Happy Feature Friday!
This week we are featuring artist, Emily Keating Snyder! We love her playful approach to her artwork and how she lets her pieces reflect the imperfections of the human hand. Katie was kind enough to tell us a little more about herself, her artistic journey and her pieces. She also made an awesome video to teach you some of the techniques she uses in her watercolor paintings! You have to check it out, especially if you’ve been wanting to get into watercolors, but haven’t been sure how to approach them. Emily will give you the confidence to give it a try and experiment – what artists do best!
“I’m a colorful artist, designer, and art party hostess in Los Angeles. Playfulness and a good sense of humor are huge in my life. My favorite materials to work with are paper, paint, watercolor, collage, and embroidery. I believe strongly in the importance of working with our hands and not being too precious with art. After studying art and art history as part of my custom concentration at NYU, I had a few different art world jobs then made the leap to independent creative (and doggie caregiver) a few years ago. I’ve been grateful to show my work in New York, LA, and other major cities and to be featured by Saatchi Art and The Etsy Blog… and here on Castle Foundations!
I’ve been making art my entire life and to this day the best creative advice I’ve ever gotten was from my kindergarten art teacher. Whenever we were working on a project and wanted to rip it up and start all over after one misplaced tempera paint mark, she would say, “Turn your mistakes into something else.” I don’t think it was purely out of encouragement or necessarily kindness. It probably had more to do with needing to ration an entire school’s paper supply, but it has always stayed in my head and helped curb perfectionism in my art for 25 years.
This week we are featuring Hollie Graze of Mollycat Mosaics! Her mosaic pieces range from small accent decor to large artwork that’s bound to be the focal point of the room! Although many of us have seen a mosaic in our life or remember pasting little pieces of tile on a popsicle stick frame, there are so many factors that can make working with this medium a challenge. Hollie has definitely risen to meet that challenge and we love how her 
: Tell us a little about yourself. What are a few silly things that make you, you?
: What makes me, me? hmmm. I like new projects, the ideas and planning and problem solving are invigorating. I love my balcony and watching birds. I trained my cat to sit and do paw. I have not figured out how to make him not meow for food at 
This week we are featuring Sara Sparks of 
: Oh boy! Where to start! Well, I’m 25, engaged to my middle school sweetheart, and a registered Occupational Therapist (OT… that just so happens to love making jewelry and all other crafts that I seem to run into! I am a complete animal lover, outdoor adventurer, world traveler, and a total introverted extrovert. I am also biracial – Iranian American – and complete enjoy celebrating my Iranian culture. My heritage and fascination with all things culture have a huge influence on my Bear Co designs. 
Happy Feature Friday! 
: My name is Olivia Broom and I live in a little beach town on the East Coast of Florida. I work full time as a graphics designer, and my entire life revolves around being creative. I love to play guitar, paint, travel in my tiny camper and come up with new designs for my AubbieRoe ankle cuffs and leather bracelets.
For the month of December we are extending our Feature Friday segment, where we highlight amazing creatives, so that you can meet some amazing makers in time for holiday shopping! We’re starting off the first Monday of December with Joanna of Jo’s Handmade Friends! Her toys are completely adorable and they give back! As you know, we LOVE businesses that use their talents to create positive change. 15% of profits from your cute Jo’s friend will help children battling serious illnesses. So awesome! Being big fans of stuffed animals ourselves (as Joanna mentions in her interview, we too cannot pass a cute plush toy without giving it a hug) we think the idea of having a handmade friend is such a special gift for kids and adults alike. We were really inspired by Joanna’s journey of starting her business and we hope you are too! Read on to see some of Joanna’s creations and to learn more about her story.
: I am from Gdansk, a beautiful city in the North of Poland by the Baltic. I have lived in London for 13 years now. To most people it might seem crazy to move thousands of miles across Europe to a country where I didn’t speak the language or know anyone but I was young, in my twenties, and looking for a better, more inspiring sort of life.
This week we are featuring fashion illustrator, Joanna Baker! Joanna is a testament to taking the leap from the corporate world and becoming your own boss. Joanna took that initial risk and started her very own illustration business. Since then she has garnered recognition from some of the fashion industry’s top names and we can definitely see why. We love her illustration style in all its pretty details and chic accents! Read on to learn more about Joanna’s story.
: Hi, I’m Joanna! I currently live in Manhattan with my husband and our cat, Junebug. Originally from Maryland, we’ve lived in NYC for a little over eight years now. (Junebug is born and bred a New York City girl, though)
Happy Feature Friday! 
: I’m a Pacific Northwest native, but I love to travel and have had the opportunity to go on some amazing adventures stateside and abroad. I have always been an avid reader, but have found that since having two young children my attention span has been reduced to that of a gnat and I don’t read as much as I used to. I love music and try to see a few live shows every year, although a lot of my favorites aren’t around any longer. I have a sweet tooth, I’m a coffee addict and I love pickled foods.
Today we’re featuring our first poet ever, (!!!) Nash Consing! We love to share different talents with you guys and think you’ll love what Nash writes. His poems, although short, have so much emotion packed into them! You can see more of his writing on 
: My name is 
Happy Feature Friday!
: Baking has been an interest of mine since high school, but back then I just made (un-appetizing looking) cupcakes for friends or family when I had the chance! After graduating university from courses I wasn’t passionate about and no full time job – I decided not to do my Masters in Architecture, and instead rekindled my love for baking and have been addicted ever since.
Castle Foundations 