Spotlight on Tami Hartley

Today's Wednesday Wonder is a rising star. She won a couple of 1st place prizes in the weekly Hero Arts challenges, and they were so impressed they invited her on board as a Web Artist. How lucky are we?! She's been published in CARDS magazine and Stamp It! Cards, (a Paper Crafts publication) so she's clearly able to please a wide audience. 

I am speaking, of course, about Tami Hartley, mother of two, wife of one, and second to none when it comes to making cards that make you coo and smile like they're the cutest baby you've ever seen.

I would describe Tami's overall style as very feminine and dainty with clean, sleek lines. She regularly works actual fabric into her designs, and she makes her sewing machine earn its keep! I look at her cards and think, "Well, dang! How come I can't ever do something like that?"

Our paths haven't crossed very much, but I wish they would because she's a real sweetie. And she has a cute sense of humor (always a plus in my book).

So raise your Diet-Cokes to Tami Hartley, Hero Arts' rising protege!

Tami's Wonder-ful Interview

1. Do you pre-sketch a design or do you just leap out of the gate? How long does it usually take you to make a page? A card?

More and more, I've been starting with a sketched out design. I'm very indecisive so a sketch eliminates a smidge of my typical hemming and hawing.  A card usually takes me an hour or two...or three. (See also: indecisive.)

Ah - a sister in indecision! 

2. How many, on average, pages per week do you make? Cards?

This varies a ton...but I would say 3 cards per week on average.  I think I need to bump that up in 2009!

3. How has your process evolved to make you a leaner, meaner crafting machine? (In other words, what are some lessons you've learned or tips you can share that allow you to make better and faster design choices?

I've learned that if I sit down at my desk to create but have no concept of what I want to do, I'm in trouble.  I'll sit there, admire my supplies, fiddle with this or that, put my colored pencils in rainbow order.  In order to create and find my groove, I need to arrive at my desk with lots of ideas already floating around in my head.  So...even when I'm not stamping (which unfortunately is most of the time), I'm constantly making notes about colors and concepts and sketching out designs. I wish I could say I have a cute little spiral-bound book full of these ideas, but the truth is I have a bunch of loose papers shoved in a manila folder.  Anyway, I guess my lesson is to take advantage of the inspiration that's around you every day -- gather it and use it to your advantage so that when it's time to create you'll have inspiration galore.

4. What's your stand-by, FAST dinner solution for those times when you really want to get to your scrap space ASAP (or stay ALAP)?

In the morning throw into the crockpot 3 things:
1) some chicken breasts
2) a can of Ro-tel (diced tomatoes with green chiles...I like the kind with lime juice and cilantro added)
3) taco spices  (taco seasoning packet OR your own blend of cumin, garlic salt, chili powder, onion powder, paprika, etc.)

Don't bother stirring.  (Waste of time...you could be stamping!) Cook all day on low. Shred the chicken. After shredding the chicken, return it to the juices in the crockpot. Serve it in warm tortillas with whatever you like..I set out black beans, avocado slices, shredded cheese, salsa, sour cream, cilantro.

5. If you were stranded on an island that had a billion supplies but NO tools, what ten TOOLS would you HAVE to have? (All the stamps in the world are available, so you don't need to list them as one of your tools. EX: we've got all the embroidery floss in the world, but you're going to have to bring your own needle if you want to use any of it!)
 
1. Tonic Guillotine 12" paper trimmer
2. Cuttlebug machine with all dies/embossing folders -- this counts all as one, right? :)
3. Hero Arts acrylic blocks
4. Sewing machine
5. Microtip scissors
6. Scalloped edge scissors
7. Paper piercer
8. Stamp-a-ma-jig
9. 1/8" handheld circle punch
10. Metal ruler

Tami emailed me later that she had forgotten her heat gun in all the rush to pack for Stamper Island. She didn't tell me which item it would be replacing, so I'm just going to bend the rules and let her have 11 things 'cuz she's so cute!

6. If you were still on that island, what kind of noise would you want (if any) in the background? List as many as five different favorite musical artists.

Something mellow like Jack Johnson...that would fit with the whole island vibe too.  Mostly I'd just like to listen to the waves.

7. If you could have anything you wanted, (concerning scrapping or stamping) what would it be?

A stamp room maid? :)  The maid would specialize in scrap paper management...my scraps need some serious help!

8. What about your style/artistry are you least satisfied with?
 
My coloring skills...lots of room for improvement there!  I've never even laid my hands on a Copic marker...they scare me.

I think they cultivate that on purpose. They think they're so big and bad, but I'll betcha the Sharpies could take 'em!

9. What cameras have you tried, which one is your favorite, and why? (You can shorten this to just the one you're using now if you like.)
 
My Canon Rebel XTi is my favorite and is the camera I use 99% of the time.  I also keep our first digital camera (an Olympus point & shoot) handy and it performs great for those times when I don't want to lug around a big-bodied camera.  Oh, and my oldest daughter (9) entered the digi photo world this past Christmas, so I also have a sleek little Pentax to play with...when she's at school. (Shhh!)

10. What's the word or phrase that comes to your lips when you mess up while creating? ("Unprintable" is definitely an option!)

Frequently unprintable! But not always...I caught myself saying "Jiminy Crickets!!!" the other day.  I have no idea where that came from.

You've been watching Pinocchio? Either that or you're subconsciously smitten with insects wearing formal attire.

You can check out more of Tami's scrumptious creations on her Flickr photostream, the cardmaking gallery at heroarts.com and occasionally on the Hero Club Blog. I know she's got some massive gallery action over at 2Peas as well, but I don't know her member name. I'm sure she'll tell you, though, if you ask her!

Comments

[Kelly Booth]

Yea! Love Tami Hartley....she is such an inspiration to all of us.....
She is so sweet and makes the prettiest cards!
Thanks Deborah for giving us a little insight to the mind of Tami!

[Arlene]

Am I the first? Wow... great interview. Loved Tami's answers (you can see the humor in her answers) and your comments, Debbie, are fantastic. You have a unique insight.

I'm so glad Tami is one of the web artists now - just have to browse the Hero Arts sight more... as thought I'm not turning the pages of the 2009 catalog all the time:)

Great answers to the lost on a desert island - but does the island have electricity? I have seen sewing machines without electricity but not a heat gun. (I'm grinning)....

[Lin]

Deborah, what a GREAT choice this week. Tami is one sweet lady, and I think her cards were my first favorites back when Hero started the blog and Flickr.
This was an interesting interview; it's nice to get to know her a little better.

[Arlene]

I should have reviewed my comments - I am such a stickler for my own spelling... site instead of sight and though instead of thought. I can't even blame it on being too early in the morning...

[Virginia L.]

Not only that I'm learning about Tami's tips/tricks/hints on stamping, I have to take notes on her crock pot recipe to survive my HA addiction. This interview is just "yummo" (as Rachel Ray would say...). Tami is such a sweet lady, I think it shows in her assorted creative cards :) Thanks, Deborah, for your interesting insights and comments!!

[judyjung]

Not only is Tami a gifted stamper, she is the "go to" person at HA if you need or want something! I love her work - lots of inspiration!! Thanks for a great interview of one of our favorite stampers!

[Andi Sexton (rrlscrapgal)]

OH one of my favorite peas in the whole entire world is Tami!!! She is sweet, adorable and very very helpful! I was so excited for her when I found out about her new career!!!!

And she has a great little sneak of 'twisted sister' humor - she let's it out now and then!!!!

Love her. Love this interview!
And MAN! I need to cook that recipe!!!!

[Tami Hartley]

You all are so kind...thank you for the sweet comments! *blush* It's great to be in the company of so many wonderful women. Hugs!!

Deborah...you are hilarious...thanks for making me smile and laugh out loud today! Other days too. ;) You really have a gift. I'm honored to be a Hump Day Wonder and look forward to reading about all the rest to come! Oh...and thanks for letting me bring that 11th item onto the island...whew!

See you around girls! Hugs!

[donna mikasa]

Such a wonderful interview with one of my favorite stampers! Hero knew a good thing when they saw it and I'm glad she's part of the Hero Arts family. Her work is truly awesome and I love all her little details. And she shares great recipes, too! How could you not love her?

[teresa]

What a great interview with Tami - one of my favorite stampers since the beginning. She is one sweet and special lady. Deborah, thanks for the chance to get to know her a little bit.

[julie]

Thanks Deb and Tami too.

[Judy M.]

Thank you for featuring one of our favorites, Tami Hartley. I am always in awe if her work and get so inspired by her ideas! And she is such a nice person to boot...the total package! Thanks again!

[Laura]

Great interview Deborah and Tami! Hero Arts was so smart when they snapped Tami up to work for them. I am in awe of her talent.

[stampersuzz]

Love Tami's work! So glad you highlighted her work and she is a great help whenever you need it!

[Jenn]

Great interview Tami & Deborah! Loved hearing more about Tami...such a sweetie! Great choice of music, btw. One of my faves!