Window by the Sea

Where did I go?!?

2012-07-09T10:37:00.000-07:00

I am flattered by the emails I have recently received from my Etsy friends. Where have you been? Why aren't you doing any featured posts? Are you alive?

To answer your questions, yes I am alive. (But just barely)

I have been busy with my philanthropic efforts at my local animal shelter as well as getting ready for my upcoming move. Because of these two major time commitments, I haven't been blogging or featuring or even crafting for that matter. But I am still alive!

What is new and exciting?!? Well, first I started an amazing committee of volunteers to help with our 17th Annual Wag N' Walk. I am really looking forward to a successful event! Despite having tons more help than last year, its still a large time commitment. I won't actually be here for the day of the event (hence the moving part) so I have to get all my ducks in a row now.

My garage or "work station" has turned into a storage room. Yes I still have chalk boards, but everything that I have is made.... no more custom orders for this girl! (I am a little disappointed in myself just typing it... but there isn't enough time for it all!) On a brighter side for my customers, because I REALLY need the room, I have lowered my prices for a quick sale. Check them out!

I have also been pinteresting like crazy. My cousin is getting married next May and I won't be around the help her with all that fun planning stuff. So I have been doing what I can, wedding dress shopping, bridesmaid dress shopping etc. It's been a whole lot more fun that I anticipated. Partly because it's a nice excuse to spend some time with my family before I take off.

And finally, I have been busy designing my new blog! WHAT!?! Yep, that's right... something new and exciting for these next few months in my life. It is still really rough, but check it out. Let me know what you think, and any changes I should make!

I'll do my best to keep up my craft while I am on the move. And I will even try and fit a few more blog posts in before I go. Until then, I promise I am still alive and I do want to continue to hear from you! If you would like to be featured, well... honestly I have no time for that. HOWEVER, I would be happy to post any guest blogs if anyone is feeling adventurous!

Wedding Season with Petal Gem

2012-06-07T08:23:00.000-07:00

I never paid much attention to this so called "wedding season". Probably because it never directly affected me. I haven't attended many weddings in my 25 years of life.

And then 2012 happened and it feels that everyone I know is getting married. It is so fun to hear all the different plans -from backyard to courtyard, wedding planners must be busy!

There are many Etsy stores who sell wedding related items. Myself included. However, it isn't every day that a Etsy seller can say she gets her inspiration from planning her own upcoming wedding.

Meet Mandy from Petal Gem! Congratulations on your engagement Mandy and I wish you lots of happiness for your future!

Where are you from?

Hi my name is Mandy and my shop on Etsy is called PetalGem. I’m from Peace River Alberta. I enjoy creating, especially for weddings and I’m actually getting married this summer! In my Etsy shop I sell silk wedding flowers, brooch wedding bouquets and vintage jewelry.

When did you first discover Etsy?

I found out about Etsy a couple years ago from a friend who was telling me about all the neat items you could find. I decided to start a shop after making my own silk flower bouquets and it gradually evolved from that.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

My day job is working with children. In my spare time I enjoy being outdoors, camping, movies and walking my puppy.

Is Etsy your full time or part time business?

This is a part time business. My ambitions would be that in a few years if I have children that I could have an income from my shop so that I could work from home and be with my kids.

What other avenues, if any do you share your work with the world?

facebook page: www.facebook.com/PetalGem

What steps do you take in your creative process?

I usually have a bit of a plan when I go to make something, sometimes it changes partway through!

What is your favorite item in your shop and why?

My favorite item in my shop is my pearl and rhinestone brooch teardrop bouquet. I like the shape of it and the brooches all look very pretty together.

Where does your inspiration come from?

My inspiration comes from the materials I have, flowers or brooches and putting them together as a finished product. I try to create something that I would love if it were for my own wedding.

What is your favorite part of being a part of the Etsy community?

The diversity, there’s so many creative people, I love browsing and finding something unique.

Who or what has been most influential in being where you are today?

My family and my finance are very important to me and have played a big part in my life!

When did you know you were an artist/maker?

Just recently but I’ve always enjoyed art classes and crafts since I was young.

How do you get out of your creative ruts?

Sometimes I will take a break from creating and do something else, then come back later and try it again.

Where would you like to be in ten years?

I’d like to own my first home, be happily married with two children. I’d like my shop to be bringing in a decent income if I’m lucky!

If you could share one tip with a new Etsy seller, what is the most important thing to learn and why?

It’s important to have good photos and descriptions of your products. Something I’m still working on although I’ve improved since I first started.

Favorite recipe?

Honey Curry Chicken

Monday Meets: Mandys Charms!

2012-06-04T08:38:00.000-07:00

I love Etsy.

No big surprise there. I buy and sell mostly from Etsy and I wouldn't have it any other way. This morning I came across one more reason why being a part of the Etsy community truly is the best.

Meet my new friend Amanda from MandysCharms. Not only is she from England (I love meeting fellow Etsian from different countries) but she is a young entrepreneur who creates some fantastic jewelry. Check out her story:

What makes you unique?

Hi, I'm Amanda and I'm based in Milton Keynes, in England :) I make cute and quirky jewelry ranging from clay charm jewelry, to potion necklaces and leather wrap bracelets. I fell in love with crafting when I was young, and have been making ever since! I think that my shop is a burst of fun color, and that makes it unique.

When did you first discover Etsy?

I first started on Etsy after hearing about it from a friend in passing. Before I'd never really thought about selling my jewelry online; I would just stick to family and friends. I looked around Etsy and thought,"Hey, if these people can do it, so can I!" So that was how my interest in Etsy was sparked.

I opened shop to sell the things I make, so that I can make more! I'm always trying out new ideas, and Etsy is a great way to support new ventures. I've been interested recently in trying out metal stamping to make jewelry for my family.

Is Etsy your full time or part time business?

Etsy is a part-time business as I haven't come far enough to make it into something bigger. I do hope to one day to own a successful shop to be very proud of, and I hope that my work will inspire others to take up crafting or sell online!

Where does your inspiration come from?

I'm very inspired by color, and different color palettes and shades. I could browse colour palettes all day if I could! Sometimes I see a color scheme I adore, and take inspiration from it, for example my peacock themed leather wrap bracelet!

What is your favorite item in your shop and why?

Oh, I really like my creations and it's hard to choose, but I love this honey jar necklace. I just love the idea!

What is your favorite part of being a part of the Etsy community?

My favorite part of being in the Etsy community is the friendly atmosphere and support in the forums, teams and more! No one is looked down upon for being new or for not knowing much about Etsy. Everyone helps each other to the best of their ability, and there isn't a sort of 'Pecking order' among members.

Who or what has been most influential in being where you are today?

Hm....I think that all the wonderful sellers on Etsy have inspired me to be here, with supportive comments, help and inspiration. Without them, I may have given up long ago!

When did you know you were an artist/maker?

When I started out selling to friends, and started receiving compliments and people telling me that I should sell more- It gave me a huge confidence boost for people to tell me that they would buy my items.

Where would you like to be in ten years?

I would love to still be making and selling, as this is what I enjoy most.

If you could share one tip with a new Etsy seller, what is the most important thing to learn and why?

Don't be afraid to ask questions! There is no such thing as a 'stupid question'. Don't feel nervous asking for help or support on the forums or teams, everyone as to start out somewhere and there is a steep learning curve.

Accept criticism and learn from it, stay optimistic, learn a little more every day and have fun!

Fabulous Friday with Meadowland Designs

2012-06-01T09:25:00.001-07:00

I have to admit, I have been on a bit of a spending spree recently. Booking flights here, committing to long (and expensive) weekends. Its been all about fun recently and there is more fun to be had! I just hope my pocket book doesn't dry up before the end of summer.

(hint hint Etsy store... start rockin and rollin!) Ok, I guess I am the one that needs a kick in the butt, not Etsy..... whatever

Anyways, with all the fun to be had, I am searching for all the best deals because I simply can't spend enough!

When I met Catherine from Meadowland Designs, and saw all her fabulous jewelry, I knew that I could look stellar at all my upcoming functions without spending the last bit of my pathetic savings.

Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m Catherine and I create just outside of the Kansas City Metro Area. I make unique jewelry that usually is very feminine and sweet although some of my designs come out on the whimsical and fun side.

When did you first discover etsy?

Truth be told, I can’t positively say how I found Etsy. I think that it was either in a book or possibly a link to someone’s shop on Etsy. I wanted to sell on Etsy because it has lots of viewers {even though jewelry is saturated with sellers} and is simple and easy to use.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I am a college student who loves to be making things whether it’s singing and piano playing, knitting, cooking or just a mess! Oh, and books & chocolate go great together!

What other avenues, if any do you share your work with the world?

Aside from selling at the occasional craft /art show and by word of mouth in my area, Etsy is the only place I can be found online.

What steps do you take in your creative process?

My designs come in several different ways:
Sometimes I start with a handful beads or a certain technique and go from there I’ve been doing more adventurous combinations by using a color scheme or colors taken from one of my photographs. Others are planned out before I even have all the materials on hand and then I make any necessary changes along the way.

What is your favorite item in your shop?

Frost Flower in Blue would have to be my favorite. I love the wirework flower, it’s just so simple & sweet!

Where does your inspiration come from?

Often the materials themselves start a design idea, color schemes from pictures or fabric and I do designs based on a particular friend or relative’s style.

Who or what has been most influential in being where you are today?

My family and a close friend have been so helpful with giving me feedback and tips on whatever I’m been experimenting with lately.

Who is your most influential Etsian?

I would say Kelly of LilStuff. She doesn’t sell jewelry, but is a friend of mine who had been on Etsy for awhile & has been a great help with questions and lots of encouragement.

How do you get out of your creative ruts?

I don’t have them very often, when it does happen I go do something else like play the piano, read or go for a walk. My brain continues to work on the problem and usually I have a couple possible solutions by that time.

If you could share one tip with a new Etsy seller, what is the most important thing to learn and why?

Do your absolute best in all the parts of selling, from making your product to getting it out there. Learn how to manage all the technical parts of the Etsy system {like good photography, writing and customer service} or else find excellent help for those areas. Join a team! Having people to bounce ideas off of and ask for input {bias free} is great.

Everyone who signs up for my monthly email newsletter gets 15% off in my Etsy Shop: Send me an email asking to be signed up! MeadowlandDesigns@yahoo.com

Fantastic Friday: Ang's Devin Designs

2012-05-25T10:49:00.000-07:00

I seem to have lost my brain today. First, I get lost on my way to work (yes, that happened to me) and THEN... I forget it's Friday!

What is going on with me today?

Thanks to Angie from Ang's Devin Products, I won't be going in to work tomorrow. (Can you imagine showing up to work on your day off... talk about awful!?!)

Tell us about yourself

I am from Indianapolis, IN. I work full time as a program coordinator for a cell phone supply chain solutions company, but my passion is to create jewelry! I would love to be able to some day just be my own boss.

When did you discover Etsy?

I first discovered Etsy from a lady I worked with a couple of years ago. She said it was all the rage. I was already making jewelry and looking for a place to sell, other than setting a board at my work.

What do you do besides Etsy?

I love spending time with my family and walking trails. My daughter and I also love to play Just Dance on the Wii and Sing It.

Where can we find you?

I am also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AngsDivineDesigns and Pinterest:pinterest.com/AngDivineDesign/

Where does your creativity come from?

My creativeness usually comes to me once I have relaxed my mind and body and even after meditation. I love when ideas strike me, that's when I am most productive. Since I have so much in my shop already, when I create now I try to just stick with the ideas I have at the time or special requests I have to fulfill.

Favorite item in your store?

This is one of my favorite pieces. It took a very long time to make, but I love how it turned out!

Favorite part of Etsy?

I love to see all the diversity here on Etsy! I love to see other artists' jewelry and I love fantasy art as well! One of my favorite shops on Etsy is CandyBead, I love her work! I also love Stangeling

When did you first start creating?

These are my favs!

started making earrings several years ago when I found out that my daughter could not wear anything that was not nickel free. Any time metal is in contact with her skin, she'll break out in a rash and itch. At the time she wanted to start wearing jewelry we couldn't really find much she could wear; so I started making earrings for her with nickel free hooks. When I started making jewelry I knew I found my creative outlet! I loved it! I started showing people I worked with what I had made and started getting requests. I have enjoyed it ever since.

Favorite Recipe?

Ranch Chicken Fettuccine from Hidden Valley Ranch

Welcome Wednesday: Don't Panic Design

2012-05-23T10:29:00.002-07:00

In college I took a desktop publishing class and loved it! I spent countless hours in front of a computer screen designing anything from business cards to brochures to wedding invitations. I can't tell you just how many headaches I had sitting in front of that computer screen.

The headaches alone are the reason I didn't pursue a career in graphic design.... only kidding. I didn't pursue a career in graphic design because I am nowhere near as talented as Amy at Don't Panic Design.

I love Amy's design style; simple, crisp, bright and bold. A girl after my own heart... and she is self taught too!

Tell us a bit about yourself

I am a word loving, Montana loving, self taught designer with a minimalist sensibility. I love MT, and that informs both my personality and my style. I also love to travel; I have been to 13 states and 30 countries. I love nature walking and garage-sales and get a lot of ideas from both those activities.

When did you first discover etsy?

After setting up cards, programs, and wedding invitations for years, my sister told me about etsy and said I should try it out. I put my site up and sold an invitation the first day. It's been slowly building since then and very fun, and I continue to learn everyday.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I love to read, recycle, walk, eat, cook, knit, paint (walls), spray paint old stuff to make it like new again, build (walls) and use power tools, and sew. I love making my own stuff, and I am always trying to find ways to reduce waste and make my own things. I like to feel helpful and strive to help those in my life in small ways everyday.

Is Etsy your full time or part time business?

My Etsy shop is my part time job that I spend full time working. Since I opened I have averaged one sale a week, and my current ambition is to get to one sale a day. I have a long way to go, but I love what I do so much, I'll keep trying until I get there!

What other avenues, if any do you share your work with the world?

I only sell on Etsy.com but I do have a blog. I post new listings there, feature other etsians of all kinds, and talk about DIY design and print, and a few other things like my constant attempts to become more green.

What steps do you take in your creative process?

It's a nerve wracking process, but it requires trust of self and communication with customer through proofing. It's fun to see what you started with become just the thing someone didn't know they wanted.

What is your favorite part of being a part of the Etsy community?

I love the handmade community and the focus on real people doing and creating what they love. I am also a buyer and two this year's birthday presents came off of my favorites list, which was awesome!

How do you get out of your creative ruts?

Take a break. Do something else, think about something else, look around, and pay attention. One of my most recent designs was inspired by an ad I saw on the side of a van while I was driving to the bank.

Where would you like to be in ten years?

Living in the south of France and doing invitation design full time.

If you could share one tip with a new Etsy seller, what is the most important thing to learn and why?

To read as much as you can and take one thing from each article. Use your community, ask for help, and seek support. If you don't find it right away, keep looking. It's out there.

Favorite recipe

I love to cook, and while I enjoy reading cook books, I don't usually cook with a recipe. I read them for ideas and use what I have or what I can easily get. So, my favorite recipe is for deodorant: 2 tablespoons baking soda, 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 2 tablespoons coconut oil, and 2 tablespoons shea butter. Slowly heat them up and stir together. Once melted, add any essential oil for scent (some essential oils can cause sensitivities, so test it first). Transfer to a small wide mouthed jar. Stir well then refrigerate to firm it up. Remove and keep room temperature, it should be the consistency of a thick cream. It will melt as you use it.

Tuesday Treasury: Turn My Grey Skies Blue

2012-05-22T11:30:00.000-07:00

I'll admit.... I'm feelings slightly blue and very uninspired today.

Perhaps it's because I'm exhausted..... perhaps its because I haven't done any crafting in a while. Whatever the case may be, I'm just feeling a bit blue.

A treasury for today's grey skies.... (okay, in So Cal today its really hot and sunny... but you get the idea!)

Check out the full version Here

Fabulous Friday: We are Bound Together

2012-05-18T08:59:00.001-07:00

If you couldn't tell, I'll spell out the obvious.

I love to write.

I love putting my ideas on paper and seeing others reactions as they read my work. I think it has something to do with the fact that, when I am not writing, I am talking. No one can call me a silent person.

Often times, in the middle of a conversation, I get an idea for a blog post, a poem or a short story. Try as I might to focus on the person in front of me, my mind races onto the scene I am living in my head. It's in those times, I wish I had a notebook.

How can a writer not have a notebook? That's really a good question. Every time I go to purchase one, it just doesn't feel right. I leave a disappointed procrastinator.

That was until I met Andrea from We are Bound Together. Her leather bound and duct tape bound notebooks are beautiful and inspiring!

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Andrea Davis of “We Are Bound Together”. Ever since I was a small child I've been artsy. I loved doing any sort of craft. Then a few years ago I discovered bookbinding. At that time I was looking for an alternative to buying things made unethically. I discovered that bookbinding was something I could really get into. I make handbound books currently out of duct tape or leather, but soon to include fabric covers as well. I also make RFID blocking credit card sleeves covered with funky duct tape.

What is your Etsy store all about?
The purpose of my shop is to raise funds for persecuted Christians around the world. By persecuted, I mean people dying, or who's fathers/mother are in prison, etc. Bookbinding is my way to help out.

I first heard of Etsy a few years ago from a friend. I was told it was “dangerous” because there are so many neat things on it. I didn't open a store until just recently though, in February of this year, so I'm still starting out. We had been out of the country for a few years, but when we moved back (to Winnipeg, Canada) I was then given the chance to fulfil my dream of opening a store to support my charity.

Favorite item in your shop?

My favourite items in my shop are the diamond stitch, leather journals. I love working with leather in general. I like the soft leather and they way the books turn out. The diamond stitch gives the book a particularly pleasing look.

Apart from creating, what do you do?

Apart from bookbinding, I also occasionally paint, play the piano and write. I love gardening and watching things grow and baking delicious meals and treats. I guess it's like my craft, I enjoy anything that transforms into something beautiful.

Is Etsy full or part time?

It's hard to say if I work “full time” or “part time” at my Etsy business. I have severe endometriosis, which makes it impossible to get a job. So I am at home all the time. Right now bookbinding is the main thing that I do, but it doesn't really classify as full time – I'm too laid back right now – maybe half time. When I build up my tools and supplies then it will be easier to get into full time mode.

Where can we find you?

I promote my items and work processes on my blogwww.weareboundtogether.com. There I also focus on the organizations I support as well as a special spotlight on others who also support charities through various means.

You can find me at
www.weareboundtogether.etsy.com
www.weareboundtogether.com
www.facebook.com/pages/We-Are-Bound-Together/377723042240600

Tips for other Etsians?

For those of you wanting be open your own store on Etsy, I would recommend joining a team. Etsy teams are great, and they are a place to get useful advice. You can ask people your specific questions and they have a lot of helpful input from their own experience.

It is a lot of work setting up your own store. Etsy does make it a bit easier, since it is a common marketplace. You also can work at your own pace, which I really like. You never know what might happen unless you go for it, and that's what I'm doing!

Favorite Recipe?

My favourite recipe is kind of an interesting one. Several years ago, my husband and I discovered a lot of health issues cleared up when we stopped including wheat, dairy and refined sugar in our diets. So one of the first things I did was try to find how I could make myself some chocolate.

It's one of those recipes that you really need to taste as you go.

Over low heat, combine equal amounts of almond or peanut butter and coconut milk/cream (usually about 1/2 cup). When smooth add an equal ratio of cocoa powder. Add a splash of vanilla, tablespoon or so of coconut oil, and sweetener to taste. The amount of sweetener you use will depend on the type. My favourite choice is coconut sugar, or maple syrup. Honey tends to be too overwhelming for chocolate. Adjust the cocoa and sweetener to your liking. (I prefer dark chocolate).

Enjoy guilt free!

Welcome Wednesday: Piccolina Jewelry

2012-05-16T08:16:00.001-07:00

Sometimes, I just hate being a girl! (it's not like I want to be a boy.... I just want to complain, give me a second!)

Do you have find that when your on a "diet" you crave more sweets and fried foods than when your not working on loosing the lbs?

I am telling you, my self control gets really tested.

I am putting forth my best efforts to save some money for all the fun summer trips I would like to take this year. Should be easy enough, right?

GEEZE! I am terrible at all of this! Of course now that I am being conscious of my pocket book, I want EVERYTHING! I seriously convince myself that I need things that I clearly can live without.

When I met Lana Davis from Piccolina Jewelry, I knew I was doomed. How can any girl resist such cute jewelry?

Tell us a bit about yourself

I'm from Bothell, WA where I'm a stay at home mom. I create wire wrapped jewelry on the side as a form of relaxation. I also love jewelry, so that's a plus. I believe what makes me unique is that I always try to use colors that stand out. I like my jewelry to make a statement and hope that the person whose wearing it feels good.

When did you first discover etsy?

I had "mom" friends who were shopping on there quite often for their kids. I started giving my jewelry as gifts and my friends suggested that I opened up a shop.

What is your favorite item in your shop and why?

It would have to be the Gold Crystal Rivoli Earrings. I love to use mixed metal and for these earrings I twisted together silver plated wire and gold plated wire for the netting around the crystal.

Where does your inspiration come from?

I would have to say my daughter. She is at the age where her imagination is just booming! She reminds me to always be creative no matter what mood I'm in.

What is your favorite part of being a part of the Etsy community?

I'm just amazed at how supportive everyone in the Etsy community is.

Where can we find you?

Etsy page: www.etsy.com/shop/piccolinajewelry

Facebook: www.facebook.com/piccolinajewelry

Web page: www.piccolinajewelry.com

Favorite Recipe?

Lemon Fried Chicken

Now you've done it! I'm officially craving fried chicken too! What is a girl to do?!?

My Favorite items from Piccolina Jewelry

Love, love, love pink! (Can I be anymore girly!?!)

Monday Meets: I'm not feeling social today

2012-05-14T08:40:00.000-07:00

I have to be honest. I am a little burnt out on my features. It isn't because I don't enjoy them. I love to write, I love to meet new people, and I love to see what awesome stuff is on Etsy.

But sometimes, a girl just needs a break! So this is me, taking a break.

Besides, I have a weekend to share with you!

Remember the cupcakes I told you about? The ones I planned on making for my neighbor's 4-year-old daughter?

Cute and simple right? Shouldn't be too hard to make.... right? WRONG!

These "simple and cute" cupcakes were a huge pain in the butt! And of course, I wanted my cupcakes to look as adorable as possible.

I started this production on Wednesday night making 2 types of fondant. THANK GOD I did. One fondant I made was out of marshmallows. (Talk about a sticky mess!) The other fondant was out of all that really bad stuff... Crisco shortening and corn syrup.

After making each. I figured the corn syrup mixture would be the easiest to work with. After all, it was much easier to mix together and it was pink. Clearly my favorite choice.

On Thursday I did the ultimate test. I let Mia (the birthday girl) choose which fondant taste best. She liked them both. Of course she did. What was I thinking? She was turning 4 after all.

After searching the Internet, I finally found a cookie cutter shaped princess crown from Tin Works on Etsy. Larry from Tin Works was so great! I was worried I wouldn't get it in time. I asked if I could pay extra for expedited shipping. He assured me that my cookie cutter would get to me without delay. AND he was so right! 2 days later I received a package in the mail from South Carolina. Larry, your fantastic! And so was your cookie cutter!

See how cute the crown is standing up on the cupcake? Ya, that was look I was going for.

Let me tell you, this isn't easy. Perhaps if your a cake extraordinaire, but this was my first attempt at cupcake decorating. I think my expectations were a little higher than they should have been.

I stayed up until midnight on Friday making my cupcakes and praying I could get the fondant to stand, I only slept 5 short hours worrying about the outcome. Finally on Saturday I woke up with a new idea in mind, my cupcake design was going to have to change.

Pink fondant using corn syrup wasn't going to make the cake. Pun intended. I ended up using the marshmallow fondant.

I still think they came out pretty cute.

The theme of the party was princesses and pirates. In case you were wondering!

The cupcake toppers I used are from Below Blink. They did not disappoint! Super cute!

And I was so grateful I bought these, because I was not enjoying rolling out and cutting out fondant for hours!

Moral of the story: I won't be quitting my day job to start a cupcake decorating business. But I did enjoy it, and both kids and adults loved these. So, ultimately I was pretty proud of myself.

Fabulous Friday with Toy Box Flame of Silver

2012-05-11T08:50:00.000-07:00

Here is an embarrassing secret for you.

I had stuffed animals far into my teen years. No, no.... it really was embarrassing.

Oh, and I use to suck my thumb until I was at least 7. Wait, no I didn't want to tell you that.

I had stuffed animals in bed with me every night, until I met Ron who was a little disturbed by my horse ginger and Stitch (from Lilo and Stitch) taking up half the bed.

I love stuffed animals. Cuddly, cute, and always ready to show you some love. Being 25 years old now, I don't get away with having them as much as I would like. I do still have a stuffed horse or two around my room, but they are no longer invited on the bed. (The nerve! Sorry guys!)

When I met Korinne Wiese and her adorable stuffed creations, I secretly wished that stuffed animals were invited on my bed.

Coupon Code FEATURE for 20% off. US shipping on toys is included.

Tell us a bit about yourself

I live in Augusta, Wisconsin and I am a stay at home mom that knits and crochets to bribe myself to keep the houseclean. Clean for 10 minutes during the commercials (Thank you DVR!) and I can work on projects while my show is on!

When did you first discover Etsy?

I discover Etsy in 2008 when I was looking for an amigurumi tea set pattern. I wanted to make it for my daughter’s 2nd birthday.
Our family of 5 was living in my parents’ basement due to this wonderful economy and my husband’s company wasn’t paying well and there were literally no jobs in the community we were living in. Okay there was 3: a nursing job (I don’t have the requirements), a pyramid scam, and the topless bar. I wasn’t interested in any of them.
I had 2 totes full of yarn, a box of patterns, every size and type of knitting and crochet needle available to man (Thank you yard sales and Michael’s moving sale!), and our laptop. I figured I had all I needed to attempt to bring in extra cash to get us our own place.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I chase after our rather mischievous 2 year old girl and play with our older kids, 7 and 5. I love to be outside and walk and swim. I love baking, games, and reading.

Is Etsy your full time or part time business?

Etsy is more part time than full time. I do my internet stuff while the kids watch their shows and create while I watch mine. I would love to be full time as I would really love to keep busy when all 3 kids are in school, but ABSOLUTELY DETEST the idea of a part time job outside the house.

What other avenues, if any do you share your work with the world?

I have my Etsy shop and a lot of social media which are my main outlets. If I can get my inventory up, I would really love to do a couple of craft shows this fall and Christmas.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/CottageIndustries
Twitter: twitter.com/#!/flameofsilver
Blog: toyboxflameofsilver.blogspot.com/
Pinterest: pinterest.com/flamesilver/

What steps do you take in your creative process?

It is rather simple for me. I see a pattern and think “I want to make that!” or “That is the coolest yarn! What can I use that for?” Then I gather the supplies I want to do and sit in my corner of the couch and start right in!

What is your favorite item in your shop and why?

My favorite item is my Jemima Puddleduck. The basic pattern was fun and simple and then dressing her up was wonderful! I just love the softness of the yellow yarn on her body!

What is your favorite part of being a part of the Etsy
community?

I love how helpful the teams are and the only time you find negative comments are in threads that usually have a complaint in the title so you can easily steer away from them!

Who or what has been most influential in being where you are today?

At first I didn't have support, no discouragement, just no cheerleaders in the background. Then I made my first sale and my husband was very excited for me and would run through a check list with me on things that could possibly bring my customer back. After a few more sales, my mother in law is bringing me yarn that her mother never got around to using. She has also sent over a beautiful doll with a crochet dress that Grandma used to make and sell in hopes that I can copy it.

Who is your most influential Etsian?

The most influential Etsian for me is Michelle and Dave from EviesToolEmporium and the thread they are faithful about participating in Drive You Etsy Business. They are always encouraging and usually have the right questions to get my thinking.

When did you know you were an artist/maker?

I have been crocheting since I was 10 and taught myself how to knit about 4 years ago, but I didn't realize I was any good until I made an elephant for my nephew and my macho man brother :P told me that he didn't realize I was talented. I was just enjoying what I was doing and needed something to do with my hands while I was watching TV or movies.

How do you get out of your creative ruts?

Where would you like to be in ten years?

I am just starting out and would love to do this full time when the kids are all in school. I did it because I had to, but I never really liked working in a "real" job and having to wake up early or deciding if I really was "that sick" to call in and use a vacation day and all that nonsense. My Etsy shop I love to work on and I don’t mind spending time on, though I occasionally burn out on all the computer “chores”. I want our family to have our own house with enough room to have my own office/craft closet. Yes, I said closet. I like to create my projects in the same room as my family, but supplies need a better home than under foot.

If you could share one tip with a new Etsy seller, what is the most important thing to learn and why?
Always use all 5 picture slots. It was 1 of my first mistakes and I see it time and again when newbies ask for a shop critique.

Favorite Recipe?

My favorite recipe is Grandma’s Chicken Casserole

Welcome Wednesday: Hair Brained Boutique

2012-05-09T09:08:00.001-07:00

I did it again. I woke up late this morning and rushed out the front door to head to the gym, only to find out I got stood up by my workout partner!

Typical

On mornings like these I have to rush from my shortened workout (I'm not complaining about that!) to the shower, to work. Usually, my hair is the last thing on my mind as I sprint from shower to closet to car. I'm lucky if I get to my mascara before my carpool arrives.

I don't mind my thrown together look. Most days, customers don't actually see me but hear from me. The only plus of having a desk job with a phone tied to my ear is that I never have to look into a the eyes of a well put together client after a self inflicted rushed morning.

It sure would be nice, instead of avoiding the bathroom mirror on days like today to have something that gives me a little pizzazz. Simple, quick and cute. I am still a girl after all, I do like compliments!

And that is when I found Erin from Hair Brained Boutiques. You're on my page now aren't you? Perfect! I did have a point! ;)

Tell us a bit about yourself

I'm a stay at home mom with a wonderful, almost three year old daughter. I've always been crafty and really enjoy doing it. I live in Maryland with my daughter, husband and our two dogs. I'm the baby of seven kids and my daughter is the 20th grandchild!

When did you first discover Etsy?

I discovered Etsy a few years ago on the recommendation of a friend. I never bought anything but loved growing the unique items. I thought to myself - these people are so professional, I could never do that. Then I bought my daughter a headband at a craft fair and figured out that I could make them. I started working with fabric and beads and I made a few things for her. I got tons of compliments so I decided to try my hand at an Etsy shop. The community here has been my driving force to make my shop what it is.

Apart from creating, what do you do?

Apart from crafting I like to exercise, read, and play with my daughter. I love a good margarita on a warm summer night and the company of my family and friends.

Is Etsy part time or full time?

Etsy is a part-time thing for me, but I would love to make it full time. Right now I'm still learning, but one day I hope to be able to make a significant contribution to my family income with my Etsy shop. Maybe even one day open a retail shop.

Where else can we find you?

Right now I share my wares on Etsy, Facebook, Twitter and lots of local craft shows. I also have some items in a local upscale boutique called The Lipstick Lounge.

What or who inspires you?

Lots of things inspire me - nature, other crafters, my daughter, and people. I'll see someone wearing a great coat and think - that color would look great in her hair!

Favorite part of the Etsy community?

My favorite part of the Etsy community are the teams. People are so willing to help each other out. I love reading tips and getting advice. It really makes you feel like you're a part of something.

Who is the most influential person in your life?

The most influential person to me has been my mother. Long ago my mother told me "Find something you love to do and do it!" I have found that in making and selling my accessories. At my first craft fair last week I thought to myself - this is it - this is what I was meant to do. I loved it! My mother passed away about three years ago in a sudden and tragic accident. I dedicate my shop and all my creative works to her.

What is your favorite item in your shop?

The creations I have in my shop are handcrafted fabric flowers made into headbands, clips, bobby pins, and even pins. They are pretty, feminine and bright. They are for both women and girls and are meant to add a fun and flirty touch to any outfit.

Favorite recipe?

My favorite recipe is Chicken and Peppers.

And in case you were wonder (don't lie, I know you are!) Here are my favorite items from

Hair Brained Boutique

Isn't she a cutie? I don't know that I could pull this off as good as she can. But I sure would try!

Erin is doing a giveaway! Make sure you check it out!

Tuesday Treasury: Summer Heat with Holie B

2012-05-08T09:15:00.001-07:00

Summer is fast approaching, (yesterday was 80 degrees in Downey CA) and our air conditioning doesn't work.

So typical.

What I hate most about being a working gal is summer. It should really be against the law to work on nice warm days. Personally, I think we should work on days that are gloomy or rainy even if that means working on a weekend. Let me out into the sun and enjoy the rays!

Today I'll day dream about laying on the beach, soaking up the sun. It's usually my luck that the nice weather doesn't last until the weekend, but let's hope it does!

With my daydreaming plans in mind, I'd like to share with you Tuesday's Treasury. My treasury this week is inspired by Holie B a swimsuit designer from Mexico. I first discovered Holie B while day dreaming about the golden tan I could have if a paycheck didn't motivate me to stay in doors. Her style is fantastic and her story is inspiring.

Meet Holie B!

Where are you from, what do you do, what makes you unique?

I’m a Mexican fashion designer. born in Guadalajara, Jalisco. I love to surf and skate on my long board. I design cool swimwear for women. One and a half years ago, I moved to Shanghai to do a masters in Fashion Business and decided to stay here to open and analyze a new market. I define myself as a very positive happy and active person. I love to learn new stuff and meet new people. Of course one of my other passions is to travel and get inspired by different cultures, flora and fauna.

When did you first discover etsy?

The first time I heard from esty was because a friend told me some other designers have been selling through this site and they where selling all around the world. That same day, I came home and looked for the page. I loved it. So I decided to tray it and started uploading the pictures and in the first week, I sold a bikini in Paris.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I love to surf, but in Shanghai is a bit hard to do that often. So, I ride my long board and dance. I also like to walk around the city, visit new places and meet with cool people.

Is Etsy your full time or part time business?

Etsy is a platform for my sales, but Holie B is my full time job. We are a team of almost 5 people already and we want to make the brand grow and start producing more to be able to sell to boutiques and bigger stores.

What other avenues, if any do you share your work with the world?

We are starting a shop in ASOS on may 11^th. We also have our own website.

Facebook: facebook.com/HolieB

Facebook.com/HolieBswimwear

Twitter: @HolieB

Web: holieb.com

What steps do you take in your creative process?

I pick a topic based on tinks I´ve been amazed of, do a deeper research on it and start to draw my designs then, I create the patterns. Source fabric, make the sample and fit it. Then, put it on etsy and sell it.

What is your favorite item in your shop and why?

It´s a very simple and elegant and has a very nice fit.

Where does your inspiration come from?

Everywhere! From everyday life. Is just a matter to keep your eyes open to the nice things that life puts in front of you.

What is your favorite part of being a part of the Etsy community?

I like the kind of costumers Etsy targets. I really like that the etsy community supports independent designers and are always looking for original and unconventional stuff.

Who or what has been most influential in being where you are today?

All the people that surrounds me. Starting from my family, parents and siblings. My husband and friends, everybody puts a stone for the wall I´m bulding that is myself and my brand.

When did you know you were an artist/maker?

Since I was a little child I always went with my mom to buy fabric for her and always chose something for me. Since then I started designing my own clothes. She knows how to sew and she made a lot of clothes for myself. Then Iearned to saw too and decided to study fashion.

How do you get out of your creative ruts?

I think that whatever I do, I never get out of it. I just change the way. But even when I´m surfing or long boarding, I´m designing in my head all the time.

Where would you like to be in ten years?

Everywhere! I would love to sell in the most hidden corners of the world!

If you could share one tip with a new Etsy seller, what is the most important thing to learn and why?

The tip that I always give is to be yourself. People and specially people on Etsy is looking for authentic stuff. Don’t feel any pressure from other brands. Trust in you and your taste. Be in constant communication with your costumers and offer a good service and quality.

Favorite recipe.

My favorite recipe is chilaquiles.

Special Offer!

Holie B will give a special present (which includes a special bag to store the swimsuit and cool stickers) to the first 5 people that buy an item on Holie B etsy page. You just need to put in the comments that you found Holie B on Window by the Sea!

And don't forget to check out Tuesday's Treasury featuring Holie B!

Excuse me, do you live here?!?

2012-05-07T10:21:00.002-07:00

I am going against the grain again this Monday, (last week I was a flake, this week I'm being selfish) and talk about myself and the weekend I have had. Sorry Monday Meets, but you'll have to wait until you hear THIS!

It's old news that I don't particularly love Southern California. True, I love living by the beach and I love being with my family (can't complain about that!) BUT I have never been a huge fan of the traffic, the rushed life style, or the people.... (sorry!)

Of course, lots of people in Southern California are nice! I would know, I do have friends! (I think?) But Southern Californians are no where near as friendly as our Northern neighbors. Why? Probably because deep down, no one enjoys sharing their small space with one another. I know I don't.

My point is, (if I ever had a point) that people can be downright mean. I am serious, how hard is to to flash a smile at the people passing by? Be friendly people!

Yesterday, Ron and I had a little photo shoot for the window frame chalk boards that I am selling in Hapa Collective (my first retail location, so exciting!). We have been playing around with photos, I haven't been in love with any of our product photography.

We went from this:

To this:

Of the three, I like the first and last the most. The chalk board hanging by a rope from the tree, is my favorite because I just love that tree. As far as product photography goes, the third photo (with the hands) highlights our chalkboards the most. But do you know how hard it is to lift a 30 lbs object over your head as someone slowly takes photos of it?!?!

a little to the left... no, more to the right. COME ON ALREADY!!

Needless to say, Ron and I wanted to come up with something that was easy to photograph and highlighted the product I am selling.

2 blocks from our little condo is another condo complex. The city of Huntington Beach built a new fence a few months ago separating the condo complex from the side walk. I would assume that this is city property and not the condo complexes' property, but I could be wrong. (I have never been much for following rules)

Anyways, Ron and I are minding our own business, taking photos using the fence as our back drop when a lady in a pick up truck pulls up next to us.

"Excuse me, do you live here?" That is a simple enough question, I can answer that honestly, right?

"No, I don't. We just live down the street." Nice enough answer. At this point, I am thinking this lady is going to ask me what I am up to. Maybe she likes my chalkboards? I mean, it isn't every day you see people with a half dozen chalk boards filling the side walk.

"You can't park here." gee, thanks lady....

"Oh, we will only be here a few moments" I say in my sweetest most innocent voice possible.

"If you don't live here, I'll call and get you towed. I don't think you should even be leaning those things up against our fence." Really lady, really?!?! Like I am harming someone?

"Okay, I'm sorry, I'll move" I say, even sweeter but slightly shocked this time.

"Right now, I'll wait for you" she glares at me.

You have got to be kidding me! What a B*tch! I mean really, we were there for a total of 5 minutes!?!? I couldn't even believe what had just happened!

For fear that she was serious, and she was going to call the police, I did what any coward would do, I did what I was told and left. Why? Because my bark is meaner than my bite. Sometimes I really do hate this place!

Good news is, we got a lot of great photos in before nasty B*tch made us leave.

Bad news, I just added another point on my cons list of living down here.

I hope that lady feels really good about herself. She can take her crappy old parking spot and city owned fence! I hope I never see her again!

On that note, Happy Monday everyone! :)

Fabulous Friday with Timeless Avenue

2012-05-04T10:14:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard the term "steam punk"? Well, I have to admit that I have not. When I googled it, I was embarrassed to see how out of it I can be. I liked history in high school and college, I read.... how did I miss this?

For those of you who are just as lost as me (it's okay, you don't have to admit it) I found an entire website devoted to the culture, sounds, and literary aspects of this 19th century coined phrase.

"It's sort of Victorian- industrial, but with more whimsy and fewer orphans."

- Caitlin Kittredge

So here we are, all amazed together that I can be so unaware some times. (keep your joking to a minimum) Geraldine, my new etsy friend is the one who introduced me to this piece of knowledge. And I am glad she did as I just love her work!

Meet Geraldine from Timeless Avenue! (Who happens to be my first etsy friend from Ireland!)

Don't forget to check out Geraldine's giveaway on our giveaway page! Winner will be announced Friday 5/11/12. Good luck!

What makes you unique?

I am from Dublin in little old Ireland. I make steampunk and vintage inspired jewelry. Its difficult to say what makes me unique, because there are a lot of steampunk shops out there. But I make jewelry with myself in mind, so it really feels like a piece of me is in every creation I make. I wont make anything that I wouldn't wear myself, so the unique thing about my shop is that it really is my style. My heart and soul goes into my jewelry, so I'm always excited, albeit a little bit sad, when my pieces sell. Its really exciting to know that my jewelry is being worn by people on the other side of the Atlantic!

When did you first discover etsy?

I first used Etsy to buy a Flax bow for my husbands birthday in January this year. It is proudly hanging in the doorway to our kitchen. I began this journey on Etsy with the idea of making Alice in Wonderland inspired jewelry... but I couldn't stop making new and different creations once I started! And here I am, hoping to reach 100 items in my store in the next two weeks! I never thought my jewelry would be so popular and loved. But I'm thrilled, knowing there are so many people out there wearing my work, it makes me so proud and happy! I only launched my shop in March this year, so I'm an Etsy baby really, but I'm so glad I decided to open my shop and sell to the world!

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

My day job is as a medical librarian in a busy Dublin maternity hospital. I absolutely love my job and am very thankful that I do something that I am really interested in. Along with the usual aspects of librarianship like research, enquiries and supporting staff and students, I am also the graphic designer for two newsletters in the hospital, and that's where my creative side really gets to shine!

Is Etsy your full time or part time business?

Its neither full time nor part time. My shop is really a hobby and I really need to keep reminding myself that! It has completely taken over my life, but I'm thoroughly enjoying every step. Even the marketing! I love my facebook fans, and hope they find my fan page interesting, and sometimes funny : ) I work regular hours and then come home to my "studio" which is a small green table from Ikea that is now destroyed with lumps and chunks taken out of it from my unorthodox methods of creating. I'm self taught so maybe someone can give me lessons on how not to destroy my surroundings lol!

What other avenues, if any do you share your work with the world?

A few of my pieces are stocked in a local shop in Dublin called the Jam Art Factory, and I've recently started selling on an Irish website called adverts.ie but I must admit Etsy is the best way to sell my work and through my facebook page. I love the personal interaction with my customers. I also support the Friends of the Rotunda Hospital with their pop up shop fundraiser's.

What is your favorite item in your shop and why?

I have so many favourite pieces! And I change my mind week after week after week. But I love working with the vintage pictures and using them in the steampunk bracelets. The hidden ballerinas are definitely very popular and I just love working with them. Anything with an historic flare, that makes you think "where did this come from" or "what was she thinking when the photo was taken" is amazing. If I'm wearing or making a piece of jewelry that gets me thinking and talking then I'm excited.

Who or what has been most influential in being where you are today?

My husband is such a massive support, and he has a great eye for what does and doesn't work, so I cant take all the credit! No matter what I'm doing, whether its creative writing, or making jewelry he's there supporting me and encouraging me to keep going. So definitely he influences me the most... although he may not actually know it! I must tell him!

Who is your most influential Etsyian?

My shop is only open since March this year so I'm only getting to know my fellow EtsiansEtsy definitely has a smaller and more community like feel to it than you would imagine.

When did you know you were an artist/maker?

I've always been creative and it has manifested itself in so many ways over the years, through my creative writing, my graphic design, and now my jewelry. I've always known I was creative and there is a certain buzz I get when I make something I'm especially proud of.

How do you get out of your creative ruts?

So far I haven't found myself in a creative rut with my jewelry! But I'm only doing this a short time, so its bound to happen sooner or later! Although I'm no stranger to mental block when you're trying to create something that you just want to be incredible. I've had writers block so many times, that eventually it just hurts! The easiest and simplest way to get out of this I find, is to do something a little bit out of your comfort zone. If I'm stuck writing a short story or a piece of prose, I like to go off on a tangent and forget about what I was trying to write. I then find that any writers block washes away. With my jewelry and especially when I'm tired or my hands are sore from wire work or I've glued my hands together one too many times, I tend to tidy up my work station and reorganise my supplies. Once everything is neat and clean, I instantly start making something and messing everything up again. So hopefully that will be a good way to get out of a creative rut whenever it happens

Where would you like to be in ten years?

With better hands! Making jewelry has definitely taken its toll on my hands, but I'm not complaining, its part of who I am now. I just hope that in ten years time I'm still nourishing my hobbies and creative mind but perhaps with a little more skill!

If you could share one tip with a new Etsy seller, what is the most important thing to learn and why?

Promote, promote, promote! Marketing is definitely key. If no one knows you are there, you'll be looking at a flat line stats bar for a long time. I immediately set up my facebook page, slowly gathered my pinterest account, and joined lots of teams so people knew I was out there. Business cards, fliers, coupon codes, its all part of getting your name out there.

Where else can we find you?

etsy: www.TimelessAvenue.etsy.com
facebook: www.facebook.com/TimelessAvenue
pinterest: pinterest.com/timelessavenue

Favorite Recipe?

My favorite recipe is Chocolate Banana Bread. Its a tradition in our house to make at least four loafs of banana bread every Christmas, and my husband is always asking me to make some more. Its simply beautiful, tastes great and the best thing, is that it is so quick and easy to make! My problem is that every time I make it I change the ingredients ever so slightly, and believe it or not my husband knows! He always knows when I've done something different. This epicurious recipe is one I've been sticking to for a while, and it passes his taste test.

Chocolate Banana Bread with Walnuts

A Sip through the Wine Country

2012-05-04T07:29:00.001-07:00

Last Friday, I disembarked on what I would find to be the best weekend of food, wine and friends, that I have had in a long time.

Leaving Los Angeles is never easy. As Ron and I both scrambled on Friday to pull away from our hectic work schedules, we both knew we needed some unwinding. Driving through wonderful LA traffic is never a great way to start a journey. But we are sure glad we did it!

Ross, a very good friend of mine from college, has done the "Passport weekend" through Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma CA for years. I have seen many photos and have forever been jealous. This year, I wasn't going to allow the 450+ miles get in the way of a good time. Ron and I immediately said yes to the invitation and quickly packed our bags to head north.

When you think of wine tasting, how many wines (or maybe I should say wineries) would you think you'd taste or go to? I assumed we would visit 2 maybe 3 wineries. WOW was I wrong!

We went to 14 different wineries, sampling an uncountable amount of wine and food pairings! The experience was amazing (from what I can remember)

Amphora Winery

Armida Winery

Bella Vineyards & Wine Caves

Collier Falls Vineyard at Family Wineries Dry Creek Valley

Papapietro Perry Winery

Peterson Winery

Rued Winery

Talty Winery

Zichichi Family Vineyards

These wineries are not in the order we attended. (Mainly because I can't remember the order in which we visited all of these!) But I do have a few that were my favorites!

What I love about Northern California as appose to Southern California, everyone is much more friendly. I can't pin point what it is, but it is so easy to generalize that up North, neighbors actually like one another and people really do pass each other on the street and say 'good morning'.

At Kachina Vineyards, we were greeted by just that, friendly wine connoisseurs who were eager to share their best wines with us. The wine maker is Canadian so it was only fitting to have a Canadian inspired theme for the occasion. They had an amazing elk slider that still makes my mouth salivate when thinking about it. What I really enjoyed there (their wines were not nearly are memorable as their food) was the cucumber with fresh Alaskan Smoked Salmon. Normally I am not a fan of Salmon, but this little appetizer forced my taste buds to do a total 180.

Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves was a magical experience. The vineyard has man made caves throughout the side of a mountain on the vineyard. I suppose the owners chose to make this location for storing wines in a cool dry place. But for Passport, they transformed their estate into a world of wonderland. As we walked up the long drive towards the tasting room, we were met by a man on a unicycle dangerously resembling the mad hatter. It only took seconds to realize, we were the ones to be chasing the white rabbit down the rabbit hole.

Photo on the right shows the Tea Party of Alice and Wonderland. I think Alice had too much to drink by the time we arrived for tea, as she was nowhere to be found!

Bella Wine Caves

Papapietro Perry Winery had by far my favorite wines. Their Pinot Nior was by far the best wine I've had, and I had many that day! Each bottle ranged from $40-60 in price. Needless to say, I enjoyed every sip as I dreamed of one day being able to open a $40 bottle of wine with an every day meal. (I still find anything over the $8 range is too pricey if I am not enjoying among friends.) Obviously I have a long way to go in my career before I can return to Papapietro Perry Winery and really enjoy. I found it entertaining that the winery with (in my opinion) the most prestigous wines was also the winery with the least classy theme. Mardi gras beads were given to every passport holder as we entered the tasting room. I have to admit, I almost asked the girl at the front desk if there was nudity required to receive these beads. I am really grateful that I had some sense to sensor my humor at that point.

Photo of Ron and I outside of Papapietro Perry Winery's tasting room.

Although the order of which we visited these wineries is a blur, I can say that we visited Mounts Family Winery towards the end. I know this because looking at the photos, I am clearly sober. Mounts featured a classic car show theme which was very popular among our group.

Yep, at that point in the day, I thought I was a super star.

My favorite part about this winery (at the time) was the swag we received. I was decorated with a temporary Mounts tattoo (which took a really long time to scrub off in the shower!) as well as a pink cow girl hat. I quickly re gifted this hat to my neighbors 4-year-old. She was just as excited as I was when I received it. Yehay!

Notice blue teeth? Yep, that kid was stoked! lol

How about a real photo of the beauty that Mounts had to offer

I love that this lady was just as excited as I was!

Kokomo Winery was memorable mainly because they had a photo booth where we took some fantastic photos.

What I liked about Kokomo was their small focused approach on their wines. They pride themselves on small production techniques and strong relationships with local growers. Their wines all had a very strong fruit presence, which I liked a ton! I guess this is why we bought a bottle or two!

Armida Winery was our last stop. Every year, passport travelers such as ourselves end their day with a tasting from Armida and enjoy a bottle of wine on the lawn overlooking a beautiful little pond.

Armida's popular theme was not missed as angels and devils alike served wine on the terrace. Their popular concoction? A beautifully crafted bottle of poison!

Photo taken from Armida's website.

I could go on for days about the great wine, the great food (blue berry pie pops, OMG!) and the fun we had with friends. But, I'll let you see for yourself.

Check our Passport to Dry Creek Valley next year, April 27&28 2013. We did the one day pass, but after that amazing day, I think a two day passport is in order!

Welcome Wednesday: Farrell Woods

2012-05-02T09:27:00.000-07:00

There are few things that really bother me. My biggest pet peeves are easily 1. not having a parking spot/ taking "my" parking spot and 2. Not having a pen.

I realize these are strange pet peeves but when you grow up near the beach, parking is limited during the summer months, and patients can only go so far. Now I live in a condo complex where parking is terrible. And whats worse, my horribly mean neighbor (who I swear looks for ways to torture me) now constantly parks in my self proclaimed parking spot when she has an empty garage that her mini cooper easily fits in. The nerve right!?!

At work, I am constantly buying new pens! Being the first desk to greet people, customers, vendors and even the USPS man steal my pens constantly. Come on people, just leave it on my desk!

When I met Jason and saw his amazing work, it was clear to me that you can kill for a pen. (yes, I am being slightly dramatic but hey, check out his work and you will see what I mean!)

Meet Jason from Farrell Woods

Tell us a bit about yourself

Hello ;) I’m Jason and my little pen box is named Farrell Woods (Farrell is my first name.) My wife and I live in a super small town in Indiana with our 2 children, 4 dogs, 3 cats and 5 fish tanks. I began crafting pens with the help from my uncle while visiting family in Tennessee...it only took one pen and I was hooked! For me it’s not just turning a pen on a lathe or posting a picture on the internet, it’s the art and the process of creating something usable as well as beautiful that inspires me. I never know how a piece is going to turn out, I let the material guide me on how it wants to be displayed. In the warmer weather we do craft shows and it’s so much fun interacting with people especially the children who will set and watch me craft pens for hours if their parents would let them...lol

What made you decide to start a shop?

We stumbled upon Etsy a few years ago and made a few listings, not really getting too involved or even trying to make an effort...we just kind of let it sit there. One day we were talking and knew we couldn’t compete in the big world of Google or have the skills to create a massive ecommerce site on our own, we jumped full speed ahead into Etsy...it was the best decision we could have made for our floundering internet venture.

Is Etsy your full time or part time business?

My little Etsy shop is kind of both…We are crafting and listing new items almost daily. Our Etsy customers and friends have become like family, we couldn’t stand to be away for long. We would defiantly love to build our shop to complete full time status, we’re getting there by cultivating great relationships and the craftsmanship of the work we provide!

What other avenues, if any do you share your work with the world?

It’s Spring at that mean a busy craft fair season till the Fall. It’s amazing being out in front of our customers crafting their custom item right in front of their eyes! Again, we have built such great relationships with our customers, most are rabid fans ;)

What is your favorite item in your shop and why?

That's a tough question, I fall in love with every one of them. I do have two that I'm partial to.

My wife and I work with a lot of brides and crafting a pen for their special day is an honor, I feel bless that they chose me and my little shop to be a small piece of their history!

And my other favorite is the Bethlehem Olivewood Cross Inlay. I have crafted this pen for missionary's all over the world. I love crafting a pen with such meaning!

What is your favorite part of being a part of the Etsy community?

The community has been so helpful and supportive! When I can’t figure something out I send a convo to someone in my circle or team and they are right there with an answer, no judgments or putdowns for not knowing something, just support…I love it! I do the very same when someone reaches out to me ;)

Who or what has been most influential in being where you are today?

Our little shop is a family affair, my wife and I work so well and complement each other so great! We wouldn’t be this far without the love and work we both put into the business!

If you could share one tip with a new Etsy seller, what is the most important thing to learn and why?

Get involved! Just like a brick and mortar store you can’t hang out a shingle and expect the crowds to pour in. The more you get your shop out there and not be afraid to jump in to message threads or Etsy team get –togethers the more visible your shop will be and ultimately the more sales your generate.

Where else can we find you?

www.facebook.com/farrellwoods
www.fwpens.com/apps/documents to download my catalog

We are offering a %10 percent special thru our Facebook My Etsy Shop app. The app offers a special code for customers ;)

Please include your favorite recipe.

I’m a man and love my meat! For the most tender fall of the bone pulled pork you’ll ever want to eat, a crock-pot is all you need! I prefer babybacks but, choose what’s best for your taste and budget.

Add your ribs to the crock-pot and fill with water only, just covering the top of the ribs. Cook on low for 8 hours…don’t mess with’em let them be. After the time’s up, pull your meat and toss with your favorite BBQ sauce, I love Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey BBQ myself but, any will work.

We eat our pulled pork on buns or my wife and I will stand over the crock-pot feeding trough with our forks ;)

What day is it? Oh ok, Tuesday Meets with Vintage Ooak Designs

2012-05-01T10:33:00.003-07:00

Happy Monday! Oh, wait....

This weekend I traveled to the country of the gods aka Sonoma Valley where I did my fair share of wine tasting. Needless to say, I had a hard time honoring my commitments yesterday. For that, I am sorry! I'll post the photos of my amazing trip later, but for now, lets get down to business and meet a well deserving feature, Maria from Vintage Ooak Designs!

Maria is offering a special for Window by the Sea followers! 10% off when you use coupon code SEA4ME Thanks Maria!

Tell us a bit about yourself

I am a stay at home mom with 3 boys all under the age of 4! Needless to say I can keep myself busy. I have always been creative and especial love making jewelry. My realm of materials and jewelry making has evolved since the birth of my children.. After my 1st & 2nd sons River & Hudson I became involved with scrapbooking , thus getting involved with my love of paper & all the beautiful designs. After the birth of my 3rd son Finn, I fell in love with fabric and sewing. Currently, I have combined all three, jewelry making, paper, & fabric to serve as inspiration for my handmade items. What makes my shop so unique is I am always making NEW items ..I don’t even know what I will come up with week & after week! When my boys are down for a nap is when I retreat to my craft room & just start putting things together & creating my next masterpiece =)

When did you discover Etsy?

Oddly enough I discovered ESTY while I was on vacation, I had found a cute little outside shop where the girl was selling handmade jewelry. I loved al her items and spent quite a lot of $ and asked her where I could buy more…hint, hint for my husband for gifts=). She then began to tell me about this wonderful world of Esty. She gave me some tips & the web address I checked it out and WOW I was in love at first sight!

It wasn’t until about 6 months later when I bought a huge lot of watch gears, watch parts, and misc. vintage jewelry pieces from an estate sale that I was inspired to finally start my Esty shop. I had been making jewelry for fun, but had no one to enjoy it with me ….until ESTY!

Is Etsy your full time or part time job?

Esty is my “fun side job”. Esty is my way to make some extra money for our family to do fun things together ! It also supports my hobby! Esty is something I do for FUN, and outlet for my creativity to thrive. I would like to see it grow as well as open more shops in the future! As my boys get older and go to school, when I am home all day I would like to full throttle promote & grow my little business into a full time job!

What inspires you?

My inspiration comes from observing the world around me. From the colors in a beautiful sunset, to the shapes along the beach, to the playful mixtures in my children’s play dough creations…inspiration is all around me, I just choose to caress it and make it a part of my designs.

What are you favorite items from your shop?

My favorite items that I make are always changing =) I would have to say lately it would be the fiber wrapped friendship bracelets & the geometric spheres necklace. They both seem to go with everything!

Advice to other Etsians?

If I could share one tip with an esty seller I would share the one that was told to me! That esty requires patience and perseverance. The average time it takes your shop to be noticed and start getting a steady flow of sales is 6moths to 1yr. I know as artists we put so much time & effort into what we make and hope that as soon as we share it with the world they will love it and buy it! But, as history has taught us that some of the greatest artists were not even discovered until after their life had passed. You have to create because it is a fire within you, not because you want a monetary amount for it. Believe in yourself and your work!

Maria is offering a special for Window by the Sea followers! 10% off when you use coupon code SEA4ME Thanks Maria!

A few of my Favorites :

Seashore Flower Earrings 6pc. Set - Seafoam, Sand & White Flower Stud Earrings, Bridesmaid Gift, Summer 2012

Mini Envelope & Gift Tag 45pc Set - Mint, Cream, Navy and Vintage Paper Set

Seaside Vintage Scrabble Pendants - Coral, Sand, Shells & Mermaids - Choose your Escape to the Water World

Friend Maria and find out more about Vintage Oak Designs!

Facebook; www.facebook.com/VintageOoakDesigns
Esty : www.esty.com/shop/VintageOoakDesigns

Maria is offering a special for Window by the Sea followers! 10% off when you use coupon code SEA4ME Thanks Maria!

Blow me off but don't bring me down!

2012-04-27T11:18:00.001-07:00

I am sad to report, I was blown off today! Normally on Fridays I do a feature but today, I checked my email to find that I had no responses. I have been dumped!

I had these great ideas on how I would tie in my morning debacle of having the chaos of packing for a weekend getaway, my truck running out of gas (resulting in Ron and I pushing it down the street) and how life goes on blah blah blah featured artist blah blah.... (if you knew the artist that blew me off, well then this story ties in real well!)

Anyways, I'm sitting here, stuck in the office on this beautiful day watching the clock tick by. A slew of angry customers (from my day job) continue to call and even though I am dealing with problem after problem AND then I find I was blown off, I am not letting my mood decline. Why, you ask? Because this weekend I am headed to Sonoma Ca for a weekend of wine tasting with old college friends!

Here is the itinerary (I find it hilarious so I had to post!)

Opening thoughs:

'Twas the night before Passport

And all though the state

Friends prepare for the most epic trip to date!

The Meat:

Here is the plan as I know it. Passport weekend officially starts tomorrow. We all get to leave the ant-farm for a few days and travel to the majestic region formally known as, Sonoma-town.

Friday: Steve & Katie (SK) as well as Ron & Lauren (RL) head from the Southland after work, thinking, "Wahoo! It's Friday!!!". Immediately followed by, "OMFG! I'm in a car!". After SK+RL get over the shock of being in a motor vehicle, they route said motor vehicles toward Glen Ellen. Due to fluctuating schedules and shit, we don't have any plans on Friday night and will play it by ear.

RL will be getting in late; They're rock-stars and will be driving from Huntington Beach. The most likely scenario is SK + R-solo kick it at Mary & Gregs after dinner drinking copious amounts of alcohol. Mary & Greg have guests in the guest room on Friday night, so SK will be in Siena's room and RL have the choice of inside, the porch, or the tree-house on a camp-futon (big foam thinger-bopper). RL, Please bring sleeping bags if you have them, otherwise we could probably use Mary & Greg's, but I haven't confirmed this - They will provide the futon. I'll be in the tree-house most likely, so I vote we have a slumber party.

Saturday: Explore! No, seriously, I'm serious. The plan is to do some hiking around Glen Ellen or Sonoma. Dan & Sam (DS) are inbound on Saturday morning, so, we'll need to be motivated to move by the time they show up. We're on our own for cooking breakfast, but Mary said she'll have the fridge stocked with breakfast food. At some point we'll figure out what to do for lunch. I'm thinking the Deli in Glen Ellen (or its sister store in Sonoma) would be a good option, but there are plenty of other options, too. No plan for the afternoon. We can hang at Mary & Greg's if we're tired of being hard core explorers or we can definitely keep on looking at things and shit. For dinner on Saturday, we need to decide if we're going out (to Indian?) or BBQ-ing. We have been offered use of the BBQ if we are interested.

On Saturday, DS & SK have to roshambo for the guest room, winner gets the office ;) RL, your options are the same as Friday. I'm still planning on being in the tree-fort.

Sunday: PASSPORT! For reals, this is the day we've been waiting for. We'll grab breakfast, nurse the hangovers, and roll-out. We're gonna rage all day sipping the nectar of the gods and eating the most bomb shit you've ever seen. That's all there is to it. We'll probably borrow Mary & Greg's SUV so we can all fit in one car. If/when we're hungry for dinner, and back in Glen Ellen, I think we should hit up Jack London Saloon and grab burgers like last year. That was bomb.

Sleeping arrangements are the same as Saturday night.

Monday: Boo, now it is over and we all head home. We'll grab/cook breakfast if you all don't have to leave too early. We will also set calendar appointments for 02/01/2013 so we can remember to buy tickets for next year! Wahoooo!

So there is the plan! I'll be posting lots of photos on Monday of the extravaganza!

Thirsty Thursday?!?

2012-04-26T08:54:00.003-07:00

Have you ever heard the term thirsty Thursday? How about Two buck Tuesday? Wasted Wednesday? Okay.... I know you all have heard of Sunday Funday!

If any of these terms sound familiar to you.... you may have been a college student at one time or another. If these terms are music to your ears, you attended college with me at Chico State!

I graduated from Chico State in 2009. I had some of my best memories there. (I hope this doesn't date me as I would like to have even better memories to come!) Anyways, a student of Chico State learns a lot about life. How to socialize, how to stumble home at night (don't get lost between the aves and the streets! Whatever city planner thought of that was just trying to screw with drunk college kids!) and how to dress in style! Only in a college town will you see girls dressed to the 9s in freezing weather wearing only their "liquid coats."

Halloween was not the only time you wore costumes in college. I participated on a regular basis in a themed party or two. The most fun college parties I have attended had to be highlighter parties. For those of you who don't know.... it's simple logic really (can you expect anything else from a college student!?!?) wear a white t-shirt, bright highlighters and draw away! Black lights are obviously included.

My college days are over, (sad but true) it's not often I find myself in need of a costume. Yet yesterday's Etsy email on Time Warp did just that! Oh the memories of college!

I discovered Neon Nancy yesterday and all the memories came flooding in. How I wish I had discovered her during college! For those of you who still enjoy a good highlighter party or two, enjoy!

Tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Lyndsey Merryman, born and raised in Columbus Ohio. I attended CCAD for Fashion Design and started out designing couture evening wear but now I’m doing something a little different ☺ I now own a EDM (electronic dance music) inspired clothing line. Festival Fashion full of neon’s, lights, glow and called Neon Nancy.

In April we created our etsy shop to accompany our online storewww.neonnancy.com

Is Etsy your full time or part time business?

Recently become a Full time job (probably more than full time actually) I think having a lot of support not only from family and friends but also from my education and experiences really helped to motivate me to create a job that I enjoyed doing.

 What other avenues, if any do you share your work with the world?

We have a online store www.neonnancy.com with our full product line, we also vend at many music festivals and concerts.

What is your favorite item in your shop and why?

My favorite item in my shop is the Laser Reactive Line, these silkscreen shirts allow you to draw with light , which is a really cool effect, if you have never seen it before check out a video of this on our website. They are also black light reactive perfect for concerts.

Where does your inspiration come from? 

The inspiration comes from the creativity of music and festivals like burning man, but also just simply from the EDM culture itself.

What is your favorite part of being a part of the Etsy community?  

The best thing about being part of the etsy community is the interaction with creative people, the treasury lists and circles that introduce you to new art in every form.

 When did you know you were an artist/maker?

 Ever since I was little, I would paint or use the potter’s wheel with my dad. He taught me to love creating at a very young age.

Where would you like to be in ten years?

 sitting on a yacht in costa Rica… haha really I would be happy if I’m still creating, working for myself and happy. Hey, take me with you!

If you could share one tip with a new Etsy seller, what is the most important thing to learn and why?

Brand yourself, and don’t do anything half assed.
Simple and to the point. Love it!

Yes ladies, it is a neon light up bra! woohoo! Wish you had one of these in college don't you?

 

Make sure to follow Neon Nancy. She really is electric!! (ok, ok, I am done with the lame jokes.... I think)
www.neonnancy.com
www.facebook.com/NeonNancyClothing
twitter.com/#!/NeonNancy1

Welcome Wednesday: Reset Reality

2012-04-25T10:13:00.000-07:00

I am slightly astonished by how much it costs to make something beautiful. I am not just talking about time (because artists put in more hours than anyone realizes) but supply costs!

I wouldn't consider myself an artist. I like to think I am more of a crafter. (labeling myself as an artist feels like a lot of pressure!) Now, I am trying my hand at crafty baking? (is there such a thing?

A friend of mine is having a birthday party for her 4 year old. For those of you who follow my pinterest, Mia's princess birthday party has been on my mind for months! Mainly, because she continues to remind me about it. I just love this age!

I am trying with all my might to recreate this cupcake for her party

I enjoy baking and thought this project would be a piece of cake (excuse my lame jokes!) but as I continue to look for supplies, I find myself thinking I must be going over the top on this project! But nothing is too expensive or elaborate for my little Princess Mia. After all, she only turns 4 once, right?

I am sure a real artist would have no problem coming up with something as simple as a cupcake design. That's why I want you to meet Vanessa, my new Etsy friend and extremely talented artist who would probably shame me if ever we had a cupcake decorating contest. (yes you have to use real frosting ! No fair painting it on!)

Where are you from, what do you do?

I'm originally from Chicago, IL... born and raised in the city. I fell in love with art in my teen years, and made it my ambition to go to art school & become an artist. So, I went to SMFA in Boston... received a BFA in drawing, painting, papermaking & bookmaking (I know, it's a lot... but oh so worth it). After that, I moved to NYC with Anthony (my boyfriend and co-shop owner), where we now live & work. I love to just make stuff... I watched an interview Chuck Close did with Charlie Rose, and Close said, "inspiration is for amateurs." I find this to be a good motto to work by... life is too short to wait around for the right moment; the right moment is now. Nicely said!

When did you first discover etsy? What made you decide to start a shop?

I discovered etsy in 2008, when my old roommate and I were planning to open an etsy shop together... but that fell through. I talked about opening an etsy store for the longest time, but I would always make the excuse of not having enough time or money (what else is new, right?). About a month ago, I decided enough talk... time to do, and made the leap. It's a steep learning curve, and every day I'm learning something new from the community, through research and through hard work. It has been worth every minute though, and I hope to stay open for a long time to come.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

Two day jobs... Starbucks in the AM, the other, part time college librarian. I half joke when I tell people I've taken on a third job with my etsy store :) wow! I'll stop complaining now! ;)

Is Etsy your full time or part time business?

Like most etsy shop owners, I dream of quitting my day job! If I can't quit both, I would love to be able to quit at least one.

What other avenues, if any do you share your work with the world?

I have a website: www.resetreality.net, which I named my etsy shop after. I came up with the name resetreality as a young, ambitious 16 year old who loved surrealism, had a few frustrations with the world, and had a really good "a-ha!" moment. I recently began a pinterest page (pinterest.com/resetreality) as well, and love the platform to promote other etsy artists & interesting things I find on the web. Anthony, my partner in my shop, also has a website with more of his work on it:www.shoofish.com.

What steps do you take in your creative process?

I spend a lot of time reading, doodling and daydreaming... all essentials of any creative process. When I actually sit down to paint, I allow myself to become cautiously reactionary... how carefully I respond to how the paint moves on the paper, or how carefully I fold a piece of paper when I make books... it eventually leads to the quality of the final product. My medium of choice, watercolor & ink, especially leaves little room for "mistakes..." but happy accidents do happen. I'll go through quite a few "awesome rejects" before I paint something I find myself excited about. I accept that as part of the process.

What is your favorite item in your shop and why?

I believe my paintings work best in pairs, especially when other people create the pairing... I love seeing what people come up with (and the story or inspiration behind their choices; usually it reflects their personality). These two paintings make a nice pair, sort of like the mermaid meeting the magician who will help her find the prince:

Where does your inspiration come from?

I draw from a lot of things... mostly mundane, occasionally epic. What I call the "venerable dustbin of many moments before this one" sparkles with gems I overlook time and time again. These are the tools that shape my work. I draw from familiar icons, metaphors and mythology to help navigate through the fog of insecurity. It grabs the language of vision and weaves a moment of clarity in which we can objectively see our selves not as “others” but as “people.”

What is your favorite part of being a part of the Etsy community?

Everyone supports each other on Etsy, which I find refreshing from the grind of the art world. Also, the amount of talent on etsy is ridiculous, but it amazes me every time I see a breathtaking shop.

Who or what has been most influential in being where you are today?

Anthony has helped me through thick and thin. I also owe a lot to my teachers, past and present, and my younger sister who's always cheered for me from the beginning... without the support from these people, I would definitely not be where I am today.

How do you get out of your creative ruts?

"In order to be creative, you have to know how to prepare to be creative," says Twyla Tharp in her amazing book, "The Creative Habit." It's a great read for any artist... and I find myself flipping through it often to find exercises to refresh my creative mind. Being creative is an exercise of the mind, coupled with some knowledge of how to use materials and a little bit of skill with your hands. The more I exercise my creativity, the better the work becomes... which probably explains why the first few paintings or drawings usually look like shit. That's normal, everyone... don't panic!

Where would you like to be in ten years?

Ten years sounds too far ahead for me to imagine... but the big goal is to be debt free! No more student loans, no more credit card debt, no debt of any sort! For me, that's the key to my future success... especially with my art and my etsy store. Anthony would love to own a boat and sail around the world... but I haven't quite found my sea legs yet.

If you could share one tip with a new Etsy seller, what is the most important thing to learn and why?

Join a whole lot of teams, do a whole lot of research, watch as many Etsy Success videos as you can, learn from your peers, ship internationally (it's a lot cheaper than you think it is for most things, especially if your items don't weight a lot!). But above all, be open to criticism and stay optimistic. Everyone thinks, oh, my sales will just rain in magically once I put my items up online... that's a myth. Your shop will be as successful as the time you put into it.

What is your favorite recipe?

I love food, so this question stumped me at first... but, one thing that came to mind? This Rachel Ray recipe for blue cheese pasta... with bacon and spinach, has to be the best thing ever. www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/strip-steaks-with-a-side-of-blue...

Thanks for sharing Vanessa! I was only half kidding about the cupcakes.... I would be far too intimidated to go up against you in a cupcake match! I can only imagine the amazingness you would come up with! Challenge? hehe

Tuesday Treasury: A little Australia Love!

2012-04-24T12:54:00.000-07:00

As a lot of you are beginning to learn, I am considering taking my Etsy store to Australia! Just for a bit anyways... I'll post details later, but for now I am keeping my secrets to myself!

Today's treasury is inspired by my Australian Day Dreams. Enjoy!

Check out my newest treasury and stay tuned for news on the Australian adventure!

Meet Up Mondays: Faerie Majikk

2012-04-23T08:54:00.004-07:00

Talk about a busy weekend! I have to start this blog post off by apologizing to my new friend Lindsey from Faerie Majikk for not sticking to the schedule. Lindsey was suppose to be featured on Friday. Had I not been running around like a chicken with my head cut off on Friday, that would have happened. Lindsey, I am very sorry!

I took the day off of work on Friday to help out my community. I have been a part of the Seal Beach Race for the past 13 years. This year was no exception as I ran around making sure I had completed my assigned duties. Thankfully, the event went off without a hitch. Another great year to be a volunteer!

On another exciting note, Window by the Sea will be featured inside our first store front! Hapa Collective, a boutique on Main Street, Seal Beach has graciously asked us to be a part of their shop. We are thrilled! Starting May 6th, Window by the Sea can be seen hanging on their walls waiting for a purchase! What is even better about this, our reclaimed window frames we will be using from this order came for our little home town of Seal Beach. What could be better?!? Local artist, local supplies, local artwork! Talk about a little piece of history!

Well, enough about me. As I catch up from my crazy busy weekend, I remembered this morning that I had forgotten all about Lindsey. When you see her artwork, it's hard to believe that anyone could forget this artist who creates beautiful fantasies!

Here she is!

What makes you unique?

I am a fantasy/gothic artist from NSW, Australia. I am a married stay at home Mum of 5 incredible children. I really think that what makes me unique is the ability to create art that can be enjoyed by every one, I really think deep down every one wants to be able to drift away from reality and it is my art that allows them to do this.

What made you decide to start a shop?

I first discovered Etsy in 2007 in which I opened an Etsy store when I was making jewellery, I really had no idea about tags,titles and all of the business side of things. I added one necklace and that was it until I came back to etsy with a little more understanding. I created faeriemajikk.etsy.com at the end of 2008, with a few pieces of jewellery as well as my art. I did have a bit more of an idea the second time around.

The main idea for wanting to create a shop for my art was simply to be able to sell to international customers as Fantasy is not really too big within Australia (yet). At the time I had 3 children and dragging them around to markets etc was really not ideal.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

Being a Mum of 5 is pretty demanding, so when I am not creating I am doing the usual 'mother/housewife' thing. I do not really have time for anything else.

This suits me fine as I am a bit of a homebody/hermit.

Is Etsy your full time or part time business?

Etsy is part time at the moment. I do want it to eventually get to full-time - but this will take time and is not likely to happen until all my kids are in school, my youngest is 8 months old so when she starts school this is when I will really be able to dedicate more time to my art and business.

What other avenues, if any do you share your work with the world?

I post my art on a few POD sites such as Zazzle, Greeting Cards Universe and just started creating clipart and adding to Meylah.

I have my art licensed with MistyDreamz.com - for those who cross stitch.

you can find some of my art as pdf patterns:

www.mistydreamz.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=28_139

What steps do you take in your creative process?

Like us all, my creative process always begin with an idea - which I may get at any time.

I have a VAPD - Visual Arts Process Diary that I keep for all of my ideas, colour and technique experiments etc.

In the front cover is an envelope I glued with IDEAS on the front. With each new idea I get, I quickly scribble it down on a piece of paper and add it to the envelope. I use these ideas later, change the idea a bit and work on from there. I do not have any set steps, I think life does get in the way of my art so if I were to even describe my creative process it would be Anarchy.

What is your favorite item in your shop and why?

My favorite item would have to be my Moon Maiden I painting:

It is my favorite for a number of reasons - the first being execution, i think overall she turned out amazing and matched the image in my head perfectly. I also created her using a new technique for me, completely experimental. so she is my favorite because she turned out wonderfully as a result of a big experiment for me which is great, to work outside of the 'paintbox' and create something different.

Where does your inspiration come from?

My inspiration comes from any where at any given moment but Nature plays a very big part - Mother Nature in my eyes is the epitome of perfection, she gets everything right.

My children are also a huge inspiration - I love the way a child thinks and plays. Very imaginative, where anything is possible and there are no boundaries in life.

What is your favorite part of being a part of the Etsy community?

The idea that we are a community of people with similar interests and lifestyles is the best part, to know that I can communicate with others across the globe and talk about creating,promoting and parenting all at once is fantastic.

The etsy community is very close and others genuinely want to help others.

Who or what has been most influential in being where you are today?

My husband would have to be one of my biggest fans, he is always eager to tell people how great and talented I am which is great but being very self conscious tends to embarrass me a lot. He is very loud, opinionated and complete opposite of me.

Who is your most influential Etsyian?

Oh now that is very hard as there are so many amazing etsians out there. I do love Stephanie Pui-Mun Law she is amazing and successful.

from Faery Entrourage

When did you know you were an artist/maker?

I would say after selling my first painting. The feeling that someone loved it so much to buy it gives you that wondrous sensation. I enjoy what I do, to the point that it is an obsession. so it is great when others share those feelings too.

Simply putting it out there in the public eye also helped me to shift from the hobbiest to Artist mindset.

How do you get out of your creative ruts?

By taking a break and doing something completely different usually helps, not forcing the creative process helps. I will go back to my VAPD and pull out one of my past ideas to get the creative juices flowing or even scrolling through my fave art website helps.

Where would you like to be in ten years?

Hopefully making a living from my obsessions. Selling regularly, teaching workshops locally, licensing my art to more companies and even having a an art book published. So much can happen in 10 years.

If you could share one tip with a new Etsy seller, what is the most important thing to learn and why?

Never stop creating, practice your craft as often as you can, be a sponge and learn new techniques all the time. Believe in yourself and your art - do not allow others to tell you otherwise. Be who you are, not what others want you to be. Stay true to your own vision and always enjoy what you do. Ask for help when you need it.

Thanks for sharing all you do Lindsey! I have a hard time finding time to create and I only have a dog! I don't know how you do it with 5 children. Props to you for being a successful artist and a mom!

Check our Faerie Majikk here:

Etsy Store: www.etsy.com/shop/FaerieMajikk

Website: notoftheseworlds.weebly.com

Blog: faeriemajikksfantasyart.blogspot.com

Facebook: facebook.com/FaerieMajikk

Twitter: twitter.com/FaerieMajikk

Giveaway:

Win an Orchid & Reptile print set (3 - 4x6")

Become a fan of Faerie Majikk facebook page to enter!

Welcome Wednesday: Fantastic DIY

2012-04-18T09:33:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, I absolutely love to travel. Give me the option between a brand new car or a beat up bicycle and a trip around the world, I'll gladly peddle the 25 miles to work (up hill both ways) for a chance to see the world. I could play the "would you rather" game for days and 9 out of 10 times, pick traveling. I just love to experience other cultures, other's foods and the beauties different countries have to offer.

Have you ever taken that 100 Places to go Before You Die quiz on Facebook? If you haven't done it yet, you should check it out. The quiz stats that the majority of Americans have been to less than 9 of the 100 places listed. I have been fortunate to have traveled to 21 of these. But I am not done yet!

As I dream of all the places I want to travel and the things I would like to see before I "settle down", I was very excited when I met my new Etsy friend Natasha from Fantastic DIY. Natasha is from Southern China. Natasha, if I ever make it to China, I would love to meet you in person and see what you do!

What makes you unique?

Hi! I am Natasha, the maker behind the Etsy shop FantasticDIY. I am a combination of free spirit maker and business dreamer. I was born in a small seaside city in southern China, Swatow. Swatowian have been regarded as Eastern Jew because of our talent and obsession in doing business, differentiating from people from other places of China, who think holding a position in a state-own corporation is a better career pursuit.

I was brought up mostly in the hands of my grandmother (my mother’s mother) and my mother. My grandmother was a leader of a big craft family: she has 7 children including 6 girls, and all my aunts are best crafters in town. My mother always tells me how they embroidered, knitted, weaved…all those beautiful things, exported to Japan and Europe. I love watching them craft with their magical fingers. My love of crafting, graph, art, creativity and color is rooted in my family.

I remember clearly how my father was surprised by my drawing when I was 3. I drew a leading character in a Japanese cartoon, of course adding more features I thought she should have. My father thought I was talented and I started attending art courses at the age of 6. Unfortunately, under the high pressure of school work I stopped taking formal courses after several years. But my love of painting never died. I joined school workshops and taught myself Chinese traditional painting, charcoal drawing, painting with water color and acrylic. I love experimenting with different medias and playing with paper and color.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I have a full time job in a multinational company. I worked in a skyscraper office and craft in the evening and weekends. In my free time when I am not working or crafting, I spend time with my family and friends, do exercise, yoga, swim, travel and read. I also wrote a fantasy fiction for myself.

Is Etsy your full time or part time business?

Etsy is my part-time business, but I want to make it full time. I am struggling now because my full time job is taking up so much of my time. I don’t have enough time to create and take care of my shop. But I believe love and insisting will pay off. After all, we have only one chance in our life to follow our own heart. I couldn't have said it better myself Natasha! I hope every Etsy artist strives to do what they love. It is a difficult way to make money, but I see that many artist have made it, and I know we can too! I read Etsy blog featured seller daily for my inspiration!

What other avenues, if any do you share your work with the world?

I recently open a booth in bonanza www.Bonanaza.com/booths/FantasticDIY and a shop in luulla www.FantasticDIY.luulla.com. I also share on pinterest www.pinterest.com/fantasyjewelry and Wanelo (FantasticDIY). I have a twitter account as well (FantasticDIY), and Tumblr (FantasticDIY).

What steps do you take in your creative process?

Beside painting, I have a huge collection of beautiful pictures/photos/ graphs, both digital and hard copy. Whenever I read a journal and see any interesting images I scan them. I do not always have a pen in hand when an inspiration come to me, sometimes it takes me one week to have time to sit down in peace and paint, but I try my best to record everything. I love playing with images and different medias, altering the images, combining them to make creative and fabulous things. Although I selling necklace in my shops, I also make a variety of things for my families.

What is your favorite part of being a part of the Etsy community?

I love being in the Etsy community. Browsing around and you’ll be interested by the endless creativity. Many dreams come true with the help of Etsy.

How do you get out of your creative ruts?

Fresh eyes and a curious mind help me so much. The whole world is a big fantasy for me. Walls of sky buildings can be brushed and painted on, cars can be lined up to make a river…I mean, I always fancy myself by thinking how to alter this world. Even we live in dull cities, creativity can be possible if you think in a different way.

Where would you like to be in ten years?

I would love to chase my dream to be a creative crafter and live on my business , crafting for people all over the globe.

If you could share one tip with a new Etsy seller, what is the most important thing to learn and why?

I think the most important thing is to love what you are doing. Doing business on Etsy is not easy and the only power to lead you along the long journey is your love to what you do.

Natasha, I really love your view points of loving what you do and doing it for all the right reasons. Your artwork is amazing. Thank you for sharing your journey and your work with us! I wish you the best of luck on Etsy and throughout your craft!

Tuesday Treasury: Mason Jars!

2012-04-17T11:43:00.000-07:00

I know I have said this before, but if you weren't listening... here it is again. I LOVE mason jars! Its a weird quirk, I know... but I can't help it!

You can use mason jars for just about anything. From packaging small salads to take to work, to sipping coffee or cocktails to baking pies and of course the obvious, canning.... mason jars are the best invention ever! (If I do say so myself!)

Check out this weeks treasury!

Check out all the awesome mason jar items on this weeks treasury!

<3 Etsy!

And a little mason jar pie recipe that I use to really convince you that mason jars are the best: check out this Apple Pie recipe from Our Best Bites !