My Bearded Pigeon / Chunky Chooky

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.

Precious Prints by Little Pergola

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.

MukiBubb

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.

1. Cut a baguette into sandwich length pieces, split so they open like a roll.
2. 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.
3. 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?  :)

Barn Owl Primitives

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

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

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!

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

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/

Mistle and Toe

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!

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