Entries Tagged 'Featured Etsy Shops' ↓

For a long time now, I’ve been wanting to feature an Etsy seller who sold items made from supplies purchased from me. I’m always fascinated to see what people make after I send them a set of beads. I finally have my chance now with Etsy seller Beadworks by Kerri. She recently contacted me to show me what she made with the light blue flower-shaped beads she had purchased from me (see below). And I’m so glad she did!

Wedgewood Blue Spring Fairy Necklace

I sell a variety of handmade beadwoven and wire wrap jewelry items. I tend to do more beadweaving than anything else because it’s my favorite. Although my biggest sellers are the shawl pins.

What inspires you in your work?
Most of my inspiration comes from the stones themselves. I might have a stone for months or even years before it “speaks” to me and I then start a piece using that stone. Nature has a definite influence on my color and stone choices too.

What other types of art do you make for fun?
I still like to crochet smaller items like neck scarves and I dabble with sewing, cross stitch and scrap booking. I love making scrap books of trips Randy and I have taken.

I’d like to thank all of my customers for supporting the handmade industry.

Right now my work is only available for sale through Etsy, at
www.beadworksbykerri.etsy.com. I’m thinking about putting together a professional website and my dream is to open up a gallery someday.

Beadwoven Cobalt Blue and Emerald Green Necklace

My featured Etsy shop today is baronika5, a shop featuring jewelry made using a combination of polymer clay and filigree components – something I’d never seen before!

Red square filigree earrings

“My name is Rony and I am a Multidisciplinary artist. I design unique and colorful jewelry with several mediums as polymer clay, fused glass, silver and more, all inspired by flowers and other beautiful things around me.”

Tell me a little about yourself.
I’m an Israeli artist.
I’m married and have two children.
I live in a small city near the Mediterranean Sea.
I have a business degree from an Israeli University and for the last seven years I worked as a broker at the biggest bank in Israel.
In high school I studied art and fashion design.
I have always had a passion for art, I create in several mediums, such as polymer clay, ceramic, glass, sew, silver.
A few months ago I left my day job at the bank and now I am a full time artist, I feel blessed waking up every morning, doing what I love in my studio.

How did you name your shop?
My shop name is Baronika; I’ve just randomly changed my own name words, until I reached a satisfying sound.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about starting their own small business selling handmade goods?
I really believe that people need to follow their dream.
However, turning a hobby into a business is quite a challenge. You’ve got to be prepared to treat it like a job and realize that there will be some obstacles, both financial wise and personal wise. If you have interesting, unique, colorful or beautiful products, people will notice.

Gold and turquoise filigree necklace

Baronika5 jewelry can be found online at http://baronika5.etsy.com, http://baronikadesigns.etsy.com, and http://ronyrb.etsy.com

It’s been a while since I’ve featured an Etsy seller, and I’m happy to be starting up again. The first seller in my renewed series is Alison Kelley Designs, who sells handcrafted limited edition jewelry in a wide range of styles.

Blue Blossom Jade Earrings - Blue Jade Briolette, Bali Sterling Silver Flower Ear Wires

“My designs are eclectic, this is because I like so many different styles myself that I like to also offer a wide range of styles to my customers as well.”

How did you get started making jewelry?
I started tinkering with jewelry making back in High School. I used to wear these great big hoop earrings and with my long curly hair getting tangled in them I tore my ear piercing to a point were I could no longer wear french hooks, I was stuck wearing posts. Posts were very hard to find so came the need for me to make my own earrings. I have been making jewelry for over 17 years now, mostly off and on for family and friends. It wasn’t until the Summer of 2006 that I was inspired once again to start making jewelry. While visiting my mom we went shopping. We can across some pretty beads and my mom asked me if I could make her a necklace to match a top she had. I was so happy to make her something and I immediately fell in love once again with making jewelry. I began making piece after piece and with my great and supportive friends those pieces quickly sold, thus the start of Alison Kelley Designs.

What other types of art do you make for fun?
I enjoy all sorts of crafts, I like to sew, and paint, I love building things and working with tools. Give me a tool any day over any other kind of gift.

What inspires you in your work?
Everything around me in an inspiration, the garden, my swimming pool, the walk to my kids school, I see something that sparks a design or color combination. Color plays a huge part of my designs, I live to be surrounded by vibrant colors. Colors make me happy and I try to have a bit of every color under the rainbow in my jewelry. Something for everyone. After all wearing color with color is the best style advice I give.

What is your day job?
I am a business owner, a wife and I am a stay at home mom. I’ve got three sons ages 11, 9, and 5. They keep me quite busy but I am ever so thankful to have an outlet/business that I can do from home so I can still take care of my family’s needs.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about starting their own small business selling handmade goods?
Be true to yourself. Do and make what you like, if you don’t enjoy doing it then why bother. Have a business plan or some kind. Think of where you see yourself in say, 5 years. It’s good to visualize your goals and dreams, they are more likely to come true.

Lovely Red and Turquoise Necklace - Red Sponge Coral Tear Drops and Beads, Turquoise Heishe Beads, Sterling Silver

You can find Alison Kelley Designs online at http://alisonkelleydesigns.etsy.com, in a local boutique called Elegant Corner (San Jose, CA) and at the occasional craft fair.

Today’s featured Etsy seller is Carole Lago, who is a fellow member of Worldwide Women Artists Online (WWAO). She’s an amazing woman who creates beautiful glass pieces.

I have been creating one kind of art or another for most of my life. I have tried and liked many mediums. . . Painting t-shirts, oil painting, charcoals, sewing, quilting, making jewelry, decoupage. . .
Then I discovered glass and fell in love. After a couple of stained glass classes, I realized that I could work with glass and not have to use a set pattern. It could be as free flowing as I could imagine while I was working on it and if my mood or vision changed, I could pick up where I was at the moment and convey that to my glass.

How did I get started???
I have had a couple of great shops where I sold my items. My start was decoupaging hurricane shades with handmade paper and making earring holders on frames with screen. One of the shop owners made a comment to me that something she would be interested in was jewelry boxes. I kept that idea with me, but became a little sidetracked. I was diagnosed with breast cancer. With all that icky stuff going on in my life, I needed something that would get me to a place where I could create beauty and become whole again. Light bulbs and fireworks went off in my head, (no, it wasn’t the drugs) and another evolution in my work happened!
I loved the idea of functional art, so I began with jewelry boxes. They evolved into making serving trays with inlaid art glass as well as poster sized wall hangings – all with art glass. My inspiration is the beauty that is my life and my love of making things that bring joy and a smile to people’s faces.

My day job??
I am a certified canine massage therapist. I incorporate therapeutic massage, reiki and aromatherapy on my 4 legged clients. I work on large and small dogs and love to work with older dogs that have arthritis, post surgical dogs or active dogs with aches and muscle pains – it enhances their quality of life. I use therapeutic grade essential oils and make my own essential oil blends. They are sold locally and also on Etsy at: www.pawsneffect.etsy.com

Advice???
Appreciate your talent and know that it was a gift from whatever source you believe in. Don’t be discouraged by setbacks, listen to comments and advice with discernment, listen to your heart.
Produce a high quality product that is your one of a kind work of art.

Carole’s work can be purchased through her Etsy shop, and you can see even more on Yessy.

Today’s featured Etsy seller is TheHouseofMouse. She is not only the founder of the Sellers Assisting Sellers Team on Etsy, but she is also the owner of a shop featuring little handmade felt mouse characters, in a large variety of styles, all with their own little personalities. What perfect gifts for Christmas!

How did you get started making your art?
I have always loved making things ever since I was a very little girl, but the mice are a relatively recent addition to my creative endeavors. I originally made them as Christmas gifts for my family last year, a Photographer Mouse for my father who loves taking pictures, an Artist Mouse for my painter friend, Reading mice for my bookworm friends etc… They went down so well that I decided to sell them. I can hardly believe how well they have been received!

What inspires you in your work?
When I first came up with the idea the inspiration came from my friends and family, since I made each mouse with a certain person in mind. After Christmas I was inundated with other suggestions from the people that received them! I regularly think of other mice to make while doing my everyday things, I’ll be watching a movie and think “Oh, a Supermouse would be cool!” sometimes it is from finding an object and trying to see it from a mouse-size point of view. For example the Gladiator Mouse’s shield is actually a particularly ugly earring I picked up at a car boot sale. Suffice it to say the ideas hit me all the time. I also regularly get suggestions from people visiting my shop or MySpace page. And there is continued stream of suggestions from my friends. I have a little book I always carry with me to keep my ideas in.

What other types of art do you make for fun?
Before the mice I was a professional oil painter, it was my main source of income for a long time, but after a few bad customers I decided to stop trying to make money from it and just to start painting for myself again. You can see my oil paintings here if you are interested www.annagreaves.com. I also love less serious crafting, I am learning to knit and I want to get back into working with clay some time soon. I would love to learn to play the guitar too. There are so many types of creativity I want to master!

The cute little mice of TheHouseofMouse are currently only available on Etsy, but soon TheHouseofMouse will have its own web site.

Yes, it’s been a super long time since I featured an artist on my blog, but I felt inspired to start again. I love to share some of the amazing work that is for sale on Etsy.

The first featured artist in my new series is Karen Faulkner, who creates watercolor paintings. She offers only originals (no prints), and her work features primarily simple, abstract florals. In fact, I recently purchased one of her beautiful paintings for my new studio.

I think they have a modern appeal about them and people tell me they love the simplicity. – Karen Faulkner

How did you get started making your art?
I’ve been painting for more than ten years and it has gradually grown from being an occasional past time to being one of the main focuses in my life. I’ve had an extremely difficult year personally in 2008 and have really taken refuge in my art. When I’m painting watercolors, I feel like my most essential self, like anything artificial has been stripped away. I’m so glad to have found Etsy as a way to share my artwork with people all over the world. The first time I shipped one of my paintings to another country, it was so exciting!

What inspires you in your work?
I’m inspired by nature of course, and the glorious Pennsylvania countryside around me. There is also an influence of Asian painting style in my work. I try to also communicate emotion in my painting and am often inspired by feelings and relationships. I strive to let the brushstrokes tell a story.

What is your day job?
My professional background is in marketing communications. I have an MBA with a concentration in marketing. I’ve worked on writing and layout of a variety of promotional stuff over the years, including direct mail, brochures, business proposals and websites. Over the past few years I’ve been working less on these kinds of external projects and more on creating my art and building my art business. So I guess you could say I’m taking a leap of faith and have basically quit my day job!

Karen Faulkner’s art can be found in her Etsy shop, and she also sells through local merchants on occasion.

Today’s featured Etsy seller is PhotosbyFoosa, one of Etsy’s many talented photographers.

How would you describe your photography?
As unique and interesting

What are your favorite subjects to photograph?
Animals are definitely my favorite thing to photograph as you can see from my shop.

How did you get started in photography?
I had been taking photos as an amateur when a friend of mine who is a pro. offered to sell me his used pro camera because I had taken mine as far as I it could technically go..it wasn’t doing what I needed it to and I accepted his offer and he has taught me everything I know.

What inspires you in your work?
The beauty in the things around me really inspires my work.

How did you name your shop?
I named my shop PhotosBYFoosa after the foosa from Madagascar, the movie because that is my dogs nick name instead of Randi we usually call her Foosa cause she acts wild like a foosa from Madagascar.

What is your day job?
I am currently employed as a bus aide for a 12 year old autistic boy.

What other types of jobs have you worked?
I have been a pet sitter,a drywall, Hanger and taper and a day care aide

Where is your work available for sale?
Currently only on Etsy

Today’s featured Etsy shop is Katrin Lerman Jewelry, a shop featuring handmade jewelry.

Each piece is created entirely by using sterling silver wire and high quality genuine gemstones. First, I create the desired shape/shell for a piece out of thick sterling silver wire. Then I string on the gemstones and wrap the entire piece with feet upon feet of thin sterling silver wire to give it a finished look. I add tiny sterling silver beads to the frame during wrapping to give it more dimension.

How did you get started making your art?

I have been making jewelry for a long time now. I started with friendship bracelets and then went on to beading. Then, when I moved here from Germany, I took metalsmithing classes in and really thought I found my art. But after becoming pregnant, I felt it was too dangerous to work with the torch and everything that was needed in a jeweler’s workroom. So I started with wire wrapping because it gives you lot’s of flexibility in the type of forms to create and also the solid sterling silver feel of traditional metalsmithing pieces. I love how I can work on it anywhere and I’m not confined to a studio. In fact, I do it with my baby playing right next to me.

What inspires you in your work?

Everything around me! I can be inspired by the movies I watch, my childhood or even by the gemstones I buy. Often I also think about possible design while sitting in the dark holding my baby girl until she falls asleep. That is the best time for me to work on some designs and shapes in my mind without caring about time.

What other types of art do you make for fun?

I have so many ideas for other crafts but no time that I try to stop myself before I get started. Nonetheless, supplies for the most random things are collecting in my home. Just recently I did actually start to make embroidered felt accessories with my sister as a balance to creating silver jewelry. It is so much fun creating those colorful pieces and working with my sister that we ended up opening another shop on Etsy to sell those items. It’s www.kaleidoscopestyle.etsy.com. So when I’m out with my baby girl I wear them because they are child friendly so that I don’t have to worry when she pulls on them. I’m always scared when she is trying to touch my silver and gemstone jewelry. Too many breakable parts!

I have chosen six very talented Etsy photographers for you to consider. It was extremely difficult to choose only six; the talent in photography on Etsy is just incredible. The photographer with the most votes by next Wednesday (Feb. 20) will be interviewed and featured in my blog in the near future. Please look at all six photographers’ shops before voting. Thank you!

Today’s featured Etsy shop is Designs in Floral, a shop featuring a variety of home and gift items created with pressed flowers. This includes intricate artwork, greeting cards, bookmarks, candles, pendants, and soaps.

I asked the owner of Designs in Floral a few questions about herself and her work.

Tell me about yourself. How did you get started making your art?

My mom is a florist so she makes beautiful arrangements with fresh, silk and dried flowers. I always loved helping my Mom gather flowers on the side of the road to dry. However, I was often disappointed that the brightest flowers could not be hung upside down to dry, and continue to be pretty. That is how my business got started. I went to a single class about how to press flowers and I was immediately hooked. To this day, I love to stop on the side of the road looking for flowers to dry. Now I pick those beautifully colored flowers and immediately press them to preserve their beauty. Then I make my own version of flower arrangements for you to enjoy. I love to take the pressed flowers and see how many new ways I can use them. My favorite things to do with them are to use them as my “paint”. A piece of fern becomes a evergreen tree, hydrangea petals transform into lakes or streams, and the stem from a tiger lily can become bark on a tree. Its always an adventure to create something new, because I don’t have any two flowers exactly the same.

What is your day job?

I have a variety of “jobs” I do. I work in my home as a Mom of 3 children (soon to be 4!). That alone is enough to keep me busy, but I also work part time as a medical assistant for a doctors office, as well as some volunteer work with my church. Sometimes I wish I had more time to create art, but I love everything I do. You can learn more about me on my own blog: http://designsinfloral.blogspot.com

What advice would you give to someone thinking about starting their own small business selling handmade goods?

My only advice would be to GO FOR IT! It has been a great creative outlet for me to run my own business. I’ve stretched my capabilities with not only my craft, but also with learning how to run a business and create and maintain a website. It will keep you busy, but it will also keep you learning and expanding your mind.

Where is your work available for sale?

I sell at local craft shows and my online stores: http://www.designs-in-floral.com and http://designsinfloral.etsy.com.