In the Michigan Studio with Mitzi's Collectibles and a Giveaway

I'm in the Michigan Studio today with Mitzi Curi, and like me you are going to wonder how she finds the time to do everything she does.  It makes me tired just reading about it!  Take a look:

Your name: Mitzi Curi

Your etsy shop(s): www.etsy.com/shop/mitziscollectibles 

Other art shop(s): I sell antiques and some of my creations using vintage materials at the Antiques Market of Williamston, in Williamston, Michigan, and the Livingston Antique Outlet in Howell, Michigan.

Your blog: www.mitziscollectibles.typepad.com

Your Facebook page: www.facebook.com/mitziscollectibles

FK:Where in Michigan do you live? Did you grow up there or someplace else? 
 

I was born and raised in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.  It’s now well-known for the Native American casino and resort called the Soaring Eagle.  It’s also well-known for Central Michigan University.  When I was a kid, things were much different in Mt. Pleasant than they are now. I like to think my years in Mt. Pleasant were like living in Mayberry from the Andy Griffith Show. I have great memories of walking to the Five and Dime to buy some embroidery floss for a special project, or going to the downtown drugstore to have a soda at the old fashioned lunch counter and soda fountain.

 

When I was in grade school my parents became antique aficionados, and I accompanied them on many buying trips around Michigan.  Our home was decorated with a wonderful array of mostly primitive antiques.  Eventually, they started an antiques shop in our garage as a part time business.  I learned a lot about antiques and acquired a love of collecting from my folks.

FK: You now live in an area I'm very familiar with. I lived in Lansing for 10 years and attended both Lansing Community College and Michigan State University, where I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. 

I've lived in East Lansing since 1987. East Lansing is home to Michigan State University since1855, when the Michigan legislature established the agricultural college of the State of Michigan. As the first agricultural college in the United States, the school served as a prototype for future Land Grant institutions under the Morrill Act enacted during President Abraham Lincoln's tenure. The school's first class graduated in 1861 right after the onset of the Civil War. 

 

East Lansing is - big surprise - east of Lansing, the State Capitol of Michigan. Our beautiful Capitol building was lit up in pink last month for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 

 Living in the "middle of the mitten" also makes it convenient to hit the road and go up North or to the Detroit area, or even to Chicago on occasion.

My husband and I bought a home 12 years ago in one of the older neighborhoods of East Lansing. 
 

We enjoy the close proximity to Michigan State University, with all of the excitement of the activities and the beauty of the campus. 

FK: You know MSU has a beautiful campus when it once got me to go out in a minus 20 degree ice storm to take pictures! How is the area around there for antiques?

It's pretty good "pickins" for antiques. I get most of my shop inventory from auctions within about a 60-mile radius of East Lansing. Each weekend I plot and plan to find treasures to sell or use in my craft projects.

FK: Do you have an art education background? Or are you self taught? How did you get started?

I attended CMU in Mt. Pleasant for college and grad school.  I majored in Psychology and had an art minor.  As I worked my way through my 20's and 30's as a school psychologist, I took art and architecture classes at Lansing Community College  just to keep learning and creating.  

FK: Tell me about your etsy shop.

My Etsy shop sells “Vintage and Handmade Treasures from the Midwest." This includes my avante-garde jewelry designs, such as pendants made from furniture hardware and old municipal badges ...

 Vintage Brass Badge Pendant for Men or Etsy Dudes Free Shipping

... rosette corsages made from vintage and new materials ...

 

Vintage Pink Lingerie Lace and Silk Flower Rosette Corsage Brooch

 and flapper girl figurines modeled after old carnival prizes. 

 

Vintage Style Handpainted Chalkware Flapper Girl Doll Carnival Prize

 

FK: Tell me about your creative life. Where do you do your art – studio, spare bedroom?

I consider myself equal parts blogger, artist/crafter, and business owner.  I’m not sure which activity is the most enjoyable for me.  I love it all! The blog was started to promote my Etsy shop, but it has morphed into a creation that I am really proud of and enjoy immensely.  I also like the challenge of running a business.

The best gift my husband has ever given me was agreeing to convert our rarely used dining room into my full time studio.  I make a huge mess in there every day and don’t need to clean up unless I want to, which is awesome!  I get inspired every morning by getting online around 5:30 a.m., blog hopping and viewing some of the creations around the web, or from pictures on Flickr. Other inspiration comes from shopping antique malls and flea markets.  I’ll get an idea, such as covering a vintage suitcase with old wallpaper, and run to my studio and get working.

I’m a “hoarder” of vintage supplies such as ribbons, fabric, and wallpaper.  My ever-growing stash takes up a lot of space, but I love having access to these wonderful materials that you can’t just go to a craft store and purchase.  Besides that, using vintage materials is a pretty “green” way to re-purpose old things and use them in our modern lifestyle.

Repurposed Vintage Costume Jewelry Magnets 

Many of my creations end up for sale at one of the antique malls, along with my vintage finds that I mostly acquire through auctions.  I love the challenge of “the hunt”, and have sold everything from an old coffin to Steiff toy animals, hats full of millinery blossoms to bedroom sets of painted cottage style furniture.  I never know what’s around the next corner, and trying to get things for a good price is always a challenge.

FK: What part of being an artist is the most gratifying to you? What part of being an artist is hardest for you, or that you dislike the most? 

I love getting into the creative “zone” for hours on end, then sitting back and admiring what I made.  I really consider myself more of a “crafter” than an “artist.” I’m learning that teaching others how to create something special is really fun too.  What’s even more gratifying is selling something I made to someone who appreciates it.

There isn’t really anything negative about being an “artist” for me, but maybe that’s because I’m not trying to earn a living at it.  If that were the case, I think the lack of money would be the biggest negative! 

FK: What do you do when you’re not being an artist? What activities do you enjoy?

I’m a full time school psychologist in Lansing.  All of my creative life - including managing my various antique mall spaces, my Etsy shop, and my blog - occurs when I get home from work and on the weekends.  We also have generous summer vacation time, and that’s when I switch into high gear creatively.  I enjoy visiting antique malls and resale shops around Michigan, always looking for cool stuff or inspiration. 

Spending time with my husband and two dogs, Chauncey and Cheswick, is about the only other activity I’m interested in.  I’m what you would call “driven”.  I need reminders to stop and smell the roses from time to time.  I’ve planted several rose bushes in my backyard to remind myself of this!

FK: Well, Mitzi, I think this interview has given us all a chance to stop and smell the roses while reading about you and seeing all the beautiful work you create.  

Now, tell us about what some lucky reader is going to win.

I would like to offer the winner their choice of one of my vintage silk flower rosettes. I have several designs listed in my shop. 














That's great. They are so lovely! Here's what everyone has to do to be entered in the drawing.

 

You will have several chances to be entered into the random drawing. Each one must be entered as a separate comment.  


First entry: Visit Mitzi's shop or blog, come back here, and enter a comment about your favorite piece(s). 


Second entry: Enter a comment if you have signed up to follow Mitzi's blog (or comment if you already follow).


Third entry: Enter a comment if you have signed up to follow Mitzi's Facebook page.

Fourth entry: Enter a comment that you signed up to follow my blog (or comment that you already follow).


Fifth entry: Enter a comment that you signed up as a fan on my Facebook page (or comment that you are already a fan).


That's five chances to enter for the random drawing!  I will use random generator to pick a winner after 12 noon EST on

Tuesday, November 23.