My Interview With woahbunny!

woahbunny = Cool, funky and very creative. Just what Etsy is all about :)

Please you tell us about yourself and your back ground?

im only 20, a youngen you see, ive been studying illustration for the last 2 years and graphic design before that. i live in a poky 2 bedroom flat with my annoying younger brother who i look after, and follow him round with a can of air freshener (he stinks something rotten) im addicted to sugar free red bull and im know for being sarcastic but also for making people laugh.

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

my work is ment to be fun and eye catching, though my most of my illustration work is more sinister, at first its looks cute and sweet but look again and its usually about some hard hitting issues like domestic violence or child abuse. i like the contrast and the mixed emotions i get from people when they look at my work. they are all like ahh thats nice... woah wait a minute!!!

What usealy sparks off an idea?

i started my esty shop as a way of selling items from my exhibition. im only selling badges at the moment but im going to sell illustration prints and cute plushies that i have made. last week i made a foetus it is well cool.

Please tell us about your latest products:

My ideas usually come from doodling im a doodler, i cant help it. infact i have my notebook open right now with drawings of squids and rainbows on. i have a very child like imagination and i draw what ever im thinking about at the time.

My Interview With jennifersquires!

I have done a photography course and I know a good photographer when i see one and jennifersquires is a GREAT photographer!

Please you tell us about yourself and your back ground?

My name is Jennifer Squires Ross and I've been photographing professionally since 1996. I studied photography in high school as well as college. I hold a Diploma in Photography and a Diploma in Advanced Photography from Fanshawe College (where I was later asked back to teach in the Advanced Photography Program). I live and work in London, Ontario, Canada and when I'm not photographing I can be found tending to my urban vegetable garden.

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

I create fresh photography for hip homes. My work covers a broad range of categories, from shopping carts to gerbera daisies, but I always find I focus on the details of life. I am constantly inspired by the world around me and I use photography to search for simplicity and meaning in the beauty of the everyday. Occasionally I show fine artwork. Most recently my work has been exhibited at The Art Exchange (London, Ontario), Portside Gallery (Port Stanley, Ontario), and McIntosh Gallery (London, Ontario). I opened my Etsy shop in February of 2008.

What usually sparks off an idea?

I usually spend a day or two planning my next photograph. If I haven’t already formulated an idea or concept I will usually look around style websites (like Apartment Therapy) for a basis of my next piece. Inspiration can come in many forms from other visuals to words.

Please tell us about your latest products:

My latest body of work is a set of flower photographs just in time for summer. Currently the collection includes roses, calla lilies, tulips, and gerberas. These contemporary images look great in dining rooms, living areas, bedrooms, and offices, and can be produced as large as 24x30 inches or as small as 4x6 inches. My work can be viewed at http://www.jennifersquires.ca/ and is available for sale via Etsy at http://www.jennifersquires.etsy.com/.

UK ETSY FAYRE

There's a major UK Etsy Craft Going to taking place in Oxford.

Here's some information of how to get involved:

'Hello there!A group of etsians are looking to run a craft fair in Oxford Town Hall on November 9th this year.Anyone who is interested in exhibiting please register here:http://www.flickr.com/groups/wemakeoxford/The town hall is in the centre of town, and will get a decent amount of passing trade. Stalls will be limited to about 55, and will cost in the region of £35 per 6ft table - also available as half tables.Costs are still to be finalised as insurance and advertising costs need to be worked out for inclusion.Please bump this thread as often as you can, as I need around 30 definites before I book anything - this takes away some of the worry for me in terms of finances!THANKS!' -MomentsByMartha

My Interview With CopperLeafStudios

I like to introduce you to CopperLeafStudios! Chris's work is so unuseal I couldn't help but to stop and stare. So please have a look around Chris's etsy shop and prepare to be amazed :)

Please you tell us about yourself and your back ground?

My name is Chris Zielski, and I own Copper Leaf Studios LLC. My background is in art education, and it's had a huge impact on my work. In teaching, you have to be fluent in a variety of media. Because of this, I often find myself combining different techniques, or looking at materials in a non-traditional way.

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

I began working in metal after researching non-toxic printmaking techniques for a high school class. Things changed and I never ended up teaching the lesson, but was hooked! I began selling privately & through galleries, and about a year ago set up shop on etsy.

What usealy sparks off an idea and please tell us about your latest products:

My pieces are inspired by nature and geometry, and mostly come from experimentation. I do a lot of sketches, and try different colors and shapes to keep it fresh. My latest designs are cut copper maps. The idea started when I received a commission to create a piece for a conference on urban artist housing. I designed it to look like a map of the Great Lakes. It was made up of 20 individual abstract pieces, and at the end of the conference, each of the guest speakers was presented with one of the abstracts as a thank you gift. The original is seen here:

It inspired my current line of custom maps & abstracts on etsy.

My Interview With PresenceofColor

I am very proud to introduce to you to PresenceofColor.

Her ceramics and art work are just really amazing!

Please tell us about yourself and your background?

My name is Miya, I grew up and went to University in Montreal, Quebec. I come from a wonderful supportive family and have 3 darling and inspiring sisters. Over ten years ago, I felt the magnetic energy of New York City deep in my bones. I moved here to be closer to art, theatre, music, great food and a world of constant color, diversity and vibrancy. I live in Brooklyn, with my wife (not yet legal in NY). We love waking up early and hanging out in the city’s many farmers’ markets, taking photos of graffiti and street art, and collecting finds at flea markets and stoop sales. I’ve been taking on many non-linear life paths over the course of my 34 years. Teacher, personal assistant, graphic designer and now Cheese monger! I think of myself primarily as an artist. I’ve worked in many mediums and am always looking for the next exciting project or workshop to propel me into a creative frenzy! I’ve been working with ceramics and porcelain for about 10 years and was drawn to glass and glassblowing shortly after that. Last summer I took a printmaking class and was so excited to branch out into the 2D art world. There is so much out there to create, the ideas often keep me up at night!

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

I like to think of my work as different than the average ceramics and glass art. I love color and organic shapes. I love thinking of inventive forms for functional pieces. When I started selling my art, it was primarily to friends and family and through word of mouth. I began working with ceramics, watercolor and charcoal. I worked on commissioned pieces for weddings and other gift-worthy events. I began glassblowing about 7 years ago and was very drawn to the challenges of the medium and the new world it opened up to me creatively. Coming home to a tiny NY apartment with lots of glassware and ceramics began to take a toll on my living space. I heard about etsy through a friend and was encouraged to open a shop and try to sell my art to a larger market. I’ve met some great people through etsy and through the etsy team (The {NewNew} Etsy Street Team) that I have been involved with here in New York.

What usually sparks of an idea?

So many different things spark ideas for creativity! I keep a sketchbook by my side at all time and am often inspired when I least expect to be. Textile design, typography, photography, vintage clothes inspire me. I look around the streets for old books, 1940’s magazines, thrown away chairs waiting for a fresh coat of bright pink paint, bags of fabric scraps, old record jackets, and other fabulous finds to add to the collection. I love living in New York and I feel that it inspires me to constantly think about my surroundings. If I didn’t have to work to make a living, I would create art all day and night. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?!

Please tell us about your latest products.

I have been working on a line of new ceramics and porcelain jewelry. It’s a combination of ceramic pendants with various metal and stone charms and findings. Also in the making, inspired by my new foray into the world of artisanal cheese, cheese plates and boards made of brown and red clays, embossed with quirky cheese names and other fun details. I hope to have up on my etsy shop a collection of ceramic houses that can be used both as decorative pieces and functional vases (one is currently in my shop!)

LBOE TREASURY!

Yes! We have a treasury and I am so ecited about it :D

please feel free to have a look and a comment would be much appreciated. Thank you! :)

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=51160

My Interview With APunkinCardCompany

I am very excited to introduce ApunkinCardCompany, our first ever stationary interview!

Please you tell us about yourself and your back ground?

*Hehe, well my background! Wow, no one has ever asked that but I'll make it short-ish. My name is Amie Needham. I was born Amie Daniels in South Carolina, USA (actually Charleston). I am the oldest of seven kids! We moved to Louisiana for much of my older childhood, high school and such. I then left home and attended college at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana. I graduated with a BA in History and have done nothing with it to this day! I am married to a wonderful man named Sean and we currently live in Texas.

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

*My work is purely selfish! I know! I love paper. My obsession with paper started when I got married. I was looking for wedding invitations, when I noticed the prices were outrageous! (I then had no concept of prices!) So I decided to make my own. I thought, "How hard can this be?" Well it wasn't hard at all. I started making cards just as a hobby the it bloomed into the business I own today. I started selling on Etsy in February 2007, just on a whim. I knew I had to send out some of the cards I was making but I really was overloaded with extra cards. Then I got my first sale! Wow, that was so exciting. I continued making cards in my spare time. (Mostly late nights and weekends)Now that business has picked up, I am working at my Etsy shop full-time! I really love my job and wouldn't ask for anything more!

What usealy sparks off an idea?

* It could be anything! A magazine, pictures, or even looking out the window. I find most of my idea comes to me when I am being the silliest! Singing songs or goofing off with my pets. Then BAM!

Please tell us about your latest products;

*My newest line of stationery is really different from last years. I have really taken a step to the more modern approach of paper. Simple clean lines and bold patterns. I really like it. It's very refreshing and clean. Very easy to love. Plus, they all contain recycled materials which is great for the environment and actually makes the paper look more natural!

My Interview With Untamed Menagerie

When i first came across UntamedMenagerie I was really excited that they were willing to be interviewed! I wanted to share this shop with you so much:

Please you tell us about yourself and your back ground?

Untamed Menagerie is a collection of the combined works of Penny and Nikki (mother and daughter). We live in East Tennessee, in a beautiful valley. Nikki is a pink-haired, chihuahua-loving, violinist. She is the crafter, photographer, and one woman customer service representative of Untamed Menagerie. In sharp contrast to Nikki, Penny has simple (though eclectic) tastes. She loves floral silhouettes, french fabrics, and her Maltese, Precious. Penny finds our materials, and ships orders. Together we work and sketch out new deign concepts.

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

Our silhouettes are cut mostly from wood and acrylics (plastic). We use a combination of scroll saws, rotary tools, and lasers to make whimsical art wearable! We decided to craft full-time after many years of unsatisfying day jobs (particularly a short venture in restaurant management). We discovered etsy.com recently and thought it would be a great venue in addition to craft fairs and local boutiques.

What usealy sparks off an idea?

We are inspired by many different things. We love nature, anatomy, and vintage tattoos. We also like breathing life into older concepts and making the silhouette modern again. An idea usually starts while having a delicious cream cheese pastry and staring out the window into our backyard.

Please tell us about your latest products:

Our latest products are about making things you would never expect, but should! Like literal chandelier earrings (from our Lustre collection), and a necklace-necklace (from our Lola collection). We have many more designs coming soon!

My Interview With SoapScentsations

Most think soap is just soap but not in SoapScentsations!

When I first visited SoapScentsations it was great to see the traditional, good old fashioned reliable soap available but with a modern twist.

As you go around SoapScentsations you realise there is so much more: the favors are delicately designed with such care and detail, you can tell that the seller cares about her products and to top it off The Loofah Disc Soaps are so very classy :). Something for everyone, well worth a visit.

Please you tell us about yourself and your back ground?

I am a "semi-professional" full-time mom, part time soap maker, and crafter/artisian of all types. There aren't many art forms that I haven't at least tried once. I can't knit or crochet (I have tried on numerous occasions), but I love to paint, draw, sew, mosaic, scrap...just to name a few. I have a degree in secondary speech/theatre education that I have yet to use in a monetary sense. I do think it helped prepare me for what was to come with raising kids (especially a very DRAMATIC three-year old). Being home with my kiddos is the single most important thing for me. If the whole soap thing ever interfers with that I will definately close shop. I spend my days keeping up with my two boys, 6.5 and 3.5, and all their activities, trying to teach them how to be nice young men, keeping our house in a somewhat functional state, and keeping my etsy shop up and running. I am an active member (president elect) of my sons PTL and our church. I spend my spare time (oh wait--I don't have any) reading---it's been awhile since I picked up a book that had more than 5 words to a page. Ah well, such is life.

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

I feel very new to ETSY, but find I love it more every day. There are so many ways to promote your work and share ideas with all the other creative people on ETSY. A friend of mine told me about ETSY a couple months after I launched my home-based business "Soap Scent-sations". I just loved all the work on ETSY so much; it felt like home to me, that I decided I would give it a go. Since opening shop ( www.soapscentsations.etsy.com ) on ETSY I have had fairly steady sales (and more since I have been exploring the forums, virtual labs, and alcemy). I look forward to continued growth and meeting new and wonderfully creative people. I also still feel new to soap-making, but love every minute of it. Creating pretty, useful things for other people brings me great pleasure. I don't think I would enjoy it as much if I were just making them for myself and my family. Sharing is part of it. Making something with my two hands that someone else can enjoy. It is kind of like sending part of yourself out in each bar.

What usealy sparks off an idea?

There are lots of things that give me ideas for another soap. The whole soap-making idea came from trying to find a soap my youngest could use without breaking out. So my kids are definately inspiration to me. Interesting molds give me ideas. I've used everything from traditional soap molds to the plastic toys come in to make soaps. A favorite of my kids were the LEGO Star Wars character soaps I made for them. And just colors in general can make me grin. My whole shop is pretty colorful, especially the bath poofs. Those are my favorite soaps to make and use. That is mostly because they are really simple. Single colors, single scents, and it has a bath net in it that makes it ready to use as soon as you hit the shower.

Please tell us about your latest products:

My newest products are the solid lotion tins. I started using natural bee's wax from a fellow ETSIAN and I really think that has improved that particular product. The rich honey smell keeps me from really needing to add much else. I like keeping them natural and neutral. It is fun finding scents that compliment the honey.I am also really trying to promote the "Favor" soaps. They can be used for so many different things and can be customized by the buyer. Customers can choose from a variety of shapes (hearts, starts, frogs, turtles, bears, angels, and "thank you" bars), colors, and fragrances. Favor Soaps are great for baby showers, bridal showers, wedding favors, gift bags, customer appreciation gifts, and guest bathrooms. I can personalize the Favor Soaps with a small gift tag.

Appologies Again For Technical Difficulties

Yep, and again the moment I try doing something my internet gives up :(
I appologise to those whos adds are ment to be put today. I think I managed to get about half of them up before it totaly gave up. So I will try again tomorrow when I come back from my regular Friday craft fayre :)
They be put up, honestly.
-artbymimi

My Interview With bonzie

I am so excited to introduce bonzie! Her work is so stunning and a little gem on etsy.

bonzie's shop just shows what etsy can provide the world: unique and stunning peices work that are just waiting to be discovered.

Please you tell us about yourself and your back ground?

Im a 27 year old Irish lass with a passion for all things opulent, theatrical, antique! I grew up in Tipperary and spent my younger years in both a Dancing academy and a Marching Band. I grew an appreciation here for all things theatrical, and adored costumes, in fact I was the kid that used to scan the floor after each dance competition picking up the sequins and beads that fell off the dance costumes! I collected embellishments, I guesss it was inevitable that one day I would have to use them up in my designs! lolI graduated from The National College of Art and Design with an honours degree in Fashion and did a stint in both a corsetierre in Dublin and a fashion house in Paris, before settling down in Waterford, in the South of Ireland in my own design studio!

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

My work is an artful blend of romance, nostalgia, vintage with a hint of steampunk. I adore the opulence of the victorian era and also the decay that comes with something from times gone by! This adoration of all things antiquated bleeds into my work and most of my pieces look a lot older than my lifetime by the time I am finished distressing them to tattered perfection! I was keen to work on my label on my own terms and hated the thoughts of having to get something so personal and handfinished mass produced. I like that its very small and exclusive and for me etsy was the vehicle that would allow me to sell to a worldwide audience whilst still keeping my label small and a little bit special.

What usealy sparks off an idea?

This is always a tough one to answer as for me its not anything specific that inspires me. I am constantly thinking about the next project, I subconsciously pick up colour schemes or textures or shapes from my environment around me without even realising I am doing it! I do notice that sometimes I can be working on a piece and a combination I used somewhere and this might be used and further developed in the next piece! I guess this is how a label evolves over time.

Please tell us about your latest products.

My latest addition to my label are the Tattered Couture Neck Adornments! These are the next in the line of wearable art from my Bonzie label. Intricate embellishments frequently feature in my work and I guess I wanted to create something that was just about these collages of lace, beads, corsages etc. The Neck Adornments concentrate these embellishments into one space that the wearer can easily use over simpler garments already in their wardrobe for an instant couture aesthetic!

My Interview With OnesandZerosFashions

I am so excited about introducing OnesandZerosFashions! I am so jellous of any child who gets given one of these lunch bags to take to school. Maybe with OnesandZerosFashions 's help we can take alittle bit of the child inside us all to work :)

Please you tell us about yourself and your background?

I’ve been making artwork for as long as I can remember. I began drawing about the time I could hold a crayon, and I learned to sew early on by helping my mom make clothes for me, and crafts for our home. From that time on, I knew I wanted to be an artist. After studying Fiber Art at Maryland Institute College of Art, I moved to Philadelphia and began working as a costumer in the theatre industry. I loved the variety of things I got to create as a costumer (from tutus to space costumes to Victorian dresses), it was something new for every show. But after a couple of years I felt like I needed more time to devote to my own artwork and decided to start Ones and Zeros Fashions!

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

My Lunch Monsters definitely evolved out of need. I always take my lunch, but brown paper bags just seem so wasteful to me. So, I designed Harold as an eco-friendly way to carry my lunch. Initially, they were just made for myself and my fiancé, but I started to get lots of orders from people who saw them. When a friend suggested Etsy to me, I thought it was such a great venue to show my work and meet other artists as well. My shop has been open about a month, and I love it so far!I’ve started listing some of my one of a kind garments recently as well. I really love the idea of wearing something that is completely unique, so I prefer to make one of a kind or limited edition clothing. In my designs, I often contrast geometric prints with more organic shapes or vice-versa, because my two biggest design influences are robots and nature! That may sound like an odd combination, but there’s just something really beautiful to me about super-sleek modern design paired with more organic, natural elements.

What usually sparks off an idea?

Usually the initial spark comes from the materials themselves, I’ll see some fabric or buttons or even a color and start thinking about what I could make with it. Especially with garments, I like to experiment with different combinations of textures and colors and see how different materials play off each other.

Please tell us about your latest products.

Right now, I’m working on some new features and designs for the Lunch Monster series. One new feature will be a carrying strap. The new Lunch Monster will have arms that can snap together so you can carry it as a shoulder bag!Soon, I’ll also be adding some beautiful new skirts, shirts, and dresses as well as prints of my drawings to the Ones and Zeros Fashions shop.

My Interview With xoelle

This is such a cool shop! Also it's great for your last minute Father's Day Gifts that I just had to feature xoelle.etsy.com on LBOE's Blog today. Please check her out!

Please you tell us about yourself and your back ground?

My name is Laura Plouzek. I'm a newlywed turning 29 in a few days. I'm a high school art teacher so I get to play with art and creating all day. I was raised in Washington State, but have lived in several places and currently reside in Pensacola, FL with my enlisted Navy husband (who is also my model!). I love making things, bike rides, chocolate ganache, and old musicals.

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

My work is driven by my passion for vintage items coupled with my need to use every last scrap of resources. Waste is my enemy. Discarded and unloved vintage items are given new life and new functionality and I love that! The past offers us so much richness, and I want to bring some of that into the present.

What usealy sparks off an idea?

The items that I make for my shop (every single one of them!) were first designed and created to fill a need that I had. It's important to me that I'm in love with every design, and that it is functional. I make things for myself and my friends and family first, and when it goes over well, I bring them into my shop. I'm inspired by the people that I love, the shapes of branches in the sky, retro patterns and fabrics, kitcsh and pop culture, and domesticity.

Please tell us about your latest products:

My bow ties have taken over my shop! I've been collecting really great ties for years (I started in high school, I was going to make a tie skirt, but by the time I'd collected enough, grew out of that idea) and fell in love with a man who wears bow ties almost exclusively. In fact, I think the bow tie was the reason that I noticed him playing the piano across the room. He wore a bow tie to our wedding, and I wanted to create a line of bow ties for guys like him: young, hip, slightly sophisticated, and fun. The bow tie market is small, and most of them are either very traditional, pre-tied (we say yuck!), or crazy colors and patterns. I've put my vintage ties to use to create modern freestyle bow ties from vintage materials for the hip guys of today. =)

My Interview With choconaut!

I really want to introduce choconaut! Please check out her shop. I don't need to say too much because her shop speaks louder than words :D

Please you tell us about yourself and your background?

My name is Bethany and I just graduated this year. I'll be attending community college in the fall. I'm 18 years old, so yes, I'm one of those young sellers on Etsy. I love to sew, but not as much on the sewing machine (I don't trust machines). I also love to sculpt. Not much to say about my background. I've been living in Kentucky my whole life, and although my friends all want to just leave this state completely, I'd have to say I enjoy living here (okay, maybe not in this county though). I've been sewing ever since I was little. My grandma taught me to sew and I've been doing it ever since.

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

My work.... well, it's everything I love. Cute and cuddly plushies, anything made from clay, purses and totes, and just anything I feel like making. My store is called "The Miscellaneous Five and Dime" because it's just that. A store filled with the random creations that I make. This whole Etsy obsession started when I was browsing through a bookstore and found the book Plush You by Kristen Rask. Some Etsy sellers have their plush featured in the book, and I thought "Wow, that would be so cool to sell the things I make. Maybe I could be in a book like this someday." So I checked Etsy out and decided to give it a shot. I waited forever to get my new debit card in the mail so I could start up my shop. Now I'm addicted to Etsy.

What usually sparks off an idea?

A lot of ideas actually come from just staring at the clouds and seeing shapes in them. Other ideas come from things people say, or other things I see that I think I can improve.

Please tell us about your latest products:

I really want to start making my own original clothing and add them to my shop. I'm working on a green halter dress right now, but it's just a test (it won't be for sale).I'm also making a miniature dragon plush that was requested by my 8 year old brother. (He actually asked if he could buy one from me). But if his goes well, ten I will be making more of those.