Interview Feature: KelseysTreasure

Today's interview feature is with KelseysTreasure!  Kelsey offers a wide variety of  unique, hand-made household decor items, vintage decor, and beautiful photography.  Some of my favorite items are those made from re-purposed or recycled materials!

How did you come up with your shop name?
- Well, Kelsey is my name and I try to find treasures in everything that I re-do or make. So, Kelsey's Treasure just seemed to fit!

Why did you start your Etsy shop?
- I started my Etsy shop because I am a single mother and I have been having a rough road with steady employment. I live with my grandparents who are having some health issues and crafting is a way for me to be able to relieve stress and focus on something other then the negatives around me. It really refreshes my mind! I figured, I need the money, so why not sell everything that I make and hopefully one day be able to support myself and my son sufficiently.

How long have you been a crafter?
- Ever since I was a little girl, I remember doing crafts. My mother had dreams of starting her own crafting and handmade business but unfortunately never worked out! I got to do a lot of cool things though growing up and feeding my imagination!

Does your shop reflect your personal style?
- If I had my own home, I could definitely see some of my items in it! I think it does reflect my shop though because I have such a variety of items. That's the way I am, I can't have things the same for very long! I'm all about variety and excitement and colors!

Where do you draw inspiration from for your products?
- First and foremost, I draw inspiration from God. Usually, if I have in mind something to make, I will pray about it first to reassure myself that this is what I need to be doing! I can pick up an empty water bottle though and tell you 25 different things that can be made out of it when my juices are flowing! Other inspirations are just everyday life!

Is there a piece in your shop that was hard for you to part with?
- Not really. I love everything I make, don't get me wrong but it's just I keep in mind that what I am making is not for me to hang on to but for me to let go so I can make a better life for my son. I'm sure there are a lot of single parent's out there that know exactly what I mean when I say, you have to do whatever you can in order to help your child(ren) succeed!

Care to share an idea or item you hope to have in your shop in the future?
- Oh let me just tell you....I'm so excited about getting my tin can luminaries line up and running! I already have a set of 5 in my shop right now and have sold two sets of 10 in the past that I plan on bringing back! Of course, I have a lot of other goodies lined up but you will just have to keep checking back!

What’s the most important piece of advice you can give to other shop owners?
- Keep the creativity flowing and never give up! Look for inspirations constantly, all around you. Like our motto in middle school was, FINAO: Failure is NOT an Option! If you want to succeed, giving up should never cross your mind! You have to make your shop and your business feel right to you!

If you would like to be featured on my blog, contact me on Etsy!

Interview Feature: OutlawsParadise

Today’s interview feature is with OutlawsParadise!  OutlawsParadise offers very cool and unique jewelry made from horse hair.  I’ve never been a “horse girl” but I really find the style of jewelry fascinating.  It looks fancy and rustic without looking messy. You can even get jewelry made with your own horse's hair to personalize the item.

How did you come up with your shop name?
My sister and I put our heads together to come up with the name. We wanted some things rustic, but appealing. 

Why did you start your Etsy shop?
I started Etsy after a friend suggested that I check it out. I had never been on Etsy before. I was so encouraged to see all these other crafters trying to get their stuff noticed and sold. I also liked the way you can set up your own shop, and list all your products. It's very user friendly. It's like the next best thing to having your own website.

How long have you been a crafter?
I have be crafting for many years. My mother-in-law is always saying 'Oh, you need curtin made, go talk to Katie', or 'Oh, you need that dress taken in, go talk to Katie'. She is one of my biggest supporters. She thinks my talents are endless, I have to remind her that I'm only human.
The horse hair jewelry started about a year ago when I had to retire my favorite horse last winter. I had him since I was 16, and we worked so close together that we had developed a horse and rider partnership. He is getting on in years, and arthritis was starting to bother him. So I retired him, and gave him to a friend of mine how owns a non-profit organization called Equestrian Outreach She uses horses and other animals to help kids and teens who have difficulty with relationship and behavior issues. So now my horse gets to be pampered and loved by kids all day long. It's the perfect retirement for him.
My sister knew how much I missed him on the farm that she went and got some tale hair from him and we made our very first horse hair necklace! That's when we decided that there are a lot of people out there that may be in a similar situation with their horse, and may like a necklace or bracelet made from their horse’s hair as a memento.
We do a lot of bracelet's and key chains for people who have had a horse pass away, but they saved some of the tail hair.

Does your shop reflect your personal style?
Of course! My favorite is the banner, I could watch running horses all day long!!

Where do you draw inspiration from for your products?
My inspiration truly is from the people who have had a horse pass away, and are looking for a memento to preserve the memory of their beloved friend. I really like to work with them to design a custom piece with their horse’s hair. Most people I design something for end up sharing their horse story with me, and I feel it really helps them thru the grieving process, and in the end they have a piece of jewelry that will make them feel like their friend is with them forever!

Is there a piece in your shop that was hard for you to part with?
This is my favorite piece. I know I can make another one just like it, but this one was the first double square braid bracelet that I made.

Care to share an idea or item you hope to have in your shop in the future?
I hope to start on watched with horse hair braided bands. I should have those out in the next couple weeks.

What’s the most important piece of advice you can give to other shop owners?
Don't give up! It doesn't matter if your sales are slow right now, you’re doing what you enjoy and that's what matters!

If you want to be featured on my blog, contact me on Etsy!

Improving Your Shop – Part 1: Products

After a few months of studying Etsy guides, taking advice from some of the best shops, and putting what I’ve learned into practice, I wanted to share some advice with fellow shops.  I hope you’ll find my blogs useful and improve your shop as I have!

The first step to creating a successful shop is, of course, going to be your product themselves.  Start with items that you know how to make and don’t fret if it’s not much, because I guarantee you’ll find inspiration to expand.  Here are a few things to think about when making your products.

Uniqueness:  It can be really hard to sell the same item as everyone else, especially on Etsy.  By all means it’s a nice idea to offer simple, common items in your shop, but add your own twist to some items and make it unique.  Before long, you may even have a signature piece that people will immediately recognize as yours and yours alone.

Variety:  If you have the same style of item in your whole shop, you’ll only draw in people that like that style.  You can’t please everyone, but you can definitely take a stab at it by using variety.  Varying colors is the easiest thing you can do to please the masses.  Have a look at the shopping section on Etsy and look at the category your items fall under for ideas on what else you can make.  Here are some ideas for some of the common shop themes:

• Jewelry: Bracelets, necklaces, earrings, anklets, rings.

• Apparel: Seasonal clothing, wide variety of styles, multi-use jackets and shawls.

• Cards: General, birthday, wedding, congratulations, get well soon.

• Housewares: Cloths, pillows, wall hangings, throw blanket, table runners.

• Art: Originals, prints (different sizes), ACEOs, greeting cards and post cards, bookmarks.

Target:  Think about who you are making your items for.  If your item is quite age specific, think about what kind of colors and patterns are popular for that age group.  For example, you probably wouldn’t want to make an evening dress out of a fabric with rubber duckies all over it.  Sure, there might be someone out there who would love a rubber duckie evening dress, but I’m betting there are many MORE people who would like a traditional, elegant evening dress.  If your items are not age specific, then you can have a lot of fun making them so!  As I mentioned before, variety is key.  Having a variety of items that cater to many different age groups can be a great boost to your shop.

Quality:  We all know what it feels like to buy something only to discover the quality is drastically under what we expected.  It changes your whole view on the shop or store you bought it from, and you aren’t likely to ever buy again.  Make sure your items are excellent condition.  If your items are fragile, let your customers know that.  Most of the time it’s obvious what sort of items need extra care.  Offering great quality items means return customers!

Check back next week to find out more about pricing your products properly!

Interview Feature: LoveNYarn

Today’s interview feature is with LoveNYarn!  As you would guess from the name, you can find lovely item made from yarn in this shop!  LoveNYarn offers a wide range of apparel and household cloths. 

How did you come up with your shop name?

How I chose my name -- for me there are certain things in life that are really important, but love and family come first, so love was a natural part of my name. Then I was trying to decide what else was important. I love to travel and thought of that, but then realized my shop was going to be my knitting, and as I looked around my office/craft room I realized it is completely decorated in yarn. Yarn of all types. I really love yarn. I love the colors, the textures, the feel, so it was a natural, the name became LoveNYarn, my two passions.

Why did you start your Etsy shop?

Why Etsy? I have been knitting for over 50, no 60 years (is that possible?) I've been knitting all sorts of things for family members (6 children, spouses and 14 grandchildren) for years, but I love trying new things and sometimes I'm not sure that something I want to knit matches one of the family. I also knit a lot for our church's charity bazaar and for the past couple years have been told I should sell my knitting - so, Etsy was mentioned, and here I am.

How long have you been a crafter?

As I said, I've knitted since I was 10, started sewing about the same time -- did that professionally when the kids were young, making costumes for dance schools, wedding dresses and lots and lots of alterations. Made my own wedding dress, and attendants' dresses for my daughter's wedding. Course I made all their clothes when the kids were young. Dabbled in other crafts -- cross-stitch, some ceramics, other miscellaneous crafts, but have always gone back to the knitting.

Does your shop reflect your personal style?

Personal style -- for a long time I always gave away everything I made, more recently I wear and use my things. I have to like what I'm knitting or it's a chore, so I'd say yes, I love the kinds of things I make.

Where do you draw inspiration from for your products?

My inspiration comes from everywhere, sometimes magazines or patterns, though I seldom make something exactly as it's printed. Sometimes yarn seems to "talk" to me and tells me what it should be -- a scarf or a hat, something simple or something fancy. In the winter if my feet get cold, that's enough inspiration to make another pair of super warm slippers. Sometimes I just want to pick up needles and do something quickly, so I'll make a coffee cozy, or a dishcloth, or a necklace/scarf. I'll open up the drawers of yarn and pick out something I feel like working with at that particular time.

Is there a piece in your shop that was hard for you to part with?

Something hard to part with, not really, because I love my things to have good homes. I just believe that if someone is going to pay for something I've made, they're going to have to love it and will treat it as it should be treated. I did have an Icelandic sweater I made that didn't sell after 8 months on Etsy, and one of my daughters tried it on and it fit her perfectly. I wouldn't reduce the price on it to try to get it sold on Etsy, but I was really happy to give it to her. It's in a good home, that's really what counts.

Care to share an idea or item you hope to have in your shop in the future?

I have so many beautiful yarns currently. I've just started a lovely lavender shrug that has a soft silver thread in it. I'm similar yarns in light moss green and beige. I'm anxious to get them made up into sweaters or shrugs that will be specialty items. I just don't have enough time to make all the things I'd love to make. I have a beautiful 3-color mohair sweater about 1/3 done I hope to finish, and a magnificent wool multicolored jacket-sweater just started. Those are two very time-intensive projects which often are put on the back-burner. Some day ....

What’s the most important piece of advice you can give to other shop owners?

I'm relatively new -- will celebrate my first anniversary next month, but I've found the best thing to do is get involved in teams and forum threads. It's a great way to meet other crafters, to share ideas, to get exposure, but most of all to get encouragement to continue when sales aren't as quick as you wish they would be.

I just listed a sweater that I've worked on for quite a while. I loved doing it, since it is my own design, the pattern and the use of three different designer yarns. I am so thrilled with the results, I hope there's someone out there who will see it and know it was made just for them. There'll never be another one like it!

If you would like to be featured on my blog, contact me on Etsy!

Interview Feature: TheKraftRoom

Today’s interview feature is with TheKraftRoom!  Kraft offers a wide variety of colorful mini cards/tags and stickers to brighten up your art projects, give to customers as a “thank you” or attach to gifts.  Kraft also sells handy key fobs, which are a great addition to your keychain so you have something softer to hold onto.

How did you come up with your shop name?
I came up with the name thekraftroom because I like to craft so I dropped the c and added the k which is the first initial in my first name which is Karen.

Why did you start your Etsy shop?
I was always looking for ways to sell my handmade goods, so one night I was online looking for fabric and came across Etsy. I didn’t start my shop right away, honestly I was afraid, so I waited for a bit before I started. My mother encouraged me to take a chance and open my shop. I thought about it some more and did some research starting hanging out in the forums. Finally I went for it and I am glad I did.

How long have you been a crafter?
I have been a crafter a long time, since I was a little girl.

Does your shop reflect your personal style?
Yes, it does reflect my personal style. I love bright, beautiful, modern style and mix in some vintage and I am in heaven.

Where do you draw inspiration from for your products?
I draw inspiration from reading and visiting my favorite fabric and scrapbook shops. Sometimes I just brainstorm and jot down stuff. I like to experiment and go from there.

Is there a piece in your shop that was hard for you to part with?
Yes, one of my aprons I sold. It was fun to make and I was in love with the color scheme.

Care to share an idea or item you hope to have in your shop in the future?
Since I love both fabric and paper equally, I have a lot of things I would like to make. Let’s just say I hope to be adding some new sections to my shop in a few months.

What’s the most important piece of advice you can give to other shop owners?
My advice to other shop owners would be try and take good pictures. Believe in your product and shop. Promote as much as you can. Hangout in the forums and stay visible. Also, sales may or may not happen right away but hang in there. Customer service is key, treat your customers right and they will return. I can’t stress this enough….keep promoting your shop. Good Luck to everyone and lots of success!

If you would like to be featured on my blog, please contact me on Etsy!

Interview Feature: BrixtonStudios

Today’s interview feature is with BrixtonStudios, whom I previously promoted by picking out my favorite items from her shop.  Brixton offers beautiful and unique hand drawn cards, miniature cards, decorative clothes pins, local photography, and Etsy shop art.

How did you come up with your shop name?
I knew right away I wanted two words, whether the second was "designs" or "studios." In the end, studios just sounded cooler, so I went with that. Brixton is a local street name. It has a contemporary sound to it, as well as being something that isn't too strange to be off-putting.

Why did you start your Etsy shop?
I've been surfing around Etsy for a while now, but once I graduated college I knew any extra money coming in would benefit me. I also knew I have been creating things for so long, I thought the world would enjoy my take on things.

How long have you been a crafter?

I have been making things out of other things for as long as I can remember and every year we went to the large arts festival just down the street from where I grew up. As a kid I always made magazine collages for my journals and filled up sketchbooks with drawing. I guess, for me, it sort of all led up to sharing it with the world.

   

Does your shop reflect your personal style?

Yes, and no. It does in the sense that it comes from my heart and some things, like the NYC photography, reflect my contemporary style. Some things in the shop reflect the style of potential buyers. I think overall, as a collection of work, my shop does reflect my personal style. It is contemporary, but casual. 

Where do you draw inspiration from for your products?

Everywhere. I get it from books, from browsing the Internet, or from other people. The idea for the clothespins came when I was clipping chips closed with standard wooden clothespins and thought--couldn't these be cuter? Turns out, with some craft paper, glue, and gems, they could. For other things, people have offered up ideas as well as inspired me just by saying certain things. I am also a writer, so I am used to getting inspired by things as simple as the word "grapefruit." 

Is there a piece in your shop that was hard for you to part with?

I had a set of hand-drawn Around the World cards. Six cards from six different areas of the world. Each of them was hand-sketched and though I didn't spend hours on them, the simple fact that I spent time deciding which landmark to sketch and which angle to sketch it from, and which props to use for photos, gave me an extreme attachment to them. It was an exciting experience creating them. I hope to have many more!

Miss out on Brixton's "Around the World" card set?  Check out these Eiffel Tower card set or Balboa Park hand drawn card.

Care to share an idea or item you hope to have in your shop in the future?
I actually hope to do a lot more hand-drawn cards. Cards are competitive, but I love the one of a kind look of hand-drawn ones. And mine come at a competitive price. I hope to do an Around Europe set, as well as maybe a NYC set. I also will be starting to explore the idea of ACEOs.

What’s the most important piece of advice you can give to other shop owners?

Network and be patient. Some people, depending on their product, will get swept away in sales, but for most of us it takes time. While you wait, network with others on Etsy and make sure your product gets seen. Even if there aren't many sales in the first couple months, make sure you are getting your stuff out there. Go into forums. Chat rooms. Anything where people are looking. That way, even if they are not interested, if their friend is whining about ugly clothespins hanging her super cute boy onesies on the line, they can tell her about the shop currently selling "baby boy" clothespins.

If you would like to be featured on my blog, contact me on Etsy!

Interview Feature: SoonerDesigner

Today's interview feature is with a lovely shop, SoonerDesigner!  I met Sooner in my first month on Etsy and immediately loved the cards in her shop.  I have purchased one of her cards for my sister's birthday (who is also a fan of her work) and we both very pleased with the product.  Since then, Sooner has added fantastic mini cards and tags that are popular with other sellers, and she has produced lovely keepsake books and refillable journals.  I'm happy to help people get to know more about Sooner and promote her wonderful shop! 

• How did you come up with your shop name? I have a background in interior design & studied at the University of Oklahoma (Boomer Sooner!) so it just kind of fit.     

• Why did you start your Etsy shop? I actually joined Etsy a year before I started selling. I was browsing a shop while looking for wedding supplies & wanted to ask them a question about their product. Since you have to have an account to send a conversation, I created one. In April of this year, we were hosting a birthday party at my house & several people suggested I try selling my cards on Etsy which is when I first started using my shop.     

• How long have you been a crafter? I've always loved crafting & can remember having craft days with my friends as early as elementary school.    
• Does your shop reflect your personal style? Most of the time it does. I have made some items to fit requests that weren't quite me, but I still had fun making them. My favorite cards to make are bright & feminine.  

• Where do you draw inspiration from for your  products? I love the classics that never go out of style (pearls, lace, black); vibrant items that fill you with energy; & just enough trendy things to keep you on the lookout for the next big thing. These are the sort of things that inspire me.      
• Is there a piece in your shop that was hard for you to part with? It hasn't really been hard for me to part with any of my pieces yet. I am just so excited that someone else loves them enough to give them to a loved one. It really makes me proud!

• Care to share an idea or item you hope to have in your shop in the future? I plan on making more of my keepsake books & refillable journals with masculine options available! I also plan on making more cards. If anyone has any suggestions for new products, please feel free to let me know.

•   What’s the most important piece of advice you can give to other shop owners? Have fun! If you love what you do, it shows in your work.

• If you would like to be featured on my blog, contact me on Etsy!