Wicked Karma

Craft Fair, Shop Revamp, Mailing List, Personal Updates

2013-06-24T13:28:00.000-07:00

Hello all!! I know.. it's been a while..
I'll start with a basic update on where I've been. For those who don't know, I've been having a lot of really painful internal medical issues. Well it's just gotten a lot worse and I am seeing a specialist and had endoscopies and a colonoscopy.
Went to a craft fair this month, hoping to go to more soon! Here's a picture of my booth

(That's me in the middle, my best friend Brian on the right and my friend Potter is taking the picture)

My shop will be undergoing a serious revamp! Adding a TON of new items, re-doing my sections. I'm SUPER excited about this! In addition to this new shop set-up and additions I'm also announcing my new newsletter!
You can subscribe on the right side of the window! -------->
Thanks so much for reading! Also ONLY ONE WEEK LEFT ON MY SHOPWIDE SALE!!!!

Feature Friday Spotlight on Le Animale

2013-04-12T11:04:00.000-07:00

I found todays artisan on the front page of Etsy one day and HAD to look at her shop, when I did I saw all of the amazing animals she created! All unique, all beautiful and all handmade! When you see her creations you’ll really appreciate the fact that they are hand made because of their significantly small size. It takes an incredible amount of time and an amazing eye for detail to make these clay masterpieces! Enjoy!

Give us a short bio:
My name is Laura. I'm an ever-curious artist currently sculpting tiny animals full time. It's wonderful. I have an eye for details and a passion for creating and exploring new places and new things. I live happily ever after with my awesome computer-genius boyfriend and two sweet but completely polar opposite dogs.

What inspired you to start your business?
My love of animals, miniatures, collections, and gift shops.

(This looks just like my Munchkin, lol!!) =D

What inspires your creative process?
Everything. I'm inspired by the process itself and by refining my techniques and keeping things fresh. And animals, and colors, and unusualness.

What is your favorite thing you’ve made and why?
Always a difficult question, but my favorite thing I've made recently is this: www.leanimale.com/collections/all/products/le-agile-genet-sketchbook-totem
One is because it's a genet and genets are so neat. Two is that it's the first of a new collection I am working on called 'sketchbook'. My favorite medium for the longest time was pencil and now I've combined that medium with my current work into something super fun and unique. You'll find more sketchbook totems this fall. :)

What advice do you have for other people who want to start or grow their Etsy shop?
1) Create something awesome. Doesn't have to be a revolutionary idea, but make sure whatever it is has a unique spin that jives with you and what you like.
2) Take beautiful pictures of the awesome you create.
3) Be consistent and make/post new awesomeness regularly.
4) Mingle with other artists and bloggers and get the word out about all the awesome you've made!

Thank you Laura for sharing with us and for making such wonderful clay animals! Please visit her shop Le Animale on Etsy and take home one of her masterpieces today!

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

www.facebook.com/leanimaleshop

www.twitter.com/leanimale
www.leanimale.com
www.leanimale.com/blogs/blog

Celebrity Tips Thursday

2013-04-11T17:54:00.001-07:00

Todays Celebrity Tip comes from Buffy's Xander!

So start reading Buffy Season 8! That's what I will be doing! ;P

Spotlight on Sisters Dreams

2013-04-07T19:25:00.000-07:00

Of all of the spotlights I have done so far, this one touched me more than any other.

Sisters Dreams shop has such adorable, handmade stuffed animals I really wanted to spotlight them on my blog and to my delight, they agreed! When I received their interview it made me cry and I IMMEDIATELY had to call my big sister..

So for this spotlight I won’t make a lengthy intro because it is not needed.

Once upon a time in a small town of Western Ukraine lived three little girls - three sisters Victoria, Valeria and Sandra.

For their play times they made rag dolls and doll's clothes. When they grew older and became young ladies, they made little bags and purses for their make-up, and other things for their home and interior.

Now these girls turned into young women. One evening when they were having a cup of tea together they started to reflect on their childhood and the dolls that they used to make and the idea to open a shop of hand crafted things was born.

If you are wandering what inspires us, it's the actual creation of handmade things. Every single item we create is made with lots of love and attention to smallest detail. Each product is personally designed by us.

It gives us great pleasure, when visitors to our shop like our products. We want to draw your attention to a most popular item in our shop:

www.etsy.com/listing/99273373/ballerina-elephant-soft-toy-fabric

And for those who want to start their own shop on Etsy - go ahead and create what you love. Sisters Dreams

I hope that this touched you as much as it did me.. Please visit their shop, I promise you will find all of the sisterly love that was displayed in this interview in each and every one of their handcrafted items.

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

Wordless Wednesday: Georgie Meets Bacchus and Bromius

2013-04-03T13:09:00.002-07:00

My precious Georgie meets her hammy brothers Bacchus and Bromius!

Spotlight on Jen's Tangled Threads

2013-04-02T13:04:00.000-07:00

Today we meet Jen of Jen’s Tangled Threads. She makes all sorts of things from crocheting but she makes one thing that is so cool, you’ll be scrambling to her shop to get your own! But more on that later..

I give you:

(Doctor Who epicness!!!!!!)

I'm a single mom, with the sweetest son any mom could want. He's a dancer, which led me to my Flip-Furs.More on that later. I'm a paralegal by day, which can be very stressful.

After my divorce, I moved back home. I was always the type who couldn't just sit in front of the tv or at the movies. I have to be doing something with my hands. I learned how to cross-stitch, but I'm not enough of an artist to be able to make my own patterns.

I learned to crochet because of a book series. I'm one of the biggest geeks you will ever meet. I read this one series, The Wheel of Time. The women in this series have these elaborate shawls, vine and leaf and flower embroidered. I wanted one, but I didn't have the patience to learn to sew from my mom. So, I learned to crochet and within a few weeks I was making my first lace shawl.

(My boyfriend and I love that series! I love this shawl too!)

I opened my Etsy shop to sell these shawls, which was a bad idea. They are geared towards a very specific clientele, which wasn't going to help me sell them. So I left the shop for a long time. I kept crocheting, finding different things to make.

As I said before, my son is a dancer. He has been competing for 4 years, and will start his 5th year in the fall. We go to these competitions at different venues and I see these girls walking around these arenas and schools with little to nothing on their feet. They go into the bathrooms this way. I'm a bit of a germaphobe, so this just makes me ill. The girls my son dances with often have half-ballet shoes on (leaving the heels bare) or have full-footed tights, so thong flip-flops are out of the question. I thought about the sandals a lot of the baseball players or soccer players wear so they don't ruin their cleats. And the girls wouldn't wear them unless they were 'girlie"

(I competed before my hip injury, I can atest to this. I wish I had had something cute to wear over my lyrical shoes, or foot thongs as we called them)

So, I created the Flip-Fur, which is the love child between a slipper and a flip-flop. They are an indoor shoe, but they are furry and fun. The Flip-Fur is completely customizable, from the colors, to the size to what gets put on the bottom. I use a super secret product (puffy paint) to make them non-slippery, because we can't have dancers having accidents with them on.

(Aren't these AWESOME!!!!!!)

What inspires my creative process? Need. I started making the Flip-Furs in the colors of my son's dance studio, then started making them in other colors. Whatever looks good. I will be working this fall on NFL team inspired Flip-Furs and Hockey, and Baseball. Any team, I can make a color palette for them.

My favorite thing I have made. I will have to wait until I get home to send you the image for this. I made a shawl for the book series that I have hanging in my apartment. Also, my favorite team is the Green Bay Packers, so I was rather proud to make a color scheme for them.

Advice for other Etsians? If you don't know how to do something, either ask someone how to do it, or pay someone to do it. I'm not a graphic designer by any means. I had an idea for my shop banner, and I paid someone to do it here on Etsy. I didn't know or understand how to do SEO and product descriptions that would bring me traffic, so I paid someone to do 5 product descriptions for me. I use those 5 in nearly every product I have. But, do your research. Look for those sellers who have the experience and who have positive feedback.

Etsy is changing. Sellers are frustrated because their products aren't being found. Find something you can make really well. Something unique. Yes, you can find a lot of crocheted and knitted and felted slippers out there. But mine have eyelash yarn, and you can have your name written on the bottom. They are inexpensive for a custom made product. If I can find the color you want, I will make your Flip-furs.

Don't sell yourself short just to get sales. Use good quality materials, and make sure you charge for your time. Your time is important. I will never be able to quit my day job and just make flip-furs. Not unless I charge $100 a pair and sell at least 2 pairs a day. But people aren't going to buy them for $100 a pair unless I use baby alpaca yarn (which is very expensive) and have gel insoles (which are also expensive). So I compromised, but I made sure my time is paid for. I'm happy with the price I have now. If I get very popular, I might raise the price again.

Have fun. If you aren't having fun crafting or making things, why are you doing it?

I hope you enjoyed getting to know Jen and her fabulous Flip-Furs! Want a pair of your own now, I thought you would! Here’s the link to her shop, go get them! =)

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

I want these so bad! But in purple and black, lol! =)

Spotlight on TEEsox by Teri

2013-03-29T18:20:00.000-07:00

Today’s spotlight is on a very creative woman by the name of Teri. She’s new to Etsy but I know she will go far! Teri makes the cutest quirky animals from recycling, you guessed it, socks and tee shirts. Bunnies, cats, horses and mice, all with a funky, colorful spin!

There are really no words to describe her adorable creations so this will be a very short intro. Here are the TEEsox!

What did I tell you? Words can’t begin to describe the cuteness!

From the creator:

I just started my "TEEsox" business this year and am having so much fun with it. TEEsox are hand stitched animals made from all vintage and recycled materials. The bodies are made primarily from socks and t-shirts. The clothes are made from vintage, antique and up-cycled clothing. My best sellers are the super-heros! They are all one of a kind and made to be imperfect and whimsical--that is what gives them so much personality!

(The grey mouse is my favorite!!)

I was initially inspired by my daughter's friend, who made herself a primitive sock monkey. It looked so fun, I made my own version initially making them as gifts. With the encouragement of friends, it quickly blossomed into a small business. I am now selling them on Etsy, have had them in several shops and have participated in shows. My favorite thing to do is special orders. I have done client's favorite baseball players, super heroes with their initial on the front, or animals dressed in heirloom lace and linens.

I worked for many years as a Medical Social Worker, until both my daughters and I started getting symptomatic from what was eventually diagnosed as Lyme Disease. It has been a long battle these last 8 years, so this new business has been a blessing. I am doing something I love, from the comfort of my home, when I feel good enough to do it. Art is very therapeutic to me and doing something that others enjoy so much is an added benefit.

They are truly art for all ages!

www.teesox.com

Such an inspirational story, and precious animals anyone is sure to love! They would make great gifts, if you could bear to part with them after holding them and seeing their adorable faces!

Check out her shop, maybe order your own superhero!

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

The goth one makes me smile! And as a ballerina I really want the kitty! =)

Spotlight on Kim Gilbert

2013-02-06T12:17:00.001-08:00

People who work with wood have always impressed me. Today we spotlight Kim Gilbert, a master (or mistress, rather) of the humorous wooden sign! Fun and funky colors, sweet sentiments and side-splitting satire, you will find all of these things in Kim’s shop.

I hope you will find this interview as fun and entertaining as I did!

Give us a short bio
I am an only child. Spoiled…yes, Rotten…not so much! When I was young I was always making things, creating and writing stories. I used to write little plays and perform them for the neighborhood kids. Then I grew up, got married and started a family. I took a painting class and the rest is history! It really is a passion and I love the whole process. I even enjoy going to the hardware store to get supplies!

(I hope you get this reference! I LOVE this book, my grandma used to read it to me.)

What inspired you to start your business?
I was taking a “painting class” with a friend. The class was really a social group where we would meet once a week and work on a project. After the project we would go out to lunch and maybe do a little shopping; it was an all day event. My friend and I got the idea of doing a local craft show and we had a great time. During the show a woman who owned a local gift/craft shop asked if I would like to consign my items in her shop. I put a few things in the store and was thrilled when they sold. So before long, I was in three shops and had a full time job!

What inspires your creative process?
Over the years I painted on everything imaginable. Wood, glass, candles, tile, palm fronds, and just about anything that was stationary I had to give a try. After all that experimentation, I focused in on signs, Holiday items and ornaments. When it comes to signs I am drawn to sayings and quotes that are funny. I guess I have a quirky sense of humor and I love to laugh. When I see or hear something that is funny I always think “hmm…I wonder if I could make that into a sign!” I also have a VERY supportive family that shares things they’ve seen and heard that might be sign potential.

(I LOVE this one! One of my personal favorites!!)

Another and very important thing that gives me inspiration is positive feedback and sales. I am very motivated, but having people like and comment on something I have made is very rewarding. Even after 20 years, I still feel the same sense of joy when something sells as I did when I participated in my first craft show.

What is your favorite thing you’ve made and why?
This is an easy question to answer. For the simple reason that this heart shaped sign represents such a happy day for our family.

www.etsy.com/listing/103061488/hand-painted-wooden-personalized

What advice do you have for other people who want to start or grow their Etsy shop?
There are several important things. The first is your pictures which I don’t think can be emphasized enough. The expression “You only have one chance to make a first impression” is so true with your Etsy shop. Clear pictures taken in natural light is my goal and it is important that the background not compete with what you are trying to sell. The other thing to keep in mind is how your picture looks in a search. Sometimes the picture only shows part of the item so I recommend doing an Etsy search and looking at the pictures that come up on several pages. Take note to what items draw your attention. You want shoppers to like what they see from that first glimpse so that they want to click on your item.

Second, read what is being said in the forums, look at other shops and then jump in full steam! After I had my shop open for awhile I read that it was good to have a critique team member evaluate your shop, which I highly recommend. I was given such great suggestions on how to improve my shop, one of which was to improve on some of my pictures. It was great to have someone look things over and give me some insight.

So to sum it up, pictures, forums, critiques and last but not least- Enjoy!

Thanks so much Kim for sharing your story and your fabulous work with us! Go visit her shop to see more and get one of her fun signs for your very own!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/kimgilbert3

Spotlight on Homespun Hoard

2013-01-04T15:08:00.003-08:00

Todays spotlight is on a family of knitters and “hoarders” that have used their obsession with crafting to make people smile! When looking through their shop animals are everywhere; turtles, pigs, octopuses and mice! All handmade (along with some supplies here and there).

Without further ado, I give you The Homespun Hoard:

I LOVE the dunce Octopus so much I couldn’t resist so I bought him!!! He looks so sad you just wanna cuddle him!!

Jenn was kind enough to share with me the story of how H.H. came to be:

Give us a short bio:
Well, my shop consists of my mom, my sister, and I.. Our products are what we make up after a bit of back and forth harassment/motivation. We are just the kind of family that would go to craft fairs and artisan booths and be like "we can make that.." Often we'd have our own ideas on how to improve things. My mom has a part time job, I have a full time one, and my sister is disabled... so coordinating 'craft time' gets difficult sometimes; usually items are co-created, with my mom or sister making the parts of an Item, and me cobbling them together.
The very start of it all was my mother's desire to 'save' old vintage patterns and supplies. The collection grew over the years... to sheer massive-ness, and I figured we might as well use them. Since I'm a thrift store and estate picker for fun, I started looking for craft supplies and the rest is history.

What inspired you to start your business?
There just comes a time when your pile of Crafted items and Art becomes so massive that you sit back and stare at it and think... "Wow, I could TOTALLY have my own shop!" The gears started turning, so I started researching. (Another of my pastimes) I checked out the many auction, and sale sites, comparing them side by side for ease of use and fees (FEES are always important to consider) and decided on Etsy. I was already shopping here and getting inspired so it seemed the perfect fit. Then picture taking started, figuring out SEO's and other oddness of the online retail environment... Then launch :)

What inspires your creative process?

Pretty much everything... I know that's a little cliche', but it's still true. The top inspirations are vintage craft books and Etsy itself. Crafting from the 30's-50's was all about reusing things and making do with what you already had. PERFECT for today's eco-friendly mentality! There is literally TONS of cute ideas and projects that you can't find anywhere, long since forgotten and waiting to be picked up again by adventurous readers. Inspiration from Etsy is really more of finding out what people are looking for and interested in. As I've previously stated, people are very much into the re-use it revolution, and I honestly wouldn't have known how much so without being able to browse around Etsy.

What is your favorite thing you’ve made and why?
Well, because there is more than one person crafting I'll give you more than one answer: I'll start with my mom. The item (or Items) she's most proud of are our line of ODD Pets. Mainly because they were are first made stuffed toys, and my mom had her doubts about them. I had to cheerlead for her to make them, buy all the vintage patterns and NAG until I turned blue in the face. My mom is the Crochet lady of our team, so to get those more complicated items done I need my mommy! :) She does all of the base parts, and I put them together and do the faces and eyes... giving them personality. When our first one sold 'DOOF', my mom sent me the happiest text message. (Oh ye of little faith.<3)

(DOOF himself! =D)

I'm personally most proud of my FUZZ HEADS, with a special spot in my heart for my first completed, Shy Blue baby one. I just kept seeing fur scraps for sale, and I WANTED to do something with them. My first thought was to make bags/purses with them, but when my first bag of scraps came in I just stared at it and started envisioning toys. Then I went to my local GoodWill and found BAGS of potato head parts for sale... :) and the idea took off. My pride comes from the fact that NO ONE understood what I was doing when I first started hand sewing and attaching things (Figuring out how to attach parts was an adventure).. Then when they are finished and sewn up they look like big fuzzy messes. I have to brush them strategically and trim excess hair to give them 'personality'. After all the trial and error and work, getting an adorable outcome made my week.

(Inventive and adorable!!!! One of a kind toys, you’re sure to treasure!)

What advice do you have for other people who want to start or grow their Etsy shop?
Patience.. Patience.. Patience. Like all things worthwhile, it takes work. Unless you've magically stumbled on the 'IT' product of the century things will be slow at first. You'll have to spend money to make it, and promote the heck out of yourself.

Join teams and be ACTIVE... Having other people around the world view and fav your items exposes you to their circles, and so on. It's a ripple in the pond, but it works! (Go teams! I love you!) Also, consider BNR and BNS (Buy and replace and buy and stay) participation. Don't go so crazy you spend more than you make, but it's another great way to get yourself out there to the Etsy masses.

Editors tip: Also, I find that unless you see something you absolutely HAVE to have, if you buy supplies to get into a BNR/S then you come out on top in the end.

Thank you so much Jenn for sharing with us! I think a lot of us Etsians can relate to your story. Many of us are just old crafters whose creation have amassed to the point where we don’t have a storage space big enough to hold them all, lol! And several of us, myself included, are unable to work a “normal” job and Etsy helps pay the bills that don’t care that you are stuck in bed, lol!

Please visit The Homespun Hoard and browse their adorable and unique pieces!

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

Spotlight on... The Tiny Fig

2013-01-02T16:43:00.002-08:00

Todays featured artist makes jewelry, journals and tee-shirts that will make you smile, giggle and are sure to brighten your day! Cute, funny, colorful and inspired are just a few words to describe the work of Connie from The Tiny Fig.

Lions and monsters and toast, oh my! =D

The rainy cloud necklace is my favorite! Made from hand-crafted clay sealed in resin.

Lets hear from the brilliant designer herself:

Give us a short bio:
My name is Connie, I'm a self taught designer from Vancouver, BC. I sell online and do craft shows full time. Aside from that, I enjoy cooking and baking and all things cute. I love my gadgets. You'll usually find me attached to my phone, ipad or laptop. When I'm not illustrating or making products, I spend most of my days working on prototypes for my new collection called Sweet Figments.

What inspired you to start your business?
It started off as a hobby and just grew into something I loved to do so I stuck with it.

What inspires your creative process?
I live in a beautiful city with delicious food and wonderful things to do. Just the process of living life every day and people I meet inspires me.

What is your favorite thing you’ve made and why?
I'm not sure I could pick one favorite thing haha. I do love the response I get from these earrings though www.etsy.com/listing/62537707/french-toast-earrings-sterling-silver people just can't seem to get enough of them.
They giggle and laugh and crack up when they see them. It puts a huge smile on my face.

(It’s “french” toast! Get it, lol! Makes me happy!)

What advice do you have for other people who want to start or grow their Etsy shop?
There's no such thing as perfect. Keep working.

Thank you so much Connie for agreeing to share with us. I encourage all of you to visit The Tiny Fig on Etsy and I dare you not to find something to make your day or the day of a friend! Her products would make a fantastic gift for anyone young at heart!

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

Thanks for visiting my blog! Please visit all of these fabulous artisans and support people who desire to live their dreams!

New Year! I'm Back!

2013-01-02T16:23:00.004-08:00

Hello followers! I know, it's been a while. Health and family stuff has been taking precedent.
My sister got married!! I thought I'd share the picture of the wedding party!!

Was a beautiful wedding, great weekend!! I made the jewelry, very proud of how it all turned out!

So I'm back! I've got several spotlights to do, many beautiful shops to share, so lets get to it!! =D

Shopping for Charity - Hurricane Sandy Donations

2012-11-04T19:35:00.001-08:00

Today I got a message from Jaimie Ngo from KawaiiiDeco asking if I could share the following items that are for sale in her shop with 100% of profits going to the Red Cross with a total donation amount of $57 if all 4 items sell!!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/95282260/100-to-hurricane-sandy-mass-effect?ga_search_query=100%2525

http://www.etsy.com/listing/96363094/100-to-hurricane-sandy-3d-hello-kitty?ga_search_query=100%2525

http://www.etsy.com/listing/91056202/100-to-hurricane-sandy-game-watch-nail?ga_search_query=100%2525

http://www.etsy.com/listing/110472318/100-to-hurricane-sandy-chanel-nails?ga_search_query=100%2525

Beautiful items and a worthy cause! Thank you so much Jaimie for asking me to share this with my readers! I hope it helps! Be sure to check out KawaiiiDeco for these and other gorgeous items and don't forget to shop for the cause!! =)

Ultimate Animal Lovers Auction

2012-10-26T14:58:00.002-07:00

You are cordially invited to a community auction event The Ultimate Animal Lovers on Saturday, November 10 at 4pm CST on TopHatter. You'll get exclusive access to bid on and buy some of my most popular items not to mention some awesome items from a variety of awesome sellers!! See everything that's up for auction, submit your items and RSVP here:
http://tophatter.com/auctions/8497?campaign=community

Preview of some of the items I'll be auctioning!

Handmade Spark - Promote Your Shop For Free

2012-10-26T01:41:00.001-07:00

Handmade Spark
Great site! Check it out! =)

Spotlight On Under The Root

2012-10-14T13:56:00.002-07:00

Today I am very excited to share with you an amazing shop called Under The Root! Beautiful handmade clothes, under garments that make me think of a woodland faerie! If I were a wood sprite this is exactly what I would wear every day!! Please enjoy this wonderful interview from a wonderful lady!

About the Artist:

My name is Jennifer M Brown and I am the designer and maker of things for Under The Root. Each design and the entire process utilizes upcycled, reclaimed, sustainable, and many times vintage materials. This seems to be the most natural foundation for us in the construction of loungerie, lingerie and boudoir accessories. My wish is for people to whirl around in their days and nights, storytelling their own fables and becoming their own stories.. where the playful, demure and even the most modest bodies are awake. Our name comes from a juvenile fiction trilogy by Zilpha Keatley Snyder and has grown to have meaning in many facets of the works here with the intimate apparel.

What inspired you to start your business?

While sitting among friends and drinking licorice tea, I made a decision to take all my scribbles of thoughts, desire to turn my life around, designs of underthings, and treasure troves of findings from out of the bird nest. Also vital, my will to put cards on the table toward a sincere contribution to satisfying human desire in a conscious, wakeful manner. I began with a black lacquer Singer and the support of many, many loves around me at the time. The closer each design came to its end, the closer I had grown to the root of what came before me.

What inspires your creative process?

It seems the process, itself, is a continuous inspiration every step of the way. I think some of the most valuable kicks in the behind begin with human connection, freedom of expression in our cultures around the world,
passionate individuals to share love with all its many shapes and sizes, and the understanding that we are here for only a blink. When the sun is bright, it is blinding and borderline overwhelming to the process. When the moon drifts to dark, it is scary sometimes but always welcomed by an undertow of its presents.

What is your favorite thing you’ve made and why?

Thank you for asking and if there was a top of the heap design or piece, I will have shared it here with you. It is possible to have a deep connection with every single design and damn near every piece made in the studio, each for different reasons. I will say that there are 4 pieces, in the beginning, which were quite unique to wear because they were made without elastic or stretch fabric. It was a secret, but now seems alright to share, that I truly had no idea how to create undergarments in the beginning. I was a novice seamstress and simply did not have the skills required to fasten together all the elements for undergear. That was almost 13 years ago now and I still have the 4 pieces to remind me of this journey.

What advice do you have for other people who want to start or grow their Etsy shop?

There is a yin and yang with every step. The rewards in each decision feed the growth of further ones, so make a decision and do not waste time. Many times I have been thwarted by unseen obstacles which then have led me to challenges in the mastering of my dreams. Marketing and promotion begins with knowledge of the niche for your works. After an initial leap into your industry, my best advice is to remain true to your work and have a balance within your personal versus business life. Do what you say, follow through, and be sure to be the best at what you do.

Under The Root now has a quarterly newsletter where I share the undergrowth of new collections, a tinge of elven lore, and coupon codes for discount with the purchases. You can sign up with the newsletter inside this link: http://eepurl.com/5g9Y
We are on facebook for more immediate connection here:https://www.facebook.com/UnderTheRootLoungerieandBoudoirAccessories
The website is loaded with news, lookbooks and contact:http://www.undertheroot.com

I hope you enjoyed this wonderful shop and will go check it out!

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

These are my absolute favorites!!

Spotlight on Kawaiiideco

2012-10-08T11:49:00.005-07:00

In an effort of not being selfish and inviting in the good karma I share with you Kawaiiideco. I say this because once you see her hand-painted acrylic nails you will understand why I would want to keep her a closely guarded secret, lol!

Lets meet Jaimie Ngo of Kawaiiideco!

These are my absolute favorites!!

Let’s hear from Jaimie:

Kawaiiideco is all about cute & quirky decorations that describe my own personality! Growing up I always had a passion for for art… I loved the feeling of letting my creativity run wild. A couple years ago I ran across Etsy & I had so much admiration for people on there… to come across a group of people so much creativity boggled my mind! From then on, I decided I wanted to be a part of that… I wanted to push my creativity further & be just like them. It’s the people on Etsy who had inspired me to push the envelope of my own creativity; I wanted to be a part of that world.

I don’t consider Etsy to my ‘business’ though, to me it’s a place where I can share all the things I love with other people, it’s a hobby. I often find myself spending 6+ hours sometimes creating this crazy nail set, but I don’t mind because I truly love it. LOVE is essential to my creative process. I also think I have a tad of OCD because everything has to be perfect & the TLC I put into it is tremendous (that’s probably why it takes so darn long haha).

(I bet these had to have taken at least that long! Crazy awesome detail!)

I would have to say that my favorite item that I’ve created is my anatomically correct heart pendant; it’s actually the item that started it all. My first polymer creation was actually made while I was at home studying for my anatomy test! I was learning about the heart & I had my anatomy book open… next thing I knew I had this little heart polymer heart sitting in front of me & I was studying off of it & memorizing the parts on it for my test haha.

(That’s actually really good advice for anyone taking anatomy!)

The advice I would give to anyone who wants to start an Etsy is… just do it(: creating your Etsy is the first step. Make sure you love what you’re doing & give really good customer service! I feel that it’s important to create a connection with the people who purchase my items. Since Etsy items are handmade, you want the person purchasing to know that the item you’re creating is in good hands. If the item is a ‘custom’, you want to include them in the creation process as much as possible, it gives them a piece of mind that everything is turning out alright & that you really put some TLC into that creation(:

Thanks so much for sharing with us Jaimie!! It’s been such a pleasure getting to know you and hear about your creative process! The love, the fun and your OCD tendencies definitely show in your work!

Please visit Kawaiiideco to see more of Jaimies incredible creations or to request your own set of Superhero nails!

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

If you ask nicely she might even make you an Alliance cell phone charm! ;)

Spotlight On Rich Neeley Designs

2012-09-30T19:40:00.002-07:00

Today we turn the spotlight on a piece of technology turned into a statement piece that sure to make your friends jealous! If you’re like me, you don’t like the uniformity and the artlessness of the cell phone charger. I hate things that are blasé, I’m a creative gal and I like for my possessions to be as fun and creative as I try to be.

Today we meet Rich Neeley, a man who has taken one of the things I love most, books, and turned them into IPhone and IPad chargers! New and vintage, classics and recently popular, bright and simple. Whatever your looking for there’s a book charger for you!

Wonderful gift for the bibliophile in your life! I’d flip my lid if I got one of these as a present!

But enough of my ramblings and hinting to my family what I want for Christmas... ;)

I want to Hobbit one so bad! It’s my favorite book of all time! But I love these other as well! Winnie the Pooh is always a favorite!

I love this one! The dinosaur is eating the phone, hee hee!)

Lets hear from the creator of these incredible creations:

I'm Rich Neeley, I live in Southern CA, and I run my Etsy shop full time as of last year. I've been blessed to be able to get my product out there, and making the decision to move to this shop full-time was not easy, but pretty rewarding.

(I grew up with The Wind in the Willows, makes my heart smile!)

Our wedding inspired me to start this business, as my wife had used books from our wedding decoration (I'll admit I am not the bibliophile, that's definitely her) and I wanted to get involved with her crafting and make something for fun. The booksi™ idea came to life, and now I make all sorts of docks from vintage and new books.

(Yes, he did!) =D

We find books that are in odd places, and the books themselves inspire my creative process. I find books in used stores, thrift stores, library discard bins, craigslist, yard sales, etc, etc. Anywhere a book is no longer wanted or needed! I'm also constantly trying to come up with a better way to hide the dock, something else to build from books, how to add speakers - with the few minutes I have not spent building orders. :) I've thought of a lot of things, but just haven't had the time to flush them out - YET!

-I don't have a favorite, but my favorite author is Hemingway, so this vintage dock was one of my favorites. I also loved this iPad dock, it was our very first iPad dock ever built!

My current favorite up in the shop is this one, made with vintage music instruction books for youth and children. It's crazy to think how many music students owned them and practiced with them.

My advice for people who want to build their Etsy shop is to have great photos, which is all the customer has to go on before purchasing. You can take your own (I do), but make sure they are well-cropped and well-lit.

The other huge thing is: customer service!! If someone sends you a convo, send back a professional friendly response as soon as possible!

Thanks so much Rich for giving us a look at the man who creates these gorgeous and functional pieces! Please visit his shop and see all of the wonderful repurposed books, you’re sure to find one you love!

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

Making Lemonade

2012-09-29T18:18:00.000-07:00

So my last shipment of glass covers for my photo pendants were all badly damaged. Cracks, chips, scuffs, basically unusable for their originally intended purpose. They refunded me my money (excluding shipping, which was the expensive part) but I didn't want to throw them out. I hate to waste. So I decided to break them more! Here's a what I wound up with

Would love to hear what you all think! I'm pretty jazzed about it!

Congratulations To Our Blog Giveaway Winner!!

2012-09-24T11:16:00.001-07:00

Congrats to Brooke on winning the wire swirl bracelet in the colors of her choosing!

Thank you so much for your entries everyone, I really appreciate your wonderful support and participation!

Spotlight on Kitty Kitty Crafts

2012-09-23T20:30:00.001-07:00

We have today, another small business on Etsy that definitely needs some love! Karissa Jo Kloss is a bit of a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to sewing! From making her own clothes to make the most adorable stuffed hippos (which are kind of a big thing for me, I LOVE hippos!). In hopes of getting her some more exposure and hopefully help her happy hippos find good homes I asked her to share a little bit about herself and her shop with me so I could share it with you! (We cat people have to stick together, you know! *wink*)

I would like to introduce you to:

As you can see, Karissa is not afraid to use a lot of color, which is what I LOVE to see!

Here’s a little bit about the beautiful artist herself!

Bio:

“I moved to Boston 9 years ago for grad school, and have stayed ever since! By day I work for an independent publishing house, printing books, and by night I'm usually hand-stitching my Dear Jane quilt, a Civil War–replica I've been working on for years. On the weekends I'm glued to Gloria, my sewing machine, working on quilts, dresses, and softies! I definitely keep busy! I sew a lot of different things, but softies are definitely my favorite; getting to sew them always feels like a treat.”

(I was thrilled to learn I wasn’t the only one who had named my sewing machine.. I love my Daisy!)

What inspired you to start your business and what inspires your creative process?

“I was inspired to start my business because people had been telling me to do so for years, but I finally felt equipped to branch out on my own. I had mainly been holding back because all of the crafts I were making were based on others' patterns. Then I decided to draft my own plush hippo, and things just took off from there! I took a class on selling online (Etsy 101, if you will), then did all the paperwork to become a legit business. It was definitely a LOT of work, but well worth it!”

“As far as my creative process, it really varies. I usually have more ideas and things that I want to make than time to actually make them! For softies, I'll get an idea in my head, and then spend a lot of time thinking about how to actually put the pieces together before I even start sketching. I'm very process-oriented, and I tend to let my subconscious work through things first.”

What would you say is your favorite item?

“Isn't the most recent thing we've made always a crafter's favorite? I'm loving sewing my own clothes (www.flickr.com/photos/karissajo/sets/72157604503488670/), mainly because I find it empowering and, frankly, a little selfish. Most of my crafting is for gifts or my shop, so it's nice to make something I get to keep myself! As for softies, I'm still super proud of my hippos, my very first original pattern, and so seeing a pile of them (www.flickr.com/photos/karissajo/6122023793/in/set-72157604507915239/) always makes me smile! :) “

(They make me smile too! I LOVE hippos! I typed in a search for hippos on Etsy and found these!)

“As for starting or growing one's own business on Etsy, I'm afraid I don't have a lot of advice. In fact, I could definitely benefit from some! There are a lot of books out there on selling handmade and selling online, so I'd definitely recommend those resources to start. I've found that it can be a bit overwhelming, so making checklists and addressing tasks one at a time definitely helped me get through all the setup work. I definitely have a lot more to do, and learn, marketing-wise, so I'll be interested to see what kind of advice your other interviewees have to offer!”

That’s what we’re here for girl! It’s why I post these, helping each other is the key to success! Thanks so much for playing along with me (I consider blogging playing, lol!)

Be sure to visit Kitty Kitty Crafts on Etsy and check out more of her fabulous hippos, like my favorite below! I hope you enjoyed getting to know Karissa! Have a blessed day!

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

Courtney~*

Quick and Simple DIY for Keeping Your Boots

2012-09-21T07:55:00.001-07:00

I love boots and have a lot of them! My mom told me about this great thing she found somewhere on the internet, she couldn't remember where. But I love it so I'm going to share it with all of you! =D

First take a simple pool noodle cut it to the length of your boots, stick it in and voila! It stands up and keeps your closet nice and organized! =)

Spotlight on Sharon Mooradian Designs

2012-09-19T07:57:00.003-07:00

For all of you fellow creative types who love to decorate your home with pieces as colorful as your souls, have a got a shop for you! =)

From big pieces to the small every item in Sharon Mooradians’ shop is sure to make your other furniture jealous! Beautiful blues and pinks, oranges and purples everywhere! Hand-painted pieces and mosaics. Beautiful upcycled pieces to brighten your home.

No need to guild this lilly, it’s beautiful enough on its own. =)

ABOUT THE ARTIST

My path to becoming a decorative painter was a wiggly piggly road which I could only travel on at night, when I came home from a high pressure 9-5 office job. After cooking and cleaning up from dinner I could escape to my workroom. When there is love and passion about what you do, the energy is always there and so you take whatever time there is to do what makes you feel alive. When I couldn’t be painting a piece of furniture, I would be planning, designing and dreaming about it so there would be no wasted time sitting in front of a piece and wondering where to begin. Slowly but surely I created a few pieces and approached a local gallery that was willing to accept my work on a commission basis. That was fourteen years ago, the beginning of my wiggly piggly road where Sharon Mooradian Designs started. It’s a nice little road and hope to keep moving along this path, enjoying the trip and seeing how far I can go.

MY CREATIVE PROCESS

When I find a great piece of furniture or old frame, I sand, prep and base coat it. It’s what I call the “getting to know you stage”. While base coating all the nooks and crannies and curves, I get to know the piece very intimately! Then something I see in my daily travels will appeal to me – a piece of fabric, a color chip at Home Depot, flowers, dragon flies, music – it can be anything. Sometimes it’s looking through my kaleidoscope where I can see a myriad of luscious color combinations that I would never dream of putting together! Instead of counting sheep at night, I put myself to sleep imagining how the piece could look – visualize the colors and then the next morning, the fun work begins.

I really enjoy transforming an unloved piece of furniture. It’s very magical to me. The added bonus is when someone connects with the piece and loves it so much they want to take it home.

ADVICE FOR OTHER ARTISTS

My business advice is to go through every door that opens for you because you never know where it will take you. And yes, sometimes you have to knock on those doors to make them open. No one likes rejection, especially creative people. Just keep moving on to the next door. Never force anything, if it is supposed to happen, it will happen. My creative advice is to keep your eyes open - ideas are all around us, all of the time, pay attention and you will see them.

FAVORITE PIECE:

The Blue Willow Plate and Teacup Table is one of my favorite pieces. The table comes from fond memories of my grandmother. It’s a combination of faux painting and decoupage. The inspiration came from seeing blue willow china in an antique shop which reminded me of her. A few weeks later, I saw the same pattern in a magazine, beautifully photographed, like a gift. The proverbial light bulb went off in my head and the table was created.

(My favorite piece too!)

THE END!

Well, she said it! =)

You can visit her shop, here:

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

SharonMdesigns.craftlaunch.com

(Closer pic of that GORGEOUS table)

I Hearts My Kitties

2012-09-18T03:12:00.001-07:00

They look like a heart, don't they! Had to share!! =)

I'm planning on getting them Halloween costumes this year but I can't decide which one! Check out the treasury I made of some of my favorite kitty costumes on Etsy, can you guys check it out and give me your opinion? =D

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTgxMjIyOTh8MjcyMzMxNjg1Ng/halloween-cat-costumes?ref=pr_treasury

Thanks you!! =)

Spotlight on Delicious HoBo

2012-09-16T20:15:00.003-07:00

Today I turn the spotlight onto an incredibly creative jewelry artist whose work I find incredibly inspiring! It is truly one of a kind! Handmade from clay and chain each piece is a work of art worthy of being hung in a gallery.

But pictures are worth 1,000 words so no more from me, I give you:

(Don’t you just LOVE that name?!)

These are my absolute favorites! I want the sloth, he makes me smile!!

Short Bio:
I am a 25 year old who lives in a tiny apartment with my boyfriend of 9 years, Scott, and my very stinky dog, Rosie. There's no room for a studio, much less a dining room table, so every nook has become a storage compartment and every surface a workspace. Thankfully, I am completely addicted to crafting and can clay around anywhere!

What Inspired You to Start Your Business?

Unfortunately, there wasn't an epic moment when I realized I should do this for a living. It was more like I was poor and loved new accessories, so I decided to try my hand at sculpting. Once I started wearing my pieces out, people seemed to respond positively, so I decided that I should try opening a shop.

What Inspires Your Creative Process?

I definitely draw my inspiration from nature. I love to hike. I consider any excursion accomplished when I see an adorable animal or an awesome bird. It was only natural that my pieces would be filled with all sorts of creatures.

What is Your Favorite Thing You’ve Made and Why?

I suppose it would have to be the “Birds and the Tree Necklace”. My boyfriend's mother always used to say we were “twitterpated” when we first started dating, and this necklace reminds me of that. (Awww....!!)

www.etsy.com/listing/74297838/birds-and-the-tree-necklace-hand

What Advice Do You Have For Other People Who Want to Start or Grow Their Etsy Shop? It seems cliché, but I have to say it... Don't give up! There will always be times when you're stressed out or having a low week, but it's totally worth it if you love what you're doing.

Thank you so much for sharing! To see more unique and incredible pieces like these be sure to visit the Delicious Hobo on Etsy!

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

Men & Women

2012-09-07T11:25:00.000-07:00

“ In pop culture, girls who crush hopelessly on guys they can’t have are painted as just that – hopeless. Over and over again, we’re taught that girls who openly express sexual or romantic interest in guys who don’t want them are pitiable, stalkerish, desperate, crazy bitches. More often than not, they’re also portrayed as ugly – whether physically, emotionally or both – in order to further establish their undesirability as an objective fact. Both narratively and, as a consequence, in real life, men are given free reign to snub, abuse, mislead and talk down to such women: we’re raised to believe that female desire is unseemly, so that any consequent shaming is therefore deserved. There is no female-equivalent Friend Zone terminology because, in the language of our culture, a man’s romantic choices are considered sacrosanct and inviolable. If a girl has been told no, then she has only herself to blame for anything that happens next – but if a woman says no, then she must not really mean it. Or, if she does, she shouldn’t: the rejected man is a universally sympathetic figure, and everyone from moviegoers to platonic onlookers will scream at her to just give him a chance, as though her rejection must always be unfounded rather than based on the fact that he had a chance, and blew it. And even then, give him another one! The pathos of Single Nice Guys can only be eased by pity-sex with unwilling women that blossoms into romance!

— Lamenting the Friendzone, or: The Nice Guy Approach to Perpetuating Sexist

This is so true. I couldn't have put it better myself! Ever since I first learned about boys it was basically burned into my brain that women with a sex drive are whores and should be ashamed but men are programed that way so it's perfectly normal and they shouldn't be demonized for it. I just thought I'd share this.