Introducing the shop Joey & Aleethea

"We're all about faith, family and fabric, love and laughter, and handmade super coolness. That's how we rock." - Joey & Aleethea

This is the space awesomeness starts in! What sort of lovely things can come from here? Let me show you a couple and at the end I will give you lots of links so you can explore more on you own.

You know fall is in the air and everyone needs a hoodie. Isn't it so much better with a friendly monster on it?

This shop is not just for kids. You can add a sophisticated touch of color to any room with one of these pillows.

Recent five star feedback that just goes to show you what a wonderful shop this is.

My favorite seller and master creator! I have been purchasing things here for over 7 years. A friend gave us a monster shirt as a gift and we were hooked. Now it is my turn to give monster shirts, baby onsies, blankets, burp cloths and more to my friends having babies. Or great for toddlers too. My son still has his monster sweatshirt!

and- 

Love my hair scarf- best I've ever had! Thanks again for getting your store back up and running. I look forward to doing business with you again! 

Here is where your shopping adventure begins-

Joey & Aleethea on Etsy

Follow on Instagram-

https://www.instagram.com/joeyandaleethea/

Follow on Twitter-

https://twitter.com/joeyandaleethea

Follow on Pinterest

https://www.pinterest.com/joeyandaleethea/

Read the super cool blog-

http://joeyandaleethea.typepad.com/blog/

There you have it! Now go shop, follow or read. Comments here are always appreciated.

Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: Cozy


Tweets by Joey & Aleethea

Featuring Etsyblogger Kathy

The featured Etsyblogger of this blog is Kathy. Kathy is from Jackson, Wyoming and she owns the Etsy shop, Cozy.

At Kathy's shop you'll find many beautiful handmade scarfs, shawls, dishcloths and wraps. In her about page she adds, "Next might be a series of baby afghans, hats.."

I sent Kathy some questions about her etsy shop and her life, enjoy!

When and from whom did you learn to Crochet?
I first learned to crochet with my mother when I was around 10 years old or so. That means I have been doing these crafts for about 50 years. We tore old sheets into strips and sewed the strips together. That was my first time to use a sewing machine too. We used those strips to crochet rag rugs. Those rugs were about all the crochet skills Mom had so I used books to expand my own skills. I learned to knit not long after that which Mom did not know how to do so I used books to learn knitting too.

What is your home life like in Wyoming?
I have been living in Jackson WY for about 5 years now. This little town at the edge of Grand Teton National Park and not far from Yellowstone is really a special place.  We are flooded with tourists in the summer. The good part of that is for a town of its size we have an amazing number of restaurants and very few of them are chains or franchises. We can quietly enjoy those places with locals deals during the other 3 seasons. (Guy Fieri has been here several times for his show Diners, Drive Ins and Dives.) I live in a walkable town and certainly enjoy that. I also live in a place very close to wildlife. In my own yard I have seen deer, elk, moose and bison. A short drive during summer weekends gets us to Jackson Lake and our boat.
In other ways I suppose my life is like many other Etsy shop owners no matter where they live. I get up, check stats and email, spend some time on social media and my shop, do a bit of creating and the next day start all over again.

When and why did you decide to launch your shop on Etsy?
In 2005 I started seeing mentions of a site called Etsy and was curious. I was living in Utah at the time and doing several craft shows each year. Being online 24/7/365 sounded better to me that the chores of being at a craft show. I moved to Arizona in the summer of 2006 and in October of that year I opened my shop. That makes me an old timer I suppose. I have left Etsy a few times and came back each time with a renewed commitment to my shop and getting closer to having my hobby support itself.

What is your process? How long does one scarf take vs a shawl?
I don't track the time it takes to make an item. In my early craft show years when my children were little I just said when asked that I have no idea because my time was always filled with interruptions. Now days I just don't worry about it. Knitters and crocheters know that we can never really hope for an hourly wage from our work. It is just too time intensive. I price my items to get a good return on my materials and cover my fees with some left over for more yarn of course. The main pleasure I get from the creative process is being able to create something that someone wants. My goal like my shop name is for every one to be cozy.

I love your Instagram, there aren't many that I know from Wyoming. Has that helped with sales?
Thank you for the compliment about my Instagram account. I have to confess the primary purpose of that account is to keep in touch with family since I don't use Facebook. I do follow a few crafty people that I have interacted with on other social media. Instagram has not lead to any sales for me or even views that would show in my shop stats. I have read others have used it with more success. I spend most of my time on Twitter and I know I get views from there.

When is your busy season? Any fun or interesting stories from selling on Etsy?
I haven't ever been able to identify a busy season for my shop. It is sure something I wish for though. It seems such a small thing but the most fun thing on Etsy, besides online friendships over the years, was the day of my first sale. I was so excited and packaged up the item right away and rushed off to the Post Office. When I got home I found another sale had happened while I was out getting the first one shipped. I packaged it up and went right back to the Post Office. With every sale that thrill doesn't go away and I hope it never does.

Do you sell else where or just online?
I just sell online now except for the occasional sale to family or friends of family members.

You can also find Kathy on her social media:
Etsy: cozy.etsy.com
Blog: cozyatoz.blogspot.com
Twitter: CozyAtoZ
Instagram: cozykathy
Pinterest: CozyAtoZ

Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: Claudia from seasand.etsy.com
Blog: Sea Sand Vintage
Instagram: seasand
Twitter: seasand83



Got a blog? Love Etsy? Join EtsyBloggers!
See EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here.

EtsyMini Monday featuring MamasMagicStudio: Handmade Jewelry, Knitting Needles, and Beadwork

In the handmade market place there are a wide variety of jewelry artists and artisans out there to browse through. But, sometimes it becomes difficult to find those that offer something truly original.

That's not the case in Mama's Magic Studio on Etsy, though. In this Etsy shop you can find some of the most original jewelry designs that I've seen in a long while!

There are little bird nest pendants with colorful eggs inside and peas-in-a-pod necklaces sitting along side some of the cutest knitting-needle and ball-of-yarn earrings I've ever seen.

There are also memory wire bracelets and bangle bracelets as well, made with shiny wire and shimmering beads in pretty colors.

Jen Johnson, the artisan behind Mama's Magic Studio on Etsy, lives in Santa Clara, CA as a stay at home mom with her two kids where she balances her love for creating crafty, artisan items with her love and care for her family.

Jen believes that when an artist creates, it's a form of magic that gives birth to something new and beautiful. She has a true understanding of the labor of love involved in creating handmade items no matter if they are jewelry, art or any other crafty endeavors.

Jen's shop focuses primarily on jewelry, beading and wire working with a touch of some woodworking that is involved in making her handmade knitting needles like those seen to the right.

She also sews, knits and cooks and is always on the look out for new, interesting artistic and crafty pursuits!

To visit Jen's Mama's Magic Studio on Etsy and take a look around, you can click on the links above or on the pictures themselves as well! You'll love the visit and the browse and if you have someone who loves nature or knitting, this shop will be perfect for finding special items to give as gifts for birthdays, the holidays, or just to give a special gift.


Mama's Magic Studio
Etsy | Blog | Facebook

Note from EtsyBloggers Team Captain, Joey & Aleethea: thank you to Gilliauna for being an EtsyBloggers Team Volunteer and writing this fabulous EtsyMini Monday feature! As nobody ele knew, MamasMagicStudio was secretly selected today to be this month's EtsyMini Monday on our team blog :) because she is also herself a team volunteer, and a contributing author for our EtsyBloggers team blog. She has been a team volunteer for years now, she is consistently blogging here for our team on a monthly basis, featuring her teammates in beautifully written posts! Thank you, Jen from MamasMagicStudio, for supporting your team, your shining positive attitude, and overall, well, for just being the awesome you that you are. Rock on, Mama!


Posted for the EtsyBloggers Team by: Bits n Beads by Gilliauna. See the EtsyBloggers Team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.com. Got a blog? Love Etsy? Check us out!

etsybloggers team treasuries

 

We all know that Rose is not back in school.  She's on vacation!  

Here's her most recent etsybloggers team  treasury - visit it often:

"Back to School With the EtsyBloggers"

And the storybeader has a new team treasury too.  

It's called "supplies from the etsybloggers".  See anything you need?

Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: Storybeader See EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.com Got a blog? Love Etsy? Check us out!

EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival - May 9

Welcome to the early May edition of EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival, hosted by Judy Nolan. Bloggers were invited to blog about one of the following two topics:

1. Spring is a time for new beginnings, when many of us get reorganized and put a fresh face on things. Describe and/or show us what you have done recently in your art space to get more organized.
2. Using words and photos, provide us with a tutorial about a spring-themed item you made recently, or that you are in the process of making.

Please use the link widget below to share your post with everyone. Include the full URL for your blog post. 

Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: JN Originals See EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.com Got a blog? Love Etsy? Check us out!

It's Carnival Time, April 11th

Twice a month, the Etsybloggers gather for a Carnival.  We write about one of two topics introduced by our host.  When hosting, I (Storybeader) usually look ahead to see what special events are happened before I pick a date.  With that in mind...

Did you know the first Public Library (in the US) opened on April 9th, 1833 in New Hampshire? 

I knew when I saw that, it had to be the theme for my Carnival.  Last week, I was looking through my calendar, to see what my work week looked like, when something special happened.  The Saturday before this carnival was supposed to be posted on the Etsybloggers team blog, I realized I had signed up to work at the local public library's book sale.  Synchronicity, what a good feeling it is! 

Here are the two Carnival topics we are writing about:
 
1) what fond memories do you have of your public library and reading?

2) Peterborough is the town where the first public library opened.  What's your town known for?  Show us around!

Please link directly to your Carnival URL in the form below, so we can all walk down memory lane with you!  And wouldn't it be a good idea to visit at least 3 links before and after your link and leave a comment?  That's right, everyone who posts a link visit at least 6 other blogs!



Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: STORYBEADER See EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.com Got a blog? Love Etsy? Check us out!

A Touch of Spring Fever - An Etsybloggers Blog Carnival

Welcome to the March 14, 2011 edition of the Etsybloggers Blog Carnival!

What a busy time this is! Daylight Savings Time began for many of us, St Paddy's Day is just a couple of days away, and Spring will be making its debut in one short week! We like to keep the topics fresh and timely, but allow our members just a little bit of a choice in what to write about, so as the hostess of this carnival, I chose the following two topics:

1) The first day of spring is just around the corner. What one sure "first sign of spring" tells you that winter is finally over and the cycle of life is ready to begin anew?


2) Do you have a new Spring "look" planned? Are you going to change your hairstyle or makeup look? Try out a new fashion trend? Or have you simply started window shopping for some favorites? Share some before and afters, or tell us about something you'd love to try that's new!

My teammates will be joining me by posting the links to their blog carnival posts as comments to this post, so if you would, please make the rounds, enjoy the posts, and if anything touches your heart or puts a little spring in your step, be sure to leave a comment on their blog!  (You KNOW we live for those comments!)

In the words of the immortal Robin Williams -

"Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!""

Enjoy!



Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: MysticWynd See the Etsybloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.com Got a blog? Love Etsy? Check us out!

January 17th Blog Carnival

Hey guys! I hosted the January 17th Blog Carnival. The topics were:

1) It's that time of year again! What's your New Years Resolution? Do you
think it's a realistic one (will you accomplish your goal)?

2) Now that it's the beginning of a new year, what goal do you have for your
business that you hope to achieve in 2011?

Come check out what everyone wrote about on my blog! Sykin's One Stop Etsy Shopping Guide



Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: Sykin's One Stop Twilight Shop See EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.comGot a blog? Love Etsy? Check us out!

December 3rd Blog Carnival

I hosted the December 3rd blog carnival.  The topics were:

1) Share a holiday item that you created and tell us a little bit about it.
It can be something that you created for the 2010 holidays or for a past holiday season.

2) Create a holiday Etsy wish list and share it on your blog. What do you really want from Etsy this year? 

You can read all of the responses here:
http://www.randomcreativeart.com/2010/12/better-late-than-never-dec-3-blog.html


Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: Rose. See EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.com Got a blog? Love Etsy? Check us out!

Etsybloggers Carnival - November 5, 2010

Yes, we did have a carnival, and here where you can find it.  The topics?

The first week of November is
1) "Give Wildlife a Brake" week. How are you celebrating?
2) time to get ready for holiday sales. We need some good working tips!

Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: STORYBEADER See EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.com Got a blog? Love Etsy? Check us out!

MiniMonday: BrooksideCreations

Caron and Dean of Brookside Creations have many years experience in making high quality handmade furniture, quilts, and other arts. Caron has been quilting since 1975 and has written two books about quilting. Dean, a fifth generation woodworker, has been in business since 1974.

Most items are custom made and one of a kind! The variety ranges from plant stands to cutting boards or from mirrors to quilts. The team works from Flushing, Michigan.


My favorite item in their shop is this gorgeous Reflections in the Forrest Mirror.

Stop by their blog or fan them on Facebook!




Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: A Keeper's Jackpot See EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.comGot a blog? Love Etsy? Check us out!

February 15th EtsyBloggers Carnival is Up and Running and Ready to Read!

Welcome to the February 15th, 2010 Edition of the EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival. Team members had the opportunity to blog about one of the following topics:

1) February 14th is Valentine’s Day. What is your best childhood memory of Valentine’s Day, or what childhood tradition do you now carry out with your children?
2) February is Heart Health Month. What is your best heart healthy recipe? What do you do to stay heart healthy? How do you promote heart health?

Following are the links to the EtsyBloggers’ posts on one of these topics, along with the links to their fabulous blogs.

Lois presents GO RED for Women! posted at Foxy G’s Den of i-KNIT-quity.

Sarah Buckingham “Finding Charm” presents EtsyBloggers: February 12th Carnival posted at Finding Charm.

gilliauna presents Heart Healthy… with Chocolate? – A Rare Post By Leal posted at The Meandering Musings of a Consummate Shopper.

MagdaleneJewels presents Carnival Blog: Valentine’s Day Wish posted at MagdaleneJewels’s Blogs.

Patti presents F………ebruary Heart Health (and update) posted at peacoxcreations.

cindy devine presents How many ways can you prepare a chicken breast? posted at Devine Designs Jewelry.

theashgrove presents Monday Motivator: Heart Health posted at Notes from the Ash Grove.

BunnyKissd presents Diary of a Crazy Rabbit Lady, Too: Valentine’s Day Traditions posted at Diary of a Crazy Rabbit Lady, Too.

storybeader presents Etsybloggers Carnival – Feb 12, 2010 posted at Stroll Through Storyland.

Linda B presents Valentine’s Day – Blog Carnival posted at Linda B’s Blog.

Jen presents Valentines posted at Mama’s Magic.

veryverdant presents Valentines Day Traditions posted at Very Verdant.

Elizabeth presents Valentine’s Day from a Teacher’s Perspective posted at Thoughts from an Evil Overlord.

Antonella presents A new Valentine’s tradition posted at Zucchero Filato.

CREATEaTHOUGHT presents Valentines Carnival posted at CREATEaTHOUGHT.

UberArt presents Be My Valentine! posted at UberArt Shop.

Mary presents Heart Health Month Recipe: Tuna and Red Onion Spiedini posted at Misobel: Handmade Hooligan with a Mystic Touch.

Two Zany Zebras presents It’s all about the card… posted at Two Zany Zebras.

Trina Baker presents Etsy Blog Carnival » gallery32 posted at gallery32.

Melissa Sinisgalli presents Think About Your Heart posted at Made By Melissa.

Cathy Dean presents Etsy Carnival posted at Candles & Caffeine, saying, “I hope I did this right! ”

Alicia Mae presents Heart Healthy – An EtsyBlogger Carnival posted at Crafts and Cooking.

HomeMadeOriginals presents Valentine’s Memories posted at Home Made Originals.

A Keeper’s Jackpot presents Heart ? Health posted at A Keeper’s Jackpot.

Enjoy!

Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: Foxy G. Knits

See EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.com

Got a blog? Love Etsy? Check us out!

Internet Artisan Interview - InStitches

I love finding new artisans when surfing the net. Angel has all one of a kind pieces in her Etsy shop, all centered around paper. They're so creative, I know you'll get a kick out of them. I'm think her shop will interest people with all kinds of tastes. And I marvel at the way she is organized - hope to use some of her techniques in my studio. Angel's also introduced me to a lot of different sites online, from handmade venues to photo storage and sharing. Ever heard of Twitpic? It's a new one to me!

What's the name of your business/shop?


In Stitches

Do you have a registered domain name and/or a blog?
http://cardsinstitches.etsy.com
I am in the process of acquiring institches.com since it is currently owned by someone else.

What type of handmade products do you sell?

Paper products. I incorporating collage and hand-stitching techniques (embroidery, beading, etc) to create art cards that function as postcards, bookmarks, gift cards, announcements, invites, even puzzles. They are small pieces of fine art that, even though each is one of a kind, as a collective they are bound by common elements which work great individually or collected as a set.

Show us a piece you recently finished
An oversized origami card with lots of functions. Gift-tag, Baby announcement, baby shower invitation, bridal shower invitation (girl), Wedding/Save the date announcement. This comes in boy/girl, boy/boy, girl/girl, at a very competitive price with quantity discounts and customization available.

What are you working on right now? Any sketches?
My latest venture is leather-bound journals. I have completed one and now I am waiting for more materials to arrive in order to start production. Here is my prototype, using kidskin. The stitching n all my products is done by hand.

If you have a website or blog, what do you use for advertising? What do your avatars look like?

I am a bit of a newbie at this. So far I have purchased showcase spots on etsy , joined a local crafters group , posted announcements on twitter , participated at a local Artists and Fleas Market , created, printed and distributed fliers myself.
Which online selling vendors do you use? What do you like best about each one?
So far I am only active on etsy, but I am in the process of setting up shop at Deviant art and Society 6

Are you involved in social networking? What's your favorite and why? If you're not involved, you must have a good reason!
I am very active on facebook and twitter . I prefer promoting my business on twitter because it reaches a lot more people than just the ones who know me, it has introduced me to like-minded individuals and made new connections and leads.

All of us can use a helpful business hint once a week. What's yours?
As a graphic designer by trade, I have learned that appearance of a shop whether virtual or physical is very important in order to communicate a product efficiently. Make sure what you are trying to sell is expressed amicably with your product and what sets you apart from the rest.

Do you have a "modus operandi" for computing the price of a handmade object? Tell us your formula?
Since each item I create goes through a lot of steps, I determine my price-point by the amount of work and detail I complete within a certain amount of time. Then I decide how much my time is worth and price accordingly. Obviously, the more man-hours the more a piece is worth.

We'd love to see your little corner of the world, where you create.







In case you were wondering how I make my collages in a one-bedroom NYC apartment, well...here's a glimpse of my work desk. It's literally the size of the cutting mat [it's hard to see Angel's desk, so I went back to twitpic and found a photo in her home, getting ready for a fair]

Where do you see your artwork in one year? Any plans in the works?
Ultimately, I would like my creations to be carried in novelty shops, or even better, do editorial pieces for online or printed publications. I currently have an indie bookstore in New York's Lower East Side interested in carrying digital reproductions of my work. I am in negotiations with the specifics. It's a good start and great exposure.

It's the storybeader's turn! My favorite items are her origami tags. The collars are so cute, and when you get up close, you can appreciate the time and effort that she puts into all her work.

Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: storybeader
See EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.com
Got a blog? Love Etsy? Check us out!

Internet Artisan Interview - Patch First Shop

I think one of my favorite things about etsy is getting to know people from around the world. I communicate with my next artisan everyday; she lives in Thailand, so we're on WAY different schedules! Patch is an etsybloggers and has three different Etsy shops. It was way fun, sitting down and looking in her shops for pictures, because they are so different: jewelry, vintage and supplies. She also has a shop on Artfire. Patch has two blogs right now; one is a special Wedding Guide Blog that is a must stop for all brides. But I'll let her tell you what she's up to:

What's the name of your business/shop?

I started my first shop with "PatchFirstShop" for everything: Jewelry, Vintage Clothing, and Supplies.. and then I wanted to make the shop more organized.. so I opened 2 more shops for vintage clothing "PatchVintageShop" and supplies "PatchSupplyShop".


Do you have a registered domain name and/or a blog?
Jewelry Shop in Etsy
Jewelry Shop in Artfire
Vintage Clothing Shop
Supply Shop
Weddings Guide Blog
All about Patch


What type of handmade products do you sell?
I made Handmade Jewelry from Genuine Swarovski beads - Crystals and Glass Pearls. And in my supply shop, I do make mini bags by hand-sewing.


Show us a piece you recently finished
Now I'm working on Little Princess Crown Rings in many colors following the monthly birthday gemstone. They will be added soon in my shop. Now I have only Emerald color in my shop. Finished colors are Garnet, Sapphire, Ruby, Diamond (Clear) and another extra - Black and white.

What are you working on right now? Any sketches?
I'm still working on my "Amelia Collection".. now I have Necklace, Hairpin, Brooch.. in my design, they must be Earrings and Bracelet too which I haven't made them coz they need something to re-design and adjust for the size. Moreover, this collection has 3 necklace designs which I've finished just one design. And of course I have the sketches but I can't show you.. it's CONFIDENTIAL!! hahah ;D You can see the sample of the sketches here

[this necklace is on etsy]

If you have a website or blog, what do you use for advertising? What do your avatars look like?
I have a rapid cart from my artfire shop and mini etsy in my wedding guide blog to advertise my shops for weddings market. I normally use one of my jewelry to be my avatars, sometimes necklace, sometimes earrings, sometimes ring.. Except the avatar in Etsy.. I'm using my name "Patch" as avatar in all my shops so everyone will know it's me. :D


If you have a website or blog, tell us about your favorite widget.
Ummm.. very difficult question for me.. coz I don't pay much attention on widgets in my blog..

Which online selling vendors do you use? What do you like best about each one?

Just only 2 online vendors - Etsy and Artfire.
Good thing for Etsy is that it's my really first online shop. I have all experiences there and now I have a group of friends there too since I've been the member of EtsyBloggers Team. So I feel like home there and of course all of my orders were in Etsy.
Good thing for Artfire is that all items they are all no expired date since I upgraded to Verified account. And lot of viewers are from search engines, I feel like I don't have to work much on advertising but still no order from it.. so not so sure now.. ;)

Are you involved in social networking? What's your favorite and why? If you're not involved, you must have a good reason.

I have many accounts in social networks: Twitter, Ning.com, Plurk, FaceBook, etc. My favorite is Plurk, I can share from Plurk to Twitter to FaceBook so I have to online only on website. The most favorite thing that I love on Plurk is that responding communications, I can chat with Plurk's friends like I use any instant messenger program. It's great for custom-order because you can talk all details with your customer.

All of us can use a helpful business hint once a week. What's yours?
If you have a blog to advertise you shops, try to blog about something that you think most people will search for it in any search engine. This will help your traffic to your blog and you may have more new customers to your shops. :D

Do you have a "modus operandi" for computing the price of a handmade object? Tell us your formula.
Ummmm.. let's see how can I explain all in one paragraph.. I make my own worksheet in Microsoft Excel (thank you for my previous job as sale representative). First I combine all supply cost in Thai Baht and then convert to US dollar plus exchange rate risk factor (about 10%) plus workman cost then multiply for a profit margin. Then add listing fee and packing cost. Calculate for Etsy order fee and Paypal fee.. then add both to the items.. now you have a price! (Why I have to calculate order fee and paypal fee in it, when you have an order the real fee will be slightly more than you calculate but you already added in your price so this means you pay for fee less than the real fee.. got it??)
But.. I still modify the formula because sometimes you will see that there are some costs that you forget to add in it.

We'd love to see your little corner of the world, where you create.
My bedroom is my workplace, every area of it - on the floor, on the desk, on the bed.. You can see my workplace here

Where do you see your artwork in one year? Any plans in the works?
I've already had the first shop for one year. At the first time in November last year, I got 2 sales in one week from the chat room. At that time I thought everything will be great by itself but couple of months with no sale, I knew I was wrong. I started to focus harder in April 2009, started to blog and other social networks. This year is just the started year for me.. kinda trial and error processes for me. So the plans for next year, the first priority is that I will pay attention to all my shops daily, adding new items daily, and blogging daily too to create more traffics to all my shops. Working harder is my plan for next year! :D


OK, it's the storybeader's turn. I don't know which I like more, clothing or jewelry. I would buy this vintage lace blouse, but I know a 19" bust has to be too small for me. Isn't it adorable! I also think Patch's pearl jewelry is exquisite, but I have a special hand-me-down from my mom...

Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: storybeader
See EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.com
Got a blog? Love Etsy? Check us out!

November 23 Blog Carnival is Now Available for Your Viewing Pleasure!

It was my pleasure to host this Blog Carnival and I want to thank everyone who participated! The turnout was great and I'm really enjoying reading through all of the blog posts about your Thanksgiving traditions and Christmas favorites and all of the fun you're having during this hectic and fun-filled holiday season.

Please stop by my blog and check out the carnival here... I'd love to hear from you, so please leave a comment and if you've not yet become a follower of any of these great blogs, be sure to join the fun!

Happy Holidays!

Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: Mystic Wynd

See EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.com

Got a blog? Love Etsy? Check us out!

Friday Feature -- The Fab Miss B

This week's featured Etsy artist at Mama's Magic Studio, cross-posted here for your enjoyment, is the fabulous Becky! She has two lovely shops: The Fab Miss B for for Vintage and One of a Kind Finds and BeckyKazana for her original Chenille Pipette Dolls and artwork. She's also the featured Etsyblogger of the month for November. Congrats, Becky!

I just love the wide variety of stuff you'll find in these two shops. Isn't this card too sweet?

And Monique would be darling atop a tree! When he saw her, my son asked, "Is that an angel?"

And I couldn't resist sharing this pic of Becky herself, modeling a beautiful vintage apron!
Enjoy the interview!

1. Please tell us about the items in your Etsy shop. What do you make? How did you learn your craft? What is involved in your creative process?

My Pipettes are my favorite thing to make! They were inspired by vintage ornaments I've collected for ages. They are made with humble chenille pipe cleaners, but I add lots of luxe embellishments like silk ribbons, antique lace, mother of pearl buttons, feathers, sequins and vintage costume jewelery. Their heads are all carefully hand painted too.

2. To which Etsy Teams do you belong?

I'm a proud member of The Etsy Bloggers Team, Crafting in Color and Sellers Assisting Sellers. (The last is a great resource for sellers new or old!)

3. How did you get involved with Etsy?

I discovered Etsy through some of my favorite bloggers over three years ago. It was love at first sight!

4. What inspires your creations?

I find inspiration everywhere- through travel, old movies, and fashion magazines. And of course, I love prowling Blogs & Etsy to see what other talented artists and designers are up to!

5. What is your biggest challenge related to your Etsy shop?

I think getting good photos is an ongoing challenge! I've had breakthroughs, but there is always more to learn. I'm also doing a lot of research on SEO lately, and I'm quite sure that will be helpful.

6. What is your favorite item in your shop (currently for sale or previously sold)? Why is it your favorite? (Please provide a link)

I'm madly in love with Daschshunds- someday I'd love to have a pair of them. But for now Daisy is as close as I can get!

7. What advice do you have for other folks selling or buying on Etsy?

The community on Etsy is your greatest resource! There are lots of talented and experienced artists and many of them are happy to share advice. And Etsy admin is constantly filling the Storque with tips and tricks. Sign up for the Seller Success e-mail if you haven't already. You'll definitely learn something new to improve your shop.

8. Tell us two (or more) other interesting things about you.

My husband and I love to travel and are lucky to have lived all over the world- Kenya, Uganda, China, Chicago, Las Vegas, and now we're trying out life on an island- The Big Island of Hawaii!

We adopted our funny last name- Kazana- while traveling in Africa just after getting married. It's a Swahili word that means "To make a home" and it reminds us that our home is where the other is.

9. Where else can we find out more about you and/or your creations?

I blog about the inspiration I find around me every day on The Fab Miss B and you'll find links to all my other internet portals in the sidebar right there! Swing by and say hello! I love to hear from you.

10. Is there anything else you'd like to tell us about your shop or your work?

The only thing I like better than making art is discovering that other people enjoy it! I do hope you'll swing by and say hello!

Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: Mama's Magic Studio

See EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.com

Got a blog? Love Etsy? Check us out!

Internet Artisan Interview - Cheryl's Purple Cow

I met Cheryl on a new Etsy group I joined called Facebook Fans on Etsy (FFEST). She is a very active member, and on the internet as a whole. When I saw her purple cow, I knew it would fun to get acquainted. Cheryl is supporting November's Epilepsy Awareness Month, and donating 15% of the sales of any purple item to Family Ties of Nevada to help families affected by epilepsy. So go by her shop this month, and look for her purple items!

What's the name of your business/shop?

Cheryl's Purple Cow


Do you have a registered domain name and/or a blog?
http://cherylspurplecow.etsy.com
http://cherylspurplecow.blogspot.com


What type of handmade products do you sell?
Jewelry. I make a lot of Awareness Jewelry. I have Epilepsy and November is Epilepsy Awareness Month so there will be a lot of purple Awareness Jewelry. I also have some hematite and metal-free jewelry. I am going to be adding my “Reflections”. Reflections are a candle arrangement that I make as a special order item.


Show us a piece you recently finished

Which online selling vendors do you use? What do you like best about each one?
I just started selling online in May and I have my shop on Etsy. It is difficult to sell jewelry because there are so many jewelry shops. I am looking into other sites but haven’t made a decision yet.


What are you working on right now? Any sketches?

I don’t make sketches. Most of my designs are trial and error. I am most creative when I don’t have a plan. When I started making my Swarovski Snowflake Earrings, I attached them to the Earwire with a figure 8 loop. Then I noticed that I could change them and attach them with an Awareness Ribbon Most of my designs happen that way. I usually make something about 3 to 4 times before I get the design that I want.




If you have a website or blog, what do you use for advertising?








I am using an avatar that my Brother and niece designed for me.


If you have a website or blog, tell us about your favorite widget.
I love widgets and I have a lot of them. I have 2 penguin widgets on my blog right now. I thought 3 would be overkill. But my favorite is the “Things to Ponder”. “Why isn't there mouse flavored cat food?” I think that is a question that needs to be answered.


We'd love to see your little corner of the world, where you create.

That would take about a week of cleaning.


Are you involved in social networking? What's your favorite and why? If you're not involved, you must have a good reason!




Facebook. I can stay up to date with family and friends there. I have also re-connected with friends from way back. A friend that lived next door to me as a child found me. Her family moved away around 1973.




http://facebook.com/Cheryls.Purple.Cow
http://www.twitter.com/cherylpurplecow

All of us can use a helpful business hint once a week. What's yours?
I am a very impatient person and I try to remind myself every day. Rome was not built in a day. Don’t get discouraged.

Do you have a "modus operandi" for computing the price of a handmade object? Tell us your formula?
I wish I could find one that worked for every item. But there are some items that just don’t fit into a mold.

Where do you see your artwork in one year? Any plans in the works?
I really want to make and promote my "Reflections.”

Link to ”Reflections” pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/cherylspurplecow/Reflections#

It's time for the storybeader to pick a favorite!


I really like these earrings, that look like little candies. They're so realistic, and cute!







Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: storybeader
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Got a blog? Love Etsy? Check us out!

Internet Artisan Interview - The Beaded Lily

Sarah, owner and operator of thebeadedlily, uses a variety of techniques in her jewelry design. Many of her current pieces are complicated and minimalist at the same time. I started following Sarah's work in the Etsy Beadweavers challenges, about a year ago. If your love beadweaving like I do, the Etsy Beadweavers are something to see. After watching Sarah's shop on Etsy, I noticed her at other selling venues, many the same I belong to. There's lots of opportunity to see her work; I suggest taking a look at her blog first, and go from there.

What's the name of your business/shop?

thebeadedlily

Do you have a registered domain name and/or a blog?
http://thebeadedlily.blogspot.com/
What type of handmade products do you sell?
Pieces by thebeadedlily generally fall into three categories.

Stringing: bold, colorful, texture laden designs, often influenced by the artists and artisans who create the beads I work with.

Wirework: simple, clean, and highly primitive. I use ancient wire-working techniques and aim for what the earliest jewelry must have looked like, to create something timeless, like what you'd find in a museum's antiquities exhibit.

Beadwork: totally unique and original one of a kind art pieces.

Show us a piece you recently finished

What are you working on right now? Any sketches?
A collection of pieces inspired by the colors of Alphonse Mucha, my favorite artist. I don't sketch too much and I didn't sketch these at all-- but I am beading with my Mucha calendar right next to me!



If you have a website or blog, what do you use for advertising? What do your avatars look like?
The graphics are my current ads and the face shot is my current avatar for most of my accounts.

If you have a website or blog, tell us about your favorite widget.
I'm not too into them. I make sure that my Etsy mini, ArtFire kiosk and 1000Market shopfront are up and running! I worry that too many cool widgets will get distracting.


Which online selling vendors do you use? What do you like best about each one?
Love
Etsy's built in traffic!
ArtFire has some cool cutting edge features and is so reasonably priced!
1000Markets has such a gorgeous look and really upscale professional feel.

Are you involved in social networking? What's your favorite and why? If you're not involved, you must have a good reason!
Does Flickr count? If not, facebook! I just like knowing what everyone is up to. I'm not very skilled at leveraging social contacts.
Keep up with me:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/thebeadedlily/70612550008?ref=ts

http://twitter.com/thebeadedlily

All of us can use a helpful business hint once a week. What's yours?
Grab yourbusinessname.com and hold on to it!

Do you have a "modus operandi" for computing the price of a handmade object? Tell us your formula?
It depends on the item. For earrings and wirework I'm mainly concerned with what the market will bear. For beadweaving the key factor is how long the piece takes to create. With my strung pieces the biggest factor is the price of the materials that go into the piece.

We'd love to see your little corner of the world, where you create.
Two shots -- the fairly organized wall and absolutely unorganized table!










Where do you see your artwork in one year? Any plans in the works?
That's something I've been contemplating myself for a week or so as I've been thinking about tightening up some things. I really haven't decided on a firm direction.

OK, it's the storybeader's turn to pick one piece by thebeadedlily.
I just adore beadweaving, but guess I don't have the patience, or stamina, to stay with it. Maybe some day, when I have more time! Sarah's beaded cuffs are amazing; her "Hands Against Time" is one of my favorites:

Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: storybeader
See EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.com
Got a blog? Love Etsy? Check us out!