Tuesday's Treasures on Etsy

Etsy Buy Handmade Moe & Madi

Etsy Buy Handmade K Nice Artworks

Etsy Buy Handmade Felt Love

Etsy Buy Handmade Loopy Knits Boutique

xoxo Michele

Have You Seen My Favorites?

I've been looking for them everywhere! Well, at least on Etsy, anyway. Have you noticed the 12 favorite items on the right? I'm looking for ideas of what to feature. Have a favorite color you want to see featured? Have a favorite "theme" you'd love to see? Let me know about it!

Hey! There are also seven Etsy Minis over there under the 12 favorites. I pick those based on GREAT looking photos, and products. Do you know someone who should have their Etsy Mini featured? Please let me know. Well photographed products is a must...and colorful helps too!

We're gearing up for some new Friday Features too, for the new year, and the new calendar. If you want to be featured, leave a comment, and we'll get back with you.

Have a great evening!
Angie

Want to be Seen on The Downtown Boutique?

Are you an entrepreneur artist or crafter? Would you like some exposure for your shop or website? We'd love to feature you! We are looking to fill up the calendar through the end of the year for our "Friday Features" segment. August is full, and we have 3 available slots in September. Please email us if you are interested.

All we ask, is that you would be willing to give something away (retail value of $15 or more please), and that you be willing to ship internationally. Your shop must have good, clear, well-taken photos. We also ask that your shop not have vulgar, profane, or otherwise obscene items, because we are a family friendly blog, and wouldn't want someone to stumble on something offensive while children are in the room.

We are also taking items for reviews. If you are interested in having your product reviewed, please contact me, and we will talk. Sometimes I use the item as a gift, and sometimes I will give it away, here on the blog.

If you are interested in making a donation towards an Amazon.com Gift Card Giveaway, you will get free exposure to your shop for one whole month. Minimum donation is $10. We would love to give an Amazon.com gift card away each month. A link to your shop or website will be included in the giveaway, and you will also be listed in a sponsor list in the right sidebar of the blog. Please email me, and we'll talk.

Lots to think about. Are you up for the challenge?

Have a great day!

Angie

A Winner and Some Little Bits of Information

Congratulations to Lori, who won the bench from Black Mountain Furniture Co.!!! Thank you all for entering. We've gotten TONS of hits from people who have never seen our blog before, so I'm pretty excited! Thanks to my faithful readers who are here all the time. You guys rock! Thanks to Reginia and Craig from BMFC, who were our featured artists/crafters last week, and who gave away such an amazing prize!!!

Ok, here are the little bits of information now. First of all, I wanted to mention that we have openings for you to advertise your "handmade" business. We have 125x125 and 125x250 banner spots available, as well as EtsyMini ad spots available. Please email me if you are interested.

Next, we are going to be doing a "Back to School" promotion. We would love to give some things away. If you are interested in donating something to be given away (could be something you made, or it could be a gift certificate for a restaurant or shop or online store), please let me know. I will do the giveaway and promotion on September 1st. I know many have already started back to school, and some will be going back soon, but to me, "Back to School" is a September thing.

If you are interested in having something reviewed by me, on the blog, let me know. I'd love to give it a whirl. Also, if you would like to be featured on our Friday Features segment, email me. We'll see what we can come up with for you!

Thanks for allowing me to take care of some business. Have a great weekend!

Angie

Friday Features No. 17 -- Featuring "Folk Art From The Heart"

It's finally Friday! I remember when I was single and childless, that phrase always meant it was time to put on my boots and jeans, and head down to the local country/western nightclub and dance until the place closed down. Then after that, we would all go do the local Village Inn or IHOP and have "breakfast", which was typically a plate of french fries or french toast for me. Dont' ask me why, but I could enjoy a plate of french toast any time of the night or day. Funny, hubby and I were just talking about that today. He doesn't like "breakfast" for dinner, but will eat burritos any time of the night or day.

Well, I had to just digress there for a moment. On to the business at hand. We have a winner for the $20 Gift Certificate from A Bushel and a Peck: Misty (if you read this, please contact me because your email isn't working). Congratulations Misty, and thanks to all of you who commented. Thank you Jeanne, for being willing to be featured and do a giveaway.

Speaking of giveaways, you might not know this, but tomorrow, I will be posting my 100th post! Can you belive it? I can't! Where has all the time gone? Because we want you to help us celebrate, we will be giving some really cool things away! Be sure to stay tuned...you won't want to miss out.

Today we have a giveaway for you from our featured Etsy shop, Folk Art From The Heart. Kim has been crafting for quite awhile, and seems to have the same malady that I suffer from: Crafting ADD! She enjoys crafting in various different mediums...everything from oil paints to concrete. She discovered polymer clay 3 years ago, and has really done an amazing job with the things she creates.

Here's more about Kim:
TDB: Your polymer clay creations are so fun and whimsical, and very detailed. What got you started working with polymer clay?
Kim: I originally began my exploring my artistic side about 15 years ago when my girlfriend asked me to go to a tole painting class with her. That got me jumpstarted. Since then I’ve dabbled in watercolors, wood, ceramics, fabric and even concrete. Polymer Clay just seemed like a natural progression but from the moment I felt it in my hands, I knew this was the final medium for me. I do add many of the other mediums to my final designs, but Polymer Clay will always be my primary medium.
TDB: I can see why polymer clay is a favorite, and is your primary medium. You do an amazing job!

TDB: What has been the greatest challenge in your "career" as a crafter and how have you worked to overcome it?
Kim: Well, throughout my career, I have had children in my house, so trying to find a time and a place to work has always been a challenge. Now I have the second generation of children in my house and it is still a challenge, so I grab what time I can when I can and just hope for good long naps!
TDB: Wow! You get naps in? What a novel concept. I may have to try that!

TDB: Where do you get your inspiration for your creations?
Kim: I get my inspiration from other artists. I love Warren Kimball, Lisa Hilliker, and others of that genre, and I like to create pieces that I think would look right at home with the works of my favorite artists.

TDB: What is the most important thing you have learned about selling on Etsy?
Kim: Be patient! It takes a while for the folks at Etsy to become familiar with your work, so keep it in the forefront, by listing often. And spend time in the forums. Also join other Etsy Teams, being part of a larger group gives your pieces more exposure. Have good communication with your customers, and don’t expect too much too soon.
TDB: Very good advice! Promote, promote, promote, I say!! And get featured on The Downtown Boutique!

TDB: Do you have a favorite Etsy shop that you love to look in or shop in?
Kim: Yes! I love Pumpkinseeds Folk Art. Her pieces make me smile every time I look in her shop.
TDB: Oh, cool shop! I love her Pink Polka Dot Santa!

TDB: What is your favorite item to create?
Kim: Snowmen, definitely! They are the pieces I have the most fun with and they are the most challenging when it comes to clothing, colors and accessories, because I love details. And since every piece I make is one of a kind, it’s a challenge to come up with something new for each snowman.
TDB: I love snowmen, so I can totally relate! Your Night Lighter snowman is fantastic!

TDB: What do you do to relax?
Kim: I love to read. But my choices of reading material is somewhat limited because I don’t care for graphic detail, whether it’s romance or mystery. So I stick to writers like Sue Grafton and Janet Evanovich, and others of that ilk who write wonderful murder mysteries with lots of humor mixed in, but leave the graphic details up to the reader’s imagination.
TDB: I love to read too. I have since I was a little girl. I enjoyed mystery books as a kid, but only recently got into them as an adult. My favorite mystery author is Dee Henderson. She has some great series, especially the O'Malley Series.

Thanks for the great interview Kim! I loved hearing a little more about your life and your passions.

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Kim's Giveaway: A $15 Gift Certificate to use in her shop, "Folk Art From The Heart".

To Enter: Simply visit Kim's shop, then come back here and leave a comment about what you like in her shop. Only one entry per person please. Please leave a GOOD way to get ahold of you if you win. If we can't get ahold of you, we will choose a different winner.

Deadline to enter: Thursday, June 19th at Midnight PST.

Have a great weekend, and Happy Father's Day to all of you dads out there, including to my sweet and wonderful husband, my dad, my father-in-law, my brothers, and my brother-in-law.

Going Bananas!!

Yes, I've officially gone bananas. Just kidding. I wanted to congratulate Hazel and Susan, who both were winners in the drawing for the $10 worth of goodies from Lovely Little Lovelies.

I didn't have a Friday Features segment last week, or a Tots on Tuesdays segment (which I would love to find a co-author for!) this week, because we were on vacation to Disneyland. Let me tell you, when it's 96 degrees with a humidity level of over 50%, Disneyland is NOT the happiest place on earth! It really took a toll on us, so much so, that we didn't do a whole third day, even though we had tickets for three days (you want to get your money's worth for spending that much on tickets, right?), we went into the park at 6pm on the third day, and stayed until closing. It was so much nicer because it wasn't as hot, and wasn't as crowded (it was Sunday). It will be a few years before we go back, now that we have a little one, so maybe by then, I'll be able to deal with Disney again. :-)

Alrighty, I just had to tell you why I named this post "Going Bananas". It doesn't really have to do with crafting at all (but then, I guess most of this post isn't about crafting), but I Stumbled Upon it, and thought it would be great to let others know about. I found this great article of sorts, on bananas, and why they are good for you. If you love bananas, you will love them even more after reading this article. If you don't, maybe you will learn to love them because of the article. ENJOY!

Friday Features No. 10 -- Featuring Sheer Whimsy

Happy Friday! Aren't you glad it's Friday? So, what do you think of the article on "Selling Tips"? Do you want to see more articles like that, that will help you in your online business? Let me know!

Congratulations to Melissa, who won the jams from Lemonbird! Thanks Amy, for participating in our Friday Feature. Thank you to all of you who commented and are always reading the blog.

If you are a regular reader of this blog, please take the poll to the right. I'd love to find out more about the demographics of my readers.

On to more fun! Today's Friday Feature is featuring Helen of Sheer Whimsy. Helen is a 20 year old college student from Southern California, who finds her inspiration in places like Disneyland. How cool is that?! I found Helen's blog before I found her Etsy shop. Have you heard of Stumble Upon? Well, that's how I found Helen.

I've asked Helen some questions to get to know her better.

TDB: How did you find out about Etsy?
Helen: I heard about the wonderful handmade community called Etsy, last year from a couple of friends, so I satisfied my intrigue by checking it out, and got hooked to the unique and lovely goods created by such talented and friendly artists. I developed a penchant for all arts and craftiness at a young age, so I opened up a shop of my own three weeks ago selling playful yet practical cases for gadgets of all sorts, and I’m having so much fun!

TDB: What is your inspiration behind your creations?
Helen: My four primary inspirations are: all things vintage for the nostalgia they evoke, Disneyland for the whimsical happiness it instills in me, nature for its natural breathtaking beauty, and vibrant colors/patterns that catch my eye.

TDB: What do you want to be when you grow up?
Helen: After I obtain my undergraduate degrees in Mass Communications and Sociology this spring, I’m hoping to work in the communications industry. In the midst of the job-hunting phase, I shall be merrily crafting away to inundate my Etsy shop with loads of whimsies. But ultimately and most importantly, I aspire to be a Proverbs 31 woman by God’s grace.

TDB: Your items are photographed just beautifully. What's your secret?
Helen: Oh my goodness, that is too kind of you! I don’t exactly have a tried-and-true formula for my photos but I do take full advantage of abundance of sunshine and natural backgrounds (e.g. rich greenery) or neutral patterns (e.g. a muted polka-dot swatch) in the photo shoots for my creations. I then experiment with angles of all kinds and choose from the wide array of shots what I feel best embodies the product and the fanciful inspiration(s) behind it.

TDB: What is your favorite thing to make?
Helen: My most favorite thing to make is anything I make for others. Because I’m inclined towards detail, I love presenting people with creations that are carefully thought out down to the last detail, from the patterns of coordinating fabrics, to the texture of ribbons, to the meticulously selected buttons, to the combination of it all to form a creation that is undeniably fun yet practical.

TDB: When you're not in school, and not creating, what do you enjoy doing?
Helen: There is so much I find delightful that it is hard to keep this short! Well, I am definitely a people-person so I enjoy passing time and cultivating bonds with dear chums and new acquaintances. I also love being involved at my church and serving in it. I find that I get into the highest spirits galavanting to Disneyland, especially after scouring thrift stores for vintagewear and aged knick-knacks with tons of character, and then ending the splendid day by taking in the glorious sunset at the beach.

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Helen has generously offered one of her fun Gadget Garbs for our giveaway. What's a Gadget Garb, you ask? A Gadget Garb is the must-need for your trusty and beloved technogadget! The great thing about this, is that you get to choose which design you want! So get on over to Sheer Whimsy, and choose which design you would want if you won!

To Enter: Please visit Helen's shop, and then come back here and let us know which Gadget Garb you would want if you won the giveaway. This giveaway is open to everyone, worldwide. Please leave only one comment, and please make sure that we have an easy way to get ahold of you. If we can't get ahold of you, we will choose another winner. Deadline to enter is Thursday, April 24th at midnight PST.

Don't forget to enter to win the $20 Gift Certificate from Sugar Plumkin!

Friday Features No. 9 -- Featuring Lemonbird

Happy Friday! Boy, it has been a long week! I am so grateful for all of you who have emailed me or left a comment about how much you enjoy the blog. I feel it is very time-consuming, but I really enjoy doing it.

I want to start by congratulating Sylvia P, who won "Orion", the Shark Monster, from Karen's Monsters. We had 128 comments, and her name was randomly chosen through Random.org. Thank you all for commenting and entering!

Todays Friday Feature is really in a jam. Well, at least Amy, the owner of Lemonbird is up to her elbows in jam. Amy and her husband own and operate Lemonbird out of southern California. They started the business after a trip to France, which you can read about in her shop. Let's see what else we can find out about Amy and her yummy business.




TDB: I read that you started making jams after a visit in France, and finding some wonderful jams. Did you have any jam-making experience before that, or was this a brand new venture for you?
Amy: I love to cook and I have been making jams for years. I was always experimenting with cooking and giving friends and family gifts of all kinds of foods. A couple of weeks ago, friends actually opened jars that I had made for them a few years ago before I started selling the jams.

TDB: You have some very different combinations in your jams. What's the inspiration behind those combinations?
Amy: I love all kinds of fruits and vegetables at the local farmers markets. I was telling a friend yesterday that weekly visits to the market are my "joie de vie". I get inspired by tasting the fruits I use, a walk through the garden, a smell, a season I want people to feel when they taste the jam, a place near or far. . . And my imagination is nonstop when someone brings me fresh fruit from their garden!

TDB: Have there been times when you've thought something sounded wonderful, and it ended up being a complete flop?
Amy: (I am smiling as I write this one!) I've learned the hard way to make test batches of any kind of new jam I think will be wonderful, especially when learning to work with a fruit I've never cooked with before. I made a mix of blood orange last spring with some fresh herbs and after cooking and canning all day long - it tasted medicinal and I had to throw out every jar.

TDB: Where else do you sell your jams?
Amy: My jams are for sale at Artisan Cheese Gallery in Studio City, California and Fiore in Montrose, California. Both of these shops are in the LA area. We've actually had requests from other shops across the country in the past couple of weeks and we're hoping to expand to more places this year.

TDB: Who helps you create these wonderful jams?
Amy: My husband! He's been there helping me with everything I make from start to finish. I've also had a lot of help from friends and family who have all volunteered to help in some way.

TDB: What is your favorite jam that you make?
Amy: Wow, tough one - I think as I finish each type of jam it becomes my new favorite!

TDB: When you're not "jamming", what do you enjoy doing?
Amy: We love camping and hiking and the outdoors. We're also planning the start of an orchard and garden right now.

TDB: What advice can you give to new shops on Etsy?
Amy: Etsy is a wonderful place with so much talent and kind people. I think the handmade movement is truly affecting how we make purchases and who we are purchasing our goods and services from. Find your niche, have great photos, and a professional looking shop. There are many services on the site itself that can help you get started!

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Thanks Amy! Now we get to talk about what Amy is offering for the Friday Features giveaway. Amy is giving the winner a choice of either a 2 jam gift basket with a Lemon & Lavender and Apple & Thyme jam, OR 3 individual jams, including Kumquat & Tangerine with Vanilla, Blood Orange and Apple & Thyme. Items will shipped anywhere in the US.

To Enter: Please go visit Amy's shop, and come back here and comment on your favorite item in her shop. Unfortunately, we can only open this contest to readers in the United States, due to postal regulations on food items. Deadline to enter is Thursday, April 17th at midnight PST. Please be sure to leave only ONE comment with a valid email or other way to get ahold of you. I had to re-draw twice on the last giveaway, because I had no way to get ahold of the person whose name I drew!

Don't forget to enter to win the $10 gift certificates from Ambrosia Delights. We will be drawing TWO winners who will each receive the $10 gift certificate! Deadline is Monday, April 14th at Midnight PST.

Friday Features No. 6 -- Featuring RavenX

Good Morning and Happy Friday! Today is the day we give away the "Best Friends" scarf from Fringe. And our winner is: ladavies. Congratulations! I will be contacting you soon!

Our Friday Feature today, features someone many of you might know....RavenX, whose shop name is Dirty Pretty Things. Raven is a "mixed media artist" based in Los Angeles, with a lot of different passions when it comes to creating. She has a very fun profile in her Etsy shop. Raven also has a "wunderfully creative" husband, mikiep.

Raven's creativity includes such wonderful items as Cherry Vanilla Mineral Bath Soak, Greeting Cards printed on the finest Italian cardstock, Delicious Long-Lasting Soy Candles, Clay Sculptures, and Acrylic Paintings. So let's get to know Raven a little better:

TDB: How and when did you get started crafting?
RavenX: Growing up, I remember helping my mum decorate cakes or sew clothes {both for Barbie and for us kids}. She always wanted to be a fashion designer, but like so many other women of that time, she gave up her dream to become a housewife and mother. She was thrilled that I later decided to follow her dream. I moved to New York City 2 weeks after high school with only $300, a dream, and a lot of perserverance…. I literally became a fashion designer with no formal school training. I stayed with that dream for 13 or so years of my life {and eventually got my degree in fashion design too!} …and then moved on to a different artistic side of myself, which is what I do now: acrylic paintings, sculpture, customizable greeting cards, yummy soy candles, bath salts, etc….

TDB: What is your favorite thing to make?
RavenX: Lately, I’ve really been into clay sculpture and pretty painted silhouettes. With clay you can have an idea in your head or sketched out on paper and never really know what you’ll come out with once your hands start to shape it. I’ve been working on new pieces for our Fall 2008 show here in Los Angeles. In the meanwhile, I’m hard at work on some sweet little cutie and some painted silhouette shapes that will be filling my shop soon!
TDB: To what do you attribute your success on Etsy?
RavenX: I am so happy to be where I am on Etsy, especially for only having been a member about eight months now. I have lots of great customers, some who have even now become friends. Many of them tell their friends about my work and are repeat clients, which is always the ultimate reward.
I think my success could be attributed to my doing what I want…mixing it up and offering all the things that I personally love to create. I don’t limit myself into just selling art or candles like many shops do. On one hand, offering only a single type of item is a plus on Etsy since there is no real way to move your store around and you are usually judged by what’s currently on your first page; but I feel that my store is more of a lifestyle…through my eyes. I love the store Anthropologie, so I wanted to create that sort of feeling, selling things that you might wish to have in all aspects or moods of your life. It's a work in progress. Of course I have yet to start doing clothing again…but in time, I’m sure I’ll be back to sewing again and will be offering off-beat wearable goodies too.

TDB: What advice would you give to an Etsy newcomer?
RavenX: Etsy success is all about promoting yourself and great customer service, like any other sales business. You’ll notice that when you’re not out “pimping” yourself, sales will go down. Etsy is so infiltrated with sellers now, that it’s hard to get noticed otherwise. Great photos and descriptions are also a must…think something you might find in a magazine. A sweet little blog with a following doesn’t hurt either…and it’s fun too! I have people find my blog and shop just by their “Googling” certain words. Ultimately, just keep doing what YOU love to do and the sales will follow.

TDB: What do you love to do when you're not crafting or selling on Etsy?
RavenX: Well, since the hubs is also an artist, there isn’t much time that were not being arty or working on our historic house that was last renovated in the Seventies! I also enjoy reading books on spirituality {currently reading the Oprah pick “A New Earth”}, going to low-brow art shows here in LA or eating Sushi. Now, that we have a house with a large yard, I also work in the garden a lot. I’m discovering a new found love of the flowers my mum used to teach me about when I was a child.

TDB: If you could learn a new skill, what would it be?
RavenX: Oh, there are so many, but a main one would be to work in oil paints since I currently only paint with acrylics. Currently, I'm learning how to use a Wacom Tablet to draw and it takes a lot of time and practice!
…and this may sound slightly strange, but I want to learn to weld. I’ve always wanted to work in metal, but have not ever had the chance. ;)

TDB: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be, and why?
RavenX: I am thankful to have been able to travel as much as I have so far…but two places that are still on my list are Iceland and Japan. I have always felt connected to the Japanese culture and think I was a Geisha in a past life. I remember studying the Japanese lifestyle when I was in school and I was always totally enchanted. I love their genuine curiosity, forward thinking and ability to see things totally opposite than we do here in the West.
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Raven has generously offered to give away some of her fantastic creativity. Up for grabs are:

• Black Dahlia Card - Photographic image on fine Italian cardstock with envelope
  
• Black Cosmos Card - Photographic image on fine Italian cardstock with envelope


• Pink Floral Trio -3 Large Glass Gem Magnets

To Enter: Please visit Raven's Shop, then come back and leave ONE comment with your favorite item from her shop. If you neglect to follow directions, you will not be entered in the drawing. We do this because we really want to promote our featured artists, and that means getting people to go look in their shops! Thanks for helping out. Please make sure that we have a VALID email for you. I have more than once, had to re-pick a winner because someone left an anonymous comment and didn't leave their email!

Giveaway is open worldwide. Deadline for this giveaway is Thursday March 27th at Midnight PST.

Have a wonderful Easter weekend!

Angie

PS...Don't forget to scroll down to the next post to try and win a month of FREE advertising here on The Downtown Boutique!

A Sneak Peek

Here is a sneak peek of who will be featured on Friday, for our "Friday Features".