Meet My Good Friend Pat (Whyte)

Did you ever meet someone from the online art world who you just instantly felt to be a kindred spirit with? Someone you have an instant freindship with?  Someone you feel as comfortable talking to, as if you had known each other for years?  That is how I feel about my online art friend Pat,  aka Whyte on Etsy.  Her shop is filled with scrapbooking and journaling embellishments, vintage themed collage, altered art and mixed media treasures.  I especially love her pieces made with a vintage feel, time worn and "comfortable".   Pat loves animals, as I do, anything vintage, as I do, she is an eternal optimist, as I am, and she always has a good word for everyone, rarely judging, always finding the good in everything she sees.  Please take a few moments to read about her, and then afterwards visit her amazing Etsy shop.  You will not be sorry, and you may just find a kindred spirit as I have!

Hi Pat, Thanks for letting us all get to know you a little bit more, and especially for sharing some of  my favorite things in your shop! When did you first decide to give selling at Etsy a try, and what were your biggest lessons learned/hurdles faced?

Thanks, Carol, an interview by a spectacular friend and artisan, what a pleasure and opportunity!


I actually learned about etsy on ebay. After success selling overflow items in my home and running into others’ artwork on there, I added some things I created for Christmas 2007 and waited for the $$ to start flowing in. Ha! I was giving my creations away in auctions, so went to the forums and learned ebay was not the best place to make a profit on artwork, but sellers were buzzing about etsy. I registered on etsy, but didn’t set up shop right away; it was almost 6 months before I listed my first treasure. The biggest hurdle for me is time because I work 2 part-time jobs. The biggest lesson learned is etsy is a “biggest” handmade site out there, so there is no just opening shop and waiting for the money to roll in. There is a lot more marketing, a.k.a time, involved than I imagined….but have to say, it’s a blast for me. That cliché “do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life” is how I feel about my art passion and my etsy shop. There are frustrating days, for sure, but in general I’ve never had so much fun trying to make a profit.

What has been your most popular selling item you keep on hand, and what is your favorite item to create for your shop?

My most popular items are handmade supplies that I believe I’m selling to other etsians, not exactly the direction I was planning to take my shop, but working. My favorite item to create for my shop? Believe it or not, I don’t think I’ve discovered that yet because it will be a combination of something I love to make that sells very well. That hasn’t happened yet. Either I love to create it and the right buyer hasn’t found it yet. Or what sells quickly does not particularly satisfy my muse.

What has proven to be the biggest surprise for you since opening your shop?

That is easy to answer because it truly has been a most wonderful, pleasant surprise. The people I’ve met in the forums on etsy have not only become great cyber friends, but have tempted and encouraged me to try new directions in my artwork and crafts. The source of information available through the artisans on etsy is overwhelming. One can read first hand reviews of art products, share different techniques and skills, and there are almost an infinite supply of doors leading to new experiences and worlds. And I was just looking to sell some of my treasures for ego and profit. That’s truly become secondary now. I had no idea.

What do you use as inspiration when you feel a creative slump coming on?

Difficult area for me because I’m always looking for something unique and different from what everyone else is doing. And that is my Achilles heel. It’s really not the production that keeps me from filling my shop, it’s the idea, the thought, the process. I love looking at others’ art for inspiration, but find it a fine line between inspiration and merely reproducing an idea with my own technique. The thrill for me is the lightbulb idea. But I also fall harder when I put that lightbulb idea in my shop and no one else is “lit up”! LOL! It’d be much easier if I just followed the successful paths of others.

What are your favorite pasttimes when not creating/listing/promoting your shop?

I have so little free time right now, I’m out of balance and owe more time to the other people in my life who are important to me; my significant other, adult children and friends have been very tolerant, but I’m pushing limits. Reading, I love propagating new plants from cuttings, and piddling in the yard. Because of the recession and trying not to spend tight money right now, I’m becoming obsessed with repurposing and upcycling so I’m researching ways other people do the same.

Pat, thank you for giving us some insight into your art world, and your personal life as well.  It is already a pleasure to know you, and finding out this much more has been insightful and fun!

~~Do You Love Grunge Tags? How about a Tutorial!?!~~

Ordinary shipping tags, boiling water, instant coffee granules, vanilla and cinnamon

I mix the first 3 ingredients in the glass measuring cup, cool, and then pour half into a shallow container, big enough to dip the tags into.

You can just dunk the tags into the mixture, or leave them in for 20 seconds or so, depending on how dark you want your tags to be. Either way, lightly tap the tag against the edge of container after dunking, so you don't end up with puddles on your tags. Lay them out in a single layer on a cookie sheet.

The part that makes them the most aromatic, is lightly sprinkling cinnamon on them while they are wet, before baking. Don't go overboard... a little goes a long way! You can then add a second layer of tags on the cookie sheet, and repeat the cinammon sprinkling on the 2nd layer.

Bake in a preheated oven of 250 degrees, bake for 5-6 minutes, flip the tags over to expose the underside and continue baking for another minute or so. You will feel that they are dried out and beginning to curl up when finished baking.

Over a sink, I brush the excess/loose cinnamon off each tag with my hand. Make sure to store the finished tags in an airtight container (the original package they came in, or a zip lock bag works well) to savor the aroma !

Let your imagination run wild while altering and collaging them. Use distress inks, stamps, faceted jewels, Glimmermists, ephemera, copies of old photos, lace, buttons, and more. They make wonderful gifts in a set of 6 or so, or to use as a bookmark. Using them to embellish that special gift for someone isn't the only use for these!

Just a couple of ideas. Great for Chritmas, birthdays, or anyday! Enjoy!

 When I first discovered the fun of making altered gift tags in that deliciously scented, aged look, I knew I had to find out how to grunge the tags myself. First of all, alot cheaper (you can grunge 100 large shipping tags yourself for about $6, and the ingredients will last for several hundreds of tags). Second of all, you can get the exact measure of grunge and scent you want. I have had several friends request a tutorial on how to do this process , so here goes. Any questions, please feel free to email me. First of all, you will need basic shipping tags ( I like the larger size, with string attached available at Staples for under $6 a pkg. of 100). You will also need 1 1/2 cups boiling water, 3 T vanilla, about 4 T instant coffee granules. Mix those 3 ingredients together, let cool slightly. You will also need ground cinnamon. ALL of the ingredients can be no-name, or generic brands. Go the cheapest route!

New Theme Thursday Challenge

Wow, it has been ages since I have participated in an art challenge, and I just happened to remember tomorrow is Thursday, AHA!! Theme Thursday challenge is up! The theme this week is "favorite colors". That one could easily change daily for me. Lately however I have really been into the blues, especially for the holidays approaching. Here is my blue piece, the cover of an altered Christmas book I have just completed.

~~NEW TAGS JUST ARRIVED~~

From top center, working clockwise These amazing tags were created by Pat , Nancy , Barb ,

and Bridget

Working from upper left, clockwise, please visit these talented artists ... Kathy, Kim , Barb, Aimee and Tamara.

Several weeks ago I was asked to help out with organizing a Christmas tag swap, with my good online friend Pat of TheWhytePaper, and just about an hour ago I went to the mailbox only to find the tags I was given in exchange for making 9 tags for others. I have to say, I couldn't pick a favorite one. All of them are wonderful miniature works of Christmas art! It will have to be a pretty special gift for a pretty special person before I can ever attach any of these beauties to packages to give away! Please take a few minutes to visit their blogs and shops. You will not be sorry!

~~Mother Nature at her Finest~~

Recently I snapped a few pictures at the location in upper Michigan where our family cabin is. It is a spectacular view any time of year, but the colors on this particular weekend were outstanding. Something I could never get tired of looking at, not in a million years. Since these photos were taken 2 weeks ago, the colors have faded now, making room for ice and snow and cold ; meaning more white in the scene than any colors this vivid. I've always intended on taking photos of the same location, every month or so just to record the changes Mother Nature makes. Maybe that will be my New Years Resolution.

~~Autumn Is Upon Us~~

Time this Fall has flown by, and after spending the last 2 months getting ready for art shows and stocking my Etsy shop ready with Halloween goods,, I am a little "over" the whole holiday right now! The weather this past month has felt more like winter, anyway! Thanksgiving is usually a little overlooked in our household, making room for Halloween and Christmas on both ends. Apple picking with family, choosing just the right pumpkin on a crisp fall day, and family get-togethers at our cabin are all things I am thankful for. Food for thought..... "Count your blessings, not your troubles".

~~These Are a Few of My Favorite Things~~

Okay, so that title is usually connected with Christmas, not Halloween. But I have been decorating for Halloween the past few days in anticipation of having some out of state family visiting us for a week and I wanted to make my blog that much more festive. If you aren't in the Halloween mood yet, perhaps you will get some ideas from these photos. Fall and Halloween is just my time of year! Enjoy, and Happy (Early) Halloween!!

~~~Something Wicked This Way Comes~~~

I taught another workshop at the most amazing place nearby, Heavenly Scent Herb Farm . This time it was for a vintage look Halloween Shadowbox. Combining vintage images, tiny witches brooms, mini poison bottles and other 3-D embellishments. The shadowbox measures 6 x 8, and I have 2 of them for sale in my Etsy shop. Next workshop I am giving will be at Holly Hills Primitives, another shop which is only a few blocks from my house. She specializes in anything primitive, both vintage and reproduction. That workshop will be for the vintage captured witch in a jar. Very fun, both equally spooky and eerie looking!

Tag for a Cause

Sometimes creating art is for more than just pleasure, or fun. In this case, I created a tag on request for a good cause here. Someone many of you do not know, including myself has been hit with some life altering news about her health. This tag is one of many being sent to a dear friend of hers, who will then create an interesting keepsake for this artist. Please visit the link if you would like to learn more about this, and even perhaps create a tag to lift her spirits!

The Tag Swap Results ~~ Amazing!!~~

Barb H. of

Stamplicity Brenda G. of B'sHuronLightHouse

Kathy M. of VintageSnapsandScraps

Bren of ManicMenagerie

Carol B. of QueenBesAlteredNeeds

Lori D. of TreasuresOfThePast

Stacey M. of ArtSnark

Linda B. of MidwestieLady

Weeks ago I decided to host a tag swap, which you can read more about several posts below. 8 people joined the fun and what amazing work each and every tag has turned out to be! Everyone's work is so diverse, and I believe that everyone's own signature style is on their work. Some are stamped, some are hand drawn, some use images, ribbons and lace, glitter, inks, butttons, and so much more. I am the lucky one who gets to now choose which ones to keep for myself, and then divy the rest up to send to the very deserving participants. I want to thank all who joined in the fun, and also to tell you that in a few days, another tag swap will be announced, so if you want to receive some amazing work by some talented artists, come back for more info on the next TAG SWAP!!

~~~Happy Haunting~~~

A 5 x 5 Vintage Halloween canvas collage

2 pages from a vintage altered Halloween book at Ebay

Front cover to a 6 x 6 Vintage Halloween altered book at Ebay

One of my favorite 5 x 5 Halloween collages on stretched canvas

And yet another Halloween collage on canvas

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. Whether it's the cooler weather I am so fond of, or the scent of freshly carved pumpkins mixed with falling crunchy leaves, or the vintage look of decorations I collect. Either way this time of year my head is spinning with plans of new creations, both for myself and for my Etsy shop . I think that sales are picking up after a dreary summer. It seems to me people need a treat now and then for therapy, and what better way to treat yourself than with a Halloween goodie! Some of my favorite "old" new things in my shop...

~~Heavenly Scent Summer Fair Success~~

My wonderful friend Amy, the most talented artist I know

Another great friend Kari, the soldered pendant queen

My friend Kari makes soldered pendants and altered dominoes

Some of my favorite pieces that I've done

More of my own things

My own things

The weather was outstanding (65-70 degrees and mostly sunny), the crowd was steady and heavy, the company was great ( I was booth neighbors with one of my best freinds, and booth co-owners with another one of my best friends), the sales were surprisingly wonderful considering the economy, so all in all this past weekend was a pleasant surprise! I even got alot of people to sign uo for some workshops I am teaching this fall. A few blog posts back I posted about the Heavenly Scent Herb Farm Summer Faire, and it continues to be one of the most attended fairs in this area of lower Michigan. Some pictures for anyone who would like to see the set up. It all went together so effortlessly. It looked like we were pro's at this, which we definitely are not!