I am a big fan of the inspiring artist Mandy Gerth and am thrilled to welcome her here today for a lovely interview and a very generous giveaway!
Gardenmama: "I would love for everyone to get to know the artist behind the gorgeous illustrations highlighted here today. Please share a bit about yourself Mandy!"
Mandy: "Once my oldest niece Jayla introduced me to her little playmates as, 'This is my Aunt Mandy. She’s an artist and she can make anything.' Everyday I try to live up to that introduction.
I’m a mother of two precious small children, wife to a tall handsome man, and daughter of two beautiful kind people.
Among the many blessings in my life I have had the great fortune to have had many patient teachers. My grandmother taught me to sew and to notice the details waiting to be found in nature when you stop to look and listen.
Amongst all the roles in this stage of life, especially in the daily care of home and small children, it is easy to neglect the creative side of myself. So I remember beautiful little Jayla’s words like a prayer deep in my heart. They remind me that I am an artist. I can live fully and I can make time to create."
Gardenmama: "I appreciate the way you capture simple aspects of homelife so beautifully through your art. Would you share what inspires you to create?"
Mandy: "Thank you so much for your kind words about my work Nicole.
Everyday there is so much beauty and often it is mixed with moments that are tender, joyful, temporary, painful, fleeting, frustrating; I try to capture these moments through images of the home and objects we use in daily life.
I’m inspired by the light in the early morning, the way children’s feet look on bare grass, the amazing potential waiting in tiny seeds, the swaying of the laundry in the breeze the rhythm of the seasons and home life."
Gardenmama: "What you are most excited about featuring in your shop for the upcoming holidays?"
Mandy: "This year I’m the most excited about a new series of collage cards. Each one is printed with my illustration of falling snow printed onto a 100% post-consumer recycled paper. Snips of organic cotton fabric and precious images salvaged from a vintage children’s Christmas book are sewn onto each card. The card comes with a handmade envelope cut from a vintage Christmas book."
Gardenmama: "What will one lucky reader will be gifted through this giveaway?"
Mandy: "A fifty dollar shopping spree in my online Etsy store!"
Gardenmama: "Thank you Mandy for sharing your creativity here with us today through your thoughts and generous gifts."
You can visit with Mandy here:
Mandy Gerth Blog
Mandy Gerth Shop
For a chance to win a fifty dollar shopping spree in Mandy's Etsy store, please leave a comment on this post! Comments will close Monday November 22, at 8:00 EST. The winner will be announced the same evening at 9:00 EST.
You are welcome to leave one comment per day until the giveaway closes.