Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Super DE-Duper!

Who wouldn't want to shop at a store with 'Super Duper' in it??? And there are really some super duper things in this shop!

  • I love the originality and uniqueness of each item.
  • I love how Louise takes small items {she calls them 'bits and bobs- how cute is that?} and turns out a incredible piece of art.
  • I love how I can just hear her accent while I read her 'Shop Announcements'.
Now run along and read about Louise and then pop on over to her shop. Bye loves!


Super Duper Things

Name: Louise Evans

Location: Norwich, UK

Etsy Address: www.louloudo.etsy.com

Store name: Super Duper Things

Blogger: http://superduperthings.blogspot.com (I haven't taken the twitter plunge yet!)

What Etsy Teams do you belong to?
I don't currently belong to any Etsy groups, I'd love to join the UK street team as soon as I've got enough time to dedicate to them properly!

What is your craft?
I make jewelry, general accessories, bags and a few homewares - I'll try anything really! I use a mixture of vintage, recycled and new materials to make things with a new lease of life. I like my items to have a sense of humour, or lightheartedness.


What part of your work do you most enjoy?
I've always sort of made stuff, I've made my own jewelry for years, and then one day I realised that it had got to the point where I was making far more things than I or my friends had use for (after all, I've only got one neck!) so I booked a table at a great indie craft market in my home town, and it grew from there.

What part of your work do you find the hardest?
I most enjoy having just got hold of a good collection of vintage bits'n'bobs, and sitting down with my stash to see what I can make of them.



The bit I find hardest is tearing myself away to do my university work when I just want to sew something pretty!
Where to you get/find your inspiration?
I find my inspiration all over the place - on my friends, fashion in general, the original items themselves...

What are the three most favorite items in your shop right now?

This little necklace:

This one too:
And this ring:

What is the best advice you have received?
The best advice I have received is to not keep thinking about 'what can I make that will people buy?' but to just create whatever you love yourself, whatever you'd wear, etc. That way your work is more creative and original.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Family Affair

I just have to say that this trio of artist {mom & two daughters} sure have A LOT of talent! There's so many great things in their shop from purses to afghans to wall hangings! AND right now 3 Stitch Creations is having a

BOGO half off sale plus FREE shipping to USA residents!

How awesome is that? Go and see all those goodies!

{BTW love the Cotton Candy Pink Purse!!}





Your Name
- Nancy Stout(Mom), Marci Parker(Big Sister) and Megan
Barley(Little Sister)

Location - Reynoldsburg, Ohio

Etsy Store Address - 3stitchcreations.etsy.com

Facebook, Twitter, etc. address - www.facebook.com/3stitchcreations

What Etsy groups do you belong to?
Quiltsy Team, have applied to TeamColumbus and CreateCrochet Team



What is your craft?
Being a family effort we have many talents to bring. Nancy creates crocheted afghans, Marci contributes machine embroidery and Marci & Megan both bring quilting and sewing creations like quilts, bags and seasonal items to the mix.

How did you start doing what you do?
Mom passed on the love of sewing while the girls were young, then Marci and Megan both spread out on their own to expand their experience and passions.

What part of your work do you most enjoy?
Working with people we love.

What part of your work do you find the hardest?
Getting ideas from the head to reality and having it match.

Where do you get/find your inspiration?
Many places - nature, events, people, holidays...

What are the three most favorite items in your store right now?




What is the best advice you have received?
Take advice. We each are limited in what we think and how we see things, it takes others input sometimes to see the best possible solution or change that needs made. Always be open to criticism.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Eye Candy

I don't know what happened but this Featured Artist was supposed to be featured Thursday AM. I just looked and this post was not there.

ERG!
Sorry Ana!


Anywho... I'm wishing I lived in the UK. I'd get FREE SHIPPING with any purchase! Actually, I think Ana's creations are worth the shipping fees no matter what! And if you like the jewelry in her shop but maybe want a different color than is listed go ahead and contact her and ask about it. She just may have it!

Did I mention her photos are A.MAY.ZING??? Just check them out.

Anacdesigns

Your Name:
Ana

Location: London, UK

Etsy Store Address: http://www.anacdesigns.etsy.com
Facebook, Twitter, etc. address:
Facebook: http://www.tinyurl.com/anacdesigns
Twitter: http://twitter.com/anacdesigns

What Etsy groups do you belong to?
Etsy Artist Lounge, although I haven't been active for many months now. The time difference makes it difficult.

What is your craft?
I design and make unique colourful jewellery.


How did you start doing what you do?
Jewellery making started as a way of releasing my creativity while traveling about 7 years ago. Taking paint and canvases didn't seem practical. It started as a hobby and soon turned into an obsession. New and exciting beads find me everywhere I travel.




What part of your work do you most enjoy?
I love everything about the process of making jewellery but the moment just before I starting a new piece when everything starts coming together is very exciting. I only make my jewellery in the best of moods and I try to put good thoughts and love into every creation.

What part of your work do you find the hardest?
I find it hardest to duplicate pieces. I get bored of it very quickly so most of my pieces are one of a kind.

Where do you get/find your inspiration?
I get inspired by nature, people, different shades of light, shapes, smells, conversations, the touch and colour of beads... The list is long! :)
What are the three most favorite items in your store right now?



What is the best advice you have received?
Every contact counts! By the time the credit crunch is over people want to know where to shop.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

RRRROOOOOOAAAAOOORRRRR!



D. Alexis Designs

Fall is here and the air is cool and crisp. It that time again. Get out your coats, hats, gloves and

SCARVES!

Oh, you haven't heard? Dinosaurs are all the rage. There's a new show on we've been watching called 'Dinosaur Train' and it's all about dinosaurs~ when they lived, what they ate, how tall they were. I'm afraid if I showed my daughter a picture of these scarves she will want one. NOW.

Did I mention D. Alexis Designs is the creator of these, the cutest kids scarves {and blankets} ever??

You're not going to have to beg your child to bundle up when they have a scarf from this shop! These are no ordinary scarves. These are one-of-a-kind folks.

These scarves and blankets look so soft and cuddly. Hmmm....wonder what my neighbor's would think if I sported that cute striped one??? :)

{And just because you only see a few in the shop I'm sure you could order one or two no problem! Just ask! Now....Go take a look!}

Name:
Dorian Stewart

Location: Toledo,OH

Etsy Shop Address: www.dalexis.etsy.com

Facebook, Twitter, etc, accounts: I know it's crazy but I do not have a Facebook or a twitter. I do blog a little. Here's the address: www.dalexisdesigns.blogspot.com

What Etsy groups do you belong to?
I do not belong to any groups but I would eventually love to start a group in my home town.

What is your craft?
Right now my favorite craft is to design animal scarfs. I'm working on some new ones.

How did you start doing what you do?
I always have designed characters and graphics but I never thought to incorporate my designs into other things until last year. I saw a pattern for a bunny scarf in a book and I started to make and sell those.
One of my buyers asked me if I made a design for little boys. I designed my dinosaur scarf for her and she loved it. Now, I always try to make my designs into something functional.

What part of your work do you most enjoy?
I just love creating something in my head and actually being able to see it in front of my eyes after I make it. Every time I make something I always think that the design is just ok,but to have someone buy it and enjoy it in their life is quite fulfilling.

{Dinosaur Blanket}

What do you find the hardest about your work?
I'm a perfectionist so If I mess up sewing just a little bit, I have to start over. It's so annoying but my customers deserve quality work.

Where do you get/find your inspiration?
I know it's cheesy but my mother always inspires me because she has such great taste and she encourages me to design. I take my mothers style and my love for basically geeky stuff and make my own design. I call it chic but dorky.

What are your three most favorite items in your shop right now?
My favorite items in my shop are my dinosaur scarf and dino blanket, because they are the only things I have in my shop! :)

What is the best advice you've received?
The best advice I have received regarding my Etsy shop is to improve my pictures. Your pictures should reflect the love and effort it takes to make your items.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Testing

I'm writing this post from my cell phone. Do you think it will actually post to my blog? We'll soon find out!

Patrice

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Halloween Time!

Sadly, summer is over and the fall weather is starting to show it's face. This only means that I've got to get some holiday items into my store!

I just listed a few, cute Halloween tags/embellishments.

Check 'em out!




Friday, September 18, 2009

Hand-Knitted Goodness

I just wanted to mention that I've recently added some new items to my Etsy Shop. My mother {who is a recent cancer survivor-yay!}has been making knitted dishcloths for quite some time now. I told her she needed to try selling them on Etsy!



So, after some time {and dozens of dishcloths later!} she's allowing me to put them in my shop.

We sat down one afternoon and had fun coming up with the names and creating color combinations. I made a light box, took some pictures {some great and some not so great} and have posted a few listing in my shop.

These are great items for housewarming gifts, birthday presents and Chrismas {it's just around the corner!}

Go take a look and let me know what you think!

Fun. Bright. Colorful. Those are the some words that describe the art that today's Feature Artists' create.

First there is Glademade who makes very colorful cards ( in more than one way, I might add :p ). They are very whimsical and creative. Go take a look!

Then we have a fantastic artist who makes things just as I like them.
miniature!
For some reason I go ga-ga over teeny, tiny replicas of real items. So cute! You must also check out Lilly Bug Boutique's one-of-a-kind pens as well!



Name Glade Whitworth

Location Austin, TX

Etsy Store Address www.glademade.etsy.com

Facebook, Twitter, etc. address None

What Etsy groups do you belong to? Team Etsy Austin


What is your craft? I make handmade stitched greeting cards and fabric art and cut-paper art.

How did you start doing what you do?
I started by making holiday cards for my friends (valentine's and Christmas cards). I started the stitched fabric art when i graduated from college and didn't have any art for my bedroom. I wanted to fill the void.

What part of your work do you most enjoy?
I enjoy all of it, I love bright colors, sewing, running my own business, cutting paper, creating something that did not exist before I made it.

What part of your work do you find the hardest?
The hardest part for me is staying organized. I'm a mess-maker!


Where do you get/find your inspiration?
Going to art openings and finding beautiful things on the internet. I also am a member of a sketch club, where me and some friends get together and just draw all night. Talking to other artists, and seeing what they are up to is always inspiring. I just saw the documentary Handmade Nation, and that was inspiring also.


What are the three most favorite items in your store right now?
My favorite items right now are my

What is the best advice you have received?
The best advice I have received for my etsy shop is to keep constantly adding new items to your shop. Shoppers want to see fresh goods!


***************************************************************



Name Christine Lehto

Location Wisconsin

Etsy Address http://lillybugboutique.etsy.com

Facebook, Twitter etc

Blog address http://lillybugblog.com
Facebook fan page http://facebook.com/lillybugboutique
Twitter http://twitter.com/lillybug_boutiq
byhand profile http://byhand.me/lilly_bug

What Etsy teams do you belong to?
Etsy WI team

What is your craft?
sculptures, pins, magnets, Petite Purses, Artful Pens

How did you start doing what you do?
I started doing sculptural work while in college although I did dabble in sculptng with Polymer clay during high school. Currently, most of my sculptural work is done in Apoxie Sculpt.

What part of your work do you most enjoy?
I love thinking of new ideas and painting my pieces, painting is so relaxing and enjoyable, I love color.

What part of your work do you find the hardest?
The hardest part is knowing when to stop, sometimes I want to continue to work on something when I should just say, "stop!"

Where do you get/find your inspiration?
I often get inspiration from nature and from looking at a variety of images from photos to other artist's work.

What are the three most favorite items in your shop right now?
I like my


Recyc-a-lite penguin sculptures that I make using burned out light bulbs,

and my Artful Pens

(because the pens are unique and refillable, you can continue to use a "personalized" pen over and over again). I've always had a pen/writing instrument obsession, so I wanted to design my own unique pen for people to use to sign in my guest book at my senior art exhibit. I designed my pen to reflect my personality and love for ladybugs.

What is the best advice you've received?
Q-TIP = "Quit Taking It Personally"


Thursday, September 17, 2009

I'm a WINNER!

Just had to boast a little about the fantastic item I won just by leaving a comment on Spell It Out Design's blog.





Hello??!?!? How easy was that?

I love winning things {which is var, var, rare mind you}

It's a vinyl wall decal you stick right to your wall. Best of all it's a chalkboard so I can write little messages to myself so I don't forget things so much.... {Here's wishin'}

Anywho....yay for winners!

Featuring Fab Finds For You

G'day mate!


Okay, do they really say that in Australia? I don't know, but maybe today's first Feature Artist can answer that questions! Sam(antha) is from Down Under aka Australia and makes one of my most favorite things! Pretend Food! It's even better than that! It's made from FELT!

I don't know what it is about felt food but I love it. It makes me happy. warm. fuzzy. My son would really have a hay day with it because he puts everything in his mouth and with this being food....I'm thinking it would be okay! Criky!

Okay, I'm done with the Australian 'lingo' which I don't know how to use correctly. Please fast forward....


Name: Samantha (Sam) McLean

Location: I'm in beautiful Sydney, Australia

Shop name:
Sam McLean Designs: http://mclean2612.etsy.com
Retrology, http://retrology.etsy.com

Facebook: as Samantha McLean,
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sammcleandesigns,
Blog: http://sammcleandesigns.blogspot.com

Etsy groups: DUST (Down Under Street Team) and Etsy Artists Lounge


What is your craft?
My background is in costume design and dressmaking so I have 2 shops on Etsy, one for felt food toys and one for handmade retro-inspired clothing.


How did you start doing what you do?
I began costume design and dressmaking for my dolls as a child. The felt foods came to be after I made some sets for my nieces a few Christmases ago and they loved them so much that I designed some more pieces and they found their way into the Etsy shop.

What part of your work do you most enjoy?
I love the inspiration and the design process especially. I love looking at a 3-d shape and figuring out what shapes I need to cut from the felt to replicate it. I love researching and finding the right felt colors to make the foods too.


What part of your work do you find the hardest?
I think I find making lots of the same thing the hardest, like for a market or if I'm stockpiling items for a rush. I do suffer from RSI so fiddly work takes a toll also.

Where do you get/find your inspiration?
Inspiration comes from exotic recipe books, little patisseries, home-cooked dinners and just general shopping in the supermarket. My children often suggest new ideas for felt foods to me and love seeing their suggestions materialize.


What are the three most favorite items in your store right now?
My favorite items in the felt food shop are:




What is the best advice you have received?

The best advice I have had in regard to Etsy is to keep it fresh - keep creating and listing, especially during slow times. I aim to list or re-list each day to keep in the first few pages of searches. Customer service is a top priority too. Make an effort to have great products, be accomodating, prompt and courteous and watch those customers come back again and again!

___________________________________________________________


Next up we have a lovely collection of jewlery made by Lola {LOVE that name} creator behind

Little Earrings

I love the delicate nature of her earrings and the beautiful colors. And they are priced so reasonably! I can't wait to see more of her wired wrapped earrings!


Name: Lola Cordova

Location: New Mexico, USA

Etsy Address: Little Earrings - http://www.littleearrings.etsy.com

Facebook, Twitter, etc: I need to catch up with all this web stuff

What Etsy teams do you beong to? None

What is your craft?
My craft is silversmithing, but my store currently only features earrings. I want to expand to include my wire wrapped rings (which I LOVE making) and more of my silver wire wrapped earring designs.


How did you start doing what you do?
Around 4 years ago I took my first silver course at the University. I have taken several other courses and many courses outside school to expand on my knowledge, learn new techniques, to have fun. That's the best part of what I do. I get to shop for findings, silver, and beads, then I get to put it all together - it's my break from the real world.


What part of your work do you most enjoy?
I enjoy when something comes out "just right" and as planned. I also like combining colors. I must also admit I like when I get unsolicited compliments when I wear my own creations.


What part of your work do you find the hardest?
Finding time for silver soldering. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to do much of this because I have a 2 year old little girl who wants to "help" and it's just not safe around the fire and chemicals. I've been able to do a few items to submit to local galleries, but I wait for the day when I have an entire weekend to myself and my torch.


Where do you get/find your inspiration?
I find other Etsians very inspiring. I love looking at other people's creations and it makes me want to pull out all my supplies. I also love reading books and magazines, and I like to look to nature for some of my silver pieces.


What are the three most favorite items in your store right now?

Peruvian opals are some of my favs



I personally love cluster type earrings (these are also available in pink)





My husband is Irish, and these are inspired by him



What is the best advice you have received?
My husband is my biggest supporter, and it's not necessarily that he gives me advice, but he lends an ear and will always give an honest opinion. Oh, and advice I've never received but I want to give is: it's OK to take a break. For me, it's not about sales, it's about working on something I truly enjoy.




Thanks for stopping by and we'll see you in 'two and two'.... {name that show}