On September 8 @GuilianaRancic, host of E! News, put out a call from Twitter asking for questions you’d like to ask Oprah.  It was an amazing opportunity to talk to the Queen of Television, so I put forward some questions.

I like to think that @GuilianaRancic and I have some history.

You could say we’re practically BFF‘s, so it really should have come as no surprise that @GuilianaRancic would choose one of my questions to ask Miss O.

I’d kind of forgotten all about it until this morning I got this tweet from @ TashaAllenMVMT:

@gnomeangel hey i saw you on tv!

I had no idea what they meant.  I still really didn’t understand until @SimonProietto tweeted:

@GnomeAngel I just saw your tweet to oprah on e!

Well I’ll be… so I rang home and got HUBBY to tape E! News.  Low and behold there was my Twitter page on the big screen.

Oprah answered, and I’m paraphrasing, that there’s nothing her fame stops her from doing.  No surprise there really given that she’s the Queen of Self Empowerment and not handing control over to anyone else.

It amuses me greatly that this was the lead tweet on the screenshot of my Twitter account; guess my Protestant faith has gone global.  It’s also funny that my “Not happy Jan!” icon was still in place.  I’m just grateful that I wasn’t having a four way conversation with @AngryEliza, @Carly_B and @Alivicwil – who knows what kind of profanities could have turned up on the screen!

This is just another reason why I adore Twitter – it makes anything possible.

In a gnomeangel first (and hopefully something that becomes a regular feature) I was lucky enough to have Aly, from Bliss Monkey Studio, answer some questions about her process, inspiration and life as an Etsy seller.

In 25 words or less how would you describe yourself?
I am optimistic, creative thinker, wake happy, silly, playful, yet soulful.
I am a good mum, I adore my family.  I can be found happily in nature as well as an artisie coffee shop.  Carry drawing pad everywhere I go.  I’m never bored.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I create all the time- the mind is always going.   I like to garden  (oops that’s creating food and flowers)…. walk the dog (he’s a chocolate lab) and play with our five cats.  I have two sweet boys, ages 9 and 7, and spend lots of time at the kids school, working in the classroom, doing projects with the kids in and out of school.   My partner and I coach both soccer teams.  I swim and exercise, including American Tribal Style belly dance and Argentine Tango.  I would love to travel more, and take the kids all over the world!  Half our family is Australian and the boys haven’t been there yet, though they are proud of their Aussie blood.  Isn’t it hard to talk about one’s self as though I’m separate from my children?  LOL.  What else?  Life is so full… we also volunteer in the Food for Lane County Garden.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Inspriation

• comes from daily walks- I like to celebrate nature in my bead designs.  I like to quiet my mind, be present, listen to birds, discover new things in the neighborhood, observe patterns and shadows, and clouds!  I’m also restless, so don’t imagine me as some sort of perfect nature girl.
• pop culture- I also like designs that are fresh and represent our modern life.  I carry a note book everywhere I go and it’s filled with little ideas and sketches I jot down.
• multiculturalism – I have always had a great curiosity about the many cultures of the world, our traditions, beliefs, our ways of decorating ourselves and celebrating life.  I read, study, and respect all cultures and hope this is reflected in my bead designs (as more and more come out).
• fairy tales and folk tales are a big source of inspiration for me.  Each of us contains different “characters” within our personalities.  They help us with our daily life.  For example, my Little Red Riding Hood charm is about to be released.  We all know the story.  She’s a fearless adventurer, who’s innocent yet smart.  Wear her on your wrist when you start a new adventure to remind you to see the world with fresh eyes, be playful, be ready for anything, yet you won’t be duped!

L-R: Lovie Gnome, Ninja Bunny and Bad Gnome

Do you think artists are born or created?
I would like to say that all children are born with a natural ability to express themselves fearlessly, and depending on their interests (music, movement, sport, dance, drawing?) and the way their are nurtured, they may grow up utilizing their “artistic” ways or not.
That said, I’ve always been driven to create. My earliest memories involve drawing, singing to myself, and squinting happily at colors and textures to see them blend.  Both my grandmothers were artists and crafters, and encouraged me.  And I often got in trouble for being “lost in my thoughts” or loosing track of time while in the process of creation.  As an adult, I had to relearn that those things are actually GOOD at the right time and space.

Without giving away the secrets behind your magic could you please describe your creative process and where you draw your inspiration from?
The bead process goes like this:  I think of an idea, sketch it or find an image that best fits the idea.  Then work it until it can be in bead format.  (Some ideas, just don’t translate.)  I send sketches to my jewelers in Thailand (which is where most good quality European beads are made, by the way).  They ask questions, and render my image in a 3-D wax form.  I look at the wax form via email, and make any changes.  Then they create a mold, and create solid silver beads using the lost wax casting method.  Each bead takes a good deal of work to make, hand oxidize and polish.

Do you have any words of wisdom or life lessons to share with the world?
Life lessons?  Wow, good question.  If I was going to write my personal manifesto, I’d probably have a chapter on all these life lessons:

• Be a good person in your life.  Treat yourself and others well.
• Do what you feel happy and excited about doing for work.
• Don’t stay in any relationship, job or situation that isn’t good for you, even if you think there will be nothing to replace it.  The world is full of goodness and opportunities and space is made when we let go of things that don’t serve us.
• Share the yum and help others when you have it.  Ask for help when you need it.
• Let extra stuff go- it leaves room for newness (oh my am I ever still working on this one!)

What new designs are you working on?
Fairies, fun and female-oriented holiday charms, the Queen, pets, new secret character

If you could get anyone to wear your products who would it be, and why?
Oooo! Who would I love to wear my beads?  Um, <blush> probably a movie star.  Classic and international like Nicole Kidman, or Fun and international like Kira Knightly.  Or First Lady Michelle Obama!  I plan to market them to the Australia Zoo (big fans at our house!) once my entire Australian animal series comes out.

Do you make anything else, apart from beads?
I love working in silver.  It’s permanent and heirloom.  Not to mention that I LOVE jewelry!
I also like working in fabric.  I have a degree in costume for theater and film.  I love to sew, art quilt, and make functional, upcycled items for my Aly The Red Etsy shop.  I also adore making plush gnomes and creatures for my Bliss Forest Etsy shop.  Three different worlds, all playing together in my Bliss Monkey Studio.

What’s been your favourite creation so far?
My favorite bead so far has been the sewing machine and pin cushion set!  Love love love them.  The machine says, “Create” on the bottom, which is my favorite word.

L-R: Gnome Coffee Cozy, Bliss Bag and Spring Cuff

One of my all time favorite shows is Inside the Actors Studio and at the end of each show the host, James Lipton, asks the same ten questions.  In a homage to Mr Lipton and his wonderful show I too have asked Aly those final ten questions.  Here’s what she had to say:

What is your favorite word?

Ok ok, my REAL favorite word is “love”

What is your least favorite word?

Not to be corny, but it truly is “hate”.  When I used to say it casually, I think I sounded spoiled.  I carved it out of my casual language and save it for REAL causes.  Being prone to exaggeration, as I am, that was no easy task.

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?

Being playful, being with my children and my partner, brainstorming ideas and writing lists (love lists!), dancing walking exercising with favorite people, going to a really good music concert.

What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?

Having a “blue” day or PMS.

What sound or noise do you love?

Giggling kids.

What sound or noise do you hate?

Arguing.  Not that I would use the word “hate” mind you….LOL.

What is your favorite curse word?

I like really silly rude ones that make me laugh when I’m mad.  A g-rated one I WILL report is:  Awwww, poop-cicles!

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

Art therapist.

What profession would you not like to do?

Any sanitation job.  I have a “gifted” nose.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

“Watching you always made me dance on my cloud smiling.  Good work down there, Chick-y-boo.”

L-R: Crocodile, Cute Vampire and Scooter

Thanks so much for the fun interview, Ange! I won’t over-pick it, and stand by my first responses.
Now I want to hear YOUR answers to the same questions.

Thanks Aly, it was so great to have you take the time to sit down and answer these questions.  You’ve given me such a great insight into your process and your spirit, thank you!  As for answering those question… you’ll just have to wait and see!

Please,  if you loved what you read or just what you saw check out: