Moxie Fabber of the Week: Swarup Murthy

Who's ready for yet another inspiring edition of Moxie Fabber of the Week? This is, by far, my own personal favorite feature of the week, as I just LOVE to get to know all y'all better, up close and personal.

Today we feature the amazingly talented Swarup Murthy, also known as Sanketi. I will never forget the first time I visited Sanketi's blog just a little over a year ago. I was immediately intrigued by its title, and the sweet watercolored quilts in the banner signaled that I was going to want to stay for a while. Indeed, each time I am invited in when Sanketi plays in one of our many challenges, I am completely blown away by what she has to offer. As you'll see in the following interview, Swarup brings a uniqueness and authenticity to this craft that is rare and wonderful, indeed.

You are going to LOVE getting to know her better today, friends, so settle in with your cuppa something yummy and get ready to be "wowed!"

Take it away, Sanketi! 

What is your full name? What is your screen name? Do you have a blog or an on-line gallery? 

Before I start with my introduction, I would like to thank Cath for considering me for this feature and giving me an opportunity to share a little bit about myself. Thank you so much, I really appreciate it!

Hi everyone, Swarup Murthy here. I am a daughter, a sister, and a caring wife living in the beautiful Midwest, with an extremely supportive husband who is the reason for who I am and where I stand today creatively. He is my strongest critic who has always believed that I have it in me to do better and pushes me to open up and go for it.

I blog as Sanketi at The Storyteller. Do come by and visit me sometime!

Describe yourself in three short, fun sentences.

I am a soft-hearted, strong-willed, fun-loving, and highly principled homebody, who tends to be a bit too proactive much to my husband's chagrin! I love history and if I were not an artist, I would have been an archaeologist. I love going on a nostaglic memory trip time and again, which invariably leads to some story telling, hence the name of my blog, The Storyteller.

How long have you been paper crafting? How did you get involved in paper crafting? What is your favorite aspect of paper crafting?

I have been crafting since I was a litlle girl. Sitting by my mother, watching her sew and craft, it became almost natural for me to follow in her footsteps. Fascinated by the beauty of Indian sarees, a traditional Indian attire, I went on to to study textile design. Over the years I got into painting landscapes in oils and watercolors. I tried my hand at different mediums, each one equally interesting and challenging as the other, until I found paper crafting.

About 12 years back I started scrapbooking to organise our photos and was asked by friends to help them do their scrapbooks, too. Soon thereafter, I ventured into cardmaking to make some holiday cards as gifts, and then there was no turning back!

My favorite aspect of paper crafting, especially card making, has to be choosing the sentiment. To me it's the single most important part of a card and is almost always my focal point. After all, that is what a card is supposed to do, deliver the message that you could not do in person.

What do you like most about the Moxie Fab World? What is your favorite feature and why? Do you have a favorite all-time post?

There is nothing I don't like about the Moxie Fab World, but I love the Oh My Moxie Fab! feature the most. I love how Cath picks those awesome images to inspire us, and of course, the Tuesday Triggers make me want to get out of my comfort zone and do something different. I love seeing all the different approaches to the same picture. Here is a card that was chosen as a Trigger Target recently:

From the Happy Birthday to You Tuesday Trigger

Yes, I do have a favorite all time post--the Fascination with Feathers Challenge post. I enjoyed this challenge in and of itself, and of course can you blame me for liking the winners' post too. Yes, Cath picked my card as one of the winners! I remember, it was in early April of 2012 and I was pretty new to the blogging scene, so winning a challenge such as this made me feel welcome and a part of this paper crafting world.

We are all moxie fab in our own way. Name one thing that makes you moxie fab.

Well, little ol' me and moxie fab? Hmnnnn, I don't know about that, but from what I have heard from others, I believe it's my ability to do mixed media, especially blending loose flowing transparent watercolors with the wonderful art of stamping.

How would you describe your style? Provide 3-4 images of a paper crafted project that illustrates that style best.

I adapt a clean and simple style when it comes to designing my cards--lots of white space with minimal or sometimes no embellishments at all. But when I do art journalling, I break free and go totally bold with colors and texture. In fact HERE is a Year in Review post I did at the close of last year which gives an overview of the kind of work I really enjoy doing.

I especially love to use some sort of coloring medium on my cards, be it markers, watercolors, pastels or color pencils....

Copics:

Pastel pencils:

Watercolors:

Inktense pencils:

Who is your favorite manufacturer and why? What is your favorite all-time collection and why? Have you created a paper crafted project using this collection? If so, feel free to attach it.

This one is going to be really difficult! I love BasicGrey and My Mind's Eye for patterned paper, but when it comes to stamps my favorite has to be Papertrey Ink. I look forward to their monthly releases and their unique and innovative designs often blow me away! My all-time favorite has to be their Simply Jane stamp set and die collection. I love the old world sentiments in it and the silhouettes and use them quite often. Almost competing with this set is the Boards and Beams stamp set. I love the houses and I feel they are perfect for watercoloring.

Here is a card using the trendy chalkbord technique and the Simply Jane set:

And here is a card that incorporates the Boards and Beams stamp set:

Do you consider yourself to be a card maker or a scrapbooker? If you are a card maker, why do you prefer it over scrapbooking? If you are a scrapbooker, why do you prefer it over card making? If you do both, what do you like about card making that is different from scrapbooking and/or vice versa?

I would say I do both. I started with scrapbooking and then ventured into card making and today I love them both equally. Of course I do enjoy the instant gratification that card making offers. With scrapbooking, it's a bit of a long road until you get to see the final layout. From choosing and printing pictures to actually completing a layout, it does take a couple of sittings.

Attach an image of a paper crafted project of which you are the most proud or that means the most to you. Include a brief statement that explains why.

There are two cards that make me extremely proud. This first one was my project as a guest deisgner for CAS-ual Fridays. The sentiment truly speaks to me and I always get a bit dewy eyed when I see this card.

In this one, I love the way a book cover got translated into a card. Thanks to Papertrey Ink for challenging me to think outside the box.

Do you consider yourself to be a trend-watcher? Why or why not? Do you feel that trend-watching is important to your creativity? Why or why not?

Yes, I am definitely a trend-watcher, be it fashion or craft. I always like to be in the know, but rarely do I follow a trend, unless it appeals to me. I feel it is very important to keep a watch on what the latest products are or how these are being applied. That's why I love the CHA updates that Cath and others post, it offers a wonderful insight into what's new out there. Right now I am really enjoying the chalkboard, arrows and cameras trends.

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Isn't Sanketi just amazing, friends? If your jaw is on the floor the way my jaw is on the floor, we're all going to need a handful of hankies now, aren't we? The word that comes to my mind quick as a flash when I think of Sanketi and her style is artist. The way she combines her skill at painting with stamping is quite remarkable, and hello? Any card maker who says she starts with the sentiment as the focal point is seriously after my own heart!

I'd also like to thank Sanketi for all the kind words she said about me and the Moxie Fab World. And even though I am very glad to know that I inspire her as much as I do, the feeling is definitely mutual!

How has Swarup inspired you today, friends? Be sure and leave her some love, Moxie Fabber style!

Moxie Fabbers ROCK!

~Cath