Friday, October 3, 2008

Friday Feature No. 28 -- Featuring Michelle Brusegaard

Happy Friday! It's been a long week that has flown by! I know that doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but my brain is becoming toddler-addled, due to having a toddler around who sometimes can run me ragged and make me forget things! :-)

Congratulations to Katherine B., who won the $50 gift certificate from Amazon.com! Congratulations to Michele, who won the $75 gift certificate from Red Ruby Rose.

I have to tell you, it was such an awesome thing to read all the wonderful comments about what you all are thankful for, or about someone who helped you out in some way. If you ever get frustrated with life, come back here and read the comments on the Amazon.com giveaway post! It will help you to be grateful and just feel super blessed!

Today, we are featuring Michelle Brusegaard, from Minneapolis. Michelle's shop has caught my eye several times, as I see her things in Etsy Gift Guides and treasuries alike. She is a very talented individual and I'm sure you will agree once you see her shop!

Let's get to know Michelle a little better.


TDB: What inspires you when it comes to crafting?
Michelle: I most frequently get inspired by new materials--a new paint medium, a new ink color, or a new pen. There's so many more possibilities with new tools and supplies! I spend a lot of time indoors at my computer, so when I do something simple like walk to the coffee shop (which is 3 blocks away...)I get a ton of new ideas just stepping back for a moment and looking at the foliage.


TDB: What is your favorite thing to create?
Michelle: This is an impossible question for me to answer. I am actively working on batik, screen-printing, oil painting, illustrating, card-making and photography. I tend to get tired of one and then switch to the other for a bit, which is most likely why I have taken up so many art forms. That said, I think I just realized what my favorite thing to do is: draw. Drawing is at the core of pretty much every creative thing I do, and it always sounds like fun to me.


TDB: What makes you smile?
Michelle: Right now? Last week my brother and sister-in-law found their cat that had been missing for 388 days, about a mile away from their house.

TDB: Who has been the greatest positive influence in your life, and why?
Michelle: I am just going to say "my family," as if they were one giant person. My grandmother introduced me to craftiness; my parents support it; and my husband has always encouraged me to apply for shows and keep at it. And my best friend Joj, who comes to all the craft shows as my booth buddy.


TDB: You're coming up on your 2 year anniversary on Etsy. What advice would you give to a new seller, that you wish someone would have told you back then?
Michelle:
1. List, list, re-list everyday, 2 or 3 times a day!
I'm sure you've heard it before, but I do believe it's the key to success! I once read a forum post where someone was recommending it--she compared it to purchasing an advertising slot on the etsy showcase, which costs $14/day. I'd purchased showcase spots before, and had gotten some new hearts, but not always a sale. Then I read about this re-listing business and thought I'd give it a try since it's only 20 cents, so maybe 60 cents a day on advertising, and my sales have gone way up since then.
2. Have a flickr account and a blog. It's a great way to share your work and a bit more about yourself.
3. Make things custom! People love something that's customized especially for them.
4. Be patient. It takes awhile to get the sales going. And while you're being patient, make new products and work on your techniques. Then when you do get busy, you'll have everything all figured out.
5. Don't forget to enjoy yourself. If you want to be your own boss, be the kind of boss that holds office olympics involving paper clip tossing and paper airplane making.


TDB: What new skill would you like to learn?
Michelle: Encaustic painting, hands down. It just looks so cool!


TDB: If you could have three wishes, what would they be?
Michelle: I have a bad habit of wasting wishes, I am always saying things like "I wish I had a coke," or "I wish I had the weekend off." But I will take the high road here, and wish for world peace, an end to poverty, and good health for everyone.


Thanks for sharing with us Michelle.
**********************************************************

Michelle is giving away winner's choice of either a photo or a print from her shop.

To enter:

Go visit Michelle's shop on Etsy, then come back here and comment on your favorite item in her shop. It doesn't have to be a photo or print, but certainly may be!

Deadline to enter is Thursday, October 9th at Midnight PST. Giveaway is open worldwide.

Please leave one comment per person, and be sure to leave a valid email address. If you don't leave an easy way to get ahold of you if you win, we will choose another winner.


Have a great weekend!

Angie

48 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'll be the first to comment! She has a great shop! Those invitations are so beautiful! I have three favorites though:

Her black lavender poppies towel: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15323644
Season's Greetings card set: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15785115
Five poppy card set: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15537363

Beautiful stuff! Thanks,
Michele
shellmonster@hotmail.com

windycindy said...

What a delightful site! I love her work. The "Set of 4 Screen Printed-
Sage with/Black Leaf Print Napkins are lovely. I also adore the Print from an Oil Painting-"Hydrangeas in Orange and Aqua!" Please enter me in your delightful drawing. Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Anonymous said...

The Red Cloth or Butter Yellow Napkins are my favorite right now.
They would be a lovely gift. The personalized notecards are a close second.

Anonymous said...

I like the Brown Flower Photo Print 8 x 10. Thanks for the contest. Charlotte
charlottewinters@cox.net

Sue Farrell said...

I really like the screen printed red poppy dish towels.

cman said...

I love the Set of Four Screen-printed Dishcloths-Mixed Set :)

Kirby McCauley said...

The Barbi Clothes on a Line would look so amazing in my black & white bathroom!

Jenn S. said...

I really like the color combination of the Red Cloth Napkins with Screen-printed Leafy Design in Light Blue. Beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Michelle is very talented. My favorite is the Print from an Oil Painting called Free Will.
-Terra
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

mrs.mommyy said...

like the screenprinted dishcloths Mrs.Mommyyatgmail.com

yellowlabs said...

My favorite is the Set of 4 screen-printed napkins-Red with Black Leaf Motif.

janeh said...

I LOVE EVERYTHING!!!

The prints with the tiny couch - one red, one blue - may be my favorites!

michele3873 said...

I love the Red Poppies Enclosure Cards that come in a set of five. The red poppies against the blue background of the envelope is just so cute.
michele3873(at)msn(dot)com

Annie1 said...

I love the "Lemon Scented Print", so original!

Beautiful work!

nancyrobster@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Lemon Scented Print

theyyyguy@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I love the desktop calendars.

rebbi511 at peoplepc.com

BlondieOH said...

I like the peaches and cream barbie dress

Anonymous said...

Pretty Birds is my pick photowise because I love birds :o)

dukier44 [at] aol.com

Anonymous said...

I love everything. Especially the Lemon scented print. johnlenoraplus2@yahoo.com

danosor said...

BARBIE CLOTHES ON A LINE looks amazing.

Croasla0 said...

i like the pink paper dolls photo! really neat things. I will bookmark this site to buy christmas presents, i lovee all of the notecards :)

lauren
croasla0(at)sewanee(dot)edu

Unknown said...

My favorite is the Set of 4 screen-printed napkins-Red with Black Leaf Motif.

Anonymous said...

I love the different look of the Brown Flower Photo Print-lovely!
Elaine R
emrosser@shaw.ca

Mia J. said...

My favorite thing is Set of 4 Screen-printed napkins-Sage with Black Leaf Print. They are very pretty.

Helen said...

Peaches and Cream Barbie Dress on a Clothesline Signed Digital Print is my favorite.

Sandi said...

i love the Barbie clothes on a clothesline print! darling! my email is ugogrl52@windstream.net

Sahm Lee said...

Brown Flower Photo is the one I like best! Wonderful art! Thanks for the contest!

Anonymous said...

Love the Silk Batik Scarf in Copper Brown and Chartreuse! All of the items are very unique and lovely. I'll be shopping on her site for Christmas!

Anonymous said...

I like the simple beauty of the 2009 desktop calendar.
doot65{at}comcast[dot]net
Elizabeth

Erica C. said...

I really like the Pretty Birds photo!

arvard said...

The screen printed red poppy dish towels are nice.

iggysaysno said...

Set of Four Cloth Napkins-Red Poppies on Cream

DEY said...

I like the Digital Collage Print- Self Portrait-signed. Would look great in my office. Thanks for the giveaway!

kygirl said...

Brown Flower Photo Print 8 x 10

kmbennet said...

I absolutely love Hydrangeas in Orange and Aqua. Thanx for the contest.

Anonymous said...

I like Michelle's Tyrones Boat-Original Oil Painting.

Viv said...

I really like the Peaches and Cream Barbie Dress on a Clothesline Signed Digital Print

Anonymous said...

Barbie Clothes on a line-8x 10 digital print is my favorite
hope to win
sula_nsb@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

Letterpress Peacocks in Chocolate and Curry-Set of 4 Cards with Curry Envelopes ARE SUPER DE DUPER DE CUTE! THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN!
rachelfox1981[at]yahoo[dot]com

mverno said...

the peaches and cream baby dress is lovely

Unknown said...

The Silk Batif Scarf-Yellow Gold with Wheat Design is my favorite. garrettsambo@aol.com

masonsgranny59 said...

BARBIE CLOTHES ON A LINE

Tammy said...

I so much like the screen Printed red poppy dishtowels

Aimee said...

I love the Print from an Oil Painting-Vintage Aqua Barbie Dress on Orange!

Unknown said...

I love "Digital Collage Print- Self Portrait-signed"!

Charlene Kuser said...

I love the Signed Print from an Oil Painting-The Top Became Her No. 2.The colors are fantastic,
a great conversation piece.
I love the abstract art.Please
enter me and thanks.I admire the
artwork

CharlieGurl57@aol.com

lilyk said...

I love the Hydrangeas in Orange and Aqua print!

janetfaye said...

I love the Print from an Oil Painting- Hydrangeas in Orange and Aqua. Hydrangeas are my favorite flower.

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com