Curated by nancywallisdesigns on October 15
Curated by SmallEarthVintage on October 15
Curated by OrganicOdysseys on Oct. 7
Curated by EdensWake on Oct. 5
Curated by VintageConfections on Oct. 2This is a team list of treasury makers for the month of October. When you make a team treasury, featuring at least 6 of your mates, you will get a star next to your Shop Name. I think this will be motivating! I know it is for me...I want to have the MOST stars (:
Blog: sarahjohnafana.blogspot.com
Etsy: sarahjohnafana.etsy.com and schemata.etsy.com
Twitter: @sjafana
What furniture/design/home décor piece do you love most? Our home definitely leans towards modern, while trying to remain warm and comfortable. We were lucky enough to be able to build our home completely custom a few years ago. Ever since then I have been working hard to create a space that we love to live in. One of my favorite pieces is a coffee table handmade by the owner of The Art Works (the frame shop/gallery I work). We used it the gallery for a while and I had my eye on it the whole time. (I know that there is a tall matching sofa table somewhere in his shop he hasn't finished yet, fingers-crossed.)
Married/single? I am married to my high-school sweetheart Terry.
Kids/no kids? No kids.
Pets/no pets? Unfortunately, I am allergic to most all animals. But we have taken to feeding several wild cats, six regulars at current count-Mama, Mimi, Niner, Spooner, El Gris, and Nancy (she has boots). We have an occasional visit from Pepe a beautiful little skunk who comes by for a late dinner most nights.
Day job? I have worked for many years at The Art Works in Paso Robles. I am considered family now by the owners and I can pretty much show anything I want in the gallery-again, very lucky.
Location? My studio is in my home which is located on Terry's families almond ranch just a few miles outside of Paso Robles, CA. We built our house on the hilltop that he chose when he was just a kid; it has amazing 360 degree views.
Age? 37, shhhhhh
How many languages do you speak and what are they? I really only speak English, even though I have taken both Spanish and French in school. The only result of all those classes being the occasional foreign phrase that meanders into my dialog.
Do you play an instrument? Not proficiently. I have a piano that is yet another thing I wish I had time for.
Can you sing? Not that anyone will ever hear.
Let's Talk Business…
What’s a good story behind your craft and what got you started? There is no big story here. I have never seriously considered being anything but an artist. I admit that life's distractions have kept me from being consistent with my work, but I have a good momentum building now. Finally being settled in a studio and having the venues that are available online have given me the exposure I have been missing in such a small area of California. I joined Etsy earlier this year sort of as an experiment and have found tremendous opportunities and support through it.
Where do you get inspirations? All over, but here is a few- my figures are usually inspired from fashion magazines-addicted to Vogue and W. (I can't believe my Vogue Fall Fashion Issue has been sitting here over a week and I haven't even peeked.) My landscapes are sometimes specific c locations worked from photos, and sometimes they are imagined. I really just enjoy the experience of working with paint, creating colors and textures. I prefer to work in my studio from photographs-being on location limits me to whatever supplies I brought along. At home I can bounce from medium to medium layering textures and experimenting, it's far more freeing and expressive.
Does your family help with your business/hobby? So supportive in so many ways.
Do you like your craft/hobby? I have never considered anything else.
How do you market? I have a blog where I post work in progress and other news. I am on twitter where I can also post quick shots of a painting in progress and the occasional "check out my shop" but I try to keep that to a minimum. The sales and marketing aspect of this business is one part I do not embrace. I often wish for a studio apprentice who could do all the busy work of photographing, listing, tweeting, etc.
What gets neglected when you're tending to your shop or creating? I have almost forgotten what I used to do with all this time. One thing I do wish I had more time for is cooking-I love my kitchen and love making fancy food. We end up eating the same dinner too many nights because I doubled up knowing I wouldn't have time to prepare a new dish. I miss more work in the kitchen-does that make sense?
What are you future plans for your business? At this time I am working out the details for my second shop on Etsy, schemata.etsy.com. For this fall and holiday season I will be listing my fine crafts including my hand-painted glass ornaments. I have been making them for a few years and selling them locally at the gallery and SLO Art Center and doing well. I am still working out the best photo styling for them but I hope to start listing them soon.
Any bad experiences with Etsy…rude customers/bad buy? Like I said I haven't been on Etsy long and so far so good. I have heard some stories though...
For Fun…..
Are you awesome? I like to say "legendary"
When was the last time you had a staring contest? Does it count if my opponent was a kitten?
When was the last time you fell asleep with the TV on? The tougher question to answer would be "when was the last time you fell asleep WITHOUT the TV on?"
Do you believe in love at first sight? Si'
Are vampires real? I will say I own every season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel on DVD. And- I have considered downloading them from iTunes to watch on my iPhone. But I know those are just actors pretending to be vampires.
Does pushing the elevator button more than once make it arrive faster? I will never know the answer because I push it over and over until it comes.
Where you named after anyone? My father "John" must have wanted a son.
What is the first thing you notice about people? Whatever they shouldn't have chosen to wear that day.
What is on your mouse pad? A wave of course
If you were another person would you be friends with you? I would, but I would never see me. I am too busy.
Favorites…..
Favorite number? Can't come up with one-I must not have one.
Favorite flower? Orchid-the more wicked and surreal looking the better.
Favorite color? The perfect shade of gray. It's particularly hard to find, but I have a pair of Cole Haan Biker boots that nailed it.
Favorite smells? Fresh pineapple, mmmmmm and citrus.
food? Is cappuccino a food?
Favorite Etsy shop? There are so many and I have a tendency to be a little fickle about favorites. I do have a couple of other painters I continue to enjoy
SarahGiannobile.etsy.com - her work has great patterns
aliherrmann.etsy.com - her style is consistent and dreamy
Favorite pass-time? I do love my television, and I wish I had more time to waste with Lego's.
Favorite memory? Memories are personal. Honestly-just reading that question created a storm of images in my head and I couldn't possibly narrow down.
Favorite YouTube video… (Please provide link)? I don't spend time on YouTube-but I do love a good recipe search on Epicurious.com.
Try these, AMAZING flavor
Curated by ixela on September 28
Curated by nancywallisdesigns on September 23
Curated by fiveforty on September 21
Curated by brownbagvintage on September 17
Curated by Handamade on September 17
Curated by jensancandles on September 15
Curated by nancywallisdesigns on September 12
Curated by SmallEarthVintage on September 8
Curated by SarahJohnAfana on September 8
This is a team list of treasury makers for the month of September. When you make a team treasury, featuring at least 6 of your mates you will get a star next to your Shop Name. I think this will be motivating! I know it is for me...I want to have the MOST stars (:
The date before the shop names is the month the member joined so we can keep track of that too.
Note: * = 1 treasury; ^ = 5 treasuries
Who has made a Treasury:
5/09 BeckyM *
5/09 BetsybDesign **
8/09 BlueNostalgia ****
6/09 BovineBubbles *
5/09 BrownBagVintage****
6/09 CarvelCountrySoaps**
5/09 CatherineReece**
5/09 CyndieSmithDesigns ^****
6/09 Eclu*
6/09 EdensWake ****
6/09 Elefint
6/09 FiveForty^
6/09 Glassetc/PhoFun ^***
6/09 Handamade^^
6/09 hcHappyCat**
5/09 InboundThread*
6/09 Ixela ^**
5/09 Jenji1
6/09 JennyNDesign/EightFold ****
5/09 JenSanCandles ^***
5/09 JewelsOfEden
6/09 JuicyGraphics/JustineNielsen ^
8/09 LaChiffonniere/AnnyMay ^
5/09 LinenMe**
5/09 Mamachee*
6/09 Mandag ***
5/09 MooShooPork/LittlePapoose*
8/09 NancyWallisDesigns ^****
5/09 OrganicOdysseys/PolkaDotSandals/AlmostArtifacts **
5/09 PipingHotPapers^**
6/09 SarahJohnAfana/Schemata^
7/09 SayYourPiece***
6/09 SmallEarthVintage****
7/09 Sooooound**
5/09 TheNightjar ***
5/09 TrendyKnitting/EliteBrides***
6/09 VintageAimee*
6/09 VintageConfections***
Karen joined team treasury in June 2009. Karen deals in Vintage and has an wonderful shop on etsy. I hope you enjoy getting to know her better ( :
Thank you Karen for all you do for our team (you're super!)
My blog: http://smallearthvintage.blogspot.com
Etsy: smallearthvintage.etsy.com
eBay: stores.ebay.com/SmallEarthInc
Twitter: twitter.com/SmallEarthVtg
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Small-Earth-Vintage/36171012803
Personal...
What furniture/design/home decor piece do you love most? Thats a tough one! We have a very eclectic decor. the kitchen has lots of primary colors -- yellow and orange Herman Miller chairs and my brightly-colored collection of Pyrex. We have great mid-century modern furniture in the living room, including some cool 1950s lamps, and old paint-by-numbers on the walls. My favorite things might be the amateur paintings (mostly dogs) that line our main hallway. But I also really like this hall tableau, with my dog collection on it (including a cast iron Scottie lamp - a recent find!), and kitsch art on the wall behind. (I'll shut up now. I could go on forever about home decor and the stuff we collect!)
Day job? This is it! I sell vintage full-time. I sell on ebay and on consignment through vintage clothing stores throughout the US. Etsy is the newest--and most fun!--addition to the business.
Location? On a beautiful small lake, just north Grand Rapids, Michigan
Age? 40
How many languages do you speak and what are they? Just English, sadly. I took four years of Latin in high school, which made my college Italian class really easy, but I've forgotten it all. I wish I'd taken some French, as I'm a perfume collector and sound *really* dopey when I try to pronounce the French names!
Do you play an instrument? Nope.
Can you sing? Sure. Especially in the car on long road trips.
What’s a good story behind your craft and what got you started? It's a romance! Seriously. I started buying and collecting vintage when I was a teenage punk rocker, and continued to haunt vintage stores all through college and my years living in New York. (I was the only book editor who wore vintage to work; heck, I was one of the few editors who "dressed up"! I miss the daily dressing up now that I work at home.) I didn't get into the business until I met Andy (through my best friend in NYC, who had gone to college with him.) Andy had been a vintage dealer since, basically, his college years. When I met him, it was love at first sight. After about 6 months of long distance romance, I moved to Michigan to be with him, and that was that. We've been living, traveling and working together ever since!
Where do you get inspirations? From movies, old and new. Movie stars like Katharine Hepburn, Anouk Aimee, Ava Gardner, and Shirley MacLaine. Definitely by the look of certain films--It Happened One Night, The Thin Man films, anything Fellini, Bonnie and Clyde, Quadrophenia, Grey Gardens. Films by Wes Anderson, Michel Gondry, and Spike Jonze. Sometimes TV. I still love everything about Twin Peaks (woodsy/cabin coziness combined with retro 1950s glamour is so wonderful it about makes my head explode!). Mad Men, is, of course, amazing. I also love Japanese fashion magazines (when I can get them), and Scandinavian fashion blogs.
Does your family help with your business/hobby? Well, Andy is the other half of Small Earth Vintage. My parents live in Colorado, and they are always excited to go thrifting with us when we visit.
Do you like your craft/hobby? Absolutely love it!
How do you market? Aside from Team Treasury, which is just the best (and the most fun)? I just started blogging, and I have a Facebook fan page, and am on Twitter. I also post photos on Flickr. I try to not make my blogging/Twittering all about heavy promotion, which would just be too boring and against my nature.
What gets neglected when you're tending to your shop or creating? Um, everything. I try to be balanced, but Etsy, in particular, takes a lot of time and effort. Luckily, I totally enjoy it! But a "vacation" for Andy and me means a thrifting road trip.
What are you future plans for your business? We just had a massive score of vintage clothing from a woman who bought tons of stuff, and never got rid of anything. Our entire garage is--literally--filled with it. That is going to be keeping me busy for a very long time. Etsy is the newest addition to our business, and I'm planning to keep selling there. It's been working out really well for us, so I foresee being an Etsy seller for years to come. And we're always looking for more vintage shops to supply.
I have to honestly say, being part of Team Treasury has been *such* a boon to me! I have gotten much more exposure than I would have otherwise, and it's been so much fun and a huge honor to be on a team with so many talented artisans (and another fabulous vintage purveyor). Kudos to TeamT!
Any bad experiences with etsy…rude customers/bad buy? No! So far my buyers have all been absolutely delightful. Now if you'd asked about ebay...
Are vampires real? I don't know, but the book Salem's Lot sure did scare me.
Does pushing the elevator button more than once make it arrive faster?
No. And tailgating won't get you to your destination faster! People need to relax.
Where you named after anyone? No.
What is the first thing you notice about people? Clothes and shoes.
What is on your mouse pad? Don't have one.
If you were another person would you be friends with you? Yes. I hope so, anyway.
Favorites…..Favorite number? Don't have one.
Favorite flower? I love daisies. They are just so simple and bright--kind of the mods of the flower world!
Favorite color? red
Favorite food? Bacon cheeseburgers, french fries, avocados, Andy's linguine carbonara, asparagus, strawberries, really good bbq, tapas, pesto. Food good. :) So is drink. I'm addicted to iced coffee, but also love water, classic cocktails, and microbrews.
Favorite etsy shop? SO many! Here are a few:
blockpartypress.etsy.com
vintagerevolver.etsy.com
5gardenias.etsy.com
13bees.etsy.com
mobilosity.etsy.com
matteart.etsy.com
studiolyon.etsy.com
And of course, everyone on TeamT rocks. :)
Favorite pass-time? Reading.
Favorite memory? My first visit to NYC, when I realized it was just like in the movies. It was just so full of atmosphere, it did not disappoint on any level!
curated by vintageaimee (Aimee) - Front Page on 8/31
_________________________________________________________
curated by cyndiesmithdesigns (Cyndie) - Front Page on 8/29
_________________________________________________________
curated by EdensWake (Katie) - Front Page on 8/27
________________________________________________________________
curated by SarahJohnAfana (Sarah) - Front Page on 8/24
________________________________________________________________
curated by fiveforty (Pegg) - Front Page on 8/20
________________________________________________________________
curated by mandag (Sini) - Front Page on 8/18
________________________________________________________________
curated by SarahJohnAfana (Sarah) - Front Page on 8/14
________________________________________________________________
curated by JenSanCandles (Sandra) - Front Page on 8/14
________________________________________________________________
curated by juicygraphics (Justine) - Front Page on 8/13
_______________________________________________________________
curated by littlepapoose (Kelly) - Front Page on 8/11
_______________________________________________________________
curated by JennyNDesigns (Jenny) - Front Page on 8/10
_____________________________________________________________
curated by EdensWake (Katie) - Front Page on 8-5
______________________________________________________________
curated by jennyndesign (Jenny) - Front Page on 8-5
______________________________________________________________
curated by BrownBagVintage (Michelle) - Front Page on 8-2
______________________________________________________________
