Etsy Shop Profiles
May
Ainse, from Kaskaad, is a member of the Etsy Artisan Beaders street team, to which I also belong. She creates the most fabulous button rings.
Website/Blog: www.ainse.ca
Etsy Shop: kaskaad.etsy.com
Flickr: http://flickr.com/photos/kaskaad
Twitter: twitter.com/Ainse
Ainse says “Take a pile of beads and string them into something beautiful. Sounds easy in theory, but in practice…
Sometimes I sit and stare at my beads for hours, enjoying their look and feel, but with no clue as to what to make of them. Other times, an idea is immediate. Mostly what happens is I start with one idea and it turns out to be completely different than to what I had first imagined.
When I was younger, I’d take apart my jewellery and make it into something else. As an adult, I decided to create my own jewellery; that way I’d be sure to have just the right pieces for any outfit. (I often pick out a necklace to wear, then decide what clothes would best match it!)
With Beajoux, I have designed and created pieces using glass beads, semi-precious stones, Swarovski crystals and sterling silver, suitable for many different occasions. Some items are one-of-a-kind; others I can re-make in your choice of colour or material. ”
You can find many more in her Icraft and etsy shops.
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May
Deb, from Rosevine Design, is a member of the Etsy Artisan Beaders street team, to which I also belong. She creates the most amazing beaded works of art.
Website: rosevinedesign.com
Etsy Shop: rosevinedesign.etsy.com
Blog: rosevinedesign.blogspot.com/
Deb says” The creative process is something that seems to be ingrained in my personality and because of this there are a lot of by-products (or stuff, as some people call it)that seem to pile up everywhere! Over the past 40 or so years I have dabbled in many media but I finally realized that everything I find interesting involves some kind of embellishment. Many techniques used with one media are very successfully used with another and I enjoy mixing them. ”
You can find many more in her shop.
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May
Brenda, from The Jewelry Box, is a member of the Etsy Artisan Beaders street team, to which I also belong.
Etsy Shop: TheJewelryBox : A HodgePodge of Beaded Jewelry
1000Markets Shop: thejewelrybox.1000markets.com
Blog: brendasjewelrybox.blogspot.com
Flickr: flickr.com/photos/brendascreations
I’ve included a few images of Brenda’s creations. Pretty, no? 
Brenda says ” I find inspiration in all kinds of ways…a certain color might catch my eye or whatever the season is or maybe it’s just how the day is going. I like to create different styles using an array of materials, such as, gemstones, crystals, sterling silver, antique copper. I like to experiment with colors, lengths, and styles too.When you open a jewelry box, you find an assortment of gems, jewels, and special keepsakes. That’s what you will find in my shop…a jewelry box filled with gems and jewels inviting you in to take them home and cherish them forever.
”You can find many more in her
shop.
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Apr
I’ve met many jewelry designers online and on the teams that I belong. As you already know, I like to highlight some of them from time to time on my blog.
Today’s profile belongs to Leilani of HeavenlyFlower, a fellow member of the Starving Artists Team. You can find out more about Starving Jewelry Artists at our forum here
Etsy shop link/name: Heavenly Flower
Artfire shop link: http://www.heavenlyflower.artfire.com
Name: Leilani
Where else can we find you and your work?
Currently my limited edition pieces are showcased on Etsy & Artfire; my website is a work in progress. Once completed I will be showcasing my custom work: http://www.heavenlyflower.com
Blog: http://creativityinspired.wordpress.com/
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fleurdeparadis/
Simple tips for storing & cleaning your jewelry:
http://creativityinspired.wordpress.com/category/jewelry-care/
Location: Montreal, Quebec Canada, but originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia.
What are your jewelry beginnings? Where did you start and how did you progress to work you are creating today?
About 12 years ago I started delving into my creative side as a way to relieve work stress. Jewelry making however, did not take off until about two years later; after one of my doctors insisted I find an outlet to deal with a depression & anxiety disorder. Soon after, people started to comment positively about the pieces as I wore them & ask how much I would charge for them. I literally was selling jewelry right off my neck! I realized that I found my creative bliss and could make money at it. I started off selling on ebay and at local flea markets. I was delighted by the results, despite many mistakes along the way. I branched out by having a few pieces showcased in local businesses, throwing jewelry parties & bringing my work to offices during lunch hours.
What are your favorite materials?
Definitely gemstones, semi-precious stones. I love the metaphysical element, the folklore & spirituality that surround them, as well as the geological aspect & history.
What are your favorite pieces to create?
Currently I am trying my hand at wire wrapped rings, & these have proved to be fun & challenging! But really I am content to make anything that contains my energies & emotions. So long as I am free to create something that I feel reflects me, I am content with it, whether it be earrings, a necklace, bracelet, etc…I am currently on a personal creative quest I call “100 Days of Creativity”, where I have to create at least one piece of jewelry for 100 consecutive days. I decided to do this after having a rather long hiatus from jewelry making & the business in order to relocate here to Montreal and to have my daughter. I am almost 75% of the way there, and not sure if I will make it to 100 since I have another baby on the way any day now! Until then, I will keep designing as it has given me such joy & creative ideas. Each day’s creation is chronicled on my blog.
What’s been your biggest jewelry oops?
Two things that go hand in hand: not believing in myself enough & under pricing my pieces! I have learned that I should be more confident in my abilities & that undercutting myself just to make a sale is not worth it. I now have a good formula for pricing my work. Confidence is still something I work on everyday…I think artistic people are always critical of their work, and I am no exception.
What inspires you?
The world around me in general! Nature, the people I meet & their experiences…since my niche is designing custom jewelry that embodies the wearer, being in tune with my environment & the people within it is a necessity.
How do you describe your design style?
Earthy, spiritual, and funky.
What artists have influenced you, and how?
Wow. I am inspired by so many different forms or art so this could be a lengthy list. But as far as body adornment go, there are three artists that stick out in my mind: Tattoo artist Kat Von-D, and jewelry designers Maya Brenner & Tina Tang. Kat Von-D inspires me as she pushes herself as an artist, is a driven entrepreneur and is not afraid to be herself. Not to mention she is young with a successful business based around her art! Tina Tang inspires me for leaving her job as a stock trader to become a successful jewelry designer, and Maya Brenner for using her personal style to design jewelry that appeals to the celebrity set.
What advice would you give to an artist just starting out?
Follow you heart, never give up and be patient! Success never happens overnight. Keep moving forward and if you are following your heart all the hard work will pay off.
How do you spend time when you are NOT creating?
I am a wife & a stay at home mom to my 18 month old daughter, due to be a new mommy again any day now.
Thanks Leilani!
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Feb
It’s cold, dry and this winter weather is making my skin suffer. It’s a perfect time to stock up on handmade soap, lotions, lip balm, etc.
Over the last several weeks, I’ve profiled several handmade bath and body makers from Artfire and Etsy. Today’s profile belongs to Christine from RachelRene. I discovered Christine’s etsy shop when I followed an ad link she’d posted to my blog.
SPECIAL DEAL: Christine is offering a 15% discount to Simply Shiny Readers. (YAY!!) Just type “Shiny” in the notes to seller box during checkout and I will either send you a revised invoice as soon as possible or if you pay using Paypal I will refund the discount back to you.
Christine says that she’s “a wife to 1 and mother of 2 who lives in a quiet town in Illinois. When she is not creating amazing products in her soap room, she is taking care of the numerous animals that are on their farm, gardening, horseback riding, and spending quality time with her family. ”
Etsy shop name: http://RachelRene.etsy.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/RachelRene
Blog: http://RachelReneBathNBody.blogspot.com
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelrene/
Location: Tiskilwa, Illinois
Where did you start and how did you learn to make the products you are creating today?
I started creating soaps in my kitchen after reading on the about how much better they are for your skin than commercial soaps. I had read that they were less drying to the skin because they not only retained all of their natural glycerin but that they did not strip the skin of it’s natural oils. This was extremely important to me since my daughter (Rachel Rene) has had severe eczema since birth. So I did a ton of research and than decided to get some ingredients and give it a shot. My first batch was made in my mother’s kitchen and it actually turned out wonderfully. We both noticed a difference in the appearance and feel of the soap in the first use and within a week noticed a difference in the feel of our skin after showering. I haven’t looked back since!
Why do you choose the ingredients you use and/or the colors/scents you use?
When formulating a product, I look for quality ingredients that will be beneficial to the skin and to the product. My Cold Process Soaps, for instance, are formulated to create a rich and creamy lather while maintaining a hard bar that will last a long time in the shower and be mildly cleansing. I choose the scents based on what I think my customers would enjoy and what inspires my creativity. I like to make soaps that not only smell good but also look good and unique.
What are your favorite products to make?
My number one passion is soap. I enjoy formulating a new cold process recipe and watching it take shape from melting my oils to cutting the bars and then using it after it’s been cured. But I also love the instant gratification of my melt and pour soaps. Having said that, when I make Bath Bombs I find myself relaxing so those are almost theraputic for me to make. I like making all my products but those are my two favorites to make, however, I love *using* all my products! :0)
What was your favorite custom project for buyer?
I love making gift baskets and one day I had a women order a special gift basket for her sister who had just had a baby and she wanted her to pamper herself. Being a mom I know how it feels to have those sleepless nights and not always having time to take care of yourself so it felt good that I was creating something that would be sent to someone else from someone that cared about them enough to say ‘take some time for yourself and relax’. Made me wish I had a sister!
What inspires you? Any artists that influence you?
I’m inspired by everything really. nature, food, colors, scents, names, music, just about anything I see I think, “I can make that a soap”. I’m not influenced by other artists as much as I am inspired by others. Soapers have a wonderful camaraderie and I have been fortunate to be involved in some wonderful forum communities and made great friends with other very talented soapers who are supportive and inspire me to try new things and give me that little nudge I need when things don’t look so great.
What was your biggest handmade oops?
My biggest blunder would have to be the day I was soaping without any goggles on (which any soaper will tell you is a huge No No) and while glopping the rapidly seizing batch into the mold a chunk of extremely hot soap landed in my eye. It burned and I flopped around on the floor until my husband grabbed me and forced my face under the kitchen sink and flushed out my eye for 10 minutes. It was pretty red and burned for a day or so but eventually it was fine and I did save the batch of soap which I kept for my own personal use.
How do you spend time when you are NOT creating?
I was born and raised a city girl but have quickly become a cowgirl over the last 5 years. I live on a farm with my husband, 2 kids, 3 dogs, 2 cats, 5 horses, 3 cows, 11 chickens, and 2 ducks so I’m pretty busy when I’m not working. Mostly though I enjoy reading, horseback riding and sitting down on a log near our pond with my kids watching our horses graze on the grass and the ducks swimming. It’s peaceful and simple and makes all the hard work worth it.
What advice would you give to an artist just starting out? What do you wish someone would have told you when you first started selling online?
My only piece of advice to someone starting out who really believes in what they are doing is don’t give up but don’t expect it to be easy. You are the only one who has the power to make your craft business successful. You have to work hard and it will pay off.
I wish someone had told me something about marketing because I have no idea how to successfully advertise or market my shop. Still trying to figure it out.
Do you have a newsletter for potential customers to join? Where can they sign up?
I do have a monthly newsletter that I send out when there are new products arriving or sales or specials I want to give my members. You can sign up either on my blog, by e-mailing me at ShopRachelRene@aol.com or by sending me a convo through Etsy with your e-mail address.You can use any of the images in my shop if you like. I’m fond of these two but really feel free to choose any of them!
THANKS Christine!
Stay tuned over the next weeks as I will be profiling more artisan sellers, including special deals and giveaways from the studio owners.
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Jan
Teresa from Smoky Mountain Scents offered a bar of of Mayan Gold Soap to one lucky winner!
And the winner is: Douglas W from metropolitanmama! Congratulations! We will contact the winner today!
Stay tuned over the next weeks as I will be profiling more artisan sellers, including special deals and giveaways from the studio owners.
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Oct
My experience with purchasing handmade sewn items from etsy sellers has been hit or miss. Like jewelry making, there is DEFINITELY a quality difference available.
I recently purchased two handmade totes and two handmade cell phone bags from Janine King Designs on etsy and couldn’t be happier with my selections. The fabric is vibrant and of very nice quality, the measurements stated in the description are accurate, and the stitching, including the box pleated corners, is very, very high quality as well. If I had to state one possible improvement, I wish that both totes had a loop sewn to the inside to which I could hook the cell phone bag. When one has a day planner, an umbrella, assorted letters, some matchbox cars, and biscotti, as well as one’s usual accoutrements inside, finding the cell phone bag at the bottom of the tote can be a bit problematic.
Additionally, my purchase was shipped very quickly and my convos were answered in an expedient manner. Very professional. All in all a very positive experience.
My only regret? That I really could only afford two bags right now.
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Oct
I admit it…I’m a dessert junkie. I love cupcakes, pie, icecream, brulee, pretty much anything chocolate, the darker the better. So did you know that in addition to art and handmade items, etsy also has some VERY talented bakers and chefs? Really! And, lucky for us, these talented culinary etsians sell their mouth watering goodness online to be delivered right to your door. Here are some that I thought looked better than scrumptious. Just click on the image to visit the etsy shop responsible….
Happy gnoshing…
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