Team Treasury

Member Feature: RosaMaría (464Handmade)

2012-01-04T10:21:00.000-08:00

Featured: 464Handmade
Interview by: WallisDesigns

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?
Hola! My name is RosaMaría, I’m the eldest daughter in my family. For nine years I live with my love, my partner and best friend Alex, our three dogs and a very lazy kitten. We live close to the forest and to Guadalajara City, the land of mariachi and tequila, in Mexico.
I studied at Law school and have a master in Constitutional Law. I work in that area but since 2008, I looooooove to quilt and sew.

How did you get started on Etsy?
First I started to blog and through it I found Etsy.
In my every day work I analyze legal proceedings so sewing and having my Etsy shop is a way to de-stress after work. It keeps me busy, but also makes me feel creative and that is totally refreshing to me.

Where did you get your shop name from?
464 is our house’s number. In 2008 Alex and I got a bank loan and bought our first home that we love, it’s my favorite place to create and dream. Our home is our very happy place.

What is your favorite item in your shop right now?
Hmmm...the mini quilts and the wooden tape holders that Alex makes.
Making quilts is one of my favorite things to do, I love how the fabrics can be transformed into quilts and be cozy and warm for people. I love to spend days by myself making quilts, so they are always special to me.
The tape holder was a gift that Alex made for me to organize my japanese tape collection. After that I thought it would be great to have some of them in my shop and I love the idea of having Alex as a business partner too.

You are undoubtedly a treasury making machine!! How do you do it and where do you find the inspiration? ...and any tips that would help us in our treasury making.
Well, I think not having kids in home right now, helps a lot! I don’t watch TV so that gives me a lot of free time as well.
The inspiration comes from other Etsy sellers, the gorgeous vintage shops and other artists. Having an active circle helps you to find lots of beautiful stuff, and, of course, many of my treasuries are made as a wish list to myself. It’s always interesting and inspiring to see other people’s visions and choices and how they can make things work so well together in treasuries. Sometimes I feel that being a curator is like being a shopper but without having to add the items in the shopping cart, so in the end, your wallet is saved!

You recently participated in your first craft show. What was your experience doing this? What things did you learn from the in person contact with customers and your products.
It was an amazing experience, very hard and let me say very tiring but still amazing. Meeting the people who buy your stuff and seeing that they are happy with their purchase was the best for me.
On the other hand, I saw that not all the people appreciate the handmade process and many of them want to buy the things almost for free. I think the crafter or the artist must appreciate their own work and not to sell for cheap. This is a big problem in México because there is a lot of great crafters and artists here but many people don’t want to pay a fair value of their work. This is very sad and I lost many sales at the bazaar, but I’m happy I did it. We need to appreciate the creative process and the whole work in every item.

Happy Etsyversary as you celebrate your first year on Etsy! Do you have specific ideas or goals for your shop in the coming year?
Thanks it's amazing!!
More than selling in high numbers, I want my items to go to people who will love them. I sew in my free time, after my job and my home duties. Having very happy customers is always my first goal. Also, I’m working on new bags already and I want to keep a balance between my job, my home, my Etsy shop and my life.

Apart from creating things for your shop what do you like to do?
I love music, books, movies, travel, coffee and nature. I enjoy cooking for my guy and having friends over at our home. On weekends I love to spend time in my garden taking care of my plants (love succulents!) and playing with my dogs.

Ten years from now where would you like to be living and what would you like to be doing?
That is hard to say, but I hope it involves being happy and healthy, having a workshop, being a mom, and still making things.

Visit RosaMaría's Etsy Shop!

Member Feature: Efrat (PetekDesign)

2011-11-03T11:36:00.000-07:00

Featured: PetekDesign
Interview by: margotbianca

Tell us a bit about who you are and how you got where you are now.
My name is Efrat Elie. I am 31 years old, and I live in sunny Tel-Aviv (and loving it!) I have a B.A. in Visual Communication from Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem.

I worked for many years as an art director in a leading Design studio in Israel, most of my works were in the fields of Branding and Package design, so I got used to seeing my works being displayed on the supermarket shelves.

After that I was approached by a premium pastry factory, and became their in-house designer, in-charge of all brand identity for both local and international brands: In Israel – "lachmi", and abroad – "Elsa's Story". My work there was very fulfilling, and every year I worked on new collections for Christmas and then Spring, including gift boxes sold at Costco, Walmart etc.

After 4 years I became an independent freelance designer. I always knew Etsy as a great place to find new exciting designs, and to get inspired by talented artists. When I got married (in 2008) I looked for some unique jewelry and accessories for the wedding day, and it was then that I started dreaming of having my own Etsy shop. It took me a while, but eventually I did it and opened my own shop called "Petek Design" (Petek in Hebrew meaning 'a piece of paper' or 'a note').

Do you have a job outside of selling the work we see here on etsy? if so, what is it?
In addition to selling my artwork at Etsy, I continue working as a freelance, on design projects for a variety of clients. This includes logo design, corporate brand identity, packaging, website design, and all graphic design aspects.

You can see some of my latest works here.

I feel really fortunate that I can now work from my cozy studio, next to the sea shore of Tel-Aviv, and I am my own manager, choosing my own projects, and setting my own working hours. This is really the best way to work :).

What is your favorite piece that you have in your shop right now? Why?
Well, I love all my artworks but if I really need to choose…My favorite piece is the new and recent Spooning collection – including fine art photographs of vintages spoons, lying on miniature pillows. See example.

This idea was developed from my previous graphic version posters of "spooning", after it became my most popular item.

The spoons I used are part of a collection I've started to collect during my trips with my husband all around Europe. The miniature pillows for the photo shoot were made especially for this project, by my dear friend from babytogo. For each couple of spoons we developed a special and unique "bed set". I then worked with my talented and dearest friends Arie & Yasmin Photographers. And so, all these good people believed in my idea, and helped my dream come true :)

Currently, I continue collecting vintage spoons, and my friends and family know what to get me when they travel at flea markets all around the world…

How do you find ideas for your work?
I find many ideas all around me - from everyday life and from everyday situations and conversations, strolling around in Tel-Aviv with "Lychee" (my puppy).

I also enjoy going to galleries and exhibitions all around the city, which has a surprisingly wide selection of design & art styles.

I have to admit that my best ideas were born in bed while I "blah-blah" to my hubby at night before going to sleep. He doesn't have any choice but to participate… and so together we come up with fun ideas and concepts, for my "Petek-Design" shop on Etsy.

We're at "the bottom of the hill" in terms of the holiday rush time, on Etsy. I'm wondering if you can share a few tips that you've learned about managing sales, taking care of customers and maximizing your season with us.
From my experience, there are several aspects which are always relevant, but especially relevant during the holiday rush season. First is the marketing aspect. I always try to think of fresh and original ideas for products. Though it's the same holiday, one should take the challenge and try to look at it differently every year. Be creative, be original, and if you can - add humor to the photos and texts in your listings. That way you can also enjoy the process.

As for the logistics aspect, one should be ready ahead of time with all the necessary stock and supplies (including packaging materials etc.). I also found it important to let customers know in advance that delivery times may be longer during the holiday season, and that I am always there for any questions or issues.

Do you have any long term goals for your shop in mind? Any changes or things that you are looking forward to in the coming new year?
My vision in not to be "the biggest" in what I do, but rather to be the most creative, to reach new audiences that will love and appreciate my work, and to feel satisfied and proud of my ideas. I also hope to continue visiting new and exciting places in the world, that will inspire me, and give me the energy and motivation for the future.

Visit Efrat's Etsy Shop!

Member Feature: Lorrie (LennyMud)

2011-09-22T07:17:00.000-07:00

Featured: LennyMud
Interview by: NancyWallisDesigns

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, your family and other interesting tidbits you care to share.
My name is Lorrie and I am an Etsyholic. My family considered an intervention when they discovered that I was sneaking the laptop into the bathroom with me to check on convos.

My husband thinks my Etsy shop is my mid life crisis. If so, I think it's better than 5 vials of botox, a cherry red convertible, or a 20 something blonde in terms of making me feel renewed. I now embrace my pear shape because it means I can call myself a hipster. The truth is that I am painfully shy and somewhat socially phobic. Etsy gives me a vehicle to connect with many people that I never have to actually meet in real life. Online I can pretend that I am everything I wanted to be when I grew up: which was specifically a beautiful Japanese woman with an English accent. (No one can say I didn't aspire to greatness.)

I just recently moved from New York City- where I have lived since the 80s- to the beautiful suburbs of New Jersey. I have two amazing children that I like to refer to as "The Spawn." My most recent purchase for our new home was an owl cookie jar. Did I tell you I was an etsy addict?

When did you first hear about Etsy and how long did it take before you set up your shop?
I am sure I stumbled upon Etsy on some wine fueled google search a few years ago. That would certainly explain my shop name (more on that later.) I opened my account in March 2009, made my first sale in April and was probably on the forums hundreds of times between asking people to critique the 8 darkly photographed items in my shop. I literally gave things away when I first opened shop on Etsy. And I don't mean a rock bottom price: I mean I literally went into chat rooms and if someone admired something I made, I would send it to them for free. Who knows if it was deep artistic insecurity, well meaning generosity, or a result of being drunk. All I know is that in order to reconnect with the process of creating, I had to reconnect with the process of work moving away from myself and out into the world. Pull up a chair:

I went to a karaoke party once and a girl there was a fairly well known backup singer for B List performers. She refused to perform karaoke; gave some high faluting speech about it being her "craft". After finishing a rather horrid rendition of "Total Eclipse of The Heart" I reflected upon what she had said, and then developed my own philosophy which is vehemently opposed to this kind of artistic self indulgence. The ability I have to make stuff is a gift. It is something that moves from outside of me and through me--I am just the vehicle for it. I get pure pleasure from the act of creating--from the process itself. I have never made something that I didn't give away or sell happily. For me the joy was never in the end product: the true high is in the act of imagining and making, the icing on the cake is when you get to put it out in the world and share it. So for Gawds sake people, if you are able to sing- sing for others!

When browsing in your shop the words bright, original and clever come to mind. Humor is obviously a big part of your life and it shows in your designs. Where do you come up with these ideas? and what's your inspiration?
Coming up with ideas is EASY! Coming up with ideas that don't totally stink is the hard part. I find everything inspiring. Truly. My mind is always racing 100 miles a minute and I am easily distracted by squirrels and shiny things. If I do ever find myself a bit "stuck" I usually contemplate cleaning the bathroom or doing the laundry. The mere thought of housework usually generates several I MUST MAKE THAT RIGHT NOW ideas.

Is it true that you named your Etsy shop after your cat?
Yes. Lenny is the name of my studio cat. I make the pots, Lenny breaks them (that way I never run out of shelf space). Depending on who I am talking to, Lenny is either named after Lenny in Steinbeck's novel, or Squiggy's compadre on Laverne & Shirley. I rescued him from the streets of Harlem and he rewarded me by getting rid of the mice that infested my workspace. When he was 3 months old, Lenny fell into a 6 gallon bucket of glaze. He has been "challenged" ever since. Lenny makes really bad choices. And he is not for sale. Probably not.

Your business goes well beyond your Etsy shop and some of us might not know that. Can you give us a little background to your company and success.
I started a company called Our Name is Mud on a cardtable at streetfairs in NYC in the 80s and along with my wonderful husband built it into a pottery business that started the "paint your own pottery" craze on the East Coast in the very early 80s. I owned four bricks and mortar stores in Manhattan, including one in Grand Central Terminal, and launched a wholesale company in the early 90s that made my ceramics available in thousands of stores worldwide. I sold Our Name Is Mud to a large giftware company three years ago, but I still continue to design for the brand. I am not your typical Etsy store owner in that I straddle a world where I am involved in manufacturing overseas and in big commercial ventures, but also try to pack my handmade mugs in materials that are eco friendly. Getting to be listed as the #11 on craftcount.com in the pottery category has been just as exciting as growing a really large business.

Sometimes I think we rely on Etsy too much to sell our products. What advice do you have in terms of marketing and advertising?
Etsy is amazing. I love Etsy. I think Etsy is a bit like that John Travolta movie; The Boy in The Bubble. Etsy is safe. Etsy is Easy. Etsy does a lot of work for you. When you love Etsy, Etsy often loves you back but still respects you in the morning. The choices Etsy shop owners have to make about marketing and advertising really depend on where they want to end up - what they aspire to - how they personally define success. Many of the fine people I have come to know don't want to grow their business to the point where they would have to sacrifice time with their family, or have less time for the actual act of creation. Know what you want. When you know what you want, figuring out how to get there isn't as complicated as many think it is. Hope that didn't sound too Yoda-ish. Maybe I should have just recommended people tweet and get a facebook page.

What specific things are you doing for your Etsy business to get ready for the busy fall/holiday season?
I am trying SO HARD to do one significant thing: Say No. I suffer from the disease of yes. Which means that when someone convos with a tale about how only the set of espresso cups I made 4 months ago will make their dying uncle in Italy smile again, I say yes when I should say no. Multiply this by 3-5 special requests a week that I jump through hoops for and you'll understand why I am up at 5 am each morning. And I seriously am up at 5. Because Etsy also cannot interfere with the fact that I volunteered to help out with the PTA. Or that I need to water my neighbor' plants while they are away. Or give blood. I'm seriously trying just to learn this one word: NO. It will make a huge difference in terms of getting ahead for me stock wise.

I am also seriously limiting the time I spend on the computer. I am rather CDO (that's OCD but in alphabetical order) my son has special needs and my husband has ADHD - I run my house and my life like a drill sergeant and I schedule, make lists, throw the bowling balls up in the air and tap dance while I juggle them. I write down what time periods I will answer emails and convos, etc. and I find that scheduling things that can be a time suck can find you time you didn't know existed because you were comatose while stalking a friend's facebook page.

What techniques do you utilize to keep yourself organized with all your orders, packaging and shipping.
I do the things I absolutely HATE and DON"T WANT TO DO *footstomp, pout* first thing. Always. I withhold the things I really want to do as rewards for the things I must do. I schedule times to process orders, answer convos and am very focused during those times: just like when I am with my family I am ocused on them -- you know, when I'm not checking convos wink wink nudge nudge.
I recently hired a vagrant with a bushy beard named Dan to help out a few hours per week with shipping. He's not really a vagrant. Probably not. The key is knowing when to ask for help--and knowing when getting help will actually help grow your business by giving you more time to invest in it.

What's been playing on your ipod lately?
The Spawn have loaded it with Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus along with the odd Disney musical like Mary Poppins. So I pretty much have had Pandora Radio on to the "Cat Stevens" channel most of the time, when I am not listening to the African Childrens Choir or a little Celtic harp.

If you could go on a vacation right now, anywhere in the world and money is no limit, where would you go?
Honestly, a week at home to catch up on everything would be heaven. I'd clean out some drawers, paint the bedroom, make some of the food I've drooled over on Pinterest. And of course, remain close to the lap top.

Visit Lorrie's Etsy Shop!

Member Feature: Jill (bellalulu)

2011-09-01T08:39:00.000-07:00

Featured: bellalulu
Interview by: margotbianca

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, family or other interesting details?
I have been married for 10 years to my high school sweetheart. We have two young daughters and one big Weimaraner dog.

I graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in Interior Design. Before kids, I worked for a design firm and then for an architecture firm. My clients included schools, churches, an electric company, and even Wal-Mart. As you can imagine, budget and creativity were sometimes very limited.

When my oldest daughter was born almost 7 years ago, I left my job to stay at home with her. I started selling on Etsy just as a hobby about 3 1/2 years ago. Now it is truly a part time job. I fit in here and there throughout the day, but do most of my work after everyone else is in asleep.

Other than family and Etsy, we are active in our church and keep busy with our daughters' activities. I also like to run, and completed my first marathon last Fall.

How did you first find out about Etsy? Did you sell vintage items somewhere before coming to Etsy?
I first saw an Etsy ad in Home Companion magazine. I went to the site and was instantly hooked! At the time I was selling vintage items out of an antique mall. I still have a booth at a local antique mall, but (shhh, don't tell them) I put all of my favorite finds on Etsy.

Where do you find such cool stuff? How much time would you guess that you spend shopping and sorting through treasures, compared to the other things you have to do to keep your business thriving?
My favorite and reliable source is our local Saturday flea market. I grew up going (sometimes begrudgingly) with my mom, and now I am almost never miss it. My mom still goes too, although usually not as early as I do. I also shop at estate sales and antique malls. It varies week to week, but do spend a lot of time hunting for treasures- that is the best part of this job! Listing and shipping aren't quite as much fun. To hold myself accountable in those areas, I make sure to list at least one item every day and to ship items quickly.

As I look at some of your first sold items, and then watch your progress over the past few years, I notice a real evolution in terms of the way you've presented your discoveries to shoppers. Can you talk a little bit about the things you've learned since the beginning of your Etsy experience?
In the beginning I didn't realize how important it was to have really good photographs. About a year and half after I started selling on Etsy, I was in a front page treasury for the first time. I saw how much attention that quickly brought to my shop. Eventually I got a better camera (a Canon Rebel) and took a photography workshop (Ashley Ann Campbell's SnapShop). Thanks to that valuable training and lots and lots of practice, my photographs and my shop have a better and more cohesive look.

Your shop announcement promises "at least one new listing every day." When did you start this practice? Have you noticed that this helps with sales, and if so, how long did it take to notice a change?
I used to do the "one new listing every day" just for a month every once and a while. When I would take a break from that, I did notice a decrease in views and sales. Honestly, a big reason I like to that is just to keep myself committed to listing at least once a day. I do think it probably helps bring customers back to the shop to see what has been added.

I so often see advice coming down from Etsy to make our item descriptions narrative and whimsical. It is a style that I think works for some shops and some items, but it is nice to see an alternative style flourishing. Your item descriptions are appealing because they are broken down into little sections that make it easy for customers to understand immediately what they are buying. Is this something that you've always done, or did you develop it as you learned?
I just started with this type of description fairly recently. It has helped speed up my listing process a bit. I was finding myself staring at a blank screen trying to come up with good descriptions. This way I can just type out the facts, whether "good" or "imperfect" and hopefully add some fun comments here and there too.

Your shop is packed with such lovely, unique back-to school themed pieces right now. Together, they work to make a visual story that is cohesive and thematic. I'm wondering how you balance marketing strategies and personal inspiration when you make decisions about your shop, and how far ahead you must plan in order to keep your shop looking seasonally appropriate.
I am currently participating in Poppytalk's Back to School Market. When it opened last Monday, I added 12 new items all at one time to my shop. They all relate to the "back to school" theme. It is so much fun to gather things for Poppytalk's themes, and often it matches up with Etsy's Merchandising Desk suggestions. I need to be better about keeping up with current themes, seasons and holidays all of the time.

How do you think your personal aesthetic effects the kinds of treasuries you make on the team?
I do tend to pick the things I really like for treasuries. I guess that means I tend to incorporate fun, imperfect, sometimes quirky, and of course many of the wonderfully creative handmade items on Etsy.

Visit Jill's Etsy Shop!

Other places to find Jill:
Twitter
Facebook

Member Feature: Rachel (Rachelink)

2011-07-22T07:31:00.000-07:00

Featured: Rachelink
Interview by: NancyWallisDesigns

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am a mother of two little ones; Maxwell is five and Catherine is two.

I have been married for ten years this August. My wonderful husband’s name is Keith.

I have a BS in architecture from the Univ. of Virginia and a Masters of Architecture form the Univ. of Washington. I’ve been practicing on my own for a few years now.

I am from Bucks County, PA (north of Philadelphia) originally, lived in Seattle for 10 years for grad school and work, and then returned back to the Philadelphia area when Maxwell was born.

I work mostly in the evenings and during naptimes and find time somehow to squeeze my Etsy work in. Drawing makes me happy.

How did you get started selling your work on Etsy?

I always wanted to have a card shop but considered it a dream until a few years ago when I heard people talking about Etsy. A friend of mine opened a shop, my neighbor shopped on Etsy for her clothing and moms talked about it on the playground. I was pregnant, not working very much, and was given a computer and a scanner. So I bought a nice printer, scanned some older Christmas cards that I drew and made a little shop. I was amazed that people actually bought them.

What do you enjoy most about selling on Etsy?

I love that there are people out there all over the world making and creating and sharing their creative gifts with others through Etsy.

My favorite thing about selling on Etsy is doing custom work for people who find my shop and like my drawing style. It is rewarding and encouraging to know that there are people who value what I am creating.

Do you remember your first sale? Can you tell us about it and how it made you feel.

I do! My first sale was to my dear friend Dawn. I felt so much gratitude for her starting things off – and also humbled, because I would have given them to her for free. But I was even more surprised when complete strangers started buying my cards.

Your shop just brings a smile to my face and these words to my mind – happy, colorful, whimsical and clever. Where do you get your inspiration for your illustrations?

Thanks for your kind words! I think since my real work as an architect is so structured and focused, Etsy has become a real outlet for me. A place that is all mine – to be silly, happy, whimsical and free.

I get a lot of ideas from spending time with my family…slowtime, playtime, wandering time.

I like to draw what is around me and then add playful elements to them to make them whimsical or special.

A lot of my ideas are also designed originally for my family members and friends – I have a lot of fishing and music card ideas I made for my dad, flower cards for my mom, typewriter, pen and truck cards for my husband, beachy card ideas for my friends, etc.

I used to get a ton of ideas from Alchemy on Etsy. I developed some of my most popular designs in response to Alchemy requests. Hopefully Etsy will bring back that feature one day.

Do you have any specific goals or plans for your shop coming into the fall season? Such as new products, perhaps promoting your work or changes or improvements you want to make in your shop.

I would like to introduce more original work into the shop, and I have a lot of ideas for custom and personalized illustrations that could be sold as original artwork rather than as cards. I love doing architectural renderings, and I would like to expand that into custom maps for weddings and save-the-date cards.

I would also like to expand on some of the themes I have in my shop – I think of many concepts as a series, but have trouble finding the time to develop the series. For example, I want to draw a whole marching band of instruments having a party, but I have only gotten to the trumpet so far. Every year I add a winter pear card, a bike, and now I seem to be drawn to lobsters.

Your cards are carried by a number of stores and boutiques. Do you have any advice for others looking to sell their products outside of Etsy on a consignment or wholesale basis. How did you initially get your cards into these stores? Are there things you would do differently based on your experience now?

I have been very lucky in that I have never done anything to promote myself (except for my mediocre Facebook page). Shops just seem to find me regarding consignment and wholesale. We joke that my Rachelink store on Etsy is growing despite my lack of time and promotion. I am excited for what may happen when I can find more time to focus on bigger projects.

My advice for consignment would be to make sure you have a good relationship with the store owner, and to be diligent about keeping track of your inventory. Also, remember to take your time and calculate your shipping/packaging costs into your wholesale pricing. I tend to underestimate these hidden costs.

Apart from creating things for your shop, what do you like to do?

Before I had children I was an avid reader and movie buff – I look forward to finding time to do these things again one day. I love to bake, read cooking magazines, knit when it’s cold outside, and travel. I like to exercise when I can. I love spending time with my family.

Putting practicality aside (and all those other things in life that can hold us back) where would be your dream place to live?

If I could return to the east coast and the city once in a while, I would love to live on Lopez Island, which is in the San Juan Islands in Washington State, but my husband would rather live in Wyoming, so I guess we’ll need a helicopter.

Any special summer plans for you and your family?

We will visit my parents at their cabin in Canada. This is one of my favorite places to be. I have gone there since I was a child).

We will also try to go to Ocean City, NJ for a bit off-season. We love the shore but not when it is super hot and crowded.

Visit Rachel's Etsy Shop!

Member Feature: Shannon (Shannonblue)

2011-06-16T13:24:00.000-07:00

Featured: Shannonblue
Interview by: Margotbianca

Tell us a little bit about who you are and what makes you who you are.
The basics: I was born in Louisiana but have also lived in Rhode Island, Florida, Texas, and now Colorado. I’ve been married for 14 years. We have a 4-year old daughter, 2 ½-year old son, and a 14-year old dog named Dharma.

In another life I worked as a chemical engineer, then later as a software test analyst. After I had my daughter, I just wanted to stay home and hold her all day long. I was fortunate enough to be able to quit my job to do just that. And take millions of lousy pictures of her. Thus started my quest to become a true photographer.

I notice that you share your work in several places online. What is the relationship between selling your work on Etsy and your use of social networking and blogging to get your work seen by more people?
When I first started out, I fell into a great group of new moms much like myself on the photo-sharing site Flickr. We were all interested in photography and looking to improve. We did weekly photo challenges and later a 365 project, where we took a photo every day for an entire year (during much of my second pregnancy and the birth of my son). I made a lot of connections through Flickr, learned a lot about photography, and gained a lot of exposure on Flickr’s Explore (much like Etsy’s front page). I was encouraged to pursue selling my work on Etsy.

After I opened my Etsy shop and waited endlessly for my first sale, I realized I needed to work at it a bit more. I started a checklist of things to do: Facebook – check! Blog – check! Twitter – check! Flickr was a great start for me, but I don’t feel like I’ve been using these other social networking tools as effectively as I could be. I’d love to share more personal things and feature other artists and create more of a relationship with my followers. But I honestly don’t have the time to keep up with it all. I do what I can.

I read in your profile that you were inspired to begin photography as a way to document the growth and milestones happening in your family. I'm wondering how you balance enjoying an experience with your family and your desire to create an artifact of the moment.
There are definitely times where I have to tell myself to “put the camera down, Shannon.” It’s a struggle to balance it. On occasions when I do leave the camera at home, I find myself sneaking shots with my iPhone.

What is the biggest challenge you face as you work to make a living from being a photographer?
Right now my biggest challenge is time, balancing family with photography. Being a stay-at-home mom is my top priority, and a full-time job on its own. I fit in the photography when I can because I love it, and I try to finance it through my Etsy shop.

My goal in the next few years once my kids are in school full-time is to continue the fine art photography, but focus more on portraiture. I’d love to be able to be my own boss, schedule my own hours, but still bring some money in.

What qualities set your photos apart from other photographic work on Etsy and elsewhere?
That’s a tough question. There are so many wonderful photographers on Etsy, and each has his or her own style. There’s a large array of work, from the photographers whose work is largely SOOC (straight out of camera) to those who do a tremendous amount of post processing with textures and other techniques. I try to keep my images fairly true to reality, but enhance them to magnify the subject’s true beauty. I love taking photos of ordinary objects and making them beautiful, making the viewer see them in a way he or she may not have seen before.

You describe your work as always evolving. Can you talk about a few ways it has evolved already, and share the changes you see happening in your work in the future?
You can look at my photostream on Flickr and see the evolution as I searched for my style. Much of it was a learning process for me. My first forays into Photoshop were rather scary – from creepy eyes that were too white and blue skin tones, my obsession with bokeh and blur, to my overuse of textures. I’m a lot more confident in my photography and my processing now, with a much cleaner look. Also much of what I started with was flowers and nature shots, and I’ve since been gravitating toward other subjects. I’d love to start working more with actual people. I also want to try more film photography.

Are you engaged in other creative activities, aside from making photos?
My daughter keeps me busy doing art work with her. Does that count?

What do you do when you take time off from work? And, what are your plans for the coming summer months?
Just last weekend it was finally warm enough for me to plant my vegetable garden. I love having fresh tomatoes during the summer. And we’re trying to plan a trip to San Diego in the fall – our first real family vacation since our family went from two to four. This winter I hope to get back to snowboarding, which was put on hold these last few years.

See Shannon's Etsy Shop!

TeamT's First Treasury Giveaway

2011-06-13T10:51:00.000-07:00

16 members from TeamT International participated in our first treasury giveaway. Shannon of shannonpix took responsibility of organizing this event and randomly picking the winner. She created this treasury and we kept the comments open for one week as we gathered views, clicks and comments.

Some stats on the treasury:
527 comments
2,166 views
739 clicks
Lots of time in the #1 hottest of hot treasury spot

The winning number was #367: Jessica of inspiredmama75 . Congratulations, Jessica, on winning all the items in this treasury!

Member Feature: Lisa (ThatOldBlueHouse2)

2011-05-25T10:36:00.000-07:00

Featured: ThatOldBlueHouse2
Interviewed by: NancyWallisDesigns

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I majored in Fashion Merchandising in College, wanting to be a Store Buyer. By the time I graduated I had worked retail since I was 16 and realized retail is a weekend and holiday proposition, so I decided enough of that. After I graduated I worked selling Interior Plantscapes (plants and maintenance for commercial accounts) and that is where I met my husband. While dating I took a Stained Glass class at a local shop near my home in Texas. I made suncatchers for friends and family, until I ran out of people to give them too. A friend opened a floral shop and asked me if I wanted to put a few pieces in her shop. Well, a couple of days later I sold a piece...and I was hooked!!!

When my first child was born (I have three – ages 24, 21 and 14) I decided I wanted to be a stay at home mom (with my husband’s consent of course!), so I sold my suncatchers at craft shows, consignment shops and craft malls. Over the years (20+ ouch!) my work has evolved to where it is now.

How did you get started selling your work on Etsy?
I found Etsy through a friend, who heard about it from another vendor at a Wholesale Market. He said he loved Etsy and suggested she look into it. At the time, we both were at a turning point in our business...we had suddenly lost our Sales Rep who had been very successful for us, and it was also during the economic downturn when a lot of the stores that bought "handmade" were beginning to go back to the cheaper imports. I decided to try it - that was just over 2 years ago and I haven't looked back!

What do you enjoy most about selling on Etsy?
There are so many things I love about Etsy! Being computer stupid, it is easy for me to figure out, and what I can't do, I am learning. Through Etsy I have sold to many different locations worldwide, which is exciting. But most of all, I love the "family" feel of Etsy. I have made lots of friends and of course found some fantastic artists, art and customers. Who could ask for more!

When I look at your designs I can’t help but imagine who the owner was and where this little bit of fabric might have originated. I envision tablecloths draped under tea parties and grandmother’s quilts. Where do you find all these little bits of history?
Since I use "tattered" quilts and lace, I have a fairly easy time finding the imperfect items. I go to antique shows, malls and occasionally auctions (when I have a lot of time). I just had someone send me a bunch of her old torn hankies, because she didn't want to throw them away! I in turn made her a pair of earrings, since she didn't want payment, and I have some nice pieces that otherwise would have ended up in the trash.

What inspires you?
Inspiration for me, comes from the fabric piece itself. I love to pull out the old quilts especially the crazy quilts, and I may see a square that a month before didn't interest me at all, but for some reason, I see something in it that day that gets me really excited. I love the crazy quilts, because they are heavily stitched by women who had tons of chores and responsibilities, but yet they created these beautiful quilts & used them....they didn't hang them on the wall to enjoy. The fabric is tattered, but most of the embroidery is still strong and beautiful. Most of these quilts would be thrown away or put in a closet and forgotten today. But to me, they are truly works of art!!

It’s lovely how you can create a wearable memory for someone using a treasured keepsake fabric. Do you have a favorite custom piece that you have made for someone?
Right now I am working on lace necklaces for bridesmaids to wear for a wedding. The bride has 9 bridesmaids and fortunately, the lace she wants I have exactly 9 pieces that match. I have also made pieces for people with their family lace or quilts. These are usually from Grandma, and are made as keepsakes for the children and grandchildren as a way to remember her.

As Etsy has grown over the years and the competition increases you have really been successful. This is no small feat, especially in the super saturated category of jewelry. Can you offer some tips, advice, perhaps share improvements that you have made to your designs and shop presentation to get to where you are today?
As a jewelry artist in a saturated jewelry market, I don't have a lot of advice.

A few suggestions would be:

wonderful pictures
find a niche, but do what you like, don't try to do something because it seems to work for someone else or you won't be happy
have different price points
always try to find new ideas....you have to stay ahead of the pack
have good customer service

What flavor of ice cream would you order?
Chocolate

What’s the last book you read or movie you saw in a theatre? Did you like it?
The last book I read was by PD James - Unnatural Causes. I am a mystery lover....
Last movie in the theatre I saw was Indiana Jones...yep, I don't go to the movies very often! I am a big cry baby and don't like to watch things that make me cry...which is just about any movie. My kids love to look at me if anything is sad on tv to see if I am tearing up....

Apart from creating things for your shop, what do you like to do?
When I am not working I am usually attending my sons ball games. All three of my kids were athletes, so most of our social life was with the other parents at the games. We have a big garden, although I hate to weed, but do enjoy time outside. Oh, I have lived in the country for 22 years now and wouldn't change it for the world!

Visit Lisa's Etsy Shop!

Member Feature: Efrat S. (TsuraLi)

2011-04-29T12:50:00.000-07:00

Featured: TsuraLi
Interviewed by: NancyWallisDesigns

As one of the newest TeamT members we would like to get you know you better. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself.
My life has always been about creating. In the army I was a photographer. When I finished my service I studied graphic design and worked as a graphic designer for a while. When I was pregnant with my first child I worked in a photography studio as a wedding album designer. With my second child on the way I felt I needed a break and took time off.

About two years ago I was looking to start a business of my own. I started making accessories for my daughter and slowly it became a small business (still is). I turned the computer corner into my studio (small and colorful). I began selling my accessories, with a little push from friends and family, at local shops and doing holydays sells with fellow designers.

You opened your shop in December 2010 so you are new to Etsy as well. How did you get started on Etsy?
I have been familiar with Etsy for quite some time. I started as a buyer and got caught up in this wonderful world of supply and handmade designs. Some friends who have shops on Etsy got me interested in opening a shop of my own. I pondered about it for a while, reading lots of articles and information about what it takes to open a shop and finally jumped into it. So far it's exciting and fun for me.

Your shop is so fresh and happy looking and visually appealing. Your photos are especially eye catching. Photos are challenging and often a place where new shops fall flat. Do you have any advice on taking such great photos?
I'm trying to keep the shop fresh and inviting by improving the photos all the time. I take photos with day light. Natural light is the best light for most products. Also creating a scene for each item makes it more vivid and appealing. Keeping the shop unified is very important, just like a real shop. I love taking close up pictures and highlight segments of my designs.

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What challenges have you faced in opening your Etsy shop?
Time management is definitely the most challenging issue for me. I can say I'm an addict and I need to keep the balance between my family and the shop (and other interesting stuff on the net). The time difference is not helping either. When it's morning in the US it is early afternoon in Israel and all the "action" starts late at night.

Another challenge is the shop visibility. Trying to keep up with so many beautiful accessory shops is hard thing to do.

What’s your favourite part of being a shop owner on Etsy?
The interaction with customers and sellers is my favorite part of being a shop owner, besides designing and creating. It is so rewarding to hear good words about what's in your heart. I also love making treasuries. It is so much fun finding so many gorgeous shops.

Where do you get your inspiration for your designs?
My children, my home, colors, patterns, shapes, fabrics, clothes, drawings, contemporary art, vintage decor. Inspiration can be found anywhere and in anything.

Apart from creating things, what do you like to do?
I enjoy reading design magazines, watching a good movie, shopping, eating and spending as much time as possible with my family. I take great interest in home décor, sewing, fashion design, interior and industrial design. Papier mâché is an old love of mine. Especially, making dolls.

If time and money (and generally all those things that get in the way) were not an issue what is one thing that you have always wanted to try to do?
Definitely study fashion design!!

Member Feature: Shellie (Shellieartist)

2011-04-15T06:43:00.000-07:00

Featured: Shellieartist
Interview by: MargotBianca

Tell us a little something about yourself. What unique things do you have going on in your life?
I am a mother of 2 young children. My son London is 4 and my daughter Roxy just turned 4 months. Before they came along I worked (straight out of college) for 7 years as the Fine Arts Director at the local Jewish Community Center. Once my son was born I decided it would be best to stay home with him. Luckily I have a very supportive husband who works his butt off every day so I can do that! Right now the most unique thing I have swirling around in my universe (besides juggling my 2 kids and making art) is starting up a new handmade business with an old friend from my elementary years that I actually was reconnected with through Etsy 2 years ago. We will be doing a bit of what I did when I worked at the JCC and putting together art shows across the greater Charlotte area. Our business plans are still in the works but we are both really excited.

Can you tell us a little bit about how you started making your fabric paintings? It's an unusual process, it seems to me, and I'm curious to know more about how it developed.
I started making my fabric on wood pieces back in September of 2000. I had graduated the year before from Appalachian State University with a BFA in Fine Arts. I was primarily a painter but tended to be quite messy. In the search to keep the house I was renting from having paint splats all over the floor I discovered batik fabric. One of my roommates drug me to a quilting store one day and I fell in love with all the fabrics. I do not know how to sew so this was quite a surprise to me when I walked out of the fabric store with a huge pile of fat quarters. After some brain storming I went to work figuring out a way to use the fabrics much like paint, minus the mess. I have changed a few things here and there, like I use water-based polyurethane now instead of oil based, but for the most part my process has stayed the same throughout the years.

How did you begin selling your work on Etsy?
My son was exactly 8 weeks old when I decided to do a trunk show at a friend of a friends house. It was free and I was trying to find a way to sell my work as I already knew I was not going back to my day job once my 3 month maternity leave was up. I ended up stuck back in a room all myself and I think I sold one or two pieces to a friend. I was really bummed as I packed up and one of the girls selling jewelry came in to say hello. She asked me, as many others had that day, if I had a website and I did not. We got to talking and she gave me one of her business cards with her Etsy shop url on it. She told me about this really cool site called Etsy where you can use your shop name sort of like a website if you do not have one. I came home signed up that night. Listed my first piece the next day and sold something 3 days later. I was so excited to have found a home for my ever growing collection of “Shellieart”. I have never looked back!

What do you enjoy most about selling on Etsy?
I really love the connections with other artist and clients I have made by selling on Etsy. I just finished a custom piece today that a return customer commissioned me to make. This is her 5th custom order, I have done a piece for her wedding to the birth of her first child and now we are facebook friends too. I have one loyal customer who became such a good friend we talked over the phone several times. I helped her open up her own shop and now she is a very successful seller. Also, like I said earlier I reconnected with a friend I went to elementary school with. She saw my work and thought it might be me since I spell my name with an “ie” instead of an “ey” like most Shellie's. Now we are going into business together and talk weekly. As a stay at home mom, Etsy has given me outlet and connection to the world. The possibilities are endless and I am so grateful to Etsy for that!

It looks like you've done at least one collaboration with another Etsy seller (Polarity). Can you tell us how that came about, and how you felt about the project when it was done?
I have always been a fan of Cat with Polarity's work. She started up an artist series and I saw one of her lockets on twitter one day. I think I sent her a convo saying how cool they were and she immediately asked me if I wanted to collaborate on one with her. I think it was one of those right place at the right time kind of thing. I was very excited to be included and if you have not checked out all the other artist she works with you should!

What have been the most challenging aspects of selling your work on Etsy? What resources have you found to work through the difficulties?
Honestly, I have not had too many challenges along the way. My first year on Etsy I wanted to start selling reproduction prints of my originals but did not really know where to begin. I found a lot of help from various other sellers in the Etsy forums. Once I started selling prints I would get random convos here and there from sellers who also wanted to start selling prints as well. I always try to offer up as much information as I can since so many others were so kind to me when I was trying to figure it out.

After looking at all of your images together for a long time, I am struck by the real sense of life and movement they evoke. I'm wondering what you look at to get your ideas and inspiration.
I have several themes that seem to reoccur. I love all things outdoors, camping, cats, nude female figures, faces, kitchen/food, happy lovers, the mountains and of course the moon. I also find a lot of inspiration from music, lyrics, quotes and I absolutely love making custom pieces. I often times fall in love with most of my custom orders because I just thrive on others ideas brought to life through my eyes. I am always up for the challenge!

Is it easier for you to begin a piece, or finish it? Do you have many going at once, or do you focus on one at a time? And, How do you know when a piece is complete, versus when you might choose to add yet another layer?
Usually once I get started I fly through a piece. Once I draw it out then I go to my fabric drawers and pick out the fabric combination which is always fun. I can totally work on multiple pieces at time and do quite often. Because my process involves layers I do have to often wait for something to dry before I can draw on the details with colored pencil. Sometimes I will get to the point where the piece should be done but does not feel quite right. I may set it aside and sleep on it or add that one extra swirl or star or shadow and then I know it is done.

Besides making work for your Etsy shop, what do you do to stay busy?
I love gardening, cooking up new recipes (no baking though), and playing at the park. One thing I really miss doing since the new baby is rollerblading, hopefully I will get my rollerblades back out soon and head up to my favorite track. I also love making treasuries and am constantly making lists in my head or thinking of my next list idea. Once the kids are in bed at night my husband and I are known to open a good bottle of red wine and play cards. Any chance we get we head up to the mountains. And because my husband I are very close to our families on any given weekend we can be found at a family meal celebrating whatever holiday or someones birthday.

Do you have advice for people who are new to Etsy?
My first advice is try to take the best photos you can. I am still working on this one but even the most well established shops are. Also, be in contact with your customers. When I have a sale in my shop I right away send my customer a quick convo thanking them for their purchase. From there I send them one more convo when their order goes out and it's estimated arrival time. I try to treat my customers like I would want to be treated.

I notice that you come up with really creative titles for all of your pieces. As a person who has difficulty naming things, I'm wondering how you come up with titles that capture the imagination!
The funny thing is a lot of times the title is there before the image. When that happens I then work to illustrate the title. Often it is the opposite and I do not always have a well thought out title. I have been known to pick the brains of those around me until I decide on a good title. I carry a small sketch book in my purse and often a song will come on the radio and I pull a line from it that strikes me. I can quickly jot it down at the next red light or usually while I am sitting in my sons preschool line. The best titles are the ones I can't get out of my head, then I know I am on to something good.

What goals do you have for your work in the coming year? What changes and improvements do you want to make in your shop?
I really want to get back into working with encaustics and fabric together. I had just started dabbling in them when I found out I was pregnant. It does give off a toxin when heated so I had to take a long break from working with them. In the future I want to continue to improve my shop photos. I love what I do and I hope that shows through to those who stumble upon me!

You can find Shellie:
Etsy
Blog
Flickr
Twitter
Facebook

Member Feature: Margot (MargotBianca)

2011-03-29T06:28:00.000-07:00

Featured: MargotBianca
Interview by: NancyWallisDesigns

How did you get started on Etsy?
I found Etsy while searching for a way to support myself after finishing school and not finding a steady job in my field. I wanted to find a sustainable way to sell things I was creating, without paying such high overhead fees to shops and galleries. I thought Etsy was a great venue for making business between consumers and creators direct.

What’s your favorite part of being a shop owner?
Aside from the true joy of making things with my hands, probably my favorite part is connecting with all of the people who enjoy the things I make. I love knowing that my work is being used all over the world. Last week, I sent packages out to Denmark, Oregon, Australia, Texas and Saskatchewan. I love that!

What challenges have you faced during the process?
Probably my two biggest challenges are efficiently managing my time and money. I try to stay focused and organized, and I think I've gotten better at those two things, but they continue to be my biggest hurdles.

It must have been exciting when you were a featured seller on Etsy. Can you tell us what it was like and any advice you can give us from your experience.
It was really exciting!! When I got the convo, I sort of hyperventilated for a minute! It was such a boost for my shop. It sent me many new customers, some of whom still shop with me regularly. I will say it was pretty overwhelming as well, in terms of keeping up with orders and convos. As far as advice, I guess I would say "pretend like you are about to get featured at any moment, and start doing little things now that would eventually help you deal with such an increase in traffic." My feature was not timed really well for me. It came right before a big teaching job that I had to travel out of town to do, so I didn't have as much time as I would have liked to prepare. I did set myself a few achievable goals to accomplish before the feature hit, and they did help me. One was to start using paypal for shipping. (Before that, I'd been doing everything the old fashioned way). This saved me a lot of time and energy, and I'd really recommend it to anyone who isn't doing it already. I also came up with a few products that I thought would be popular that could be make-to-order. This increased my sales during the feature, and it made it so I could have more Etsy inventory without spending the studio time upfront, saving me some desperately needed time.

You create with such gorgeous, vivid colors and patterns. Where does your inspiration come from?
You will probably think this is funny, but color charts, paint chips, and lined-up color swatches are the sorts of things that inspire what I will make next! I try to always have every color in stock, and I get a lot of pleasure out of seeing all the slight variations a color can have, because I want it all.

I love how you’ve made your art into functional pieces, such as tea towels and napkins. Essentially you’ve made art affordable and easy for us to bring into our homes. Your home décor line is only part of what you do. Can you tell us a bit about the other works you produce in your studio?
I started my functional line because I really do want people to be able to use handcrafted items around them on a daily basis, and also because I wanted to have a job that could allow me to continue to develop my more content-based studio work. I make etchings, woodcuts, drawings and installations, and then I work on getting that stuff shown. Put succinctly, my studio work is my attempt to talk about the incredible thing that is life. I guess that's really what all art is, so I should flesh that out a bit and say that I never get tired of looking at natural structures, patterns and phenomena, and that is really what gets me making new visual work. I typically work with paper, silk, and ink. Right now, I am excitedly looking forward to making a site specific piece in May that will be all about microscopic life in the ocean. If you want to see some of the projects I've done, I have a little website with those works. margotbmyers.com

As a successful shop owner can you offer some insights into steps that you took, improvements that you have made to get you where you are today. As Etsy has grown over the years and the competition increases have you had to rethink some of your designs, pricing, products over time?
I try to rigorously evaluate the way that my work looks both in person and online. I really look at it at least every month, and ask myself a few questions, such as:

What is appealing about this?
Is it something you would buy?
What would make it more irresistible to you as a consumer?
I also ask for feedback from close friends who are also trained in the visual arts.

As far as prices, I've discovered that my sales seem to be able to sustain a steady price increase over the years. I probably started out selling pretty low, but I think it helped to get me started. I've gotten better at not doing work for free, and knowing which projects are going to be financially viable to produce, and that has been something that I seemed to pick up little by little. Joining TeamT was another step I took to try and be more involved on Etsy. I hadn't joined a team before this one, and I can see why it is important and helpful.

I think your question about growing with Etsy is really a good one. Both my shop and Etsy used to have a much different look. For example, the first listing of mine that made it to the front page was this. Today, this item would never make it there, I think. The photo isn't interesting, and to my eye now, the lighting looks poor. I think that the thing that has probably improved the most over the years is the way that I present my work in photographs.

As competition increased and Etsy started to move towards a more polished appearance, I tried keeping up by researching the way that larger companies market and present products that are similar to mine. I tried following bigger trends in home decor, in just a general sense without losing sight of the unique qualities that set my work apart.

I want my work to keep evolving, so I consistently and continually incorporate new things into my current inventory. Last year, I started sending out a monthly newsletter, which has been helpful, because it pushes me to have something new to say to my customers on a regular basis. This year for the very first time, I am starting to have my own drawings turned into the copper batik stamps that I use in my production work, so that is a big step for me. I also like to play little numbers games with myself, in terms of number of etsy sales or views, to keep my momentum moving forward.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I love to fish and to garden. I've been part of a commercial fishing family and worked on the fish grounds my whole life, and it's a really important part of who I am. I also love growing a garden. This is a newer interest, and my husband, Lyle, and I work on cultivating the most food we can from our large backyard. It's really rewarding to watch things grow, trying new varieties and to understand in such a literal way that my life is part of a larger cycle.

I have garden pictures here.

And fishing pictures here.

I love garden talk, so if any of you are into that, we should chat ;).

Early riser or night owl?
I appreciate the beauty of the early morning, but I definitely get my best work done at night.

What’s playing on your ipod this week?
Audio books! Or, when I'm too lazy to download them, I listen to NPR. I have most recently enjoyed Gardens of Water and The World Made by Hand series.

Ten years from now where would you like to be living and what would you like to be doing?
I'm overall fairly pleased with my life as it is now, so I guess I hope it doesn't change too much! I love being married, and living in Bellingham, and I enjoy what I do. I guess I'd like to be a smarter, better person, and I'd like to have a nicer studio and be making more work that gets shown. But generally, I'd like to still be making things every day, watching the tide come in and out, and surrounding myself with things that grow.

Visit Margot's Etsy Shop!

Member Feature: Nancy (NancyWallisDesigns)

2011-03-08T06:53:00.000-08:00

Featured: NancyWallisDesigns
Interview by: MargotBianca

Tell us a little bit about how your business all began.
I left my Human Resource Management career for full time motherhood almost sixteen years ago. I love being a mom and I’m thankful for this time, away from a paycheque, that allowed me to see what I really wanted to do. As my two daughters grew older I decided to return to college through night school and follow a more creative career path in interior decorating. Upon graduation I opened my own company Wallis Designs. I worked independently on many successful residential projects. Around the same time I started making jewelry for myself mostly because I could never find what I was looking for in the stores. While doing this I could not shake the idea of selling my jewelry in a bigger way.

How did you get started on Etsy?
After a local bead shop owner told me about Etsy I probably spent about two months looking through Etsy and lurking in the forums before I decided to make the plunge of opening my own shop. I was a little nervous, but more excited. There was little to lose in trying and I was determined to make it succeed. Almost three years ago now I opened my Etsy shop and my website (nancywallisdesigns.com) on the same day.

Do you remember your first sale on Etsy? Do you know who bought your first item from you, or do you know how the sale came about? Do you remember how you felt?
Oh yes, I definitely remember it. It took 24 days to be exact. It was a holiday Monday and the whole family was home and everyone knew the instant I knew. I was jumping up and down and everyone came running to the computer to see the #1 by my sales numbers. It was a lampwork pendant necklace bought by Alice (no, not ‘our’ Alice). She was sweet and I was so pleased when she received it and loved it. I felt like I was walking on a cloud that day.

What is your favourite part of being a shop owner on Etsy?

I love to be independent.
I like the fact my jewelry has new homes around the world - such as England, Australia, Singapore, Ho Chi Ming City, Micronesia (I actually had to look that one up). Places I could never reach at a local craft show. I like to imagine my customers in these faraway lands wearing my jewelry.
I like the flexibility it provides for our family.
I like the people I’ve met - supportive shop owners and fantastic, friendly customers.

What challenges have you faced during the process?

Trying to stay visible in a saturated jewelry category.
Keeping up to date with search optimizations and Etsy changes as my computer knowledge is learn as I go.
Maintaining a balanced life – trying to stay off the computer at night and weekends as much as I can.

What inspires you?
My design process definitely starts with colour. I love to play with coloured glass beads and different metals. I let my inspirations such as travel, nature and a little romantic whimsy take hold in my jewelry.

Sometimes the best inspirations can come from accidents such as spilled beads. Looking down at a ‘mess’ I noticed two beads that settled next to each other. There lies a colour combination that I would not inherently go to but are beautiful together nonetheless. I like to be surprised by these things.

Capri, Nancy's inspiration for the bracelet pictured right

There are many jewelry sellers on Etsy, and I have heard that it is difficult to stand out in the crowd. I wonder if you can talk about the specific things do you do to succeed, aside from being an active member of the team, to make your product and brand stand out?
Trying to stay visible is a constant struggle and sometimes I don’t think there is much rhyme or reason to it. Good sales one week can lead to no sales another week. This can get really frustrating. With experience, I’ve learned to cope better with the ups and downs. I try to focus on the things that I can control.

Make a quality product you can be proud of
Consistently list new items
Watch what sells and does not sell in your own shop - find a balance between creativity and saleability and be willing to give up the items that don’t sell
In the case of jewelry, wear your product and carry business cards wherever you go
Take care of your customers

I have a lot of return customers and friends of return customers. I take care of my customers and make them feel special. I respond quickly to their questions, thank them for their purchases, I package their orders with care and I make sure their orders have arrived. To me this all seems so logical and easy to do but I’m always surprised in some of my own purchases how good customer service can be lacking.

During slow times I take this opportunity to build stock, get caught up on paperwork and even take some personal time.

As I look over your sales from the past couple of years, I notice a clear evolution of your work and photographs. Can you tell us a little bit about your professional development?

Over the last three years my work has definitely evolved. My evolution has more to do with my own obsession with beads and compulsion to bead shop and the creative energy these new finds bring. I can get bored easily so change is essential for my well being rather than an intentional design process.

More significantly though I think my photographs have improved. This is a constant process. I have tried shooting outdoors and with a light tent but I have now settled into a fairly routine process of indoors with natural light. It’s very glamorous as I settle myself on the kitchen floor beside my glass sliding door with a northern exposure. Sometimes my dog Mabel will sit with me for a little company. I use a Canon Power Shot SX10IS point and shoot and I use the macro settings. I do a little photo editing through Picasso but recently just bought Photoshop Elements which I have to learn how to use.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?
My family is definitely the most important part of me. I’m married to my high school sweetheart and mom of two young teen girls. I’m pretty busy after school and evenings performing my ‘taxi’ duties to various activities. You can regularly find me volunteering at the school, at our local arena watching my oldest daughter play hockey and at the dance studio watching my youngest.

Recently my husband and I joined a yoga studio where we have become hooked on hot yoga. Before this I didn’t even like to sweat so if it’s any inspiration for anyone – if I can do this anyone can! I’m now there 2-3 times per week.

After years of kind of losing myself in mom duties I have recently gone back to singing and I have joined our church band. Rock on Mom! This has really opened back up a part of me that I didn’t realize how much I missed. I definitely think I’m finding more of a balance in my life of work, family and myself.

Check out Nancy's Etsy Shop!

Nancy's Blog: nancywallisdesigns.blogspot.com
Nancy's Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/wallisdesigns

Member Feature: Susan (CalloohCallay)

2011-01-14T12:38:00.000-08:00

Featured: CalloohCallay

How did you get started on Etsy?
I sort of stumbled into it, like falling down a hole. I was making brooches with vintage buttons as Christmas presents for friends, and sometime around then I read about Etsy in the New York Times. It sounded easy and fun (I got that half right), so I signed up and started selling jewelry.

The vintage items, and the total obsession, came a little later.

What's your favorite part of being a shop owner on Etsy?
It’s a visual feast. I love browsing around the front page or Treasuries or my favorites and discovering fabulous, creative works and then often getting to know the people responsible for them.

What challenges have you faced during the process?
This is the flip side of the previous question. With all the fantastic, creative items on Etsy, it’s hard to get your own meager offerings noticed. Some people come to Etsy after establishing themselves elsewhere, whether in a B&M shop or online. But I needed to learn everything, from crafting jewelry, to researching and pricing vintage items (I already knew how to buy them), to shipping, marketing, and tax prep.

Of course, the best—and worst—part about it is that you’re never really done. There’s always something new to learn, something that could be improved.

What inspires you?
In general terms, art, nature, and literature, but in terms of my Etsy shop, I’m mainly inspired by the past—by the history and design of times gone by. Much of the attraction of selling vintage is imagining who made a particular piece and who used it and where. The past also provides inspiration in my jewelry, which is mostly made from buttons and other vintage components. I love the way modern art and design echoes what went before it, and it’s fun to mix and match—a Victorian glass button with an Art Deco celluloid, or chunky mid-century plastic buttons with vintage metal buttons or watch gears.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I write fiction, when I get the time, and I love to read, hike, watch movies, listen to music, travel, and hang out with my friends and family, including my husband and two teenage boys (when they let me). We also have two dogs, a 1-year-old chocolate lab and a 4-month-old husky, so it can be fairly wild around here.

What advice would you give to artists who are new to Etsy?
Everyone has different backgrounds and goals, of course, but my most generic advice is to make it fun. Make connections with other sellers so you have friends to share your triumphs and miseries with, to learn from, and to help each other out. Enjoy and find pleasure in the work of others, and resist the temptation to be jealous, because there’s always going to be someone more talented who gets more attention.

As with everything else in life, it helps to have a sense of humor and perspective. For me, when things get frustrating, all I have to do is remember what it was like going to corporate board meetings, and I’m happy as a clam again.

Visit Susan's Etsy Shop!

Member Feature: Geraldine (Handamade)

2010-12-20T09:02:00.000-08:00

Featured: Handamade
Interview by: MySelvagedLife

How did you get started on Etsy?
It happened to be when I ‘m searching something on Google and found Etsy and saw something that interests me.

What’s your favorite part of being a shop owner on Etsy?
My favorite part of being a shop owner is you don’t have to deal with your boss.

What challenges have you faced during the process?
When my costumer asked me to make a Boston terrier coffee cup cozy, and that I based on her dog pictures and make one for her. Not too bad ha! I don’t have any pattern at all.

Costumers dog picture
My work challenge:

After:

What inspires you?
When my item gets selected for treasury and get into the front page of Etsy. Also seeing a lot of shoppers hearts my shop.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?
When I’m at home I keep myself busy with cleaning, gardening, or going to the store. One of my hobbies is photography. We purchased some studio lights and created a photography studio in our living room. I always photograph my new creations and post them to my Etsy shop.

What first made you want to become an artist?
Well, I have never been an artist, but I have always been a creative person. When I was in the third grade, I lived with my sister. When she went to college, she hired a nanny, who taught me how to crochet. When I got married, I made all the wedding favors for the reception guests. Later on I learned how to knit in a class taken at my local yarn shop. From that point on, I learned a lot of ideas and techniques to create my many designs. A couple of years ago, I came across Etsy. After a couple of months, I opened my own shop and tried to sell my apple jacket design. I was surprised at the response! Eventually I created my most successful design, the Monster Shark Cozy for water bottles and Monster Shark Sleeve for coffee cups.

What advice would you give to artists who are new to Etsy?
Be nice to your customers. Make sure you respond to their question as soon as possible and always email them your confirmation when their order has been shipped. Be patient! Every time I have sold any items, I will always include my business card.

Is there anything you would like to share in your feature?
Take good photography and I relist sold items and be patient…

Visit Geraldine's Etsy Shop:

Member Feature: Amanda (DawnCorrespondence)

2010-11-30T06:40:00.000-08:00

Featured: DawnCorrespondence
Interview by: MySelvagedLife

How did you get started in stationery?
In college, I was a graphic design major, so I always had friends wanting me to design wedding invitations, thank you cards, etc. After college, I decided to take some time off from working full-time and figure out what I wanted to do. That's when my love of stationery really expanded, and I found myself creating all day every day!

What was your background in prior to stationery?
Prior to stationery, I was still in the design field. I designed magazine spreads and publications, but wasn't all that interested in the "politics" that come along with working in corporate design. I also dabbled in interior design for a little while, but realized I liked working more with smaller materials than a large space. I was also a real estate agent for a couple of years. That was fun because I got to meet all sorts of people and loved seeing how they decorated their houses. It was not nearly as creative as I would like to be, though.

How did you first get started on Etsy?
I don't even remember! I think I heard about Etsy through a friend and checked it out one day. It seemed cool, but I still wasn't sure what it was, so I created an account and looked around the site for about a year before even listing my own products! Now, though, I don't know what I would do without Etsy and the wonderful community and friends I've gained from it.

What is your favorite part of being a shop owner on Etsy?
Just one?? Well, my two top favorites are the friendships I've made, and being able to work on my own schedule. I don't have to worry about having a storefront open from 9-5 or dressing up to meet customers in person. It's nice to be comfortable in my own home, doing what I love, and still making great relationships and feeling like I am part of a community. Oh, also, along those lines, it is really fun to "meet" international customers and sellers and learn about places and lifestyles I would have otherwise never known about.

What is your least favorite part of being a shop owner on Etsy?
Hmm...I can't think of anything off the top of my head! I guess one of my least favorite things would be all the competition there is. There are so many incredibly talented artists on Etsy, sometimes it gets exhausting to keep up! However, I think that can be seen as a good thing, because when I am on Etsy as a buyer, I love seeing all the talent out there, and having lots of choices to purchase!

What challenges have you faced during the process?
I went through a growing pain at one point where my business on Etsy was really expanding. It was great, and I loved it, but at the same time I'm not sure I was mentally prepared for it. I didn't have a good schedule set yet, which I really should have had in place before trying to get more sales. Luckily, it was also a good learning experience for me, because it forced me to create a system and I schedule that I could work within.

What inspires you?
I am inspired by SO many things. My mood is often an inspiration. Nature. Architecture. Traveling. Also, I find that long trips where I am in the car for a long period of time is really where I get some great ideas. I just let my mind wander. The only problem is, if I am driving, I have to remember everything and quickly right it down when I am able to stop!

Describe your average day in one word:
Hectic!

Describe your style in one word:
Eclectic.

What is your favorite season?
I love both Spring and Fall. I love how both seasons reflect change and growth. There's just something about both of those seasons that is inspiring and uplifting.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I love to cook (though my fiance is much better at it than me and normally has to take over halfway through), write, paint, and make lists. And make lists of lists. I really enjoy a good book every now and then but don't have the time nor the patience to sit and read anymore!

What advice would you give to sellers new to Etsy?
Make sure you love it. You have to love your craft in order to make Etsy work for you. You need to sell on Etsy for YOU, not for anyone else, and not for the money. Because, ultimately, if you don't love what you do, than you won't succeed. Also, find a community or group of other Etsy sellers that you can build a relationship with. This will help make Etsy not feel so overwhelming, and will give you someone to bounce ideas and advice off of. Last thing: When it gets to the point where it's not fun, take a break for a while and come back refreshed and ready to go!

Visit Amanda's Etsy Shop!

Member Feature: Robin (TheFancyLamb)

2010-11-02T11:24:00.000-07:00

Featured: TheFancyLamb
Interviewed by: MySelvagedLife

How did you get started collecting and selling vintage?
It actually happened in a bit of a roundabout and unexpected fashion, and it all began with a foray into the world of handmade. I was feeling incredibly unfulfilled in my boring 9 to 5 job where I sat in front of the computer all day, and I was having strong urges to MAKE something with my own hands. I started doing some sewing and crafting, and had plenty of other ideas in my head, but I was finding myself drawn to unique materials that had character and history. Feeling no inspiration from the craft store on the corner, I started going to estate sales and looking for vintage materials to use in my crafts: vintage fabrics, buttons, old books to turn into journals, paper ephemera for collaging, and all types of other goodies. And in my treasure hunts, I was coming across so many amazing items that weren't suitable for repurposing, but I couldn't stand to leave behind. So I started picking up some cool and unique things here and there, tried my hand at selling them on Etsy, and it really took off. Now, my vintage business keeps me so busy that I have very little time for my handmade lines, but I've discovered how much I really enjoy selling vintage, so it's okay. I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing.

What was your background in prior to vintage?
Pretty typical and boring -- working a 9-5 job in the Human Resources field. After getting laid off, I couldn't bear the thought of going back to another "real" job, so I decided to pursue The Fancy Lamb full-time.

How did you first get started on Etsy?
I think I started backwards compared to most people. I had been feeling these strong crafty urges and making a few things here and there, and then I heard about a local craft show focused on eco-friendly indie-style crafts. It seemed like the perfect fit for the repurposed vintage crafts I had been toying with, and it was just the kick in the pants I needed to get cracking. I cranked out a massive amount of inventory in preparation for the show, and when it was all over, I decided to try listing some of my leftover stock on Etsy. I had my first sale just a day later, and well...the rest is history.

What is your favorite part of being a shop owner on Etsy?
I find it incredibly rewarding to be a small business owner, with full control over my own destiny. I fully believe that if it weren't for Etsy, I would not have had the platform to build and grow my own small business. Not to mention all the wonderful friends I've had the opportunity to meet and learn from. THANK YOU ETSY!

What is your least favorite part of being a shop owner on Etsy?
Other than some administrative headaches, I seriously have no major complaints. I love Etsy!

What challenges have you faced during the process?
My biggest personal challenge has been finding the discipline to keep myself focused and task-oriented. I have to constantly keep myself on track day-by-day and minute-by-minute, because that's the only way that I'll ever achieve the bigger successes I strive for. I've had to create a lot of structure for myself because without a boss looking over your shoulder, it's really easy to burn the day away chatting with friends on Twitter, making a bajillion treasuries, or lurking in the always-entertaining Etsy forums. But business has to come first.

What inspires you?
History. I love thinking about who might have used one of my vintage cameras and what types of photos they took. Or what travels a vintage suitcase went on in its heyday. Who might have worn a fantastic vintage dress and what romantic rendezvous it experienced. It's so fun to imagine the past!

Describe your average day in one word
Dusty

Describe your style in one word
Comfortable

What is your favorite season?
Fall, before it gets too cold.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I like spending time with my family, seeing live music, and eating sushi. I like taking naps, cooking fancy breakfasts, and driving with the windows down. My 3 dogs are my partners in crime, and my husband is my best friend. Life is good!

What advice would you give to sellers new to Etsy?
Make friends with other people in the Etsy community. Find your niche, develop your own style, and run with it. Help others out and karma will take care of you in return. Enjoy every minute!

Visit TheFancyLamb's Etsy Shop!

Member Feature: Pegg (FiveForty)

2010-10-19T11:36:00.000-07:00

Featured: Fiveforty
Interview by: hoganfe

How did you get started on Etsy?
I live in a small northern town in the woods near the shore of Lake Superior. We are isolated so I was looking for a way to market my wares. My daughter told me about Etsy. It took me almost a year to get my shop set up.

What's your favorite part of being a shop owner on Etsy?
I love being part of a world wide community of very talented artisans. It truly is amazing! I have made many wonderful friends here.

What challenges have you faced during the process?
I was challenged right from the start, I had to learn how to use a computer. I have a very kind computer mentor who lives far away from me, and we have never met. I could not have done this without her help, she is an angel!

Having an online shop is challenging in itself, you have to strive to be seen in an ocean of talent.. besides fabulous product you have to have fabulous photos. Striving to be better is an ongoing process.

My biggest challenge is the written word, I am not good at it.

What inspires you?
Nature and colour inspire me!

Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I am a daughter, wife and mother. My husband and I have lived with my mom since my father passed away. Our two children are grown and live away. I miss them terribly, just as any mom would.
I am a foodie, a fan of the slow food movement before there was a slow food movement. I grew up surrounded by fabulous cooks, it instilled a passion for food and cooking in me. I love growing food in our gardens, foraging for food in the woods, and cooking with our harvest. I am always trying new things in the kitchen!

What first made you want to become an artist?
My paternal grandmother was a painter. My dad attended art school in his youth, and always encouraged us to create. He had us drawing and painting (playing really) for as long as I can remember. The drive for creativity is the same in my art world as it is in my kitchen.

What advice would you give to artists who are new to Etsy?
Strive to do the best work that you can and take the best in focus photos that are possible.
Make yourself visible, post in the forums, build treasuries, and renew, renew renew!!

Is there anything you would like to share in your feature?
I studied weaving and silk screening for three years in college, as well as painting, photography and printmaking. I worked in a professional weaving studio for a year after college.
I have been weaving on my own for over thirty years. Yes I am old and I have a weird sense of humour.

We had a small team of six Inuit dogs, my husband used them for winter camping. They became a huge part of our family.

In my care for them I developed an injury that prevented me from weaving for a number of years, this is when I started to play with beads. Beads have become an obsession!
I still do not use my floor loom as my injury never healed, but started to weave again on a frame loom. I had thought about 100% recycled content rugs for years, it was a lot of fun and hard work developing my ideas. I found a used upright loom online and adapted it for rag. The only thing I need now is a loom twice the width to weave big big rugs, some day soon I hope!

Visit FiveForty's Etsy Shop!

Member Feature: Julie (JulieGarland)

2010-10-05T06:53:00.000-07:00

Featured: JulieGarland
Interviewed by: MySelvagedLife

How did you get started creating your line of jewelry?
About eight years ago I escaped winter and worked at a jewelry store in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for a few months and I loved being surrounded by all the shiny gems! When I left and moved to Dallas I took some basic jewelry lessons and started creating simple designs.

What was your background in prior to creating these items?
In my life before Etsy I worked in public relations and worked at agencies in both Toronto and Dallas. I mostly worked with travel clients which had the bonus of the occasional work trip to exotic locales!

How did you first get started on Etsy?
I actually started selling jewelry on my own Web site but while reading some popular blogs I discovered Etsy. I loved the site and the incredible array of handmade goodies you could find there. I joined three years ago and now I sell on Etsy exclusively. It was probably about a month after I joined that I discovered a nifty little feature called “the treasury” which would forever change the way I spend my free time lol!

What is your favorite part of being a shop owner on Etsy?
Being a part of the Etsy community and meeting all the other wonderful shop owners.

What is your least favorite part of being a shop owner on Etsy?
Probably dealing with non-paying buyers – it’s time-consuming to keep sending convos and following up with them.

What challenges have you faced during the process?
Hmm I would say coming up with the right price points for my jewelry and photographing my designs. The way you present your products is so important and I have probably re-taken all of my pictures at least five times. I’ve also watched my husband’s eyes glaze over again and again as I’ve discussed the merits of a light gray or lighter gray background!

What inspires you?
I could be inspired by something as simple as the color or shape of a gemstone. Or it could be an overall look I admire and I’m motivated to create pieces that work with it.

Describe your average day in one word
Happy! I get to spend it with my son.

Describe your style in one word
Classic. I like clean lines and nothing too busy or complicated.

What is your favorite season?
Definitely summer. Ahhh sweet summer I will miss you! Flip-flops, patios, cottages - really what’s not to love? I grew up in Ottawa, Canada so I’ve had my fill of snow and cold.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I hang out and play with my son. We go to the park a lot and this summer we went swimming as much as we could. I also enjoy Yoga and love to read so I always have a book on the go.

What advice would you give to sellers new to Etsy?
Really take the time to work on your pictures. I think interesting and engaging pictures are a big key to success on Etsy. And get involved in the community in some way!

Visit JulieGarland's Etsy Shop!

Member Feature: Cathy (GlassEtc/PhoFun)

2010-09-21T06:24:00.000-07:00

Featured: glassetc
Interviewed by: Hoganfe

Cathy of glassetc is a San Diego based stained glass artist. If you are looking for something unusual you are in the right shop - plant stakes, business card holders also mosaic frames, mirrors, suncatchers, and more!

How did you get started on Etsy?
I actually got started on etsy at the recommendation of my brother who is also on Etsy. I remember thinking that it would be too hard to figure out how to open up a shop and was quite surprised by how simple it really was!

What's your favorite part of being a shop owner on Etsy?
My favorite part of being an etsy shop owner is getting feedback on my work from all over the world and the excitement of making sales! Also being a part of our lovely team, of course!!

What challenges have you faced during the process?
I was frustrated at first when it took a couple of months to make my first sale and then it was still quite slow for some time after that (and during certain periods). Of course it didn't help that we had the worst recession that we have ever seen in our lifetimes. It also takes a while to figure out the ins and outs of etsy and what it takes to make something happen (when to list, how often, etc). I think we are all still learning and trying to keep up with the merchandising themes and new improvements!

What inspires you?
I am inspired by so many things!! I am most creative when I am in the middle of a project or two and then I have too many ideas and have to keep a journal because I need to focus on the projects at hand. I think creativity begets creativity! When I have a creative dilemma I go to my yoga class and by then end of the class I have the solution!

Apart from creating things, what do you do?
By day I am a school psychologist but I have worked part time for many years so I still have time to create (and I have summers off!!) My interest in art began as a young child when I watched my mom paint from my playpen. She has a little etsy shop now too!

What advice would you give to artists who are new to Etsy?
My advice for a new etsy artist would be to offer something original, different, and better than what you see in the category that you are selling. I also try to slightly undercut the prices of other sellers. Other than that it's important to list frequently and network with others (facebook, twitter, etc). It was my lucky day when Tara invited me to join our team!

Is there anything you would like to share in your feature?
In case anyone is interested I have been married 25 years and have three kids (23, 20, and 14 years old). I have lived in sunny San Diego for more than 30 years and prior to that moved around a lot because I was an Air Force brat (which included living in six different states, going to Kindergarten in Tripoli, Libya, and later teaching high school in Tehran, Iran. )

Check out Cathy's other shop (phofun) for cards, t-shirts and paper goods.

Follow Cathy on her blog, too!

Member Feature: Marsha and Katie (EdensWake)

2010-09-07T08:38:00.000-07:00

Featured: EdensWake
Interview by: Hoganfe

Did you know that the lovely shop, EdensWake is a mother and daughter collaboration? Marsha and Katie enjoy the Arkansas countryside and creating beautiful handbags, clutches and brooches.

When you stop by their Etsy shop you will the see the attention to detail as well as the variety and gorgeous color choices!

How did you get started on Etsy?
I actually heard about Etsy the first two times within just a few days. First, Martha Stewart had someone on her show that had an Etsy shop - no idea who it was b/c their particular items didn‘t interest me that much, but I thought the idea of Etsy sounded really cool and made a mental note to check it out. The second time was from my sister just a few days later; turns out she had opened a shop on Etsy (rocketsciencestyle) a couple of months before and was loving it. After that second time of hearing about it, I went and checked it out and fell in love! I immediately opened up a buying account and started making purchases of some awesome handmade stuff. :)

Several months (and many purchases) later, my mom and I decided to open a show...EdensWake!

What's your favorite part of being a shop owner on Etsy?
Hmmm…specifically to Etsy, it’s probably the opportunity it gives you to get to know so many people that are doing the same thing as you - trying to be successful at doing something they love. I’ve gotten friendly with a variety of sellers over the last year and a half that w/o Etsy I never would have encountered, and that’s been awesome. Also, it’s just incredibly awesome to log on and have a convo from a customer telling you how much they loved whatever item they bought from you - rather it’s a bride who is thrilled with the $300 clutch set she bought from you, or someone who bought a $15 pouch…it’s all equally encouraging and cool to have someone take the time to write you how much they loved your work!

What inspires you?
People inspire me. People who are talented, who work hard, and are actually succeeding at what they love to do, whatever that is. That’s such an awesome thing to me - and people who have done things like “quit their day job”, and are taking risks in going after their passion. I find it very courageous, and it inspires and encourages me to go after what I want.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I’ve always been an avid reader - I find it so incredibly relaxing to just zone out with a book, and become completely wrapped up in whatever world I’m reading about. This summer I’ve gotten into vegetable gardening, so I spend a fair amount of time in the garden every morning - most days I wake up, put sunscreen on and wait the mandatory 20-30 minutes for it to fully absorb, and then am out in the garden for an hour or two. I’m a dog lover, we have four dogs (we live way out in the country, and dogs get dumped out here a lot, so that’s where they all came from!), and I adore playing with them, and going out for hikes with them.

What first made you want to become an artist?
I don’t know if I ever decided I wanted to be an artist, exactly…I was always into writing as a kid (and ended up as an English major in college), did things like write the plays for competitions our gifted and talented program was involved in, and write tons of short stories. In college I fell for pottery, I took a ceramics class, and that was such a great way to relax. Late in the evenings after a long day, it was so great to go in the ceramics lab, put a cd on, and just create. Creating in general is just a really cool thing - it’s such a great way to clear the mind, to become totally focused on whatever you’re doing. With bag making, it just sort of happened. I like bags, I like sewing, I like sketching out ideas and turning those ideas into patterns, and I even really enjoy cutting fabric and ironing. My mom and I made some bags for ourselves and friends/fam, and ended up deciding it would be cool to open up a shop and start selling some. It quickly became something we truly loved, and that’s where I’m at now.

What advice would you give to artists who are new to Etsy?
Definitely try to build relationships with other sellers on Etsy…join a team, participate in the forums, etc. The advice/council/support of people who are experienced on Etsy, and dealing with the same things you are dealing with, is invaluable.

Visit EdensWake Etsy Shop!

Member Feature: Jennifer Dickerson (ChefJen137)

2010-08-24T08:34:00.000-07:00

Featured: ChefJen137
Interview by: MySelvagedLife

How did you get started in photography?
I decided I was going to try my hand at being a stay-at-home mom and was feeling fulfilled in every way but artistically...so I started playing around with my camera and it just "clicked".

What was your background in prior to photography?
I'm a semi-retired restaurant and private chef. I've been fortunate enough to be featured in Bon Appetit, Conde Naste Traveler, Gourmet Magazine, and a few others. I was a chef at KOTO, McEwen's on Monroe, and The Brooks Museum of Memphis. I've been out of the restaurant business for 2 years and my last 6 years was as a private chef.

How did you first get started on Etsy?
I happened across Etsy through flickr and was immediately attracted to the site.

What is your favorite part of being a shop owner on Etsy?
I love the community of artists, it's so welcoming and supportive

What is your least favorite part of being a shop owner on Etsy?
I DETEST editing!! I so wish there was a batch editing tool.

What challenges have you faced during the process?
The biggest challenge I had was understanding the way the site worked. People would feature me in treasuries and I was flattered, but didn't understand that I should visit it, reciprocate, etc. Now of course I know treasuries are the way you make the front page and how important it is to contribute and become involved.

What inspires you?
I love beautiful things, I love to find beauty in the unexpected, and I love originality. I'm inspired by the sculptural element in organic things.
originality. I'm inspired by the sculptural element in organic things.

Describe your average day in one word:
BUSY!

What is your favorite season?
I love spring in Memphis, but it's very close between Fall in Memphis...

Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I'm mother to three adorable kiddies age 9, 10, and 4, so I take care of them. I also cater part-time.

What advice would you give to sellers new to Etsy?
Become involved in a community, group, or team and photography, photography,
photography! It's so very important to showcase your talent with great pictures.

ChefJen137 Etsy Shop

Front Page Treasuries for August 2010

2010-08-02T02:54:00.000-07:00

curated by DawnCorrespondence - 8/26

curated by Jealousydesign - 8/26

2nd place for the weekly music challenge

curated by DawnCorrespondence - 8/26

winner of the weekly music challenge

curated by petekdesign - 8/25

curated by sabahnur - 8/25

curated by warmnfuzzies - 8/22

curated by SmallEarthVintage - 8/21

curated by Juliegarland - 8/21

curated by Jealousydesign - 8/21

curated by DawnCorrespondence - 8/20

curated by HeatherKent - 8/19

curated by petekdesign - 8/19

curated by juliegarland - 8/17

curated by kathiroussel - 8/17

curated by ThisYearsGirl - 8/16

curated by JenSanCandles - 8/15

curated by TheFancyLamb - 8/15

curated by MySelvagedLife - 8/15

curated by WrenWillow - 8/15

curated by Xenotees - 8/14

curated by DawnCorrespondence - 8/12

curated by Fiveforty - 8/12

curated by ThisYearsGirl - 8/12

curated by MySelvagedLife - 8/12

curated by ArtHistory101 - 8/11

curated by DawnCorrespondence - 8/10

curated by MySelvagedLife - 8/10

curated by TheFancyLamb - 8/10

curated by Xenotees - 8/10

curated by Waterrose - 8/10

curated by VintageConfections - 8/10

curated by FairyFolk - 8/9

curated by ArtHistory101 - 8/9

curated by brownbagvintage - 8/9

curated by hoganfe - 8/8

curated by GetReadySetGO - 8/8

curated by melodieperfumes - 8/7

curated by Sabahnur - 8/6

curated by WrenWillow - 8/5

curated by brownbagvintage - 8/5

curated by PonyAndPoppy - 8/5

curated by HeatherKent - 8/4

curated by DoiliesandDaisies - 8/3

curated by juliegarland - 8/2

curated by MySelvagedLife - 8/1

Front Page Treasuries for July 2010

2010-07-01T13:39:00.000-07:00

curated by DawnCorrespondence - 7/30

curated by FairyFolk - 7/29

curated by BeckyM - 7/27

curated by WrenWillow - 7/27

2nd place for the treasury challenge

curated by Handamade - 7/27

1st place for the treasury challenge

curated by Kathiroussel - 7/26

curated by DawnCorrespondence - 7/26

curated by HeatherKent - 7/25

curated by WrenWillow - 7/25

curated by ArtHistory101 - 7/25

curated by DawnCorrespondence - 7/24

curated by vintageaimee - 7/24

curated by Juliegarland - 7/23

curated by FairyFolk - 7/23

curated by DawnCorrespondence - 7/23

curated by jennyndesign - 7/23

curated by HeatherKent - 7/21

curated by fiveforty - 7/21

curated by Fairyfolk - 7/21

curated by jennyndesign - 7/20

curated by hoganfe - 7/20

curated by glassetc - 7/16

curated by Jennyndesign- 7/14

curated by Fairyfolk - 7/13

curated by Handamade - 7/11

curated by Peylu - 7/10

curated by fairyfolk - 7/10

curated by jennyndesign - 7/9

curated by jennyndesign - 7/6

curated by hoganfe - 7/6

curated by DoiliesandDaisies - 7/5

curated by Fairyfolk - 7/5

curated by DawnCorrespondence - 7/4

curated by juliegarland - 7/4

curated by MySelvagedLife - 7/2

curated by MySelvagedLife - 7/1

front page screen shot not available, but it really made it!!

Front Page Treasuries for June 2010

2010-06-02T09:22:00.000-07:00

Curated by Lori411 on 6/26

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Curated by PonderandStitch on 6/26

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Curated by MySelvagedLife on 6/25

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Curated by jennyndesign on 6/24

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Curated by vintageaimee on 6/24

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Curated by Fairyfolk on 6/21

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Curated by vintageaimee on 6/19

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Curated by PonderandStitch on 6/17

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Curated by phofun on 6/12

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Curated by WrenWillow on 6/9

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Curated by HandaMade on 6/8

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Curated by BornWithIt on 6/7

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Curated by GetReadySetGO on 6/7

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Curated by trendyknitting on 6/6

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Curated by PipingHotPapers on 6/3

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Curated by BeckyM on 6/3

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Curated by DawnCorrespondence on 6/2

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Curated by TheFancyLamb on 6/2
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Front Page Treasuries for May 2010

2010-05-03T08:36:00.000-07:00

Curated by GetReadySetGo on May 31

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Curated by WrenWillow on May 30

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Curated by TheFancyLamb on May 28

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Curated by glassetc on May 28

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Curated by nancywallisdesigns on May 28

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Curated by juliegarland on May 28

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Curated by WrenWillow on May 27

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Curated by Mamachee (BornWithIt) on May 27

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Curated by glassetc on May 26

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Curated by ThreadRare on May 26

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Curated by SmallEarthVintage on May 24

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Curated by glassetc on May 23

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Curated by WrenWillow on May 21

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Curated by juliegarland on May 21

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Curated by DawnCorrespondence on May 20

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Curated by JenSanCandles on May 17

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Curated by WrenWillow on May 15

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Curated by DawnCorrespondence on May 14

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Curated by jennyndesign on May 12

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Curated by fiveforty on May 12

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Curated by DawnCorrespondence on May 12

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Curated by jennyndesign on May 12

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Curated by FairyFolk on May 10

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Curated by DawnCorrespondence on May 9

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Curated by JennyNDesign on May 6

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Curated by DawnCorrespondence on May 3
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Curated by fiveforty on May 2
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TeamT International Member Feature - Jenny (JennyNDesign)

2010-04-22T16:29:00.000-07:00

Jenny Joined this treasury team in June of 09. She is a super treasury maker and amazing artist/designer. She makes gorgeous bags - I hope to be able to own one of her bags one day! Jenny has been a real help to our team with her many talents - web-designing, graphic design, blogging, and more.
We really appreciate all you do for us Jenny - Thank you!

Personal…

What furniture/design/home décor piece do you love most?
I really love my Cardboard Safari Bucky - mainly because it was the first expensive piece of decor that I bought for myself when I graduated college. I was adamant about not living like a college kid anymore.

Married/single?
Not married, but I am with a wonderful boy, Akshay, whom I love a lot. I call him The Boy on my blog. He's also my unpaid male model for man bags.

Kids/no kids?
I have a dog, does that count?

Pets/no pets?
Oh, in that case... I do have a pug named Hubert. He's the sweetest, most goofy little thing I know. Don't be fooled by his expression. He's neither sad nor confused. That's just the way his face is.

Day job?
Designing and making bags are my full-time job. I graduated The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Biomedical Engineering and very quickly realized in my senior year that I preferred designing bags than medical devices, though I aced my senior design project to design a new device to aspirate bone marrow for things like bone marrow transplants. I am a good engineer, but I think I make a better bag engineer.

Location?
Austin, Texas. I love this city. I couldn't imagine living anywhere else.

Age?
23, turning 24 in June. Not really looking forward to it, but I'll live.

How many languages do you speak and what are they?
I speak 1.33 languages. I speak English and can understand Vietnamese.

Do you play an instrument?
I dabbled in guitar for some years as a teenager and can still play some songs, but I haven't done much with the skill lately.

Can you sing?
I think so. My brother, The Boy, and Hubert don't seem to complain.

Lets Talk Business…

What’s a good story behind your craft and what got you started?
My mom taught me how to sew when I was 6 years old. The first thing I ever made was a tote bag (you can see where this is going, right?). During one of the stressful times in college, I decided to procrastinate on studying and get a cheap sewing machine and some fabric. I made that same tote and soon it became a hobby. I needed to fund this hobby because in college, you just don't make enough money to make a room of totes, so I started selling on Etsy.

Where do you get inspirations?
Well, after I started selling, I graduated above totes and designed bags inspired by shapes that inspired me - like the Baby Ruche Bag is modeled after the then-popular Bubble Skirt with pleats in the front to add more dimension.

I follow a lot of home decor, fashion, and food blogs so there's always plenty of inspiration in the natural shapes that are in nature and in the current trends.

I sketch all of the "final looks" in a notebook and then reverse engineer it to determine the dimensions and method of manufacturing. I guess I am an engineer at heart. Each bag is designed with meticulous detail to minimize waste and increase efficiency in production, while still maintaining a simple and sophisticated style.

Baby Ruche in Teal

Does your family help with your business/hobby?
Initially, my brother and boyfriend were my drivers to buy shipping supplies and drop off packages at the post office. I learned to drive like a few months ago and got my license (long story) and finally have an old car that will take me where I need, though I do most ordering online and occasionally will make a trip to the post office if I don't use carrier pick-up.

The Boy accompanies me to all my shows, which is always great because it can get lonely sometimes.

My Mom is my accountant. She earned her degree in Business Finance, so she's really money savvy. I don't think any of that passed onto me, unfortunately.

Do you like your craft/hobby?
I love it. I couldn't imagine working in an engineering company with normal work hours.

How do you market?
I sell exclusively on Etsy for now and attend some craft shows. I blog, Facebook, Twitter, and purchase ads occasionally.

What gets neglected when you're tending to your shop or creating?
My life. I recently extended my turnaround time to allow time to play with Hubert, hang out with my boyfriend and our friends. I pry myself away from my studio on the weekends so that I don't burn out. I answer e-mails from my iPhone on the weekends to keep myself away from my computer. It's so hard to stop working because it's my hobby, but I have to set strict rules for myself so that I will continue loving my job for years to come.

What are you future plans for your business?
I hope to find time to launch my new bag design. I have a design that I sketched almost a year ago that I haven't had time to make. We'll see what happens in the next months...

Any bad experiences with etsy…rude customers/bad buy?
0.5% of my customers give me reoccurring nightmares. Which means I've only encountered two in two years of selling, which is not bad at all. I love all my customers, I always learn a lot from the bad experiences.

For Fun…..

Are you awesome?
I say this a lot when someone comes to me feeling bad and needing to vent, "You know, when I feel bad, I just stop feeling bad and start feeling awesome." It is an adaptation from one of the many life lessons I've obtained from watching How I Met Your Mother.

Obviously, I am not often someone that my friends go to for a shoulder to cry on. My brother has dubbed me the "Truth Bomber" because I don't have a high tolerance for pity parties and sad stories. Especially when it comes to relationships, I have the same line for it all, "Get over it." Death and sickness are another story, and I am not such a meany for those situations.

Just so you know, I do have a soul.

When was the last time you had a staring contest?
Never. I've worn contacts since I knew about the game and can't keep my eyes open for very long without them drying out.

When was the last time you fell asleep with the TV on?
I rarely watch TV, and when I do, it's at The Boy's place because he has cable. I fall asleep when he watches ESPN, and when I wake up, he's bored of watching and I change it to HGTV and Food Network, and then he falls asleep. It all works out perfectly, really.

Do you believe in love at first sight?
I believe in a high-level of interest at first sight. That's pretty close.

Are vampires real?
No. But clowns are. And I hate clowns. Especially killer clowns. They are the worst. They live in places like the forest and under your bed, which is why my bed has to be ON THE FLOOR so no one can fit under there. I digressed from the question...

Does pushing the elevator button more than once make it arrive faster?
Button technology doesn't work that way unfortunately. But I feel like inching forward at a red light will make it turn green faster. Right?

Where you named after anyone?
No. My parents named me Jennifer because it sounded good with my brother Christopher. Sounds cute, huh?

What is the first thing you notice about people?
Clothes, eyes, and mouth. In that order.

What is on your mouse pad?
It's a black piece of leather from my scrap box.

If you were another person would you be friends with you?
Of course. I would try to get free bags even though I don't give my friends much of a discount. It's actually the same discount I give everyone else during sales (and I only give them those discount during my sales). Don't tell them though, they think they're getting a deal from me.

But in all honesty, I think I make a pretty good friend. I would go to me for the truth if I were confused about something in life. I think most of my friends go to me for advice for things like relationships, business, and fitness (I am a certified personal trainer and taught Yoga and Pilates for 5 years during college).

Favorites…..

Favorite flower?
I used to like Stargazer lilies, but now I like Peonies more.

Favorite color?
This changes according to my mood. Rotates between black, fuchsia, turquoise and gold. Sometimes other colors will make it in there, but they won't stay for very long.

Clutch in Grunge Gold

Favorite smells?
Bakeries and new homes. And gasoline - which is bad, I know, but I know for a fact I'm not alone in this.

Favorite food?
Anything Vietnamese, hands down. I grew up eating it, and I default to cooking it. Though The Boy has introduced me to Indian cuisine and his undying love for pizza.

Favorite etsy shop?
I love too many. You can see my favorites if you want names.

Favorite pass-time?
I love scheming new projects for building things (big things like beds, work benches, displays, shelves and things). I love my power drill and staple gun.

Otherwise, I love to repurpose clothes, work out, shop, and have philosophical conversations with Chris and The Boy during dinner. We really love contemplating theories from books such as The Black Swan and Blink being the most recent books we've read. It's when I get the most conversation in my day because I spend all day at home working and hanging out with Hubert.

Favorite memory?
There's a video that my mom took of my brother and me sitting on a bed and putting our feet in our desk chairs (the chair was facing the bed). I was 2, my brother was 4. My brother would knock over my chair and I would have to climb all the way off the bed, place the chair back in its place, climb all the way up and put my feet on the chair. Well, before I could climb all the way up, guess who decides to kick over my chair? Exactly. We continued this routine for six or seven times, and each time I asked him oh-so-patiently and softly to stop (in Vietnamese, I was so cute, I can't speak Vietnamese as well anymore). I think after the last time, I yelled at him - which scared him, and my parents because I was always so soft spoken. My dad warned my brother that if he continued to mess with me like that, I would turn evil.

I haven't been soft-spoken since.

April TeamT Feature - Tara (Mamachee/BornWithIt)

2010-04-07T14:17:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! It feels weird doing a feature on myself but here goes...
I started this etsy team last year in May and I'm soooo happy with how the team has grown. Everybody is SO great and its been so much fun getting to know you amazing and talented crafters/artists. I really haven't been able to be as involved with the team as I had imagined I always would be (because of my living situation and babies) and I apologize for that - I really don't know where the team would be now if it weren't for those that have helped so much (you know who you are!) Thank you Thank you Thank you!
This team is the greatest team on etsy (in my opinion) and I am so happy with the success it has given to a lot (or even most) of us. I hope that this team will continue on strongly and make all of us super successful etsy sellers - beyond what we had even imagined for ourselves!

Personal
What furniture/design/home decor piece do you love most? Hmmm, that might have to be my rag quilt I found at a thrift store for only $20 (in supremo condition)

I found this photo of my rag quilt behind the pile of clean clothes - if you look closely you can find my son hiding under the clothes pile - silly boy

Married/single? Will have been married 6 years May 28th 2010 whoa!

Kids/no kids? 3 - Jordan (4), Galilee (1), and Summer (2 mo) I've been busy ( :

Jordan and Galilee

Pets/no pets? two dogs - Montie (a small white mutt) and Timber (a German Shepherd)

Day job? I am the queen of my roost - before I had my first child I worked as a dental assistant (loved that job)

Location? North Pole, Alaska (the last frontier)

Age? 23

How many languages do you speak and what are they? I speak English only...my mom tried and failed to teach me German.

Do you play an instrument? Well, I can play the piano a little bit....a very little bit. One day I would like to start playing the gee-tar

Can you sing? Anybody can sing but sadly my voice is not one that you would listen too for enjoyment. My husband cannot sing either- we are hoping that we cancel each other out and our children will have lovely singing voices.

Lets Talk Business
What is a good story behind your craft and what got you started? I was always a crafty/fidgety little girl sticking my fingers into anything I could. It wasn't till I was...I think 15 that I started to crochet and have been happily stuck doing it ever since...got good at it...started selling stuff at a local baby boutique...then tried etsy (in response to the urging of a couple friends)

The Fat Birdy

Where do you get inspirations? Oh everywhere....I have a bad staring problem...I really love to sit and stare at things and people. It embarrasses my husband sometimes but I am just admiring and getting ideas and I always have a cheerful smile for those that catch me staring at them. Baby and Children clothes are great for inspiration too, they come in such pretty colors and patterns.

Does your family help with your business/hobby?
Yes, my husband helps a whole bunch. He listens as I talk through ideas of mine and he watches the children for me while I crochet. The Birdy Rattle (the most successful item of mine) was actually my husbands idea....I designed the bird and my husband told me to put a rattle in it and add a handle.

Do you like your craft/hobby?
I love to design and sell patterns and I'm having fun with the bornwithit (my item shop) shop but I would like to be to one day live off of only designing patterns. I would like to be able to always work on something new and fun.

My most popular crochet pattern

How do you market? I spend a bit on online for monthly advertising at popular crochet sites and I'm apart of this team ( :

What gets neglected when you're tending to your shop or creating? I try my best to always keep up on the house and of course always play and hug on the children every day - I try my best to neglect nothing but it does have to happen sometimes and my husband is very helpful when that happens.

Little baby Summer (1 mo. old) modeling the bear hat

What are your future plans for your business? I am currently working on a crochet book proposal and hope to get it sent out in the next couple weeks - so excited about that and hopefully that will take me to great places and provide other opportunities. I would really like to start teaching crochet classes again once my children are older - I have great plans and really look forward to seeing what the future has for our little business.

Any bad experiences with etsy...rude customers/bad buy? I had one terrible buy - it was very disappointing but the good WAY out does the bad here on etsy. Etsy seller and buys are some of the friendliest people!

For Fun
Are you awesome? I try my best to think positively about everything..my nature would lean toward answering no but yes, I am very awesome!

When was the last time you had a staring contest? I don't remember when but it was with my husband and he won...he always does.

When was the last time you fell asleep with the TV on? We don't have television channels but we love watching movies - I think I fell asleep last night while watching Fracture.

Do you believe in love at first sight? I would really like to because it seems so nice but nope, I do not believe that you can fall in love with somebody at first sight any more than I feel in love with all those delicious looking candies that vintageconfection makes ( :

Are vampires real? I think they might be to an extent

Does pushing the elevator button more than once make it arrive faster? No, I think it may actually make it go slower ( :

Where you named after anyone? I was named after the Tara Plantation in the Movie Gone With the Wind.

What is the first thing you notice about people? Their pearly whites..I was a dental assistant ( :

What is on your mouse pad? I don't have a mouse pad.

If you were another person would you be friends with you? Yes, I think I have the personality type to be, for the most part, compatible with anybody.

Favorites
Favorite number? 3 because I like how it looks and I like to write a 3

Favorite flower? I really like daisies and poppies....one time I saw a mound (about the size of a car) in a little parking lot that was covered with poppies - it was the prettiest thing - ever since I've really loved poppies.

Favorite Color? Red....because its just the best color....add a little white and you get the next best. Of course I love green too...I like all colors really!

Favorite smells? Sugary Baked Goods - like brownies!

Favorite Food? Spaghetti and anything my mom cooks ( :

Favorite etsy shop? I don't think I can call any my favorite because there are so many amazing ones..some of note to me are (beyond the amazing shops in our team) sigmosaics, artmind, kristimcmurry, colleenattarastudio, sylver, lueandsue, turnyourhead, therainbowroom....oh, and many more...too many to list really.

Favorite pass-time? Watching a fun movie with my husband or going to the park with kids on a sunny day.

Favorite memory? This is much too hard of a question - there are so many great memories but I think one of my very favorites may be my whole 7-8th grade years. I had such great friends and we had so much fun just being silly girls. And....i'm blond. Everybody knows that girls just want to have fun and blonds have the most fun.

Favorite youtube video? There has been so many funny you tube videos I have found over the past years but right now this one stands out to me....FROG FAIL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfpv4f_1rLA&feature=related

Front Page Treasuries for April 2010

2010-04-01T03:47:00.000-07:00

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Curated by patinaphotography on April 28

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Curated by SmallEarthVintage on April 26

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Curated by glassetc on April 24

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Curated by ixela on April 22

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Curated by cyndiesmithdesigns on April 21

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Curated by SmallEarthVintage on April 13

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Curated by DoiliesandDaisies on April 11

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Curated by TheFancyLamb on April 8

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Curated by ThreadRare on April 7

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Curated by nancywallisdesigns on April 4

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Curated by Sooooound on April 1

Easter Egg Hunt

2010-03-28T03:16:00.000-07:00

TeamT International has an Easter Egg Hunt Treasury Challenge for this week. Create a treasury using at least 6 team members and at least one bunny, egg or something else that is obviously Easter related.

Post your links here (in the comments) and we'll see how many wonderful treasuries will be created this week.

Make sure your Treasury is titled: Easter Egg Hunt --

Go Team!

Front Page Treasuries for March 2010

2010-03-06T23:15:00.000-08:00

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Curated by juliegarland on March 29

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Curated by nancywallisdesigns on March 26

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Curated by inboundthread on March 24

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Curated by nancywallisdesigns on March 21

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Curated by chefjen137 on March 18

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Curated by SarahJohnAfana on March 15

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Curated by SarahJohnAfana on March 13

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Curated by cyndiesmithdesigns on March 6

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Curated by SmallEarthVintage on March 6

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Curated by brownbagvintage on March 6

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Curated by PipingHotPapers on March 6

TeamT International Member Feature - Alice (PipingHotPapers/RunAliceRun)

2010-03-01T12:16:00.000-08:00

Alice was one of our very first members, one of the few that joined in May of 2009. I sure don't know what I would have done without Alice when I started the team. She was so friendly and helpful and knew so much more about etsy and treasury making than I did - Thank you Alice for all you have done and all you do!
Alice has two etsy shops:
PipingHotPapers and RunAliceRun

Personal...
What furniture/design/home decor piece do you love most?
I love my bathroom - a friend designed it for us.

Married/single?
Married - 30 years - I wish our life expectancy was 250 years so I would still feel young.

Celebrating 30 years of marriage at Bryce Canyon National Park

Kids/no kids?
4 kids, 2 grandkids

Pets/no pets?
No pets. Well, my kids claim that our 3 fish are pets but they are mistaken.

Day job?
I work all day for no pay - homeschooling.

Location?
You mean, like, where do I live? Madison Heights, Michigan - Look on Google Earth for exact location.

Age?
1/2 century

How many languages do you speak and what are they?
I speak baby, toddler, and adult. I haven't mastered teenager speak yet.

Do you play an instrument?
Flute

Can you sing?
Yes, but I usually sing best with my flute.

Lets Talk Business...

What's a good stroy behind your craft and what got you started?
I started on Etsy following the encouragement of my oldest daughter (EvaB formerly GreenLeafandOwl). I began with handmade cards but there was too much competition so I researched other methods with which to use my rubberstamps and paper and fine-tuned stamping on dominoes. http://RunAliceRun.etsy.com soon took off with http://PipingHotPapers.etsy.com soon to follow. I haven't looked back yet.

Where do you get inspirations?
Nature and paper.

Does you family help with your business/hobby?
Yes, they stay out of my way.

Me, on a bad day

Do you like your craft/hobby?
I love it.

How do you market?
Online only.

What get neglected when you're tending to your shop or creating?
Nothing's neglected. I'm Super Wife and Mom! I can balance anything and everything! Just check Proverbs 31 - the author is talking about me! UNTRUE!

Alice In Space

What are your future plans for you business?
I plan to really take off with my business once my youngest graduates from high school - say in about 8 years...

Any bad experiences with etsy...rude customers/bad buy?
Not telling.

For Fun...

Are you awesome?
No, I have self-image problems.

When was the last time you had a staring contest?
Not too long ago with one of my sons.

When was the last time you fell asleep with the TV on?
Last night.

Do you believe in love at first sight?
No.

Are vampires real?
No, but I loved watching Dark Shadows as a kid. I can't believe my mom allowed me to watch that show!

Were your named after anyone?
My grandmother (Alice), my aunt (Elizabeth), my dad (Morton) and my husband (Johnson).

What is the first thing you notice about people?
Their weight - only because it's the first thing I notice about me.

What is on your mouse pad?
Don't have one. Mac's don't need that type of thing.

If you were another person, who would you be friends with?
Harrison Ford, but don't tell my husband.

Favorites....

Favorite number? 3

Favorite flower? rose

Favorite color? green

Favorite smells? Green roses and peppermint.

Favorite food? Artichokes - (SarahJohnAfana, please send some to me from CA)

Favorite etsy shop? Too many to go into here.

Favorite pass-time? Working in my studio

My dream truck

Favorite memory? Being a concert pianist. Actually, this is a memory of a dream I used to have. I was a wonderful pianist and I would always wake up and wonder why I couldn't play as well as in my dream.

Favorite youtube video? If I told you my fav video then you would know how to make Coptic stitched journals and I want to keep that a secret.

Trying to stay warm

Front Page Treasuries Made for February 2010

2010-02-15T13:18:00.001-08:00

Curated by SarahJohnAfana on Feb. 28
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Curated by GetReadySetGo on Feb. 27
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Curated by eclu on Feb. 26
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Curated by vintageaimee on Feb. 24
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Curated by glassetc on Feb. 22
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curated by SayYourPiece on Feb. 18
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Curated by glassetc on Feb. 15
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Feb 2010 Team Member Feature - Elefint (Jonathan)

2010-02-03T07:41:00.000-08:00

Meet Jonathan (elefint).
Jonathan has been a part of Teamt International since June 2009. Check out his etsy shop at www.elefint.etsy.com.

Personal....

Married/single?
Single

Kids/no kids?
No kids. But 3 nieces and 3 nephews that might as well be my own because I love them so much.

Pets/no pets?
The random gecko that somehow finds its way into my apartment.

Day job?
Because I'm in an insamely fast paces school (40 hrs. of class/week and bachelor's in 21 months), that leaves me with 2 hours sleep, 20 hours for printing tees, and 5 hours for drinking coffee. Oh yeah, and I have to be a Digital Artist somewhere in there. (That's my current defree: Digital Arts and Design at Full Sail University) So a day job? Tha's what elefint if for! And I love it!
p.s. if you want to check out my Motion Graphics go to my Vimeo!
http://www.vimeo.com/6598699

Location?
I'm currently in Casselberry, FL. I grew up in Rochester, NY for my whole life before coming down for school last year.

Age?
25 big ones.

How many languages do you speak and what are they?
Other than English, I try my hardest to communicate in Spanish with some practice in Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Honduras. I've made a handful of trips down there to work in some orphanages. The kids there humor my Spanish "speaking skills". We find it easier to communicate through love and compassion.

Do you play an instrument?
I've played guitar for about 10 years. Thank you mom for bringing me to all those lessons. There's nothing better than setting up my Gibson, turning the lights down and getting lost in an instrumental session.

Can you sing?
I do. I try. I've gone from my high school "punk band" to leading music for my church. And of course singing like a loud fool in my car, but who doesn't do that?

Lets Talk Business...

What's a good story behind your craft and what got you started?
Photography is at the root of all of my creativity. From working in the darkroom when I was in high school, I loved to tangible feel and look of watching my prints be revealed right before my eyes. I love the smells and the whole ambiance it gave me. Screen printing brings me back to that. It's also a great way for me to combine my digital artwork with a more traditional medium, and it gets me off the stinkin' computer and gets my hands dirty.

Where do you get inspiration?
I get inspiration from all sorts of places. It could be an abandoned shopping cart in the corner of the parking lot, or some phenomenal artwork on a random blog. I just love observing and taking in all of the beauties of life. It's full of so many little things for us to enjoy. I try to capture that emotion in my artwork. And it's even better when someone can wear it on a t-shirt.

Does you family help with your business/hobby?
My uncle and cousin have a pretty big screen printing shop up in Rochester. MUCH bigger than my walk in closet that I turned into a darkroom. But we've never collaborated. Maybe there's unknown inspiration behind that.

Do you like you craft/hobby?
I love it. I still love lifting the screen and seeing my artwork in ink. It's so great.

How do you market?
Other than the obvious marketing we all try on Etsy, I try hard to post to blogs, get involved in t-shirt giveaways (currently giving one away on nerdlike.com). That's one of my goals for 2010: More Marketing!

What gets neglected when you're tending to your shop or creating?
The care for any of my clothes! I think all of my favorite tees and jeans now have ink on them. I always think, "ahh...I'll just be careful." And I always get ink on my clothes. I'll never learn.

What are your future plans for your business?
This year I'm excited to get many more designs up in my shop! AND to start printing on more dresses, t-shirt styles, and maybe even scarves. I wanna try to push the limit. Since 2009 was the first time I've ever even tried screen printing, I've had to experiment with what works and what fails for the "design to print process". I think I've got a much better grasp on it now. I would love to get a new design in my shop at least every other week. It's a bit of a process, but it's so rewarding to see a new design up! (look out for the "beardy tees").

Any bad experiences with etsy....rude customers/bad buy?
Nothing too crazy. A little impatience here and there. I think I've realized even more now how instantly everybody wants everything. It's a little different in the Etsy community.
Especially the fact that I do my shirts per order. That means ordering the color/size of the blank shirt, shipping to me, printing, drying, then shipping. That can take up to two weeks sometimes to get to someone.

For fun.....

Are you Awesome?
I mean.....I think we all get the stamp of awesomeness for being on Teamt.

When was the last time you had a staring contest?
Like a month ago with my niece Annalee. She won.

When was the last time you fell asleep with the TV on?
I try sometimes, but I always get too into what is on. Especially putting on a Wes Anderson movie. Huge mistake if I wanna sleep.

Do you believe in love at first sight?
I think the idea of love is possible, but acutal love...I mean really? I think if I was in the grocery store and a girl walked up to me and said, "I was just weighing my bananas, then I looked up and saw you. I'm in love with you." I'd say, "I think you're crazy. Go finish weighing your bananas. Then we'll talk." I think you have to know who someone really is before falling in love with them.

Are vampires real?
Because of my ridiculous school schedule (classes 5pm - 1am, yes you read that right), I've been forced to be a creature of the night. And I may have seen a vampire the other day. Or maybe it was the 7th cup of coffee I was seeing.

Does pushing the elevator button more than once make it arrive faster?
No, but I wish the light on the button would continue to turn on and off. They're fun to illuminate.

Where you named after anyone?
This is kind of ridiculous. But has anyone ever seen the movie Rollerball with James Caaa? Well, his name is Jonathan, and the whole crowd chants, "Jonathan! Jonathan! Jonathan!" in it. I think my dad thought it was pretty epic, so he carried on the Caan legacy.

What is the first thing you notice about people?
I think their mannerisms. People are so unique in their own way. Those unconscious things that people do that really make up who they are.

What is on your mouse pad?
The Starbucks logo is my mouse pad. Okay, yes. I'm an addict. (I unwittingly just sipped coffee after writing that. Wow)

If you were another person would you be friends with you?
If I gave me a free t-shirt.

Favorites.....

Favorite number?
I do a lot of things in odd numbers. I'm not quite sure why?

Favorite flower?
I've always liked orchids. I feel like it's teh closest thing to having a tree in your house. But if I ever had a house big enough, I'd have a tree in the center with art all over the walls.

Favorite color?
GREEN! I love green. It's such an energetic color, but there's also the earth tone green that is so soothing and great to be around. It's just a well rounded color. Great personality.

Favorite smells?
Coffee in the morning. The smell of Guatemala (vague I know, but it has a smell). Sharpies. Making popcorn. Outside when its like 5 degrees and snowing, so crisp. Making homemade raviolis in my parent's ravioli kitchen (big Italian family).

Favorite Food?
Sushi. Garbage Plates (a Rochester original). Google it. It looks gross, but it's heavenly. And greasy.

Favorite etsy shop?
I can't get enough of Ashleys's work. She is such an amazing illustrator. I'm constantly checking her new work. And AliciaBock. An amazing vintage capturing photographer.

Favorite pass-time?
Walking at duck. My guitars and pedal board. Acting 5 years old with my nieces/nephews. Photography. Being a geek in my Adobe/3D programs. Reading Psalms.

Favorite Memory?
Too many good ones. There's a heavenly place on earth called Camp Hickory Hill. We've been going there since I was about 6 years old on Labor Day and Memorial Day weekends. The memories continue to grow there. Always an epic weekend at the Hick.

Favorite YouTube Video?
Well, I'm not an uber fan of Fatboy Sim, but I watched this music video of his recently and it had my stomach hurting cause I was laughing so hard. It's kind of ridiculous.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so9DBHCo64Q

Team Treasuries made for February 2010

2010-02-01T04:39:00.000-08:00

This is a team list of treasury makers for the month of February. When you make a team treasury, featuring at least 6 of your mates (6 different shops - but not any of your own shops), you will get a star next to your Shop Name.

Katie of EdensWake and EdensElegance is offering $25 toward toward a purchase in her shops for the most February treasuries and Anny of LaChiffonniere and AnnyMay is offering $15 toward a purchase in her shops for the team member curating the 2nd most number of treasuries.

Who has made a Treasury:
5/09 BeckyM*
6/09 BovineBubbles
5/09 BrownBagVintage*
6/09 CarvelCountrySoaps**
5/09 CatherineReece*
5/09 CyndieSmithDesigns^
11/09 DawnCorrespondence/DoiliesandDaisies^*
6/09 Eclu*
6/09 Elefint*
6/09 EdensWake***
11/09 FairyFolk****
6/09 FiveForty****
2/10 GetReadySetGO***
6/09 Glassetc/PhoFun^***
6/09 Handamade^
6/09 hcHappyCat*
5/09 InboundThread*
6/09 Ixela**
5/09 Jenji1
6/09 JennyNDesign**
5/09 JenSanCandles**
6/09 JuicyGraphics/JustineNielsen^
8/09 LaChiffonniere/AnnyMay****
5/09 LinenMe
5/09 Mamachee/BornWithIt *
5/09 MooShooPork/LittlePapoose*
8/09 NancyWallisDesigns****
5/09 OrganicOdysseys/PolkaDotSandals/AlmostArtifacts/StudioARTBEAD*
11/09 PattyLakinsmith**
2/10 Peylu/ForeverInMyHeart/FolkArtVision***
5/09 PipingHotPapers/RunAliceRun***
12/09 PonderandStitch*
6/09 SarahJohnAfana/Schemata^*
7/09 SayYourPiece**
6/09 SmallEarthVintage****
7/09 Sooooound*
12/09 TheFancyLamb***
5/09 TheNightjar**

1/10 ThreadRare*
5/09 TrendyKnitting/EliteBrides**
6/09 VintageAimee**
6/09 VintageConfections**
10/09 WhiskerKisses*

Front Page Treasuries for January 2010

2010-01-04T02:39:00.001-08:00

curated by DawnCorrespondence on Jan. 29
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curated by FairyFolk on Jan. 27
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curated by glassetc on Jan. 25
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curated by glassetc on Jan. 19
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curated by DawnCorrespondence on Jan. 15
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curated by DawnCorrespondence on Jan. 14
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curated by JuicyGraphics on Jan. 12
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curated by EdensWake on Jan. 6
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curated by eclu on Jan. 3
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