Do you felt?

Well, if you’re an English teacher, or a stickler to English grammar, you’d have noticed that something is just not right in that question. Well, it’s not right if “felt” is treated as the past of “feel”. I assure you it’s not. Put your grammar books aside and let’s meet a true felt artist:

This wonderful artist has stolen my heart. In fact she’s stolen many hearts: there are only so many items I can heart before I realize it’s pointless to try and choose from the creative felted selection she has on display at her shop.

So what’s behind that colorful smile?

My name is…Karla Vandebeek, a.k.a. Karlita.

I make…all kinds of jewelry and accessories.

I’m inspired…by colours, materials and trips abroad.

I cannot live without…1. my loved ones (including two cats 🙂 and 2. supplies!

An item I’ve made that was hard to let go…I honestly don’t remember; if I really want to keep something, i just do (when i first started – 12 years ago – I made everything double, one to sell and one to keep 🙂 ).

I create because…I cannot not create.

I wish…I could create full-time, but since last year I work part-time and have a lot less time to create.

If I could learn another art it would be…metalsmithing, computer design, to design things to make jewelry with, sewing very well, working with clay …. aargh, too many to choose, I might need a second life!

My website is…well i have a few: http://www.karlita.be, http://www.karlita.etsy.com, http://www.karlita.dawanda.com and http://www.karlitashop.blogspot.com [Note: listed again at the end of this.]

I blog because…I love to write little stories and it’s fun to keep track of my own life that way 🙂 – it serves like a (little bit censored) journal.

One day…I hope to be able to only create, travel – with my loved ones of course.

I started…because I bought a necklace in Venezuela and my mom challenged me and said I could not make something like that. But I also was always making things as a kid.

I always…used to run to the computer when I got home to see if I had messages or sales- now I bought myself an iPhone and an internet everywhere thing – I’m a total addict!

If I were a color I would be…RED.

My full-time job…part-time working for a city, and part-time my creative business.

In a nutshell…I’m a happy camper 🙂

In a bigger nutshell…creating is what colours my life (in bright colours – I’m usually inspired either by colours or by materials). I started by making jewelry collections in 1997 – selling them to stores in Belgium. But I got tired of having to create one necklace several times, wanted to quit but accidently stumbled upon Etsy and the rest is history as they say :). I love all aspects of a creative business: making things, selling them and even the administrative side!

You can find Karlita here:

shop: http://www.karlita.etsy.com, http://www.karlita.dawanda.com

website: http://www.karlita.be

blog: http://karlitashop.blogspot.com

I leave you with a photo of Karlita’s enviable workspace and more of her felted treasures. And don’t hesitate to give her a heart or two — they’ll keep my hearts in good company 🙂