Sponsor Spotlight: Trisha B Designs

(Psst... don't forget to enter the Kitchen Table Organizer giveaway from Old New Again!)

I've been a long time follower and fan of Trisha's blog and etsy shop, so I was BEYOND thrilled when she became one of Etsy Interview's very first sponsors! Let see what she's up to at Trisha B Designs...

Trisha B Designs
blog

Tell us a bit about yourself, Trisha.
I am a stay at home mom of a 4 year old daughter and 1 year old twin sons, who loves to create beautiful and functional things. I specialize in homemade home decor, children's items, and Printable Party Invitations and Decor. I use the highest quality supplies so the items will last a long time, and because I want you to love your purchases.

What 5 words would you use to describe yourself?
creative
genuine
talented
loving
hardworking

Tell us a bit about your Etsy shop.
I opened my shop in May 2009. My husband has his own business and with the recession going on we needed some extra income. I also started my shop because I love to sew and create while my kids are taking naps and while they sleep at night.

What 5 words would you use to describe your shop?
fun
whimsical
original
functional
decorative


What are your 5 favorite websites?
Aunt Spicy
Bakerella
Creative Party Place
Skip to my Lou
Bake at 350

What are your 5 favorite Etsy shops?
Your Memories Captured
DeniSue
Sew Love Fabrics
Cherry Lane Textiles
Carrie's Fabric & Crafts

What advice would you give other Etsy sellers?
Be Patient and try to do giveaways on blogs and be featured on blogs. Just get the word out about your shop!

GIVEAWAY!
Trisha is so kind to offer one of YOU wonderful readers a...
$25 Gift Certificate
for Trisha B Designs


(Thanks so much, Trisha!)

Here's how to enter:

Visit Trisha B Designs and leave a comment on this post mentioning your favorite item.

For more chances to win, leave a separate post for each of the following:
*Subscribe to the Trisha's Blog, 3 Four & Under.
*Become a fan of Trisha B Designs on Facebook.
*Become a Follower of Etsy Interviews.
*Subscribe to Etsy Interviews via RSS.
*Tweet about this giveaway (please leave link to tweet).
*Follow B.Inspired Mama on Twitter.
*Become a fan of B.Inspired Vintage on Facebook.
*Share the giveaway on Facebook.
*Blog about the giveaway (please leave the link)
*Add Etsy Interviews to your blogroll.
*Submit to be Featured on Etsy Interviews, too!

The winner will be chosen via Random.org on Wednesday, March 24th at 9PM EST. The winner will be emailed within 24 hours. Please make sure your email is in your profile or in the comment. GOOD LUCK!

Etsy Interview & Giveaway with Old New Again

(Psst... just a few more hours to enter the Spring Garland giveaway from Middleburg!)

I was SO excited when I saw that Old New Again was interested IN being featured here on Etsy Interviews. Discovering new shops (and sharing them with you!) is one of the reasons I love doing this blog. And I truly love the combination of playful color and country primitive of the creations at Old New Again. So let's meet the artists behind it all...

Old New Again
other Etsy Shop
blog

Tell us a bit about yourselves, Rick & Liz.
We are a husband and wife team. We love to make cool, functional home decor items.

We love working with wood! We like to come up with unique ideas to make your life easier and more organized. Many times we come up with new designs that we ourselves need to make our home run more smoothly.

What 5 words would you use to describe yourself?
creative
driven
hard-working
honest
sensitive

Tell us a bit about your Etsy shop.
I (Liz) has been selling her artwork on etsy since August of 2007. After my husband, Rick, lost his job of 11 years, we decided to go for it and open up another shop where we can both create things together. I learned a lot from running my first shop on etsy, so it was much easier to set up and start our new one. Our goal is to completely support our family (we have two daughters, Molly 16 and Samantha 7) with our handmade goods. We're getting there!

What 5 words would you use to describe your shop?
fresh
unique
functional
upcycled
colorful

What are your 5 favorite websites?
TOLLIPOP.COM (pure, brilliant writing)
The Meanest Mom (funny!)
The Bloggess (crazy!)
Nienie Dialogues (inspiring)
mystele (great art, great pics and videos)

What are your 5 favorite Etsy shops?
Sushipot
Olive
Noodle & Lou
Sarah Wyman
Michele Maule

What advice would you give other Etsy sellers?
~ Develop great products that reflect who you are.
~ Work and work and work on your pictures (clear, bright, different angles, with plain backgrounds!)
~ Be careful with time on the computer.
~ Try to come up with a routine and stick to it.
~ Be serious about great customer service.
~ Be cheerful to fellow sellers - encourage!!!

Anything else you'd like us to know?
We're friendly and easy to work with. :)

GIVEAWAY!
Old New Again is so kind to offer one of YOU wonderful readers a...
Kitchen Table Organizer
of YOUR choice!

(Thanks so much, Rick & Liz!)

Here's how to enter:

Visit Old New Again and leave a comment on this post mentioning your favorite item.

For more chances to win, leave a separate post for each of the following:
*Subscribe to the Old New Again Blog, Primoriginals.
*Follow Primoriginals on Twitter.
*Become a friend of Primoriginals on Facebook.
*Become a Follower of Etsy Interviews.
*Subscribe to Etsy Interviews via RSS.
*Tweet about this giveaway (please leave link to tweet).
*Follow B.Inspired Mama on Twitter.
*Become a fan of B.Inspired Vintage on Facebook.
*Share the giveaway on Facebook.
*Blog about the giveaway (please leave the link)
*Add Etsy Interviews to your blogroll.
*Submit to be Featured on Etsy Interviews, too!

The winner will be chosen via Random.org on Monday, March 22nd at 9PM EST. The winner will be emailed within 24 hours. Please make sure your email is in your profile or in the comment. GOOD LUCK!

Sponsor Spotlight: crzylady's shop of (owl)ies

(Psst... don't forget to enter the giveaway from Middleburg. And today is your last day to enter the one from Beth Stone Studio!)

Owls and other woodland creatures are so hot right now. But if you haven't really jumped on that bandwagon just yet, then must be you haven't came across crzylady's shop of (owl)ies! Make sure to click and read the fun descriptions of each owl's personality, too. Can't wait to hear more...

crzylady's shop of (owl)ies
blog
facebook

Tell us a bit about yourself, Tracylea.

A newly 30 year old (which has been a huge inspiration for me to get on the ball living my life) special events coordinator. I have a delightful 4 year old miss bossy pants at home. My husband and I work together at a small liberal arts college in Idaho. I love reading - I am absolutely obsessed with certain series and have to force myself to read new material. I like craft projects which are sometimes unusual but can be done in a variety of colors and are quickly finished.

What 5 words would you use to describe yourself?
1) Voracious
2) Verbose
3) Aspiring
4) Controlling
5) Crzy

Tell us a bit about your Etsy shop.
I JUST opened my shop at the end of January. One of my 2010 resolutions (in conjunction with a February milestone birthday of 30!) was to begin my etsy shop. I have typically made and made items and saved them in bin all year for a couple end of the year vendor fairs. It took too much fun out the crafting. I felt pressured to make things only before an event and with specific goals in mind. Etsy struck me (and still does) as an inexpensive avenue to see how I can inspire other crafters AND myself throughout the year. It offers me a place to receive constant feedback of items and business ideas. I hope the shop will be a continual source of inspiration. And I can't wait to begin posting more varied items.

What 5 words would you use to describe your shop?
1) Whimsical
2) Entertaining
3) Inexpensive
4) Understanding
5) Inspiring


What are your favorite websites and blogs?
V for Violet
Ivy Black Chat
Foxs Lane
Lola Nova

What are your favorite Etsy shops?
B.Inspired Vintage
I've Got Worms
Kid-N Around Creations
Over the Wall
Lola Nova

What advice would you give other Etsy sellers?
To have fun. We are all too creative and life-enjoying to forget why we started crafting in the first place :)

Be polite and courteous and thoughtful to all other etsians.

Anything else you'd like us to know?
This year is magical - I can feel it!
Don't forget :)

SPONSOR SPECIAL
crzylady is so kind to offer a
FREE customized mini-(owl)ie
with any order mentioning this interview in the notes to seller.
You can customize by listing your favourite color combination (2 colors maximum).

(Thanks so much, Tracylea! We're so happy and grateful to have you here as a sponsor of Etsy Interviews!)

Etsy Interview & Giveaway with Middleburg

(Psst... just a couple more days to enter the giveaway from Beth Stone Studio!)

I am IN LOVE with the primitive whimsical feel of Susan's creations in her wildly popular shop, Middleburg. Susan is an amazing artist and a SUPER-successful seller to boot. I think we can learn a ton from her...

Middleburg
twitter
blog

Tell us a bit about yourself, Susan.
One of my life long dreams is coming true. I read a book years ago about a lady who would fix up old houses and would sell them, way before "flipping" ever became a term. I begged my husband for years to consider some dilapidated old house that we could fix up together and make our own. He would always say "Well, we have to be able to live in it." That nixed so many. My dream always included a studio for us, since we met in the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. And some of our favorite memories included the studio classes we took together. Well, we finally did it, after 25 years in advertising and marketing. We bought a historic house and farm in North Carolina, we transplanted ourselves, the Middleburg studio, and have been here just 6 months. Believe you me, it's dilapidated in spots. But it is my dream, and I'm getting to live it right now.

Some other things about me that I used to never tell anyone are; I love TV, but have purposely cut myself back when I moved and refuse to get dish or cable. But I don't know how much more I can take. TV here is really dated. I have a quirky favorite ice cream sundae my dad used to make with vanilla ice cream, fruit cocktail (from a can), real whip cream and topped with chopped nuts (pecan or almonds, but never peanuts they only belong on a hot fudge sundae). I enjoy mayonnaise, real mayonnaise and I have made it from scratch, but love Helman's the best and will do with out rather than substitute a different brand. I used to cook a lot and very well from what friends and family will attest to, but I think I'm over it. One of my new loves is documentaries and my favorite of late is "I Like Killing Flies." The guy it's about is so real, nothing phony. I realized from watching it that food and restaurant going has been a hobby of mine for years. There's nothing I like better than finding a good restaurant and taking people and family to it. It really can be my happy place. But being from Chicago it is almost a religion when you live in the city. Also been giving that up of late as Eastern North Carolina is not the foodie capital you would expect it to be.

What 5 words would you use to describe yourself?
Creative, tenacious, patient (more so than I give my self credit for), resourceful, original, hard-worker, Yes that is 6, but it's OK!

Tell us a bit about your Etsy shop.
When I opened it was because I saw it on the evening news with Katie Couric. I looked at it the next day and signed up immediately. I remember calling my husband and saying "I'm going to sign up for this site called Etsy." That was March 2007. I remember my first sale, and then the next and the next. I still feel the same each time I sell something. It's a cross between grateful and surprised. I never take for granted that this Etsy has played a major role in my success, and if I could give them a big hug in New York I would! My 4 year Anniversary on Etsy was March 5th!

What 5 words would you use to describe your shop?
Not perfect but Very Good, Classic, Bright, Unique and Sweet

What are your 5 favorite websites?
It's been changing lately. Twitter tops my list. It's short, quick and its really interesting what people share about themselves. I recently told a friend it is like eating potato chips but without the calories.

I'm looking at more art sites these days (see a trend, planning a trip really)
American Folk Art Museum
Museum of Modern Art
Guggenheim Museum of Art

And of course, what would my list be with out a good antique site? Still like Ruby Lane,one of the beast search engines.

What are your 5 favorite Etsy shops?
I going to give two lists.
MY ALL TIME favorites FOREVER are:
Marmee Craft
Danita.Art
HeliS
Sushipot

There are some really unbelievable shops on Etsy that only come up once in a while.
Here are just a few I like:
this is all I know
Loran Scruggs
Cornflower Press
doubleparlour
GalaFilc, amazing life like flowers!

What advice would you give other Etsy sellers?
Good photos are the key. I'm constantly trying to perfect my photos. When I get good light, it's like magic to me. I shoot everything outside. I'm originally from Chicago and have shot on days when it is 20 degrees and lower, but there was good light. I would get out there and set up my shabby backdrop door and vintage pedestal and snap away. Your descriptions need to have a little bit of you in them. Lets face it, this is not the classified section of the newspaper, people. We all put a lot of time, energy and love in to what we make. Stop making it sound like it was made by robots.

Anything else you'd like us to know?
I'm like a horse. I feel better if you give me a job, then let me roam the pasture. I've ridden horses at three different stages of my life; when I was young 3-8, then as a teen and then again about 8 years ago when I was doing some pretty cool jumping. And as I look back, riding and being with horses has taught me a lot. Of the last time, sit back and wait for it, referring to the bump you get from the horse before going over the jump to tell you to get your butt out of the saddle or I'm leaving you behind, sorta good lesson to live by. Patience is good, but procrastination will leave you sitting in the dust. I'll get off my horsey soap box now.

This all has been a long journey or path and I'm still on it. I sometimes discount all I can do and forget how much I have learned and how far I still have to go. Remember to dream, they can come true!

GIVEAWAY!
Middleburg is so kind to offer one of YOU wonderful readers a...
Classic Spring Garland of Choice
to bring a little Spring into your home!
You can choose from Dogwood, Rose, Daisy, Cone-flower, Poppy or Hydrangea.
This is a $32 value and includes Priority Mail shipping.
(Thanks so much, Susan!)

Here's how to enter:

Visit Middleburg and leave a comment on this post mentioning your favorite item.

For more chances to win, leave a separate post for each of the following:
*Subscribe to the Middleburg Folk Art Studio Blog.
*Follow Middleburg Folk Art Studio on Twitter.
*Become a friend of Middleburg Folk Art on Facebook.
*Become a Follower of Etsy Interviews.
*Subscribe to Etsy Interviews via RSS.
*Tweet about this giveaway (please leave link to tweet).
*Follow B.Inspired Mama on Twitter.
*Become a fan of B.Inspired Vintage on Facebook.
*Share the giveaway on Facebook.
*Blog about the giveaway (please leave the link)
*Add Etsy Interviews to your blogroll.
*Submit to be Featured on Etsy Interviews, too!

The winner will be chosen via Random.org on Monday, March 15th at 9PM EST. The winner will be emailed within 24 hours. Please make sure your email is in your profile or in the comment. GOOD LUCK!

Etsy Interview & Special Deal with Funktapus Designs

(Psst... don't forget to enter the great giveaway from feltgirl!)

A vintage feel + astrology + funky bright color = I heart Funktapus Designs!
Let's here from the creative future-astrophysicist herself, Becca.

Etsy Shop: Funktapus Designs
Blog: Funktapus

Tell us a bit about yourself, Becca.
I'm studying to be an astrophysicist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and I'm an ultra-nerd! I love music, books, crafts and everything vintage, but science is my real passion!

What 5 words would you use to describe yourself?
Intelligent, resourceful, geeky, giggly, and ambitious. :)

Tell us a bit about your Etsy shop.
I opened shop in September of last year (just for fun, really!), but before I knew it I'd made tens of sales and my starfinders were getting some real recognition! I had to really streamline things, as I had previously been selling whatever I felt like making, and I tended to switch media from day to day. My current goal is to introduce a southern hemisphere version of my starfinders, some fun and nerdy greeting cards, and eventually some recycled paper goods so that I don't have to waste all of my scraps!

What 5 words would you use to describe your shop?
Nerdy, colorful, friendly, lively, fun.

Give your 5 favorite websites.
A Print A Day
Save the Words
xkcd: Joshing
miniature rhino
Design Sponge

Give your 5 favorite Etsy shops.
seapod
miniature rhino
HARE and DRUM's House of Color
Floridity
Pinkkiss Pottery

What advice would you give other Etsy sellers?
Like what you sell, and have fun making it!

Anything else you would like us to know?
I like you. :)

SPECIAL DEAL

Get 50% off of your starfinder purchase if you mention Etsy Interviews!

(Thanks, Becca!)

Etsy Interview with Noica and her Craftomania Toolbar

(Psst... today is the last day to enter the giveaway from The Daily Pincushion!
And don't forget the giveaway from Koko Candles and the giveaway from Clayswan, too!)

Since I've gotten my Firefox browser (not that you NEED it), I am all about the fun add-ons and toolbars. So I was ecstatic when I came across Noa Brumberg's Craftomania toolbar especially for Etsy-lovers!! It puts everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) Etsy right at my fingertips. And it didn't hurt that it already listed EtsyInterviews under the blogs button when I first downloaded it. (Thanks, Noa!) Let's hear more about it and her cute little Etsy shop from Noa herself...

Etsy Shop: Noica
Blog: Craftomania Tools

Tell us a bit about yourself, Noa.
My name is Noa, but you can call me Noica. I'm 26 years old and on my 4Th year of visual communications design studies, live in Tel-Aviv, Israel. I love making plush, graphics and short animations. I created along with my boyfriend the Craftomania toolbar for Etsy users. A couple of months on Etsy were more than enough for us to assemble a very detailed and ever growing list of favorite Etsy related links, and we were baffled; Navigating through the endless list of blogs and magazines and tools. Every site or blog led to a new exciting one, and on it went... We were wondering to ourselves that there had to be a better way to manage our stores and our time on Etsy. And so we started to build Craftomania toolbar. We felt so excited starting Craftomania Toolbar; creating order from mayhem, neatness from Chaos! We categorized our lists of everything Etsy (Craftopolis, Craft cult, treasuries, blogs, sites that offer promotions, groups, and many more). And finally there was serenity: we were 1-click away from everything we need and even the morning coffee tasted better. We thought it's selfish to keep it all to ourselves and that others should benefit from the toolbar as well. That’s when we teamed up and created the Craftomania Tools Team. Here you can see the toolbar's map- all the menus and links on it. To download the toolbar click here.

What 5 words would you use to describe yourself?
possum
fun
sunshine
optimistic
carebear

Tell us a bit about your Etsy shop.
I just love the idea that people from all over the world can have their own Noica plush or graphic. I Love kids, and it makes me happy knowing that they can hug my reindeer. :) As for the toolbar, it is fun to help others and find new friend. We are building a community here. Now we are dedicated to anything Etsy and handmade. Our goal is to create a Tool which is a synonym to managing your store on Etsy. The Craftomania toolbar is a lot more than a links index; it's a community of Etsians, where all are invited to join freely.

What 5 words would you use to describe your shop?
soft
funny
whimsical
unique
sweet


What are your favorite websites?

I have so many this one is hard, but you can see all websites I love on the toolbar. NOTCOT.org Poppytalk Handmade FFFFOUND! Amy Holton Designs doll stories

Give your favorite Etsy shops.
Baby To Go
Nurit Design
Opus Muse
Netamir's Designs
Amy Holton Designs

What advice would you give other Etsy sellers?
Just have fun with it, make yourself a fun workspace, find new friends from far away countries, try to help others, create during positive thinking and let the world do the rest.

Anything else you would like to share?
I offer my toolbar for free here!

And a free iron it patches for ordering from my store. Iron-it are my original handmade illustrations made into ironing patches! You can decorate shirts, hats, napkins and more! Just Place the patch, facing down on the fabric, at the desired location. Set the Iron to maximum and Place it on the patch, steam for about 5-15 seconds in small flattening motions.

YOU'LL GET A BAG WITH-
5 desired characters
1 "NOICA" try-out patch
Detailed instructions in English or Hebrew!

Etsy Interview & Giveaway with Clayswan

(Psst... only one more day to enter the giveaway from The Daily Pincushion! And don't forget the new giveaway from Koko Candles, too!)

I just LOVE the bold bright colors of the hand-built porcelain pottery at Clayswan. I was thrilled to be able to interview the creator, Lyn! Let's meet her...

Etsy Shop: Clayswan
Second Etsy Shop: Lynswan

Tell us a bit about yourself, Lyn.
I am a ceramic artist living and working in Sonoma, California. My current body of work is very much inspired by early California Pottery, Bauer Ware and Fiesta Ware. I love to hand build, I love color, and I always seem to imply function in my work. This does not necessitate daily use, but it is always nice to know that on that special occasion, you have that special piece to use .... you know, like that first cup of coffee in the morning!

What 5 words would you use to describe yourself?
happy
encouraging
inspired
creative
out-of-the-box

Tell us a bit about your Etsy shop.
My shop opened just over a year ago. Fellow potters in the bay area kept on prompting, nudging, compelling me .... just to try Etsy. Then, last year at the ACC Baltimore Show, an Etsy team gave a wonderful presentation about the Etsy world. All of a sudden the doors opened wide, and I never looked back. I continue to try to bring new pieces to my shop all the time and just LOVE to try out new ideas on a world wide audience.

What 5 words would you use to describe your shop?
happy
playful
whimsical
smile
useful

What are your favorite websites?
Apartment Therapy

Give your favorite Etsy shops.
Susan Eastman
raedunn
Whitney Smith Pottery
Village Clay Works

What advice would you give other Etsy sellers?
Stay with it, visit and "fluff" daily, check out what everyone is doing and let it inspire you.

Anything else you would like to share?
I have undying gratitude to the Etsy team for providing this wonderful venue in which we can present our work. Etsy is a simple and inexpensive format. There are so many talented artists that would not have had the opportunity to showcase their talent (and I am one that believes that every one has talent) on such a level, reaching far beyond their back door. Thank you, Etsy!

GIVEAWAY!
Lyn is so kind to offer one of her most popular pieces...
**A MEDIUM PORCELAIN TRAY OF CHOICE!!!**
Thanks so much, Lyn!

Here's how to enter:
Visit Clayswan and Lynswan and leave a comment on this post
mentioning your favorite item.

For more chances to win, leave a separate post for each of the following:

*Become a Follower of EtsyInterviews.
*Subscribe to EtsyInterviews via RSS.
*Tweet about this giveaway (please leave link to tweet).
*Follow B.Inspired Mama on Twitter.
*Become a fan of B.Inspired Vintage on Facebook.
*Share the giveaway on Facebook.
*Blog about the giveaway (please leave the link)
*Add EtsyInterviews to your blogroll.
*Submit to be Featured on EtsyInterviews!

The winner will be chosen via Random.org on Sunday, February 22th at 9PM EST. The winner will be emailed within 24 hours. Please make sure your email is in your profile or in the comment. GOOD LUCK!

Etsy Interview & Giveaway with Koko Candles

(Psst... you only have a couple more days to enter the giveaway from The Daily Pincushion!)

So, you'll probably learn that yummy foods tend to catch my eye. That's what first drew me into Paoling's candle shop. Some of the candles at Koko Candles look good enough to eat! I can just imagine how wonderful they smell. Why can't Etsy add that as a feature: scents through your computer screen?! I guess we'll just have to take Paoling's word for it...

Etsy Shop: Koko Candles
Website: Koko Candles

Tell us a bit about yourself, Paoling.
I am a single gal in the LA world trying to make art & change theworld. I'm a full time web/graphics designer, partner in a designcompany, wannabe artist, social butterfly and lastly a candle-maker.Wax is my #1 medium of choice for creative expression. I have beendoing my craft for about 10 years on & off now, starting with myhigh school years. My inspiration mostly comes from daydreaming andlying on my bed on lazy Sunday mornings, which unfortunately nowadaysis becoming a rare luxury. Usually my best ideas come to me when I'mdoing absolutely nothing.

What 5 words would you use to describe yourself?
fun
artistic
social
witty
LA

Tell us a bit about your Etsy shop.
I've had my Etsy shop for about a year now. The power of internet andthe beauty of Etsy has really motivated me to work harder on my items& my shop. Its a place where I open myself up to the world, where Iexpress my creativity & personality, and what I'm passionate about.

What 5 words would you use to describe your shop?
conceptual
pink
dessert
indulgence
vibrant

Give your 5 favorite websites.
Regretsy
Smashing Magazine
Toxel
Dustin Curtis
Paoling Che

Give your 5 favorite Etsy shops.
sunbasilgarden
Neon Canvas
Karen's Soap Co.
Dirty Ass SoapsLoveLeeSoaps

What advice would you give other Etsy sellers?

I would say the number 1 thing is to have unique items that reflect theabsolute essence of yourself. Having unique items really paid off forme, getting me into magazines, books and sites. Don't ever stopcreating, and don't ever stop solving problems. Take care with thelittle things, like packaging and how you present your business. Fromthe way you word your confirmation email to the box your packagearrives in to your business card design, every touch point is anopportunity to stand apart and be memorable.

Anything else you would like to share?
Stay tuned with www.candle101.com, soon to be home of candlemakingtutorials on various original projects, articles and useful resourcesfor starting your own candlemaking adventure!

Follow kokocandles on twitter.

GIVEAWAY!
Paoling is so kind to offer a...
**LOVE CANDLE GIFT SET**
Gift Set Includes:

(1) LOVE Chocolate Scented Soy Jar Candle

(1) Bite Sized Cupcake Candle with Pink Frosting & Real Sprinkles

(4) Exclusive Mini Heart Candles

Thanks so much, Paoling!

Here's how to enter:

Visit Koko Candles and leave a comment on this post
mentioning your favorite item.

For more chances to win, leave a separate post for each of the following:

*Become a Follower of EtsyInterviews.
*Subscribe to EtsyInterviews via RSS.
*Tweet about this giveaway (please leave link to tweet).
*Follow B.Inspired Mama on Twitter.
*Become a fan of B.Inspired Vintage on Facebook.
*Share the giveaway on Facebook.
*Blog about the giveaway (please leave the link)
*Add EtsyInterviews to your blogroll.
*Submit to be Featured on EtsyInterviews, too!

The winner will be chosen via Random.orgon Sunday, February 21th at 9PM EST. The winner will be emailedwithin 24 hours. Please make sure your email is in your profile or inthe comment. GOOD LUCK!

Etsy Interview & Giveaway with Miss Pretty Pretty

(Psst... don't forget to enter the giveaway from Yalipaz 

and the one from The Daily Pincushion, too!)

 

Being a mom of two little ones, I was immediately drawn to the "Imaginative Play Toys" at Miss Pretty Pretty.  Let's learn more about the creative mama behind all of the fun...

Etsy Shop: Miss Pretty Pretty

Tell us a bit about yourself.
Hi! My name is Julie, and I am the creative force behind my store on Etsy, MissPrettyPretty. I am an *older* mom of 44, with two children ages 5 and nearly 4. I am married to the kindest man on earth (or so I believe), and he is my best friend and biggest cheerleader. We live in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin (a suburb of Milwaukee), at the beginning of a dead end street upon which 17 children under the age of 12 live. (Well, it was 17 that last time I counted!) We love living here! There is so much to do and see in southeastern Wisconsin, and obviously a lot of children for my kids to play with! Sure makes for exciting summers. My husband works for a large banking institution, and I work part time at a local college, run my business, and try to control all of the antics of two very active children.

What 5 words would you use to describe yourself?
creative
imaginative
hard working
innovative
outgoing

Tell us a bit about your Etsy shop.
I opened my shop on Etsy in August of 2008 with the idea of supplementing my income from arts and crafts shows. I have sold handmade items at craft shows for over twenty years, and thought it would be fun to try selling some of my handmade apparel online. It was originally my sister who suggested I sell my playhouses on Etsy instead of my clothing. I had been making and selling the playhouses for about 12 years, but hadn't really considered selling them online. I had just finished a Little Red Playhouse for my kids, so took some pictures and listed it and my little shop just took off from there. Soon after I started selling my playhouses, Etsy ran a handmade kids contest, and my playhouse won the Member's Choice category. That helped me out a lot at first! Over the past 18 months, I have gradually added more of my designs to my shop, sales have been great, and I am basically now running my business full time.

What 5 words would you use to describe your shop?
colorful
imaginative
creative
fun
wonderful!!

Give your 5 favorite websites.
 Honestly, this is so tough for me because I am so busy I rarely have time to spend on the internet besides working on my Etsy shop! I do have a few besides Etsy:
Amazon (only because I have a new Kindle that I am obsessed with! Love the freebies!)
Lostpedia (I am also obsessed with Lost)
Google (I am an information junkie)
Skip to my Lou
Mary Janes and Galoshes

Give your 5 favorite Etsy shops. 
This is a really hard one for me, there are so many!
I love these:
The Merry Crown Society
Taylored Arts
Palomino Morgan
danielle
The Beer Soap Company

What advice would you give other Etsy sellers?
For me, the most important thing I have done is to find one item that sells well on Etsy (playhouses) and focus on it. I have about a million ideas I would love to try, but the playhouses are the focus right now because they have been such a successful seller and I love making them so much!! If something in your shop really takes off, perfecting it and making it a focal point of your shop can lead to great success.

GIVEAWAY! 

Julie is so kind to be offering 

***ONE FREE PLAYHOUSE OF CHOICE!!!***

 Just visit Mary Janes and Galoshes to enter to win before February 15th! 

Etsy Interview & Giveaway with The Daily Pincushion

(Psst... don't forget to enter the giveaway from Yalipaz, too!)

Since I've been sewing more lately, pincushions have become a little obsession of mine. There's just something about how you can use a beautiful little work of art for such a utilitarian purpose! I have been eyeing up the gorgeous felt ones at The Daily Pincushion for a while now. Let's learn more...

Etsy Shop: The Daily Pincushion
Other Etsy Shop: The Daily Vintage

Tell us a bit about yourself, Cathy.
I live in Florida now - my sister Jamie and I share a house in Lake Worth.
We are from New York. My dad's family came over from Germany in the 1860's before the Civil War. They settled on Manhattan Island. They once had a farm on the upper west side. My Mom is first generation Italian. The Greatest Generation. I grew up on Long Island. I was a Chef for 25 years. Now I’m an artist with a full time job at home on Etsy. I love what I do now, although I still work long hours. I have always been creative and am so happy to be able to do it for a living.



What 5 words would you use to describe yourself?
Creative
Insular
Pragmatic
Irreverent
Reliable




Tell us a bit about your Etsy shop.
My Etsy shop The Daily Pincushion came about after my last stint as an executive chef in a Boca country club. Enough was enough! I needed to earn a living and I was determined not to cook outside the house again. I thought I would open some kind of baking business – cookies or cupcakes. During an Internet hunt for inspiration I saw a cupcake that was made of felt. It was a pincushion. That person sold them on a site called Etsy. I knew I could do that and I wanted to do that. I looked at many things I could make but I kept coming back to pincushions. I have always sewn, and they just clicked with me. I combined a style I had been doing with felt doll clothes and a simple shape of pincushion and I made my first one. When I got good at it (after about a hundred) I opened the Etsy shop The Daily Pincushion (because it took the entire day to make one)! Now I have some custom dies that help me do things quicker and more consistently, but a lot is still cut by hand. Everything is hand sewn and embroidered. My sister has quite a few popular designs too and she does the taxes bless her and most of the post office trips. She also has a 9- 5 job. Working with her helps me break out of my parameters. Whenever I start a big project or when I would write a new menu I built in the dogma. Rules to live by - limits with color or material and I work within that. It makes it easier for me at first to get comfortable and to stretch the limits of what I can do within those limits. Then I break them when I'm comfortable. And set new ones!

What 5 words would you use to describe your shop?
Colorful
Unique
Happy
Helpful
Tactile



Give your 5 favorite websites.
Nest Decorating: A Journal
Posie Gets Cozy
Cute Overload
Very Short List
wfuv.org radio


Give your 5 favorite Etsy shops.
Bossys Feltworks
Mincing Mockingbird
Two Kazoos
Gretchen Kramp
Linda Solovic
I wish I could name ten!



What advice would you give other Etsy sellers?
Be prepared to work hard, be consistent, limit you time on the computer and make things. Be nice.



Anything else you would like to share?
I love what I do. I love when people are happy with their pincushions. I wish I knew more about technology to have a website with a shopping cart. Then I would sell kits. Maybe after we move.


http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheDailyPincushion

GIVEAWAY!
Cathy is so kind to offer...
**Pincushion & Emery Set of Choice**
Thanks so much, Cathy!

Here's how to enter:

Visit The Daily Pincushion and leave a comment on this post
mentioning your favorite item.

For more chances to win, leave a separate post for each of the following:

*Become a Follower of EtsyInterviews.
*Subscribe to EtsyInterviews via RSS.
*Tweet about this giveaway (please leave link to tweet).
*Follow B.Inspired Mama on Twitter.
*Become a fan of B.Inspired Vintage on Facebook.
*Share the giveaway on Facebook.
*Blog about the giveaway (please leave the link)
*Add EtsyInterviews to your blogroll.
*Submit to be Featured on EtsyInterviews, too!

The winner will be chosen via Random.org on Wednesday, February 17th at 9PM EST. The winner will be emailed within 24 hours. Please make sure your email is in your profile or in the comment. GOOD LUCK!

Etsy Interview with Art Mind

(Psst... Today's the last day to enter the giveaway from Bobbityboo!

And don't forget to enter the giveaway from Yalipaz, too!)

I'm thrilled to be introducing you to Art Mind today!
I LOVE the modern minimalism of Mitsy's style and her unique use of a wide array of mediums. Let's see what she has to share...

Etsy Shop: Art Mind
Website: Art Mind
Blog: Art Mind

Tell us a bit about yourself, Mitsy.
My name is Mitsy. I'm just a girl living in Belgium, Europe. I make things with my hands in order to maintain a happy heart in a crazy world. I love clay, paper and yarn. I'm very curious by nature and love to experiment. Obviously, my studio is the place where I spend most of my free time and I love every minute of it. I find it difficult to deal with the fact that there is never enough time ot execute all ideas.


What 5 words would you use to describe yourself?
happy
creative
driven
open-minded
energetic


Tell us a bit about your Etsy shop.
I opened my shop in the summer of 2007 just for fun. I like making things but never had the guts to go to a craft fair or sell it. Being able to sell my work via the internet gave me enough confidence to sell on fairs later. I'd love to do this for a living but combining it with part-time job is the ideal solution for now.


What 5 words would you use to describe your shop?
Feelings
emotions
colors
happy
purity


Give your 5 favorite websites.
The Red Thread
EvaForeva
Flickr
DeviantArt
Ravelry


Give your 5 favorite Etsy shops.
LilaRubyKing
Sigmosaics
Kreativlink
Mamachee
CabbagesandKingsArt


What advice would you give other Etsy sellers?
Join a team! Etsy is big and you'll feel less lonely and get to chat and share with other like-minded people! Best thing I did when I started out on Etsy.