Featured Seller - Pretty and Personal Papers by Tricia 16

Tricia of "Pretty and Personal Papers" has been selling on etsy for almost a year. She started out selling monogrammed notecards, like the one below, and the business expanded from there.



Tricia had been making the cards to give as gifts at birthday parties and wedding and baby showers. She was approached at a shower and asked to make a custom set. Hesitant at first because she really enjoyed making the cards for gifts, Tricia took the order, as well as the advice that she start selling them to others.

Tricia's favorite items are her journals, such as the one below. She leans toward bright colors and uniquely patterned papers.



The idea for these journals came from her own experience with making a little notebook to write down the funny things her kids said or did. Tricia was always telling friends or family about her kids and someone told her she should start writing her anecdotes down. After writing a few stories, she made up a little journal titled "the funny things you say and do" and started writing in it for her own kids. Her first one started as a boring journal found at a local craft store that she decided to bling out. Now they are completely handmade. The journals are her most popular item. Tricia especially loves working with moms on their journals to make them fit the children's interests and personalities.



Tricia belongs to the Etsy Greetings Street Team and Busy Moms Street Team. She advises that those new to etsy join a street team, as she has found them to be amazing and helpful, supportive and knowledgeable.

Little b Bunny Featured!

Little b Bunny has been featured on the blog of etsy seller Jen of Simply Inviting Cards. You can check out the feature here: Little b Bunny Feature

Feature - Rabbit Whiskers Children's Clothing

This etsy seller combines the techniques of hand smocking and embroidery to create one of a kind classic children's clothing. If you're looking for something special for a child in your life this Christmas, look no further.



Rabbit Whiskers (or Judy, as she is known outside of etsy circles) has been smocking since her daughter was born 33 years ago and embroidering even longer, but has been combining the two for the last 25 years. She began when her daughter was born. Eventually, she sold her dresses at an exclusive children's store in Carmel called "The Mischievous Rabbit" and continued to do so for 16 years. When the shop closed, she decided to open a shop on etsy.

Judy is inspired by all sorts of different things. A lot of her inspiration comes from things she sees in nature, such as flowers and animals. Sometimes just looking at a cut of fabric and thinking about how she could take that piece of fabric and make it look entirely different is a fun challenge that inspires her. Colors, music, and poetry inspire Judy also. She always has classical music on while she is working, and she finds it very inspirational. Furthermore, she sometimes finds it is very inspiring to look at a detailed picture and think of what that picture is saying. That inspires her to go off in a different direction and develop just one idea that she gets from looking at that picture.

Rabbit Whiskers loves color and putting it together in different ways. Particularly when working with baby things, she prefers pastels and soft shades of color, but not exclusively. At times she is really drawn to the primary colors and darker shades, but then she usually prefers them contrasted against white. Green is Judy's favorite color; there are so many pretty shades of green from which to choose. She loves pink too, especially a soft pink, and putting shades of pink and green together. Judy's favorite scenes to create are those with lots of flowers in them and scenes with animals, particularly those with bunnies, lambs, and dogs.

Judy is always interested in reading good advice from other etsy sellers and the Storque. She says that there is so much great advice out there and so many people who are so kind to share it! The one piece of advice that stands out the most clearly in Judy's mind is the advice to believe in yourself and your product. Work hard, be patient, stay focused on your goals and, in time, people will recognize your work and come to you.

Here are a few of Judy's current favorites:

I love this dress with the long sleeves. I like the happy winter scene and the contrast of the strong colors against a white background. I prefer it when the scenes on my dresses suggest little stories or ideas, and I like what this one suggests.

Winter



I think I particularly like this dress because of the way it just seemed to pop into my head, totally complete, without my even trying to think about what I might do. It is very rare that something like that happens. I love the whimsical nature of this scene!

Chasing Purple Butterflies



I think this is one of my favorites because creating the little Westie was a difficult challenge, and I'm pleased with the way she turned out. I also like the colors in it a lot.

Pink Puppy Love



And here are a couple of my favorites:

Let It Snow



Lamb and Flowers

Feature - Batwa

Okay, so I've given up on the idea of a "Feature Friday." I just couldn't stick to the schedule. I'll still feature an etsy artist weekly, but it won't always be on the same day. On that note, here's an interview with this week's featured shop, Batwa.



How did you get started making wallets and handbags?

I've always had a thing for handbags (and shoes!) and wallets. I own many and in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. I made my first little handbag as a birthday gift for my aunt; I was pretty much hooked after that first time. I figured I could change my handbag and/or wallet whenever I wanted to if I could make them myself.

How did you hear about etsy and what prompted you to open your shop?

I first heard about Etsy in a craft forum a little over a year ago. I knew immediately that Etsy was for me.

You are a relatively new seller. How are you working to market yourself? Have you learned any lessons re: what works and what doesn't?

Marketing is still very challenging for me. I am not one of those people who can just hand out my business card to anyone and everyone that I meet. So, for me, I mostly do my marketing through Flickr, Etsy forums, Facebook, Family, Craftgawker, and a few other forums. I'm currently trying Twitter, but I don't think it's REALLY my cup of tea. I can't micro blog about my life to cyberspace for all to know. It hasn't generated any sales, but I must admit it is great for views. I'm still trying to figure out what works and what doesn't. I'm also thinking about advertising in a couple of blogs.

What is the most exciting thing that has happened since you opened your shop?

Exciting things happen to me everyday. I get excited when I get views, hearts, treasuries, etc. The most exciting though has to be being approached to do a wholesale order for a couple of boutiques!

Do you have anything special in mind for the holidays? Will you change your marketing?

I don't think my product lends itself well to "the holidays". It wouldn't be practical to produce a wallet with a winter or Christmas theme because it wouldn't be able to be used all year long. I might do more cool colored items with blues and whites though. I'll be having a FANTASTIC sale in October, perfect for pre-Christmas shopping: BUY 3 wallets and get the 4th. FREE

Generally speaking, are there any lessons you have learned since opening your shop that you can share with us?

I'm still on my learning curve when it comes to photos. I have good days and I have bad days. I shoot all my items outside in bright light, but indirect sunlight and edit them in Picasa, which is a free photo editing software (picasa.com). Customer service has to be top notch! I respond to all buyers with a "Thank you" convo letting them know that I appreciate their purchase, when their item(s) will be mailed, and when to expect them. I try to pack the items in my "colors" green and black and never forget to include your business card! I've also learned that the Etsy forums are a great place to hang out. They're the perfect place to go to get advice, help, words of encouragement, critiques, and lots of laughs.

Here are a few of her current favorites:

Wallet in Amy Butler Wildflowers and Oxford Stripe




Large Cosmetic Case in a Batik Bull's Eye Pattern




Medium Frame Pouch in Amy Butler and Silk




And my favorite:

Wallet in Tina Givens Annabella and Moda

Feature Sunday? Glass Cube

I'm (obviously) a little behind this week with my feature. However, I have a lovely etsy artist to share with you this week. She just joined etsy in August and is from Columbus, Ohio. She's already had 47 sales, so maybe we can learn a thing or two from her!




How did you first hear about etsy? How long have you been a seller?

I actually heard about etsy a few years ago. I was starting up a purse business and one of my friends turned me on to the website. Unfortunately at the time I thought I'd be better off getting my own website! Little did I know that etsy would have been much better. So, this time around I went straight to etsy. I just set up my shop on August 9. Etsy has been just absolutely fabulous!

What are some valuable lessons you have learned as a seller?

Patience and pride! I learned (and am still learning) to be patient....the sales will come and my shop will get its name out there! Its hard work being on etsy. You have to spend the time to get to know other etsy members, advertise yourself, network, etc. The second thing I learned is to be proud of my work! I really like what I make, but its a great feeling when others like it too! Being on etsy just forces you to be proud of what you do! :)

Do you buy on etsy as well? What draws you to a shop, if so?

I do buy on etsy! I think its a great way, especially in hard times right now, to make sure that my money goes to good use! I'd much rather buy a handmade, unique item and have a family receive my money than go to a corporation and buy something that everyone already has and feed their profit margin any more!

How do you market your shop? How did you discover what works and what doesn't?

As of right now I am relying solely on blogs, twitter, facebook and word of mouth! I have gotten a lot of my sales from other etsy members that I have gotten to know in the forums!

What inspires you?

Oddly enough, some of my mistakes have inspired me the most. I love the "uh oh that wasn't what I wanted to happen" feeling, and then realizing that I created something even better! I love bright colors, and I love it when my boyfriend designs things with me! He likes to brag about the fact that all of his designs have sold! He really is good when he puts his mind to it!!

Here are some of her favorites:

Orange Split



Necklace of the Month Club



Faded Blue Jeans and Flowers



Special Offer: Glass cube is offering a FREE necklace of the month club if anyone is interested! Just go to
www.twitter.com/glasscube and copy, paste and tweet her message! 502nd Retweet wins!!

Blog Feature

Little b Bunny has been featured on the Northern Dawn blog. Click on "Northern Dawn" to check it out. Laura lives "in the Northern Scottish Highlands, surrounded by gorgeous scenery with a view of the sea. [She] makes knotted and beaded Jewellery and other handmade craft items, perfect to treat yourself to or give as a gift."

Feature Friday - Emintaos

It's Friday and time to show some love to a fellow etsian, Emily of Emintaos!



What prompted you to open your etsy shop?

I was a floral and event production designer in California for 17 years. When I moved out to Taos, New Mexico a few years ago, holding onto that profession was impossible. I had begun designing jewelry 9 years ago with my best friend, as a hobby and a way to make a few extra bucks. I realized quickly out here that I was going to need to be creative literally and figuratively to help support my family. Etsy was something I had heard about as gaining in popularity. I checked it out, mulled it over, got brave, and went for it. I opened in October of 2008 and, after be really discouraged for the first 8 months, decided to give it a concerted effort once again. This last August, with A LOT of effort and changes to my shop, things are turning around. I WAS JUST FEATURED ON THE FRONT PAGE!

What have you learned during your time as a seller?

Well, believe it or not, I didn't learn about the 'renew' button until recently. That has changed things dramatically. As a seller I have also learned how valuable it is to have other Etsy artisans to lean on for advice, tricks, tips, and moral support. I feel too that I really am learning a lot about the psychology of merchandising. There is a lot to selling, especially if you want to sell jewelry!

What inspires you?

The seasons, the weather, colors, and texture inspire me. I am occasionally inspired by what I see in high fashion. I like to take ideas, combine them, and then pair them down. The older I get the more I see that simple is best.

What are your favorite materials and colors?

Saffron orange, peacock blue, seafoam green, and tanzanite purple, vibrant versions of the secondaries on the color wheel, are among my favorites. I LOVE silk, refined or raw, rough-cut faceted semi-precious stones, real raw rocks, satin vermeil, butter soft deerskin lace.

Do you target specific seasons or events? If so, in what ways?

I really just learned about merchandising for the upcoming seasons, events, and holidays. I took to heart everything I learned from the Storque on Etsy, and I really attribute that to why one of my pieces made it to the front page!

How do you promote your shop? What has worked the best/worst for you?

I visit the forums at least once a day and try to post in the Promo, critiques, or business sections. I post almost every item to facebook, and try to renew at least 5 items a day. This is really still new for me, so I hope to know the answer to this question after the holiday season. Fingers crossed!

Do you sell your wares in other online forums or offline? If so, where? If so, please compare the venues.

I sell in various clothing/gift shops as well as two spa/resorts in my county. I do fairly well. Most of my stuff is on consignment, but I am gaining accounts that buy, which is always the way to go. Etsy is really hard work, and, although I'm not there yet, I hope it will one day rival the success I've had offline.

What are your favorite pieces right now?

I really love the silk wraps I've been doing lately. They are so colorful, versatile, and easy to wear....wrist, neck, ponytail, tie on a gift. I also am quite fond and proud of the higher-end pleated hand-dyed silk necklaces with the preserved leaves I've introduced. One of those was the one that made it to the front page.

Harvest Queen



Silk Ribbon Wrap



Autumn Silk Ribbon Wrap



Here are a couple of my faves! If you get the chance, check out Emintaos' shop and comment here on your favorites. I'm sure she would appreciate the feedback.

Autumn Calling



Antique Sunshine Earrings

Feature Friday

So you all know that I enjoy putting together gift guides and other collections of handmade goods. However, I thought it would be nice if I started featuring some individual artists. We can see a broader range of their work and also get to know them a bit.



b Bunny: Jen, what prompted you to open your etsy shop?

Jen: I was shopping one day and saw the scrapbook paper and thought what can I do with that. I knew about etsy and thought this may be a great way to sell something I love doing.

b Bunny: What have you learned during your time as a seller?

Jen: I have learned that it takes a lot of time and energy to both make and promote your items. I love it though!!

b Bunny: What inspires you? What are your favorite materials and colors?

Jen: I think I am inspired by new paper prints. As funny as that sounds, I see a new print and immediately think what can I do with it. I just love creating. I love paper and my favorite colors are blue/brown and pink/brown combos!

b Bunny: Do you specifically target particular seasons or events?

Jen: I don't really target a certain season, but of course will gear my products towards them. For instance Halloween is coming up and I have begun making Halloween themed products and will do the same for Christmas. I love snowmen, so expect to see a lot of them.

b Bunny: How do you promote your shop?

Jen: My main promotion technique right now is through the forums on Etsy. I recently started a blog and facebook [fan page], but haven't had time to do much with them.

Below are a few of Jen's favorites:

Spider Web and Bat Mini Notecards




Pink and Brown Damask Post-It Note Holder




Flat Matchbook Notebooks




Blue Floral Notecards

Tea.

That's all I need to say really. Tea. It's delicious, healthy and relaxing. Tea. I can't get enough. There's nothing better than a good cup of tea in the winter or some iced tea with fresh mint in the summer (I'm having some of that right now.) There's a great little tea shop on Rivington Street in NYC called teany. It's owned by Moby (that's irrelevant, I guess, but I am probably known for throwing in irrelevant information) and offers a huge variety of wonderful teas. They also serve vegan food, as Moby is vegan himself. There. I made that little tidbit relevant. Sitting outside the shop with a cup of tea and a sandwich was a lovely NYC experience. I do have to mention an interesting little story though. I was once by there with Tim and my mother-in-law on a chilly, rainy day. We planned to eat at a restaurant nearby and then go back to Teany for, what else, tea. Tim and I couldn't remember how to get to the restaurant from the train station where we had gotten off. Robin was tired of us wandering around looking. She took it upon herself to head back by Teany and ask them for directions. The shop is in a basement level of a building and she had to descend some slippery, wet stairs on her way into the shop. Well, she slipped, fell flat on her back and hit her head on the concrete stairs. Tim and I were still a half a block away waiting for her on the corner. After a little while, we went back to look for her thinking she had been tempted into a cup if tea. Nope. She was sitting on a little chair next to the counter waiting. The servers hadn't offered to call us or even offered a cup of tea. She was wet from falling. The stairs themselves were quite wet. After making sure she was fine, we decided to stay for tea to give her a chance to rest and warm up. While sitting there, several other people slipped on those stairs, but none of them fell. We finally mentioned that they might want to do something to prevent another accident. At that point they mopped up some of the water and put out a rug. Drinking our tea wasn't at all relaxing. It was clear that they wanted us out of there as soon as possible. I imagine they were afraid that we were aware of who owned the shop and were going to sue or something. Whatever the case, it was incredibly rude and we were incredibly angry. The icing on the cake was them actually charging us for the tea. The point? I thought it was an interesting story. And, well, it demonstrates our love of tea. Because, despite our anger, we returned to that tea shop because we couldn't resist the tea! And, well, I don't feel even the slightest bit of guilt about it.

Do any of you have a tea story you would like to share? Or a favorite tea or tea ritual? If so, please share with us in the comments section of this post.

Since tea is the subject of this post, I thought it appropriate to feature some tea-related items that I've found on etsy. Be sure to check out the shops. They have many more beautiful things. Just click on the shop or item name to be directed back to their etsy shops.

Brookish Handmade Goods
Take Tea With Us - Tea Bag Caddy ($10.00)




Stilletto Heights
After the Tea Party - Reproduction Art Print ($18.00)




Marci G's
Red Poppy Tea Bag Holder ($10.00)




Dewberry Vintage
Tiki Table Tea Set ($25.00)




Wildroot Botanicals
Take it Easy Tea ($6.25)




Cornflower Creations
Spring Swallow - Hand Embroidered Tea Towel ($17.00)




Rose Bush Designs
Tea Stained Thank You Set of 6 ($15.00)




Savvii
Blackberry Sage Tea - Whipped Body Frosting ($3.25 - travel size)