Going Places 2

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/

Coldham Cuddlies

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.

Bully Paws

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

Man vs George / Modern Weddings

I have spent the last hour going through Ryan's two shops (greeting cards and wedding invitations) trying to decide on images.  OMWow!  That was the most difficult thing I've had to do all day, including dividing one pizza up between three kids.  These are cards that you can put in a frame instead of in a box.  Every single on of them is a work of art.  I'll try not to get too image-heavy in this article, but I don't know if I can hold back.  Well, I tried, but I can't!

There are just so

many

beautimous things!

Okay, now that I got that out of my system for a bit, let's learn more about George and her pet human, Ryan.

Did greeting/celebratory cards play a large part in your growing up?

Greeting cards actually did not play a large part in my childhood, but art did. When I was in elementary school, each week a guest speaker would bring in a copy of a famous artwork, give a brief lecture, and then engage the students in a discussion of the work. I found these sessions fascinating. In my very early teens, I discovered Dada, Pop, Constructivist, Bauhaus, and Abstract Expressionist art. Modern art appeals to me on an aesthetic and emotional level more than any other art period. I try to incorporate a modern feel in my greeting card designs through the use of bright colors, playful imagery, and modern typefaces.

It is so refreshing to see Dads getting some props. What was your motivation for starting the "Dad" series?

The decision to design cards for fathers came out of the frustration of trying to find a decent card in the stores for my dad's birthday or for Father's Day. Almost every dad-related card involves tools, BBQ grills, or fishing -- which are hobbies my dad shows absolutely no interest in. I try to keep my birthday cards gender-neutral and create Father's Day cards that are fun, playful, and avoid stereotypes.

While my wife and I are not parents, we do have a lot of nieces and nephews that we love to spoil and have them stay at our home in the Milwaukee area for a weekend or a week at a time during their time off from school. I believe that the most important things a child can have is love, emotional support, and a sense of security. Whether it is a mother and father, a single mom or dad, or gay or lesbian parents, if they can provide those three things, a child will have a happy childhood.

When did you make the decision to separate into two different Etsy shops?

We decided to separate into two Etsy shops, manvsgeorge.etsy.com and modernweddings.etsy.com in order to reach what are two very different groups of shoppers -- general greeting card buyers for a variety of occasions, and couples planning their weddings. We had originally included our wedding invitations in our MANvsGEORGE shop, but we started to hear feedback from customers that the shop felt overwhelming because we offered so many different card and invitation designs. We decided that since brides and grooms have enough on their plate, offering them a separate shop with a laser focus on their wedding invitation needs would make browsing and selection easier.

I featured a dog-loving site on Tuesday, showcasing Beantown Handmade and their wonderful mascot, Bean the Boston Terrier. I don’t want to leave the cat-people out, and I know they would love to see your business partner. Do you have a photo of George?

George is actually a lady cat. She is named after George Harrison, my favorite Beatle. I picked the name with the intention of getting a boy cat but when I saw her amongst the other kittens, she had me. (You had me at "Hello".) I decided to keep the name because it is quirky. It does, however, lead to some brief confusion during her yearly checkup at the veterinarian.

How long have you been wholesaling, and what advice can you give to someone who is thinking about this option?

I have been wholesaling for about two years. My advice is to start local. It is easier for a buyer to take a chance on your items if they meet you personally and you have roots in the community. It will give you an opportunity to launch your wholesale product line, create positive references by providing good customer service, and help build your confidence and selling acumen. One important point to remember is that local buyers want their stores to be unique and do not want the shop down the street also selling your items. Be respectful of buyers' selling territory to avoid any bad feelings.

Make your next greeting card stand out.  Convenient packages are available, so that you can always have a card on hand.  Pair your words with a burst of color and beauty!  Snail mail lives!

Start your shopping here.  Continue reading by visiting Ryan's profile here.

Red and Main

I am a feedback freak!  I take my job very seriously, and nothing makes me happier than to see that I got yet another rave review.  Well, I ain't got nothing on Red and Main's wonderful customer responses!  Even though she's just starting out, she's definitely fast out of the box on customer service, and it shows in her feedback.

For those of you who may think I'm a stickler on who I feature, I want to hold Red and Main up to you in high esteem as an "up and coming" artist.  See if you can pick out just a few of the things Meg did correctly as you read through her interview.

I live in the serenest spot in East Texas, where my nearest neighbor is 100 acres away on all 4 sides. It's the epitome of peaceful. How do you handle being around all of the political agendas in D.C.?

Boy, that serenity sounds lovely! It would be great to not hear the sounds of the city when I’m trying to fall asleep, so I envy your peace and quiet.

I enjoy DC, if only because I am a politically-interested person. My grandfather and my parents were very politically involved, so it rubbed off on me.

I think, for the most part, people here in DC are really good about letting bygones be bygones and not letting political affiliation affect personal relationships. I have Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, and Green friends… can’t say I like any one of them better than the others. A lot of what I see on the news right now is about how divided we all are, but I like to think we have more in common than most of us would want to admit.

Were you let go from your job or did you have one of the classic meltdown "I can't take it anymore!" moments?

I wouldn’t say I had a downright meltdown, but I certainly was becoming more disenchanted and bitter about the work I was doing every day. It got to the point where I was not able to say anything positive about the political environment, the job I was doing, or my prospects for the future. That’s not a healthy place for anyone to be.

After a night of frustrated tears, my husband just said, "If you don’t like this job, leave it and pursue your ceramics full time- I support you 100%" I don’t know why, but for some reason him saying it that time finally clicked.

Your creations are so adorable! I love the long-snouted pig and the cat with the bird on its head. Where do you get your ideas from?

Some people identify themselves as "dog people" or "cat people"… I like to think I’m an "animal person". I really do like everything (with the exception of naked mole rats…I can’t really get behind those little buggers). In my mind, animals are all running around, acting adorable and making friends with each other at all times. Obviously.I also tend to see the world in a cartoonish sort of way. I’ve taken serious painting classes in the past, and I have no ability to create anything that isn’t cartoony or cute. None whatsoever.

I think these two things combined form the basis for all the pieces I make- ridiculous animals, looking cute and being friendly. When I ship out the pieces I’ve made, I like to think of them going to new homes with new friends. Corny and campy, but true.

Most new shop owners really struggle with their photography, but you seem to have a great handle on it. Do you have past experience?

I really don’t, actually. I trolled on Etsy for months looking for photos I liked, advice from successful sellers, etc. I wanted to make sure I had this part down before I set up shop; your photos need to reflect your product in the best way possible so that everyone can really see how great your product is.

My wonderful husband forwarded me a piece from Lifehacker that was all about taking professional-looking photos in your home (www.lifehacker.com.au/2010/09/how-to-take-better-photos-for-your-online-sales...). The hubs is quite the engineer and created a photo box for me out of poster board and tissue paper. I bought an inexpensive camera tripod for my Cannon Coolpix camera and started snapping outside on a sunny day.

After I had my photos, I edited them using Picnik.com so that the items would really stand out against the stark white background. I’m a photography novice, but this wasn’t too bad.

Do you do your own firing?

I do! I have a small home-use kiln that just hangs out in our guest bedroom on very thick natural stone slabs so that it doesn’t ruin our floor.

I’ve already had my share of kiln mishaps (exploding pieces, overheating, etc.), but for me, being able to fire at my convenience is really the best. It sure beats trucking an entire load of fragile green ware to a studio for firing.

Meg also makes lilypads, spoon rests, and some other beautiful animals (foxes, quails, elephants, hippos) that you can see on her "sold" page.

Now here is a quick run down of what I see Meg doing correctly.  And these are in no specific order, btw.

1)  She had her husband's support.  Throw all the women's lib at me that you want.  This is important in a mutual-respect relationship.

2)  She has a talent that she is already experienced at, although I'm sure she learns something everyday, as most successful people do.

3)  She did her research BEFORE jumping in.

4)  This research obviously included how to write excellent descriptions, where to place keywords in your shop for maximum google page rankings, and how to take stellar photography.  (Articles dedicated to each of these topics can be found here.)

5)  The photography itself (as some of you may know) is extremely high on my list of must-haves.  Not only does she have a crisp, white background which makes her images pop, you can also see that she uses the "thirds" theory in some of her pictures.  She also shows her products from various angles.  She also takes her pictures OUTSIDE on a SUNNY day, AND she uses a photo editor to give her photos that little bit of extra attention they need to bring it all home.

6)  She obviously loves what she does.

7)  She tried something new, even though it didn't work for her.  (The "serious painting" classes.)  The point is that she TRIED--she explored.  She was trying to tap in to more of what could have been there.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Okay, so that was my "quick" list, lol.  If you can think of some other things that Meg did right, please comment below.  I always welcome comments.  They are, after all, feedback!

Here are Meg's shop and profile.  Enjoy the view!

　

Beantown Handmade

I think I just woke my family up from laughing!  This dog is hilarious!  Especially this dog in these pictures:

Even if you're not a fan of the bug-eyed breed (I can say that because I am the proud owner of one!), you will definitely become a fan of these pictures.  Hence the ingenious idea of making "Bean in Hats" stickers available.  She not only offers a variety of great products, but great advice, too!  (That's a recurring theme on this blog!)  Some of her other products are collars, bows, bandanas, jackets, stickers, card, and hand-painted portraits of your pooch (or other furry friend, even ol' Tripod, even though he's not four-legged anymore.)  More than just good looks are growing this business, people!

I first noticed Beantown when I saw Bean's pictures in one of Anne's articles on http://www.handmadeology.com/. 

I don't care who you are, that's funny right thar! 

Let's delve into the most important question first: What is Bean's stud fee?

Haha, you may or may not be surprised but that's not actually the first time people have asked me that - and they were serious. Sorry ladies, Bean was neutered when he was just a pup.

In a private convo we had, you mentioned that you take Bean to a park to play. Is this one of your advertising means? Not that that is the sole purpose, but we all know smart business owners look for creative ways to advertise.  Everyone loves advertising in action.

We are fortunate enough to have a very large dog park on several acres with trees and a creek, so it's not so much a place for us to see other people or network. It is a great place for Bean and Lily to go and just be dogs and get filthy from time to time.

I've had many referrals from customers who've shown off their duds at dog parks in more metropolitan areas like Denver, Seattle and San Francisco. I even had a referral from a woman who saw a dog inside Bloomingdales in Manhattan with one of our sweater and hat sets on - I didn't know they allowed that! Having products seen out in the world is definitely great advertising.

When you made your first piece, was your intent to start a business or was the business something that evolved out of your creation?

I went to school for art and I got my MFA in printmaking, so when I started crocheting sweaters for Bean it was more for fun and not with a business plan in mind. I certainly hadn't planned on the scope of what I'm doing now, which is a full time business. Things started small on Etsy - I think I only posted 5 items the first month. I posted two dog hats I had made thinking no one would buy them and was totally unprepared for the enthusiastic response! From there things grew and I was constantly playing catch up on the business end. For my first year on Etsy I created mostly custom items and picked up a few wholesale clients. Last year I branched out and created my own website, attended craft shows, pursued more advertising and wholesale opportunities and made more of a financial investment in my business.

You recently passed the the 1,000 sales marker. Do you celebrate milestones in your company?

Every sale is still an exciting validation and a thrill, and now that my livelihood depends on those sales it's taken on a bit more meaning. For our 100th and 500th sales I offered celebratory discounts in our shop. The 1,000th sale happened during the holiday season and that was a sleepless blur! I think I took a screen shot in between creating and packaging products and shouted something to my husband downstairs. I always thank our customers when the shop reaches a milestone, because I wouldn't get there without their continued support.

Do you feel like you finally have a handle on this thing?

I am still learning so many things about being a small business owner, but that's mostly because I keep trying to grow my business and take on new things (and eventually world domination). I feel like I have a grip on selling online, and I finally understand more about craft shows and selling wholesale. But there are always second guesses and hesitation when it comes to investing money and taking risks. A friend told me the saying, "the first year you feed your business, the second year your business feeds itself, the third year your business feeds you." Next year will be my third year and I hope that rings true!

Just incase you didn't leave this article a long time ago to scope out Bean, here is one more link to Beantown Handmade.  Enjoy the view!