Mailing List

First of all appologies for this delayed posting.
I went on holiday and when i came back there where a lot of responces from people wanting to be part of LBOE3
Work stoped me from emailing and now im afraid that etsy would block me if I emailed everyone ;)
So I thought I would just post up a list of people who have responded since. Again a big thank you to those who have joined in or who have returned to LBOE once again. I wish all many customers!
#tialeyvintage
#rosebudandfarthing
#kimmchi
#jacscreations
#randomscraps
#Distinque
#SewDanish
#Silkyprudence
#Conduitpress
#padaysia
#BeadsBySam
#minisforeveryone
#pwnmonster
#matilou
#bubblegirlknits
#lenmar
#stustustudio
#marymarsh
#sweetcarolines
#Afrique
#creationsbyeve
#Shupg
#Impedimenta
#sascalia

thanks guys :)

My Interview With LoveLaurie!

I am very pleased to introduce to you LoveLaurie! A great little shop full of little gems. well worth a look. :)

Well, my name is Laurie, I am 46 years old, and I live in suburban Boston with my wonderful Husband John. We celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary in August. We have a 17 year old daughter and a 14 year old son. Teenagers are fun…..really! LOL. I feel fortunate that I have been able to be a stay at home mom. I grew up in a family where everyone is creative in some way and was always busy making something in their spare time. When I started my family, I naturally followed suit and set up a craft room for myself in a spare bedroom.

My family and friends are the main reason I started my shop. I love making and giving hand made gifts. I would spend hours creating unique gifts and everyone seemed to enjoy seeing what I would come up with next. This was usually followed by someone saying “You should sell this stuff!” After hearing it enough times I started to think, maybe they have a point, and decided I should give it a try.

My Ideas usually come from two places. They usually start by me discovering I have a need for something, and then are influenced by the people in my life. Take my Sewl Mate pincushions for example. I was forever searching for my pincushion because my craft table is always so cluttered. So, I made a pincushion on a pedestal, in the shape of a dress form so that I could see it above all the stuff. It was a great solution. Then one night while out with friends, I happened to mention that I enjoy crafting and one of my friends husbands said, “Really, you don’t seem like the type.” The next day while putting some pins in my new pincushion, I started to think about what he said and wonder, is their really a type? I know so many women with varying interests and careers who also like to craft. I found some clay that I had lying around and gave my pincushion a face. Before I knew it she was wearing a jean skirt, had a little pair of Ugg boots made of felt, and looked a lot like my daughter. The first Sewl Mate was born!

My latest products are a direct result of me always having the need to turn something useful into something that is also beautiful, and maybe improve it a bit along the way. I am currently creating seam rippers and needle threaders, embedded in polymer clay to strengthen them, and turning them into adorable little works of art at the same time. I am also in the process of photographing my new line of pincushions, and my newest product called Pretty Pins, which are basically decorative pins to pretty up your cushies.

My Interview With Snowberrylime!

Snowberrylime, a refreshing and colourful shop for those of the knitting variety :)

**Please could you tell us about yourself and your back ground?

My name is Veronika von Allmen, I am 23 years old and currently live in Germany. Currently means that I have studied for the last four years in the UK (oh how I miss Tesco's opening times), am originally from Switzerland and have spent a great deal of my life on a sailing boat. Inspirations from other countries and the fact that I grew up with barely any electricity has probably had an impact on my need to create things....

**Can you tell us a bit about your work and how did you start your etsy shop?

One of my biggest hobbies from early on was knitting, but the difficulty of buying commercial skeins, which would only contain natural fibres stopped many projects. Especially with the bright and bulky yarns this seemed to be a problem. As I also love antiques it was the perfect match to get myself a spinning wheel. However when I started my etsy shop, it was actually to sell my sewn bags, using all kinds of unusual fabrics including sail. I have always been fond of combining different crafts and although my shop is currently filled with pretty yarns, the accessories (bags and wrist warmers) will be returning soon. On etsy, just as in life, I think it is important to keep learning as an artisan. Learning a new craft will automatically also improve your understanding of your other crafts.

**What usually sparks off an idea?

Often colours or the materials themselves. Fabrics to me are a major inspiration and luckily I have quite a stash. :D From time to time I also see something unusual in a shop and think that I could spin that into a yarn, then I start from there. My general inspirations also stem from Art nouveau, the early 1900s and a classic British style.

**Please tell us about your latest products:

I am currently really enjoying soy silk, which is a by-product of the tofu making process, but am also exploring the joy of natural, undyed yarns. There are so many ways to experience texture when all you have is one colour. Also, for Autumn/Winter I am bringing back a range of wrist warmers and other accessories.

My Interview With RuJu!

I chose RuJu simply because her work is so different while showing and summing up what Etsy can offer. Ruju opened in July and it really needs the full credit that it truly deserves. So I give you RuJu! :)

Little bit about me:My name is erin and I'm a 25 year old mother of two crazy kids. I used to work full time in an office, but when my free babysitter (a.k.a. mom) decided she couldn't handle my munchkins full time anymore I was forced (whoa is me) to cut back to part time. At the time I was also using my traveling photo studio to take pictures of other peoples munchkins in their homes. I love photography and was able to make a bit of extra cash to cover what I wasn't making in my office job. Sadly it still wasn't enough income. So I decided 'hey! I'm crafty!'. I went up to the attic and pulled out my sewing machine and serger. I found them a semi-permanent home in the kids play room and set up shop.

This brings me to how I started my etsy shop:Once my machines were cozy in their new environment I started creating. I thought long and hard about what would sell. Mom gave me the advice of anything to do with kids. I laid in bed that night brainstorming. It had to be something that no one else sells. Somehow the idea of the "Hook N Go" popped into my head. It was like a stroke of genious! The next day I made a prototype (which I use) and a pattern and got started. After a few weeks of none selling I thought I should maybe broaden my horizon a little. So I made some childrens and womens clothing. A few applique childrens outfits, a womens skirt, and some others. One of the skirts I made happened to fit my daughter....and she claimed it as soon as it was finished. I no longer make things in her size when she is around. :)

Latest Product:More recently I have been making purses/bags. When I was pregnant with my first child (now almost 5) I would sit in my bedroom all day long and sew bags. I never sold any....I never really tried. I just liked making them. Different shapes, sizes, colors. I decided a couple weeks ago that I would give it a go for real this time. My grandparents are in the middle of a move, and my memaw (grandma) is a seamstress like me and had boxes upon boxes of fabric with no home. I gladly took some of the fabric (who wouldn't!), took myself to the store for some zippers and created a bunch of new bags for my shop.

What sparks an idea:Oh boy, my mind is always in a gazzilion different places at once. Pretty much anything can spark an idea for me, a color, a texture, a word, a place. My most recent spark..... I use only canvas bags when shopping, so we have no plastic bags to line the bathroom trash can. The fam went to dollar general to get some things that we needed for the house and my husband bought some blue trash can liners (he's in charge of the household trash). They were so pretty. So, now I'm working on crocheting them together to make a reusable plastic bag bag. I bought a roll of the white too and plan to weave it in on the front of the bag to say 'reuse'.

Recruting Members

Hi guys
Im currently recruting more members to take part in the xmas special edition of LBOE. Please scroll down to view the last LBOE booklets and bags for examples of what it could look like. please email me at etsy if you are interested in taking part. Looking for b.cards &/or promos. espcially anything xmasy! yep, i know. sorry guys. summers coming to an end and it's time to think of christmas ;)
dead line: 31st of october.

Mannor Craft Fayre

On the 23rd of this month a very large fayre was held with a while variety of stalls, dog shows, heavy horses and horse rides etc.
It was advertised all along the main road and a constant flow of people was coming in at all times.
On the day I managed to handout around about 20 LBOE etsy bags.
I still have a 23 LBOEs which I hope to give out from now and up untill they run out.
So I may be asking for more people to get involved very soon all ready for xmas :)

Changes to LBOE Blog

hi guys, please dont panic. it's just a few changes to let you know about:

Because the magority of my main computor and it's link to the internet has finaly died (for 10 years old, it did well) and so i have to use a laptop which doent have anything on it to resize images etc. (appologies to those who's ads i couldn't resize due to this.)

Also the fact that because every programe i own run on xp and not vista makes it inposable to buy a computor at this moment in time, I am going to have to rescedual things alittle differently.

I am now going to keep ads up for a whole month and then have a change over. To make up for the long period I will like to feature around 25 free ads so if you wish to grab spot, please just let me know along with your 125x125 pixel image.

Also features will be featured on a weekly basis and not every few days. This way i hope it'll give the blog still a fresh look but without too much of struggeling on a laptop that im not very good at using.

Apologies for these changes but LBOE is still advertising etsy and you shops through the blog and LBOE it self. So please do not worry, LBOE is still going strong

My Interview With CheyLoCreations

When I saw CheyLoCreations shop, I thought it was a great example of what Etsy could offer buyer's new and growing family. So I just had to share CheyLoCreations with you. So I now introduce CheyLoCreations!

Myself and Background: My name is Chelsea, I am 22, married for three years to a wonderful man, Cody, and we have a spunky, sensitive little girl who turns one just yesturday (Aug. 20). Cheyenne is our second daughter, our first was stillborn in May 2006. I am a work form home mom, runnign CheyLoCreations and nannying, while Cody finishes school to be an elementary teacher.

My work and my shop: I started sewing when I was 8, so I now have over 12 years of experience. While I was learning, I would very rarely work from a pattern; I love to come up with my own ideas, my own flow for things. I have also always loved kids, so when our daughter was born, it was a natural choice to start sewing for her. Whenever I couldn't find the perfect product, I would make what I had in mind! I got so many compliments from other parents, that I decided to offer them to other parents who want to nurture their babies naturally.

When I openned my shop, I had paci keepers, a quilt, cloth wipes, and burp cloths, with plans to expand. Within a couple months I had added baby carriers and little lovies and had redone my burp cloths. I just added in nursing covers as well! It is a challenge to balance running teh administrative side of the shop, creating, doing arts and craft shows, as well as being a wife, a mother and a person! But I love it, all the crazy chaos is worth it because I get to do what I love and stay home with Cheyenne too!

Inspiration: My inspiration always comes from needing something for parenting Cheyenne. I generally don't like many of the products available commercially, and prefer to use my own designs. The Beeb Along came about because we are a devoted babywearing family. Cheyenne is very clingy and needs to be in our arms many hours a day; to maintain our sanity and the cleanliness of our home, we wear her! The paci keeper is something I swore I would never use (oh how much we know before we are parents...), but then Cheyenne decided to throw her sucker (her paci) on the ground...at the grocery...during cold season. She cried the rest of the trip because I was not about to give it back to her dirty; the next day I was at the raft store buying supplies to make them!

Latest Products: The Beeb Along Baby Carrier and CheyLoCreations Nursing Covers are my two newest products.

The Beeb Along is named after our daughter, who’s nickname is “beeb.” She comes along with us everywhere we go, and is a much happier baby when she has her “go time” (time in the carrier).

The Beeb Along is designed to be versatile with regards to wearers, babies, and carries. Extra long straps allow wearers of all sizes and shapes to wear their baby comfortably and safely. Super reinforced stitching means babies from newborn up to about 35 pounds can benefit from being worn and you can use the same carrier for your newborn and your two year old! The mei-tai style carrier (a body piece with four attached straps) means you can wear your baby on your front, your hip, or your back in two different positions!

Every Beeb Along ™ Baby Carrier is sold with a matching handmade tote bag, an instruction booklet, and a mesh laundry bag.

Nursing Covers: For the baby who loves to nurse, for the mom who is modest, but doesn’t want to miss out, for the older baby who is oh so distractable, for moms who want to nurture baby, and still be stylish...CheyLoCreations Nursing Covers are for you!

This nursing cover is generously sized at 25” by 36,” larger than most covers on the market, to ensure your privacy, even if your baby is no longer a baby!

Two coordinating prints are super stylish and lightweight, so baby can eat, not over heat! Adjustable neck straps and 15" rigid, peek-a-boo neckline allow you and baby to maintain eye contact while nursing.

Cover can also be used as a sun shade over the car seat or stroller, or a blanket in a pinch!

This two sided nursing cover and coordinating bag will make nursing your baby in comfort and privacy as easy as can be!

Hayle Fest

Well...Sadly Yesturday was abit disapointing: Last year it was a constant flow of people but due to the rain over the last few days it put off the car booters setting up outside and so it didn't attract as many buyers as useal to come inside the markee. Also I heard the campers desided to go home the day before because of the down pours.
It was dry Friday which was great but unfortunatly i think the tourists that did stick the weather out must of gone down to the beach and so it was only the villagers or the few tourists that didn't want to go to the beach.
I did manage how ever to give away a few LBOEs BUT today i went to a big mannor house which was holding a food and craft fayre in their grounds. it was really buzzing!
They have been advertising it around the roads for miles around + lots of articles in the local papers. There was a constant flow of people coming in.
I didn't manage to join in this time round but I have heard that they are asking for stall holders at the end of the month so i might try on monday to grab a spot :)
If they advertise it as well as they did this time round, Im sure all the LBOEs2 will go to good homes.
Will let you know what happens a.s.a.p.
-artbymimi

DnJDichroicArtGlass Story:

You may have noticed there has been a slight gap in features lately but I have been working with people on something special:

I have been asking for people to share their stories behind Etsy and what Etsy has done for them and some of the responces has been brilliant!

I have chosen this story (and another which will hopefuly be put online in a few days time) because it tells people why Etsy is s brilliant in what it does and shows that people really do care about their shop and products.

DnJDichroicArt Glass has become an outlet for my need to still be me.

I am a stay at home mom to four beautiful daughters. Parenting is my first priority and full time job so putting my own personal needs and wants on the back burner has become a way of life. Creating has been a way to still be Deedee.

(My four daughters from youngest to oldest, Morgan 3, Hannah 5, Katelyn 8 and Tara 20. )

DnJDichroicArtGlass has become a way to use my creative side and express myself as well as be the best mom and teacher to my children that I can be. My girls are always with me and creating their own little pieces of art, through drawing, painting, creative play and self expression.. I’m always saying to my girls make it your own: it’s yours and it can be anything you want it to be in any style any color and any size.

Art is helping my children to build self esteem, hand eye coordination, thinking skills, problem solving skills and in general building a solid foundation for their future. I’ll always remember walking through the stores with my now three year old and she wasn’t noticing the toys per say but the colors and the shapes and the sparkle and shine of individual items as we pass by. My daughters watch me to take raw materials and turn it into a finished piece from start to finish and when they bring me something that they have completed instead of saying oh that’s nice, I like to say now can you tell me about this piece. It gives them the opportunity to then give as many or as few details about there work as they want with out me ever having to say, what is it?

And like my jewelry this allows all the pieces to fall nicely into place as we view the finished product for what it is. So first and foremost DnJDichroic Art Glass is my way of having an outlet to self expression and being a stay at home mom and being the best I can be in the world I live in. I’ve been a parent for over half of my life and have traveled through many stormy waters and calm seas as we all do, but when I lay my head to rest each night I know I have given my children the love they need and want, while still being me and hopefully bringing a smile to someone else face through a piece of jewelry I have made. Etsy offers me the opportunity in life to do what I love and be where I want to be. Thank you Etsy!

A Big Hello To...

My mum met a BIG Etsy fan today at today's craft fayre, who buys lots of her gifts etc. on (of course), Etsy.com (good choice :) )
So a big HELLO to you if you visit LBOE blog when you get back home and thank you for all of your continuing subport.

LBOE LATEST:

Oh yes, the LBOE booklets are all made and the bags are coming together really nicely.

We still need to make the bags but as you can seen half of them are already made and also helped by the wonderful donation from Ficklefaerie of her gorgous draw sting bags. The others are made from recycled matterial made by BaggyT's (my wonderful mother who is very good with the sewing machine) so LBOE is becoming more enviomentaly friendly :)

Inside each one are a couple of art cards, couple of advertisment post cards, 2-3 goodies, a bookmark and of course, LBOE booklet it self. So thank you guys for making LBOE2 the best yet! :D

As you can see I have around 60 LBOE! so if any of you are willing to pay for a bit of postage, you are most welcome to have a few yourself to give out however you wish. These will certainly keep me going for a while.

I am so excited about LBOE and even more so this time round. I cant thank you enough for all the help, support and excouragment and also for the little gifts you've been giving me. It means alot and has kept me going to make the 60 odd booklets.

I've also been experimenting to make LBOE even bigger and better to get the word out and also to give you guys a chance of earning a little bit more money. Will reveal more details vry soon, so watch this space...

My Interview With hmsdesign

I absolutly LOVE this shop! Full of textures and colours which makes you want to buy, buy, buy! and why wouldn't you? hmsdesign, definatly the place to spend your money and you certainly wont regreate it.

Please can you tell us about yourself and your back ground?

My name is Helen Smith and I live on the lovely Wirral peninsula in north-west England. My former life was as a computer programmer until I escaped to become a full time taxi service to my children. I needed something to keep me sane and, as I had always enjoyed stitching I signed up for the City & Guilds Creative Embroidery course – which turned out to be a life changing experience (thank you Carole!).

Can you tell us a bit about your work

I am very much inspired by the natural forms and textures of rocks and shells and the colours of the beautiful sand and sea views we have hereabouts. I started to collect bits and pieces on the beach because I don’t really enjoy building sandcastles so I needed to look busy! And this collecting has since become something of an obsession for the whole family. From this it seemed a natural step to start including these finds into my stitched work. My most recent pieces have all been about working with this collection and the surfaces I create by adding colour and texture to layers of recycled paper.

and how did you start your Etsy shop?

Hmmm, Etsy. I read about the craft blogging phenomenon in Embroidery magazine so I thought I’d check a few out… and of course they were all talking about Etsy… and I thought, I could do that! It took me a little while to work out what form to present my work in and I started listing seriously at the beginning of the year. I consider my work to be quite a niche product so I have been pleasantly surprised by the reaction I have had so far.

What usually sparks off an idea?

That is a good question! It can be anything; something I have collected, something I have seen, a new technique I have learned. But it is always the natural colours and textures which inspire me. An idea will buzz around in the back of my mind for ages before resolving itself – I wish I were better at getting these half formed ideas down on paper because I’m sure I forget a lot of them – that is something I need to work on!

Please tell us about your latest products:

A new departure for me has been the sketchbooks I am making. When I was doing the City & Guilds course, something I looked for but never found was a sketchbook filled with different types of paper. So when I found I could get a gadget to do wire bindings at home that was the first thing I made for myself. Then I wondered whether perhaps other people would be interested… so I have listed a couple on Etsy to see.Another thing I am working on at the moment is a line of ‘Mermaids Treasure’ corsages; these are layered silk and lace flowers with the centre filled with pearls and beads and little seashore treasures. And I am expanding my range of Seashore Art to include more pieces ready for framing. Then there are all those ideas buzzing around at the back of my mind… I would like to do more work with silk paper… and with felt… watch this space!

My Interview With tannerglass

tannerglass's Shop reminds me of one of my favorite galleries because it's light, welcoming and packed full of little gems. Her shop is professional looking and her glass goodies are fine in every single detail.

I am constantly amazed at the high quolity products that Etsy and it's members are offering to provide.

Please you tell us about yourself and your back ground?

I had a strong artistic background as a child....I took lots of drawing and painting classes, and attended college with the intent to major in Fine Art. It was there that I was fortunate to have the opportunity to take glassblowing (my very last semester at Hartwick College in Oneonta NY in 1993), and was even more fortunate to be able to purse it as a career 5 years later.After finishing a 2 month long glassblowing intensive at Penland School of Crafts in 1998, I was offered a job as a glassblower in Rhode Island. And this is where I have been ever since.

Can you tell us abit about your work and how did you start your etsy shop?

I started Tanner Glass 9 years ago, with the notion that I wanted to make work that was fun, and practical to own. I started with bottlestoppers, bud vases and ornaments, and quickly expanded my line to include Oil Candles, larger vases, Pocket Coins and paperweights. As my line developed, the colors, shapes and styles became more lighthearted and fun.....and FUN.ctional Objects was born!Since opening my etsy shop in Feb 2008, I have expanded my line even more....to include Cabochon work (handmade flat-backed pieces of glass). Keeping everything in line with being fun and practical.

What usealy sparks off an idea?

See above answer......fun and practicality!

Please tell us about your latest products:

The glass cabochon work (magnets, paperweights, hooks) are all new. I am having fun taking beautiful papers (and in some cases, Fortunes), combining them with glass, and turning them into something unexpected....like a Leash Holder.

My bottlestoppers are what I am known for, but my Coin Bud Vases are my signature pieces.

My Interview With lann

lann: soooo different and all good fun!

Please you tell us about yourself and your back ground?

I am Lann, and am a student at the Appalachian Center for Crafts near Smithville, TN. I am a native Montanan now living in Tennessee. I share my shop with my partner in crime Matt (who does all the glass work). There is a vast variety of media in my shop ranging from jewelry, hand blown glass, to sculptures. I like to use both traditional and not traditional means to create unique objects.

Can you tell us abit about your work and how did you start your etsy shop and what usealy sparks off an idea?

I started my etsy shop to move some of my assignments out into the world. I am not exactly sure where my ideas come from, although I’m sure there is a reason why I make what I make. Sometimes I just start working and it comes to me. When I do plan a project it usually never comes out the way I initially intended it to.

Please tell us about your latest products:

My latest piece is a series of kangaroo rats jumping out of a wall entitled “Rat Race”. I love it because it is surreal; I have never seen a large group of rats just jumping in the same direction. It reminds me of seeing the Great Plains where these rats are natively from. I suppose that is also why I am working on prairie dogs now. The kangaroo rats: (http://www.flickr.com/photos/25624618@N08/2518495357/in/set-72157605233594007/ ) Thanks for your interest! - Lann

Craft fayre Today

Hi Guys :)
Ive got a craft fayre today down at Marizion School, by St.Micheal's Mount and im taking a few LBOE2 with me.
So I will do my best of getting them out and best of luck guys.
-artbymimi

My Interview With eliswoodgifts

eliswoodgifts has so much care and personality in to his work that I just had to share this shop with you. Well worth a visit!

Please can you tell us about yourself and your back ground?

I was born and grew up in New York City. I joined the Army at a young age and was in Europe during WWII. After the war, I married and am still married to a wonderful, supportive, beautiful woman. For years I worked as a carpenter and general contractor and my wife says I have sawdust in my veins. We have two children and four grandchildren who live nearby in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Can you tell us a bit about your work and how did you start your Etsy shop?

I retired some years ago but still couldn’t get away from woodworking. Soon after I retired, I spent many summers Green Mountains of central Vermont teaching summer camp crafts and woodworking. Woodworking has become not just my hobby, but my passion as well. It’s what keeps me feeling young.I find deep satisfaction in the beauty of the finished product in both the beauty of the woods I use as well as the functionality of what I create. Each item I offer is completely hand crafted (my hands) and I only use environmentally friendly woods (I do not buy rainforest wood or old-growth redwood). To bring out the beauty of the wood, I finished each piece with nothing more than layers of hand rubbed wax. I never use stains, dyes, or inks. While I originally worked out of my small shop in upstate New York I recently moved to southern New Jersey to be closer to family.For years I participated in many craft shows. As I have gotten older, it has become a bit more difficult to maintain the busy schedule I had in the past but I didn’t want to give up my passion. I still do to a couple of local craft shows but wanted to find an outlet where I could still offer my products. A friend of mine told me about Etsy and I quickly set up shop. While originally slow, I have seen things improving and am looking forward to a busy holiday season for 2008.

What usually sparks off an idea?

Anything and everything. I look for items that will bring out the beauty of the wood and I’m always on the lookout for something creative. I may see something intriguing and try to duplicate it. Someone may just make a suggestion and I’ll follow that. I have been “just making some of my products for years and can’t remember what led up to them. I’m always open to suggestions and if someone wants something custom made, I’ll certainly do my best to accommodate that request.

Please tell us about your latest products:

Many of my “newer” items are variations of products I have offered for some time. I have been making boxes for a while but am working on one with a rather unique “popup” top. I am working on unique mouse pads where each one will be a bit different in the woods used and grain patterns. That’s part of the beauty of what I do and offering things through my Etsy shop, changes, small and large can be immediately placed on the site and this is why I try to encourage visitors to check back often as I am never quite sure what I will be making tomorrow.

My Interview With blackbirdletterpress

blackbirdletterpress: Fun, Creative and Professional Services. That's what Etsy is all about. I was so inpressed with this new comer to Etsy, I just had to show the world. Glade to have you on Etsy Blackbird Letterpress! :)

Please you tell us about yourself and your back ground?

We met last summer after Jess moved to Baton Rouge from Montana, where Kathryn lived for ten years before moving down to Bayou Country. Kathryn taught Jess a bit about letterpress, and after we worked together on a few projects, we decided to partner up to create a product line for Kathryn’s business, Blackbird Letterpress.

Kathryn was trained as a printmaker and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in printmaking from Montana State University and an MFA in printmaking from Louisiana State University. When she was in grad school for printmaking, she taught a book arts class in a small letterpress/book arts shop. To do that, she had to learn the letterpress process well enough to teach it. As soon as she finished school, she came upon a C&P press in a town close by and bought it, along with a truckload of type (from another printer). She started her business in her friends’ house in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Jessica was an art major for two years in college and planned to specialize in graphic design. She ended up quitting the program and getting other degrees instead. She then attended law school in Oregon, where she seriously craved a creative outlet. She started carving this rubbery stuff into stamps and making cards. Next she began carving lino blocks, teaching herself the technique mostly from library books. When she moved to Louisiana with her boyfriend (now husband), she looked Kathryn up, and since then she’s been learning all about letterpress!

Can you tell us a bit about your work and how did you start your etsy shop?

Kathryn started her business in 2003 and printed custom invitations and announcements for several years. When she relocated to Baton Rouge last year, she printed some cards and began selling them at the arts market downtown once a month. For these cards, she carved four bird designs in linoleum. She also used a real-live vintage spirograph to make the designs she printed on mod patterned paper. Jess carved three bold fossil linocuts, as well as some funky seaflowers, taking inspiration from her husband’s love of fossils. After we had some product on hand, we decided it was time to open a shop on etsy and see what happened.

What usually sparks off an idea?

Kathryn—Hmmm, that’s hard to narrow down to one or two things. I am interested in the metaphors of birds and then really good bold color, pattern, & design, from historic quilts to contemporary textile/wallpaper design to narrative folk art.

Jessica—Nature, most often. I love to take something that most people don’t see or notice and turn it into a bold image or pattern. I also get inspired by patterns I see, whether it’s in leaves, iron work, fabric, or paper.

Please tell us about your latest products:
Our most unique and popular new items are our flags. Kathryn designed four images of blackbirds sitting on a wire, and we screen printed them on bright fabric and sewed them together in a long strand. They’re kind of like prayer flags—they change with time and look great inside or out. We applied the same idea to paper flags and created two strands of brightly colored flags—one features three bold fossil block prints and the other has sweet chocolate cakes printed on bright colors.