The Little Book Of Etsy

New Start!

2009-01-09T03:42:00.000-08:00

Hi there!
Last year I started LBOE booklet and promo bags to advertise others on etsy. I gave these out to everyone who either showed interest in art etc. or bought something from my stall. I received all positive feed back and also most said they will have a look at the shops online *fingers crossed that you guys made some new customers*I started off with 20 sellers at the start of 2008 but the last time I did this for the christmas eddittion and i got around 80 sellers!
So this year Easter is no too far away and is useally great for craft fayres etc. so I hope to continue it on. I have got a blog here: www.littlebookofetsy.blogspot.com which is a bit bare at the moment due to the christmas holidays and also other personal reasons but I wish to continue to help advertise you guys once again but this time in a slightly different, eye catching way (and maybe slightly easier way as well).At the craft fayres me and my mum also collected money for charity, CMA which is a heart charity. We collect money in memory of my best friend and we are collecting money by showing our giant rabbit but also we started doing lucky dips last year and it went down a storm! so I saw a great oppertunity to bring LBOE into a different light.
Im serching for any number of promos etc. that are suitable for all ages that people are happy for me to use for the lucky dips and by having your etsy address attached to the item/s it'll help advertise your shop at the same time. It doesn't have to be from your shop and could be a suitabkle item with a 'donated by .....' sticker.
If you wish to find out more about CMA please visit here: http://www.cardiomyopathy.org/ also to find out what we have currently raised and check out all the news paper clippings to make sure we are collecting for a 100% genuine charity (please do!) please check out Ginny's Online Burrow here: www.freewebs.com/ginnythegiantrabbit also she is featured on CMA official website: http://www.cardiomyopathy.org/Vote-for-CMA-fundraising-rabbit.html
Please let me know if you wish to get involved and also any feedback/ideas are very welcome
Thank you guys for your over whelming support of LBOE so far!

Mailing List

2008-11-06T08:10:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-09-28T13:08:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-09-22T10:42:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-09-09T02:51:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-27T09:08:00.001-07:00

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

2008-08-27T05:28:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-27T05:14:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-21T11:54:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-02T08:22:00.000-07:00

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:

2008-07-31T04:09:00.000-07:00

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...

2008-07-26T12:02:00.001-07:00

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:

2008-07-24T05:13:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-23T04:47:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-19T23:37:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-18T12:53:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-18T04:28:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-15T02:50:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-12T00:05:00.000-07:00

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.

Me Interview with whimsypics

2008-07-09T04:05:00.000-07:00

Over the last few years a lot of hand made cards have cropped up but whimsypics makes hers with so much care and love they are so different from the norm.

This is where Etsy stands out and offers high quolity services. If you wish to buy a card/s, book or any altered items whimsypics is the best place to be!

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

My name is Melissa and I’m a SAHM to my 4 year old son, Ethan and 11 month old daughter, Ava. My husband, Henry, is my biggest supporter! I was born and raised in NY (just north of NYC) and moved to the Raleigh, NC area in December 06 to purchase my dream (for now) house. It was difficult to share an office space with my husband in our NY apartment. I started Scrapbooking when my son was born. He was born 10 weeks early and, while he was in the hospital, I made little books out of construction paper and used them as little scrapbooks to give friends and family. Since my daughter was born, it’s very difficult to find time to create. I take a long time to complete each project (and I hope it shows) but I hope that I’m able to find more time to create as she becomes more independent.

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

I absolutely love what I do! I started selling traditional premade albums on ebay about 4 years ago and as my style changed, I included altered art in my auctions. I did well there but I felt like the site wasn’t geared towards selling art (or craft) and I felt stifled. I found out about etsy in April of ’07 by reading the ebay forums! I opened up shop, listed one item, sold it and didn’t really come back. Then in January ’08 ebay announced some ridiculous changes so I decided to try etsy full time. I am so thrilled to be part of a community that understands, appreciates and values what I do! The etsy community is incredibly supportive and I’m so glad I found it.

What usealy sparks off an idea?

My ideas for themes tend to come from the paper and/or embellishments that I’m using. I love to alter things that would normally be thrown out and sometimes those things just ‘speak’ to me as well. For example, my dear sweet husband (who saves all of his garbage for me to alter) came to me with empty rolls of painter’s tape. I rolled my eyes and threw them into my ‘alterables’ drawer. But, a little while later, I got a pack of rub-ons and some coordinating paper and immediately thought ‘I’ll make a diorama with this and the painter’s tape roll’. I ended up making 3 dioramas with that paper and to this day, they are my absolute favorite thing I’ve ever done. My mother in law bought one of them and I’m so glad that I’ll be able to see it when I go back to NY to visit. I’ve altered empty bottles, altoids tins, boxes, hat boxes, paper bags, envelopes and other things I can’t think of right now. I’ve THOUGHT about altering almost anything that doesn’t walk! And I never throw anything out, just in case.

Please tell us about your latest products:

I just finished an album using acrylic for the pages. I was very intimidated, as the pages are all see-through but I listed it and it sold the same day! I guess I did ok. Right now I’m working on a summer themed album. The album itself is shaped like a pail and shovel you might use for digging in the sand. I’m excited to see how it’ll turn out! My albums are all one of a kind. I may use a paper line more than once but I never duplicate an album. I hope that all the love that I put into each of my creations is apparent to each of my customers.

Blog Updates

2008-07-08T08:49:00.000-07:00

Yep, I've found a few moments today to achulary sit down and sort this blog out. This is all before the big day coming up in Aurgust, where i hope we'll gain alot of visitors to LBOE's blog.
Ive added a sponsored links (permantly in place, not changed weekly), a new Etsy link and a quick rearangment which I hope makes our blog look neater, more colourful and easier to look around.
Please let me know if you have any surjestions to make it look even better :)

Big Thank You For The Exposure:

2008-07-08T07:26:00.000-07:00

Hi Guys,
I was borred while eatting my lunch (and trying not thinking how many lboe booklets i still have to make lol) so i typed in 'littlebookofetsy' in the serch engine and up came lots of links to other people's blogs etc. who have mensioned lboe and also put up links on their sites.
So thank you, thank you, thank you they really do help us all get the exposure we need and to get more customers to etsy.com :)

My Interview with shazzasknits!

2008-07-05T23:55:00.000-07:00

shazzasknits even though it's Summer (well... it's suppose to be ;) ) knitted clothing is in and shazzasknits is a great place to be to get all your knitted fashion accesories on Etsy!

Please you tell us about yourself and your back ground?

My name is Sharon (Shazza) and I live in Tasmania which is an island state of Australia and am married with three children ranging in ages from 11 - 15. I learnt to knit when I was about 5 years old but I wasn't that good at it really so it was something that I did along with many other crafts including sewing, tapestry and cross stitch. I suddenly found myself unemployed when I was 17 and being a person who has to be busy I was extremely bored and needed something to fill in the long days. My dear mother suggested I knit a jumper so I did and something clicked, I was hooked and have been ever since. I was fortunate enough to finally land a job after my brief period of unemployment and my old boss knew that the job was quiet and very hard to fill in eight hours of work so he allowed me to knit while not busy, bliss! This was during the 1980's when a lot of people had given up 'crafting' and were intrigued by this 20 year old girl knitting and actually enjoying it. This led to many requests for jumpers, hats, gloves etc. which I soon realised was a great way to supplement my income. Eventually I got married and left work to raise my family, however that period in my life flew by and before I knew it they were in full time school and once again I started knitting for people but now it was a whole new ball game, internet access meant that there was a whole new world out there.

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

I design everything I make but basically knitting is based on a few traditional shapes that the designer works with to give it their own unique style. I love fashion from the 1960's and 1970's and so a lot of that period shows through in my designs. I used to sell at an outdoor market but winters in Tasmania are extremely cold and while I did alright I just knew there had to be a better way, if not a warmer way, to sell my knitwear. One day in early 2006 I discovered Etsy through a knitting blog, I loved it! Eventually I signed up and started my very own shop.

What usually sparks off an idea?

It can come from a picture in a vintage book or magazine, I quite often find a hat pattern in an old crochet book and decide to make a knit version as my crochet skills are minimal and I really do prefer the look of knitting. Colour is also a big influence especially with my childrens items, and sometimes I will have a customer ask for something and between us a new idea is formed.

Please tell us about your latest products:

I am constantly working on new ideas, some come to fruition while many others are stored away for another time maybe. My very latest designs are the Carnaby Street Cap and Beret range, these were inspired by an old vintage crocheted hat from the 1960's and of course the London street that was synonymous with 1960's fashion. I use a wool and alpaca mix for these which makes a lovely soft hat that works really well with the stitch design.

My Interview With jaymeekae

2008-07-03T23:12:00.000-07:00

Jaymeekae's work amazed me when I saw it, a classic 'How did she do that?'. The long exposures reminds me of my college days, I dore old buildings and her landscapes looks as though they have been plucked from her dreams and memories. Anyone can take a photo or draw a scribble but what makes a great photographer/ artist is someone who knows just what to add to make it alive with that added 'spark'. Therefore I encourage everyone to visit this truely amazing shop.

Please you tell us about yourself and your background?

My name is Amy, I’m a photographer and I’ve been living in London, England for almost a year. I never liked art in high school and I have vivid memories of being made fun of by my art teachers. I started a degree in computing which wasn’t working out too well and, when I discovered photography at the end of my first year, I knew I’d found my calling! After three months of the second year, I made the decision to leave. I had a few months out to travel and then I started a BA in Photography and Digital Imaging. I still believe this was the best decision I’ve ever made, even though I am now a jobless hippy.

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

When I left university I worked for about 11 months as an interior photographer for an estate agent. It wasn’t a bad job but it really started to bore me, so when the whole department was made redundant a few weeks ago, I saw it as a chance to make a change! I’m trying to get into the fabulous world of being a genuine starving artist! I’ve set up this etsy shop and I’m also investigating the possibility of taking my work to markets and craft shows. I also had an offer of having a show in a gallery, so I’m exploring all kinds of avenues! Everything is very new at the moment, I need to promote myself more and start the sales rolling in!

What usually sparks off an idea?

Lots of things… as a photographer, just going out into the street is often inspiration enough. I like to use conversation to develop more involved project ideas. I find that ideas just go round and round in my head without ever being formed into anything useful unless I bounce them off some unsuspecting friend.

Please tell us about your latest products:

My “Non Space” series is the latest big project I’ve worked on. I was looking at ways to show a presence of something without actually showing the thing. At the time I was doing a project about a skate park when a friend of mine suggested attaching torches to the skaters to create trails of light through images in long exposures. The trails of light idea kind of ran and ran and I love the effect. There’s a certain buzzy, gritty feel to a long exposure image taken in a city at nighttime and the angular streaks of light add a sense of movement and presence that is mysterious and conjures up all kinds of ideas. I love that element of mystery and ambiguity.Watch this space for new projects and new prints!

Calling LBOE Members: Summer = Summer fayres :D

2008-07-02T07:27:00.000-07:00

hi guys
exciting news! in the local papers the local summer fayres are now poping up.
im going to be attending a summer fayre in marizion school which is right next to st.micheal's mount (a major tourist attraction) on the 18th. So ive been putting togther a few lboe2s to take some along with me :)
Also my mum is now taking part in the major fayre taking place on the 1st of aurgust so she'll be helping hand then out then on her stall. so lots and lots of exposure :D
I hope to do more fayres through out the summer holidays (MAJOR tourist season) and also through out december coming up to xmas.
so please keep your eyes pealed for me calling out for more b.cards etc. when they have all gone (lboe1 was very popular) and please, please keep in touch. it's always great hearing from you guys :)

My Interview With woahbunny!

2008-06-30T07:50:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-06-26T15:09:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-25T04:07:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-24T09:13:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-22T11:24:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-06-18T05:26:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-18T04:45:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-16T11:32:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-12T14:46:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-06-06T13:06:00.000-07:00

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.

Father's Day (2)

2008-06-06T00:00:00.001-07:00

Father's day is coming closer, so here's a few surjestions for last minute gifts that are selling on etsy.com

1.By StyrenDesigns

2.By LostRiverRags

3.ourkidsboutique

4.By macaroniandglue

5.By tlgcrafts

My Interview With FaniSong

2008-06-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

Today I'm interviewing Fani who owns Fanisong. Fanisong is a great shop full of little gems, ideal for any occasion and eco friendly too!

Please check out Fani's shop at www.fanisong.etsy.com but please take a few moments to read her interview to have a glimse inside her world:

Please you tell us about yourself and your back ground?

My name is Fani, I design and make handmade jewelry. I was born and grew upin Indonesia, but now I am happily live in Greater Toronto Area(Mississauga exactly), Canada. I have always loved designing and creatingunique things since I was little, I am so lucky because I got a greatencouragement from my family especially my mom who's an artist herself. Ialso love travelling, experiment new things, exploring nature and takingpictures. My bachelor degree is in Food Science and my master degree is inBusiness - Finance. I used to have a career in a corporate world and havebeen making jewelry for over 10 years, before I founded FaniSong Jewelry in2007 to pursue my true passion in designing and making jewelry. So, here Iam an Etsy addict -:)

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

About my work and how I start my Etsy shopMy dream is to creat artworks that inspire women to feel special andbeautiful, I believe in art's power to inspire emotion. My designs arelargely inspired by the artistic nature objects and the lure of the sea.I've been amazed with nature and its objects, it is there where I captureevery moment to get inspiration for my designs. My works are designed toexpress a free spirit that involves exploration of artistic nature objectsand unique style. I found Etsy about a year ago when I browsed internet to find out where tosell and to buy handmade things. The idea of the site itself is amazing,and there are soooo many artist with gorgeous artworks, and the artistcommunity is so awesome. I fall in love with Etsy ever since, and now I aman Etsy addict.

What usually sparks off an idea?

What usually spark off the ideaInspiration comes from anywhere at anytime.... When I close to nature, myinspiration flows and it lock off my mind. I doesn't have to go far faraway though doing 'big' activies (that's be great though), sometimes I justtake an hour or two walking in the woods, playing water in a small creekaround where I live, enjoying the sound of rattling leaves or winds,capturing moments with my camera. So for me, NATURE is my inspiration.

Please tell us about your latest products:

My latest work I just have launched a new collection ECO-friendly Glass Photo usingrecycled glass and nature photos mostly. This project is a great deal forme because I've been experimenting for a while to combine my passion injewelry, nature photography and environment friendly... and here "theECO-friendly Glass Photo" is borns. This collection has received a greatfeedback from the audience. As of now, I only have pendant for the collection, but I am working on the project for other items such as rings,earrings, as well as art wall. Stay tune...

I'm VERY Excitted!

2008-06-04T10:49:00.000-07:00

Because look at the poll :D!!! someone's visited from the craft fayres to here. yay! it's working :)

Father's Day Is Coming!

2008-06-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

By twobeans

Yep, Fathers Day is coming up and if you're stuck for ideas, how about checking these items out ...of course on Etsy.com

By DinnerTimeChimes by LindaHandWeaver

By LaurieRyan

By wildcardpottery

by leetgeek by julesjewel

By lizart29

By hickeywoodworks

Catching up :)

2008-06-03T13:09:00.000-07:00

Hi guys,
Since my internet decided to go on holiday over the weekend im trying to catch up on things and those who have arrived over the last few days. So please bare with me :)

I have received cards from:

*Paris Chick Boutique
*cloud hopping
*Lily grace Originals
*dlcarver
*Arizona Skies
*Earthly Creations
*Angelic Gems

Today's Arrivals:

Some great etsy related items from: pouchbags

*littlepurls
*lieblingartcrafts
*cuteability

My Interview with Liz Plummer:

2008-06-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

I came across Liz's work when I first started LBOE. I wanted to know more about how she started and what her work is all about.

I was so intreged with her work shown in her etsy shop http://www.lizplummer.etsy.com/ I just had to share it with you. Please spend some time to read this interview and enter the world of Liz Plummer.

M: Please you tell us about yourself and your back ground?

L: My name is Liz Plummer and I'm a 48 year old textile artist. I live inNewport in South Wales with my husband and three teenage boys. When theyoungest started school I wanted to find something creative to occupy mytime. I did a City & Guilds course in Patchwork and Quilting at a local college and that opened my eyes to the fun and possibilities in painting anddyeing fabric and designing my own artwork. Then in 2005 I started a blogcalled Dreaming Spirals (http://www.lizplummer.com/blog) where I document myjourney and inspiration. I found I loved writing and getting to know other bloggers engaged in similar work.

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

L: I love colour and texture and layering fabrics and paints to give the effectof depth and hidden things and a lot of my work reflects this. I likeworking small, although I have a variety of sizes of art, from tinyACEOs (tiny art cards 3.5 inches by 2.5 inches in size - the size of tradingcards - which are very collectable) to largerwallhangings. I have made a lot of postcard sized art, which is designed to go through thepost, stamped and postmarked just like anordinary postcard. The stamp and postmark then form part of the art. Theycan also be mounted and framed just like ordinary art.I also sell larger wallhangings, and hand dyed silk scarves.I heard of Etsy right back when it began, but I wanted to see whether ittook off as a successful selling venue and also to wait till there were moresellers from outside the US. A couple of art quilters whose blogs I readstarted shops last year and finally, in December last year, I decided toinvestigate it a bit more and start listing my work!

M:What usually sparks off an idea?

L:Hmm... a lot of my art originates from nature and from the effects of lightand reflections. For instance I did a series of postcards sparked off bytrying to depict the reflections of the light during rain. I get a lot of ideas just walking around town.I have also done a lot of rust dyeing, fromwrapping fabric around rusty objects. I love the colour and texture ofrust and the effects of aging on metal objects.

M:Please tell us about your latest products:

L:I recently bought a Print Gocco machine, which is a small Japanese printingmachine. The Japanese use them for printing New Year cards and about athird of all households there own them! I bought it to create screens forprinting on fabric, but I have also started printing cards and the covers ofsmall, pocket sized Moleskine journals with designs developed from my photosor drawings. I love it, because it is a very unmessy way of printing and Ican fit a printing session into the time the boys are at school. It isactually a bit of a cult item amongst artists, and has always been rare in the UK although there are suppliers in the US and Australia, so I am planning to sell used machines purchased in Japan on my blog.

Internet is Back!

2008-06-02T04:45:00.001-07:00

Yay! my Internet is back so everything will hopefully go back to normal :) thanks guys for your understanding.

My Interview With Diffraction:

2008-06-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

Diffraction is a totaly amazing shop full of wonder. After a few seconds into the interview I really wanted to run to her shop and purchase more that I could afford. Please visit http://www.diffraction.etsy.com/ to see for your self but please hold your self for a few more minutes to read this interview. Thank you

M:Please you tell us about yourself and your back ground?

D:I've been photographing people and places for years now. But only recently did I come up with the idea of transforming my photographs into wearable art. Thus Diffraction was born!

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

D:So all my photographic jewelry pieces incorporate original images I've shot over the years. Before starting my Etsy shop I experimented with a variety of different methods of transforming photographs into jewelry. Finally I stumbled across my current method. The photographs are transferred onto thick plastic which I can sand and shape as needed. I coat them in several layers of polyurethane to make them durable and give them a nice gloss like you'd find on a photograph. In all my pieces I strive for an end result of an item that is striking, and emotionally charged. It's hard to look at one of them without having an opinion.

M:What usealy sparks off an idea?

D:Oh man, where to begin? My mind wanders... a lot. My husband tells me I give him conversational whiplash sometimes because we'll be on one subject which triggers twelve other thoughts and all of a sudden we go from politics to the texture of fruit. Or something like that. It all makes sense in my head! So i guess what I'm saying is things just come to me. I always say some of my best ideas come to me when I'm in the shower because I just let my mind wander.

M:Please tell us about your latest products:

D:Well, the shop is pretty new, so they are all my latest products! But the newest of the new are my leaf jewelry which are photographed leaves, transferred onto plastic and the leaf's delicate patterns are then cut out. It really looks like you are wearing a leaf! I'm also very proud of my new rings. I see them as modern cameos. I've basically taken portrait shots of sculptures and created a modern photographic cameo out of them that I've set into these fantastic rings that have a delicate metal fringe to them. I think they are just beautiful!

Arrivals for LBOE 2

2008-05-30T13:05:00.000-07:00

Hi guys, the new b.card that arrived today are from:

*Nifty Knits
*Indigo Rocks
*blinkingmouse
*Jane Gallagher

and also i have some b.cards and a couple of GORGOUS earrings to use for the promos from: RosieJo

Still Calling For More Sellers

2008-05-29T06:19:00.000-07:00

Hi Guys,
I have had lots of convos about joining but ive still got room. if you wish to join in with the seond edittion of the LBOE please feel free to convo or comment to receive more info :)

New Arrivals for the LBOE 2nd

2008-05-28T16:09:00.000-07:00

Hi guys, just like to add the list of names of the first arrivals to be part of the second edition of LBOE. :)

*Moments By Martha
* Fantasea Jewelry Originals
*Boshemian
*piedras

thanks to those and to the sellers who have already contacted me to join in. many thanks! :)

My Interview With Elizabethslace

2008-05-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

Today I am interviewing Elizabeth from ElizabethsLace. so please welcome, Elizabeth. :)

M: Please you tell us about yourself and your back ground?

EL: I am 39 and a happily married mother of fifteen-year-old twin boys. I have a degree in Business Administration and work as a tax accountant, but have taken art/craft classes consistently since I was little - all different kinds. I find the drive/need to be creative overwhelming at times - I really enjoy crocheting, calligraphy, cross stitch, and sewing - but I am completely addicted to tatting - a form of lacemaking I learned from my grandmother.

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

EL: I grew up watching my grandmother do her tatting (lacemaking) around handkerchiefs and pillowcases. She also did some doilies. It was amazing to watch her fingers flying and lace coming out the other side. She wanted to teach me when I was young, but I was a typical teenager and wanted nothing to do with it at the time. By God's grace she lived long enough that when I, at 22, decided I was ready to learn, she was still able to teach me. I haven't put it down since.I wanted a contemporary way to use and display it - hence the jewelry.I have been doing art/craft shows with my tatted jewelry for fifteen years. I originally joined etsy so I could buy hand-dyed threads for use in my jewelry. After a while, I thought I ought to at least post some things to sell to make up for all the money I was spending. Unfortunately, with doing shows full time it's had to keep up with both, and the etsy shop suffers a bit. I do direct existing customers from my regular website to my etsy shop because etsy is where I tend to display some of my newer pieces.

M: What usually sparks off an idea?

EL: I have many inspirations - probably one of the most common is vintage books my grandmother had - there are no tatted jewelry patterns in them, but I look at a doily and can see a section of it that I think would make a beautiful necklace. They generally have to be reworked (knot count more than anything) to accommodate the beads I want to use. I do also use some modern patterns from other tatting designers - not jewelry designs, but motifs I incorporate into my own style of jewelry. I also find inspiration in other types of jewelry, patterns on clothing, and traditional shapes like hearts, crosses, butterflies or flowers. With things like this I am often designing the pattern from scratch because it's hard to find patterns in the size or shapes I want them.

M: Please tell us about your latest products.

EL: At the moment, I am completely addicted to variegated threads. I remember when I first started tatting, I associated variegated thread to my grandmother's tatting, and so I thought it a bit "old fashioned" and I avoided it like the plague. Today, with dyed silks and cottons, the colors are so glorious and once I start with my variegated threads it's hard for me to get back to my staple colors like brown, black, and olive green. You can see some of the examples of these types of thread being used in my etsy shop.

Thank you Elizabeth for letting us into your shop. I find your style very refreshing and also amazing www.elizabethslace.etsy.com

My Interview with: Maicen

2008-05-26T04:12:00.000-07:00

Today, i have interviewed Maicen. :D

M: Please you tell us about yourself and your back ground?

Ma:I am a 25 year old school teacher with a dream of becoming a full-time artist. I have been drawing and painting since I was about 15, and started selling self-designed hats and postcards in local stores when I was 18. I have gone 3 years in art-school, and have a burning interest for design, fashion, interior and art!

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

Ma: I am mainly into drawing and illustration and have done a lot off work with this. I found etsy trough flickr ( www.flickr.com/maicen/photos/ ) and fell for the idea straight away! I mainly do prints in my etsy for now, but will soon start doing t-shirts, baby-clothes, bookmarks etc.I like my work to be girlie, cute and fashionable, but the most important thing is that the girls I draw have a good expression. I work with different theemes such as emptiness and lonelyness, but I would like to point out that this is not in a negative way! These feelings are often kind off euphoric and nice, and we all get alot of growth out of them.

M: What usealy sparks off an idea?

Ma: I get inspired of everything! I can walk around one day, and the work just pops into my head. I love when I get an idea, and I start working on it right away.

M: Please tell us about your latest products.

Ma: My latest products are key-holders with original illustrations, they are laminated. I have been handing these products out for gifts to friends and family, and now when they all have one each, I make and sell them.

Thank you Maicen :) I highly reconmend Maicen's shop because of the really funky unmistakable style that she has. And I'm loving the cool keyrings! :D http://www.maicen.etsy.com/

CALLING FOR MORE SELLERS :)

2008-05-25T15:59:00.001-07:00

Hi Guys,
Im now calling for more sellers to join in with the seond edittion of the LBOE. Feel free to convo or comment to receive more info :)

The First Outings of LBOE

2008-05-25T11:48:00.000-07:00

As you may know, LBOE has had it's first outing yesturday! :D

First of all I put all of the promo bags into it's special basket that I decorated to make it very eye catching to the passers by.

I split the promos I’ve been sent into two.

1. Was a card pack: inside held cards, postcards and art cards from different Etsy sellers + a voucher or two, all to encourage people to visit Etsy and your shops. These I gave to people who was stopping at my stall and looked at my items as a way of saying thank you and encouraging them to visit Etsy and it's shops when they get home.

I had put these into really nice paper bags that I’ve got, with a little message about what’s inside it and with Etsy's web address on it.The reason I did it this way was simply because the cards wouldn't fit in the drawstring bags and I didn't want to ruin them. I was planning on getting the next lot of bags to be made bigger to hold promos, LBOE and the cards but I am pleased to say that it worked out really well as it was.I started off with 20 card packs and I think I only had about 2 left at the end of the day!

Everyone was pleased with what we gave each of them and hopefully they will be quite happy to visit Etsy, to see what else Etsy holds in store :)

The second was the promo packs itself: with the promos, LBOE in the drawstring bags.

I played around with these through out the course of the day to find a balance where I could give them away but also encourage people to stop and buy more from my stall. It took a few attempts to get it to ballance correct but it all worked out well in the end.

Everyone was going away very happy with their little promo bags, it was the same also with the cards packs.

Yesturday was defiantly a leaning curve but personally it felt like a great success for the first edition:

One dad came over to my stall and was going around my table slowly picking up items to buy. After I explained what the promos were, what Etsy was about and why I trying to get the name of Etsy out in to the UK audience, he actuary turned around really kindly and wish me the best of luck with it and said that I was doing a good job. Which I was really pleased about :)

Another lady came over and bought some cards from me and received a free goodie bag along with them. Soon after, mum and me were laughing. This was because she and her friend were at an empty table on the other side of the room, pulling all the items out carefully from the bag and Oooing and Ahhing over all the goodies inside.
I went over to them and they thanked me for the promos. They soon was flicking through the LBOE itself and I explained what it was and they were really intrigued! :D

So you never know, they may be visiting Etsy very soon. :)

Another involved 1 old lady who came over to my stall and asked if I sold earrings. I didn't but I gave her a card pack thinking you never know, she may visit an Etsian's shop/s to purchase a pair or even more!

1 lady was going to send hers up to a relative up north, so the word will be spreading that way as well. :)

I was told that this year's craft fayre was quieter than usual but out of the 15-promo bags that I had, I had only 4 left! So everyone must of gone away very happy.

Plus I’ve put information about this blog in the card packs so it's all really great advertising if you have got your images/links/articles on here.

So, I am up for it again if you are! :D

I know what went wrong and I know what went brilliantly well this time round. So, I am sure we can work together to come up with an even better promo packs with the LBOE's help to bring in lots of customers to Etsy.

I have got an even BIGGER village fayre coming up on the 1st of Aurgust, which I am sure the LBOE will be well received.

If you feel/felt that the LBOE can/has worked for you, you are most welcome to join in, it’s totally free and open to all sellers on Etsy, more the merrier. :)

Please let me a.s.a.p. If you want to sign up and I can't wait to hear from you guys.

Thank you so much for all your support and those who had taken part in the first addition where I hope all your hard work will bring you many many sales. But I also hope that this can be an on going project that all of Etians can be involved in or even to be started by others :)
-artbymimi

My Interview With itsalovelycake:

2008-05-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Please you tell us about yourself and your back ground?

There are two of us at Cake, Mud and Sarah in South Wales, UK.

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

We love making jewellery that's a bit different from the rest of the stuff out there! Everything is one of a kind because we use a lot of vintage and hard to find materials. We opened our shop because Sarah needed money to buy more anime ^_^

What usealy sparks off an idea?

We get our ideas from wading through bags of beads, nature, dreams and each other. We work together on most pieces.

Please tell us about your latest products.

At the moment we are making a lot of charm bracelets because we were recently given an antique stash from Sarah's great grandma, and of course we have loads of animal pendants and dangling buttons!

Thank you itsalovelycake for letting my interview you and letting us have a insite behind your esty shop :)

---

Please check out http://www.itsalovelycake.etsy.com/ where they such intriguing products where you just want to brouse for hours on end :)....I know I do, see ya!

Big Day Tommorrow!

2008-05-23T06:05:00.001-07:00

It's the big day tomorrow when the LBOE goes out into the big wide world.
They are shaking with a mixture of nerves and excitement.
Here's to LBOE and let's just hope that you guys have many many sales from all your efforts.
thanks for taking part and all of your subport guys. :)
Best of luck!

My First Interviewee! I Introduce MissKnits

2008-05-22T12:27:00.000-07:00

Due to i want to advertise Etsy and it's sellers Ive been asking for volenteers to let me interview them.

Me first victem is MissKnits :)

M: Please you tell us about yourself and your back ground?

MK: about myself, Well i am 29 and live in saint louis, though i was born and raised in texas. I love family and they are extremely important to me. Family is one of the main reasons i moved here, to be closer to them. I come from a pretty crafty family. I began making things from a very early age. My grandmother taught me most of what i know today. From ceramics/pottery, painting, crocheting, sewing, embroidery, and most recently knitting and felting. Though the last two were more self taught. When i am not creating, i am thinking of what i can create next, and everything i see, i am thinking, hmmm how could i tweak this, or turn that into something. Making things is a part of who i am and it's what i love to do!

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

MK: I have always loved making things just to create, and to give to friends and family as gifts. I have been encouraged for years that i should try and sell my work. But never thought it was good enough, or knew how to even go about it. It was really an accident i happened apon etsy one day, and was immediatly in love with the site. After exploring it for some time, i thought wow, this could be a great way to venture into selling and just see if anyone likes my stuff enough to buy it. I figured, what have i got to lose! I was amazed to get sales the first week! But i have learned it takes a lot of work, and patience! Sales come and go and spurts for me. Which is ok! What i love the most is just making my items. And if i get a sale, then its all the merrier! I thought at first i would only list knitting items - hence the name! lol But i have found its fun to venture into different avenues and challenge myself into learning how to do different things. Now that winter is gone, i really had to come up with new and creative ways to design my work, into something people would want year round, seeing as scarves in the summer aren't exactly big sellers! lol So i started focusing more on making bags, and knitted and crocheted jewelry. I love combining fabulous fabrics with my knitting as well. I love colors, textures, and combining more than one medium. I'm still learning though, which is also what makes it fun.

M: What usealy sparks off an idea?

MK: Well almost anything really! I have never followed fads or trends. I have always just worn what i wanted to because i liked it, not because a magazine tells me i should. And that comes out i think in my items too. I really love to upcycle/recycle, and seeing old sweaters or jackets, i often think of what i can turn them into. Which is sometimes a challenge, but it's really exciting to see something old that someone would throw out, and turn it into something new that can be loved and used again. Or even this week, i was looking at my curtains in my living room and thinking they really need some kind of tie back. And i started thinking i could make them myself! Then i realized i could take the same technique almost and make really funky belts. So you never know where an idea will stem from! I never use any patterns, i always like to just create on a whim and see what i end up with!

M: Please tell us about your latest products.

MK: Well i kind of touched on some of my latest products earlier. I have really enjoyed experimenting ways of using yarn and material into making bags and purses. Its really fun to find contrasting designs, like my latest bag - the black white and red clutch. That was really an accident by the way! lol i didnt plan for it to look like that, but i love how it turned out! Same with the Peekabo Paisley Bag. I really had fun combing my knitting with fabrics. I think it gives the bag a unique feel, letting the inner fabric show on the outside as well. And my new Versatile Crocheted Belts that can also be Hair Ties or even layered necklace! Those to me were so fun to make. Beading the yarn is a bit trick sometimes, but i think they give it a little extra pizzazz. I am hoping to add more colors and styles in the future.

M:Thank you MissKnits for letting me interview you and may you have many many sales in your shop.

Please check out MissKnits' shop where she sells her eye catching and unique items :) http://www.missknits.etsy.com/

Today's New Arrivals:

2008-05-22T04:24:00.000-07:00

Today I have received so great cards from:

*Gems By Jules

and some VERY nice clay broaches from:

*sallers

Thank you guys for taking part :)

WE'VE BEEN FEATURED! :D

2008-05-22T04:02:00.000-07:00

Please click here to see http://sarastexturecrafts.blogspot.com/

Add Space For Etsy Sellers

2008-05-21T15:16:00.001-07:00

Add Space For Etsy Sellers Is Now Advalable! :D
If you wish me to addvertise for your etsy shop please let me know and i will add you for FREE!
Unfortunatly I can't advertise you all in this space but I plan to rotate it every week so everyone has a chance to have a spot light.
I plan to also do articles about different sellers in the future so please let me know if you are also intersted in this.
Thanks again for all the positative feedback and to everyone who wishies to take part with the second eddition (if the first goes well on Saturday).

-artbymimi

Video

2008-05-21T14:04:00.000-07:00

Hi guys :)
As a way of shoing off what LBOE members can do, I've made a little slide show.
If you are not happy for any reason for me to feature your work, please let me know and I will take it off a.s.a,p, with no questions asked. :)
I hope you like

Arrivals Of The Day

2008-05-21T05:44:00.000-07:00

Hi guys :)
Thanks for taking part in TLBOE. I have received some b.cards and some great promos! :D

The new arrivals are:

*Snowbell (thanks for the cool phone charms!)
*Yvonne Catterson (Thank you for the card :) )
* moopf (Brilliant promos, thank you!)
*Miniatures For Everyone (Thank you for the great promo and leaflets :))

I this brings brings many sales for everyone :)

LBOE Article!

2008-05-21T04:15:00.000-07:00

I am very pleased to announce that tomorrow on http://sarastexturecrafts.blogspot.com/ there will be a article about LBOE :)
Thanks Sara!

Preview Of LBOE Is Now Here! :D

2008-05-20T14:31:00.000-07:00

Hi guys,

I have added a preview of LOBE :D

I hop you guys like and please feel free to comment.

enjoy :)

New Arrivals Today

2008-05-20T14:25:00.000-07:00

Today 4 more etsians have arrived :)

*art angel
*Timeless
*Treasurefield
&
5FingersUp

Thanks guys :) can't wait to add you guys to the book

Our New Mascot - He/She Needs A name

2008-05-20T04:15:00.000-07:00

Hey guys,

I came across something today and it gave me an idea. To create way of making people remember typeing: etsy.com So I came up with our little buddy.

She/he is the dot in the .com But he/she needs a name and also I am wondering what you think?

Will it work and make people remember? Is he/she reconizable?

So please feel to comment and let me know :)

LBOE & Over The Pond

2008-05-19T08:25:00.000-07:00

Hi guys, more b.cards have arrived today and it's mainly from America :D
So TLBOE is now advertising for international as well as UK sellers, which is great!
These new seller to be added are:

* Atelier de Soyun

* Blinking Mouse

*Vintage Sanps and Scraps

*A Passion For Fashion

and

*Hare And Drum

Many thanks to those who have already sen and those who are on their way. :)

2 More Etsians To Add:

2008-05-17T15:10:00.000-07:00

Hi guys, just like to add that I have received cards from:

*madboodesigns

&

*AndromedaDesigns

Many thanks fir taking part! :)

Update: I met up with my friend who's making the bags, today and she gave me a few samples to make sure they're the right size ect. They have turned out really well :)

Ive got the b.cards that ive already received, ready for turning into the booklet and also ive got those promos waiting to be added. It's all coming together really well so far, so I'm hopeing that you guys will like what you see.

Will be posting pictures of finished product soon :D

Tripping Over The Post - And Important News Etc.

2008-05-16T10:11:00.000-07:00

Yep, that's right. lol opened up the door and my mum tripped over the post that was waiting to be added to the promo bags :)

I have got today:

*FeltLikeStitchin
*cloudhopping
*soundslikerain

And Fantastic lavanda pouches from: BlackRose1

Some GORGOUS cards from: meplusmolly

And last but not least, some fabulous cards from : gillboulter

Thank you guys for taking part and all of your really subportive letters (and gifts). I really hope that the promotion will bring you many many sales.

IMPORTANT, Members Please Read:

Due to etsy's scam detector having a hissy fit at my many replys to emails and letting everyone know what's happening, it's stoped me from convoing people :( It's a bit hurtful due to I am not a scammer and trying to help people on etsy for free. Please send me your email addys so I can note them down and then keep you updated with any changes etc.

Progress! :D :

I have ordered 20 bags from my friend who is great at her job. She will be making them out of really nice faberic, so I cant wait to see them when they're finished (i think maybe within the next few days.
Ive wrapped the promotional items in really nice paper so they'll be really professional looking (very posh ;) )

I hope to start putting together the books real soon so you can get the first viewing of Little Book Of Etsy very soon :)

New Arrivals

2008-05-15T04:10:00.000-07:00

Hi Guys, Thanks for all the feedback and comments. I really glade this is getting lots and lots of subport.

The b.cards that arived today are:

*makeyourpresentsfelt
*guerillaembroidery

Also bussiness card AND some really great promos from : karizcat

To confirm that I also have cards from:

*Jane Gallagher
*Smug Cat
*Sara's Texture Crafts

And lots of goodies from: Liz Plummer

Thank you and please keep them coming guys :)

List of Etsians Involved

2008-05-14T07:02:00.000-07:00

Well submitting your etsy shop for being part of the first edition of Little Book of Etsy is closed now but we have international sellers as well more localized store involved.

From painters, photographers, jewlers, textiles and whole host of other creative products.

Here's the list of names of Etsians that we have involved...are you ready? ;) :

*lizplummer
*SarasTextureCrafts
*Snowbell
*Karizcat
*artangel
*pouch
*smugcat
*GuerillaEmbroidery
*creativecouture
*ArabersqueArtsByDarcy
*JaneGalagher
*snowangel
*aterlierdesoyun
*aPassionForFashion
*Bombus
*treasurefield
*time2cre8
*higgletypigglety
*yvonnecatterson
*moopf
*GillBoulter
*CreativeCreations79
*meplusmolly
*soundslikerain
*madboodesigns
*rocktasticplastic

(keep going, your doing well to read this much :) )

*LilyBeFunky
*starrybluesky
*makeyourpresentsfelt
*cloudhopping
*HAREandDRUM
*Timeless
*piedras
*feelingcrafty
*HomeoftheGumbles
*daisychainjewellery
*JudithSignoriello
*laugnome
*Unravelling

(Keep breathing, you're nearly at the end!)

*bunny
*oldbagcrafts
*MomentsByMartha
*FeltLikeStitchin
*zoewoods
*creamrose
*flauntitmaternity
*blinkingmouse
*GemsbyJules
*AndromedaDesigns
*FanaseaBySherryB
*ToddDegin
*JodisCraftEmporium
*sparklinglotusdesign
*MinisForEveryone
*maicen
*sallers

(You are nearly at the bottom honest)

*AMSX05
*littlepinkplum
*Vintagesnapandscrap
*SatinDollCo
*Tristabell
*KreatedbyKarina
*delilah32uk
*lishlash

And breath :D congratulations, you've just read 64 names!

The B.cards and/or/ promos that have arrived so far are:

*lizplummer
*SarasTextureCrafts
*Smugcat and
*JaneGallahgher

Oh, the Postman is going to love me ;)

If you wish to be part of LBOE and help out, please feel free to give me a shout. Thanks again for all the subport - mimi

Hello and Welcome

2008-05-14T06:44:00.001-07:00

Hi there :)The Little Book of Etsy is a great way of reaching out to the UK buyers.I am currently involved with a small regular craft fayre every Friday and also throughout the year I will be getting involved with some major village and school fayres.

Cornwall is a very touristy place and so by giving this book away in the Cornish fayres, you'll be achulary reaching lots of buyers around the UK!

I have only been working on this since the 9th of May and I have got a very positive response!

So I thought I would set this blog up to keep a record of everyone involved and also to publise Etsy and it's sellers even more.

So thank you to all those who have been involved and please feel free to contact me or leave comments with any enquiries, comments, surjestions any thing that's really on your mind.62 heads are better than 1!