I’ve been so busy creating with my new supplies and I think I’m in love with Hilltribe silver now. I sold the most expensive item on my etsy store yet, which was actually a grab bag full of supplies from a recent studio clean out. Wouldn’t you have guessed that the most expensive thing I sell on etsy would turn out to be supplies!
I know that I was going to go and reply to all my deviantart messages and comment on everyone’s deviations but I went looking for a new car instead. I bought a silver Nissan Micra that I’m going to name “Betsy”. Every car I’ve ever had has actually been named Betsy and this one will be no exception. I love Betsy!
I’m so happy but in a penniless sort of way so I really have to keep my hand out of the cookie jar for a while. This is proving difficult since I keep seeing stuff that I really want so I’ve devised a cunning plan of hearting all the items that I’m going to demand as Christmas presents in a few months, lol!
new items: -
Labels: car, citrine, crystal, deviantART, etsy, handmade, hilltribe, jewelry, lemon, moonstone, new, pearl, photography, prehnite, quartz, rose, ruby, silver, sunstone, tourmaline
posted @ 1:02 PM
0 comments
Ya
y! another great Etsyian, another great interview!Tell us a bit about yourself. What are your name, label, location, & whatnot?My name is Sharon Lipps and I live in the Raleigh NC area. I am a full time working mom, with a wonderful husband and two beautiful little boys (2 ½ and 1 ½). I started knitting as a way to relax in the evenings, I started with baby blankets and moved on to other projects that did not take quite so long and I enjoyed doing it. I originally made a purse for my niece. I enjoyed doing it so much I made another one then another one and so on. I loved how they turned out so I decided to see if they would sell, plus I had a number of people say how great they looked. Therefore, Spare Time Satchels was born!!!
When did you start crafting?
I started crafting (knitting) in 2003. Primarily as something to keep my hands occupied to stop smoking!!! I do have knitting in the blood though!! Both grandmothers and my mother all knit and I originally learned from them about the age of 7 or so.
Describe your craft in one word:
RELAXING!!!!
Explain your craft, what drives you and your inspirations:
Primarily my craft is my SANITY!!! With two boys, born within a year, you need something for that!!!!…LOL… I just enjoy making beautiful things. Also, my purses are very unique and I like the fact they are highly functional, washable and different than those you can find anywhere.
What makes you different than other sellers?
I feel my purses are different than most purse makers just for the fact they are all unique!!! Sure, I can follow a pattern but they will all be handmade, handcrafted and especially with felting a purse no two will EVER be the same. Felting is a process which definitely makes each purse unique.Have you had anyone that you consider to be a mentor? Tell us about them.
As far as a mentor goes, that would be both of my grandmothers. I remember vividly as a child both of them just knitting, knitting and knitting. They made so many extraordinary things such as, mittens, hats scarves, sweaters, Christmas ornaments, dolls, doilies etc….
If you had one piece of advice for someone just starting out, what would it be?
Enjoy what you do would be my best piece of advice.
Where do you see yourself going with your craft in the future?
In the future I would just like to continue making great purses!! I would eventually like to do more patterns in them but hey…I am relatively new at this as well and I am constantly learning new things.
Don’t forget to tell us where we can buy your work:
You can see what I make, you can purchase a purse, bag, wristlet or pouches on my website at www.sparetimesatchels.com (this links right to my ETSY website). I will also be very happy to custom make one for you, just let me know what you want and I will do it.
Some fabulous items from Spare Time Satchels……
Labels: artists, bags, community, etsy, etsyian, featured, felt, indie, interviews, knit, purses, seller, sellers
posted @ 3:57 AM
2 comments
My blog has had a make-over! I think it's much more simple and easy to read now.
I visited my DeviantArt page today with great intentions of replying to my messages but every time I blink there are like 100 more of them. I feel guilty for hiding out and not replying when people have taken the time to look at my work and comment on it so I'm going to go through them all at the weekend. I just hate sending repetitive messages and I want to look at other peoples work and give them some sort of valuable feedback. I hate sending messages like "wow, that’s great!" or "beautiful!" because It sounds like I didn't really look or I'm a serial bestfriender. I know it's much more useful for designers to hear what works or doesn’t work with the design.
I've gone mad making earrings lately. I started to make my own earwires, which I put off for a while because I was nervous that I'd forget to file one of them and somebody’s' ear would get ripped off. I understand that customers prefer jewelry that doesn't maim them, lol. It really is simple though, you just wind the wire around something like a fat marker then cut up one side like you would for split rings, turn a loop at one end, file the other end and that's it. Now if only it would stop raining, I could take nice photos of them all!!
Labels: blogger, Blogging, design, deviantART, earrings, Jewellery, jewelry, making earwires, silver, template, website
posted @ 12:28 PM
0 comments
Ok, I've been very busy creating new items for my shop and taking better photos too. I got some beautiful labradorite and moonstone that have gorgeous rainbow flashes and beautiful rose quartz that goes great with my pink tourmaline and pearls.
I consigned some of the items that were in my shop so I had to overwrite the listings :)
I've been really busy with commissions too! I get to design the jewelry for two Debutantes and I can't wait to see them in their dresses wearing my jewelry and hair accessories . Hopefully I will get some photo's of them looking fabulous too!!
Labels: commissions, debs, debutante, gemstone, Jewellery, jewelry, labradorite, moonstone, pearl, prehnite, quartz, rose, silver, sterling
posted @ 2:47 AM
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I’m so glad that I decided to interview other etysians through my blog if only because I discovered this great etsyian! If you want to support an indie artist, protect the environment and wildlife, look fabulous and swipe yourself a great deal too, then you’ll definitely want to visit bottledupdesigns! The other thing that I’ll say is that if you do want to grab yourself a bottledupdesign of your own, do it fast! This is definitely set to become one of the hottest shops on etsy: http://bottledupdesigns.etsy.com
Images used in collage are w/ permission bottledupdesigns © 2007
When did you start crafting?
Well, having two young children, I guess I am always crafting! But as for this specific product, it evolved over the last year. Where I live is all wooded behind me. There are numerous old bottle dumps and all through the woods are broken pieces of glass. As we walk through the woods, I would pick up a piece and tell my children how old it is and what is was from. Each piece is like a little history lesson. When I think of the times the country was going through as I describe some of the old glass! As an avid bottle collector, through the years I have picked up many bottles and collected them for display. One day, one of my dogs feet was cut badly on the broken glass and I started rethinking just letting the pieces lay. I became concerned for the wildlife, the deer, foxes, squirrels, and thousands of others becoming injured as well on this glass, and decided to do something better with it. Without really know what I was going to do, my k ids help pick some up. We carefully washed it, and I commented it was as pretty as gems. That's how the idea was born. I came up with a way to carefully ensure the edges were smooth, taught myself how to drill the glass, and made notes on the history of each piece I was worked with. What we have now is "Bottled Up Designs", jewelry made from the glass of antique bottles. With each piece, I include the "Story of the Glass" which notes what the glass came from, and how old the glass is. In some cases, well over 100 years old!
Describe your craft in one word:
I guess I would have to say - unique! I can guarantee no one else has anything like this!
Explain your craft, what drives you and your inspirations:
I am very passionate about old glass and the history behind it. Our way of living, the times our country and the world is going through, is reflected on these old pieces. I feel with what I am doing, I can bring a little bit of this history to people, and help clean up the environment at the same time.
What makes you different than other sellers?
I think the product itself sets me apart. Many people are using new products which takes vast amounts of oil, energy, natural resources, and manpower to create the pieces to make these. With mine, I am simply reclaiming something was already used, many, many years ago and making them beautiful again. Something with a true story behind it you can share as you wear them.
Have you had anyone that you consider to be a mentor?
I would have to say no. What I am creating has come out of my love the glass, and my desire to make the environment a little better. The product evolved by trying different things and seeking opinions and advise from many people.
Do you have a favorite piece or signature piece?
I would have to say I do not. I am always amazed as I dig the glass out of the dirt, caked under years of leaves, and moss, how the beauty is preserved and how truly beautiful this historical glass is.
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http://bottledupdesigns.etsy.com
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Labels: artists, bottledupdesign, community, environmentally, etsy, etsyian, featured, friendly, green, indie, interview, interviews, recycled, seller, sellers, upcycled, wildlife
posted @ 12:42 PM
0 comments
I've decided to interview a different etsy artist here every week. I will be featuring artists from various categories not just jewelry. The indie community can use all the support it can get and this is something that I've been thinking about doing for a while. I've thought about it and finally decided that these are the 10 questions that I will ask each artist to answer:
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Tell us a bit about yourself. What are your name, label, location, & whatnot?
When did you start crafting?
Describe your craft in one word:
Explain your craft, what drives you and your inspirations:
What makes you different than other sellers?
Have you had anyone that you consider to be a mentor? Tell us about them.
Do you have a favourite product or a signature piece? Show us.
If you had one piece of advice for someone just starting out, what would it be?
Where do you see yourself going with your craft in the future?
Don’t forget to tell us where we can buy your work:
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Labels: artists, community, etsy, etsyian, featured, indie, interviews, seller, sellers
posted @ 6:54 AM
0 comments
L@@K what I bought: http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=5659171
Granny Smith - Prehnite slices and wrapped silver earrings from Glimmerjewelry. The first thing that just really caught my eye and that I absolutely *had to* have in a long time. Glimmerjewelry’s shop is packed full of fabulous jewels!!
The other thing that I discovered is http://www.beaut.ie/blog/ Beaut.ie, the Irish Beauty Blog, which is updated a couple of times a day and is run by two sisters, self confessed product whores, who offer beauty info, reviews, DIY, advice and a good giggle :)
Labels: beauty, Blogging, blogs, cosmetics, earrings, etsy, finds, jewelry
posted @ 3:31 PM
1 comments
