Tell us a bit about yourself name, location,
affiliations, personal stuff.
Hi – I’m Linda Høgås - 36 year at writing time – 37 when you read this! I’m from Norway (so please pardon my English). I grew up in a small town in the north of Norway. After college I moved to Trondheim - a city with 160,000 citizens. That actually makes Trondheim Norway’s third largest city. That will give you an impression of the conditions here in Norway – they are small. Despite that, Norway is a good country to live in, among other things we have fabulous nature with fjords and mountains. Enough about that for now.
I share house and my life with three wonderful boys. One of them is my husband, the other two my sons.
After I graduated from college I took a year “off” and spent one year at pre-college studying textile art and sewing. During that year I spent a lot of time thinking about my future and ended up following my “sense” and not my hart and decided to study sociology. During my studies and after I got my University degree, I learned to heart sociology in addition to crafting. After my second son was born I reduced my day job and decided to spend more time on crafting and creating. And you know what - I LOVE the combination of my two working areas. It gives me the opportunity to work with people and the opportunity to have moments all by myself creating.
Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I spend a lot of time with my family, and try to find time for my friends in between. I love reading and watching movies - and I so wish I had more time for that. My Christmas wish this year is for there to be more hours in a day – or the ability to not need any sleep.
What first made you want to become an artist?
Actually I have never made a clear decision about being an artist. I can hardly imagine my life without making things, I have always done that.
I have grown up with a mom who was (and still is) a very creative and dexterous women. My dad has always been a hard working man, but after he retired from his job his creative abilities appeared. So I guess I’m hereditarily charged (while I’m talking about my family, I have to mention my brother - who is more of a business man – he is a great mentor when it comes to running the business that my crafting has turned out to be).
Please describe your creative process how, when, materials, etc.
The late nights – when the rest of the world is asleep – that’s the period when I have time to let my thoughts flow. Then I can come up with new design ideas and new ways of making things, etc. I’m easy to inspire – I can get inspired by my husband's paintings, my children, my friends, my colleagues, books, music, a movie, art. I guess I’m a watcher – I really enjoy looking at people and the world around me. I love playing with colors and textures and different fabrics. And I have a LOT in my studio – so just being there often starts a creative process.
What handmade possession do you most cherish?
There are several: A woven wall hanging carpet my mother made after an old Norwegian pattern, my father's woodworking things, my sons' drawings and paintings. And last but not least one of my husband's paintings.
Name your top five books, movies, songs/musical groups, and web sites besides Etsy.
I love books, music and movies – but this one turned out to be quite hard to answer. Here we go:
Some of the authors I like are Paul Auster, Haruki Murakami and Milan Kundera.
What comes to music I’m nearly omnivorous. To mention a few: R.E.M., Tom Waits, Ani Difranco, Bob Dylan, Café del Mar, Massive Attack.
I’m a little bit more picky when it comes to movies,but my all time favourites have to be The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Cinema Paradiso, and Mitt liv som hund from the Swedish director Lasse Hallström. I also like most of the Coen brothers films
Actually I try to reduce my time on the internet, but I have to visit my bloglines everyday for catching up on the blogs I’m reading. I spend a lot of time on looking (and buying) fabrics on several sites. I also visit some Norwegian news sites.
What advice would you give to artists who are new to Etsy?
List and/or relist often!!! Take your time getting to know all the great opportunities Etsy gives you. Have fun!!!
What are your favorite features on Etsy? What new features would you like to see?
My favourite feature has to be the Treasury. People make the most awesome compositions – I love it! And it’s so fun when you see that golden star!
I would be so happy if I had the opportunity to batch editing my products!
How do you promote your work?
I’m not so good at promoting my own work. I have a blog. That’s it!
In ten years I'd like to be...
Healthy and enjoying life… |
