Interview with Malissa of Sleepy Hollow Folk Art Originals

Malissa is a relatively new but avid swapper. She hosted her first swap last year, let's hope she hosts more! Visit her blog and flickr to see what she's up to. And her two etsy shops (Sleepy Hollow Folk Art and Lily Pad Lane) for her handmade goodies and craft supplies.

SwapDex: Tell us a bit about you.

Malissa: 36 on Mar 5- east Texas, Married with a 7yo boy, a basset hound, and lots of fish-currently a SAHM, but I worked in retail for about 12 yrs, owned a handmade candle/bath and body shop and a tea room/gift shop with my mom and identical twin sister. I inherited my love of everything arts and crafts from my mom and grandma. I love to do everything-sculpting, painting, scrapbooking, home decorating, cake decorating, plain old arts and crafts, mixed media art, doll making.....I could go on forever!

SD: How long have you been swapping? How did you first learn about swapping, and what made you decide to start? Do you remember your first one?

M: I have only been swapping about a year. I first learned about swapping several years ago from my mom who read blogs (which I thought were crazy!) and told me about all the fun they were having swapping! I decided to start swapping after I started my own blog and kept reading about the swaps and they sounded like so much fun and a good way to collect pieces of other peoples wonderful art. My first swap was an ATC card.

SD: What is your range of swapping? Do you stick to swaps hosted by people you know or are you likely to swap with anyone, anytime?

M: Hmmmmm, I really would like to do most any kind of swap, but I don't have the time to get involved with very many. I mostly swap with people I am familiar with, but I have swapped with people that I don't know and find it is a great way to meet people.

SD: Do you swap with any organized groups like yahoo groups, flickr, groups on swap-bot, other message boards, etc? Why or why not?

M: I belong to a few flickr swap groups and that is where I do the majority of my swapping. I really love my flickr groups because the groups of people are so supportive and encouraging. They are challenge groups so they always test my boundaries as an artist and we encourage each other and nurture our creative abilities!

SD: What's your favorite swap you've ever been in or hosted?

M: I have actually only hosted one other swap, which was why I was really surprised to get this interview! My favorite swaps so far are altered art swaps, I haven't yet participated in a craft swap yet other than the "Bits and Baubles" swap I hosted last year. I'm really excited to be hosting this altered tag swap!

SD: What do you do to make your packages special?

M: With my flickr groups some of them are weekly or bi-weekly and monthly and I participate so often that I usually just send the item to be swapped, but when I do other types of swaps I like to send extra little goodies and make sure it is package prettily.

SD: Do you have a good story about hosting or participating in a swap?

M: So far I have only had positive experiences with swapping! With the swap I hosted last year I receive a lovely hostess gift from one of the swappers full of great bits for crafting. I was completely surprised!

SD: What do you think is the most challenging part of hosting a swap? Any advice for someone who is thinking about hosting a swap?

M: Keeping up with everyone! There are so many people out there with more experience with hosting than me, that I probably don't have any tips that they haven't already heard, but I like to try to keep all of my participants in a separate folder within my e-mails, and make sure I communicate often and adhere to deadlines so that I can stay organized. I still have a lot to learn, though!

SD: Any exciting plans for the near future? Swaps, projects, new products?

M: My goals for this year are to start work on getting a new idea published in an art magazine, and to try to get involved with craft fairs.

Thanks so much for chatting, Malissa! Best of luck with your goals for 2010!