Etsy Treasures

Something Whimsical

2008-04-14T03:39:00.000-07:00

The Etsy Treasures blog now presents Something Whimsical. . .

Erica: Let's get started by getting to know who Something Whimsical is.
Vincent: Well, my name is Vincent Corona-Evans. I'm a freelance Illustrator and have been one for over 12 years now. Most of my art up to this point has been tailored to my clients and their needs. So, Something Whimsical allows me to go in a different direction and have fun doing it. My Etsy shop is pretty much me with help from my wife Maribeth.

Erica: When did you first become interested in art? What medium did you begin working with at that point? Vincent: I would have to say my first influence was my parents. I became interested in art at a very young age. My father hand drew a book on dinosaurs for me and I couldn't believe how cool it was. He also used to make me robots out of pipes and tubing and nuts and bolts. He was a very creative plumber. My mom gave me a lot of encouragement as well even though I’d make flip books out of every pad or checkbook she owned. As far as mediums go, I would have to say anything and everything, from charcoal and pencil to oil and acrylic paint to clay, wood and metal. I created books of ideas, because I didn't have enough time in the day to finish things. I was a bit of a nut. I guess I still am.

Erica: In the beginning did you ever dream that you would be selling, or providing, your artwork to the public?
Vincent: When I was younger, I didn’t think about it. As I got older, I enjoyed looking at and buying other people’s work. Their success inspired me and gave me confidence to show my own work and to eventually sell it.

Erica: Was there anyone that gave you a nudge to make your work available to a wider audience via the Internet?
Vincent: Something Whimsical really came from listening to my wife (briefmoments.etsy.com) and my sister (uncorked.etsy.com). Both of them have great shops and are posting and buying through Etsy all the time. Actually, my niece (buttonenvy.etsy.com) was the one who introduced Etsy to my sister who then in turn introduced Etsy to my wife and me. It’s become a family thing. In the creation process, my wife is a big help and influence. She has a great eye for detail and keeps me on track. My sister has been a huge help as well.

Erica: The question that all artists must face in an interview: Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Vincent: I draw my inspiration from the people and places and things around me. Something Whimsical, for me, is from my childhood. It’s my inner kid having fun.

Erica: I know this can be a difficult thing to answer, but do you have a current favorite creation? Any piece that stands out due to process or learning while completing it?
Vincent: Right now, the whole Etsy Store is my favorite creation. It allows me to post some very different items and connect with other artists and creative people I wouldn’t normally meet. It’s been a great experience so far and I’ve learned a lot.

Erica: To what level would you like to take your work? Either as an artist or as a business.
Vincent: I enjoy illustrating and creating images and I’ve been advertising nationally now for a couple years with some great results. My goal is to have one of my illustrations on the cover of Time Magazine. We’ll see what happens.

Erica: Do you have a personal Web site, or is Etsy currently the only place to find your work online?
Vincent: I have a business website (http://www.corona-evans.com) and a portfolio website with the Directory of Illustration

Erica: Before we wrap it up is there anything else you would like to add?
Vincent: Just that I enjoyed answering your questions and I really appreciate your interest in my work. Thank you so much for this opportunity to share my thoughts on your blog.

Erica: Thank you, Vincent, for taking the time to participate in Etsy Treasures. Everyone remember to check out Something Whimsical on Etsy for some great artwork!

Something Whimsical
www.SomethingWhimsical.etsy.com

Wool by Willow

2008-03-31T03:47:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to the Etsy Treasures blog everyone! This week we are trying something a little different for the interview. Willow, of Wool by Willow, joins us to share a little about herself through words and photos.

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www.WoolbyWillow.etsy.com

The Blog Update

2008-03-25T04:08:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone out there!
The Etsy Treasures blog is on vacation this week, but we will be back. I'm working on finding new artists and getting interview material out to them. Sometime in the future posts my dad will probably be making an appearance again. His interview regarding beach glass jewelry was very well received and now he's onto another venture; pewter buttons. He's making the buttons specifically with knitters and crocheters in mind. There are several different sizes and patterns currently available and more coming out all the time. So far the responses to the buttons have all been positive; they're even being carried in the local knitting store!

Anyway, that's enough talk about what's going on here. See you soon with more artist interviews!
Peace,
Erica (aka FiddleLee)

By Our Hands

2008-03-17T04:18:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Etsy Treasures blog everyone! This week we have the mother/daughter team behind the shop By Our Hands here on the blog with us. Visit their Etsy shop at: www.ByOurHands.etsy.com

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THE INTERVIEW

Erica: From what I understand "By Our Hands" is a mother daughter team. Can you tell everyone a little about yourselves and what "By Our Hands" all about is?
Natalie: My name is Natalie, I go to school every day, I'm in second grade. I like knitting a little but I get some backward stitches still -- I have my mom help me fix those. I do my arts and crafts at school during choice time or after school at home if we're not too busy. And weekends! I really want to go to more shows with my mom - I went to Black Sheep Gathering the year before last, I loved it! I wanted to earn money to got to France when I'm 18. I'm 8 years old, in second grade. I think spinning is cool and fun.
Amelia: By Our Hands is Natalie and me. We both love arts & crafts, and it's a natural extension of our other activities to turn to selling some of our handspun yarns, handdyed yarns, and gadgets. I am enjoying helping Natalie achieve her long-term goal, and seeing her blossom as she learns more of the process of creating products and running a business.

Erica: What prompted you begin an Etsy shop?
Amelia: After we had a sales table at a holiday fair with our handspun, homemade book marks and jewelry, and handknit or felted items, we decided to continue with an Etsy shop. I'd been telling all my crafty friends how great a venue Etsy was for buying, and felt that it would be the perfect way for By Our Hands to continue outside of the local holiday fairs. Natalie: Mom picked Etsy after I asked her to sell with me at a local show.

Erica: Your shop is devoted to hand dyed and hand spun yarn as well as yarn related gadgets. How were each of you introduced to these crafts? and how long have you been involved with them?
Natalie: My mom always did crafts, I asked her to show me how. I thought all you did was throw wool at the machine (wheel) and it made yarn! I've done this almost as long as my mom -- I've spun on spindles since I was 2, not very good; wheel since I was 6. (*Natalie's handspun pictured at right.)
Amelia: Natalie's been crafting ever since she could hold a crayon! I've knit and crocheted and dabbled in a huge variety of crafts all my life, thanks to my own mother. I remember taking a mother/daughter pottery workshop with her when I was in elementary school! In 2001 I purchased a house that came with 2 llamas, so I learned to spin. Our other gadgets come from seeing various tools and deciding we wanted to make our own. The Pickup Tools come from circular sock machine needles, and are very handy with those and with hand knitting.

Erica: Natalie, you obviously love art. What type of thing do you like best?
Natalie: I practically love arts and crafts because they're fun to make. Some things I like to make - a fake guitar with popsicle sticks and boxes; with clay I like making those stitch picker-uppers and needle caps (*Amelia adds: those aren't yet on the shop, I'm getting there!) I'd say clay is more fun than spinning, but I still like spinning.

Erica: Amelia, how do fiber arts relate to your job, if you're a working mom, and daily routine? Your daughter is involved in the arts with you, so that must provide a good bond between you.
Amelia: My day job is The Bellwether, which is a fiber art supply mail-order business, and raising my two kids. So I always have a ready supply of fun fibers on hand in addition to my own fiber stash. It's been really helpful to be able to work at home while my children are small. It takes the support of my husband as well, financially, so I have enough time to do all the "soccer mom" things, put home cooking on the table, and take care of our llamas ~ still have them! They're terrific. Both of my children do enjoy spinning, though Natalie's brother Nikolai is very busy with school, being in sixth grade now and looking at busy Middle School years soon. He also likes to crochet, and is working to improve his spinning so he can crochet his own handspun hat. It's really delightful to be able to teach them things that expand their creative horizons and get them thinking outside the paintbox. They are also willing helpers for labeling and bagging ... Nik even helps pack some of the orders for The Bellwether! So we mix up home tasks and work tasks to make sure we all have time for fun.

Erica: Do you have any goals in mind for you Etsy shop? Or goals as artists?
Natalie: I want to raise enough money to go to Paris. I want to go to cooking school there and see the Eiffel Tower. I'd really like to paint, and cook like a chef.
Amelia: I see Etsy as a great resource for crafty people and those who love handmade items. I see By Our Hands as a way to support Etsy, as well as a great venue for our handspun yarn and gadgets. I'm looking forward to teaching Natalie the computer work in having an online store as she gets more computer savvy. I continue to expand my own horizons as a spinner, with a long-term goal to write and teach more about spinning. I have a few creative projects in the planning stages, with hopes to bring them to fruition in 2008. Spinning has been a terrific way to tap my creative side.

Erica: Is there another Web site, or blog, where people can find more about you or your crafts?
Natalie: sometimes mom mentions me on her blog: http://askthebellwether.blogspot.com
Amelia: I am active on a variety of Yahoo groups (spindlers, spindlitis, TechSpin, Spin-List, and others) and post on ravelry, flickr, LiveJournal, craftster, and KnittyForums as "askthebellwether". In addition to my blog, The Bellwether's website is http://www.thebellwether.com; folks tell me it's a great resource in addition to having a wide variety of spindles, blends from Crosspatch Creations and Three Bags Full, nalbinding supplies, and more.

Erica: Any concluding thought before we wrap it up?
Amelia: It's been really a milestone for me to reach the point of selling handspun -- being satisfied enough in my own spinning to move beyond the gift stage with it, and being efficient enough to produce it in a reasonable amount of time. I'm thrilled to be there at 7 years of spinning, and look forward to what the next 7 years will bring out in me creatively.

Erica: A big thank you to Natalie and Amelia for participating in the Etsy Treasures blog! Remember to go check out their Etsy shop! See you next week.

By Our Hands
www.byourhands.etsy.com

Cinnamon & Spice

2008-03-10T04:21:00.000-07:00

This week on Etsy Treasures we have Cinnamon & Spice, a team of crafters who just recently started up a shop on Etsy. You can browse their handmade treasures at www.cinnamonspice.etsy.com

• The Interview •

*Erica: Cinnamon and Spice, tell everyone a little about yourselves to get us started here.
Cinnamon: I recently left a 15-year career with the federal government to stay home with my two young children. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made! I think my husband would readily agree.

Spice: Well I've been an empty nester for a couple of years now. This year I celebrate my 21st year of service with the federal gov't.

*Erica: You gals are pretty new to the Etsy scene. How did you hear about Etsy and what prompted you to start a shop?
Spice: One day I did an impromptu web search for the most popular craft websites, ETSY popped up. I really loved the artisan influence of ETSY. Not to mention the fact that it appeared to be pretty user friendly. I shared the information with Cinnamon and needless to say she loved it as well. And here we are.

Cinnamon: Ever since my daughter received her first Pillow Kid from Auntie Gina, I have been prodding her to go into business. I knew the "dolls" would be a hit. I did a custom 12 x 12 scrapbook for Spice and she said "you know you need to sell these". So after our a-ha moment, we decided to join forces!

*Erica: Have you both always been crafty ladies? What types of art, or crafting, are you most drawn to? why?
Cinnamon: My earliest memory of paper crafting is making paper cakes with tissue paper "rosettes" for family members when I was around 7 or 8. I started cropping about 10 years ago when I made my first album for my fiance. I have come a long way since those days of the Elmer Glue stick, scissors and construction paper! I don't typically rely on templates or kits, I enjoy choosing an aesthetically pleasing color palette and picking and making my own embellishments. Lately I've been drawn to altering items like mini aluminum tins and picture frames with scrapbooking materials.

Spice: I've always been drawn to art and crafting. When I was a child, my Grandma Hall always ordered craft packages for us to put together. My Aunt Brenda showed me how to knit and crotchet when I was 8 years old. I guess these experiences really left an impression. I went through a period of sewing, altering furniture, models. When my daughter was about 10 years old I started making the Pillow Kids. Right now I'm drawn to salt dough and crocheting. The sewing, crocheting and salt dough are major energy releases for me. They are very calming projects.

*Erica: Your shop, Cinnamon & Spice Crafts, offers a variety of items. Was it your plan to do this always? or was something particular more of an interest/idea and the rest was added?
Spice: We started out with scrapbooking and the Pillow Kids.....

*Erica: Do you think you will continue to have this selection? or do you foresee narrowing your focus?
Cinnamon & Spice: We see Cinnamon and Spice Crafts as a virtual gift shop. While the line of multi-ethnic Pillow Kids and scrapbooks will remain our staple, we will continue to offer a variety of paper craft and other altered art gifts. Sneak peeks of our latest creations can be seen on our blog.

*Erica: How does crafting, and selling on Etsy, fit in with your daily life/routine or job?
Cinnamon & Spice: We are both still trying to strike that balance. Our family remains our number one priority. Chatting with other moms in the Etsymom Street Team has helped tremendously. We learn a great deal from their experiences and what has worked for them.

Cinnamon: When I become a little overzealous and log too many hours at the computer my husband quickly reels me in! In reality, it's probably when he has to cook too many meals!

*Erica: What goals do you have in mind for yourself as Etsy sellers and as cratfspeople?
Spice: Continue to Create, Promote, and Expand Cinnamon: We foresee growing our business locally by doing craft fairs, festivals and other venues that will increase our visibility.

*Erica: Is there a web site outside of Etsy where people can find out more about you?
http://cinnamonspicecrafts.blogspot.com/

*Erica: Any concluding thoughts before we wrap up this week?
Cinnamon & Spice: Opening an Etsy shop has been the realization of a life-long dream for us both.

Cinnamon and Spice Crafts
www.CinnamonSpice.etsy.com

Girl with a Hook

2008-03-03T03:42:00.000-08:00

This week I am happy to introduce Heather, a.k.a Girl With a Hook, to the Etsy Treasures blog. Her work with freeform crochet hats and headbands is absolutely astounding! You can find her work at: www.GirlWithaHook.etsy.com

THE INTERVIEW

Erica: Give everyone an introduction to yourself. Who's the talent behind Girl With a Hook?
Heather: Well, too start, I'm Heather and am 27 living in Chicago. I grew up in St. Louis and have a degree in painting, yet don't paint anymore, but looking back on all my work, i can see my love of hats and yarn. It's weird how that works. now I live with my dog and 2 cats and boyfriend and work a full time job that is not hat making.

Erica: The opening line in your shop announcement reads, "I'm completely and totally obsessed with yarn, all the textures and colors... sometimes I find myself thinking about yarn all day long!" I love that and can totally relate! When did your yarn obsession begin?
Heather: My good friend taught me how to knit my first year of college...about 7 or 8 years ago. She gave me a gorgeous deep blue wool yarn to practice with and I fell in love with it! I still have that yarn to this day. Everytime I go to etsy, I search for handspun yarn. I love seeing the creative ways people spin! It gives me so much inspiration. Now that I know how to spin yarn, it's such a comforting and relaxing activity...It makes me love yarn even more!

Erica: When did you learn to crochet and who taught you?
Heather: My grandma taught be how to crochet when I was around 10 or 11. I used to go visit her in Utah in the summer time and she tried to teach me to crochet, but I just couldn't get past the chain stitch! so I quit... as any good 11 year old would.

Erica: When did you turn your passion about yarn into a business venture? Heather: It started with my hats, once those started selling well and I never seemed to get tired of it, I figured I HAVE to learn how to spin yarn!!! I love other people's handspun yarn, but I need my hats to be 100% me! so now I'm spinning my own yarn for my hats and I'm sure when it warms up, I can sell my yarn just as yarn.

Erica: From what I can see in your shop, the majority of your work is freeform crochet. How did you find that path?
Heather: I used to only knit. It is SO hard to make an organic, artistic shape with knitting! For me at least. So I was browsing on the internet about 6 years ago and found my true inspiration... Ana Voog. She would have to be my reason for starting to crochet hats in the first place. Her work is so organic and futuristic and out there.... it was so inspiring!! when I found out she crochets her hats, I had to see what it was all about. I had to reteach myself how to crochet, which didn't take as long as I thought it would. I also knew that if I wanted to keep art in my life as well as fiber I needed to combine them or I would get nothing done! Patterns are way too structured for me and usually created by someone else, so I really didn't want to go that route. I wanted unique hats that I couldn't find in a book. It's all uphill from there.

Erica: Was there a time when you were a pattern-follower, or have you always been drawn more to the freeform style?
Heather: I used to follow patterns when I would knit, bags and the occasional winter hat. I have NO idea how to follow a crochet pattern though. I think I'll keep it like that.

Erica: Out of all the yarns you've worked with is there a particular fiber or texture that you enjoy coming back to?
Heather: I'm in love with merino wool! it's super soft and squishy. I love giant slubs (lumps) in my yarn or curly wool locks in it! Super coil yarn is also quite gorgeous. I love so many different types of yarn. It's hard to really narrow it down, but right now it's lots of merino wool with curly locks throughout. It makes me so happy!

Erica: Can you talk a little about crochet as an artform?
Heather: Crochet as an artform...there are so many things one can do with crochet! You can create lumps and bumps and tubes and balls and shapes that you've never thought of before! it's a way to make gorgeous fibers come alive.

Erica: How did you find Etsy? and is it your main outlet for selling your work?
Heather: I'm not sure how I found Etsy come to think of it, but I do think it was about a year and a half ago when I found it. This is pretty much my main outlet at this time for my work. I'm in a craft fair called Depart-Ment that goes on every 3 months or so, but that's it.

Erica: Do you have a personal Web site or blog where people can find out more about your designs?
Heather: Etsy is my main web page. I have a MySpace and a flickr as well as a page on Ravelry.com, (girlwithahook is the id name for all of them) but I make etsy my main priority.

Erica: Do you have any goals in mind for "Girl With a Hook" either artistically (some new technique you'd like to try and apply) or as a business?
Heather: Someday, my dream is to dedicate all my time to girl with a hook. My job limits the time I have to work on things, so I don't really know my full potential for making this my career yet. So as of now, it's only on etsy, but hopefully I can get someone to help me with my own web page and maybe someday have it be my only job, that would be amazing. As for technique... I want to see how big and dramatic I can make my hats and still have people wearing them! Right now I'm experimenting with felty chunks on the hats and crochet holes.

Erica: Any concluding thoughts before we wrap everything up?
Heather: All I have to say is, I can't imagine not creating hats and yarn now that I'm doing it. I wish we lived in such a world that when we found our love for something, we could make an instant living out of it! Unfortunately, it's not that easy. It really should be though.

Erica: Thank you, Heather, for taking the time to participate in the blog! Everyone, remember to check Heather's work at: www.GirlWithaHook.etsy.com

~Girl With a Hook ~
www.girlwithahook.etsy.com

JaK Random Art & Design: make art not trash!

2008-02-25T09:19:00.000-08:00

Greetings everyone! This week JaK random art & design is our featured Etsy shop. Check out the goods at: www.jakrandomart.etsy.com

•• THE INTERVIEW ••

Erica: Start us off by telling everyone a little about yourself.
Jennifer: Hi I am Jennifer aka JaK, I am a 30 year old graphic designer by day and craftster/artist by night. I spend my time on the Jersey Shore with my fiance and 3 cats. I started JaK Random art and Design about 4 years ago with the support and encouragement of my fiance.

Erica: When did the idea for JaK Random art and design begin? What inspired the act of turning a passion for art into a business?
Jennifer: I have been doing art shows on and off since college it was through these shows that I realized I could actually sell my work.

Erica: The most prominent item in your shop is your cuffs. How was the idea for them born?
Jennifer: They were born out of a valentine. I started collecting records from the bargain bins at record shows to make note books out of, something that I still do but am in the process of restocking. I had all these records so I started making record bowls, but they take up a lot of space. So I had the idea to make my honey a Valentine out of record. It was then I realized I could reshape the records anyway I wanted. People really seem to enjoy the cuffs so I make a lot of them.

Erica: The subheader for your shop reads "make art, not trash." When, or how, did you become attracted recycling old items to make something new?
Jennifer: I have been passionate about recycling and helping our environment since I was a child. I became a vegetarian at the age of 13 and realized that you can't do one without doing the other. So I would do things like go on walks picking up litter and made sure my parents were recycling.

Erica: For your cuffs you work with vinyl? I think the description says they're rescued vinyl records. Can you talk about the process of finding, and working with this material?
Jennifer: I am given a lot of records through word of mouth. It gives a new life to the records. I like to think of it as rescuing the vinyl. Some people I meet are horrified to hear that I melt down a record but really the records have been neglected so long and most of them are unplayable. We save any records we can for listening pleasure.

Erica: Do you have a personal favorite creation?
Jennifer: I put a lot of myself into each of my creations. It's hard to have a favorite because eventually you wind up parting ways with it. This was one of my favorites (see photo at left.)

Erica: To what level do you hope to take your art business to? Is art your "job"? or are you fitting a passion for art around another career?
Jennifer: Currently I work my art around my day job which can be difficult at times but it is rewarding and worthwhile. It is hard to balance work, art and family, they are all full time jobs in their own respect. It would be a dream come true to be able to make art full time and is something I do work towards.

Erica: What inspires you to keep crafting? How are your design ideas formed/born?
Jennifer: Etsy is an incredibly inspiring community on so many levels. Through the actual art to the sense of this community that exists I find it all incredibly inspiring. I think I have to craft it is a very cathartic process for me and helps to relieve stress.

Erica: Do you sell only from Etsy? or do you maintain a personal Web site or blog where people can find out more about you and your designs?
Jennifer: I also sell in galleries and boutiques around the country. I also have a personal website: http://www.jakrandomart.com) and a blog: http://jakrandomart.blogspot.com

Erica: Any last thoughts before we wrap up the interview?
Jennifer: I think it is important for people to be aware of all the products you buy what is in them and the effects that they have on the environment because it affects you and your family and your pets. I have learned that by doing this and "going green" in my own house it influences those close to you so you may think you don't make a difference but really you can by making some very simple changes.

Erica: Thank you, Jennifer, for participating in the Etsy Treasures blog!

• JaK random art & design •
www.jakrandomart.etsy.com
www.jakrandomart.com

The Fairies Nest

2008-02-18T04:22:00.000-08:00

Welcome everyone! This week we have Cynthia of the Fairies Nest here with us on the Etsy Treasures blog. Be sure to check out her wonderful Etsy shop at: www.fairiesnest.etsy.com

• The Interview •

Erica: Start us off with a little about yourself and your shop.
Cynthia: My name is Cynthia Toy and I’m named after Cinderella…really!
Erica: OK, I have to interrupt.... That's amazing!
Cynthia: I have a truly wonderful husband and 3 sons and we share our house with 4 cats, a welsh corgi named Mattie and an assortment of fish ( their number subject to frequent change.). I have always loved dolls and fantasy and they have both always been a part of my life, so I guess it’s only a logical progression that I would become a fairy doll maker when I “grew up”. Of course the fact that I still play with dolls may mean I’ll never grow up!

Erica: In your profile you say that you inherited a fiber addiction from your mother. Do you remember how old you were when you first started experimenting with a craft? Which did you do first (sewing, knitting, etc.)?
Cynthia: I grew up in a family where sewing was second nature. My maternal grandmother was a professional seamstress and my mom was always making or altering clothes for us…with 4 kids that sort of frugality was a necessity! I made my first doll when I was 6, a simple cookie cutter shape with yarn hair that my sister and I started playing with before she was even finished. The poor thing never did get more of a face then one button eye! Home made presents were considered an absolute in our household and I picked up a lot of needle crafts from my mom over the years (as well as her fiber addiction!) but I wasn’t very good at any of them for a long time. I loved the feeling of cloth and yarns in my hands but I couldn’t quite figure out a way to use them that worked for me until I started making dolls. In college I majored in theater where I not only learned costume construction but also the fine art of creative illusion…a very important skill for a doll maker!

Erica: How long have you been creating dolls and toys professionally/so other people can bring your creations home?
Cynthia: 18 years ago, when my sons were very young, I made a set of dolls as occupants for a castle that my husband had built for the boys. Within a few months I was making dolls for friends and very soon after that I began selling them. It seemed like everyone who saw the boys’ dolls wanted some! There just wasn’t anything like that available back then. And I had finally found the craft that I loved.

Erica: When you're making your dolls, is there a favorite material you like to use? How do you choose what goes into your designs?
Cynthia: I am particularly drawn to natural fibers. I love cotton knit for “skin” and silk for wings. Natural fibers just feel so lovely when you create with them. When I make toys I try to use natural fibers exclusively, including using wool for stuffing, because wool retains body warmth and makes the dolls feel alive. With the more detailed art dolls I have to use the polyester fiberfill to prevent lumping in tiny spaces but I am looking in to some natural alternatives for that as well.

Erica: ok, I have to say that I absolutely adore fairies and creatures and beings from the fantasy world. I loved them as a little girl and still love them now. When you are creating your fairy dolls, where do you draw your inspiration from?
Cynthia: I have always loved all things Fairy. As a child I spent hours reading fairy tales and, living in the country, my sister and I believed we saw the work of fairies everywhere. Dandelions in the spring grass were put there by fairies, the twisted roots of trees were fairy houses, and the frost patterns on the winter windows were obviously fairy work. To this day I find nature to be one of the greatest inspirations for my art, there is nothing like a walk in the woods to bring out visions of fairies. There are also many wonderful fairy artists out there now whose works are very inspiring; Brian Froud and his wife, the amazing doll artist Amy Froud, are my all time favorites.

Erica: Do you have a personal website that people can find your work on? or do you work and sell exclusively through Etsy?
Cynthia: I have website where you can see a gallery of my dolls and contact me about commissions (www.thefairiesnest.com) and I have an even more extensive gallery on the DA art site (http://fairiesnest.deviantart.com/gallery) but I do most of my sales through my Etsy site: http://fairiesnest.etsy.com. I have been so pleased with the response to my dolls on Etsy it’s a great site!

Erica: Is there a goal you'd like to meet with your art? or a level you're hoping to take The Fairies Nest to?
Cynthia: It’s kind of hard to know what I’ll do next, I have a tendency to go where my inspiration takes me and try to figure out the techniques I’ll need along the way. I’ve wanted to do some fantasy beasts lately and I’m always trying to achieve a greater level of detail in my dolls. I‘ll probably end up combining the two in more mixed media type dolls.

Erica: Before we wrap up the interview is there anything you would like to add to your thoughts and feelings on doll making?
Cynthia: One of the most wonderful things about doll making is the variety of skills that can be used in the process. Sewing of course, but also painting, sculpting, drawing, beading, knit, crochet, you name it you can probably find a way to incorporate it into a doll…so the work absolutely never gets boring! I feel so lucky to be able to spend my days doing what I love.

Erica: Thank you, Cynthia, for participating in the Etsy Treasures blog!

The Fairies Nest
www.FairiesNest.etsy.com

Purl City Yarns

2008-02-11T04:23:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! Welcome to the Etsy Treasures blog! This week we are featuring Charlotte of Purl City Yarn. Find her hand dyed yarn at: www.PurlCity.etsy.com

***THE INTERVIEW ***

Erica: To kick things off tell everyone a little about yourself.
Charlie: My name is Charlie, I’m 30, married and a mother of a 14-month-old girl. We all live in Manchester, UK in a house crammed full of yarn, roving, dye, and other yarnie paraphernalia!

Erica: Sounds good to me! What's better than yarn?

Erica: When did you "get crafty?"
Charlie: Until the beginning of 2007, I wasn’t crafty at all! Actually I tell a lie. I used to be crafty when I was younger – knitting, sewing, needle craft – but when I hit my teens I drifted away from it all.

Erica: So you mention having tried knitting when you were younger. What drew you back to it and when?
Charlie: I began knitting again last January, whilst on maternity leave from my job as a journalist. I needed something to keep me occupied whilst my daughter slept and I had developed painful muscle cramps, which I later learnt was a symptom of a thyroid condition. Knitting really helped relieve the cramps in my arms so I kept going. Pretty soon knitting wasn’t enough and I also took up crochet, sewing, hand-dyeing and finally spinning.

I think perhaps the reason that crafts appeal to me now is that as I have got older I have become more and more disillusioned about mass consumerism and more and more into making and growing things myself. There was a UK sit com series in the seventies called the Good Life about a couple who gave everything up to live on their land and I think I have dreams of doing the same!!

Erica: You have an Etsy shop, PurlCity, that features your yarn. Is it a solo venture? Charlie: Yes, I run Purl City by myself. I have only been listing on Etsy since January but have been preparing items for my store since October 2007.

Erica: What type of items do you plan to list in your shop? Just yarns?
Charlie: Right now Purl City offers my own hand-dyed yarns which I make using merino/blue faced Leicester wool or alpaca and acid dyes. I prepare all the yarns myself using a variety of tried and tested means –such as hand painting and dip dyeing - to get the colour mixes I’d like. I am also starting to list stitch markers made with little charms such as skulls and crossbones or champagne glasses or using pretty beads I have found in markets. From early February, I will be listing fabric project bags and needle holders as well as knitting-related slogan t-shirts and project bags.

Erica: What prompted you to open shop and share your yarn with the world?
Charlie: I dye up so much yarn at home that I realized I could never hope to knit it all up myself and wondered whether I shouldn’t have a try at selling some to finance my habit!

Erica: How long have you been dying yarns now? Charlie: I have been dyeing yarns for about nine months now. It was after I learnt how to knit socks and saw the wonderful colours of other peoples hand knit socks that I decided to have a go at dyeing a skein or two with Kool Aid for myself. And it has been a really interesting learning curve, from Kool Aid I moved to food colouring and then to acid dyes (which are no way as harsh as the name would suggest!), all the time trying out different ways of colouring the skeins to create different effects.

Erica: Is there any particular fiber you enjoy working with most?
Charlie: I love working with alpaca because it is so soft but it terms of colour I prefer the results I get from pure blue faced Leicester wool. The colours are so vibrant.

Erica: Are there any fibers that perhaps you haven't worked with at all, or had only a little experience with that you might eventually want to introduce to Purl City? Charlie: I am experimenting a lot with cotton at the moment. It all started after I did a secret pal swap with a knitter who was a committed vegan and didn’t use animal fibres. I dyed up some cotton especially for her and I was so pleased with the results that I have carried on working with cotton. I am also trying out soy and bamboo to see how they react to my dyes.

Erica: You did mention spinning earlier. How goes that adventure?
Charlie: I can spin but I’m not yet at the stage where I would feel happy about listing my efforts on Etsy! I have a reconditioned Ashford wheel which I bought from a chap in Wales. It is lots of fun but I would recommend taking it slowly at first – 15 minutes a day. I found I became frustrated and tensed up if I did more than that!
I’m looking forward to experimenting more with dyed roving and plying colours together to create a wild mix of colours!

Erica: Do you dye roving as well as yarns? Charlie: I do dye roving at the moment but only for my personal use. It is something I am considering listing on Etsy later in the year when I start buying up roving in larger batches!

Erica: How did you hear about Etsy? Charlie: I think I heard about Etsy in a Knitty’s forums and initially took a look as I was looking for a couple of birthday gifts!

Erica: Do you have a Website or blog where people can find info on PurlCity? Charlie: http://purlcity.blogspot.com

Erica: Thank you for participating on Etsy Treasures!

Purl City Yarns
www.purlcity.etsy.com

Mudcakes: Ceramic Buttons & Pottery

2008-02-04T04:11:00.000-08:00

Welcome, everyone!

This week on the blog we are joined by Nicole of Mudcakes. I do have to say that I have used some Mudcakes buttons in the past and they made a great accent to my knitwear. Check out the shop at: www.mudcakes.etsy.com.

THE INTERVIEW

Erica: Let's start off by letting everyone know some basics about your shop. Is more than one person involved in running the shop?

Nicole: I am the bill payer, shipping director, photographer, garbage collector, secretary and salesperson. And I love all my jobs!

Erica: How long has Mudcakes been around?

Nicole: I have been around ............39 years. I always knew I was going to be an artist. I aspired to it my entire life. And what I life I lead! I remember in 7th grade I told the guidance counselor I wanted to be a famous artist, she looked at me like I just said I was sleeping with her husband. I don't think she knew exactly what to say but by the reaction I received I realized she didn't know anything about being creative. And why should she? She was stuck in a cinderblock walled, light yellow painted box with a laminated desk and some rock critters that said world's best.....

Erica: Who, where, or what first introduced you to pottery? At that time did you think that you might be selling your designs/creations?

Nicole: I took a pottery making class in Jr. High School and made a clay dragon, I did each scale and it was amazing to me that I could put something cold and wet into something hot and dry and it came out hard as rock. I had that dragon up until 2004, my kids had played with it and the teeth broke off and I decided to deep six the dragon. But I still have a plate I did with a flower on it and a tile with a horse as well. That is when I fell in love with mud.

Erica: I personally don't know very much about pottery. Using a kiln, glazing, it's all foreign to me. Without giving away any trade secrets, what are your favorite materials to work with?
Nicole: My favorites change all the time but something I am toying with is the use of glass in my pottery. I have a few buttons in my shop that I have added glass shards to. It makes them look and feel different, contemporary with an antique feel to them. They are smoother and remind me of something that you find that you would keep in your pocket for good luck. I love the way it melts into all the nooks and crannies like hot jelly on toast.

Erica: The majority of your shop focuses on buttons, but that's not the only thing you do. I also see sections for magnets, jewelry, art, and soap dishes. I assume that buttons are either your favorite or the most practical creation. What turned you on to buttons?

Nicole: I fell into button-love when a designer asked me to make buttons for their clothing. I found that even though it is harder to make buttons I loved how each one had it's own personality and I knew that something that I could make could actually go on something someone wore and loved, maybe, that sweater you have for 10+ years that gets all threadbare but you got so many compliments on it that you keep it forever and ever. I think I want to be around even when I am not here on earth anymore and that is a way I can do it.

Erica: Here's a questions anyone using your buttons might have..... Can they be washed? Nicole: People always ask me if they put the buttons on clothing can they wash it. I say to them I taught myself a secret and I will be happy to pass it along, I think it's on my blog too-

Crinkle tin foil around the buttons and then they won't hit the sides of the washer and dryer. It's not the water or detergent that kills pottery buttons, it's them getting smashed to smithereens.

Erica: Do you have a personal favorite creation or design?
Nicole: My two kids. Gosh, I loved creating them. Kids are fantastic; watching them grow up is a great reward.

Erica: How were you introduced to Etsy? Nicole: I was cruising the internet and I found an artist who had a link to the site and I went looking around, liked what I saw and went for it.

Erica: Does selling online make you approach your craft any differently?

Nicole: I have been online for years. I am quite at home in the ether-world. As far as selling, I love that too- My great-grandfather was an entrepreneur and he always said, "You can't afford not to advertise" ETSY is kind of both a selling ground and a huge advertisement for all artists.

Erica: Do you have a personal Web site or blog where people can find out more about your work?

Nicole: Yes, www.edezees.com My blog is at the top of that too.

Erica: Any final thoughts before we wrap up this week?

Nicole: Just let everyone know that they need to enjoy life, love what you do and do it the best you can. Everything else will fall right into place when you stop fighting it. It does work....life that is.

Erica: Thank you, Nicole for taking the time to participate in the blog!

Mudcakes: Ceramic Buttons & Pottery
www.Mudcakes.etsy.com

Wee Ball Yarns

2008-01-27T17:04:00.000-08:00

Fiber lovers, knitters, crocheters, and yarnies rejoice! This week we have Robyn, spinner, dyer, and knitter of Wee Ball Yarns on the blog with us. You can check out her shop at: www.WeeballYarns.etsy.com

* THE INTERVIEW *

Erica: Let's get things started by telling everyone a little about yourself.
Robyn: I am an artist and I live part of the year in Gillams, on the west coast of Newfoundland, and part of the year in New York City. I have two children: a son and a daughter. I homeschool them so it makes our bifurcated life a little easier. I grew up in Massachusetts and moved to New York City to attend art school (The Cooper Union). My mother’s family was originally from Newfoundland, so when I had a chance to attend an artist residency there in 1997, I jumped at it. Since that first residency, we have returned nearly every year, eventually buying a house there as part of an artwork I have been working on since 2001 titled The House Museum.

Erica: many people can point to a certain person and/or event that first introduced them to the arts. Who or what were your first influences?
Robyn: My mom, who is an excellent knitter, taught me to knit when I was little, probably around eight or so, but it wasn’t until I was a teenager that it really stuck, and not until my mid-twenties that I started knitting regularly. In 1994, I began to use knitting and other needlework as the primary medium for my artwork. Now I use all sorts of media in my art, including video and audio installations as well as knitting and crochet. I also make functional items like sweaters, hats, etc..

Erica: You also do a lot of spinning. What brought you to this artform?
Robyn: I only learned to spin very recently – about a year ago. I had been avoiding it actually. I knew that I would love it and that it would consume me and I was afraid of taking on another thing that would absorb all my time. Finally, it was an offer to attend a two-hour spinning workshop for homeschoolers with my children that gave me the nudge. It all felt so innocent—I was just there to help my daughter learn to spin (my son wasn’t interested). But the first time I sat a wheel and the wool glided through my hands, I was completely seduced, It felt like I had been spinning all my life. My hands remembered this even if my mind thought it was new. Of course, my first yarn was terrible, uneven and over-spun, but I loved it. Passionately. Fortunately or unfortunately, my predictions came true—I tumbled down the rabbit hole and have been consumed by spinning.
Erica: I understand! I'm currently falling down the rabbit hole as well.

Erica: When did dying your own yarn come into the picture? Was that spurred on by the decision to spin?
Robyn: Yes. Spinning led to learning to dye in order to have complete control over the whole process of making yarn. A friend had given me a booklet about plant dyeing and, in Newfoundland, I realized many of those plants were growing right around me. I began collecting leaves and soaking them and boiling them. I love the magical way that seemingly ordinary weeds can produce such lovely colours, and I love the pots on the stove, boiling away, and the final surprise at how things turn out. And I love that I am creating something that is Newfoundland in a real, physical way, that people can take away with them.

Erica: Dying is something I haven't jumped into yet. Can you tell us a little about the dying process and how, or where, you come by your colors?
Robyn: As I mentioned, I am new to dyeing but I want to make yarn that is conscious of its place in the world, not just in colour and texture but in the way it is dyed. For that reason, I have chosen to use plant-based dyes. Creating dyes from local plants is fascinating but also very labour-intensive. I try to make a handful of those kinds of dyes and then I supplement with commercial plant dyes. I also have used Kool Aid too. Kool Aid makes amazing dye and my children love mixing up the colours so you never would suspect it started out as Kool Aid. Except for the smell, of course!

Erica: Do you have a favorite fiber to work with?
Robyn: My goal is to work with fibers that come from Newfoundland: wool and alpaca. But it has not been so easy to find sources of wool that are suitable for hand spinning. I have been mixing local wool with wool from other sources. To that end, I have been working mainly with merino and slightly coarser wools like corriedale. Merino is a bit fussy and easy to felt, but the results are worth the extra effort.

Erica: How did you make your way onto Etsy? and what do you think about the Etsy community?
Robyn: A friend of mine showed me the etsy shop of someone whose work she really liked and I was very surprised to learn that this thing called Etsy existed. When I started thinking about selling my yarn, I looked to Etsy for research to see what people were making, how much they were charging, etc. I even contacted another person making a somewhat similar thing to ask her advice. She was incredibly generous with her advice and made the whole thing seem possible. So far, my interactions with the community have been really wonderful.

Erica: Have you gained any new insight on your work by being a part of an online art/craft community? Do you approach your work in the same manner when it is destined for online sale?
Robyn: Most of my work is conceived of as fine art—I make fairly large-scale, public projects that really don’t have anything “for sale.” So the decision to make and sell yarn to support one of those projects was a new idea for me. It was born out of necessity. My project, The House Museum, is, at its roots, a project about how hospitality can not be sold as a commodity to tourists. To that end, everything about THM is free: admission is free, the gifts in the gift shop are free, all food and events are free. But that leaves me with the problem of funding this ongoing project. Since I have US citizenship, I can not tap into Canadian arts funding, and I have not have success in getting American sources of support to fund a Canadian project. Yet I still need to bring in some money to keep it running. Finally a light went off in my head that I could sell my yarn and make it part of the museum but not specifically “of” the museum.

Erica: How does crafting/being on Etsy fit in with your day job and daily routine? Robyn: It is definitely a part-time job that I fit in between the jigs and reels, as they say in Newfoundland. When I can get my children involved, things can happen more smoothly and frequently. So, they help with dyeing and carding. My daughter can spin but she hasn’t wanted to sell anything yet. When they help me, I share the profits with them (such as they are!).

Erica: I never know if this question will be possible to answer, but where do you draw your inspiration from?
Robyn: I get my inspiration from the colours and textures of the landscape and culture of Newfoundland. The view out our front window offers enough to go on for a lifetime! Also, I love to see what other spinners are making, what knitters are buying. I am hoping to expand the types of yarn I offer in the coming year. So far, I have offered mainly two types of yarn: a sock weight and a slightly thicker yarn, DK weight. I want to add a wider variety to suit more tastes.

Erica: Do you have a personal favorite creation?
Robyn: If yarns sits too long in the shop, I usually knit it up into a hat or some other item and sell that. I have loved knitting my yarn, so I would have to say, my hats are some of my favourite creations.

Erica: What level do you hope to take your art to?
Robyn: As an artist, I want to take it as far as it can go—I haven’t found the goal there yet. As a spinner/dyer/knitter, I want to be able to imagine a yarn and then make it happen. Right now, I envision a yarn and then maybe it turns out as I expected and maybe it doesn't. It is always interesting, however!

Erica: Do you have a personal Web site as well? Or is there any other site that people can learn more about you and your art? Robyn: I have a website with all my art projects: www.robynlove.com. And I have a blog where I document THM during the months we are there and my other projects, including making yarn, when we are in NYC: www.myfairisle.blogspot.com

Erica: Before we close out the interview, are there any last thoughts or information that you would like to share?
Robyn: I am really grateful that you offer this forum to share people’s work with others. I am new to this community and it has been a great experience. Maybe it is because crafters are, by nature, generous people, but it has been great to be among so much talent and among people who care for homemade items in a world that values speed and immediate gratification over all else. It is nice to know that we are not alone.

Erica: Thank you, Robyn, for taking the time to participate on the blog! Best of luck in all your artistic pursuits!

Wee ball Yarns
www.WeeBallYarns.etsy.com

Julie's Creation Nation

2008-01-21T04:18:00.000-08:00

This week the Julie, of Julie's Creation Nation, joins us on the blog to talk about her craft and being a homeschooling mom as well. You can check out Julie's shop at: www.JuliePersons.etsy.com

•••••••THE INTERVIEW•••••••••••••

Erica: Let's begin with some basics. Are you the driving force to your shop? How long have you been at it? Julie: I have been selling in my Etsy shop for a year now; I am the sole fiber artist, photographer and marketer.

Erica: The focus of your shop is felting. What brought you to this particular fiber art? Julie: I thought about needle felting for a few years before I attempted it; my mother in law has sheep and there has always been wool available for me to experiment with. My first pieces were nursing dolls and the inspiration came from my then 2 year old daughter who was self-weaning; I was sad about the loss of the babyhood and making nursing dolls proved to be a great catharsis. It was a wonderful way for me to honor that bond and acknowledge the shift.

Erica: Can you tell us about the felting process? I'm an avid knitter, but the idea of felting in any form is still rather foreign to me. What goes into this art? Is there an exact science to it, or is it more hit and miss?
Julie: To simplify it, needle felting is the compression and tangling of fibers by using a barbed felting needle, plunging it into a group of fibers and repeating this until it sculpts into the desired shape. Whether it is an exact science or not depends on who you ask, there are two schools of needle felters: those who see it as an exact science and those who see it as a free flowing form of art. I am somewhere in the middle; I understand the logistics and science behind the blending, compacting and sculpting of fibers but also love to experiment and leave the rules behind.

Erica: I know you have children, are they of an age where they participate in arts or crafts at any level? If they're too young at this point are you planning to instill a love of art in them? how?
Julie: My children are 4 and 8 and they are involved in many, many crafts. I don’t believe there are age barriers for when a child can approach a certain craft or art form; when they are ready then they are ready and I am comfortable with them trying most things, as long as I am there to keep them safe. I don’t plan to “instill” a love of anything in them, my hope is that they will find their own inspirations from life and my job is to keep them safe and provide the materials they might need on this journey. Of course, that is not to say they won’t find inspiration in the crafts I do and love and their father enjoys, but it is up to them whether they find inspiration in them or not.

Erica: I know you mentioned homeschooling, or unschooling, or children. What brought you to this choice?
Julie: We unschool our children. For me, it has always been my hope that we could raise our children in such a way that they are free to make most of their own choices and have the time and support to pursue what speaks to them in life. I believe that the public school system causes a great deal of harm by corralling children and telling them who they should be and how they should wait quietly in line and how they should get used to taking orders from an authority figure. I have a hard time seeing how this allows children to grow into who they were meant to be and still maintain a strong sense of self.
Erica: My parents were right there with you on this idea. As someone who was unschooled I have to say that it was certainly appreciated more and more as I got older.

Erica: How does having your children home with you impact your creativity? Julie: It affects my creativity in such a powerful way; I am inspired by my kids every day. When I see my children playing freely with color and texture and they are so pleased, so joyful, it moves me to express myself freely and this shows in my work, I think.

The effect that motherhood has on my work is hard to describe; it comes from a place of birthing and loving your children in such a deep way. The world is full of things to nurture and every day is new, new, new.

Erica: I know some people don't separate art from their daily lifestyle and others will draw barriers. How do you see your craft fitting with your lifestyle or daily routine?
Julie: It is a part of my day, like eating and breathing and walking. When I find the time to craft, to express what is inside me on a given day, I am content. I make time nearly every day to create something new.

Erica: Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Julie: I draw my inspiration from the natural world and from motherhood; I am drawn to the smallest details in the woods, the fields, the trees and take many photographs of mosses and lichens and natural patterns in nature.

Erica: Do you have a personal favorite creation?
Julie: My favorite creation has been my handful of dryads, needle felted sculpted woman as trees. The first one came to me in a dream; I had this vision of growing up and out and yet so firmly rooted to everything. It is everything I could hope to be.

Erica: How did you find Etsy?
Julie: I actually cannot remember how I found Etsy but I came here as a buyer first and signed on as a seller about 7-8 months later. I have been very happy here.

Erica: What are your goals for your shop/business? Is there a technique that you might want to try eventually? Or a level you wish to reach?
Julie: One of my goals for the shop is to keep expanding and growing; I acquired 5 wholesale accounts in 2007 and hope to double that number in 2008. I have a multitude of ideas for new projects but am currently working on building up a stock of pieces so that I may do art shows and fairs in the summer if I choose. My other goals for the shop are to remain profitable, keep experimenting and find happiness in creating something every day. It is only worth it if my family is happy and I am happy. I want every day to be new.

Erica: Thank you Julie for taking the time to participate in the Etsy Treasures blog!

Julie's Creation Nation
Felted Wool Goodness for Everyone
www.JuliePersons.etsy.com

Faerie Rebecca: Toys From Nature

2008-01-14T04:23:00.000-08:00

This week on the blog we are featuring Rebecca, homeschooling mother of two and Etsy artist. You can visit Rebecca's wonderful toy shop at: www.FaerieRebecca.etsy.com

•••••••THE INTERVIEW•••••••••••••
Erica: Please begin by telling everyone a little about yourself and what your Etsy shop is about.
Rebecca: I’m Rebecca. I homeschool my two daughters—Mara, age 11, and Daisy, age 7. We started homeschooling in the middle of Mara’s kindergarten year. We had experienced a cross-country move, and really wanted to form a community around our family, not make our family fit into a new community. Homeschooling provided us the tools to be together and then reach out for community.

As for what I do on Etsy, I am a doll-maker. I have been making Waldorf style dolls since my eldest was 18 months old. I was heavily influenced in my crafting by our educational choices. Had I never heard of Waldorf education or Rudolf Steiner, I would probably not be an artisan today.
Erica: That is interesting that for you, your craft and decision to homeschool are so closely intertwined there.

Erica: I found your Etsy shop when I was searching specifically for homeschooling Etsians who might include art/crafting in their curriculum, or have a strong focus on the arts in their family. Could you tell everyone a bit about your school and family background?
Rebecca: I was a military brat. My mom was a public school teacher, and my dad served in the Air Force for 23 years. I came up through the public schools in the States and, when we lived overseas, the Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DoDDS). One of my goals as a child was to be a teacher in the DoDDS schools. I wanted to live overseas for free and take long summer vacations in Europe. I never realized my classroom would be a classroom of two!

When my husband and I had children, we gravitated towards the attachment parenting (AP) style of parenting. We truly felt called to be parents to *be there* for our children, not to turn them over to someone else (daycare, preschool, etc.). I think one of the reasons we struggled when we moved from CA to VA in 2002 and put Mara in school was that we were not only geographically uprooted, but philosophically as well. We had never done preschool or anything like that, so we felt lost in the shuffle in the school system.

We found Waldorf education when our eldest was 2 years old. Mara and I attended a parent/child program at the Waldorf School in Orange County, CA. I immediately fell in love with Waldorf’s holistic education approach, the emphasis on arts and music as integral parts of the curriculum, the idea of allowing a child to be a child and not pushing them into academics before the age of 7. One of the key ideas in the Waldorf philosophy is natural toys in early childhood. The playthings in a Waldorf environment are open-ended toys such as tree blocks (blocks still shaped like the sticks from which they are carved), silk scarves, and natural dolls made from cotton and wool with minimal facial features. Through these ideas (and several kind teachers at the Waldorf School) I was inspired to try my hand at dollmaking.

Erica: Do you feel that being homeschooling your children has allowed you and them to pursue your creative interests more than if they had been attending a brick and mortar school?
Rebeca: I definitely feel that being home gives me a chance to share my crafting with my children and to make arts a definite part of their lives. My eldest daughter has made several items for our Etsy shop, and she has her own interests in weaving, dyeing, and wool crafts that I can nurture here at home.

Erica: Do you make a conscious effort to make art or crafts a part of your curriculum?
Rebecca: The Waldorf philosophy is based on learning through artistic expression. Drawing, modeling with beeswax, and creating meaningful handcrafts are part of the curriculum. For instance, my first grader is learning to knit this year; my eldest is learning to sew her own clothes. All of this is standard in the Waldorf curriculum. Waldorf stresses holistic education by educating “head, heart, hands”—making things with your hands is a huge part of what we do.

Erica: What materials do you use for your toys and dolls? Why were you drawn to those materials?
Rebecca: I use primarily natural materials. My dolls are made from cotton interlock and wool stuffing. My needle-felted creations are created from wool and wire. The idea of using natural materials appeals to me not only from the Waldorf perspective, but because I really like using materials that are renewable and not damaging to the earth. Wool will always be here as long as there are sheep; polyfil is an oil derivative (as are all plastics).

I also just like the way my dolls smell! After a child has been cuddling them, the wool holds onto a bit of the child’s body heat and just starts to smell like the child—that sweet, innocent smell unique to little ones.

Erica: How did you make your way onto Etsy?
Rebecca: A friend of mine suggested that I try Etsy after we exhibited at a craft show together. I had never heard of Etsy, but I was game for it. I am so glad she suggested it, and I’d love to give her a plug—Ginger at The Alchemist’s Star referred me here. She makes awesome chain maille jewelry that she sells here on Etsy as well (www.TheAlchemistsStar.etsy.com)

Erica: I was homeschooled (or "unschooled") from elementary through highschool. I know that many different things can be a learning experience. Do you feel this is true of Etsy? How so? Did it make you look at your art in a different way? Rebecca: Coming onto Etsy really made me value my art. I had been making dolls for years and selling them to friends and family (or just giving them away as gifts). When I started my Etsy shop in October, I really had to think about what my dolls were worth! In the past, I had been selling them for about $10 over the cost of materials, and not really charging anything for my time and my individual crafting skills. Since I’ve been on Etsy I have raised my prices three times, and my dolls are still selling.

I have also begun to see myself as an artist since being on Etsy. There are so many people on Etsy who sell so many beautiful things, and I see them all as artists. If Etsy is a collection of all of these wonderful artists, well, doesn’t that make me an artist, too? That was really a revelation for me.

Erica: You've told us about how your were inspired to begin making dolls and toys. Where do you find the inspiration to continue? Rebecca: Of course, having children is such an inspiration. I knew I wanted my children to have the highest quality toys made from natural materials. So, I made them for them or bought them from trusted sources—something that Etsy really helps with now! After I had filled my children’s rooms (and friends’ children’s rooms!) with dolls, it made me think that every child deserved to have these beautiful toys. That’s what really keeps me going—knowing that every doll I make is going to a child who will love it, hug it, and have a family heirloom for life. That a child who is gifted one of my dolls is getting a glimpse of what a truly beautiful toy can be. And maybe, just maybe, the mom or dad (or grandma, uncle, friend, etc.) giving that toy may also be inspired to use his or her hands to create a lovely toy.

Erica: What is your personal favorite creation? why? Rebecca: I love the traditional Waldorf 16” doll. This is a limbed stuffed doll with arms out as if awaiting a hug. I love this style of doll because it is great for any child. My 11-year-old still plays with hers.

If you want to know which is my absolute favorite doll I’ve ever made, well, it’s two dolls. The first time I made the 16” doll was for Mara’s 2nd birthday. Two friends of mine and I went in on a doll-making kit. The kit had supplies for 6 dolls, so we each made two. I made Mara a fair-skinned doll with short red pigtails and an Asian boy dll with black spiky hair. We named them Amber and Miso (Mara loves Japanese food, and miso soup is a favorite, hence Miso). Those two dolls took me months to finish, working on them whenever I could find a few spare minutes. They are my favorite dolls, and I look forward to the day when I get to tell my grandchildren about these dolls!

Erica: Do you have any goals for your craft? Another level you'd like to reach either as an artist or in selling your work? Rebecca: Even though I have been making and selling dolls for 10 years, I feel like this is the first time I have really worked on my craft as a business. I would like to continue working to make custom dolls, as well as creating things in my shop whenever I get inspired. I have recently started working on a line of Goddess-inspired needle-felted dolls, and I would like to expand this as a way to honor the divine feminine.

Erica: Do you anticipate your children becoming more involved with your business and Etsy shop?
Rebecca: My children are very interested in learning to make dolls. I have already had several requests from both of them—Mommy, can you teach me to make those kind of dolls? We needle-felt together and they really love working on creations with me and then helping me sell them on Etsy. I can imagine either (or both) of them having their own crafting business someday!

Erica: Are there any last thoughts or information that you would like to share before we conclude this week's post? Rebecca: One of my favorite things to tell people is how ironic it is that I fell in love with an arts-based form of education. I failed art class when I was in 11th grade because I told the teacher (and this is the honest and true quote verbatim off of my report card): “Art is stupid and I am never going to use it.” And where do I find myself? Teaching my children how to draw, paint, model, knit, crochet, cross stitch and create handcrafts. Life is certainly amazing.
Erica: Rebecca, Thank you so much for taking the time to participate in this blog!

www.FaerieRebecca.etsy.com

Beach Glass Jewelry

2008-01-07T04:22:00.000-08:00

This week I will be introducing my dad, Rick Jackofsky, who has just recently opened up his own Etsy shop: www.BeachGlassJewelry.etsy.com.

The Introduction....
I'm Erica's (FiddleLee's) dad.
"I was born in the wild north land, little house by the river side. Now
I'm livin' on this island, people come and go with the tide . . ."
I've spent the last thirty years living on the fringe, trying not to
get a job. I guess I've been somewhat successful because except for a
couple backslides when I worked as a roughneck (oilfield worker), truck
driver, and short order cook, I've managed to eek out a living as a
musician and photographer. I have been married for 29 years, have two
beautiful daughters and own a little house two blocks from the LI
sound, so I guess I did a little better than eeking out.

Erica: Is there any moment in time when you first became interested in art? Rick: I first became interested in photography when I was twelve years old and found an old camera that one of my dad's old friends left behind when he went underground (I never got the full story on that, it was the '60s). Anyway, that year I got some darkroom equipment for my birthday and the artist within was awoken. When I was sixteen I became more interested in music and would eventually enroll in (and drop out) of Berklee School of Music in Boston. After my freshman year I hit the road with a country rock band, but the band broke up in Kansas. I ended up in Texas, roughnecking and playing bass in a Honky Tonk/Rockabilly band. While in Texas I also went back to school for photography and have since worked as a photojournalist, fine arts photographer (photographing artwork), and lab technician.

Erica: Your Etsy shop is all about beach glass jewelry. What gave you the idea to begin and do you collect the beach glass yourself? Rick: Somewhere along the line I quit smoking and started running. (I'm getting to the beach glass, I promise.) I was a pretty good runner and was able to gain sponsorships from Reebok and Adidas. In 1990, while training with the hope of qualifying for the Olympic marathon trials, I was hit by a bus. (Ouch!) This was a life changing experience. I fractured four vertebrae in my lower back and reevaluated my life. This experience is what led me back to music. I was able to coerce my wife and kids into joining me and we would eventually form The Homegrown String Band, an adventure that over the last eleven years has taken us to seventeen states and seen us release four CDs. Because of the back injury I was forced to limit my running and would soon stop competing. I found I was able to run further if I stuck to soft surfaces like the beach. I began taking long runs on the beach with my faithful companion Grover, a Portuguese water dog. Along the way we would stop and pick up pieces of beach glass. After fifteen years I had accumulated quite a collection. When my lovely wife threatened to throw it away, I decided to make jewelry with it. I made about fifty necklaces and sold them in my photo shop.

Erica: How did you make your way onto Etsy and how does being on Etsy fit in with your job and daily routine? Rick: This week, after twenty one years, I am closing up my photo shop. So now that I'm semi-retired I figured I could while away the hours making jewelry and selling it on Etsy and maybe a craft show here and there.

Erica: Both making jewelry and being an online seller are relatively new experiences for you. Have you gained deeper insight on your work by being a part of an online art/craft community? Is there another level you'd like to reach either as an artist or in selling your work?
Rick: I really feel like I have just been dabbling at this point, but seeing all the wonderful artwork and crafts for sale on Etsy sites has inspired me to come up with some new designs, which hopefully will come together and be available soon. Etsy may also someday become an outlet for my photography now that I have closed my retail store.

Erica: Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Rick: The beach, of course. Wind, water, forces of nature, the Earth's
ability to heal itself.

Erica: What is your personal favorite creation?
Rick: I haven't made it yet.
Erica: Good answer.

More about Rick, the family, and their music can be found by visiting The Homegrown String Band at: www.homegrownstringband.com

FiddleBones

2007-12-31T04:00:00.000-08:00

This week on Etsy Treasures we are featuring FiddleBones, artwork by Sam Hamrick. Check out www.FiddleBones.etsy.com to see his work.

•••••••THE INTERVIEW•••••••••••••

Erica: Who makes up FiddleBones and how did you come by that name?
Sam: Fiddlebones is just me for now. When I first began putting my prints onto T-shirts, the 'Fiddler' print was the first to come up, and when I needed a name for my 'company', 'Fiddlebones' popped into my head.

Erica: Most people can pinpoint a special person or event that introduced them to their. Is this true for you? Who, or what, was your early influence?
Sam: I get my artistic leanings from both sides of my family. I can remember my Dad looking into the medicine cabinet mirror while painting his self portrait in our bathroom in Mobile Alabama, and my Mom showing me how to draw airplanes. I had many talented aunts and uncles, and my Mom's Mom was a very skilled portrait artist. No one was trying to make a living at it, they just did it. The only person in our family's past history who attempted to earn an income from drawing and painting was a man on my Dad's side of the family, an itinerant portrait painter in the southeast United States in the early 1800's. I don't know his name, but my Dad has two or three of the portraits, painted on bed ticking, one of them framed and over his mantle.
Erica: That's fascinating to have that common thread running through the family.

Erica: Do you find that you tend to stay within one specific style of art, or particular technique?
Sam: I'm primarily a printmaker, working at lino and woodcuts. I first seriously took up printmaking in Fairbanks, Alaska. I had taken an introductory Printmaking class at the University there and was hooked. My wife Theresa and I lived in a two room cabin with no running water at the time, so many of the print techniques I had learned in class were impractical at home, except relief printing. My first woodcut was done on a piece of breadboard from our kitchen. I used one of Theresa's wooden spoons to transfer the carved image to the paper. Thirty years later that spoon is one of my favorite tools, even though I now have my own press.
Erica: What a story you have there!

Erica: I found your Etsy shop while doing a search for "Fiddle" and "Banjo." As a lifelong musician I found a connection to your prints. I can't help but wondering, since so many of your designs feature music, if you are also a musician.
Sam: Yes, a lot of my images are musical. I've always loved music, and I'm an amateur mandolin player. I sang in a Bluegrass band in Fairbanks, and a good many of the friends I made were through musical circles. Since moving to Seattle I haven't been involved in any music scene, but I still play at home, and using music as a subject for my prints is a way of keeping me connected.

Erica: The other element many of your prints have are skeletons. What is your attraction to using them?
Sam: My first acquaintance with an artistic rendering of skeletons was in a little book of Bruegel paintings that I got for Christmas when I was a kid. His painting 'The Triumph of Death' is overrun with skeletons herding masses of humanity towards the gates of hell. It's an apocalyptic scene, full of murder and mayhem, yet for all the terrifying atmosphere there is definitely a comic aspect to the painting, at least to my eyes. I think this contradiction is what struck me the most. I always appreciate a sense of humor in art, and music is to me the perfect way to animate my skeletons in my prints.

Erica: How did you come to find Etsy?
Sam: I was introduced to Etsy through a friend here in Seattle, an Etsy artist herself (bluedogrose.etsy.com) I'd been looking for a way to market my work online, and this seemed to be the perfect opportunity. It's a great community of artists.

Erica: Have you found that selling on Etsy, or online in general, affects the way you approach your art? Sam: Selling on Etsy hasn't significantly changed the way I work. I just try to do the best I can whatever the piece. I do have a personal web site at www.fiddlebones.com It's been undergoing 'spring cleaning' since April. I have a good portfolio of work that is not on the Etsy site, but at the moment I do all my selling on Etsy.

Erica: How does Etsy, and your printmaking, fit into your daily life? Sam: I have a day job, like most people, so I work on my prints when I can. I never seem to have enough time. I usually get my best work time in early in the morning. I'm usually up at 4:30 or 5 o'clock to try to get a couple of hours in before I start the rest of the day.

Erica: How do you find inspiration? Do you go looking for it? Sam: My inspiration comes from the oddest places, and usually not when I'm looking for it, in shadows, silhouettes in windows, shapes of clouds, trees, patterns in worn linoleum floors. It's not anything I can force, it's usually spontaneous. As far as other artists as inspiration, there are many. Peter Bruegel, Walt Kelly, (the creator of Pogo), many unnamed African carvers and artists, Rembrandt, Toulouse Lautrec, Gustave Dore, the list is endless.

Erica: Is it possible for you to name a personal favorite creation? Sam: I've got a lot of favorite creations, and many of them are still in my head. The "Fiddler" skeleton has become almost like a friend to me. He's been around for a while.

Erica: As a final note, where do you hope to take your art? Any goals for the future? Sam: My hope is to be able to follow my creative senses through to the end. My goal is to be able to devote more time to doing this.
Erica: Thank you, Sam, for taking the time to participate in this blog. Best of luck to you!

Remember to check out Sam's shop at: www.FiddleBones.etsy.com or: www.FiddleBones.com

Happy Holidays!

2007-12-24T04:33:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! The Etsy Treasures blog is taking a break for this week, but don't worry, interviews will be back in full force with the coming new year.

I'm currently organizing some little "mini series." The first of these to appear will be a few interviews with homeschooling Etsians. That is families or kids/teens that run their own shops on Etsy. So far in this series we have Madeline, a 16 year-old digital and fine art photographer, and FaerieRebecca, making natural dolls and playthings.

Outside of the homeschooling series we also have some other amazing artists in line to be featured including FiddleBones, DuttonArt, and WeeBallYarns.

Stay tuned to Etsy Treasures! Thank you for supporting indie artists!

Daisy Wares, Vegan Jewelry

2007-12-16T18:34:00.000-08:00

This week's interview is with Roni of Daisy Wares, a vegan friendly jewelry shop on Etsy.
Roni lives in Berkeley with her husband, 2 dogs and 6 cats. She has been a vegan for about a year, but a vegetarian for 24 years. In this interview we hear about how her love of beading and jewelry crafting combined with her vegan lifestyle has melded to form Daisy Wares.
Visit her shop at: www.daisywares.etsy.com

•••••THE INTERVIEW•••••••••
Erica: Who is part of DaisyWares? Is it a solo venture?
Roni:I am the sole owner of Daisy Wares. Daisy was my beloved Beagle that passed away at a very young age from cancer. I wanted her name to live on so I named my business after her.

Erica: Who, or what, got you turned on to making jewelry?
Roni: I met a bunch of friends at a craft party and everyone was making jewelry. I was sitting there with my knitting thinking it looked more fun than what I was doing. I was mesmerized by all the different colors, shapes and types of beads. I purchased some bead magazines, took a few classes on beading and away I went. Then I just started putting the beads together to form jewelry and I was hooked ever since. I am obsessed with Swarovski Crystals. I love the way they shine.
Erica: I definitely relate to your love of Swarovski crystal. They are simply stunning!

Erica: In your description you note that all your jewelry is "vegan." This is a term some people might not be familiar with, especially in the context of jewelry. Tell everyone a little about that.
Roni: I never use any animal by-products in my jewelry such as leather, bone, silk or pearls etc. I base my life around being vegan. Obviously I don't eat meat or dairy. I don't wear wool sweaters or leather shoes or use any make-up or shampoo that contains animal by-products or that was tested on animals so I am not going to use it in my jewelry either. The welfare of animals is very important to me. I hope to get the message across in my jewelry that being vegan is not only a healthy choice for your body but it also can help save farm animals from the torment they go through on factory farms and it also helps contribute to the environment by slowing down global warming. Many people do not know that factory farming is a huge contributor in global warming.

Erica: How did you make your way onto Etsy? and what do you think about the Etsy community?
Roni: One day I was searching for vegan perfume on the Internet and kept coming up with these ETSY sites. So I kept checking out more and more of them. My first purchase was from Vegan Dish and it was such a pleasant experience that I wanted to come back for more. This was around the same time I started my business so since I was familar with ETSY already, I started my store Daisy Wares. I love reading the forums and looking through everyone's favorite shops. Everyone is so nice and helpful on Etsy. It's the best community ever!

Erica: Have you gained any new insight on your work by being a part of an online art/craft community? Do you approach your work in the same manner when it is destined for online sale? Roni: When I was first selling on ETSY I looked around at other seller's jewelry and their's was bigger with more detail and very intricate. I thought I had to strive to be better. But I didn't want to turn this into a competition. So I don't get influenced by other's work. I look at their work to enjoy it but not to copy it. My jewelry comes from what I am feeling at the time I am making it. They are all one of a kind pieces.

Erica: Besides being on Etsy, do you have a personal Web site as well?
Roni: My personal website is www.daisywares.net

Erica: How does crafting, and being on Etsy, fit in with your day job and daily routine? Roni: Luckily my boss at my day job is not in sight of my computer. I am always sneaking on at work to read the forums and see who has listed me as a favorite and more dangerously for my wallet, I shop! ETSY is definitely apart of my daily life. It's an awesome website.

Erica: The required question: where do you draw your inspiration from? Roni: I love the simple things in life and I think I reflect that in my jewelry. I like simple, dainty yet elegant pieces. I don't like gaudy or heavy pieces. I have elegant jewelry for women and fun, happy jewelry for teenage girls. My inspiration comes from the desire to raise money for organizations that help save farm animals from abuse and neglect. 10% of my sales currently go to The Animal Place in Vacaville CA. Their website is www.animalplace.org I have become a Foster Parent for Howie the cow there. The more jewelry I can create and sell, the more I can help those animals in need.
Erica: Definitely a worthy cause. Kudos.

Erica: Do you have a personal favorite piece that you've made? If you do can you tell us why you chose this one?
Roni: This is one of my favorite pieces (clear/pink crystal earrings at right) because they remind me of wrapped presents with a bow on top. And Christmas is my favorite time of year. I also like the earrings at left. They have simplicity written all over them but they look so beautiful when you have that little black dress on with heels. They are definitely earrings to go out on the town with.

Erica: What level do you hope to take your art to?
Roni: I am expanding into necklaces which are not on my ETSY site yet, but will be once I make enough pieces. And I am starting to use different gems other then Swarovski Crystals. It's so much fun to create and when you have a whole palette of beads to choose from the possibilities are endless. So I am very excited to launch my necklaces on ETSY.

Erica: Any last thoughts or information that you would like to share?
Roni: I would really like to promote shops that give back to the animals. This is it! Creations and Etsy for Animals are a great place to start shopping and helping our cute furry friends.

Thank you Roni for taking the time to participate on Etsy Treasures!
Remember to check Daisy Wares at: www.daisywares.etsy.com

DogDaisy92 Embroidery

2007-12-10T04:47:00.000-08:00

This week we have Jackie of DogDaisy92 here on the blog with us. I have to say that it has been a great pleasure talking to Jackie in preparation of this blog feature. She is based out of Chorley, England and you can check out her Etsy shop by visiting: www.dogdaisy92.etsy.com

•••••••••THE INTERVIEW•••••••••••••••

Erica: Let's begin by giving people a little bit of an introduction to what you do.
Jackie: Making embroidered wall hangings and panels, ‘Art’ I suppose , is my main interest but to keep the wolf from the door I make a range of small embroidered accessories and gifts for selling.

Erica: Has this always been something that interested you?
Jackie: I suppose I’ve been a ‘maker’ as long as I can remember and usually that involved using stitch. I used to make things when I was at high school: crocheted berets, little ‘beings’ (which in the 60’s were known as ‘gonks’) and everyone wanted one. I didn’t have the business acumen to charge for them though. Just the materials. I made so many berets back then. They’re back in fashion now..hmmmm...maybe I’ll get my hook out again!

Erica: Do you stick mainly to one specific craft area (like embroidery) or are their many forms of arts and crafts that capture your interest?
Jackie: I tend to stick with embroidery, but I should do more drawing and painting. I used to be good at that but I’m out of practice now.

Erica: Most everyone has a special person or moment in their life that they associate with their love of crafting. Who/what got you started?
Jackie: I have two people. My Grandmother lived with us when I was young and was a great embroiderer, knitter and tailor. She taught me a lot. In fact my grandfather who died before I was born was a tailor so it must be in the genes. My second person is my cousin who I was very close to when we were younger. She is about 5 years older than me. I spent a lot of time with her and we used to sew and draw and cook together.

Erica: How did you find your way onto Etsy?
Jackie: I belong to the Embroiderers Guild (in UK ) and from their website I followed links to a stitch dictionary (sharonb), which led me to a blog, and I saw a flickr tutorial on how to make a bottle cap pincushion by verybigjen , so that way I discovered flickr, and through flickr I kept seeing this etsy word,...I think the first time I saw it was when I put in a search for ‘fabric’ and found a fabric necklace by Danny Mansmith
and thats how I found etsy!

Erica: Have you gained any new insight on your work by being a part of an online art/craft community? Do you approach your work in the same manner when it is destined for online sale?
Jackie: Yes. First of all the comments from flickr were immensely confidence boosting and I soon gathered a lovely group of contacts who I now feel are my friends.
I listed a few brooches on etsy and they didn’t move for ages so I posted topics asking for help on forums. I was amazed at some of the insight I got. I never thought the fact that a dog was my avatar could put people off buying till someone pointed it out, so I changed that. Then someone suggested I was ‘playing safe’ so I put some expensive things on etsy to make people look. Then there were one or two other helpful hints about promoting which I still haven’t fully looked into. Its interesting that things I really like myself aren’t often the things that are the most popular on etsy.
Erica: I know what you mean! I find that interesting too.

Erica: Do you have a personal Web site? or are you selling only through Etsy?
Jackie: I don’t have a website, I only sell online through etsy. I don’t even have a blog. Maybe I’ll start in the New Year....
Erica: Oh..... Blogging can be addicting! let me know if you do start something so I can put a link to it up.

Erica: Here's the artist's favorite question, where do you find your inspiration? What gets you motivated when you fall into a artistic slump?
Jackie: Funny you should ask. I had a couple of bad slumps recently when I was doing too many things, involved in too many groups. I remember one particular week when I was on 3 different dayschools on Friday Saturday and Sunday, and making for craft fairs and galleries. I had no time to develop my own ideas. I opted out of one group, finished my chairmanship of our branch of Embroiderers Guild and had a rest. Then I decided to enter for a national Exhibition with this piece which received a commendation. That gave me great confidence and got me going again. As well as nature, art, both ancient and modern, and poetry, I am inspired by the actual fabrics and threads and just can’t help putting them together and reveling in their combination. Each little piece I make to decorate a book cover, or become a brooch is a tiny work of art and a chance to try out different colour and texture combinations.

Erica: Do you have a personal favorite creation that you've made? What is it about this particular piece that you find attracting? Jackie: My favourite piece is my Greek pot wall hanging.
I’m most proud of that because it was my first big piece worked through from research and design and I was very pleased with the final outcome. I also have some velvet paisley pieces that I love but I am finding them very difficult to photograph so they are not on flickr.

Erica: How does art fit in with your daily routine/lifestyle?
Jackie: Routine? What’s that?
When I’m inspired I sew, when I’m not I do other things..housework or walking, or have a social life! Of course sometimes I work for selling events or special exhibitions and then that’s all I do for a few weeks...and have a big clean afterwards.
Sometimes I do talks and workshops and that really takes over because it takes so long to get it all out and put it all away again. Often I just throw it into the sewing room and shut the door on it for a day or two!
Erica: Good answer!

Erica: Are there any goals you have for the future of your craft?
Jackie: I would really like to have a piece accepted into ’The Art of the Stitch’. I’ve just had my latest rejection and its painful. It only happens every two years and the kind of work in it is usually far more ‘avant garde’ than I do but I just want to celebrate embroidery as decorative art and have my version of it validated by acceptance into that show. Ah well. There were almost a thousand entries and only 56 were selected so I share my feelings with ..well you can do the math!

Erica: I've noticed some new listing going up on your Etsy site recently. Tell everyone a little about them.
Jackie: I am really excited about my ‘Harris Tweed’ connection. Someone bought me a piece of Harris Tweed when they were on holiday in Scotland. I kept it for ages and about 3 years ago I decided to try it out as brooches. I found the combination of my own dyed silk velvet and the tweed on a very small scale was ideal to show off the best qualities of both fabrics, but I only had one piece of it to go with. I contacted the Harris Tweed Authority http://www.harristweed.org/index.asp who put me in touch with 4 handloom weavers and two of them replied. One was John Macmillan of the Isle of Lewis and a lovely lady called Katie Campbell on Harris, who actually phoned me to ask what I needed. They both sent me small pieces of the most glorious tweeds which when viewed close to as I use them show dozens of beautiful colours of yarn go to make up the overall appearance.

I’ve recently learned that Handwoven Harris Tweed is in short supply as there are not many people making it and it can only be called genuine when certain processes have been used.
So buy your brooches and bags now while stocks last!
Erica: It is lovely stuff. And those bags you've made....... Beautiful!

Thank you Jackie for taking the time out of your "routine" and doing the interview for this blog. Everyone, remember to go check out DogDaisy92 at: www.DogDaisy92.etsy.com

This is it! Creations

2007-12-03T04:33:00.000-08:00

For this weeks interview we have This is it! Creations. They create unique gifts, including jewelry and environmentally friendly photo albums, journals, and greeting cards. Products are designed to help you reflect, appreciate each moment, and remember what’s important in life: peace, love, beauty, and fun! Currently they give 5% of profits to animal welfare groups, showing that they feel it really is important to give back.
Check out their Etsy shop at: www.ThisIsIt.etsy.com

•••••••••THE INTERVIEW•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Erica: To get started tell everyone who makes up This Is It! and who we'll be speaking with now.
Jodi: This Is It! Creations is made up of myself (Jodi) and my husband, Dan. My husband is currently in graduate school for creative writing though, so it’s mostly just me until he graduates next year! My mom also helps sometimes with the hardcover journals, which we really appreciate!

Erica: Many people can pinpoint a special person or even that introduced them to art/crafting. Is this the case for you too?
Jodi: Wow, I really don’t have a specific person. I have always been “crafty” – growing up I was always the person who would make cards for everyone for any holiday I could think of. I have always had a love for anything paper! I used to make friends stationery sets and they always said I should start a business—so here I am!
Erica: That sounds an awful lot like my sister.... always making cards. I'll have to introduce her to you site!

Erica: Do you specialize in one specific area of art or crafting?
Jodi: I started with cards and journals because of my obsession with paper! And then I had a friend who made jewelry, which I thought looked like a lot of fun—and it was! I really love both areas so much—I also like incorporating beads and charms with my paper products. It gives them another dimension. Next maybe I can incorporate paper into my jewelry designs!
Erica: That does sound interesting.... I'll keep my eye out for your paper jewelry.

Erica: I love your motto, "freedom from the ordinary ~ freedom for the animals." What inspired you to take this direction and to combine your love of crafting/art with your love of animals?
Jodi: Before there was crafts, there was my extreme love for animals. Hands down, this is the most important part of my life. My husband and I are both vegan and animal activists. So when we started this company, we wanted to incorporate our love for creating with our love for helping animals—this is how we decided to give a portion of our profits to animal groups. Our goal is to increase the percentage as our company grows. It’s very exciting! The groups we currently give to are: Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, The Jane Goodall Institute, The Humane Farming Association, and The National Anti-Vivisection Society.

Erica: My favorite items in your shop are definitely the sketchbooks, journals, and albums. They are beautifully crafted and the selling point for me was your care and interest in using environmentally friendly materials. Tell us about making these items and what goes into it (without sharing trade secrets, of course).
Jodi: Thanks for the compliments! :)
I really feel that the world consciousness is changing with regard to the environment and sustainable living –and it’s very exciting to be a part of this change. I think it’s so important to contribute creatively to the world, but to leave as small of a mark while doing so – so Dan and I use recycled boards for our journals and cardstock. All of our journal paper Is handmade and environmentally friendly. We will continue to move more and more in this direction because I feel that it’s so important for our planet.

Erica: How did you make your way onto Etsy? and what do you think about the Etsy community?
Jodi: My friend (Roni at Daisywares) told me about it after she created a shop. I am amazed by Etsy. I love being a part of it. I am completely obsessed with it. I can log on at any time of any day and there is always something new to read in the forums, new products that were just listed, new hearts, new treasuries…the list goes on and on! I have to make myself log out just to get my work done! We were just selling wholesale before Etsy, and so this is a great way to talk to people firsthand who buy our products and see what their reactions are! I am just thrilled to be a part of it!

Erica: Have you gained any new insight on your work by being a part of an online art/craft community?
Jodi: I have learned so much since I’ve been on Etsy. I read the forums religiously. I have found better suppliers, picture-taking techniques, and so much more!

Erica: Do you have a personal Web site as well? Or any other site that you sell your product on?
Jodi: You can find us here:
ThisIsItCreations.com
MySpace.com/ThisIsItCreations
MySpace.com/JodiInTheBay

Erica: How does crafting, or being on Etsy, fit in with your day job and daily routine?
Jodi: This Is It! Creations is my full-time job. Dan and I started the company because we wanted to be creative, work from home, and be together. I get up in the morning and go to sleep at night thinking about This Is It! Creations—and I wouldn’t have it any other way! :) So Etsy fits into my routine just beautifully!

Erica: Here's the questions every artist gets... Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Jodi: Great question. I really don’t know. A lot of times, I will see a design in my head right before I go to sleep or when I first wake up. I have an “Idea Book” that I keep close by for times like these. I just sketch it out and then the idea gets put into fruition. I love anything that has Asian influences. I love Jackson Pollock and many other abstract artists. I love Buddhist art and statues. I love the colors of India. I feel like there are so many ideas in my mind—and I just need to find the time to sit down and create them all!
Erica: I'm right there with you on trying to find enough time.

Erica: Do you have a personal favorite creation? If you do, what attracts you to it?
Jodi: I love the Awaken hardcover journal. I just love the look of it. And I think it’s so important to stay present and focused. I have a tendency to get scattered—and so reminding myself to awaken to my fullest potential is very important. It was also a breakthrough for me in terms of the style of our journals.

Erica: What level do you hope to take your art to?
Jodi: We are currently in stores and homes all over the country, and I hope that just continues to grow and grow. I would love to be able to say that I helped millions of animals through my donations from sales. I would love to continue creating products that I am proud of. I never make something that I wouldn’t wear or use myself ,and I hope to always stay true to that.

Erica: Any last thoughts or information that you would like to share?
Jodi: Just thanks to you for providing this blog and getting the word out there that there are so many great, talented artists out there! It’s so important that people continue to buy handmade products!
Thanks, also, to everyone in the Etsy community. I have been welcomed with open arms, which feels so good!

Thank you Jodi for taking the time to chat about This Is It! Creations. Remember to check out their Web site and Etsy shop: www.ThisIsIt.etsy.com

COMING NEXT WEEK
DogDaisy92 ~ Free-form silk embroidery

4Paws: Stylish Pet Fasions & Accessories

2007-11-26T05:34:00.000-08:00

This week we are featuring Cathy, the creator of 4Paws. Check her shop for items to pamper your four-footed friends: www.4paws.etsy.com

• • • • •THE INTERVIEW• • • • • • • • • • •
Erica: Let's begin at the beginning.... What got you started sewing and how long has it been?
Cathy: I started sewing about 7 years ago after finishing college. I was doing shift work so I needed something to keep me busy in between shifts. I remember buying my sewing machine and saying it was for my mom because I was embarrassed to tell my friends it was mine. I thought sewing was soooo uncool.

It was only a few weeks after my purchase that I became hooked and haven’t looked back since. I enrolled in fashion design school and after a few years of sewing, I quit my day job and started sewing full-time. I designed a women’s clothing line that was sold in a few local boutiques. After a few seasons, I decided to take a break as the industry was leaning towards cheap mass produced goods and, I had an opportunity to work full-time again at a real job.

Erica: That definitely sounds like an interesting experience all around. It's like you went in a full circle.

Erica: How did u get introduced to Etsy:
Cathy: I was introduced to Etsy though an acquaintance’s blog. This was about a year ago but I didn’t pay much attention to it then. It was about two months ago that I clicked on it again and discovered the true meaning of Etsy.

Erica: We know about your original purchase of a sewing machine that led to your time working in the fashion industry. Now, years later you find Etsy and create 4Paws. How did that come about?
Cathy: Soon after I discovered Etsy, I knew I wanted to design and sew a fashion line that caters to a smaller niche market. One night it dawned on me….dog clothing. After doing tons of research on the web and consulting with my dog owner friends, I knew it was a viable market. And that’s how I started 4Paws.

Erica: Where do you look for inspiration?
Cathy: I get my inspiration from the trends going on in the fashion industry. I read a lot of fashion magazine and I follow the fashion weeks in Europe and NY.

Erica: Many artists selling online are doing so to fit in with other jobs or lifestyles, etc. How do you find Etsy to fit with your daily life/routine?
Cathy: I try no to be too obsessed with Etsy…although I’m sure my boyfriend would disagree. At my job, I get the chance to check my store and the forums at lunch time. I usually do my sewing at night after supper and on weekends.

Erica: Most artists have an item or two that they mark as their personal favorite. What's yours?
Cathy: To date, my favourite jacket is the one pictured on Niko, a friend’s dog. They volunteered to take pictures of him during their next walk in the park. Apparently, the dog was very hyper that day but I think the pictures turned out great.

For my catnip toys, the Parisian mouse was my first creation and it’s still my favorite. I worked really hard to get each element of the mouse just right. (see photo above right)

Erica: What level do you hope to take 4paws to?
Cathy: My ultimate goal is for my business to be successful so that I can quit my day job and work on my business full time. I’ve recently reached my 1st milestone which was to work one less day a week….which is one extra day I can devote to 4paws.
In the spring, I will also be launching my 2nd Etsy shop: www.tangente.etsy.com. Woo-hoo.

Erica: Good luck with 4paws! and I look forward to seeing your second shop as well. I'll be cheering for you to get to quit your day job! :)

4Paws: www.4paws.etsy.com

* • * • * • * • *

Coming next week:
This Is It Creations ~ unique, environmentally friendly gifts

Bird Apparel

2007-11-19T04:08:00.000-08:00

Bird Apparel is an independent clothing company based out of the Toronto area. Anita Condron has absorbed her grandparents talent and devotion to tailoring and applied it to creating her own "hand-crafted and sweatshop free. . . very limited editions or 'a-few-of-a-kind'" clothing designs.

Vist Anita's shop at: www.BirdApparel.etsy.com

• • • • • • • • THE INTERVIEW • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Erica: In your profile you mention that your own love for creating clothing was inspired by your grandparents.
Anita: Yes, they had their own clothing business for many years. My grandfather was a tailor and my grandmother a seamstress. Both very hard working and talented. I've been around sewing machines and fabric since I was very young and it's just blossomed from there. I studied Fashion Design and recently started my own clothing line. I grew up around it and now I'm following in their footsteps.

Erica: That sounds wonderful Anita! About how long have you been sewing in general, or sewing to sell your work?
Anita: I've been sewing since I was about 8 or so. Selling to the public for about 3 years now. It started on-line and has grown to 5 stores.

Erica: What brought you to sell your designs on Etsy?
Anita: I was just on the internet one day and came across it. I don't really remember how, but one thing leads to another I guess.........

Erica: Do you have a personal Web site as well?
Anita: Yes, www.birdapparel.ca. Other than that I sell on Etsy.

Erica: Many people choose Etsy as an outlet to sell their designs that fits in with their daily routine. How does your Etsy shop fit in with your day job or life in general?
Anita: I'm home with my 2 kids (3 and 5), so I just work around them. I have a lot of late nights, doing sewing and other business related stuff on the internet!! I also sell my line at 5 stores in Canada, so things can get a bit crazy at times! The laundry and cleaning always seem to get done though!

Erica: That's great that a few stores are carrying your designs!
In all the hectic moments of designing late at night or with your kids around, where do you find your inspiration?
Anita: In everything really. Runway and street fashion. Nature. Music. My friends. I love making clothing for them and designing with someone in mind. (Jacky is my best customer!!)

Thanks you Anita for taking the time out to do this interview! :)
www.BirdApparel.etsy.com

Remember to come back again next week for another artist profile here on Etsy Treasures!
Upcoming Profiles:
4Paws, Pet Fashions and accessories
Feral Glass, outdoor sculpture
DogDaisy92, Free-form Embroidery
FiddleBones, prints and greeting cards

Miller Genuine Craft

2007-11-12T04:36:00.000-08:00

This week is featured Cheryl Miller of the Etsy shop Miller Genuine Craft. Cheryl specializes in handsewn baby garments and blankets. You can find her store at:
www.ChMiller.etsy.com

• • • • • • •The Interview• • • •

Erica: Everyone has that special person, or moment, in their life that turned them onto art. Who/what was it in your life?
Cheryl: I was introduced to crafting by my mom. She made a lot of holiday decorations, like stuffed animals and wood items. She used to sell her things at craft fairs. I was very interested in what she was doing when I was little, but I grew out of it in middle school. When I was in college, I taught myself how to make quilts, all by hand. I have expanded my crafting to paper products, embroidery, and other crafts that involve yarn and fabric. I craft now, because I cannot stand to sit still and it is so relaxing to me.

Erica: I think there are many crafters and artists out there that identify with you on that point! I know that I certainly do.

Erica: How did it happen that you were introduced to Etsy?
Cheryl: I was introduced to Etsy through the website TwoPeasinaBucket.com. It’s a website dedicated to scrapbooking – new ideas, shopping, and sharing layouts. Many of the people over there, sell on Etsy as well.

Erica: Do you also have a personal web site?
Cheryl: No, I don’t have another website.

Erica: Would that be something you're considering for the future then?
Cheryl: I’m thinking of starting a blog sometime in the future, but I’m always concerned about time!

Erica: Right. The more time you spend organizing and writing for a Web site, the less time you have for your art. Definitely a concern.

Erica: How long have you been doing your craft?
Cheryl: I’ve been crafting seriously for about 10 years now. Quilting is where I started, then it’s moved into paper crafts and really anything using yarn or fabric.

Erica: How does your Etsy shop fit in with your day job or daily life/routine?
Cheryl: I wish that Etsy was my day job, unfortunately, it’s not quite paying the bills! I currently work part time as a director for an after school program. I left teaching last year because we are planning on a big move and also planning on starting a family soon. I craft in my ‘off time’. We don’t have children yet, so I have quite a bit of off time still. I wish I could craft all day – I have so many ideas that I don’t have time to work on!

Erica: As an artist I often get asked this question, but I can never pinpoint it exactly. Here's your turn to answer... Where do you draw your inspiration from? Is there any one thing that really gets you motivated?
Cheryl: For my quilts, I draw inspiration from fabrics. I love to walk through the fabric section of a store and imagine what I could make. This obsession with fabric is also a problem – I buy more than I think I could ever use! For other projects, I create as the spirit strikes me. There seems to be no real reason for what comes next, except that I love to try new things.

Erica: What is your personal favorite creation?
Cheryl: Right now, my favorite creation is the baby blanket that I made for my new sister (she’s a year and a half old now). I love it because it was made with love…oh, and I love the fabrics!

Erica: What level do you hope to take your craft/art to? Do you have any specific goals in mind?
Cheryl: For right now, I just hope to break even with my crafting. Eventually, I’m hoping to buy a new sewing machine with profits – hopefully it will be sooner rather than later!

Thank you Cheryl for participating in the Etsy Treasures Blog!
Remember, you can check out Cheryl's work at: www.ChMiller.etsy.com

Spotlight on AmandaMay.Etsy.com

2007-11-05T04:14:00.000-08:00

Today we have artist Amanda Wright on the blog with us. She has written a lovely piece "bio" style, giving us a little something different for this week.

You can see Amanda's work by visiting here Etsy shop at: www.amandamay.etsy.com
or on her main Web site: www.wrightarts.com

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

I have always been an artist, probably because all my family is (grandparents were silversmiths, other grandmother painted, parents are Waldorf teachers so they do everything!). When I was little I would load my drawings up into my little red wagon and head off down the road in an attempt to sell them off to the neighbors at 10 cents a pop. That idea was somewhat frowned upon by my mother, but I guess I understood at an early age that to survive as an artist one must promote fearlessly! Unfortunately for my finances, I lost that drive to sell at some point, in favor of the romantic notion of "art for the sake of art". Recently I have been trying to reconcile the two, and came upon Etsy as a means of joining in an artistic community while promoting my work and learning how to sell.

My current job is at an art gallery where one of my projects has been to further DIY and handmade with periodic craft fairs. One of the regular vendors led me to Etsy, and after some time hovering on the edges, I finally listed a few items this September. I began with high hopes, listing a group of original paintings. I didn't really expect them to sell - as I mentioned I work at an art gallery and so I am realistic about sales (or lack thereof) of fine art. I am ever-hopeful, however, so I plan to continue listing original pieces. In addition I want to expand my shop to include all the myriad other things I enjoy creating. Right now, needle-felted dolls, crocheted rag rugs, embroidered patchwork pieces and an assortment of paper-dolls are all in the works.

I am inspired by human beings. I know this is really broad, but since I was tiny people have been my favorite subject. My mother claims I drew people from the time I could hold a pencil, and now that I have learned to think somewhat more abstractly, I like to think that my range of expression has grown as well. I am also inspired by color, but am in a process of trying to understand exactly how the effect colors have on me is translated into the pieces I create. It is all so mysterious and I think that that is why I just can't stop!

You ask how Etsy fits into my daily life/routine. Well, currently Etsy is in danger of overwhelming my daily life. I am trying to control myself, but with so much to see, so much inspiration to be found, and so darn many ways to look, I have to admit to something of an addiction. That said, I am trying to control myself and keep the Etsy hours to a quick check in the morning and a longer foray into the fora in the evening, with shop maintenance and inventory additions when necessary. I have no sales so far, so getting packages shipped off isn't an issue. I'll deal with that when it arrives, I guess!

I show my work on flickr and on my personal website which includes a blog. Part of my "real" job is designing and building websites for artists and small businesses, so I also work on my own site myself. Naturally this means that it is always a work in progress. I also have a blog to which I post nearly every day. I see my site, my blog, Etsy, as ways to begin a serious relationship with my art/craft. My dream has always been to have a boutique or "one of a kind" shop, and so I feel that these are small learning steps towards that goal.

My new favorite pastime is creating these little needlefelted dolls and the little lady is my current sweetheart! She is going to be acquiring a cape of some sort, but this is the picture I have right now. I also am pretty proud of this little old man. He has a wife, but her hair is just not cooperating so she refuses to go out in public!

Thank you so much for allowing me to ramble on about myself. I think my favorite part of Etsy so far has been the glimpses it allows into the lives of other artists, artisans and crafters around the world, and the connections that can be made in this way. At a time when the world just keeps feeling smaller and smaller, it is so important that this shrinking happens in positive ways and I think Etsy is doing a great job at encouraging people in this direction!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Keep up with Amanda by checking out her blog: www.wrightarts.com/blog/blog

Talking with PhriendlyK8 Threads

2007-10-29T04:31:00.000-07:00

•This week we have an interview with Katelyn of PhriendlyK8 Threads.
PhriendlyK8 specializes in clothing (dresses and skirts are featured), and accessories like bags and purses. She also extends her talent into "fabric painting" in the piece "Whimsical Sunrise," which she discusses later in the interview.

•You can go fall in love with her work on her Etsy shop at: www.PhriendlyK8.etsy.com
And yes folks, she does custom orders!

• • • • • •The Interview• • • • • • • • • • •

Erica: Katelyn, you're work is absolutely lovely! I know that I personally have already fallen in love with a few of the items in your shop. Tell everyone what got you started making these type of things and why?
Kate: I have been making clothing for myself and my friends for a long time. I started making clothing because I couldn't find anything in the stores that was "Fun Enough". I like to have fun with what I wear and making my own clothes seemed like the best way to make my clothing fit my personality! Each time I made something my sewing skills would get better and better and finally I realized that I shouldn't be selfish and be the only one having fun with what I wear! So I decided to make it my mission to bring joy to people through their clothing!

Erica: I can completely relate! Lucky for all of us who cannot sew that you decided not to be "selfish" and begin selling online. Which brings up another point, how did you get introduced to Etsy?
Kate: Well this is kind of funny. My husband and I were staying at a bed and breakfast and we met this "interesting" couple one morning at the breakfast table. This woman kept going on and on about how wonderful and crafty her niece was. She was kind of funny and annoying at the same time. She mentioned that her niece was part of this "very exclusive" group of people who sell their upscale crafts on the internet. I asked her what the name of it was and she said "Etsy". I had never heard of it before and was very intrigued. After breakfast I used the computer at the Bed and Breakfast to look it up. I found out that Etsy wasn't some snobby web site for the elite but was an amazing web site where artists and crafters from anywhere and everywhere were selling their beautiful handmade items! The second I got home from vacation I started creating and listing my clothing!

Erica: That's some story you got there! Etsy truly is made great by the fact that people from "anywhere and everywhere," as you put it, are selling in one spot.
Out of curiosity, do you have a personal web site as well?
Kate: Yes I started my own web site before I heard about Etsy. The address is www.phriendlyk8threads.com. I find that I get more exposure from Etsy but I keep my independent web site active regardless.

Erica: How long has it been since you started sewing? and altering your clothing? (I love that part!)
Kate: I first learned how to use a sewing machine when I was about 13 years old. I used to cut up my pants and put patchwork designs down the sides of them (much to my mother's dismay). I played around a lot with sewing from the age of 13 until I graduated college. I really started being interested in making a business out of my craft recently.

Erica: Wonderful!
How does your Etsy shop fit in with your day job or daily life/routine?
Kate: Right now I have a part time job at Joann Fabrics which is amazing! I get to be around fabric all day and get a discount! WooHoo! Every day when I get home from work I immediately head to the computer and spend about an hour on Etsy either posting or just browsing around and posting in the forums! Then after that it's time to sew!
I am in the process of looking for an art teaching job, and when I get one I think that my time on Etsy will be somewhat limited but I plan on continuing with it! I will have summers, weekends, and nights off to play on Etsy!

Erica: It sounds like your sewing business and daily life mesh rather nicely. You're an artist all around as indicated by your day gig now and in the future.

And now, I like to ask this question of everyone, where do you draw your inspiration from?
Kate: I draw most of my inspiration from nature and color. I am a very observant person and when I see a color combination or tree that catches my eye, I either take a picture or make a mental note of it. I think that inspiration can come from anywhere at anytime so I always have my eyes and my mind open!

Erica: Out of the things you've created has there been anything that jumps out at you as a personal favorite?
Kate: My personal favorite creation would be my "Whimsical Sunrise" Fabric Painting. I love to paint and sew. One day I got the idea to make "fabric paintings". These pieces don't actually have any paint on them, but they are fabric art for your walls. I make the work by sewing a "scene" with various cotton fabrics and silk threads, then I stretch the fabric around canvas stretchers. The "Whimsical Sunrise" is a work that I am particularly proud of!

Erica: What level do you hope to take PhriendlyK8 Threads to?
Kate: I hope to one day have my own Boutique! I would love to have a store where I can sell my clothing while I am sewing! I also want to sell my clothing at festivals, concerts, craft shows and events! I know that I will someday accomplish my goal!

Erica: If anyone is interested in a custom piece, do you do that?
Kate: I really enjoy creating custom orders for my customers! I love being able to bring someone else's ideas and dreams to life. It is a wonderful feeling when I make a custom piece, and hear that the customer loves it and it is just what they wanted!

Erica: Kate, thank you for taking the time out to talk with us here! You're work is beautiful and I wish you the best of luck in the future!

Once again, you can check Kate's shop at: www.PhriendlyK8.etsy.com

Interview with Carmen of WolfMoon Studios

2007-10-16T18:10:00.000-07:00

This week we have an interview with Carmen on WolfMoon Studios. You can find Carmen's jewelry shop on Etsy at: http://www.wolfmoonstudios.etsy.com
Read on and enjoy!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Erica: What got you started making jewelry?
Carmen: While attending OSU back in the mid eighties, I started working in an Import store on campus that sold jewelry from all over the world and also had a bead counter. One day one of my coworkers was making bracelets for the store and then handed made me a bracelet with seed beads and fresh water pearls which she made just for me. It just melted my heart. So one day we were kinda slow and my boss noticed the bracelet bowl was running low and asked me to make some. Never doing it before, it took hours before I was satisfied with it, I put it the bowl and it sold that day. I was hooked.

E: How long have you been doing your craft?
C: Off and on since the mid eighties.

E: How did you get introduced to Etsy?
C: A little over a year ago I began making jewelry again. (Its something I turn to when I need to heal from something ) Well, beads stores have changed since the mid -eighties and there is such a wealth of resources now that I never experienced before, so the ideas flooded my mind. I started selling my work at the hospital I worked in, to support my habit of course. One of my coworkers said I should check out etsy and sell stuff there. So here I am.

E: I think a lot of crafters/artists start selling their work to support their habit.

Now that you’re selling your jewelry do you have a different outlook on what you make? Meaning do you approach designing in the same way? or do you still pretty much work in the same manner?
C: I really had to think about this question for a minute because in some ways it's both. I'm still chronically disorganized, so that will never change. And I get excited about my work very easily, which has always been there. But after having some repeat customers I kinda focus on them. It's always personal when I'm making something, but when I see a certain stone or get an idea I'll think, oh miss Tony or Dr A or miss T or whomever it reminds me of will inspire the continuation of whatever it is. And I'll be thinking of them while making it. And they love it as much as I love creating it. It's always a labor of love but that directs it to a specific person.

E: Where do you draw your inspiration from?
C: From endless sources, I can get inspired from classic novels I read, nature, other artists, photographs, to how I'm feeling on a particular day. I love spanish-moroccan style art and designs and art noveau in particular.

E: As an artist myself this is one of the most interesting questions to ask other artists. Everyone has a very different take on applying their life, experiences, and loves into their work. Do you sit down with something specific in mind to make? or do you typically just let your fingers work and watch the creation emerge?
C: Well it always starts out that way that I have something specific in mind but it always takes a left and maybe zig zags a bit and sometimes its close to what I originally planned and at times it entirely different, and much better

E: What is your personal favorite creation?
C: It would have to be the Sultan Goddess, which I sold at Comfest this year, and Vineyard

E: What makes these pieces stand out to you? Is there something in why or how you made them, or is it just their physical appearance?
C: Great question Erica.
The vineyard piece is the best example because my intent was to use these yummy garnets that I bought at a gem show and use them in a piece that was inspired by this wonderful, and kinda nutty woman who frequented my booth at comfest, bought several items and managed to barter the price down on my favorite piece. She was getting her PHD in business and had a wealth of ideas for me. She went home and brought gorgeous pieces of jewelry that she herself designed and were made by a jeweler. I told her I'd show her how to assemble them herself but she refuses. Her enthusiasm was infectious. So I told her I was going to make a series dedicated to her.

So the idea was to make a few simple briolettes as the front focal piece and crown them with some tiny peridot. It looked so lovely the 3 focal brios became 4 then 5 until I basically ran out. I also was trying to keep the garnet brios down and the peridot up, it was literally making me crazy. So I figured I'd finish the piece and try to manipulate the brios later. When I put the necklace on the bust it laid on there the way it naturally wanted to lay, and it took my breath away. It looked like a vine of berries or red grapes was completely astonished. So I photographed it in that way. Since then I've taken pictures of it both ways, (some buyers seem to want it more symmetrical, they don't share my enthusiasm for asymmetry, lol) but if they saw it in person they'd leave it as it wants to go.

E: Is there any technique relating to your jewelry that you hope to learn in the future?
C: Yes indeed. I want to learn to cast, which I plan on doing as soon as I get the funds.

E: Good luck to you, Carmen, in all your future pursuits!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
You can check out Carmen's Etsy shop at: http://www.wolfmoonstudios.etsy.com

Submission Guidelines

2007-10-15T09:35:00.000-07:00

The purpose of this blog is to feature indie artists that sell on Etsy (www.etsy.com). Anyone with a shop on that site is more than welcome to contact me about appearing as a featured artist here. Please take the time to read all the guidelines below.

Thank you,
Erica (fiddlelee@optonline.net)

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• Who will be featured?
The blog will not be limited to any one craft area. Most of those featured will be small or emerging sellers. However, more established artists may also be considered depending on the situation.

• Contacting me for consideration
If you are interested in being featured on this blog contact me via e-mail at:
fiddlelee@optonline.net
I will send you a list of questions to consider. Once you e-mail back your response (following the quality criteria below) I will give you an estimate of when your feature will appear.

• Quality text and how to submit your information
I am looking for good writing and interesting content. You do not have to be the world's best wordsmith, but please keep your English clear! I will NOT use text that is sent to me LoOKinG lIKe ThIs. Write so people will want to continue reading about your shop. Take a little time to use proper grammar, it will go a long way.

Once you contact me for consideration I will send you a list of questions. You may decide to keep this list and format your article interview style (my original question followed by your answer) or you can write a few paragraphs in which you answer the majority of the questions within the text. If you choose this last method please note that it should be written in the third person (so it doesn't sound like you're rambling about yourself).

Say as much about yourself as you desire! This is your show. You're in the spotlight. If there are things you wish to talk about that I have no mentioned in my general list of questions please feel free to include.

• Photos
All photos must be clear! I ask that you select at least 2 photos showing your work. If a photo of you, your workspace, or family is important to your entry than include that as well. Keep in mind that I will most likely not use more than 4 or 5 photos.

I prefer that you send me the direct link to your photo. However, if you do not have an image hosting account you may send .jpgs directly to my e-mail, but please don't make them too large.

• Contact
For any further information please feel free to contact me!
fiddlelee@optonline.net

About FiddleLee and this Blog

2007-10-15T05:00:00.000-07:00

•FiddleLee•

I have grown up surrounded by the arts: music, dance, jewelry, knit, and crochet. My parents, enthusiastic artists themselves, were always very supportive of any artistic pursuit that I chose to undertake. I should actually give them more credit than that for without their influence I would most likely not be in the position I am in now. (I wonder what that would be like…..)

Since January 1997 my family has been performing as a professional string band. We call ourselves The Homegrown String Band. (Visit our Web site at www.homegrownstringband.com) Since that time we have evolved from folk music to old-time to bluegrass and eventually to forming a sound unique to us that is generally hard to classify. Some continue to call it old-time or bluegrass, others say American roots music, Americana, or trad. You’ll have to listen yourself and make up your own mind on that score.

Over the years we have recorded 4 CDs (the latest being “Ragged but Right” which was released in July 2007) and traveled around the United States from Maine to Missouri. In order to keep the band active and pursue music to our heart’s content, my parents homeschooled both my sister and I throughout our entire education. We grew up with our own rhythm.

Last May (2007) I graduated from SUNY Empire after deciding to continue my homechooled education through college, thus allowing me to also continue performing with the family. After I graduated I anticipated having too much free time on my hands and set off to rectify that before I went insane. I chose to go back to my jewelry making and see if I could get set up as an online business of sorts. This led to purchasing a domain name (http://www.fiddlelee.com) and signing up for Etsy (www.FiddleLee.com).

•The Blog•

In signing up for Etsy I became aware of many great indie artists. The quality of work done by some of these small designers awed me, and still does. I began to browse through the forums and hang out in a few of the Etsy chat rooms and get to know a little about some of these people. Continually inspired by the work I saw I decided that I would make this next holiday season a completely handmade one. This meant lots of time searching through Etsy and people’s shops. During this time I noticed that many were in the same position as me, they had lovely work and were very helpful people, but were attracting only minimal attention to their shops.

It is certainly hard to get noticed on the internet and most small indie artists are not marketing wizards and don’t have the funds available to hire one of these magicians. Once again inspired by my fellow artists I decided to create a little space to showcase some of these people. Thus this blog was born.

Hopefully over time this little space will get some attention and the artists featured here will continue in their artistic pursuits happily into the future.

Support Handmade!
www.etsy.com