Member Feature: Lisa (ThatOldBlueHouse2)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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: