Featured Seller - Vive La France Design

Kara of "Vive La France Designs" is a fellow team member on the etsy greetings team. She is a graphic designer and artist who enjoys paper-crafting as well. She recently answered a few questions about her experiences as an etsy shop owner and motivations as an artist. Please check out the examples of her work after the interview, and be sure to visit her shop for more great work.

What inspires you?

Nature... the colors and the way lighting affects the colors. I'd have to give my husband some credit too. My love notes are all inspired in some way by my husband, be it creating the perfect card for him or something from a conversation. He's always calling me tenacious--for a variety of reasons.

What are your favorite colors/materials?

Blue has always been my favorite color - in any shade, but I love color in general. I love painting in oils and the diversity it allows in blending and textures. I hope this translates in my art-print notecards. I also love the feel of Japanese paper. It is so thin, but strong and tactile.

How did you get started papercrafting?

I've always loved paper and making cards. I would make my mom cards and leave them under her pillow. Then in college, I took a calligraphy class. It was the first time I made an accordion-fold book. I illustrated my quote with watercolor illustrations and I was hooked. I also started making books using Japanese binding.

What prompted you to open an etsy shop?

I have been painting since I was seven and have a BA in Graphic Design -- I love combining art and design. I really enjoy the hands-on part. I found etsy about a year ago, but flip-flopped because of my health. I have a rare pituitary disease that was elusive for a decade and took away everything that made me me --except my creativity. So anytime I could muster up the energy I would work on a painting or a freelance design project. It eventually led to making scrapbooks for people. Then I had lots of paper......paper makes me happy! So I started making cards again. (I had been making watercolors cards and selling them at local craft fairs but lost interest). I had a pituitary tumor removed 3 years ago on April 19th, and it took a full 2 years to feel any better which = a bit more energy to work on my art. So I finally opened an etsy shop.

Do you sell outside of etsy? If so, where?

I sell a custom line of baby cards, tiny gift cards and thank you sets at 'Addison Marie, A Baby Boutique' in Albquerque, NM,
and I will have my art print notecards and handmade cards at a new brick and mortar shop, 'Queen City Emporium'
in Springfield, MO which is opening in late March.

What advice do you have for other etsy sellers?

Try. You never know what will happen. As for etsy, be a buyer as well as a seller. It makes you trustworthy and part of a community.

Here are a few of my favorites from Kara's shop:

8 Blue Baby Thank Yous by Vive La France on etsy



Torrid Love Note by Vive La France on etsy



Friendship Quote Notecard by Vive La France on etsy

Featured Seller - Just Because Art and Greeting Cards

This week's featured seller from etsy is Jaleh from "Just Because Art and Greeting Cards." This Seattle artist's love of poetry allows her to share her experiences through drawings, cards, and paintings. She also has her own small alterations and dress-making shop, and does graphic design work during her off hours. Whew! I don't know how she finds the time for it all. A brief interview with the artist follows, as well as some of my faves from her shop. Be sure to visit etsy and "heart" her for future shopping trips!

What inspires you?

I find inspiration in colors, especially in the natural world. And in things around me, such as photos, paper, love, friends, words, or a story I hear. I also love computer graphic design.

What do you like most about running your own business?

I am blessed and honored to do what I love in my free time after work!

What is your least favorite part of the creative process?

Sketching and thinking about the color and words for what I have in my mind.

What prompted you to open an etsy shop?

All of my friends and family love my art .

What is the best piece of advice you have received from another etsy seller?

Display and impart the great value of your truly specialized, handmade products to potential buyers. I believe that valuing your product enhances your reputation.

Back to School Gift Guide - etsy.com

It's time for more of my etsy favorites. I've been seeing tons of stuff on etsy lately that I've wanted to share. I decided that a "Back to School" gift guide is in order. My nephew just returned to school today (third grade!) and my sister returned to her college studies yesterday. I've attempted to include a wide range of styles and gifts for various ages. If you have further suggestions, please feel free to put some links in the "comments."

fernfiddlehead
MacBook Envelope - 13 inch

I just had to include this for my husband's sake. What's better than a handmade envelope for your MacBook. Hmmm...maybe I need one. This is made specifically for MacBooks and MacBook Pros from speckled brown denim cotton and lined with brown and white striped cotton.




my duck duck goose
Turtle Time Personalized Metal Lunch Box

Start out the new school year in an eco-friendly fashion. Give up those paper lunch bags and try out one of these lead-free, food-safe, personalizable lunch boxes. Just think, your child can be socially responsible and stylish all at once.




1 crown 3 tiaras
Eden Ruffle Blouse

I love this beautiful, bright blouse for fall! These colors would flatter any little girl and make quite an impression at school.




an artful agenda
Artful Lesson Planner with Hand-Drawn Art

Any teacher would surely love a handmade planner to start the school year. It's always a good idea to start out on the right foot with your child's teacher, isn't it?




StoriesDivinations
One of a Kind Handcrafted Magnets

These magnets are made with original vintage schoolbook illustrations, super-strong magnets and multiple layers of varnish for long use. I think these would make a great gift for a teacher, useful for hanging your child's artwork on the fridge or super-cute in a child's room.




RW2 Gallery
Speak No Evil, Hear No Evil, See No Evil Pencil Case

I can imagine that some teenage boys would be thrilled to use these pencil cases at school. In fact, it may be the only reason they would ever even consider carrying a pencil case! I'm sure there are some girls that would like them as well, and they would surely be popular with the college set.



Sinem Inugar
Thundercloud Everyday Bag

I think I need this bag for back to school! It would work well as a purse, book bag, diaper bag or shopping bag and would appeal to a broad age range. It measues 13.7" x 13.7" x 18.8."




Britgal Designs
Insulated Lunch Bag

What a stylish and eco-friendly way for you or your child to carry lunch to work or school. The bag is made with 100% cotton Alexander Henry Hollywood fabric and measures 10" x 10" x 4.5."




little fish in a big pond
You Make It Dress Kit

This adorable dress kit comes in sizes 3T to 7Y. It can be worn as a dress and then, as the child grows, a blouse.

Mother's Day Gift Guide-Part One

I know that I haven't posted in a little while and I need to play catch up. I have some Easter pics to share, a recipe and some potty training success stories. However, today I foud myself in the mood to browse around etsy. Since I couldn't justify just doing it for the fun of it, I decided to make an etsy gift guide for Mother's Day. It's just around the corner and, if you plan to order from etsy, you'll need to factor in time for shipping (international orders may take up to two weeks to arrive). While I will be posting some Mother's Day cards, as well as blank ones that would be appropriate, I'm not going to be lame and include my own stuff in the gift guide. I think I will leave the shameless self-promotion off of the blog today. I guess I'm just feeling generous...or am such a good person...or just think that if I am promoting etsy I am promoting myself anyway.

Mother's Day Gift Guide

This "Geranium Sage Vegan Cold Process Soap" looks good enough to eat. It comes from Long Winter Farm's etsy shop, which also features soaps with awesome names like "Bloody Lumberjack" and "Hippie Stink." I started to feature one of these, but could just see the look on the face of some mother when gifted with something called "Hippie Stink" on Mother's Day. I haven't smelled or used these soaps, but they look delicious. They're also cruelty-free, and you can't beat that with a stick.


The "Become Rose Garden Shawl Brooch" is from the etsy shop Melt'm Design Studio and is handcrafted from sterling silver. It's a beautiful piece and this seller is offering free shipping worldwide through the end of April.


I'd love to have the "Bee Bee Beautiful Bee Brilliant Green Trinket Dish" for my very own (you know how I love those little Bs). They come from My Mother's Garden, which features many treats for gifting. A percentage of the sales in the shop will be donated to kiva.org.


Stick this ACEO from Snap Dragon Studios in a nice frame and you've got a lovely gift for one of the mothers in your life. I admit to having a tree obsession, but who wouldn't love this? Your mother gets a piece of original art and you get to visit it every now and then.


This "butter cream birdhouse" from greenware design is actually a hanging planter for an air plant. It comes with the plant and some moss (mmm...did somebody say moss?). This reminds me of trips to Florida as a kid. My brothers brought some air plants home. We couldn't believe they didn't need the dirt!

Okay, I just renamed this post "Mother's Day Gift Guide-Part One." This is taking waaay longer than I anticipated. There's just so much to choose from on etsy. So, I guess I'll complete the guide in installments. This is part one with more to follow.