Focus On... Hide n Seek And A Giveaway!

{{{GIVEAWAY CLOSED}}}

Hide n Seek is a magical shop full of whimsy and wonder and wildness. I feel as if I'm stepping into a fairytale everytime I enter. And when you actually look at her pieces... it's amazing. Eloise (who has the fabulous habit of signing every correspondence with "take care and bear hugs") is such a talented artist I couldn't help but buy quite a few of her pieces and she is such a generous artist she included some extras for a giveaway!

This little goat is my favorite piece of hers - I have it hanging in my room!

{one black baby goat}

Tell me some basic info about yourself.

I am Hidden Eloise, the pencil and brush behind Hide n Seek. I have been drawing as if my life depended on it since I was a little girl. Yet, the old and ancient household council of family and parents spoke and decided: I was to become an Architect!... and that I did, yet, as expected from anyone forced in slaved-education, I eventually followed my dream of drawing and painting my way away from Architecture. No amount of family, peer and social pressure has managed to make me stop drawing. There is no inspiration behind my choice and there isn't even any choice to speak of, I have to draw pretty things. Or else!

{i love u}

What kind of mediums do you use and why?

Daydreaming is where it all begins and, unsurprisingly, the most important decisions are not taken over paper. When the strange stories in my head decide they are ready to appear through pencil, I start drawing. After a lot of scribbling and sometimes some brushwork, I move to digital colouring where I stay for as long as it takes. I never rush an artwork and I often redraw parts of it and change them again and again until I am satisfied, the whole process taking usually more than two weeks and, more often than not, a month and more since I have to run my shops as well. When I look at a new artwork and it makes me smile, I know it is ready to be shared with the world.

(thinking of you)

What made you decide to sell on etsy?

Etsy seemed like a fun place to promote my art, easy to join and filled with kind etsians ready to help a new soul anytime. It was meant to be: Hide n Seek + Etsy = ♥ :)

{My Captain... We've reached the end of the world -- Pocket Mirror}

Where do you get your inspiration?

I get inspired by silent creatures, faded memories of childhood, childish scribblings, monochromatic lithographies, repetitive mechanical sounds of bizarre gadgets with no apparent use, old toys, vintage illustrations from children's books and waiting for a rainbow to appear after the endless rains here in England.

{I'll pillage your village -- Print}

What is your favorite music to craft by?

Bat for Lashes, Ehma, Cocteau twins, Big heart in wool, Piano Magic, Rocket to the sky and of course a big variety of Classical music.

{Hide n Seek -- Print}

When it's cold outside...it's warm inside :)

{A Dark Fairytale -- Print}

When I'm hungry...better duck n cover!

{Little Lost Bear -- Print}

When I need a boost...I drink silly amounts of obscure oriental teas.

{We are here -- Print}

I wish I was/were...an old, hunched witch in a dark fairytale

.....but fairytales aside, i wish i was fluent in Japanese that has been so hard to master :)

{Envy -- Print}

If I could give one gift to everyone I know, it would be...Easiest question ever! A handcrafted Newtonian telescope, of course.

{Dad, this is the friend I told you about -- Card}

If I could have coffee with anyone, it would be...Utagawa Hiroshige. His ukiyoe and style have been a great inspiration of mine.

{Seduction -- Card}

If you were an animal, what would you be?
A grizzly bear of course :)

{My, what big heart you have -- Card}

What's your favorite piece of your own?

I love my latest piece I created for the Glass, Cinder n Thorns Gallery show called "Pray the anchor stays heavy, my child......all sailors whisper, the night before they brave the sea." for all it's dark fairytale and nautical nature.

 Hide n Seek on Etsy

Hide n Seek Blog

Hide n Seek on Twitter

Eloise has offered a beautiful selection of items for a giveaway! One lucky winner will receive an 8x11 print of "Pray the anchor stays heavy, my child..." {frame not included} and a postcard version of "My Captain... We've reached the end of the world" plus a couple secret goodies!

- To be eligible for entry, you must be a follower of my blog through google friend connect or through your preferred RSS reader. -

- Make sure you leave me a way to contact you if you win. -

- Please leave separate comments for each entry. -

First entry (mandatory):

Head over to Hide n Seek and tell me your favorite item!

Extra entries (optional):

- Follow the Hide n Seek Blog.

- Sign up for the Kate and Oli mailing list (in sidebar).

- Add my button to your blog (in sidebar).

- Become a Facebook fan of Kate and Oli.
- Follow Hide n Seek  and Kate and Oli on Twitter.
- Tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link.
- Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link.

- Post on facebook about this giveaway and leave me some way to verify.

Fine print: Giveaway begins when it is posted and ends at 11:59pm pacific standard time May 27, 2010. A winner will be selected by a random number generator on May 28, 2010 and will be emailed promptly. Hide n Seek will ship anywhere in the world!