve done my best, I have a hard time accepting that. When I complete a project I always find myself looking back and finding flaws — little details that could be better. I have to work very hard to accept things for what they are, and see the beauty in the imperfection.
Three Things That Make Your Work Unique
1. Use of bright, bold colors. No matter what type of craft I’m creating, I tend to lean toward bright, bold colors. Many of the compliments I receive regarding my projects are directed toward my choice and use of color.
2. Avoiding trends. While trends certainly make their way into my work, or at least influence it, I strive to stick with my personal style and create pieces that are more timeless as opposed to trendy.
3. Keep it simple. For the most part, my style is somewhat simple. When you look at my work, it may not appear to be that way at first glance, because the simple designs are brought to life with color and small details.
Four Tools You Love to Use
1. My Macbook. While it’s nearly four years old, and my digital files long ago filled it’s poor memory to the brim (and overflowed to an external hard drive), this has been the best computer I’ve ever owned — hands down. I use it daily to make digital creations, edit photos and search for inspiration. I couldn’t live without it.
2. Adobe CS5 Design Suite. I couldn’t do what I do without Photoshop and Illustrator. Love, love, love.
3. Hot Glue Gun. Seriously, what can’t hot glue hold together?
4. Scissors, rotary cutters and paper trimmers. I probably own at least 10 pairs of scissors, each with its own unique use. I have two handheld rotary cutters (one always has a straight blade the other a scallop) and six different paper cutters. I’m almost embarrassed to admit I own that many cutting tools!
Five Inspirations
1. Pinterest. What a wondrous site it is! I know I have been guilty of getting lost there for hours upon end.
2. Blogs. I subscribe to hundreds of blogs through Google Reader. I start each day with a cup of tea and a screen full of inspiration.
3. Color & pattern. Just a glance at a wonderful pallet or pretty pattern can ignite my creative fire. I love to peruse fabric stores, scrapbook stores, clothing stores and home design stores for inspiration.
4. Magazines. From crafts to food to design, I find inspiration by simply flipping the pages of a magazine. You never know when a project, article, or even an ad will trigger your creativity.
5. The world around me. There is inspiration in everything, you just have to know where to look.
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