Monday Interview With Sarah of Well Criated

A fun interview with Sarah of Well Criated! I don't know about you, but after reading this interview myself, I started feeling like I really want to meet Sarah! Maybe someday we'll cross paths.

But for now, here's the interview!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tell us a bit about yourself and your family! 
My name is Sarah! My parents (Robert and Debra) and I, have a small ranch in Olympia, WA. We have over 50 Alpacas, that are all like family. Each one has their own personality and we love them all (even the frisky ones like Gafeetza).

My Mom (Debra) and I run the "Well Criated" Etsy shop together. I do most of the Social Media, Design, and Advertising/Marketing for our shop. My mom and I do all of the felting, photography, and artwork together. My Dad (Robert) does all of our logistical work with herd sales, purchasing, breeding, and genetics research.

Monday Interview - Handmade Clothing from I's Ha-Lo Ha-Lo

It's time for our Monday Interview! This week I'm interviewing I's Ha-Lo Ha-Lo. She makes beautiful handmade clothing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tell us a bit about yourself and your family

My name is Irene and I am originally from the Philippines. My family moved to the United States when I was thirteen and lived in Brooklyn, New York for 16 years. I met my husband in NYC and after living in Brooklyn, my husband and I moved to Boston. We lived in Boston for 2 years where we had our son Benjamin who is now 8 years old. We left Boston to live in LA for 1 year. We found our solitude here San Diego where my other son Mateo (who is now 4) was born. Here in San Diego is where I started I’s Ha-Lo Ha-Lo in June 2008. Halohalo is a tagalog word for a mixtures of things. I thought this to be an appropriate name for my little business since I create various things. I have been creating/crafting/sewing for a long time. Friends have told me to introduce my talent to the public, but I did not quite know how and never pursued it. Not until I visited a craft show here in San Diego one day and saw vendors who had their children with them. This really inspired me. I thought to myself “ I can do this!” This was the catalyst of where I am right now with my hobby which turned into this little shop I have on Etsy. Creating through designing and sewing have been my outlet from my many roles in life. It's an addiction that I have to continue and can only hope that this journey will last .

Monday Interview- Baegz

This gloriously warm Monday I am interviewing Tracy of the shop Baegz. Tracy seems like quite the fun and creative person. You can view her shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/baegz.

 Lets get started!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What do you make?
custom handbags and purses.

How did you get started in your craft?
I began by taking quilting classes and that is where I learned the skills needed to start creating bags, until now I only thought about.

Monday Interview- Fabricated By Anna

Who is the talented artist behind the gorgeous shop, Fabricated By Anna?


The creator of these wonderful fabric brooches, necklaces, hair accessories, and much more, has agreed to do an interview with me!

Let's begin.

Monday Interview - Fabric Greetings

It is my pleasure to interview the talented creator of Fabric Greetings this Monday Morning. At Fabric Greetings you will find wonderful mailable fabric art in postcard style. Is that unique or what?!
So let's

Handmade Pottery-Interview with deborah of dgordon

I suppose I've just had this big thing with handmade pottery lately. It all started when I was at a beautiful little consignment shop in downtown Franklin, and I noticed some pottery. I wanted to reach out and touch so bad, but I was scared to death I would break something!

I jumped on Etsy and started browsing pottery. My attention was drawn to this especially lovely pottery from the shop, dgordon. I was immediately impressed by the design and quality of this beautiful handmade pottery.
So much in fact, that I decided this shop was perfect for my Monday interview! I mean, who wouldn't want to get to know the artist behind such amazing work?



Here we go!....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tell us a bit about yourself and your family.

My name is deborah (yes, a small d, just like I sign my pottery). I live with a wonderful man who for the past 12 years has been my biggest supporter where my art is concerned. Words I hear often from him are "deborah! DO NOT throw that piece out, someone will love it!" I'm very critical of my work, and he's almost always right!
My "day job" is taking care of my elderly parents. When they came to the point of needing to hire an aid for my mom, I said No, hire me! So I have the best of all worlds, working for employers who I love, doing what comes natural, and having time for my pottery.
My dad is a potter, our kiln is in his studio (garage).
I have two beautiful grown daughters(both of whom have etsy shops, and a g-g-granddaughter (still cant quite get the word grandmother out..Im not "that" old!)



What do you make?

I create pottery. Trinket dishes with detailed pictures... dragonflies, owls, Victorian looking pieces, wall vases, bowls, sushi sets, bread platters. Almost all of my work at this point is hand built now with pieces of vintage lace used to make impressions.



When did you start creating, and why?

Well, I've always had one form or another of art in my life, I used to illustrate children's books that I wrote, did water colors, writing, decoupage, and now pottery for the past 6 or so years. The why part is because I "had" to.
But more specifically, I started doing pottery because 12 yrs ago I left my husband and moved from NY and a chocolate company I ran, to Florida where my parents live and I was at loose ends. My dad who's a potter said "let me teach you clay." I started it to please him (yup, I'm a daddy's girl) and after a few months I realized I LOVE the feel of clay under my hands. I LOVE watching an idea form under my hands... and more often that not, my hands just move with the clay and whatever forms, forms without my thought or guidance.



Tell us about your studio and creative process.

wellll.... my "studio" is scattered all over my home (literally)!
In my den is where all my tools, clay, boards, everything, is stored. My bedroom is my packing area. Huge rolls of bubble pack, boxes, tape, all that you need to ship fragile pottery is stored there. The bed is my packing table.
And finally..the place the pieces are born.. the living room. I spread a plastic table cloth over the carpet, lay a cheesecloth covered large piece of sheetrock on the floor, my rolling pin, wooden tools, lace, stamps, hairdryer, all the items I use in creating lay next to the board. 25 pounds of clay at a time sits next to that, and I sit cross legged on the floor and hand build.



Do you have any inspirations, or someone you find especially inspiring to you?

My inspirations are nature. Everything I do is nature based, the designs, the flow of the lines on my larger pieces. And of course my dad and his work.



What is your favorite piece you have created?

That is an easy question! I have to say my favorite one was an accidental piece. I made a bowl on a pedestal. I stamped in large letters the word DREAM on a separate piece of clay and attached it inside the bowl just under the top of the rim. I then glazed it in a glaze I had never used before, Malachite. When it came out of the kiln I stopped breathing. It was magical. Honestly. The glaze had melted/run down the letters in a swirl, smokey type of a way so that it looked like something you would see in a dream. I've never been able to reproduce that look.



Do you attend art and craft fairs/shows?

I used to when my boyfriend worked nights and could help with set up during the day. I had a love/hate relationship with shows. I hated preparing and setting up and taking down. I loved watching people touching and commenting on my work. And of course shows are so iffy. You never know which will be good ones, which will be duds. I haven't done a show in about 2 yrs now.




Do you have any hobbies or other things you do?

I love cooking and baking, I guess that counts as a hobby :)



Who is your favorite musician?

I LOVE all the oldies, music from the late 50s, and early 60s. Earth Angel, In the still of the night..that type.
And classical music. BIG fan of that!




Where else on the web can we find you?

My etsy shop.. http://dgordon.etsy.com



Tell us a fun fact about yourself!

Hmmm.. I guess the "funnest" fact I can think of is, I'm psychic. Have been since I was a little girl. Dreams, knowings, reading objects. Sounds nuts, I know... but there's no denying it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

deborah, it was fantastic getting to know you a little bit! I see we both love classical music! For myself, anything piano, so of course Beethoven and Chopin!

It was my honor to interview you, I can't wait to see what creations you have in store for you shop!

Visit deborah's shop at dgordon on Etsy.

Craft on,

Interview with Meredith Dada

As always, the art I find on Etsy never ceases to amaze me! This time the beautifully detailed intricacy of Meredith's beadwork caught my eye, and I new I had to do an interview with this artist!

It seems to me that Meredith is a special person with a special talent. Once you read the interview, you'll think so too!



~Interview with Meredith Dada~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tell us a bit about yourself and your family!

My name is Meredith Dada, and I am a fourth generation artist/crafter. I was lucky enough to have been born into a creative family. Art for us is just a part of life. I was encouraged from the start to create. My mother has been a successful artist and potter for the past 30 something years. My father always had photography as a hobby, but in his retirement, his work has really evolved. My Grandmother was a painter and a crafter. It was her love of beads that inspired me to use beads as a medium in my artwork.
I am a stay at home mom with a two-year-old little boy. He keeps me very busy, but I find time to create when I can. Once he goes down for his nap, I bead like a crazy woman. It is not unusual to see me in my little studio after everyone has gone to bed, working past midnight. My husband built me a studio space in our garage, he says he did it to be supportive…I think he just wanted all my artsy crafty stuff out of the house!



Tell us about your art and what you make.

I love to paint, sculpt, and mosaic. I found a way to combine all of my loves into one craft. I usually draw out an idea, sculpt or build it, then paint my design. The beading process is another form of mosaic to me, just on a smaller scale. I make little birds in nests, decorative dishes and trays, wall hangings, plant ornaments, and little bowls. Everything I make is covered in tiny glass seed beads, rhinestones, crystals, or charms.



When did you start creating, and why?

I have bee creating for as long as I can remember. I was playing with clay as a toddler watching my mom teach pottery classes. My Grandma also taught china painting, and I would sit in her studio as a little girl and paint with her students. I studied in high school and collage, working with every medium I could get my hands on. I always created for fun and as a hobby, while maintaining a “real job”.
When I started dating my husband, he encouraged me to start taking my art more seriously. At the time I was making my own ceramic tile, breaking it, and making mosaic tables, mirrors, and birdhouses. With my husband’s support I started to show my work in galleries. The first time I saw my work in a gallery window, I was hooked. When I told my Grandma I sold my first piece she said “Of course, you had no choice, this is in your blood!”. My Grandma loved to work with beads. For my wedding we made countless beaded flowers for the center- pieces and my bouquet. She passed away shortly after that, and I inherited her craft supplies. Her many jars of beads looked like jars of paint to me. That started the ball rolling. I began to paint with the beads, and fell in love with the whole process.
My work is now a form of meditation for me. My mind is clear and quiet when I work, it keeps me focused and centered. As a mom with a toddler, quiet time is golden!

Tell us about your studio and creative process

When we bought our house here in Ojai California, the first order of business was to create a work area for me. Our garage has a perfect little niche in the corner against the backside of our brick fireplace. There is an area for the large kiln I inherited from my Grandma, and enough room for two large workbenches and many shelves. I divided my space in half, one side is dedicated to ceramics, tile, and glass.
The other side is dedicated to beads, jewelry, and paint. I try to always have general supplies handy, so when inspiration strikes I have the tools I need ready to go. Some of my pieces are found objects that I refurbish and bead, and some pieces I have to create completely by scratch. I love the challenge of making an idea come to life. I like mixing techniques, materials, and media, and I need a variety of supplies and tools all at my fingertips.



Do you have any inspirations, or someone you find especially inspiring to you?

My Mom is a huge inspiration for me. She has been making and selling her work for as long as I can remember. She lives her life doing what she loves, and I am lucky enough to follow in her footsteps. She taught me all the basics in art and design as well as introduced me to all sorts of media. She still encourages me to think outside the box and push myself to new levels.

My Grandma is the person who inspired my love of beads and crafts. She always had a project going on her craft table, sometimes she would work all night while watching old movies. She could make something beautiful out of just about anything. I like to think that if she were alive today, she would be proud of what I do.

Do you have a favorite piece you created?

My favorite piece is still in the works. It is my largest and most challenging piece yet. My Grandfather gave me an old guitar. I am not musically gifted in any way so it sat in my studio for ages. When my son was five months old, I decided it was time for me to get back to work (mainly because he was sleeping through the night at that point).
Unfortunately I did not have any ideas, my mind was blank. I walked out to my studio and saw the guitar sitting there. I wondered what it would look like covered in beads. I painted the design on it that very day. I am still working on it after about a year and a half. It isn’t done yet, but it is my favorite piece so far.



What are your favorite materials to work with?

Glass seed beads are my favorite. I prefer to use very small beads (size 11/0). I also love glass accent beads, crystal, and shell beads. I use my Grandma’s rhinestones to give things a little extra sparkle. I love to take apart old jewelry, and use charms as accents as well. I like working with found objects and recycled materials. I work with ceramics, and for my smaller pieces I sculpt with Paper Clay.

Do you attend art and craft fairs/shows?

I have not done any shows or fairs. I think when my son is a bit older and I have more time, I will branch out and my world will get bigger and bigger. We do have a juried show coming up on our town, and I am mustering up my courage to submit a piece to that!



Tell us a fun fact about yourself!

I used to be a terrible cook, I mean terrible! After I got married my husband was begging for mercy. I didn’t have time for a cooking class, so I started watching the food channels on TV and reading magazines. After much trial and error I can now do more than boil water. Much more! My friends and family actually asked for recipes from meals I made. So this year I started a food blog, when I make something particularly yummy I post it!
www.dadadelicious.blogspot.com

Where else on the web can we find you?

I sell my work on Etsy
www.meredithdada.etsy.com
I also have a blog:
www.meredithdada.blogspot.com
I tweet:
www.twitter.com/meredithdada

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you so much for sharing your life with us! Twas fun!

Interview With KOMBUCHICK!

I met Kombuchick in the Etsy forums, and decided an interview was due! At Kombuchick, you can buy your own Kombucha supplies, to make your own brews.

Please enjoy the interview!



Tell us a bit about yourself and your family

Hmm, I am originally from a very rustic area on the outskirts of a small town in Southern Virginia. I went to college at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, then after the shootings knew I needed a change of scenery, so I moved to Virginia Beach. Life at the beach proved to be the perfect transition for me, and really helped me to learn myself, my passions, and I feel it was here that I learned what I want to do most with my life-- help people enjoy theirs. I have two younger siblings, who live in different cities, but I live with my dog Mica (a rescued mix-breed).

When did you first start making kombucha, and what inspired you to do so?

I first started making kombucha at the beginning of last year, after deciding to transition to a raw foods diet. In a forum thread online, someone suggested I drink kombucha to assist with the detoxing and cleansing process. Boy oh boy did it work! I enjoyed kombucha so much, that I learned how to brew it myself, and it's been all downhill from there!



How did you find Etsy, and what made you decide to sell on Etsy as apposed to other venues?

I first learned of ETSY while reading Bust mag while in the library (ahem, read: everyone's favorite room in the house! hahaha). I thought, ah, how cute! Then a year later, after I had been doing the whole kombucha thing locally for about a year, I decided WOW, maybe I should join ETSY when a coworker suggested I list my products and supplies there. Joining ETSY has been one of the best decisions!



Tell us about your kombucha!

I mostly sell supplies on ETSY, since I think it may be crossing some lines to sell my kombucha on- site. Therefore, I sell it locally. I use agave nectar (a low-glycemic sweetener) since a lot of my customers have diabetes issues and other health concerns, and I also have the equipment to test the levels of alcohol in my brew (well under 0.5% by vol, by the way). In fact, my kombucha has less alcohol in it than the vanilla extract in your cabinet. I sell in a variety of flavors: strawberry galanga is my fav (it has a dry, aged flavor), and I'd say hibiscus is the most popular with men. (Its really interesting, since hibiscus produces a pinkish, bubbly, almost wine-tasting brew!) That trend has been evident on ETSY as well as locally: more men purchase hibiscus kombucha and hibiscus products!

You've only been selling since June, and already have over 170 sales! I think many of us would feel this to be quite an accomplishment. What do you think has helped you the most to reach that number in so short a time?

I think the recent pull from grocers' shelves (my luck/ timing) + great quality products + stellar customer service + on-ETSY advertising (and not to mention knowledge about my products and my brew)= ETSY success, for me. I hope it continues! In fact, my co-workers have made a bet that I'll be full- time in about a year. (We'll see about that...at my day job, I get full benefits and paid time off...not really sure if I'm ready to trade those perks yet.)

So ultimately, as it seems, my shop and success can be attributed to Machiavellian-esque formulae (haha a little of my Political Science background shining through).



Do you have any recommendations for sites to advertise handmade goods on?

First and foremost- ETSY SHOWCASES! I cannot emphasize that enough! It helps you to stand out in your category, and it helps to get clicks and hearts! Who doesn't love hearts! Plus its inexpensive and you can commit as much or as little as you like. I have been in countless treasuries, and I'm sure my showcase slots have some to thank for that luck. Also- Craftopolis is great, and if you are somewhat photogenic, set up a Flickr account... definitely helps to get your images under google searches! :)

What are your future aspirations for your site?

While I would love to be full-time, I am taking it as it comes. I hope to open a kombucha homebrew supply store and juice bar here at the beach; and hope to have a separate studio in said facility for doing my handmade handiwork. I love ETSY, and would love to continue to grow with the site!

What else do you do when you are not making and selling kombucha?

Security background investigator by day, kombucha homebrew-master by night! I do background investigations for applicants to work at Nuclear power facilities across the nation. So in a nutshell- I help people get jobs. I can't say much more about my work; its highly classified stuff (not kidding).



Wow, cool! So do you have a favorite vacation spot?

Wellll, since I live at the beach, my fav vaca spot is...hmmm.... what vacation? I'm constantly working! hahaha. No, I love travelling to other cities and small, local dives. Roadtripping to wherever, whenever has always been my ultimate adventure!

Where else on the web can we find you?

I have a blog that helps answer questions about kombucha and homebrewing http://www.kombuchick.com
Also on YouTube, where I do the same...just by talking haha: http://www.youtube.com/ kombuchick.
I offer 24-7 support via Twitter: twitter/KOMBUCHICK, and I am on flickr as well! Facebook add me! So yes, I guess, I am a web- socialite!

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.

A fun fact: I started teaching myself Arabic in college, because I wanted to work for the State Department (like I said, I was a political science major). At the time, Arabic was not offered at VT, so I took Hebrew...while simultaneously teaching myself Arabic. I am still continuing to practice learning Arabic and Hebrew, speak it when I can, and read it whenever I can (mostly on tv broadcasts of overseas issues).

I ultimately hope to learn most of the Semitic languages (Pashto, farsi, urdu...) I think they are beautiful, historical languages with a pan-religious relevancy. I feel that a lot of the world's issues can be resolved over a great brewsky (kombucha, of course) and a few kinds words...no matter what language! :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Girl, it was fun getting to know you! Thank you for sharing a peek into your life with us!

Behind the Scenes with studioahimsa

This week I had the privilege of interviewing Studioahimsa, who creates beautiful greeting cards, jewelry, paintings, and more.





Lets begin!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Tell us a bit about yourself and your family.

I am originally from Vancouver, where I now live, but lived in Houston, Texas for most of my childhood. My teen years were spent in Calgary, Canada. I am an art historian, and have a background in interior design. I live with my best friend of more than 12 years, and we collectively run our studioahimsa shop.



What do you make?

Recycled paper greeting cards, letter sets and stationary. These are linocut or digitally printed from our own illustrations. Plus, we make limited edition prints.



When did you start creating, and why?

I have been creating art in some form for over 20 years, but finally decided to sell things (online) in early July.

Tell us about your studio.

My studio is in my small apartment. It is 580 square feet and my best friend and I each have a small room. We work on a movable cart that fits in the closet-sized storage room and at our desks, mostly, in the living room. It is pretty cramped! We plan on having a studio (live/work preferably) within a year so that we can get ourselves some letterpress supplies and expand the business.


Do you have any inspirations, or someone you find especially inspiring to you?

I am inspired by landscape, and nature. . .colors around me, and feelings. My best friend is encouraging and inspirational.

Do you have a favorite piece you created?

I started a series on Canadian Provincial flowers with the Alberta wild rose card set: http://www.etsy.com/listing/51583276/card-set-alberta-wild-rose-linocut I also love Greg's Coffee Coffee Coffee Limited Edition print http://www.etsy.com/listing/51050372/art-print-coffee-coffee-coffee-on-cloth



Do you wear your art?

I don't wear the items that I sell, but I have made necklaces just for myself, which I definitely do wear.

Do you photograph your own items?

Yes, I do. I am saving up to buy a new camera so that the pictures come out a bit nicer, though.

Do you attend art and craft fairs/shows?

Not yet. Once we have more stationary in our line and have the space to store all the extra product, we will start attending.



What are your future aspirations for your business?

As I mentioned, I would love to start using a letterpress for our stationary. I have goals for amounts of sales by the end of the year and types of new items in the store, as well. We are planning to create some notebooks and other stationary items in the near future, as well as more letter sets.

How did you find Etsy?

I don't remember - I think I was looking for some jewelry to buy a few years ago and someone's website directed me to Etsy.com.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself!

I write a blog called Being Tazim (http://www.beingtazim.com), which focuses on art, design, travel and other creative personas.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wow, thank you for this wonderful insight into what goes on behind the scenes at Studioahimsa!

Everything is beautiful, you and your friend are very talented! I wish you all the best with your business!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ok people, this is why I heart you! (and some tips on how to get noticed)

I often see new sellers wondering why people heart them, and then not buy.
Are they really wanting to buy, but their is something wrong with the listing that's driving them off? Maybe.

Are they trying to get attention to their own shop? Maybe.

But that's not why I heart! I heart you because I see a unique product I may want to feature on my Etsy Treasure Chest blog sometime. I can't keep track of all the sellers I want to feature, so the simple solution is to heart. That way, when I need a new feature, all I have to do is go back through my hearted sellers and select one.

Now for the fun part.

You want to get hearted by me so I can feature you?
Here are a list of things I look for in a product.

1. A unique product. The more unusual the better.

2. If it looks like it might have a neat story behind it, that's even better, because then I might just interview you!

3. Good craftsmanship. It doesn't have to be complex, it doesn't have to be hard. But it has to be well made, and creative!

4. Creative. I look for eye catching creativness in a piece. It's much more likely to get attention on my blog if it is creative.

5. Good photos! Now, they don't have to look like a super duper honkin professional took them, but they need to be nice and clear, uncluttered, not grainy, a nice clean background, etc. In general, with a bit of practice, just about anyone can accomplish this. If you haven't accomplished this, well there is plenty of tutorials on the web!

6. A nice shop with a nice profile. PLEASE fill out your profile! I want to know a tad bit about the person I'm featuring. It makes me much more comfortable knowing a few miner details about you.

7. Don't forget your avatar. While I sometimes search for specific products in the search engine, many times I heart a shop to feature because I found them in the forums. A neat and spiffy avatar made me take a look!

And there you have it! The basics of what I look for when I heart!