Happy Wednesday!! Featured Artist "Jon Fine" Today (Wood-Work)

OK ladies and gents, get the drink of your choice and relax for a while as you meet my "Artist of The Week" today.  Please feel free to leave comments.  We really enjoy knowing that you dropped by to spend time with us.

Please meet Jon Fine of "Fine Crafts"

1-Tell us a little about yourself

I live in New Jersey with my wonderful wife, two adult sons, three cats and my pit bull "Jordan" who is just the greatest!  I am an Accountant with the hopes of retiring within the next three years so that I can devote all of my time to my wood crafting business. Maybe even open a brick and mortar store at some point.

2- What is your inspiration?

One day I was visiting the mall and saw a gentleman cutting wood. I became fascinated with this craft and after many questions and reading up on this craft I began to teach my self.  After many mistakes, trials and tribulations I started getting proficient and before I knew it, my scroll saw was my best friend.  I enjoy taking a blank piece of wood and turning it into something both beautiful and functional.

3- What are your other interest outside of your art?

My hobbies include golfing, fishing, & crocheting (a real novice).I play the saxophone in my spare time which I find very relaxing.  I also love to read, especially mysteries!  A few of my favorite authors are James Patterson, Robert Parker, Sidney Sheldon, and Lisa Scottoline.

4- How do you promote your work?

I promote my work through social networking sites such as:
Twitter:     http://twitter.com/jonpsu77
FaceBook:  Fine Crafts
Etsy:         http://www.etsy.com/shop/jonpsu77

5.  Is there anything you would like to express to your customers/clients and fans?

Having a variety of products available has worked best for me.  Once I get and idea for a project, I then design the pattern and go to work creating pieces created from many species of wood.  My favorite wood to cut is red Oak.  Once the project has been cut, a lemon oil finish is applied to bring out the beauty of the wood. 

I am more than happy to do custom orders if you do not see what you are looking for in my shop.  I am very convo friendly through my Etsy shop or please feel free to email me at jfine3348@aol.com

Thanks Jon for allowing us to get to know you and your work.  Wishing you many sales for the beauiful work that you do :D

What I have been up to!

Well, this has been a very busy year and I apologize for neglecting my poor blog. I have had bouts with my dizziness but have not had to deal with the vertigo, thank goodness!! Some of this may be a repeat if you follow me on FB and Twitter so I apologize.

Jewelry Front

I have been able to learn more techniques and ways to tweak mine. I have also been spending an enormous amount of time of FaceBook meeting other artists and just being amazed at the talent of you people!! Now that school is about to begin and I will not be homeschooling this year I hope to find more time to reconnect with my blog and my readers. I am also trying to get things together to begin teaching jewelry classes for those that love this art! Stay tuned for more news on possible future classes. Here are a few pieces that I have done recently.

I have also connected with another artist in my area that also does jewelry and we have been having a blast doing shows and look so forward to many more in the future. Her name is Brenda and she has a FaceBook fan page here: http://www.facebook.com/BGMCREATIONS?ref=ts Please be sure to go by and see her pretties.

We are both part of a co-op in our area as well. It is Waxhaw Art & Chocolate so if you are in the neighborhood on Fridays and Saturdays, please be sure and stop by. Between the 9 (I think that is correct) of us we have a very unique shop. Simply a must see to believe.

Up comings

I would really like to begin spot lighting an artist a week on my blog and to get this ball rolling I would like anyone that is interested to please post a comment here. I am looking for art that is handmade by you so that I can help to let others know of your wonderful talent/talents! We help each other a lot on FaceBook but I realize not everyone is on FB and that is the reason for this weekly event on my blog. What would this world be if we cannot help each other? I look forward to meeting you all :D

Personal Front

The biggest news I have at present is the arrival of my sixth grandchild (second grandson). We now have three birthdays in the first week of August!