Inside Etsy: Store Owner Interviews

How to Create a Facebook Landing Page for Your Etsy Business

2011-07-23T01:32:00.000-05:00

There are so many wonderful things that I wish I could take credit for. Take, for instance, a Facebook Landing page. This is yet one more marketing tool for us business owners, bloggers, and self-promoters.

What is a Facebook Landing page?

A Facebook Landing page is a blog or fan page where first-time visitors land first. By default people will land on your Facebook Wall, but it doesn't really do a good job in letting vistors know what your blog is about.

On a landing page you can put anything you want, such as:

    Introduction of who you are or what your blog is about.
    An opt in area for newsletter or email list.
    A call to action to become a fan.

(Thanks, Jasmine, for that explanation!)

I have recently gotten involved in a different realm of the blogosphere, and even there I am finding great tips that I can apply to benefit my Etsy business. (This other realm is known as Oz to some, but as homemaking/homeschooling to others.) I am learning that there are plenty of Etsians who are stay-at-home/homeschooling moms like myself. Maybe you’re one of us? One such “us” is Jasmine at Far Above Rubies, which is where I found this post, which led me to Blogging With Amy’s full article.

My life has me traveling a new journey at this time, but I am still working my Etsy shop! That’s one thing I love about my business—it can go on the road with me and my family in our motorhome. I can just sew as we go down the road. Talk about multi-tasking!   My new Facebook Landing page is a great way to incorporate my personal blog with my shop.

And, just for the record, I use Blogger for my Inside Etsy blog, Weebly for my direct online store, and Wordpress for my personal blog, and I gotta say that Wordpress is getting my vote hands down! Read this handmadeology.com article about choosing the right blogging platforms.

Why Bloggers Charge for Reviews and Giveaways

2011-07-20T06:33:00.005-05:00

I am a blogger.

I used to work for free.

I can't afford to do that anymore.

That probably sounds a little opportunistic or perhaps arrogant, but it makes good sense when you really think about what reviews and giveaways mean for a blogger and for the business they are promoting.

1. Bloggers work hard for their money. No, this isn't some 80's song, it's truth. Giveaways and reviews require a tremendous amount of time and effort . We must try out the product, take quality photos of the product in action around our home, write a pithy blog post on the product, set up giveaway rules and dates, promote the giveaway in social media outlets, close down the giveaway, run a random selector for the winner, email the winner and the company, and take care of any follow-up that may happen after the giveway is finished. This isn't a walk in the park. It is hard work and a couple of boxes of cereal in exchange for all of this isn't going to fly with a blogger who truly knows the extent of her time and effort.

2. Reviews and giveaways are prime ad real estate. I have sidebar ads at RaisingArrows.net; however, those ads are not what get the clicks. That is why with every sidebar ad a company takes out, I allow one giveaway or review post per 3 month period. You will find that one review or giveaway or even just a mention with a coupon code as enticement will pay for itself over and over again. A lot of companies do not realize how golden a blogger's word is.

3. TANSTAAFL. To borrow an acronym from Richard Maybury of Whatever Happened to Penny Candy,

There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.

Not to say I won't promote a business for free simply because I love their products, they just shouldn't expect it. Companies would do well to realize blogging IS a business and just as you wouldn't dream of giving away your entire inventory for free, neither can you expect a blogger to hand out free reviews.

4. The gift that keeps on giving. Suppose I write a review post for a product. That company receives my top ad space (aka "a blog post"). Once that post is complete, I no longer benefit (unless the company has an affiliate program I have signed up for); however, the company has my stamp of approval and a post in my archives and a Google keyword or two that generate traffic long past my review post. The long-term investment a company makes in paying a blogger to host a giveaway or do a review is well worth the money.

5. Product is nice. Cash is better. Sometimes a blogger will work for product, especially if she really needs the product. However, unless a blogger approaches a company, it is unlikely she needs the product that company is selling. Assuming a blogger will spread the word about a product simply because the company gave her something for free is bad form.

I know this sounds hard-nosed for a woman who blogs at a Christian homeschooling blog, but the honest truth is my readers don't want me to be a walking advertisement. They want to read about homeschooling and large families and the like. The occasional review or giveaway I host at Raising Arrows is done with the same zest and zeal my readers have come to expect from my regular fare. Asking a company to pay for those reviews and giveaways is simply asking them to compensate me for the time and effort it takes to make their product look good without making my blog look obnoxious. It's a win-win situation.

*****

Amy of RaisingArrows.net is the homeschooling mother of 6 living children and one precious little girl named Emily being held in the Lord’s arms. Her days are filled with giggly girls, rambunctious boys and sticky baby kisses. At night, she writes about it all.

Thank you, Amy, for taking time out of your busy day to pen this great information!

My Bearded Pigeon / Chunky Chooky

2011-06-27T20:21:00.003-05:00

Stitched poem pillow
Also available blank or with unstitched lettering

As I was scrolling through discussions among Etsy teams, looking for something with an interesting enough title to read, “$20,000+ in Sales in 5 Months” definitely qualified as a ringer for peaking my interest. You can either read the post over here at handmadeology or over here in the original post.

Let’s plunge even deeper into the mind behind MyBeardedPigeon. There is more to her and her fantastic shops than meets the bird’s eye. When you purchase from MyBeardedPigeon, you’re not just getting something – you are also giving something. On top of having a wonderful product and wonderful code of social responsibility, the fabric used is exclusive to My Bearded Pigeon and not available anywhere else in the world! Read on to find out your purchase helps to change lives.

This is as close as I'll ever get to the Bahamas.

It's hard for me to say that the economy is bad over here in America when people are still getting manicures and boob jobs, but the news would have us believe that the economy is bad. How are things over in Australia? Are manicures and boob jobs popular over there, too?

Apparently the retail sector is struggling. Every shop seems to be having a sale at the moment and people are buying a lot online, especially because the $AUD is so strong at the moment. I can buy a book on Amazon and have it posted to my house, rather than buy it from the shop down the road. Having said all that, I am not an economist but people are still getting boob jobs and buying flashy cars etc so.... who knows???

Is there actually a such thing as a bearded pigeon? Then there's the much more obvious question: why MyBeardedPigeon for a shop name? Feel free to blend the two questions into one answer.

Are there pigeons in Pittsburg?And those colors are astounding!

Yes, there is such a thing as a bearded pigeon. It is closely related to the handlebar moustache pigeon but that seemed a bit wordy. Or, no, there is not, I just like beards, and I always feel bad for pigeons, they get such bad press, everyone dislikes them. You can decide which is the true answer. I wanted my shop name to be something intriguing... rather than organic cotton designs or some such thing. Lots of people comment on the name, in a good way.

You have a most awesome list of keys to your Etsy success over in the Etsy Success team (fitting I must say). Did you just stick to this list or did you do something above and beyond to get your sales to skyrocket? Or did your pillows just happen to hit the popular vein?

I reckon, apart from all the tips and stuff, I really just lucked out and hit a popular vein. Right place, right time. It is also a great gift for everyone, men, women, children, and kids, great gift for weddings, anniversaries, and momentos of places you have lived.... Also lots of big blogs have picked up the cushions and some magazines etc., apparently lots of people like maps. Yay!!

I do have a busy blog and am an active blogger , I post lots and visit other blogs too. I get involved in swaps and donate things to raffles for say raising money for cancer etc. I have a much neglected facebook page, but I do not love facebook at all... I don't really get how to use it. I have a flickr account and recently joined twitter. That seems like a lot. It is. Spend small amounts of time on each one probably every day. Which brings me to a good point. I often see in the forums people saying things like "I have a life. I don't want to be on my computer all day." Well you don't have to be but you do have to check your email at least twice a day I think. However, if you don't want to spend time on the computer then you probably shouldn't be running an online business. It’s pretty simple.... and while I am on it, there seems to be so much whining and complaining on the forums - chill out people.

Give us a run down on why you donate $1 to microlending at kiva.org.

This pillow is not referring to the visitors on your couch.

I donate $1 to Kiva from every sale, because it is the socially responsible thing to do. I am lucky to be living in a safe country with a steady income, (I work 3 days a week and my husband works full time), and I can afford a $1 from every sale. During the aftermath of the New Zealand earthquake, where we have close family, I stopped donating to Kiva and donated to the Red Cross. I did the same for the Japan earthquake. I am thinking of switching from Kiva to Doctors without Borders soon, just for something different. I can keep reloaning with Kiva as people repay the loans, so it can keep going.

Now go return those pillows you just got from Wal-Mart, and buy some of Cath’s pillows instead! At the very least, go follow along on her fantastic blog at http://chunkychooky.blogspot.com.

If pillows aren't your thing, then surely you know somebody who has a baby who would love something from her second Etsy shop: www.ChunkyChooky.etsy.com. She even has an iphone app. What will she think of next? Whatever it is, I plan on doing a follow up piece to see how Cath handles tax time in Australia. Stay tuned for the answer everyone wants to know -- how much of that money is she going to get to actually keep?

BTW, her shop is now over the $30,000 mark, only 6 weeks after writing her Etsy Success team post. Whatever she's doing, she's doing it right! Keep up all of your marvelousness!

Just Breathe treasury featuring MyBeardedPigeon.

Timothy Adam Designs

2011-06-25T14:43:00.001-05:00

This should have been the first interview I did, but my life has a whole bunch of “shoulda”s. Tim Adam, founder of Handmadeology.com, owner of TimothyAdamDesigns, self-taught conqueror of SEO and most things internet, is now getting his turn to be featured here on Inside Etsy.

Without a doubt, Tim would surely be voted “Most Helpful” if ever there were an Etsy annual. His giving nature does not begin or end in the handmade community. It is simply an extension of the giving that he does on a daily basis in his home, his church, and his community—on or offline. There’s no luck involved when you work as hard as Tim does. His success is well-deserved!

Do you consider yourself successful at this point? Granted, like mine, I’m sure your bar of success is raised everyday, but how do you feel about your business today?

I do! Quitting my job in 2007 helped me realize that doing what I love and making a living can happen! Sure, my business if ever-changing and evolving. Flexibility comes with the territory of owning your own business. To this date, I am happy with where my business has taken me and the direction it is headed.

Unlike in my posts, where I constantly make references to my family, I don't see mentions of your family in your postings, other than the standard issue that you have one. (But I’m a tell-all kind of girl. I always say, "God knows the truth. What does it matter if everybody else does?") Is your wife a stay-at-home mom or does she fly the "Corporate Woman" flag? What does she think about all of these wonderful things you are accomplishing? And if you just don't want to talk about your family, then we'll skip it, but I am curious. It kills more than cats, I find.

My wife, Christina, is self-employed like myself. She is an amazing photographer. Here is her site: Gracedesignsphotography.com. I would not be where I am today with out the love and support of my wife. We have a 10 month old boy, Camden, and a Jack Russel named Sadie. We live in a 1923 dutch colonial, where we mix our modern style with old architecture.

Why did you decide to make a hard-copy of your book "How to Make Money Using Etsy" instead of selling it as an e-book?

I really never was looking to write a book. In 2010 the publisher came to me and asked me to write the book. So making a hard copy with a larger publisher behind me was a simple decision to make!

Are you going to branch into offering affiliate programs for your book (and other awesome materials)?

We are currently working on an affiliate program for all the products that Handmadeology offers. We will be teaching bloggers how to make extra money each month from simply selling our top notch proven products.

What is the hardest part of being "Tim Adam—Handmade Etceteraordinaire"? (That’s my own personal name for you.)

I think the hardest part is separating work from family. With work being one click away, it is difficult to get away. I love what I do and I love my family, so defining that line between work and family time is something that I work on everyday.

Thanks, Tim, for all that you do for me and everyone else looking for a piece of that handmade pie. You are truly an embodiment of what the Etsy community is all about.

Visit the Handmadeology shop on Etsy and peruse all of the helpful tools that have been packaged together to help you achieve success in your very own Etsy shop.

Tim can be found everywhere on the internet:

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/handmadeology

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/TimothyAdamDesigns

Twitter @timothyadam

Blog: www.TimothyAdamDesigns.blogspot.com

Etsy: www.TimothyAdamDesigns.etsy.com

Leaning On the Promises

2011-05-28T09:13:00.004-05:00

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand, stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God – Epheshians 6:13 – 17

Canes may not be a listed piece of the armor of God, but remember the miracles God performed using Moses’ walking stick? Judy Goddard, owner of Leaning on the Promises, uses her talent to create beautiful canes. Sometimes a person needs a little help standing, whether it’s on the promises or on the pavement.

What is a puzzle cane?

My canes contain word puzzles. They don't come apart or have moving parts. Each puzzle cane has an inscription that is either a prayer or portion of scripture that is incorporated in such a way that it is very difficult to read unless you know the key. At the bottom of each puzzle cane page in my shop is an explanation of how to read a puzzle cane.

How did you get started painting?

I was a volunteer, working at my local hospital, on the oncology ward. As an artist I would go into a patient's room and start up a conversation. I would offer to paint a picture for them. Usually I would offer to paint a picture of their favorite place, either a favorite vacation spot, a childhood home, a favorite park, etc. I would ask them details and as they remembered, I would try to capture it. In this way, I got them to forget, for at least a little while, that they were the hospital undergoing chemo. It was kind of like a mini vacation. And then afterwards, they had a painting to take home that was a good memory of a maybe not so good time in their life, That was where I learned to stretch my skills and pay closer attention to details.

I love your shop name, LeaningOnThePromises. Did this just come to you or did you sit and think about it a while?

I knew that my puzzle canes would be inspirational in nature, a reflection of my Christian faith and, hopefully, a comfort for others. I fished around for a few days and when the name, "Leaning on the Promises" came to me I knew it was just right!

Are you at a point in your life where you have to use a cane?

Right now I am not in need of a cane. The first one I painted was for my God mother, who is elderly. She had gone through a serious illness and after her recovery still needed a little help staying steady on her feet. Especially as she was preparing to take her husband on a cruise through the Panama Canal!

Any thing else that you would like to add?

Not all of my canes are puzzle canes. I realize that not everyone who would appreciate a beautiful cane is interested in an inspirational one. So I also make beautiful hand painted ones that have no writing on them. I call them, "Non Puzzle Canes".

I also have a Pinterest account under JudyAGoddard, and Stumbleupon also. My blog is www.JudyAGoddardArtisan.blogspot.com

Both Judy and her canes are a work of art and a labor of love. She would love to work with you on a custom cane for you or your loved one.

Precious Prints by Little Pergola

2011-05-24T10:27:00.001-05:00

There are two things that I never wanted to be in life and that is an Elementary school teacher and a mom to four girls. Not because I don't like those jobs, but because of the challenge involved in each of those jobs. I tried my hand at being a pre-k Sunday School teacher. We did more coloring than learning. I grew up with four sisters. I know the challenges that await, and I am not the mom to face them. There are rules about locking your kids in their rooms these days, lol. But the mastermind behind Precious Prints by LittlePergola is all of those things and more.

Nursery Art for Your Baby Einstein

It takes a special type of person to be an Elementary school teacher, especially in today’s crazy world where teachers have so little authority. Of course, the younger they are, the easier they are to teach. What grade do you teach?

I teach first grade. When I first started teaching 9 years ago, I realized that first graders have fresh little minds that are like little sponges waiting to be soaked with their first year of knowledge that will start their journey for years to come. They come in with knowing how to basically write their abc's and leave with making full sentences, amazing!

You referenced in a convo that you graduated on May 11th. Fill us in.

Mommy and Me Print

Yes, another one of the biggest days in my life was on the 21st of May. I graduated from New Jersey City University with a Masters in Educational Technology. Being in today's growing technology driven society, I felt like it would be a great investment to learn something that can support and aid our students technologically driven minds.

How has your recent experience with Heartsy been?

Well before it started I was excited and a bit scared. Only because it was a new experience, I thought it would be over whelming and that it would be too much to handle but once it started it wasn't as bad. Heartsy is a good way to get your name out there and hopefully have repeat buyers!

You are a member of lots of good Etsy teams. Which one(s) have you found to be the most beneficial? (And I’m not fishing for props for the Inside Etsy team, lol.)

Nursery Art for Your Little Man

Yes all the teams on Etsy are extremely beneficial and each is unique in its own way. I don't have a favorite but all the teams help answer any question and help Etsy members come over any hurdle they may have.

What type of printer do you use for best results?

I use an inkjet Canon printer, I feel that the color from inkjet printers looks more vibrant then prints from a laser printer, but that's just my opinion.

Raising four girls is probably easier than raising 3, since odd numbers tend to leave someone out. How do all of your girls get along?

I always say I have two sets of daughters. People say "two sets, what do you mean by two sets?". I have the two older set, 17 and 14, and the two younger set 8 and 5. Each two get along perfectly, but when they get mixed it's a whole different story!

Personally, it is so refreshing to see tasteful art for little guys. Our family could care less about sports, and it seems like if you have a boy your room decorating options are sports and hunting. My husband does hunt, but it's for the grocery aspect of it, not the sporting. So thank you, Amy, for reaching out to us moms of boys!

A Non-satirical Print

I also want to put a plug in here for some of her wonderful satirical art prints. They come e"quip"ped with the following phrases and advice:

Laundry Today Or Naked Tomorrow

Silence is Golden But Duct Tape is Silver

Everyday I get up and look through the Forbes list of the world's richest people. If I'm not there, I get up and go to work.

Here is Amy with one the girls from her gaggle. She can be followed through Twitter @LittlePergola.

Tole Mountain

2011-05-23T09:57:00.001-05:00

Box o' Mandolin Strings

They say don't go up on Wolverton Mountain.... Argh, those commercials! Everytime I hear the word "mountain" that silly song comes to my mind. But maybe now that I've had the chance to get to know the shop Tole Mountain, she'll come to mind instead. With over 300 vintage items to browse through, you should spend a little time getting to know her yourself!

How many finds have you had that you just couldn’t bear to part with?

None. Even though I find wonderful & unique items every single week at estate sales & flea markets, everything has it's price. When I find a fabulous item I only see one thing... GREEN! As in money - ca-ching! ha!

Why do you only ship to the US?

I hate turning down buyers who are out of the U.S. because all Etsy buyers are always so friendly and courteous. But shipping costs seem to fluctuate so much depending upon where you're shipping an item and sometimes the shipping can end up actually costing more than the item! And until you actually box it up and take it to the post office you never know for sure what the exact cost will be. If it's an outrageous amount then you've wasted time boxing it up and taking it to the post office and then the customer doesn't want it. So unfortunately I have found it easier to just not ship out of the U.S.

Do you have a specific place that you store your 300+ vintage items or are they just placed throughout the home as decoration until they sell?

One Most Awesome Honey Dipper

I have a lot of my items on shelves in my attic. Actually it's a good thing I started on Etsy because it made me clean my attic! Now I don't have junk in my attic, I have rows of wonderful items that will make me money! But of course there are always those items that I really think are special and I keep them for decoration until they sell. And then I have an excuse to go shopping again!!

Why the name "Tole Mountain"?

Years ago I used to tole paint. I sold to a variety of places such as Union Terminal in Cincinnati, Cincinnati Nature Center, Bob Evans General Stores and a variety of local shops. I was also featured in some country magazines like The Country Almanac. Now besides rescuing vintage items the only painting I do is on bird houses which I LOVE doing. I try to incorporate unique vintage items found at sales into them.

What was the coolest thing you ever found at an estate-sale?

I would say the coolest and most unusual find was a giant authentic steer's skull. And it sold to a lady in Texas! She was thrilled with it.

(I just happen to have a couple of photos of a cow skull in my digital download section. Go figure....)

What are the things you enjoy outside of estate-sale shopping?

Besides going to sales I love reading Christian romance novels, gardening and making my fabulous bird houses.

Any thing else that you would like to add?

I have a very special little dog that came from a rescue shelter. She means the world to me and makes every day so much fun. Shelter and Rescue dogs bring so much joy into people's lives. They give back so much more than they take. I wish everyone would go out and adopt one!

Well, these aren't dogs, but it is a collection of some very vintage kitchenwares: lemon press, tea spoon that holds your tea bag, a corn cutter, a cookbook from the '30s, and one of her salt and pepper shaker sets. All of these wonderful items and more can be found in her shop.

The only place I can be found on the internet is www.tolemountain.etsy.com. I'm probably the only person left on the planet that doesn't facebook, tweet or blog!!

Valley Green Naturals

2011-05-21T09:54:00.005-05:00

Valley Green Naturals has got it going on! Not only do they have dreamy products that cover the range of bath and beauty from head to toe, that have quite the "dream team" to back it up. And they get to create all of their body-safe, eco-friendly, and wallet-happy creams, lotions, scrubs, and suds in a beautiful old farmhouse in Virginia with acres of beautiful greenery to help inspire their creative zen.

I would love to see some pics of your 18th century farmhouse where you create all of you natural, organic, and botanical products! Do you have some you could share?

To see this and more photos, visit our blog. The picture used here is the second one down on the right.

(Notice the resemblance to their logo.)

Do you purchase natural milk for your own consumption? Legally, it can’t be marketed for humans, but you can buy it marketed in different ways and drink it if you want. I’ve read all of the wonderful things about real natural milk and went to a goat farm and got me some! It was good! But too far for me to travel on a weekly basis.

We don't purchase natural milk for consumption, but we have talked about getting a dairy cow for this purpose. At one point, I considered getting a couple of goats for their milk to use in our products. The problem with having your own goats (just like a cow) is that they need to be milked twice a day, at the same time every day. With our busy schedule, that's something that would be very difficult to do. So, the goats are on hold for now.

Milk-based products for you and yours

We do buy a lot of other natural food products. We love farmer's markets with fresh and organic produce, and we'll travel 40 miles to buy fresh Amish butter in the Shenandoah Valley. There's nothing like it! Here's a link to a blog post I wrote recently about buying natural goods.

So Valley Green Naturals is co-owned between you, your husband, and another couple. How did y’all link up on this business venture?

Our business partnership came together when Valley Green Naturals began to really grow. Art and I couldn't keep up with daily orders, while taking care of accounting, inventory, supplies and marketing all at the same time. Our business partner, Mary Hill, is a longtime friend with whom I had worked in Washington, D.C. She and her husband joined Valley Green Naturals when the company was a year old, in 2010.

Who gets to do what within the company?

Mary takes care of all of our accounting and supply orders, which is a huge job. She also works many days in the Valley Green kitchen, managing production for the ever-increasing number of orders we receive each day. Mary's husband, Doug Hill, is an expert in online marketing, and he acts as a consultant in our marketing efforts. My husband, Art DeVore, specializes in Information Technology, and he manages our customer database, web site, and social media links. My job involves developing formulations for our products, studying ingredients, press relations, customer communication, shipping, and lots of work in the Valley Green kitchen. All in all, we make a pretty good management team!

Sometimes, it just all comes together in a perfect blend. Seems they've got four-part harmony. Maybe a barber-shop quartet is in their near future. I bet that would sit fine with the folks in Virginia's Piedmont.

Regardless of location, their day spa package is sure to be a hit with the loved ones in your life. Lots of weddings, birthdays, and all around hostessing are ahead. Show your thanks and appreciation with style, while doing your part to help "organify" the world around you.

To learn more about Valley Green Naturals, you can hook up with them at the following locations:

Main web site: www.valleygreennaturals.com

Etsy page: www.cindydevore.etsy.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Valley-Green-Naturals/125929227439654

Twitter: @valleygreengirl

Blog: valleygreennaturals.blogspot.com

Spring Cleaning, A Second Look

2011-05-19T22:47:00.001-05:00

Hello there, my faithful followers! My life kinda got turned upside down, but in a good way, so I have been a bad blogger these last two weeks! I am working diligently at getting back on track to give you an interview to read every day. I've got my questions out to LesperanceTile and to AshleySpatula. As soon as I get those back, they will be posted, which should be within the next two days. Maybe today? It was completely my fault for not getting them over in adequate time. Both of those ladies have extremely successful shops and need more than 24 hours' to write their responses.

And that's why I love my dog! She really thinks I am perfect! Shhh...don't tell.

Since I have no interview today, I am posting an article that I wrote for http://www.handmadeology.com/ a few months ago. It is called "Spring Cleaning--A Second Look".

****

I only thought I was getting a head start on my spring cleaning list this year. At first glance, my cluster of wild plum trees still appeared to be skeletal. However, with a second look, I saw that, while yet unopened, the blossoms had already formed. I still had time, but barely, to rake all of the dead leaves out from under the tree and prep the trees for their spring debut. After two afternoons of raking and burning leaves, it was time to really get down and dirty.

If you take notice of the country roadside, you will see that wild plum trees frequent the fence lines. Now my personal theory is that birds eat plums. Birds sit on fences. You get the idea. Upon closer inspection you will notice that most of the time only portions of the tree cluster is still producing its sweet meat. Look even closer, and you’ll see the cause of the problem: webbing in the fork of the tree limbs. But it’s not the webbing that’s the problem. It’s what is inside the webbing, or, rather, what was inside the webbing. Hundreds of baby caterpillars. Hungry ones. And what do you suspect that they eat, this mass of hungry baby caterpillars? Blossoms and leaves.

Three springs ago, I went out to check on the trees and from tip to root was a train of caterpillars in every direction. I wish I had taken a picture, because it was really just amazing. So Etsy! I couldn’t really be mad at them. They were just doing what they do. After all, it was MY FAULT for not preventing this problem, for not inspecting my trees sooner. Thankfully, I am surrounded by plum trees up and down the country roads, so my passion was sated elsewhere.

These are my plum trees in bloom 2011, pic available in my shop

I was also at fault for not knowing that this was a potential problem. If you have fruit trees, then sooner or later, you will have bug problems. (Learn about the tent caterpillars here.) Sometimes maybe just here and there, but eventually your tree will be the product of a swarm. Unless you know how to prevent it. The wise man knows, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." After googling my problem and what to do, I decided to take matters into my own hands. (PETA members, I urge you to turn away!) I mean, instead of purchasing a chemical to kill the caterpillars with, I was just going to kill them myself. After raising babies and having all manner of bodily fluids on you, what’s a little caterpillar gut gonna hurt? So the next spring, I inspected my tree daily, starting early in the year. I would tear the webbing down, smush it with my foot, and squish any remaining caterpillars on the tree with my fingers. They’re so extremely tiny at this point; it was a quick, painless death. The return was a beautiful bounty of wild plums. Already this year, even in February, I already had tent caterpillars hard at work in my trees, preparing for their emergence. Alas, this is not to be, for I have been hard at work, laboring for my love.

Are you picking up what I’m putting down here? There are so many parallels here to shop-ownership.

It takes a lot of hard work to have a productive shop

Most shops come from humble beginnings but grow into something beautiful if given time and room to grow.

There is always something that can cause damage. This could be either something you have done or something that you allowed to happen.

If you have bad policies, bad customer service, or bad products, a quick hands-on approach is best. Put everyone out of their misery, and take care of the problem immediately.

Your customer just has to go a little bit down the road to find an equally satisfying product.

Not knowing might be a good excuse once, but never twice. There is tons of help out there for you. Utilize it.

I hope you have been enlightened with part I of my Spring Cleaning series. Here is another great Handmadeology read: Give It To Me Straight – Truth in Business.

(And if you have never tried cleaning your house in high heels and pearls, well, you are missing out! It really tones those glutes, girls.)

MukiBubb

2011-05-18T12:14:00.001-05:00

When Shannon Udell of MukiBubb looks at a swatch of fabric, she's piecing together her signature, sketchy-styled patches, pillows, potholders, and dolls. She brings form, function, and funk all together to create some flair for your home. After all, it's the little things in life that count--like having the absolutely cutest, funkiest potholders on the block!

I love the out of the ordinary house-themed potholders that you have. Where did you (or why) come up with this outside of the box idea?

I developed the Su Casa potholder the year my oldest daughter went on her first mission trip to Mexico. The kids go every year to build a house and get to know the community. I wanted sell something unique to raise funds for the trip. The house shape was symbolic of the mission and, I hope a happy reminder to buyers of the good their purchase has done. Though my mission mom days are over, the design is too cute to quit and I absorbed it into my repertoire!

What part of your life would you describe as "crunchy" (per your profile)?

Given the choice, I'll go natural. My kitchen is stocked with homemade almond milk, kombucha, hummus, and whatever bread we've baked this week. I've taught my daughters (like my mom taught me) to cook, sew and generally do for themselves. Heck, my deodorant is homemade! Many the fabrics and materials I use in my dolls and patches had previous lives and still have a lot of beauty and use to them. It's that tactile, homespun sensuality I try to bring into my shop items.

Personally, I don’t eat avocadoes. I just didn’t grow up eating them, but I’ve heard they are delicioso. Do you have a favorite avocado recipe to share?

Avocados are a staple in our California kitchen. They have become iconic in my pot holders and patches. Lately, I love to cut them into spears and roast them for salads, but here's a sandwich recipe my mom and I love to make when we’re together.

Cut a baguette into sandwich length pieces, split so they open like a roll.
On one half, brush your favorite Italian dressing, on the other side put slices of sharp cheddar. Sprinkle with lemon pepper and broil to melt the cheese.
Pull the sandwiches from the oven and spread avocado slices. Close up the sandwiches and nom nom nom! Note: This might just be the messiest sandwich you've ever enjoyed!

What type of photography did your father work with most? What was your favorite piece?

When I was young, I remember driving up and down dusty Gold Country back roads with my dad in search of "just the right shot in just the right light." I learned a lot about color, composition, patience and a sense of place back then! My dad's photo experience has run from portraits, to advertising, to abstract art to landscape documentation. He has recently picked up his musical roots and tours with his band. You can find a lot of his work at hilaryfmarckx.com

So you survived California in the 70’s, huh? Was it a wild ride or were you just a people-watcher?

I was a kid in the 70's and in they were some very creative years. Sacramento was still sort of a small town back then and I recall exploring alleyways, churches and galleries while adults were busy elsewhere. I remember our home full of artists and musicians, and I’d listen in on a lot of wine-soaked conversations about poetry, ecology, theology and self-expression. There was a lot of open space and freedom then and you'll see that freedom echoed in the birds and blooms that are iconic in my appliqué and machine embroidery. Whenever you see wavy horizontal lines in my work, you can be sure I was thinking about the Sacramento or American Rivers!

Anything else you want to add?

Yeah, here's a fun fact. I can't stand twitter. Not as a concept or anything, I'm sure they are lovely folks, but it just does not suit my way of encountering the world. So just recently, I stuck my tongue out at the e-guru world and pressed the delete button. Come on over and check out my blog at thingsarelovely.com or my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ThingsAreLovely

Or, hey, just shoot me a convo at my shop. I'd love to see you there!

Thanks so much for giving me a chance to share and for offering these daily artist’s stories. They are a real inspiration!

Thank YOU, Shannon, for being a willing participant. I'm so glad I asked you all of those wonderful questions, because you had some wonderful answers to go with them. And, while I don't eat avocadoes, my husband does. Maybe if he's nice to me today, I'll actually make him some dinner tonight. Sandwiches again? :)

BirdyBoots / UpAndAwayPatterns

2011-05-16T09:01:00.001-05:00

Necessity is the mother of all invention, and I know that mothers of squiggly children's feet everywhere will love BirdyBoot's line of handmade soft soled baby/toddler shoes. Not only are they eco-conscious (made from upcycled and recycled materials) but they also look cute doing it! The elastic around the back makes sure that shoe ain't going nowhere! (Also available in a ballet-flat style without the elastic. And she has boy styles, too.)

But she has more than just shoes available. She has organic wood blocks, children's clothes, headbands, and more wooden toys. And that is just in her first shop, BirdyBoots. In her second shop, UpAndAwayPatterns, you can find the patterns behind some of her products so you can get creative all on your own.

I just love looking that the picture you use for your shop’s logo! It is hilarious. Very Maisy Mouse. Who thought this up?

When I first started my Etsy shop, I sold only children’s soft soled shoes so I wanted to base my logo around that…in about 30 seconds, I used a Sharpie pen to sketch out my ‘bird in boots’ logo and uploaded it to my computer. (I am not known for my patience.)

Have you made any adult-sized slippers? They look so comfy!

No, I haven’t, but I do want to make myself a pair when the weather gets cooler! My dad requested a pair last Fall and went so far as to trace out his foot for me, but I have yet to make him a pair!

Hmmmm...would she make these in adult-size also, I wonder?

Wow! You have your products from coast to coast literally. They can be found at Stoopher & Boots in NYC and at the Bella Vita Boutique in Oakland, CA. How did your products find a way into those two stores?

The owners of both of these boutiques found me on Etsy and asked if I would do larger orders for their shops...wholesale is a great thing!

Are you the one doing the hand-cutting on your wooden toys?

No, my husband cuts out our wooden toys. He also does the initial sanding and then I take over painting and finishing the toys.

I have to insert here that as the mother of a 4 year old, she wants everything pink. Yesterday she asked for pink alligator. Sadly, I had to tell her no.

My husband met on the job and we liked it so much we worked together a second time. Have you worked with your husband before or is teaming up with him on the shop a first-time thing?

No, this is a first-time thing... and I think it's good we still have our day jobs separate :) (big smile)

And here is her big smile (And what a wonderful smile it is):

Her two young daughters also make her smile, and her blog is dedicated to leaving them pearls of wisdom.

Follow her at http://www.pearlsformydaughters.blogspot.com/

and

FB – www.facebook.com/birdyboots1

She also runs sample sales of her clothes, for all of you moms who love a good bargain. (or aunts, grandmas, friends, or if you are a hoarder and just can't pass up a great deal, lol.)

Cloudberry And Moss

2011-05-15T11:00:00.001-05:00

Rules were made to be broken. (At least that was my mantra as a teenager, lol.) In order to bring you the best products and best shops, I have to hold each shop up to a set of criteria. One item on the punchlist is that the product either has to be unique or be the best of its type. (Like The Wishing Elephant--she makes baby onesies, but they're above and beyond the usual baby onesie.) Also, excellent product photography, and great customer feedback play a large part. Then we come to number of sales. One of the goals of this blog is to show you successful shops or shops that are on their way to being successful. So, of course, I have to look at sales. Right now, CloudberryAndMoss only has one sale. BUT what caught my eye is that she is a single mom. There's no doubt about the fact that she has an outstanding product and top-notch photography. She just needs a little promoting.

One reason that I chose to promote you is that you are a single mom. I am married to a wonderful husband that I have two kids with and it is difficult getting it all done, even with all of his support. What is the thing that you struggle with most as a single mom?

Hands down, it's getting time to do the things that need to be done. My beautiful 5-year-old rocks my world, but it's hard work, raising a child on your own. I need to get everything done between the time I drop her off at school, until I pick her up. I work as an independent contractor on top of my jewelry business, and I find that to be a great fit for me. I don't understand how other parent's are able to have regular 9 to 5 jobs, given all the unpredictable circumstances that parenthood entails.

I know what moss is but what is cloudberry?

Cloudberries grow in the mythical Swedish forests, often in secluded and moist glades. They make great preserves and liqueur.

On my banner in my etsy shop, you'll be able to see my artistic interpretation of a cloudberry. These beautiful berries remind me of my childhood when my mom and I would take trips with baskets, into the deep, dark forest. They help me remember the wonders of being a child, and the legends that surround the vast, Nordic forests. Who knew what would be lurking behind the big boulder in the shadows of the ancient fir trees. Or if the fog in fact was a band of fairies making their way over the pond. It was all very exciting, and it still is!

How awesome to have grown up on the Swedish west coast. What age did you leave there and why California?

When I was 24 I met my Californian ex-husband in a little coastal town in the north of Spain. I was working there, and he was traveling through. I came to Oakland to visit him and - here I am - seven years later! Sometimes life just takes you places you would have never imagined.

You really do have a beautiful line of jewelry. I love the understated tones and the sweet simplicity in your pictures. Do you have any new pieces that you are working on?

I'm working on some longer silhouettes for necklaces, and I will be adding a category for bracelets as well. My felted flower pieces are my latest creations and there's a lot of unexplored territory there...felted flower earrings are next on my to-do list!

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Cloudberry-Moss/188131721214501
Blog: http://www.cloudberryandmoss.blogspot.com/

Etsy: http://www.cloudberryandmoss.etsy.com/

Go support CloudberryAndMoss! If you can't make a purchase from her shop right now, she could always use words of encouragement. Can't we all?

Attic Rat / Cedar Junction

2011-05-13T20:24:00.002-05:00

From Cedar Junction

I have always been an avid reader. As a child, brand new worlds would be opened as the child in the story inevitably found her way to the attic. Who can forget that most awesome of childhood movies, "The Neverending Story"? Especially the part when he opens the window in the school attic and yells out a name, although it was deliberately obscured. I longed for an adventure in an attic! Any attic. But neither my school nor my house had a movie-style attic. My adventure was only complete through my imagination.

If you have an attic or just like vintage lovelies, Teresa Yates has two Etsy shops of vintage items. AtticRat is dedicated to stand-alone vintage finds, while CedarJunction is dedicated to vintage collage, assemblage, and mixed media. She is currently restocking her stores, after her recent gallivant across Germany.

Even though I had an attic, there was nothing up there but insulation. Did you have a grandmother’s attic that you grew up treasure-hunting in?

No, but it was very fun to explore at my great aunt's house. She had lots of interesting items all around her house in Oklahoma.

You had your shop closed for a bit while you went on vacation. Personally, I would have a hard time putting my shop into vacation mode, but I’ve only had my Etsy shop open for a few months. You’ve been at this for over 5 years. Have you had any negative experiences with vacationing your shop?

Mini Harmonica at Cedar Junction

I put my shop on vacation so that I don't have any negative experiences! I would really hate to keep my customers waiting for their orders if I am unavailable to ship them. I know that when I order something, I want to receive it right away.

Why did you choose Germany as your vacation spot?

My husband was sent on a project for 3 months and I was blessed to be able to spend a month there with him. While there, we also visited France and Belgium and celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. Germany was beautiful and I would go back in a heartbeat. It was very hard to leave.

Does your husband use his scroll saw for creating "for sale" pieces or is it strictly hobby-use-only at this point?

I sell his crosses in my shop when he has extra ones. He is usually behind on his orders from friends and family because his work is so popular.

Your second Etsy shop, or should I say your first, has been opened since 2006. You’ve been through lots of changes within Etsy. Can you pinpoint a specific change that you feel was the most beneficial?

I've been with Etsy since it was still its the beta version. One change that I really like is the ability to see a customers order history. It's nice to see the ones that shop with me again and again.

Anything else that you would like to add?

I am always on the lookout for interesting and unusual items. It sure is lots of fun!

Such a busy lady (and a pretty one, too)! Notice that she has a blog for EACH shop. I seem to be attracted to fellow dog lovers and fellow Texans. I think she's got a cat, though.

FB: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cedar-Junction/91192725800
Blog: atticrat.blogspot.com/ and cedarjunctionstudio.blogspot.com/
Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/AtticRat
Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/CedarJunction

Soapapilla

2011-05-11T07:13:00.003-05:00

I am all about some form and function in my life. Soapapilla's Shower Puff Soap takes soap on a rope to a whole new level. I don't know about you but when I'm showering with my husband (it saves water you know!) the last thing I want to do is drop the soap, lol. This is just one of the many fun soap products you will find in Soapapilla's shop.

How did you get started making soaps and body products?

In 2009 I was staying in New Mexico with my Uncle Steve & my Aunt Janet. My aunt had started making her own soap and very graciously taught me the art (thank you, thank you, thank you, Aunt Janet!) I was instantly hooked and inspired to push the medium as far as I could. I immediately started to do research on the best methods, best ingredients, and sourcing my area (northshore Massachusetts) for local suppliers. I had (and still have) so many ideas popping into my head for soaps. I started making the soaps myself and giving them to friends and family, which quickly grew into selling them at craft shows and now on Etsy. I have now expanded to include scrubs, lotions, and conditioners & I am continuing to research and experiment with new product development. I made it my New Year’s Resolution for 2011 to get my products in stores, and now Soapapilla can be found in Scrub and in Roost in downtown Salem, MA!

Your birthstone line is perfect for birthday gift sets! When will you have this line completed?

Pearl is June's Birthstone

My handcarved Birthstone & Geode soaps are some of my favorites! I have created a birthstone for each month already and will be completing the postings on my Etsy site over the next month. When I was a little girl, my mother worked in a gem & mineral shop in Albuquerque, New Mexico, making jewelrey that we would sell at the flea market on the weekends. I would go to work with her and play with all of the raw stones, crystals, geodes & agates. Those memories and the Southwest landscape is what inspires the look for my Birthstone, Geode, and Fossil soaps, which are each very close to my heart.

Do the colored soaps leave any type of colored residue either on the body or in the tub?

Nope – no residue whatsoever. They create a nice thick, white lather that feels lovely and leaves your skin nice & soft. I use mostly natural micas, iron oxides, and ultramarines to color my soaps instead of synthetic dyes & pigments. This creates a pure, gentle product that does not stain– plus the micas give the soap an incredible shimmery, pearly finish. My focus on using gentle, natural ingredients is not limited to my selection of colorants – I focus on using the highest quality, skin-loving ingredients in every step of my soapmaking process.

Here in East Texas there are almost as many Mexican restaurants as there are churches. But for the rest of our readers that are not familiar with our Southern ways, explain what a sopapilla is please.

A sopapilla is a kind of fried bread commonly served in the Southwest, USA and Latin American countries. In New Mexico it is usually served after meals and you eat it with honey – completely delicious! My mouth is watering just thinking about them!

When I was trying to think of a name for my company, I wanted New Mexico somehow represented in the name, since it inspires me so much. When the name “Soapapilla” came to me, I just knew I had found THE name for me.

Which soap is the most difficult to craft into it’s finished product?

The most labor-intensive soaps are definitely my handcarved Geode soaps. But it truly is a labor of love! They go through so many stages and carvings to get to their final shape, but its worth every second of it. I get excited every single time I’m finished and get to cut open the soap geode rock to reveal what’s inside. Each one comes out completely unique – just like the rocks themselves.

How is New Mexico treating you this time around? Quite a difference from Massachusetts.

New Mexico is wonderful! I love Boston, and especially the beach, but the sun and the mountains never cease to inspire my creativity. I feel so lucky to have lived in two very different landscapes. I’m also getting the chance to spend time with my family members and I just have to thank them for all of their support! While I’m here I’m also taking the time to seek out some stores to work with to hopefully get Soapapilla available locally in New Mexico. And of course, I’ve been eating plenty of sopapillas (and green-chile-chicken-enchiladas, and tamales with red chile, and breakfast burritos…YUM!)

Any thing else that you would like to add?

Well, there are so many people I am grateful for. I have to thank my family for supporting me in my soaping efforts – even when I manage to turn our kitchen into a soap laboratory. I especially have to thank my brother, Luke – you have truly become a shrink-wrapping master! Thank you, Aunt Janet for starting it all in your “House of Wonders”. Thank you, Aunt Donna for recognizing & encouraging my artistic abilities. Thank you, Aunt Gogi for supporting me and helping me make my trips to New Mexico. Aren’t I lucky to have such a great family?

Soapapilla and the beautiful young lady behind it can be found at the following locations:

FB: facebook.com/soapapilla
Twitter: twitter.com/soapapilla
Blog: soapapilla.blogspot.com
Online store: lovesoapapilla.etsy.com

A Letter to My Future Self

2011-05-10T16:11:00.001-05:00

I was inspired to do this after reading Artlife's blogpost. It's where you write a letter to your future self one year from now about all that you hope/want the coming year to encompass. Share with me and be inspired to write your own!

We are currently in the process of getting our home listed for sale. The realtor will be here this Friday, the 13th to take pictures so that's why my posting has been off-schedule. But I'm still trying to post something each day, so here is what you get for today. : ) I do have my interview ready for tomorrow with LoveSoapapilla.

****

Hello there, Future Self! Wow! What a crazy year. I never would have thought that I would have sold my forever home. We built this home 8 years ago when our son was just one, and we worked diligently, molding it into our little country version of paradise. If someone would have told me even two years ago that we would be traveling the country evangelizing, I would have laughed. Guess that old saying "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans" is true. I am so proud of my husband and my children. Our bond as a family continues to be strengthened daily.

This was the view from my front porch. It's now someone else's!

Jace has just finished his fourth grade year, and we are still homeschooling. I am so thankful that we chose that option three years ago. He's a very unique and intelligent child, and he's been allowed to blossom into a young gentleman who opens doors for ladies, willingly helps with housework, and respects both his elders and his peers. My little blonde hair, blue-eyed man. He makes me so proud!

Ginger is now 5 and has finally gotten through that lisp we worked so hard to overcome. Genetics are very powerful, because I had a lisp when I was a young girl, too. We never "baby-talked" with her, so it must be genetics. She sings like an angel and the congregations love to hear her sing, "Jesus the most beautiful name that I know. No other name, no other name I know." She's delicate but can climb like a monkey at the same time. She continues to amaze me with her indivduality. I can't wait to see her as the young woman she will become. Well, maybe I can wait. I'm not ready for her to grow up just yet.

My online business has not wilted but has thrived! Since I get to travel the country, I make tons and tons of new contacts that I never would have had the opportunity to make secluded in my country paradise. Several boutiques have taken my items as wholesale, and it is a wonderful feeling to walk into a shop and see a customer buying one or three. I still can't wrap my mind around it. God has been so good to me.

Of course, all of this traveling and business-growing has given me tons of great information for all of the various blogs I write for. What will the next year bring?

Take care of yourself. You're the only one you've got!

I love you!

Melinda Martin

P.S. Remember when you still had your crown on from the Ladies Meeting and you forgot and wore it to Wal-Mart and no one even looked at you funny. Haha! You rock, Past, Present, and Future Self!

Dot's Diner

2011-05-08T23:41:00.001-05:00

Well, now, I collect aprons but they're sweet little vintage aprons that someone's grandma wore. If your MeeMaw wore these aprons, then you must have had one smokin' hot grandmama! I picked just a few of her scrumdiddliumptious aprons to display, but you will definitely want to check out Dot's Diner and add some of these to your cart or to your favorites at the very least.

OMWow! These aprons couldn’t be any cuter if they had to be! Which one is your top seller?

Aw, thanks, lol! My top sellers are my car hop polka dot, and car hop cupcake aprons. I think people like it that they have a lot of black in them. Black works really well in my shop for some reason. I also make this style extra sweet with eyelet lace and hot pink ric rac. It makes me smile. I make a lot of pink stuff, I like pink.

Do you think most women are wearing these in the kitchen? Or the bedroom? Lol

I started this shop with the intent of selling costume-like aprons to pinup girls and burlesque performers. I am pretty well connected in the burlesque community, so I just used that base of friends to start my Facebook page. So, a lot of my aprons get worn on stage, and stripped off! Lately, a lot of young women who are starting their own cupcake bakeries are finding me, and ordering their "uniforms". I am so envious of these young ladies; I mean really, a cupcake shop!? Also, a lot of my customers wear them for sexy photo shoots, or pinup style photo shoots. I love it! I don’t cook, so when people ask me if they are good for the kitchen, I’m like, huh? Oh yeah-I guess so! Lol!

(Click here to see the full frontal of the Alice Apron.)

Have you had any great Etsy finds to add to your vintage kitchenware collection?

Well, actually, what I buy a ton of on Etsy is vintage fabric, and artwork. There are so many wonderful photographers and artists on here I can’t resist. I have no idea where to hang it all, so I just place it around my work space and stare it all. I use the vintage fabric in my aprons from time to time. My favorite thing to find and buy is vintage pillow panels. I use them to make aprons and my customers eat them up.

What did you do with all of those clothes you made for you dolls? It’s hard to throw stuff like that away.

Well, I don’t know, most of it I gave to my nieces years ago. I wish I still had a lot of those things.

How many different styles are you currently offering?

I usually have about 20 styles in my shop, it seems like I can’t get my inventory over that number. I have a day job, it is my curse. ( I work in engineering, doing CAD drafitng and circuit board design, I know, zzzzzz).

Any thing else that you would like to add?

Well, I am just having like a ton of fun, and trying not to be too obsessed with Etsy. Ha ha

The group photo is a burlesque troupe I was in when I owned my pole-dance studio, it was the most fun I ever had. I made all the costumes we are wearing- the troupe was for any age, one lady was like almost 60, adorable, we caused quite a scandal.

Follow Dot's Diner around the virtual town as she continues to create scandals!

FB www.facebook.com/dotsdiner
Twitter twitter.com/#!/dotsdiner
Blog www.dotsdineraprons.com/
Other www.dotsdinerama.com/

Note: The pettislips are not included, but I would like to recommend Swank Underpinnings for a custom order for your apron. Her feature can be found here.

Barn Owl Primitives

2011-05-07T08:33:00.004-05:00

I don't know about y'all, but if I put my elbows on the table at dinner, my dad would poke them with his fork. There were 5 of us kids, and no one ever wanted to sit by Dad, lol. Ah, the good ol' days when families had sit-down dinners every night.... This is a tradition that I still proudly carry on in my home. I'm thinking I'm going to get two of these handy table manners signs--one for my house and one for my dad's. Of course, all of his baby birds have flown the coop, but I'm sure he sits around wishing he could poke just one more elbow. The table manners sign is just one of many appealing items that you can find at Barn Owl Primitives.

How are you getting so many views on your treasuries?

I have a fabulous fan base on Facebook and I post my treasuries there for them to view. I also send a personal email to each shop that I include in my treasury. It’s a great touch point and a nice way to meet your fellow shop owners. I’ve made great friends with other shop owners through the treasury. It is also very important to use all the tags when creating a treasury and to make sure you are using words that people might actually search on. My top three tags when I create a treasury are vintage, shabby chic and antique. If you've seen my treasuries, that will come as no surprise!!

Why pine?

I use premium pine boards for almost all of my signs. I want my signs to be of the highest quality. And I don't want to worry about knots when I’m painting the letters. I create a mountain of sawdust as each board is sanded before, during, and after the painting process, but it's worth it. (Or so my customers tell me!)

I see that you have shipping rates to Australia ($45- yikes!). Do you have many orders that go there?

I’ve shipped 18 signs to Australia. Just got an order for another one today! I’ve actually shipped signs to all 50 states, Australia, Ireland, England, Scotland, Norway, Canada and Singapore! I really can't believe it!

You did a promo with Junk to JENius a bit ago. How did that work and how did that work out?

Jen won a giveaway that I did with a blog in the fall. When she opened her shop a few months later, she asked if I would be interested in hosting a giveaway for her. Since I don't blog, and since she was trying to build her blog, I suggested she host a giveaway on her blog and we each giveaway something from each of our shops. It’s so much more fun to collaborate with another shop owner then to do something by yourself. We had a lot of fun working together that week and the best part is I’ve made a fabulous new friend!

How many sets of stencils do you have?

My stencils are one time use, so each sign has a unique stencil. So far, I’ve painted 1,632 signs {deep breath}, so I’ve used a lot of stencils! I have about 50 designs that are usually available in my shop at any given time. I typically don't paint a sign until an order is placed since the customer can choose their colors from my standard shop colors.

Your Etsy shop has a little over 1,100 sales. What venue did you use for the other 500?

When I started, I sold wholesale to several shops. And I was selling through www.chickspicksbyhillary.com for almost a year. Hillary lives near me and offers an online shop as well as a fabulous pop up boutique in her home about 7 times a year. I've also done several local craft shows. My shop is now busy enough that I don't have time for those things right now. Since I do all of this myself...from cutting the wood all the way through to boxing it up and shipping it out, I just don't have time for much more.

One day, I too will be able to share that testimony! Cord cover anyone?

Any thing else that you would like to add?

I would like to thank my family and friends who support me every day. And I’d like to thank all the wonderful customers, shop owners, bloggers and friends on Facebook and twitter who send me messages, purchase signs, leave comments and posts and otherwise encourage me to do what I do. I’ve been blessed with a wonderful network and I could not do what I do without them. Thank you!

And to those shy people who don't like to post, comment or otherwise interact but who follow along and view my art...THANK YOU! I appreciate each of you too!!

She has many other wonderful signs hanging around her shop. Signs about wine, beaches, baseball, motorcycles, and my favorite--baby girls. Go "favorite" some of your favorites.

FB www.facebook.com/barnowlprimitives
Twitter twitter.com/#!/barnowlprimitiv
Blog nope
Etsy www.etsy.com/shop/barnowlprimitives

Yellow Bug Boutique

2011-05-05T18:09:00.001-05:00

Anytime I see the "do not remove" tags on pillows, I always think of that episode of "Who's the Boss?" when Angela was living dangerously and one of the items on her list was to tear off one these tags, lol. So I love this pillow! Cindy, the owner of the Yellow Bug Boutique, has a great sense of humor and you can bring some of that home because she showcases it on some of her pillows. She actually has a whole selection of pithy pillows. That is also where her periodic element pillows can be found.

Aren't those just the cutest! She spells out lots of other words, some I'm not allowed to say. Like "chocolate". Just saying the word makes me gain weight! I'm sure she sold a ton of these and her other slew of adorable stuff at the Handmade Bash this year.

So how was the Handmade Bash this year? And what is it anyway? Lol

The Handmade Bash was fabulous...ok now, but what is it? Think about what you would get if you took 50 shops that sell current and trendy handmade items and combined it with a great party complete with a DJ spinning strange black discs.(which us oldies call records), a photo booth, fun decorations and a bar and then you would get the Handmade Bash.

I’ve read a bit here and there about the EtsyDallas team. Share a little with us about why you are proud to be a member.

This is my first year to be part of Etsy Dallas. I cannot think of enough positive adjectives to completely describe how wonderful this group is. There is so much combined craft/artistic, selling and marketing knowledge as well as fun and energy that this group is an unstoppable force. I am in awe of the talent of this group from one of a kind furniture masterpieces to fused glass/lamp-glass beads and everything in between. I'm just hoping no one figures out that someone goofed and let me join :)

Seriously, this group is a great resource...any problem, question or concern you might have...someone will have good advice and are more than willing to share it with you. We do 2 big shows a year, the Handmade Bash in the Spring and The Jingle Bash in November....both are great places to have a lot of fun...bring the family- there is an art and craft table for the kids and find that perfect handmade gift. The rest of the year is filled with group charity events, social gatherings and planning. It is also just great fun to mingle with people who have the same passion to create things with their hands. I always come back from an event with recharged creative batteries and a million new good ideas. I could go on and on...but then I will never get to the rest of your questions.

Instead of "Slug Bug", I play my version, which is "Hug Bug" with my boys. Although they do play the "slug bug" version with their dad, but I don’t want to get in on the slugging. Did y’all play this with your mom when you were Bug-spotting?

No, unfortunately, we didn't play slug bug growing up...I grew up with 3 sisters so I learned more about Barbies and matching your shoes with your dress than I did about physical aggression- later I had 2 boys of my own and became much more versed in hand to hand combat, Mythbusters and Estes rockets.

Looking through your sold items, your koozies seem to be steady seller. Is the neoprene hard to work with?

Koozies have been a good addition to my store because they are a lower price point than my pillows which helps expand my client base. The neoprene can be a bit challenging to work with- sometimes my sewing machine would rather eat it then sewing it together.

Possible inspiration for the Nom Nom Nom pillow?

How many of your items have made it to the sought-after Front Page?

Etsy has been very good to me...I think the count is 20 something. The front page, Storque and Etsy finds does amazing things for your views, shop hearts and sales.

I haven't even had one! Just found my new Etsy role model.

Any thing else that you would like to add?

For a moment, I'll get on my soapbox, if you don't mind. I get a little frustrated about the negativity that sometimes hoovers around the forums. Maybe it's because I'm an old timer with more than 25 years in the handmade business- but I get frustrated when people don't realize how easy Etsy makes it for the artist. When I started you could either do small craft shows or pay a rep to get your stuff out there to sell. I was blessed and found a distributor to market my miniatures and had a good 25 year run with Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and mom and pop stores. Big chains won't talk to an individual and craft shows are very hard work. Today with the internet and Etsy you can literally sell to the whole world. Etsy even gives you advice on every imaginable subject to help you be successful. Personally, I just don't understand why people are complaining!

Those of you who read my posts on www.handmadeology.com should love this pillow. (This post in particular.)

Keep your eyes open for the Yellow Bug Boutique cruising down Etsy Street at the following hot spots:

www.facebook.com/pages/Yellow-Bug-Boutique/117420704978157

www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=298727895540

www.artfire.com/users/YellowBugBoutique

The Polka Dot Magpie

2011-05-04T01:42:00.001-05:00

Even though I'm 33 years old now and have two kids, in my mind's eye when I envision myself, it is with the hips that I used to have, similar to the ones in this picture at right. Granted, I never had a bird sitting on me while I was naked in front of a picket fence, but that's beside the point. But not all moms are a slave to the sweets. Some of them actually (gasp!) workout and eat healthy. Or they are those girls that everyone is jealous of--the ones that can eat whatever they want and still stay skinny. The rest of us are still waiting for that day when it all catches up to them.... Nevertheless, I will hold fast to the me of yesteryear. I can reclaim that flat belly again. Now whether I will or not is the question.... But enough about me. Let's talk more about the naked girl with the bird and the woman behind it all.

At first glance, all I saw were the crows. But after going back through your shop, I took notice that you use other birds, too. Why birds?

"Birds are the souls of humans"--someone said that...I believe it.

I have loved birds my whole life. Corvids first, then chickens, then quirky crazy looking exotic ones.

I just got baby chicks and am a poultry judge. See my blog for chick photos.

Most Etsy newcomers (even ones who are painters) often have bad item pictures at first. I don’t see any in your shop, though. Have you had a run in with photography before?

When I first started out in the post college work force I worked in big ad agencies. One of my favorite jobs was styling photos.

My Mom said when I cleaned my room as a kid I arranged everything in still life groupings. My husband just bought me a "big girl camera" Nikon D80. So I am having fun with that.

I was immediately drawn to the story of losing your brother to Vietnam in your post . My own husband (who also deals in knives) lost his brother to Vietnam in the same fashion. The body came back, but not the mind. Are any of your pieces a result of this life experience?

I only lost his soul...he is still alive and behind "the Orange Curtain" in Newport Beach Ca. I believe that's the only way someone could live there is to have NO soul.

Nothing on Etsy. I did do a series of paintings and drawings that had young soldiers in the war with windows of myself (11 years his junior) at birthday parties, and activities I was doing while he was in Viet Nam.

Is it just you and your husband at home now?

Yes. My eldest is in Denver with my only grandchild who is 12. He's visiting "G-dog" right now. Loving having baby chicks to care for and lots of arts and crafts going on. He will make a knife with my husband this week.

I also have an adult son who has high functioning Autism. He's 23, engaged, and completely independent of me. I am so proud of him. He's taken one of his perseverations and turned it into a career. (again see an early blog post about him) He loves vacuum cleaners, and runs a vacuum shop.

What has been the most exciting thing that has happened to you with your store? You seem to be creating quite a buzz about town.

I have 2 stores. ThePolkadotMagpie and PolkadotMagpie. PolkadotMagpie was in Parents and Baby Talk Magazine last year. Huge sales from that.

Recently Pacific Media contacted me about ThePolkadotMagpie and the items I am donating for Japan's relief aid through the Red Cross. They are huge publishers and have Better Homes and Gardens, Prevention, Family Circle. Those pieces will be on the newstands in May.

And I love how she uses the bird in her photography sets. Too cute!

Her store over at PolkaDotMagpie has almost 650 sales and her store at ThePolkaDotMagpie has just been open for a few months but already has 49 sales.

Be sure to check them both out. They each have their own "feel".

Now I'm going to go eat chips and salsa, even though it's almost 2 in the morning, because I haven't had any "me" time all day and you're supposed to eat your carbs early in the morning, I think, lol.

CAPow!

2011-05-02T10:13:00.003-05:00

To the moon, Alice! Capow! Right in the kisser! I had seen Capow's work here and there on Etsy, then in this write-up on handmadeology. Every one can fall in love with her work, because we all have a city that is near and dear to our hearts, especially for you honeymooners. Her shop is known for the Hometown Heart series, but she also does photography, prints, and these really cool state map images.

So windshielddiaries.blogspot.com, huh? Do you have a tendency to be the windshield or the bug? With close to 900 sales, I’d say you’re the windshield.

Haha, I've never thought about it...the past few months I've kind of been feeling like the bug! But the real reason my blog has the title Windshield Diaries is because it was started almost 2 years ago as a way for my boyfriend and I to chronicle a road trip we were taking (Upstate NY to Florida to New Orleans to Memphis, and back to NY). I just kept writing after the trip was over, and it grew from there!

I must say, I’m a little disappointed that you don’t have a big huge, colorful "I Love Texas". Texas is the only state that can fly their flag at the same level of the US flag. When can I expect to see some colorful Texas love?

Texas was JUST completed this past week! I had been working on it for a really long time, it's such a big state with so many small counties, there was a lot of little details to get in there! But it's up in the shop now and ready to be customized to any color under the sun!

So you put each state’s county in location in text on the outline of the state. How many excruciating hours does that take?

It really depends on the size of the state and how many counties are in the state. for example, a small state with few counties (like Connecticut) can take as little as two hours to complete. For the big guys like Texas, California, and New York it takes much longer. Each of those larger states took well over 20 hours to complete, Texas came in closer to 40 hours!

One reason I don’t watch TV is because of everyone’s political agenda showing up all over the place. I can’t imagine living in the hub of it there in D.C. area. Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the political pressure there?

I don't live in DC, but I do live in the capital city of New York State where there is also a lot of politics in the local news. Honestly, politics have no bearing on my art or creative endeavors what so ever, and I try to keep my political views out of my shop & blog because it's really not a big part of my life.

And the most important question: How did the Smores cookies turn out?

The Smores cookies were a HIT! I made them for a going away party, and at first I thought they looked a little funky, but after they firmed up they were beautiful and delicious! Though I think the next time I attempt a batch I will add more graham cracker crumbs, the graham taste wasn't strong enough for my liking.

(The woman at right must be running to burn off all of those Smores cookies calories.)

Any thing else that you would like to add?

I would just like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who has ever looked at my blog or shop, bought a print, left a comment, sent me an email. You guys are the reason I'm able to do what I love! I'm not quite to the point where I can quit my day job yet, but just knowing that my art is out there in so many people's homes is so fulfilling. So thank you, so much to all past a future friends and customers!

The image at left is the face in her mirror every morning.

FB www.facebook.com/capowartanddesign

Twitter www.twitter.com/capowcapow

Blog windshielddiaries.blogspot.com

Main Etsy: http://www.capow.etsy.com/

Other Etsy: http://www.littlepetshop.etsy.com/ for you cat lovers

Other www.society6.com/capow/studios

(some of her work is also available on the society6 website as ipod cases, t shirts, etc)

Going Places 2

2011-04-30T11:35:00.001-05:00

It's not that I'm biased--I just seem to find more dog-oriented shops. But I do have a few cat-loving shops on the way. As soon as I find some. :) Even if you don't like dogs, you are sure to love Ginger Oliphant's darling dog artwork.

To be fair, Going Places 2 does have a few cat products in her line up, which we talk about more in the interview.

Do you draw your dogs, purchase images, or shoot your own? (haha, I said "shoot your own".)

I draw all of the dogs in my art using as reference either dogs I've taken pictures of or people have sent to me. 2 samples where I actually show the photo I’ve used can be seen here. These were drawn from photos given to me by members of the Dachshund Team on Etsy. I also sometimes use photos I've found on online sites where people upload their dog pictures for free use by anyone.

We are a boxer-loving family. I waited 5 years to find just the right one for the last one that we brought home. She's a beautiful white female. She looks half-dalmation, though, because the Texas sun causes her to spot. Truly a wonderful family dog, as long as you have plenty of yard for them to express themselves in. (Those are my two free spirits on the left--Jasmine, the boxer, and Gigi, the human. My daughter's name is Ginger, also, but we call her Gigi. Definitely the spice in my life!) Surely you own at least one dog and we would love to hear about it and/or others.

After years of always having a dog in the house, we don’t actually have one of our own right now. We do however have three Grandddogs, Lofa, a black Lab, Locker, a yellow Lab, and Baxter, a rescued Maltese mix. They are willing and wonderful models for me and you will see them periodically throughout my shop. I’ve found that dogs work very cheaply and are overjoyed to be paid with a hugs, kisses and dog treats!

My very first dog was a Boxer named Mitsy and later another named Rex. They were wonderful family dogs. We’ve had a sweet Schnauzer named Misty for 13 years and crazy Wire Haired Fox Terrier called Jamie who kept the squirrels out of the yard as well as providing hours of entertainment and love.

Do you get requests for other dogs that you don't currently offer? (Is there a quick reference list of what the breeds you do offer?)

Yes I do get requests. In the cases where I don’t have the breed they are looking for, I just ask that they send several photos of the dog and will draw it at no extra charge as long as I feel it will be something I can use in my shop. I get the cutest pictures that way. I did one recently for someone wanting one of a Catahoula Leopard Dog, which had just recently passed away. I don’t have an actual list of the different breeds I have on Etsy, but it works really well to type into the search area (in my shop) the breed you are looking for. If I have it available, each different version will pop up. I’m in currently in the process of putting a website together for my wholesale customers (current and future) where it will be much easier to view at a glance rather than clicking on each individual thumbnail on Etsy. Here, I’ll have the designs alphabetical as well as by category or theme. But that is a work in progress. You can see it ‘as is’ by visiting www.inspirationaldog.com.

I see that you are doing a little branching off into the world of cat-lovers. Are you going to offer different cat breeds also?

I’ve had a number of requests for cats and will gradually be adding more as I have time. I don’t have many pictures, so if any of your readers have some they’d like to make available, please send them to me!

On your profile you state that you dog-sit. What are the going rates for dog-sitting these days?

Our dog sitting services are limited to relatives only ~ speaking of our Granddogs specifically. And of course, as those of you know with Grandchildren, the going rate is FREE!

Her artwork can be purchased for framing, as a magnet, as a card, or as a pocket mirror!

Here is a picture of Mrs. Ginger Oliphant and where she can be found:

Twitter http://www.twitter.com/goingplacestoo

Other: in the works ~ http://www.inspirationaldog.com/

Ox Original Art Jewelry

2011-04-29T00:43:00.001-05:00

Patsy Ox, owner of Ox Original Art Jewelry, can claim her store's name with pride. Her jewelry is original, because it is her very own artwork. In some of her pictures, you can see the sketched image as the backdrop.

From her profile:

My bronze jewelry begins with Bronzclay, a true bronze consisting of 11% tin and 89% copper (not the brass form seen in commercial jewelry). Each piece is created from my sketchbook designs, then sculpted into works of art.

What color(s) would you say turn out the richest after going through your enameling process?

Enamels, like acrylics, are naturally rich and vibrant. I sometimes have to tone them down for special effects – (or to keep them from looking like little piñatas!) Blue and green transparents over a silver base are particularly lustrous and beautiful.

As is the case with most Etsians, I am versed in other art forms besides what I actually have for sale. In my pre-mom days, I used to show my skills with good ol’ pen and paper portraits/drawings. Do you still find time to paint?

I still paint many of the backdrops for my web pages. That way I can illustrate the precise mood and color coordination that I had envisioned for my jewelry. In the home I paint things like floral wreaths over arches, and I developed a technique for painting with texturing mud to create pop-out scenes on various walls. I have also committed to doing a wall mural for a garden at the local Hospice.

Even though I’m a die-hard Texas fan (for the state, not for the sports), I know that Colorado is known for its breathtaking beauty. Do you hike or participate in other nature-loving events?

Like you, we also enjoy traveling to the real Colorado whenever we can get away. You see, we live in the hot, windy, dusty "Kansas" part of Colorado. Here in the Southeastern corner we enjoy long walks and bike rides to seek out nature wherever it can be found; along dry stream beds, cottonwood groves, and in nearby canyons laced with petroglyphs and dinosaur tracks. This time of year we just sit in front of the picture window and watch it blow by.

Concerning the seedpod that you use for your seedpod pendant—does the tree produce a fruit or just more of these seedpods? Are they edible? (Read her wonderful blog post about the seedpod and its journey into a pendant.)

Thank you for asking! The Earpod tree is truly fascinating. It is the national tree of Costa Rica, and a member of the pea/bean family. In Hawaii and Florida the seedpod is wasted, but the cattle of Costa Rica eat it. The tree produces a ‘powder-puff’ flower in the spring.

What’s up next in your mini-Americana line?

The Americana pieces that have sold quickly are those with which individuals seemed to make a personal connection – those that represent some iconic location or memorable event in their lives. I have been amazed how a little pig pendant with a heart on its rump, or an artist palette pendant with dabs of multicolor paints will sell quickly on Etsy. So I will continue looking for uniquely personalized designs with which someone may form a bond. With these kinds of pieces, it almost needs to be love at first sight.

These kinds of pieces sometimes attract attention in unusual ways. The day after I listed a piece of enamel art showing the Coors Beer logo, I received an e-mail from their legal department demanding that I remove their name from the item’s description!

Obviously, Coors Beer and I have a big differing point. I'm all about some free advertising! And, while it would be nice, my cord covers aren't addicting, lol.

I want to personally thank Patsy for being an outstanding Inside Etsy team member. She is a frequent commentor, not only on the blog posts here but on our team threads as well. It's people like her that make Etsy the wonderful community that it is!

Tap into Patsy's community at any of the locations below:

Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/OxOriginalArtJewelry

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OxArtJewelry

Blog: http://www.artsyplace.blogspot.com/

Website: http://www.oxalisjewelart.com/

The Wishing Elephant

2011-04-28T16:42:00.002-05:00

Follow up post has been completed! Now for the full feature on The Wishing Elephant!

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

I have to admit something--I never dressed my babies "cute". I was so exhausted working 50+ hours a week that they were lucky to get a bath and be dressed in matching clothes. But that's all behind me now that I'm a stay-at-home mom with nowhere to go except church two days a week. And I like it that way! I try be better about dressing them cute, especially my 4 year old girl, but to achieve maximum cuteness I would need to buy a onesie from The Wishing Elephant. She even has onesies that are perfect for twins and triplets.

I don’t have any experience with felt, outside of Sunday School crafts. I’m just going to throw out a bunch of questions into this one and you fill in the blanks. Is it pre-treated? Does it wash well? Fading? Is it sewn on? Preshrunk?

I use eco felt which is made from 100% post consumer recycled plastic bottles. I love this fabric because it doesn't fade or run and it comes in a huge variety of colors. I wash all of the felt prior to use to make sure any shrinkage happens before it's made into an applique. My appliques are backed with a very strong no sew adhesive. I ask that the shirts are hand washed and line dried - treat your handmade goods with love!

Are you going to keep the white onesie as your primary backdrop or are other colors on the way?

I love the white onesie. I think it's clean and provides the perfect backdrop for many of my appliques. I can't imagine the Etch a Sketch on anything else. This being said, I am playing around with dying onesies. I have a handful of hand dyed onesies with matching burp cloths ready to applique. I'd love to have them available now, but it seems that my 2 week old has something to say about that!

I normally don’t ask about shop names, but why "The Wishing Elephant"?

Did you know that elephants mourn? I find that amazing. Elephants are these massive ethereal creatures, how could you not love them? I also love wishing on stars. In fact, my husband kept his sweaty hand on my engagement ring until I said the magic words "star light, star bright, first star I see tonight..." and then proposed. So, the wishing elephant is a combination of two things that I secretly find magical. My husband also designed my logo, which I adore (and does a pretty nice job of combining these the two)!

Are you working on any new items for summer?

I'm starting to dye onesies, and I'm always trying to find new inspiration. I'm desperate to make a narwhal applique, and I just finished a ship in a bottle. I also have a few monsters and fish made with Amy Butler fabric that are going to be hand sewn and put up on Etsy this summer.

The Wishing Elephant also has a couple of stand-alone iron-on appliques that you can purchase for your own crafting project. Here is her owl applique, available in four colors.

Following availabe at:

Facebook www.facebook.com/pages/The-Wishing-Elephant/120376701336656
Twitter twitter.com/#!/wishingelephant/
Blog www.wishingelephant.blogspot.com

***************************
Original Post:

Our shop owner today is a little busy recovering from the birth of a new baby, so I'm going to go ahead and do the feature now then add the questions later when she has a minute to get them back to me. The nerve of her having a baby! lol Well, she's got lots of supercute onesies to dress her live doll in.

The Wishing Elephant

Told you they were cute! (But, thankfully, baby is not included.) She has much cuteness in her shop, making it very difficult for me to just pick out two or three to showcase. So get your "awwwww!" ready, cuz here are some "awwwwwesome" onesies.

Go give her some "Congratulations!" on her Facebook page at

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Wishing-Elephant/120376701336656

Or comment on any of her wonderful blogposts at

http://www.wishingelephant.blogspot.com/

Congratulations, Carolyn, on being both a successful baby maker and Etsy shop owner!

SilverSmack

2011-04-27T06:45:00.002-05:00

It takes a special kind of person to live in a nearly year-round winter wonderland. And it ain’t me. Although sometimes the East Texas humidity is enough to make a person insane, my elephant ears are kickin’! Obviously, SilverSmack’s creative flow is not stifled by all of the snow. (Rhyming unintentional. My brain must be in Suess mode, or so I’ve been told.)

Have you always lived way up there (Ironwood, Michigan)?

I was born in California because my dad was in the Navy, but we moved to "Big Snow Country" when I was about three.

Your profile informs us that you do a lot of gardening. What type of gardening are you able to do "way up there"?

We have a very short growing season, (having a snowstorm right now ;), but we manage to grow a few acres of fabulous sweet corn, a small plot of tomatoes, a medium-sized plot of red potatoes, some peas, beans, strawberries, broccoli, and some pumpkins and watermelons (but the deer really like those!)

What is the most expensive piece of equipment that your art requires?

Hammers. I love hammers. I never met a hammer I didn't like.

(Browse MetalStop’s hammer selection here.)

I noticed that you work with brass, copper, silver, and gold. Which metal is the most difficult?

Brass is probably the most difficult because it is the hardest and the most stubborn. Silver is usually very cooperative, but brass is a little tricky once in a while.

Are your rings purchased for wedding bands?

I would say probably 85% of my rings are purchased as wedding bands for men and women. I get a lot of requests for custom matching sets. There's something extra special about making something that a couple is going to use as a symbol of their vows. I keep that in mind as I'm making them and I put a lot of love in them too. :)

My own wedding ring is platinum with a beautiful pigeon blood ruby in the center with a spiral of small diamonds around it. My husband spent a year, unbeknownest to me, having this ring custom made, saving up money, then having the work done as he could afford it. Love that man! So I'm all about a custom wedding ring. Forward this article to anyone who you think might need a hint.

Learn more about all things SilverSmack at the following places:

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/darabriar
http://www.facebook.com/SilverSmack

Twitter http://twitter.com/SilverSmack

Blog
http://moonmystic-buriedinbeads.blogspot.com/

Other http://www.silversmack.com
http://www.silversmack.net

The Bath Factory

2011-04-26T03:39:00.001-05:00

Surely I'm not the only one who wonders how does the bar of soap stay clean? And my dad always told me it was made from dead horses. Was he just trying to make sure I rinsed my hands good? Or am I confusing that with glue? Just a few more of the unanswered questions in my life.

Thanks to Mya Angelou for filling us in on why the caged bird sings and to The Bath Factory for sharing some of her soap-making story.

I have friends that actually buy pig fat and make their soap the real old-fashioned way. Have you ever tried that process?

Although I do make some of my soaps using the old fashioned cold process soap making method that uses oils and lye...I have never used animal fats. I typically use a mixture of coconut oil, palm oil, rice bran oil, castor oil, olive oil, etc. At this time, the only animal products I use are honey and goats milk.

How much of an investment would you say you have made into your basic must-have soap-making supplies?

My very first investment was less than $20 because I bought a "kit" at Hobby Lobby and was so excited by the results, I became completely obsessed with soapmaking! I then bought close to $200 in oils, fragrances, molds, etc. I am embarrassed to admit that I now have close to 200 different fragrance and essential oils, and about 75 various soap molds. I don't even want to guess at how much I have invested at this point because it just might scare me to death! LOL

Your biker bar soap is really cool. Are you into bikes? With these gas prices, I’m thinking we’re all going to be soon!

Thanks for your kind comments about my "Biker Bar". I am definitely interested in bikes. My husband, Al and I each have Harleys, and we ride every chance we get. We live in Hot Springs, AR which is a very biker friendly area with lots of beautiful riding options. I actually used one of our Harleys as a "prop" in a couple of the pictures for my "Retread" men's skin balm.

Are you wanting to grow your "manly manicuring" products?

I am steadily adding to my men's line-up of products. So far, I have shaving soaps, Retread Men's Skin Balm, and various soaps with manly or unisex scents...such as Yacht Club, Sportsman, and an upcoming one called Zen. I plan to continue adding more men's products in the near future.

The vanilla silk goat’s milk soap is a work of art! How do you get that "sepia" edge look?

Anytime vanilla is added to a soap recipe, the soap will darken with time. It always darkens from the outside in. It is a reaction from the "vanillin" in vanilla, and can turn from a light tan to a deep, chocolately brown, depending on the vanilla content level in your recipe. The soap in the picture was freshly sliced, so the inside had not begun to turn dark yet...but the outside part that is exposed to the air was getting fairly dark already.

A beautiful soap, indeed! I always feel bad using my beautiful soaps, like lighting the real pretty candles. However, at wonderful prices like what you find at The Bath Factory, I'm going to enjoy every shower to the max. Now, if I can just find a way to get the kids to leave me alone while I shower.

Where to find The Bath Factory:

Facebook fan page is at www.facebook.com/TheBathFactory

And BIGGEST NEWS OF ALL....I am opening a new brick and mortar store in the next few weeks! It is called The Bath Factory and is located at 238 Central Avenue in historic downtown Hot Springs, AR...right across the street from the famous bathhouses. I am really excited by this latest adventure, and can't wait to get everything done so I can open for business!

Brick and Mortars aren't for everyone, but that is a perfect spot for her perfect shop! I know that she will do well. Lots of tourists, both on foot and on bike.

"The caged bird sings with a fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still and his tune is heard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom."--Mya Angelou

Not that Mya Angelou has anything to do with soap-making, but for those of you who keep up with my quirks, you know that I tend to wax poetic in the wee hours. Something about the dark hours and ice cream. It just does something to me. And I like it! lol

Gussied

2011-04-25T09:44:00.002-05:00

Forget the First Lady or any of the Hollywood Housewives. Truly, I don't envy them. They have someone to do their hair, raise their babies, and sleep with their husbands. (At least Hilary did.) While it would be nice to have someone to do my hair, I prefer to raise my own kids and take care of my husband. The ladies that I really envy are the ones that are like me but have that "got-it-together" look. Well, if your idea of "got-it-together" is working from home, wearing a nightgown at 9:30 in the morning, eating Apple Jacks, and drinking coffee, then, yes, I've got it together, lol. Lucky for us SAHMs, Erin, owner of Gussied, can be our role model!

Wow! I really love the new pics! Did you have these professionally done or is photography yet another talent that you have?

I take my own pictures! It's all in the camera, really. :)

Even though we all love what we do, we also need to pay those bills. Are you in the profit part of your business yet?

I started Gussied in February of this year {2011}. I'm not sitting on huge profits right now, but I've been able to keep costs low by asking other Etsians for their vintage scraps, getting some from my mom's collection {she's a total hoarder!}, and scouting out local flea markets for cheap finds. Every penny saved counts!

Have you enjoyed your Etsy experience so far?

I absolutely love Etsy. I've been shopping on there for years and started my first shop {Erin Tagle Design} to sell children's clothing. Once my daughter {11mos} started crawling, sewing became much more difficult. I also wanted to make something funky, fashionable and unique for women of all ages ... then Gussied was born. My sewing has definitely taken a back burner, happily. Etsy is fabulous - it's a great way to gain exposure from individuals and boutiques, it's a great community - I just love chatting with other sellers for their opinions and advice, and obviously, it's a great way to sell what you make.

We also have the Junior League up here in Tyler. The ladies on the board rotate out each year. Is this your year to be “on board”?

I was a 'New Member' of Jr. League Corpus Christi this past year. We just got our 'placements' for next year, and I was appointed by The Board for two important positons - one is New Member Assistant {for next year's class} and the second is to participate on an Action Learning Team. There are only 5 Board appointed positions, and I earned two. It's quite an honor. What can I say, they love me. ;) JK - I'm a SAHM, so I think they know I have the time. Teeheehee!

I’m always trying to find out all that I can about wholesaling. Any advice for those of interested in breaking into that arena?

I've found the most exposure to boutiques on Facebook. All the boutiques have pages, so I seek them out and 'like' them. Then I post on their wall, so they notice me. I'd say that I'm very friendly on FB and it's not always about MY status, but conversing and commenting on others'. It's gets me noticed, my profile pic for Gussied is inticing, and it shows that I'm not always into my self. I've also inlisted the help of The Savvy Socialista to help me get into boutiques - she is AMAZING! She got my cuffs on The Sonoran Living Show in Phoenix, AZ last week! There's a link on my FB page and website. Back to the boutiques: My boutiques get a discount and I don't make as much money, but it's pretty darn cool knowing that girls in Phoenix, Oklahoma, Washington State and of course, Texas, are wearing my cuffs. That's the pleasure I get when making them.

And, being a fellow Texan (born and raised! and bred, lol) I've gotta know--are you a native Texan? I won't hold it against you if you're not. :)

I'm absolutely a Native Texan! I was born and raised in Dallas, attended and graduated from the University of North Texas in Denton, lived and worked in Dallas post-college, and then relocated to Corpus Christi with my husband {for his job} two years ago. While I totally dig travel, I don't see myself ever living outside of Texas y'all!

Now I know this is her wedding picture, but something tells me Erin looks this coiffed (sans veil) every time she steps out of the house. Isn't she beautiful?

Erin would love for you to friend her, tweet with her, read her blog, or browse her shop at any of the following places:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/gussiedbyerintagle

Twitter: www.twitter.com/erintagle

Blog: http://www.erintagledesign.com/ - I'm moving this to my website soon

Website: http://www.shopgussied.com/

Etsy: http://www.gussied.etsy.com/

Beauty From Within Inside Etsy

2011-04-23T21:16:00.003-05:00

'Bunny Beautiful' by MamaMellyMartin

BUNNY RABBIT - 11x14 Si... FuzzyMug $28.00	Trio of Ornaments - Han... lesperancetile $27.00	Upcycled bunny softy pl... 5orangepotatoe... $25.00
Hippity Hop Earrings PennyandPaper $14.00	Dressed Wendy White Rab... coldhamcuddlie... $37.50	The Chocolate Bunny TheWishingElep... $14.50
Somebunny's Having ... manvsgeorge $3.50	Baby bunny hat newborn ... foreveryouandm... $14.99	Spring Rabbit Vintage I... triesteprusso $60.00
Cloud Bunny upright - c... brienna $9.00	Tawny Bunny- Springtime RedandMain $27.00	Organic Cosmic Purple C... cubits $3.50

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Mistle and Toe

2011-04-23T11:16:00.008-05:00

The girls over at Mistle and Toe make all of us repurposers look good with their assortment of funky, repurposed products. Wallets made from milk and juice cartons, records turned into catch alls, t-shirts remade into necklaces, and cereal boxes that can be wore around your neck, your wrist, or dangling from your ears. On top of all their creativity, they also repurpose 5% of their proceeds toward charities.

We love having a reason to spend money, and helping charities is a good reason if ever there was one. Tell us a little bit about the charity that your shop supports and why you chose this specific charity.

As part of our mission to create a more sustainable planet filled with colorful design, we donate a percentage of every sale to charity. We donate 5% of every sale, online, in-person, or at events to charity. Since we are a design collective, we submit charities to the group and then rotate them every quarter to give everyone's passion a few months in the spotlight. So far we have supported Rebuilding Together to help fund home remodels for low-income families across the US and ACE, a non-profit dedicated to environmental and community-led change. This quarter we are proud to sponsor the scholarship foundation, Strateleade, for a sustainability leadership Masters program in Sweden. It is an international program where Tiff got her Masters of Science, and a key part of the program is international diversity, so funding is always needed to support professionals coming from developing countries.

I noticed that you’ve got a few things on clearance. Are you cleaning house so you can narrow your focus?

We do have quite a few things on clearance! We are actually cleaning house because Tiff is moving from St. Paul, MN to San Francisco, CA to start a glorious new job and a lot of her items are difficult to travel with. So we are looking to lighten her load during her transitional phase :)

Being a repurposer myself, I know how hard it is to throw things away. Do you have a huge room full of "other people’s treasures"? (One man’s junk is another person’s treasure….)

Haha, it is sooo hard to throw things away! When we roomed together, we had a whole closet of items that we could not get rid of or that we had gathered from other people's discards-- including the wrapping paper leftovers of an entire office holiday party. Sarah's father actually recently helped her make a shelf so that she could store all of her finds, but that is full and all of her finds are spilling into her living room.

Your cardboard paper beads are wonderful—so funky! What all is involved in this process?

Well thanks! We think they are wonderful as well :) The first part of the process is finding a large cereal box that you think would look great as beads. I think that Apple Jacks and Rice Krispies have really great colors. Then you cut the boxes into long thin triangles, as many as you can fit. Then you take each triangle and roll it into the bead. Sarah rolls hers around a tiny knitting needle so that there is enough space to thread ribbon through later on. Then you put mod podge at the end of the bead to secure it. Once that has dried, Sarah also glazes the beads with mod podge and then puts them together in the form of a necklace!

Are you wanting to grow this into a stand-alone business or just keep it at hobby/recreational level?

We wish we had a crystal ball... We are always evolving so who knows what the future holds? At this point, we think we will keep it a hobby level, but we really enjoy upcycling and if it really took off, we would love to design full time!

Do you have a picture of "Mistle and Toe" in costume?

Yes we do, though it does not capture the full glory of the outfits. :)

Ah, to be young and not have to worry about babysitters.... Live it up, girls!

Follow Mistle and Toe (and the rest of the gang) here:

Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mistle-and-Toe/164748476870145
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MistleandToe
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/55856544@N05

Newsletter: http://mistleandtoe.com/about/newsletter-sign-up/

Your Daily Jewels / A Repurpose in Life

2011-04-22T10:12:00.000-05:00

Every time I receive interview questions back, I am so excited to learn about the person behind the storefront. And I am never disappointed. Everyone's love and dedication far exceeds anything Etsy could ever contain. It's not just about crocheting, making jewelry, or tieing hair bows in order to turn a buck. There is a real sense of community that we embrace, both in Etsy and in our non-virtual community. Norah Downey, the owner of Your Daily Jewels and A Repurpose In Life, is your classic example.

I first ran into Norah over at http://www.handmadeology.com/, where we are both writers. From her profile there, I learned that she is a pediatric physical therapist. This is what birthed her jewelry making.

I have been a collector of special beads and beautiful stones and baubles since childhood. Years ago, I needed a small reward system for some of my young patients and thought they might enjoy my collection as much as I have. So I began making simple jewelry for them with my collection. I told them a little story behind each bead or stone in their jewelry and the kids loved it. My pieces were a hit and I discovered a new creative outlet.

It's that same beautiful spirit that flows into each of her pieces. She not only puts her best effort but she puts her self into each creation.

What prompted you to pursue administering physical therapy to disabled kids?

I wanted to work in health care for as long as I remember. I ultimately chose Physical Therapy and I am so glad I did. My first seven years was devoted to working with adults. I started and ran a wheelchair racing program in NYC’s Central Park. We were the first to use the "handcycles" that are commonly seen today. Fantastic fun and rewarding beyond words! But, I had to move from NYC and thus, decided to change paths. I moved up the street from a horse stable where I volunteered with a program for children with disability and was hooked from day one. Children with disability are just kids! People forget this and get all serious around them. I love helping them and I especially love making them laugh.

For the month of April, you are donating 10% of proceeds to the Autism Society of America. Do you select a different cause each month to support?

My mom died of Alzheimer’s last year, so this cause is close to my heart.

I will probably take a month or so off in between each cause, but I plan to support five or six causes a year that are close to my heart for different reasons. The immediate next causes are Haitian Relief, The Lupus Foundation, and an under-served school that my best friend’s children attend.

Are you married with children of your own?

I am married, no children, except the kind that bark, a lot.

You have sold on Ebay for several years but just started on Etsy in the last year. Can you give us a short pros/cons list between the two or maybe just some advice in general about working two different platforms?

We know that Etsy is a handmade community. There are two very important words in this sentence. In my opinion, there is a scarcity of handmade product on Ebay anymore. It has become more of a wholesaler-re-seller marketplace for new items. It is a great place to sell, if this is how you want to do business. The second word is community. Ebay is lacking in any assemblage of community. It is a very cold place to do business.

To sum it up, I love the feeling I get just signing into Etsy in the morning. Signing into Ebay gave me knots in my stomach.

You also have a separate store for jewelry that you "remake" out of vintage pieces. Have you found that running two stores, even though they are both jewelry-oriented, is beneficial to your business?

Yes. One way I find I it beneficial is personally, because my design taste runs the gamut from elegant to quirky.

In "A Repurpose in Life" I create and sell re-loved jewelry and within this platform, I can "get my quirky out" and sell at a lower price point.

Your Daily Jewels is where I get my fix for the elegant.

Next, I would say it has been beneficial for my business because my sales numbers are almost the same between the two stores.

If you're in the mood for shopping, and I know that you are, Your Daily Jewels is having a 15% off sale today. Remember, 10% of the proceeds supports the Autism Society of America, so you can justify that spending bug you've got.

Norah is also a member of the Jewelry on Etsy Team, aka JET. If you are also a jewelry-maker on Etsy, you should definitely look into joining JET.

Follow Norah on Facebook and be entered for free monthly give-aways!
http://www.facebook.com/yourdailyjewels

Checkout her blog updates and life tidbits.

http://www.yourdailyjewels.blogspot.com/

Penny and Paper

2011-04-21T00:41:00.004-05:00

Having fun is high on my priority list, and I love looking at Penny and Paper's shop, because it makes me feel fun! I dare you to take me seriously while I wear this purple elephant necklace!

Of course, I could always purchase a set of her mystical eye hairpins and confirm for my children that I really do have eyes in the back of my head.

But don't let my penchant for fun throw you off course. She has plenty of elegant items in her product line, too.

Where do you get the images that you use for your broaches?

The images on the brooches are actually made from printed vintage illustrations, which have then been applied to wood and cut out. Some are actually photographs of an item, which is the case with the camera brooch. They’re a great find, because I can create necklaces, rings and brooches from them, and they have that unique vibe! I’ve made some hair pins from these as well; I’ve made a crown pin in honor of the upcoming Royal nuptials...I mean, I love my husband and all, but let’s face it, I’d leave him for the throne of England.

What’s up with the pig broach? Don’t get me wrong—I love pigs. I eat them all the time. But why a pig broach?

I like accessories, which have a slight degree of quirkiness to them, but would blend well into any outfit. I think a pig is completely unexpected, but entirely cute! Though quirky, I think he is understated enough so that people go, "Oh, a pig!" Rather than, "What is that on her coat?!" I could see myself pinning this little guy on my blazer as I stroll through an apple orchard or something, doing something rustic, like making butter, or a table.

You really have such a great, fun variety available, as far as the items you use to create your pieces. Your unicorn rings seem to be a customer favorite. I’m leaning toward the porthole necklace, but I’m drawn to that pink pig, too. Which piece is your favorite?

I’m aiming to have a wide variety of jewelry available, which would appeal to many tastes and styles...but I think it’s important not to create and sell anything I wouldn’t wear myself. I would wear everything! However, currently, my favorite is my Littlefoot Brontosaurus Necklace, which is inspired by my favorite 80s movie which I would watch as a child over and over again, "The Land Before Time." I also love the Artax Horse Cameo ring, named for Artax, the trusty horse in the "Never Ending Story," who met a tragic end in the Swamp of Sorrows. I think it’s nice to honor him.

I’m not a fashionista, and I don’t keep up with the current trends. But the way you are mounting some of your necklaces is so intriguing! Is this a new fashion or something that you came up with on your own?

To be honest, I actually have no idea! When attempting to construct a piece of jewelry, I experiment with various techniques to see what works and what looks good and is functional. I’ve only been creating since January, when I learned about Etsy while planning for my wedding, and thought, that would be awesome to try! As I continue to expand my repertoire of skills and styles, I find myself looking to see what people are wearing, and what might be "in". I think I’m more influenced by seasons in thinking of what to create thematically...while stuck in the unending New England dreary winter, I found myself thinking of the summer sun, and I created several nautical pieces. I’m a teacher by day, and I am looking forward to the summer when hopefully I can take some classes to learn from the pros some new techniques and ideas for creating!

I was going through your favorite shops (lots of goodies there!) and noticed a recurring theme of dogs. This site (All You Need is Pug) literally had me crying I was laughing so hard. Your profile pic is also a pug. Do you own one of these pugly dogs?

Well, I love pugs. Period. When I was growing up as an only child, I was always surrounded by them-- Gypsy, Patricia, Tina, Molly, Katie and Meghan. Oh, yes, they all had human names, with the exception of Gypsy, who was given away to my parents because she would not get along with her owner’s three chihuahuas. (I mean, really, who can blame her?) These puggies became my sisters practically, and thus my pug obsession was cultivated since birth. Meghan is featured in my profile to honor her; she lived to a ripe age of fifteen! They are funny, adorable, bratty, obstinate and the sweetest creatures. Since I’ve discovered Etsy, I’ve had a compulsion to search for pug related material, call my mother to discuss it, and then favorite it. Sometimes I feel bad for people in my Circle, but then, I figure they must be pug people too, else they wouldn’t have circled me! Currently, I have a crazy looking mutt named Albie, who I rescued last year. He is my first non-pug, and it’s working out well...I like to think he’s part pug, because he is so lazy. His DNA is being processed (oh yes, you can analyze your Mutt’s DNA), and I await anxiously for the results.

Are you feeling fun yet? Well, if you're not, then it's not Penny and Paper's fault. If you're fun-o-meter is broken, then go get your own purple elephant necklace post-haste. It's funner than watching a four-foot-man-eating-chicken!

Penny and Paper can be found at the following locations:

Etsy: http://www.pennyandpaper.etsy.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pennyandpapershop
Twitter: www.twitter.com/penny_and_paper

Shop Memento

2011-04-20T12:19:00.000-05:00

I'm just going to let you know up front that this is going to be a very image-heavy article. Lots of goodies here from Shop Memento! Not just of her beautiful products but of a work area that each and every one of us should be envious of. She's not working out of her bedroom, like so many of us (there are others of "us" out there, right?). A full-blown studio awaits her everyday with everything she needs to create her monogrammed masterpieces, which run the gammet from aprons, chef's hat, market totes, spa wraps, towels, lingerie bags, wine bags, lunch totes, toddler dresses, and luggage bags.

I love the fact that she even makes aprons for Daddy. Our daddy around here loves to cook and is very much-loved. We never want to leave Daddy out of the baking fun, especially the cleaning up part, lol.

You have such a great line of what I would call form and function products! Do you have some more ideas in the works or are you going to stick with what you have?

I started my business 3 years ago. In the beginning I embroidered a little of everything. I realized after 6-9 months that I needed to narrow my focus. I had so much excess inventory and no rhyme or reason to it. I discovered that lots of people make & sell personalized baby items. I felt I needed away to offer something different but I didn’t know what that was yet. My very first Mommy & Me apron set was "born" from a customer asking if I could find or make a matching Mother & Daughter apron for a baby shower gift. (Terri, the owner of Shop Memento, and her daughter, Liberty, at left.) That was what started what is now my biggest seller and what I am most known for. I do have a few other regular items that tend to be more popular during bridal and bridesmaids season. I do have lots of new ideas and I try to set time aside for the creation of new designs and ideas. The hard part with new creations is the time to design them, pick the fabrics and test stitch them and then take photos and write new product descriptions. As a Momprenuer that has built a successful & busy business my time is spent at this point on customer service and production of the orders. The busier I am the less new items!

Did you make a large investment in your embroidery equipment right off the bat or was this a purchase that you waited to make?

I am very detailed person and thorough. I researched for almost a full year on all the types of embroidery machines and looking at other monogramming and personalized gifts companies. I could spend $2,500 for a home machine or $6,500 for a commercial entry level machine. Most people I talked to said if you spend the money on the home embroidery machine and you decide you love it and want to grow and expand you business you will end up needing the commercial machine. This would mean spending $9,000 in the long run. So I took the plunge and bought the commercial machine. My first 2 years of business I was okay with 1 machine. But I now have 3! I named the first 2 Freedom & Enterprise. #3 I bought out of necessity as I had over 1,000 items to embroider in 10 days before the shipping deadline for Christmas! Poor #3 never got a name and has now become #3.I had felt good about my business until I had to buy 2 machines. Cash flow is the hard part in the beginning when your business grows and you need additional equipment to manage the growth.

Have you ever worked hard on a product that ended up not catching on?

Yes I had a big dud! Or at least it felt that way. I love candles and I thought why not do monogrammed candles? The candles had to be in glass jars to put the monogram on them. I researched and tried various candle companies. I wanted to find someone in the US that was a self employed start up type not a huge candle company. I ordered samples and found a great match. I started selling and promoting the candles in October of last year and they barely sold. I thought they would be great for people that you don’t know what to get for, teacher gifts, hostess gifts. But I think I was the only one. It was disappointing but I learned that I should stick to what I do well with. I do sell more than just aprons.

I have bridal lingerie bags and velour spa wraps. Both of these items I believe I do well with because I offer designs and fonts that are different than just a monogram or name on an item. There are lots that sell bridal items just like baby but I researched to find the best quality spa wraps that would really feel like you just stepped out of a spa and not your shower! I now stick to the target markets and niches that I have discovered work for me.

Are you able to put a finger on how much of your business is referral/word of mouth?

When I started I honestly had no idea my business would grow the way that it has. My business has doubled every year. The biggest reason for this has been referral. I have heard so many times from a new customer that they received one of my items as a gift and the love it they want to order it for their friends and family. It warms my heart when I hear feedback like this. I have shed a few tears from customer emails too. I had a mother of a bride order an apron with a cupcake for her daughter that was in medical school but her dream was to open a bakery. The bride cried at her shower when she saw the cupcake apron with her name on it. I also have had moms tell me their little girls have squealed with excitement that they have an apron that matches mommy for when they bake together.

On your blog, you stated that you had made some of your personalized spa towels for Oprah and Gayle. Did anything ever come of this? (Kudos for trying!)

It was an opportunity to send in products made by Mom’s for Oprah's Favorite Things show and for O Magazine upcoming holiday articles. I thought it was a great way to showcase 2 popular products, the spa wrap and market tote. I never did see or hear if either items made it on the show or the magazine. I am pretty sure they didn’t and I never heard anything from Oprah or Gayle. But it was fun making them. I googled their favorite colors and Oprah’s was green. I had never done the two greens on a black market tote and now that color combo is very popular. I call them the Oprah greens since that is where they started from. To be honest when I sent the items in it was April or May of last year and I got really busy that May and it hasn’t slowed down yet. I was kind glad I didn’t have the Oprah effect hit my world. I think I would of gone off the deep end with sleepless nights, my children & husband would have never seen me not to mention the additional grey hair & wine that would be needed! I have sent some of my items to various celebrities for new baby gifts and of the 5 or 6 I received a thank you card from only 1. Trista Sutter who is married to Ryan Sutter and has two beautiful children Max & Blakesley. She is such a sweet and kind lady and from the little I have learned about her she is a wonderful woman.

I can think of so many ways to use that market tote. One thing I hate is when I go to the store and there are no more market totes left. Argghh! So frustrating. And when I just need to pick up some fabric and the market tote that I do get is dirty. If I had my own market tote, I would know it was perfectly clean, just like my house. (Where's the sarcastic emoticon?) These are also great for all of the tailgating parties and picnics or just for keeping in your car for organizing any of the millions of different things you keep in your car. We live 30 minutes from town in any direction, so it's always like a roadtrip every time we go somewhere. Also, it is farmer's market time! Grab your handmade tote (thanks for supporting the handmade community!) and go support your local farmers. You really can taste the difference!

I'm going to bring this to a close with pictures of her studio. The bright colors are great for stirring creativity. Be inspired, ladies (and gentlemen--don't want to leave out the daddies!)

A quick ending note--Shop Memento keeps her store stocked with over 400 items, which guarantees her a spot in the top search results. As of this article, she has over 1,200 sales.

Find Shop Memento at the following online locations:

http://www.shopmemento.com/

http://www.shopmemento.etsy.com/

http://www.shopmemento.blogspot.com/

www.facebook.com/shopmemento

Hmmm, maybe I should send her a cord cover? :)

The Nib And Quill

2011-04-19T08:16:00.001-05:00

Last year, my then three-year-old daughter brought me a pen and some paper and asked me to "type" her name. I tried to explain to her that she meant "write", but she insisted it was "type". Being a computer geek, I have raised my kids on the computer from a young age. We have tons of learning games that have you "type your name to get started." This was also a child that loved Baby Einstein and communicated in sign language instead of talking. She's not deaf--she just preferred sign language. Thankfully, she now loves to "write" and use her voice. Maybe she'll be a journaler one day....

If she is, I'll make sure to purchase one of The Nib and Quill's fine selection of coptic-bound journals, either in regular, small, or miniature size. Regardless of the size, they are all beautiful and made with love.

What does "coptic bound" mean?

The Coptic Binding technique dates as far back as the 2nd century AD in Egypt. A Coptic bound Journal usually has an exposed spine. It is an intricate way of knotting to create a chain that appears braided. I really love the beautiful and vintage way it looks. One benefit to using this stitch is the fact that it will lay completely flat without hurting or putting stress on the spine. This is a must for me when I journal. Once you have it this way, it is very hard to go back to the old spine!

In your journal descriptions, you say that it is made of signatures. What does "signature" refer to?

The signature is a grouping of paper that is folded. I like to use 4 sheets of paper that I hand tear. When folded, it will allow 16 pages front and back for that signature. I also cover that signature with a special paper. Once all the signatures are folded and sewn, all the different colors of the signature wraps come together to make a gorgeous look.

Where did you get the idea to do a mini journal?

The mini journal was created to up cycle leather that I had around the house. I hate to throw things out and had tucked the leather away for a rainy day. I decided to first use it to make baby journals as a little happy to give to my Etsy customers. They are about an inch wide. They are very fun to make and the customer can add them to key chains, necklaces, or just to have as a cute conversation piece. My daughter wanted one that would fit in the palm of her hand. I made a few for her to give to the neighborhood children and they were such a big hit that I had to put a few in my shop!

You say that your mom is also an artist. What type of art does she create?

My Mother, Pat Barnes, is an amazing artist. She specializes in an art form known as "School girl art". That is where young schoolgirls in the late 18th and early 19th century were taught art techniques on boxes to give as gifts. It is a beautiful technique of watercolor and pen and inks. She uses the techniques for her original art wooden boxes as well as her paintings. She has been very inspiring to me and has taught me many of things.

In your profile, you reveal that you are known as the "Cupcake Friday" lady because you make cupcakes for the neighborhood kids on Friday. Is there someone from your childhood that is inspiration for this?

Once again, this is where my daughter comes in to play. It started when we first moved to Virginia. I was pregnant with my 3rd child and wanted to create something special for my middle child, Olivia. The first cupcake I made her was sunflowers with ladybugs on it. It just happened to be a Friday. I had found it in a cookbook, so I can’t take credit for the design. It was a special surprise for her. She wanted to share with the neighborhood kids and next thing you know, I am drowning in icing every Friday! The kids love it!

These would make great gifts for a new mom, dad, or grad in your life who is starting a new phase of theirs. Or get one for yourself, and document the changes going on around you.

Find The Nib And Quill at any of the following online junctions:

Etsy: http://www.thenibandquill.etsy.com/

Twitter: twitter.com/#!/TheNibandQuill

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Nib-and-Quill-By-Kristi-Baker/191422800889844

Artlife

2011-04-17T22:51:00.001-05:00

Um, are you maximizing your flair? (Office Space--must-see movie and must-have soundtrack!) If you happen to need a few additional pieces of flair, then might I recommend Artlife? In her shop, you can find super cute pin-back buttons/fridge magnets. Even if you don't sport multiple pieces, everyone could use a good wearable conversation starter. This might be the button for that single barfly in your life.

Whiskey does a lot more than make me frisky, so I had to give it up! What is your favorite drink?

I do still drink whiskey on occasion, but my favorite drink these days is a big tall glass of lemonade!! Oh and I do love a cold beer after a hard days work!

Your "Letters from the Future" idea is so intriguing! There are a lot of things up in the air right now in my own life, and I am definitely excited about writing myself a letter. I have a 9-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter, and I have kept a journal since my son was born to give to him later in life. I look back at the things I’ve written and laugh. One post said, "Gas is $1.55 a gallon! How ridiculous!" lol. It’s been over a year since you wrote your own letter in January 2010. I have to know how it all ended up.

When I wrote my letter I was concentrating more on note cards and notebooks and some fridge magnets in my shop. So I would say the biggest surprise to come from "the year that really happened" was that I switched my focus to pin-back buttons and fridge magnets only. I really geared up for a busy Christmas season 2010 and it did not disappoint. Xmas 2010 was my best Christmas rush ever on Etsy and it was almost too much to keep up with all of the orders! I'd say the best part of doing the letter to the future exercise is to stretch your imagination—think big and write down things that you might not expect from yourself. The worst that can happen is that you will not do the thing you wrote down and the best is that you will and the dream you wrote down does in fact come true! I might also suggest doing this on a monthly basis so that you can better track your goals and progress. It really is an exercise to get those goals down on paper and to start thinking about just how you plan on enacting those goals. The big thing I learned from this past year is if you get "a bee in your bonnet" so to speak – don't be afraid to run with the new idea or goal. I switched my whole Etsy shop around to focus on the pin-back buttons and fridge magnets and in 3 months time got as many sales on Etsy as I had in the prior 4 years!!

On your blog, I noticed that you posted quite a bit in 2007 and 2009, but the other years are kind of hit and miss. Are you going to try to rebuild your blog or do you feel that facebook/twitter are better means for you at this point?

Like a lot of blogs, the attention I pay to it has been hit and miss over the years. It is something that I've been meaning to spend more time with but other priorities have taken precedent. I can't say which has been better for my business but I like having the variety of twitter/facebook/blogging even though sometimes depending what is going on in my life and business I do tend to ignore them at times.

You have your Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and Printmaking from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. Are you using it outside of your Etsy business?

I would say that the BFA I got at VCU (now famous for sending our little known basketball team to the Final Four this year!!) is always informing my art and my art business. Even though I'm not painting anymore, it seems the years I spent in art school helped me hone my eye and graphic/spacial/image making abilities and my art business will always be geared around the image and using graphical language to communicate. Pin-back buttons seem like the perfect, small, inexpensive, art based way to communicate visually right now for me!!

You can purchase the items in her store pre-packaged for a gift exchange or in just good ol' bubble-wrap for yourself. When the single barfly in your life is ready to start on a new journey, don't worry, there's a follow-up button for just those situations!

Of course, these are just a few of her creations. There are lots of others that are just as cute! I also love the "Don't mind me. I'm just making mountains out of molehills." Go find your favorite at any of the locations below.

Blog: mysillyartlife.blogspot.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/artlife
Twitter: twitter.com/artlife_etsy
Other (etsy): www.etsy.com/shop/artlife

Piper Bella Boutique

2011-04-16T07:21:00.001-05:00

Recently, a lady in my community gave me some wonderful knitted dishrags. After using them I thought, "Wow! These are wondeful! What could be better than these?" After sorting through Piper Bella Boutique, I think I found something better!

Piper Bella Boutique sells these fabulous, stylish, colorful, and machine-washable dish scrubbies. They come in all sorts of colors and in packs of three.

By your shop announcement, I glean that you weren’t expecting your scrubbies to take off quite the way they have. So far this month, you’ve sold roughly 40 scrubbies (3 in a pack). Are you stocked up or just making the orders as the come in?

I totally wasn't expecting for the scrubbies to sell much, I kind of decided to sell them as an afterthought and because I thought they were cool, but I certainly didn't really expect anyone else to think so! I really wish I was stocked up on them and that was my original plan, but it takes every moment of my spare time (when I'm not at work or taking care of the kids!) just to keep up with the orders!

I know a little bit about dish-warshing (haha, that’s how some people say it in the South). There were 5 girls in the house growing up, and my dad refused to get a dishwasher as long as he had so many girls! (I never thought I would say this but, "Thank you, Dad!") I did a search on the other dish scrubbies out there and, to me, your dish scrubbies do have the best design. Did you figure this out on your own?

I wish I could take credit for the amazing pattern, but I'm NOT a designer! I find most of my patterns, including this one, on a fantastic website called www.Ravelry.com ! If you work with yarn - you need to sign up for it, it's totally free and has tons of free patterns! Some day I would love to try designing my own patterns, but I was born a baker and if you don't follow the recipe when you're baking and put in baking powder instead of baking soda, nothing turns out!

Over at Piper Bella Boutique, she also makes barrettes that are just as colorful! Cute, polka-dotted ones!

How do you treat the ribbon to prevent fraying?

This truly isn't a big secret - I got the info off of YouTube! You just hold the ribbon ends really close to an open flame and the ends will melt! Sometimes I accidentally light them on fire and have an "oh no!" moment, but my house is still standing!

What do you use for the non-slip grip?

That is just some ingenious little strips of rubberized foam with super sticky backing that I put on the clip and it holds like a dream!! I could put these clips on a combover! (which my 11 month old daughter seems to have at the moment! :)

I noticed that one of the treasuries that you created is "Autism Speaks Through Art". What part has autism played in your own life?

I have been fortunate that I actually haven't had any personal experience with autism, but I am truly inspired by people with what the world would call "disabilities". I think the world would be a better place if we could look at it through the eyes of innocence like they do!

Any additional information you would like for me to include on the interview?

I have a true passion for crafting in almost any form! Every time I see a new craft I want to try it! I currently know how to knit, crochet, paper craft, poetry, make basic jewelry and of course hair clips, but I am constantly discovering new crafts that I want to try! On my to do list are needle felting, paper quilling, calligraphy, polymer clay work, papercutting, origami, drawing (I'm currently working on this and am not very good!), and sewing...just to name some of them!

As determined as she seems to be, I know that she will conquer them all! Let's just hope she has a long, long life!

Links to Piper Bella Boutique:

Shop: http://www.assortedmiscellany.etsy.com/

Blog: www.onlineshopspotlight.blogspot.com If you are an Etsian and follow her blog, one item from your shop will eventually be featured on the My Favorite Things page!!)

Facebook: www.facebook.com/PiperBellaBoutique

Twitter: @PiperBellaBoutique

V*Dazzled

2011-04-15T00:18:00.047-05:00

Not only does Victoria make must-have wire-wrapped earrings, she is also a Cancer Biology PhD student at Umass Medical School. It's all I can do to get dinner on the table most evenings! That's why I love doing these interviews--everyone is such an inspiration to me! Such beautiful things in her shop!

Have you personally been affected by cancer?

My grandfather died of colon cancer when I was 5 years old, and I know plenty of friends and family whose lives have been affected by the disease. I have always been interested in starting my career in the medical field, most of my life I wanted to be a medical doctor, but when I did a research project for my undergraduate degree I became passionate about research which led me to grad school to get my PhD in cancer biology. In addition to contributing to cancer treatment research, I also think the science behind the broad disease of cancer is fascinating.

What charity would say is the most beneficial to the cure for cancer cause?

I would say the American Cancer Society (ACS) is the most widely beneficial charity. It contributes money to many different types of cancer whereas a lot of other charities are specific to one type of cancer only. The ACS is the foundation that holds the Relay for Life in many different locations and this is a fun and social way to raise money for cancer!

Your shop started out as a hobby, but with over 200 in sales in 8 months, you could really make this into more than hobby. Several of the people that I have interviewed (or will be interviewing) have walked away from their career to focus on their Etsy shop. Thoughts?

Intriguing question....I would never want to give up science. I do love making jewelry and seeing the growth of my small business but I'm just not sure it would satisfy me as a full time job the way research does. As it is now, my etsy shop has become quite busy (my wire wrapped studs have really taken off) so basically, I am working, with school and jewelry, from when I wake up in the morning until when I go to bed at night....so we will just have to see how everything falls into place in the future.

What has been the most helpful advice that you have received about your Etsy business?

Let's see....I'm going to include more than one thing because it was really a mixture of things that has helped me start to become a bit successful. By far the most important advice was tips on how to take good photos (which I'm still working on) you need to get noticed when customers search the very large jewelry category and the only way to do this is with awesome photos! The second most important thing is to come up with a unique item and run with it, I really don't remember how I came up with the first pair of wire wrapped studs but once I started making multiple color combos and had a large selection, they started selling and since this is my most unique item, it takes up most of my shop. And lastly, my best marketing strategies so far have been word of mouth through friends and family and renewing/relisting 5 items per day Mon-Fri on etsy.

Have you completed the birthstone series yet? I'm a ruby!

I have not completed this series yet, it should be completed by June! And I have some other ideas for the studs stored in my head until I have the time to get them started! :)

Mother's Day, graduation, or Just Because! Go support Victoria in her journey of helping find a cure for cancer. 30% of the procees from the sale of her bracelets for cancer go to the American Cancer Society.

Sey Studios

2011-04-13T23:02:00.002-05:00

Every woman's dream is to be both cute and sexy at the same time. SeyStudios artwork pulls this off with her line of pin-up prints. Wasn't that nice of her to use me as her model? lol

This interview is just full of goodies, so I'm going to get out of the way and let SeyStudios have the floor.

I noticed that you are copyrighted. How much did this cost, and at what point in your business did you decide to take this step?

"As soon as you've created something in a tangible form, you have copyright on it. If it's still an idea, you can't copyright it, but as soon as you've painted it, you have copyright on it but, importantly, it's the way you've executed the idea that can be copyrighted, not the idea itself. You don't need to register copyright for it to exist. If you've created something for an employer or as work for hire, copyright belongs to them (unless your contract says otherwise). Inthe US to sue for copyright infringement, registration makes it less tricky.)" - painting.about.com/cs/artistscopyright/f/copyrightfaq2.htm

All the art I create is original and copyrighted. Understanding your rights as an artist and creator and what is yours and what is not is what matters. I know a lot of artists who are still unsure about this area and it is sad that this is not common knowledge. I had to do a lot of my own research outside of my formal education to get to the heart of ownership. And trust me, some of it is confusing.

With the computer era, there are still rules are still developing. It is illegal to take someone’s imagery off the internet and use it without their permission (and to not even give credit is an even worse offense). One of the reasons I started putting a watermark on my images was to stop theft from happening. I recommend that all artists use a watermark because the amount of theft that occurs nowadays. This cuts down on people from other parts of the world taking your work and using it as their own. When something like that happens, there is really not much you can do but try to contact the person to take it down. However, in most cases I have seen, they can’t do much due to language barrier, and even if they did understand you, they can always deny it. If they are in a completely different country than yourself then you cannot really prosecute, at least I haven’t seen proof of anyone being able to do so because different countries have different laws.

Most of your art is what I would classify as "risque". Have you thought about opening a second store for your child-oriented items, like your children's book?

I have thought about that, and my answer to that is, I don’t see the point. My target audience is those who like retro, pin-ups, fantasy, horror, theatre and kitsch. I started creating more children related art mostly because my audience is at the age where they are creating their own families and I’ve gotten so many requests for more kid-friendly things as well as the risque. Also, I feel that separating my work into two different areas really limits me and my audience. I try not to create works that really offend, and have yet to receive any complaints. In fact, it’s the mothers who really enjoy the "risqué" and get a great kick out of those pieces. What really allows me to get away with the more taboo pieces is my style. One of my favorite compliments I received from a customer was, "I love how your artwork is both cute and horribly wrong at the same time."

On your profile, you stated that you have been featured in different magazines. Did you do anything to make that happen or did they find you?

Research. I did a lot of it. I looked into various magazines, independent and otherwise, and tried to get a feel for what they were looking for. It seems those who are most interested are the pin-up magazines that distribute both hard copies and digital ones to their viewers. After that, I just sent them an email and asked if they would be interested in featuring my work.

Some people contact me directly, which is happening more now that I have working on marketing myself to widen my audience. But really, everything is by word of mouth and contacts. Never burn a bridge. You never know who knows who, and plus, what’s the point.

You have a separate website at www.seystudios.net. Do you find that customers follow links on that store to purchase out of your Etsy shop instead?

Honestly, I am not sure. I use my main website mostly to show galleries, magazines and companies my portfolio and what I do. If someone happens to go on their, I hope they can find the link to my store on the "About Me" page through the site. I actually find that more people visit the site after I have done an art and/or craft event. I do my best to make sure everyone takes a business card and on their people are directed to my site. I recently have tried banners on a few of my favorite websites, but the most traffic I generate seems to come from meeting people in person.

I love the mermaid zombie! Where did you get this idea?

Well thank you! I love her too. The idea came out of drawing mermaids and it was my favorite time of the year that inspired me. I thought if I combined Halloween into a mermaid, how awesome that would be. That’s how the Zombie Mermummy came to be. I really fell in love with her design. I sell a lot of prints of her, and the original is up for purchase.

SeyStudios doesn't just limit her products to her beautiful prints! You can also buy her originals, paperweights, pendants with her prints in them, and custom artwork.

Additional information from SeyStudios:

I'm still cooking my baby, and she's due to arrive in the world in August. :-p I am leaving my day job to get my art business a bit more solid so when she does come, I will have the basics up and running and be a little less frazzled.

Be sure to give her shop some love!

Find her at any of the places below!

Shop – http://www.seystudios.etsy.com/

Facebook – www.facebook.com/seystudios

Blog – http://www.ashleymariesey.blogger.com/

Twitter – www.twitter.com/seystudios

Coldham Cuddlies

2011-04-13T08:33:00.000-05:00

Of all the regrets I have (and trust me when I say there are many), my biggest regret is not cherishing every single moment that I had with my grandmother. I loved my grandmother, and I spent a lot of time with her. Just, as a child, you don’t really grasp the fragile state of life, the ebb and flow of it. Now at 33, with two miscarriages behind me and two beautiful healthy children next to me, I am fully aware of the siren song that life emits. I pay close attention these days. It only goes around once.

When I ran across Isobell’s shop, Coldham Cuddlies, I knew before I even looked at her items that I wanted to interview her. The era of life that her youth represents fascinates me. I always take the opportunity to learn from those who knew the world before technology allowed us to discover it, to uncover it. Sometimes I wish we had let that blanket lie.

Ah, the midnight hour causes me to wax poetic, as I sit here in my grandmother’s chair. On with the interview!

I'm sorry if you mind my asking, but I have got to know: How young are you?

Chronologically, I'm 70 years and almost 6 months. However, most days, I feel about 60-ish. Making the Cuddlies is keeping me young, and it's a great excuse to dress toys. (One might say I'm reverting to childhood.)

What do you remember most about growing up in the post-war era?

The day sweet-rationing ended. I was at boarding school the other side of the country from where home was (school was in Bath, Somerset: it's now in North East Somerset and not far from where we now live. Home was in North Norfolk). It was half-term, I was among the few who didn't travel home for the holiday, and we were allowed out to spend our pocket money! Boy did we have a good time!

Other, more practical things, like we did not have a car, the TV only got connected in Norfolk just before the Queen's Coronation and we only got our first one in 1962! Golly the things we now take for granted: amazing really what has happened in that time, isn’t it?

You've had quite a busy month so far. How long does it take you to complete a cuddly?

Depends on the size and model. The big Teddies can take me up to 10 days (I only really work in the evenings - if I sit in front of the television and don't have something in my hands, I'll nod off!) The Baby Rabbits I can sew a couple in an evening, and then take another evening stuffing and applying the facial features. The Lady toys take me about 4-5 evenings: the Men, being more complicated - anything unusual there? - take between 7-10.

Are you tackling all of this technology by yourself? Superb job either way!

Actually, yes I am: although a trained typist (began working in 1958 when one used to sit before an Imperial (or Ollivetti) "sit-up and beg" typewriter (electric typewriters did not arrive in my world until the mid 1960's). That's why I've got arthritic fingers and hands now! I did progress while in Canada, to becoming only the second person in my firm - then a Secretary for the Commonwealth Games Organisation when the 1978 Games were held in Edmonton - to be trained to use a Wang Word Processor - then it was experience on computers, as they got more poweful, until now.

Daughters are a great resource when I'm stuck, have a wonderful son-in-law who is a whiz with the computer programmes, but essentially all the Etsy stuff has been learned by "having a go", usually making a mess of things, and then finding my way out of it. As for digital photography - well I started off with a plain box camera, so it's all wonderfully new (except when things don't work out!) Technology is wonderful: except when it doesn't work!

After reviewing your shop, one last question: do y'all have a large coyote population over there?

Not a darn one, as far as I know. The coyotes are a figment of my imagination - mainly to entice you folks in the USA! In Western Canada, foxes don't exist, except in books. Coyotes do and I should imagine it's much the same over in the West of US, too. Don't think that there are many foxes in the East of US either, although I believe there may be some in New England? Sorry for my ignorance, but alas, during our 12 years the other side of the Atlantic, I never had the chance to travel across the border. Except for an After School Club a couple of miles from our home, called the Wylie Coyotes - one of my first Coyote efforts, Charlie Coyote, is their official mascot - I haven't heard of a "real" one over here. Chuck, listed on my ColdhamCuddlies site, is his replacement.

Do you have anything extra to add to the interview?

Just as an addition: my latest creation Coldham Yogi (Cy to his friends) cannot be sold. He is made of real fur - a cast off Beaver Lamb coat - and was an experiment on my part. However, apart from folks not being too partial to real fur items, the final seams on his arms and legs are not user-friendly and he's twice as heavy as a proper Coldham Cuddly. Although he's very cuddlesom, he'll stay here and has been appointed ColdhamCuddlies offical mascot. He is also co-writer of my new blog. He's pictured here, "climbing" a cherry tree in our garden here at The Hospital of St. John.

Don't you just love her! Sending virtual hugs your way, Isobell!

You can stay in touch with Isobell through the following avenues:

My Space: Isobel [!at] myspace.com
Facebook: pimstgabriel [!at] hotmail.com
twitter: pimstgabriele-mail: petis [!at] tiscali.co.uk or pimstgabriel [!at] hotmail.comblog: http://www.ColdhamCuddliescalling.blogspot.com.

The Man Cave

2011-04-12T10:52:00.002-05:00

Yes, fu-man-chus are sexy, but there is just something about a freshly shaven man. I know because I happen to have one! He has to shave everyday for his job, incase he has to put on a gas mask and take some fools down. (He works at a prison.) When I kiss my husband goodbye at 5:30 in the morning and tell him to be careful, I'm talking about more than his driving skills, ladies.

But he wakes up to danger. His razor of choice is not the Mach 3. Oh, no, nothing so ordinary for my extraordinary man. He uses straight razors! He does keep an old-school (and I mean way old school!) single-blade shaver for the days when he's in a hurry.

I surprised him with The Man Cave's Sedona shave soap and aftershave last month. (See my photo to the right.) Maybe next time I should go with Colt .45? Those are just two of the scents that are offered. Here is a complete list of scents:

Colt .45, Chick Magnet, Gatsby, Mountain Man, Gentlemen’s Tweed, Black Tea and Leather, Vetyver, Commando, Bay Rum, James Musk, Sedona, Shirt and Tie NOT Required, and Redwood.

And the scents are available in aftershave, body wash, crème, shave soap, and solid colognes. She's got this thing figured out. And, yes, I did say "she". We all know behind every successful man is a good woman, and it looks like behind this uber-successful men's bath and body shop is also a good woman. With over 1,200 sales in 15 months, I bet there are a few things we could learn from her.

First, I have to brag on the overall appearance of your shop. All of your products flow smoothly from one to the other, both in form and in fashion. The photography is divine! Just like the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, the way into a purchaser's cart is through the eyes. Awesome job on your presentation and photo sets. Is this something that you had to work on or did you hit the ground running with great sets?

I began my 1st shop on Etsy, Mountain Mama Chic, a few years ago with an organic, all-natural body products concept. I realized then what an impact your photographs have on site traffic as well as visits translating to sales. My customers can't smell my wonderfully scented products, but I can try to tantalize them with appealing pictures and graphic descriptions.

I need to insert here that her ladies' shop is just as successful, with over 1,800 sales in 3 years! Take note that she has two different store fronts for two different consumer bases. This can be very advantageous, because it allows you to target your audience. I've got an article coming together about this! Just have to find time to write it....

How do you come up with the names for your manly products?

I am inspired by the different facades of a man's personality; sometimes he is strong (Colt .45), a gentleman (Gentleman's Tweed), outdoorsy (Redwood or Mountain Man), etc. Sometimes I take in a new scent I blend and let it sit with me for weeks or more until I find just the right name. I actually named my unscented line of products Commando from an episode of the TV show Friends!

How many formulas did you have to go through before you found just the right one for your shave soaps?

Oh my goodness, I went through at least 5 or 6 until I was happy with the end product.

Do you print your own labels or order them?

I print my own and I am proud of that. I'm not an expert, but I'm always learning. Not only do I sell online, but I'm continually expanding my wholesale business. I think of my soaps and aftershaves sitting on shelves in small, handmade driven shops across the country. What packaging and labels would make a customer HAVE to have that soap and shaving set for their husband/boyfriend?

Even though your soaps are for mens' faces, how well do they work on ladies' legs? Growing up, I always used my dad's shaving soap. Haha, he would get so ticked when he couldn't find it.

They work wonders - giving ladies soft, moisturized skin sans nicks and cuts! Expanding this concept into Mountain Mama's offerings is definitely on my To-Do list for 2011!

Here are her links one more time. Do your Mother's Day and Father's Day shopping early!

www.etsy.com/shop/mountainmamachic

www.etsy.com/shop/mancave1

I'm going to be so disappointed when I take my shower tonight, with my little sliver of store bought soap. However, I happen to know where some awesome shave soap is. He would probably love for me to shave my legs, even if I did use all of his soap, lol.

Bully Paws

2011-04-11T00:34:00.001-05:00

Alfalfa, Darla, Spanky, Buckwheat, Froggy, Porky, Wheezer, and Petey, to name a few. All of you young Etsians who are wondering who those people are will just have to google "The Little Rascals", if you don't know what I'm talking about. This was back many moons ago, when TV shows were in black and white and actors didn't get paid royalties. (The image at left was a movie based on the original television series) "What in the world does this have to do with BullyPaws?", you might ask. Petey was a part of the gang, but he wasn't a kid. Petey was their pet pit bull. And he's not the only famous pit bull. Click here to learn more about famous pits.

I was attacked by my dad's dog when I was three. It nearly killed me. AND IT WASN'T A PIT BULL! Everytime you hear of a dog attack in the news, it was a "pit bull" or "pit bull mix". After my near-death experience, I was terrified of dogs, regardless of the breed. This was a problem, because my grandmother bred dogs--chihuahuas, dachsunds, poodles, and yorkies. I carried this fear into my adult life, until at 20 when I bought a puppy Rottweiler and fell in love. He was a wonderful dog!

Since that time, I have owned several large breed dogs, mostly bulldogs. A bulldog doesn't just mean "pit bull". We currently have a beautiful, white boxer. They're like overgrown Boston Terriers, but most boxers don't bark, thankfully, unless they are alerting you. That's our beautiful girl, Jasmine, to the right. She sits, stays, rolls over, and stands all with hand commands. Super intelligent dog!

Let's learn a little bit about BullyPaws mascot and shop.

Unfortunately, pit bulls have been bred beyond their original intent and have little resemblance to their origin, except for their loyalty to their families. Having owned pit bulls, I am all too familiar with the judgment that is passed against them and against their owner. Tell us a little bit about your own pit bull.

I adopted my Pit Bull from "Home at Last Rescue" in Berkeley, CA. She was about a year and a half old at the time. I found her online, and her picture was gorgeous. She loves all people, big and small, young and old! She has her Canine Good Citizen certificate and has done lots of training and knows a few tricks. She's a great dog, and such a goofball!

In your profile, you stated that you also have a cat. How do those two get along?

Famously! My Pit Bull absolutely LOVES cats, and won't even chase stray or roaming cats. She is so good with them. I have fostered 3 kittens this past year, and she even let one of them nurse on her!

You seem to be a pretty busy girl--college, working at the shelter, web design, and running an Etsy shop. Are you single or do you have a gaggle of children that also demand your attention?

I am single, just a student with my pack of animals. Etsy is really just a "side job" for now. My volunteer work is done at home, and my web design/graphic design/print design business hasn't really taken off yet, as I am still working on that process. So I'm really not as busy as it seems!

Right now your shop is split between damask-centered objects and doggie doo-dads. Are you going to keep them under the same roof or split your shop?

I'm going to keep them under the same roof for now. Maybe, if this shop gets more recognition, maybe get some more sales, (a lot more!) I may start another. But I think Damask and Dogs go hand in hand! I may even collaborate the two and make damask print dog silhouettes! (Idea courtesy of MamaMellyMartin!)

BullyPaws submitted the work below to the Handmade Top 10 Pet Accessories list and claimed spot 3!

If you are a doggie lover or are looking for a gift for someone who is, give BullyPaws shop a browse.

Shop: http://www.bullypaws.etsy.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/dulcethepitbull

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bully-Paws-on-Etsy/131814913536964

Country Workshop

2011-04-09T21:40:00.000-05:00

Whether you are needing a daily, steady word of encouragement or a comic relief moment, the Country Workshop has a sign for you!

You have quite a successful Etsy shop. But you didn't start out on Etsy. Share with us a little bit about your journey.

I have been so blessed. Many years ago, I looked for a way to be home with my two daughters and found that I could create at home and sell my items at craft shows on the weekends. With the help of my wonderful husband, who cuts my wood, sprays the finish, carries everything into a show, and sets up the display, I was able to be a stay at home Mom. For several years my husband and I promoted a small show called The Basket Accessories Roadshow which catered to Longaberger Basket Consultants and their customers. We traveled the east coast from MA to FL, and the girls went with us.

Well, things change. We are now "empty nesters". Our first daughter is married to a wonderful young man. In July of 2009 our first grandchild was born--a wonderful, amazing child. The younger daughter married her high school sweetheart, and they are living Happily Ever After.

We now have a very spoiled cocker spaniel, Lucille Esmerelda McGillicuddy, who is our "baby". (Yes, I am an "I Love Lucy" fan) And things have also changed as far as promoting our product. We still participate at various shows...but now there's this wonderful thing called the internet which has opened up an all new experience in selling.

Do you manage both the Etsy shop and your other store at www.countryworkshop.net?

Yes. I do manage both the Etsy shop and my website along with one on Ebay and one on Artfire. My husband does help with shipping, which is very time consuming, and jumps in with base coating if I need him to.

I started selling items on Ebay in 2005. Daughter 2 told me about Etsy, and I opened a shop there in 2008 and on Artfire in 2009. It will be a year this month that I opened my own website, which has truly been an experience. "If you build it" doesn’t mean "they will come". I know that some handmade sellers feel that having more than one shop would be too much to do. But if you set up a listing for one shop it’s just cut and paste to put up a listing on another venue. I find I have very different customers on each site and that means buyers are finding me in various ways.

Have you had to face any hardships in your business?

I have been very lucky through this journey and had no set backs or hardships. I believe I would have to say that friends and family who work 9 to 5, Monday-Friday, just don’t understand what I do. Because I work in a shop behind our home, there are people who think I don’t work and will ask me to take a day do something for them because they can’t get off of work. But missing family gatherings is hard for me. I had to not attend our family "Cookie Day" where all the women get together on a Sunday in December and bake sugar cookies for Christmas. I had so many orders to fill and really needed to be in the studio painting.

Were your daughters inspired by your example to start their own businesses?

Both of my girls actually have Etsy shops but neither have anything in their shops at this time. They both are so talented. However, as with so many young people, they need to have a steady income and we all know that selling handmade online doesn’t always fill that need. My older daughter, Holly, has her Master’s Degree in Biology, is working in research and has worked on developing HIV and HPV tests to be used in 3rd world countries. My younger daughter, Meagan, graduated from Maryland Institute of Art, with a Fine Arts Degree. She is actually working at MICA in the Student Affairs Office.

You have such a great selection! I want them all! Especially the one about the slinky. Which ones do you have in your own home?

I only have two of my own signs in my home. One says "The Chicken Coop", which is a memory from childhood. The other is "The Welcome Home Doggie Dance Done Here" in honor of our cocker spaniel, Lucy. I do have one sign by the front door of the shop which says," If you have nothing to do, don’t do it here!" That is to keep the hubby’s home improvement buddies from stopping on days that they are rained out on the jobs.

And that settles it, folks! I want my shop to be like hers when it grows up! All products are beautifully made with much love and care. They're cute and quippy, just like I imagine myself, lol. With all of the great events to celebrate in life, give Country Workshop a walk-through. Even if there is no special event, just celebrate today. After all, today is a gift. That's why it's called the present....

Be blessed!

Etsy Shop: http://www.countrysworkshop.etsy.com/

Country Workshop's Blog: www.countryworkshop.blogspot.com

Ebay Store: http://stores.ebay.com/The-Painted-Basket?_trksid=p4340.l2563

Artfire: http://www.artfire.com/users/CountryWorkshop

Swank Underpinnings

2011-04-07T09:26:00.001-05:00

I gotta a case of the gimmies! These petticoats and tulle slips made by Swank Underpinnings take me back to the young girl I used to be, eating Froot Loops wearing my little girl full tulle slip and athletic socks. Okay, so I was a tomboy, but even then I knew a beautiful thing when I saw it.

I am so in love with the colored tulle petticoats! Where do you do your dying?

Well, a lot of my tulle petticoats are made from the eeenormous stock (that's what it feels like when I am trying to find room to store it neatly in my studio) of colored tulle that I keep on hand. But I do have a not-so-secret passion for the beautiful variations of color that can be created through hand-dying. All of my hand-dyed items are dyed in my 'laundry room' right below my studio. My fiance and I were actually fortunate enough to buy a home last June with a beautifully spacious detached artist's studio. It is a lofted haven above our garage....which also, weirdly for most people, but conveniently for me, is split into two sections, one of which is the home's laundry area. The previous owner probably fitted it all out with clean, cozy carpeting, but I just let the dye drip and splash on the cement floor while I create!

Who or what influenced your style?

So I told a little bit of the story of my amazing workspace above. But the full story is that I would never have had the space or the inspiration to use it the way I do, if the love of my life didn't have his eye on it first - as a music studio. My fiance, Vic, is a musician whose creative energy fills up half of my studio space and most of my life. Not only do his guitars and piano make into some of my shop's photographs, but he also provides the soundtrack and encouraging motivation for many a late-night sewing session. I also credit him with giving me the space, time, and encouragement (not to mention financial support), to stop and really make an honest attempt at starting my own creative business.

I've always loved to sew and a lot of my style comes from my background in theater as well as my current stage of life as a soon-to-be bride. I just sort of fell into the petticoat and crinoline niche when I started looking around when I first got engaged, and really didn't find much in the way of the vintage style colorful underthings I loved to look at so much out there to buy. So I started thinking...well, how can I make them? And then I had a studio space with enough room to collect bolts and bolts of tulle and a generous partner who was willing to share it with me and I thought...why just make one for me?!

Is spring your busiest time of year or do you have steady sales figures throughout the year?

So far it is! But I haven't actually had my Etsy shop open for a full year yet, so I will have to let you know. Last October, I offered a series of feminine styled Halloween costumes with matching petticoats that kept me plenty busy filling orders as well.

Is your business providing a sustainable income at this point or do you have your creative finger in other pots?

Not yet. Right now, I am really in the 'investing a lot to make my business grow in the direction I want it to go' stage. I read a post with Beantown Handmade on your blog that said there is a saying that "the first year you feed your business, the second year your business feeds itself, the third year your business feeds you." That makes a lot of sense to me, and while I'm crossing my fingers that it doesn't take quite 3 years, I understand that if I really want to be serious about creating a sustainable business that I'm proud of, it will take some cultivation in the early stages.

In the meantime, I am also trying to finish graduate school. And looking forward to the end of May when I can focus all of my 'work-time' energy on my shop.

Which of the models is you, if any?

Hahaha. Funny that you ask that question, because I am in some of the photos in my shop, but you're not supposed to know that I am!! I am the model in some (but not all) of the 'legs only' shots. I don't really like to pose for photos of my own stuff - but sometimes out of necessity and the desire to post more listings in a short time frame, I let my fiance take pictures of just my legs peaking out from under a crinoline. And he doesn't do a bad job either. This one might be my favorite.

Keep your eyes open during the wedding season. I'm sure you'll be seeing her work on all the fashionable brides!

Her shop: http://www.swankunderpinnings.etsy.com/

Her facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Swank-Underpinnings/175501699157667

Her twitter: twitter.com/BoutiqueSwank