My Interview With lann

lann: soooo different and all good fun!

Please you tell us about yourself and your back ground?

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

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

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

Please tell us about your latest products:

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

Craft fayre Today

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

My Interview With eliswoodgifts

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

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

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

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

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

What usually sparks off an idea?

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

Please tell us about your latest products:

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

My Interview With blackbirdletterpress

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

Please you tell us about yourself and your back ground?

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

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

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

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

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

What usually sparks off an idea?

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

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

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

Me Interview with whimsypics

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

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:

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!

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

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

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 :)