On Creating Change

Sometimes we must make our own light at the end of the tunnel.

Neglectful

I have been ridiculously neglectful of this blog! The reason? I've been blogging every day at:


derbyfitness2012


which tracks my progress on a 90-day fitness challenge.


It's a reason, not an excuse. There is no excuse for my actions. 


To atone for my absence, I will today photograph my new necklace project, and post the photos here. They are amazing. You will want one.


Yes, you! Trust me. To get you in the mood for these necklaces, I offer your daily belly laugh in the form of a YouTube video. Enjoy.

Featured Crafters: Things I Think are Cool

Crochet slipper pattern from Broken Hallelujah

Roller derby hair clip from Marmalade Creations

Custom alphabet pillows from Hilary Cosgrove

Crocheted mug sweater from knotworkshop

Knitted frog dissection from aKNITomy

Featured Crafter: Rebecca George of purpleandlime

Tropical Flowers Wristlet

Please welcome Rebecca George of purpleandlime on Etsy, this week's featured crafter. Huzzah for bacon!

How do you find out about craft fairs in your area? Do you belong to a crafter's alliance?

I find out about craft shows in the area through word-of-mouth, Facebook, and Twitter (and sometimes I hear about a show at another show!). I'm a member of the Chicago Style Crafters Etsy group and we have regular meetings in the city. I do all of my own research for my fashion inspiration. I do not sell exclusively online; my jewelry and accessories are sold at two shops here in Chicago (Wolfbait and B-Girls, and Paper Boy) along with various craft shows.

Raven pin

What was the impulse to start your business?

The impulse to start my own business has been there since I was a child and wanted to be a fashion designer- I knew I would have to start my own line to express myself through fashion. After many office jobs that didn't make me happy, I figured it was now or never to use my fashion degree I had worked so hard to get in London, England.

What is your niche? Why did you choose that niche?

My niche is catering to women who love fun and color. I have heard from many of my customers that my work has a sense of humor, and that makes sense as I value humor in regular life (I love comedy, esp. British shows like Ab Fab, etc).

Froggie necklace

Which colors interest you the most right now? What is inspiring you, creatively?

Right now I am very fascinated by flowers and bold spring colors like yellow, orange, kelly green, and shades of blue. I always love to work with jersey and wool, as well as recycled eco-felt because it is so versatile and can be used on clothing and in accessories. My current collection is entitled "Houses"- inspired by dollhouses, attics, and garden flowers.

Banana and chimp earrings

What piece of advice do you wish you had, when starting your business?

The advice I wish I had when I started was to not be afraid to ask other artists and business owners for advice! The amount I have learned from others has been so valuable and taught me so much. Pass that advice along!

What question would you like to ask our readers?

I would like to ask your readers what their favorite color is because I am fascinated with color. My boyfriend is color-blind and I always wish I could see how he sees for a day.

Bacon! Mini purse!

Are you obsessed with bacon?

LOL! I am obsessed with images and art with bacon themes, despite being a vegetarian since age 16, a big animal lover, and part Jewish. I make bacon and other breakfast items because I love iconographic, bold pop-art (like Warhol), and find it very humorous. My paternal grandfather worked for a national hot-dog and sausage company, so packaged meat was always around as a kid.

Where can we find you online?

My Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/purpleandlime

Facebook Fan Page: www.facebook.com/purpleandlimefashion

Twitter: www.twitter.com/purpleandlime

Tumblr Blog: purpleandlime.tumblr.com

Thanks for the interview, Rebecca! Readers, what say you? I say, "More bacon!"

Featured Crafter: Sara Lombard from Lilly's Paper

Butterfly Scalloped Tags

Please join me for our Friday Featured Crafter interview. Today: Sara Lombard from Lilly's Paper.

Do you sell exclusively online? What are your plans for increasing sales this year?

For the moment I do sell online exclusively. This year I plan to expand and contact a few stores to carry my items. My jewelry store is already located in two stores so I don't see a problem trying to get a few more items in.

What was the impulse to start your business?

The impulse to start my business came out of a need. I have a jewelry shop on Etsy and found myself spending lots of money for packing supplies, so I decided instead of buying one item here and there, I would begin making items for myself and offering some to Etsy sellers. I would offer great packaging at great prices, and my shop would be a one stop location.

Cottage Linens Envelope Seals

What is your niche? What sets you apart?

My niche is catering to Etsy sellers, that's my one main purpose. After that I find myself selling to brides, people hosting parties, or for those who bought presents and need to wrap them. I believe what sets me apart is the fact that I try to specialize in one item (envelope stickers) and my shop carries enough of them so you are sure to find something that matches what you need.

Paper Punch-Outs for Crafting

Which materials/colors/techniques interest you the most right now? What is inspiring you, creatively?

Paper is my top interest, colors seem to change with my moods. Sometimes I enjoy bright bold colors, other days the muted blues really speak to me. I think more of the shabby chic colors sell; this may just be because it's my own personal favorite and I probably stock my store with more of those colors than any of the others.

Blue Floral Instant Packaging

What piece of advice do you wish you had, when starting your business?

Do it right the first time. It'll save you a lot of time and trouble down the road. An example? PHOTOS. Take a good photo the first time and have it be the last time you have to take a photo of that item. Don't post a bad photo just to get an item listed, work on that photo until its the best it can be and then upload the item. This way you'll never have to do it again.

Scrapbooking Paper Pack

What question would you like to ask our readers?

How do you package your Etsy purchases? Is packaging important to you? Do you agree that little touches like a ribbon or a sticker really improve the value of a gift?

Thanks so much for the interview, Sara. Readers? What say you?

Featured Crafter: Michelle Dempsey of Talia Custom Designs

Fancy Flower-Topped Bowl Cover

Please welcome Michelle Dempsey of Talia Custom Designs to our legion of Featured Crafters. I am IN LOVE WITH her bowl covers. My grandma had these, only hers were made of plastic and elastic, and they were a bitch to clean. Of course, grandma didn't have an automatic dishwasher--all of those horrible plastic bowl covers had to be hand-washed. These covers are bright! And groovy! And machine washable! Does it get better? I think not.

Onward with the interview!



How do you find out about craft fairs in your area? Do you belong to a crafter's alliance? Do you do all your own research? Do you sell online exclusively?


I have a few local crafty friends that I can have "craft" talk but I'm currently not in a crafter's alliance and haven't been in craft fairs. yet. I just started my business, again, after taking a hiatus to focus on family life. I want to establish my work and store before I venture into craft fairs. I hope to do it sometime in the very near future. In the meantime, I'm working on selling wholesale in addition to online.

Groovy Green Bowl Covers

What was the impulse to start your business?


The joy and passion of creating things started my hobby. Having such satisfaction after finishing each product, I decided to share my finished product with other people. I was in the corporate world for 10 years before getting married and having kids. Even with my successful career, I didn't feel complete. I always admire other people who follow their dreams and do things they truly enjoy with the talent given to them, whether it be playing sports, performing on stage, or creating an amazing recipe. I, now, feel like one of the people I would admire.

Brownie Pan Cover

What is your niche? What sets you apart?


Finding a niche was the most challenging part of starting my business. I had doubts on whether my items would sell or who would buy them so rather than having that as my main focus, I decided to make products that are fun and bring me joy. When sales are down, my passion is what keeps me motivated. I feel multiple niches can enjoy my products.

Which materials or colors interest you the most right now? What is inspiring you, creatively?

With Spring around the corner, I've been inspired to make things with bright colorful fabric as well as items that are appropriate for the warmer weather.

Brown and Blue Bowl Cover

What piece of advice do you wish you had, when starting your business?


Have fun! Enjoying what you are doing is a strong motivator. Another advice is to not get overworked and take time to do other things that I enjoy. When it gets to be too much work, it's not so much fun anymore.

Ultra-Groovy Rainbow Flower Bowl Covers

What question would you like to ask our readers?

What do you enjoy the most about handmade products? What attracts you to handmade sellers?

Thanks for joining us today, Michelle! Readers, what answers do you have?

Featured Crafter: Maria Konstantin

Crochet beads

This week's featured crafter is Maria Konstantin. Her Etsy shop has the most delightful crocheted items. Maria is from Bulgaria, so I have edited her responses for clarity. Enjoy.

Where do you sell your crafts?

I sell my creations exclusively online in my Etsy shop: www.MariaKonstantin.etsy.com. I totally love it and I spend every spare minute working on my products and my shop.

Rose brooch

What was your inspiration for your business?

I was always obsessed by crochet and knitting. I remember it was back in December, 2008, when I lost my day job, which made me look for opportunities to help my husband with supporting our family. So one day I came across Etsy and it was like, wow that is my thing! To create and make money out of what I love to do the most. Later, I got a new day job, but I just could not give up on my shop. Now I try to balance between my two jobs, which is not always easy to do.

Flower garland

What do you love to create most?

What I love to create the most are the crochet beads and making necklaces with them. But I must say those beads were not the products that I started my shop with. I was always thinking of necklaces that are made out of fibers, textiles, cotton thread - soft materials, mostly pure cotton and I wanted the best part of the necklace to be NO metal parts. So I came up with the idea of the cotton crochet beads strung on crochet cord or ribbon. I think they are perfect for little ladies.

Amigurumi fruits

What are your favorite materials? What is inspiring you right now?

Like I said before, cotton thread is my favorite material and the round wooden beads too, which I use for my crochet beads. What inspires me are the colors that I see around me. If a certain color pops in front of me I always start playing with color combinations in my mind. Lately I get inspired by fruits, too. That is why I started making my crochet amigurumi fruit necklaces. I just love them!

Lilac ruffle wrist warmer

What piece of advice do you wish you had, when starting your business?

At the beginning of my Etsy adventure I wish I was told that pictures and descriptions are very very important for selling online.

Thanks for participating, Maria! Readers, she obviously has some great photography skills--what photo tips do you have to share?

Featured Crafter: Amy Castle of Rainy Roots Studio

Pear III

Please welcome Amy Castle of Rainy Roots Studio on Etsy. Her art makes me happy. What about you?

Please tell us about yourself and your art.

My earliest memories of being really happy and feeling worthwhile and “good” are of my elementary art classes. I was horrible at math and science but was really lucky to have had some phenomenal art teachers early on. That, along with a loving mom who really couldn’t

afford to, but encouraged and bought any and all art supplies I wanted – and trust me I LOVED art supplies, and that love has not changed one bit. You name it, I have it! That exposure has led to my interest in many different mediums over the years.

Without question, art is my therapy. Although I have studied art all my life, my degree is in Interior Design and I’ve been in the design field for 25 years. It is my “bread and butter” although I’d love nothing better than to be able to work full-time as an artist/craftsperson and hope to do so at some point. I am really concerned about the Earth we all share and I feel like if each of us would just make little changes for the “greater good” we’d all reap the benefits. I’m that person who hangs on to stuff “cause I can make something from this” and drives everyone nuts…cardboard, bubble wrap, used dryer sheets, potato bag netting…..you name it! That’s why, for me, my pop can art makes me feel like I’m doing my little part to bring attention to

recycling and upcycling. Things CAN be made from what most people throw away!

Hand-stamped cards

Do you vend in shows? Do you sell online exclusively?

I have done shows in the past although not for the pop can art I’m currently doing, but I’ve never had much success. I’ve been encouraged by fellow artisans to do a few shows this summer, so I may just check it out again. It is nice to give people the chance to see and touch my art in person.

What was the impulse to start your business?

I don’t remember ever not having that impulse! My experiences with working for others have not been positive, so I’ve come to the conclusion over the years that self-employment is the only way I can grow and be happy.

Cupcakes II

What is your niche? What sets you apart?

Honestly, with everything I do, I strive for originality from beginning to end. Everything is always my original art to start with. Many of my pop can designs started out as original hand-cut stamps that I make (you can see an example on my Etsy site) and stamp onto recycled stock for greeting cards. I avoid using other people’s art--I want it to be ALL MINE!

Which materials/colors/techniques interest you the most right now? What is inspiring you,
creatively?

I continue to love the process of creating a hand-carved image and then creating a print with that image. I am also really quite obsessed with letter type and fonts…I have a friend who calls me a font geek and that’s fine with me. I love doing custom work for people – names, monograms, etc. I love the process of embossing a design into the metal from a pop can – it gives me immediate gratification, which I really need! None of this working on a piece for days stuff for me…I want it NOW! I have to say though that the process of getting the can to that stage is quite a tedious one – All the cans are cut by hand with my special scissors, cleaned and hand-flattened. (Let me just say that I am a manicurists dream.) I live on 8 acres in the country and am continually inspired by my woods, the farm next door and the textures and colors in the landscape that’s all around me.

Bunny Rabbit Block

What piece of advice would you give to someone starting a business?

• Be very organized right from the start…it’s much harder as you get busier. Keep good accounting records and save all business related receipts…mileage, office supplies, etc.
• Be proud of your work. It’s yours – All yours!
• Be thankful and say “thank you” a lot. Even if someone shows interest but doesn’t buy, let them know you appreciate them and they may come back later to purchase something. The internet is a cold, faceless, impersonal world; make it more personal whenever you can.
• Don’t be afraid to self-promote: Mention your art business in conversation, do a Facebook page with a link to a website or shop, Tweet about your art AND others’ art. Make friends in these social media outlets and promote their stuff, too. These efforts will pay off if you are consistent.
• Try to be patient. It takes a little while for the rest of the world to realize that you’re an artistic GENIOUS! (still waiting…)

Spring Blooms

What question would you like to ask our readers?

I’m wondering how many other sellers are involved in shows and whether they feel it is a good investment in time and money. Also, how do they get information on what shows are coming to their area, and how do you know which shows are consistently good?

Where can the readers find you online?

Twitter: http://twitter.com/RainyRoots
Facebook: http://facebook.com/RainyRootsStudio
Etsy: http://RainyRootsStudio.etsy.com

Thanks so much for your participation here, Amy. So, readers! What answers do you have?

Featured Crafter: Becky Fowler of Harriet's Haven on Etsy

Dinner napkins

Please welcome Becky Fowler of Harriet's Haven on Etsy. Her delightful designs make ordinary items special. I hope you enjoy her interview.

How has owning and running a business changed you? Is your life better? Worse? More stressful?

Owning my own business has been wonderful in the sense that I get to keep my own schedule and balance the daily activities according to my family's needs - not someone else's. I find that I am free to make my own decisions and am more relaxed and easy-going. My husband and children benefit from that because I am there when they need me, and I am better able to make sure their needs are met. I love that my job is creative and the success of it relies on the time I put into it. The only complaint I have is that there never seem to be enough hours in the day to work on all of the ideas in my head.

Ladybug snack bag

What was the impulse to start your business?

I've always had a creative side. I can remember as early as elementary school and making papier-maché birds and watercolor paintings. During the summer months, I created wizard hats, wands, capes and other things out of construction paper, glue and glitter. They were quite impressive! When friends came over, we rode our bikes around the block while wearing my creations. I braided bracelets out of embroidery thread and set up a stand near the road and went door-to-door in hopes of making a sale. I tried to convince my friends that it would be more fun to draw fashion designs instead of playing outside. I loved all of this.

Later on, I continued art classes in high school and took a couple of photography courses in college. It was evident that a creative lifestyle was my calling, but it wasn't until 2008 when a friend told me about Etsy that I realised there was a global marketplace for people like me. By that time, I was ready to leave my bank teller position, so I began working on product development almost right away.

Stegosaurus gathering bag

What is your niche? What sets you apart? Why did you choose that niche?

My products have fallen into an eco-friendly type of category and are perfect for people concerned about our environment. Even though all of my products are made from new material, they are made from natural cotton and burlap. They serve the purpose of replacing costly and wasteful products such as plastic sandwich bags and brown paper lunch bags. My draft dodgers serve the purpose of cutting energy costs and blocking drafts caused by poor insulation. My new line of clothes pin bags reinforce the importance of saving energy and line-drying clothing when possible. There are items similar to mine on the market, but my products are unique in that they are all meticulously stenciled with one of my original designs. The designs are either nature-inspired or kid-friendly and appeal to many tastes. As I have gotten older I have become more aware and concerned about environmental issues, so I feel it is important to incorporate eco-friendly items into our everyday lives. Since I enjoy making the products, it has been a pleasure to offer them to others.

Burlap kitty placemat

What inspires you creatively? Do you think you will go off on a tangent and change things, or do you prefer to keep things the same?

Many things inspire me, but if i had to choose 3 things, I would say my children, nature and travel. I am constantly amazed at what my kids accomplish and I especially enjoy seeing what my oldest (age 5) creates. When she finishes a piece of art work, I can visualize how she interprets an idea. Both of my children seem to have a bit of musical talent which they get from their dad, so I can't wait to see how that develops through the years. Many ideas come from nature and things seen while traveling, especially color, shape and formation of objects.

I love what I do, so I will continue on this path, but I plan to offer more choices in design and product. I'm still working on adding all of my clothespin bags to my shop, and I plan on adding another line (to be announced) before the end of the year. Because I love photography, I have prints available in another shop: legendsphotography.etsy.com. And to round everything out, I love searching for vintage items, so I have began offering them for sale in this shop: nobodysdarlings.etsy.com. In this shop, there will soon be handmade products made from vintage fabrics and other repurposed objects to fill my need to create with other media.

Orange flower clothespin bag

What piece of advice do you wish you had, when starting your business?

I guess the biggest piece of advice I wish I had would be about the financial part of running a business. It's easy to keep records of purchases and sales, and I do have a little background in accounting, but I still find tax time to be stressful. Other than that, I wish I would have paid attention to those who told me to keep at it. I wasted too many years at various jobs that I was unhappy with. My mom would often tell me to keep creating, crafting, and photographing. A few years after high school graduation, I was approached by my art teacher and she was disappointed that I hadn't followed the creative path at that time. But because this has finally happened, I am truly grateful for the support of my husband and family and friends and all of my wonderful customers.

Where else can we find you online?

Here is my Facebook page: facebook.com/harrietshaven

And I have a blog, too: harriets-haven.blogspot.com

Thanks for the interview, Becky! Readers, what is your favorite item in her shop?

Featured Crafter: Cari Shannon of Coquette Bath on Etsy

This week's featured crafter is Cari Shannon of Coquette Bath. Her interview has a lot of good information for crafters starting a business. There are several lessons to learn, here. Take one!



How do you find out about craft fairs in your area? Do you do all your own research? What about selling online?

I find craft fairs from eventlister.com. Once at a show, I do ask the other vendors where they sell and if they’d recommend a show. It’s also very helpful to find shows not to do! I do shows, mostly in the fall, and I sell on Etsy, Artfire and eCrater. I also have a standalone website: www.coquettebath.com


What was the impulse to start your business?

I owned a gift store from 2001-2006. When I’d go to Market, I couldn’t find the ‘right’ items for my store. After a bit of frustration, including finding a product I’d just ordered ‘stacked high and sold cheap’ at JCPenney, I decided to learn how to pour candles. After that was mastered, and they were selling briskly in my store, I branched out into other areas, based on consumer request. My product line now includes votive candles (by request only), jar candles, fragrance oil, sachets, soap (3 kinds), lotion bars, lotion (returning soon), lip balm, perfume, sugar cube scrub, and bath bombs. With all of the scents/flavors offered, I probably have about 350 different choices for my customers at any one time.

Solid Lotion

What is your niche? What sets you apart?


As mentioned, I had a store. It was rather fun and a touch funky…and that was what I wanted to find. Something made with great ingredients, but also something colorful and happy. I could find a lot of lines that were ‘spa’ themed. Or luxury themed. Or geared to kids. But nothing that was what I envisioned. So I made it myself.

Nom nom sugar scrub

Which materials/colors/techniques interest you the most right now? What is inspiring you, creatively?


We’re coming into spring, and I’m a super floral lover, so this is a good time for me! I’ve already introduced a new line: Simple Indulgence Soaps that has a lot of wonderful floral scents such as Sweet Pea and Gardenia that are hard to find in soap. I’ll be pouring candles very soon in springtime fragrances. But honestly, most of my products come from noticing a lack in a category, introducing a new product and listening to my customers. Of course, customer requests are also very welcome! A few top sellers have come from a simple ‘hey can you make X product in this scent?’

Kiss lip balm

What piece of advice do you wish you had, when starting your business?


Knowing how to get folks to find me. I’m somewhat dense with the entire social networking/online promotion thing. When I went to college, I learned to program computers with punch cards! Not joking. I worked, as a student employee, on one of the very first intranets. But I’m not ‘tech’. I’m creative. And understanding this world is not easy for me. So, knowing more about it would be a blessing.







What question would you like to ask our readers?


Well, I’m always very interested to know what you like. Feel free to drop me a comment through my Etsy shop. I’m there everyday, reading and learning. You can also reach me through my website email at ‘info @ coquettebath dot com.’ Finally, I do have a Facebook page, but I don’t have it set up appropriately at the moment. Eventually, I’ll change it to reflect just business. Right now, it is a bit of a mix of everything. Finally, I do have a blog: www.coquettebath.com/blog


Thanks so much for the interview, Cari! Readers, what can you take from Cari's experience, to make your business better?