Friday Feature -- Tilt Creations & Tilt Too

This week's featured Etsy artist at Mama's Magic Studio (cross posted for your enjoyment!) is the owner of not one but two great Etsy shops -- Tilt Creations and Tilt Too. She's also the Etsyblogger of the month for February! Congratulations, Theresa!

I really like this casual backpack -- the colors are such fun!


And this clutch would be perfect with a Valentine's outfit. Plus, it's on sale!


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?

I make handbags, purses, backpacks, messengers bags, clutches, zip pouches....I am starting to narrow my focus to backpacks, clutches and coordinating zip pouches. Along with these I will (slowly) be adding more home products such as quilts, table runners, coasters, pillows, embroidery piecs, etc.....maybe even painting.

I am self taught, unless you want to count that one home-ec class back in 7th grade in the early 80s...I mean mid...um, let's just say a while back :) When my oldest was about 3 he wanted to be Robin Hood for Halloween but I could not find a costume, so I just made one....then I got hooked. He's too old for costumes now, but I still sew.....same machine too.

2. To which Etsy Teams do you belong (if any)?

Etsybloggers

M.I.C.E. (Michigan Indie Crafters of Etsy) BDC (Big Damn Crafters...fans of Firefly & Serenity) Etsymoms (although i have not been as active as I would like)

3. How did you get involved with Etsy?

I think the main reason was a push from friends & family to start selling. It may be possible they were just tired of all the bags they kept getting as gifts, who knows :P But I started reading up on selling crafts and this "Etsy" place kept popping up in all my resources - so I checked it out - shopped a bit there - liked it - and opened shop.

4. What inspires your creations?

I really do not know. Every creation is different. Some bags come from a "I need something to do X"...so I make one.

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

Pictures. My house has horrible lighting - even with added lamps that are supposed to work well - and no blank wall for a nice background. But I make do...plus, I am getting to be good friends with my editing program :) And time. Time to list & promote...I fall short most days.

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

I love my Buffy messenger bag. It took FOREVER to embroider, but so worth it. It has been gathering cobwebs in the shop, so I may just snag it for myself, we'll see.

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

Don't give up. I hear so many people grumble when they don't start selling right away or "only" sell one thing a week. Etsy is a big - huge - giant - place. It can take time. Get to know the place & the people. Join teams. Tweek when necessary - change up pics, tags, promotions & sales. I spend lots of time searching for items to promote on my treasury blog...it's a great way to understand the search engine so you can better tag your items for others to find.

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

Interesting? Hmmmm....I used to be in the sciences...after I stopped studying art early on in my college career. I love to paint, but am not very good. So I thought I'd just keep the brushes to myself & switched to biology...another love of mine that has more job possibilities. I studied immunolgy/microbiology at the PhD level and worked cardiac rehab as an exercise scientist. Quite different from what I do now - mom and crafter. After I spent 6 months on bedrest with my youngest, I decided to stay home until he is in school all day. One more year to go. Crafting has kept my sanity.

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

Blogs:

Crafts, kids, home & life http://tiltcreations.blogspot.com

Tilts creations http://tiltcreationstoo.blogspot.com

My treasury blog: Tilt Treasures http://tilttreasures.blogspot.com

My giveaway finds blog: Tilt's Giveaway Finds http://tiltsgiveawayfinds.blogspot.com

Facebook: me: http://www.facebook.com/theresa.tilt

my fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/TiLT-creations/56395604288

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tiltcreations

Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tiltcreations

Plurk: http://www.plurk.com/tiltcreations

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

I do custom work as well. While I am going to be focusing on the backpacks & clutches, I will work with someone who may be interested in another bag of mine. I will also be creating more works with hand embroidery & painting sometime in the Spring.

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 - TiLT Creations

It's the start of another year, and I'm still enjoying my interviews with internet artisans. Today we'll be talking to Theresa, who makes bags for her Etsy and Artfire shops, TiLT Creations. Theresa and I belong to the Etsybloggers Street Team, and speak to each other a few times a week, through our team thread and blogs. I bought an absolutely beautiful backpack from TiLT and decided to give it to my sister in law for Christmas. It was perfect for her and she absolutely loved it! Theresa's prices are reasonable, and you're in luck - she's just restocking her backpacks this month! WooHoo!

What's the name of your business/shop?

Tilt creations



Do you have a registered domain name and/or a blog?
oh yes...
http://www.tiltcreations.com will take you to my Etsy shop (as will http://tiltcreations.etsy.com)
Artfire: http://tiltcreations.artfire.com
Crafts, kids, home & life blog: http://tiltcreations.blogspot.com
Tilt's creations blog: http://tiltcreationstoo.blogspot.com

and my Tilt Treasures blog where I feature other artisans: http://tilttreasures.blogspot.com

What type of handmade products do you sell?
Handmade handbags, purses, totes, clutches, etc.

Show us a piece you recently finished
These are a couple custom orders I just finished up...

[to view the pick backpack, see here]

What are you working on right now? Any sketches?
I am still working on some custom orders. I am making 6 matching bags like this prototype:

I have many sketches of lap quilts I plan to make also. I do plan to make more table runners like this one, only longer in winter & spring colors.



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

Advertising, well, I am not so good there. I do have Entrecard, which I do not use aggressively. I also have Project Wonderful ads & I am trying to utilize them more. There are various blogs (like Kind Over Matter) and sites like Craftopolis that I am trying out too.

Avatars...well, I have two Meez that I use for some sites & I change up the ones on Etsy & ArtFire depending on what I have in the store or the holiday/season.



If you have a website or blog, tell us about your favorite widget.
Hmmm...there is a cool new one for Etsy, a cart (it's on my blogs at the upper left). But I really like the Retweet and Linked Within the most I think.


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

Etsy and ArtFire. Etsy is great for the teams - I am on Etsybloggers, MICE, Big Damn Crafters & Etsymoms - and the size (which is also a con). ArtFire - I love the newness, the smaller size & the rapid response from the admin when it comes to fixing bugs & adding new features.

Are you involved in social networking? What's your favorite and why? If you're not involved, you must have a good reason!
Yes - Facebook, Twitter & Plurk are the big 3. I think Plurk is my fave b/c of the easy to view timeline of chats & ability to post elsewhere.


All of us can use a helpful business hint once a week. What's yours?
Give yourself a break. Both physically & mentally. Time off is so easy to overlook when you work from home. I know I have to remember to set things aside sometimes. And mentally - don't get discouraged by slow months or negative people - both will always be there. As long as you love what you do - keep doing it.

Do you have a "modus operandi" for computing the price of a handmade object? Tell us your formula?

I use an average of three different formulas...and then I just ballpark it after that based on what I see elsewhere & what I think will actually sell.
btw, the formulas:
wholesale: (matl + labor) x 150% and matl/25% and (matl x 2) + labor + OH
retail: w.s. x 100% and matl/12% and w.s. x 2
(OH= overhead, ws= wholesale, matl= materials)

We'd love to see your little corner of the world, where you create.
My corner is smack dab in the middle of the family room. It has the largest windows & I can keep an eye on my youngest so he doesn't feel ignored.


Where do you see your artwork in one year? Any plans in the works?
I hope to have settled into a more set "look"...I have so many different styles, I nee to narrow it down some. I also want to start adding different items, like placemats, coasters, quilts, etc.


It's the Storybeader's turn! I had a hard time choosing a favorite, because I love so many of Theresa's bags. So I thought, which one could I really use right now? The mock reptile wristlet won out. What a great idea to use a bangle for carrying a small bag around. Perfect for an opening at the museum, when I don't want to carry a purse - and mine are large. It might be hard to see, but this is actually olive in color, my favorite shade of green.


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

Mini Monday - Tilt Creations

Today I would like to show you Tilt Creations. This is a busy mom from Oak Park Michigan.
To introduce herself in her Etsy Profile she tell us this-

I am a stay at home mom of a 13 and 3 year old boy. It makes life rather interesting! I sew and create whenever possible. I have been sewing and crafting for years and now enjoy sharing them with others. My creations are all made by me, by hand. Please take your time and browse around.

Browsing is certainly easy in a shop filled with purses, totes and keyrings. These are just the kind of accessories we need and use everyday and while we are at it they should be beautiful too. Take a look-


After shopping or even before, you will want to stop by the blog Crafts, Kids, Home and Life. The title says it all. The blog generously shares the work of other artists, Etsy and other venues, the groups she is involved with, and all that being a mom and running a household involves.
Go ahead check it all out and tell her the EtsyBloggers sent you!

Happy Day!

We all hope you have a wonderful birthday!