Spotlight on Shari Carroll

Yep.

That's right.

Told you this week's Wonder was Extra Special.

Ladies, may I introduce... (Give me a break! Like this woman needs an intro?!) Still - formalities dictate at these moments....

Please say hello to Shari Carroll, Hero Arts Design Team member and Stamper Extraordinaire! (Photo from Hero Arts site.)

Now here's my dilemma: what on earth can I say about a stamping celebrity of this magnitude? If she were a movie star, she'd be like Susan Sarandon or Meryll Streep.... You know... like, HUGE!

I could say that Shari Carroll is in my top five favorite stampers of all time. I could further say that nobody does distressed Shabby Chic like Shari (hence my unfettered admiration of her work). I could also say that I have never, EVER seen one of her cards that didn't make me go slack-jawed at its perfection.

And I could say that there have been times when I just want to throw myself under a bus because I'm never going to be able to create stuff as good as hers. (Luckily, however, I have been able to suppress this urge. So far, anyway.)

 

And, last of all, I could say that I'm not the only person who feels this way. (Well, about the first three things - maybe not so much that part about despairing yourself right into a grease spot on the road.) As a matter of fact, I'd go so far as to say that there are more stampers with me on this one than not. (And those who are not with me on this one are clearly lacking taste and talent and can go jump in a lake!

Since Shari is a celebrity stamper, some of my typical questions are a little ridiculous. Namely, ones like, "Have you ever been published? by who?" Has she ever been published?! I think we'd probably have better luck with listing who hasn't published her work....

IS there anyone who hasn't published her?

Oh, whoops, almost forgot! The woman actually has her own book - Layers!

Well, let's just get to it, shall we? The suspense is killing me!

Ladies, please lift your Diet-Cokes to Stamping's Reigning Star, the Most Excellent Shari Carroll! (Don't know where the Bill and Ted reference came from, but, DANG!, it fits!)

Shari'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?

If I have a bunch of cards to make I’ll sit and do some sketches first.  But most of the time I just make my cards as I go.  I can take up to three hours for a card and several more for a page.  I tend to change my mind and ponder things for way too long.  

Okay, I am now in Nirvana. I am so thrilled to hear you say that you "ponder" things for way too long!

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

I probably make up to 15 cards a week, could be more if I’m working on catalog samples or my blog week.  

FIFTEEN?! *Thwap* (That would be fainting in dismay as I feel my butt rather unceremoniously kicked out of Nirvana.) I can barely manage to find the time to throw ONE together, let alone FIFTEEN! .... Oh, the humanity)

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?

One of the things I do when I get new stamps is decide what technique would work best for that image, and then I move forward with card making.  As for color choices, I tend to stay true to my style and work with muted tones that go well together.  Also, I allow for experimental time where I just play and see if things will work, then jot down notes for the future.  As for a tip, I’d have to say to invest in good tools, if you have the right tool for the job it makes a designer's life much better!

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)? 

Pizza Hut delivery…my son works there! :o)

 

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. Fiskars Trimmer

2. EK Scissors

3. Pokey Tool

4. Cutting mat

5. Xacto blades

6. Sanding Block

7. Distress Ink Applicators

8. Craft sheet

9. Adhesives (glue dots, glue stick and tape runner)

10. Circle punches

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.

Paolo Nutini, Rick Wakemen (piano), Pink Floyd, Bon Jovi, Led Zeppelin, Hootie and the Blowfish

Now there's something you don't see every day: a head-banging rubber lover. ;~)

 

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

A bigger and better studio, I’ve outgrown mine….it gets frustrating when I need more room for my supplies.

8. What about your style/artistry are you least satisfied with?

I’d have to say that I’m slow.  I think about things too much rather than just going for it.  I take way too long on my projects.  

I'm back in Nirvana again....

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.)

Right now I use a Canon Digital Rebel XTi, I also like 35 mm film and have a Canon EOS Rebel K2 (I can interchange my zoom lens with both these cameras).

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

Awwww….Shit or Holy Shit!

You are SO my favorite stamper in the world right this minute!

And here are some bonus questions!

11. What do you find more satisfying: the process or the product? 

I definitely love the process as it leads me to the final product.  I love experimenting and coming up with new techniques.

12. If you couldn't do this for a living, what would you do?

I’d be working with children with challenges.  I feel for those with needs. When my children were young I ran a daycare with several special needs children including one that was autistic, another had ADHD and yet another who had physiological problems.  Once my kids were school aged, I became an individual aid for a boy with Muscular Dystrophy, worked with him for 7 years.  I would love to try my hand at working with teens that might have behavior issues or chemical dependencies.     

13. I know you've been with Hero Arts for many years. How did you begin that relationship? Was it a Help Wanted ad? a chance encounter?

Mine was a chance encounter.  It began as a friend of a friend of a friend sort of thing.  My neighbor had a friend whose mom knew Nancy Taylor.  This neighbor was coloring cards at home; I saw what she was doing, so I inquired.  I was quite pregnant at the time with my second son; I interviewed with Nancy and got the job.  My son will be 20 this summer. 

Thank the Lord for chance encounters!

❧

Visit Shari's blog to see more or her beautiful creations. Or catch them at the Hero Arts ideas page. Or at her photostream on Flickr. By the way, in case you've been living under a rock, Shari does great technique articles on the Hero Arts site AND she's got some killer demonstration videos, as well; watch them at Hero Arts and on YouTube.

 

Comments

[Vanessa Menhorn]

Oh, a wonder wonder! Loved this interview, Shari is one of my favourite stampers, too! Thanks Deborah!

[Diana Foster]

Love your interview with Shari! Great getting to know her better. She is one of my TOP favorite stampers!!!

[Anne Gaal]

Hi Deborah! Hi Shari! What a fabulous interview! I especially like the Friends tag near the end of the post. It is dreamy! Loved reading all about Shari! :-)

[Lucy]

What a fantastic interviewee... LOVE Shari's gorgeous card. And I love to hear a bit more about here. Thank you BOTH!!!

[Chris M]

Wow, that's a varied mix of music!!! Love your interview with Shari!! Love the bonus questions and how Shari got into HA. Thanks Deborah!!

[Virginia L.]

So wonderful to know more about Shari as I am in awe of her and her work!!! Thanks so much for this fantastic interview, Deborah!

[Teresa]

What s super wonder! I'm always in awe when I see Shari's artworks. Thanks you two for the great interview.

[Shari Carroll]

You all are so sweet to think I'm a wonder!

Smooches to all of you, and thanks Deborah for asking me, it was great fun!!!

[Arlene]

Great interview - you just figure Shari can have her cards done in 10 minutes tops and still be perfect.

[stampersuzz]

Great interview as always.. Big fan of Shari's!

[donna mikasa]

Super interview with one of my favorite stampers! Love her work and her unique style. Another great interview, Deborah!

[Patty]

What a fabulously special interview! I absolutely adore Shari's work, LOVE her style, and really enjoyed your "extra" questions for her! Thanks, Deborah, for giving us a little peek into her brain! :)

[Tomo H.]

Hi, Deborah! What a fantastic interview as always! Thanks so much Shari and Deborah!!!
I so enjoyed reading and seeing her many beautiful works. Truly beautiful!!! :)