Featured Shop: BARBOSAART: The Art of Laura Barbosa

barbosaart.etsy.com



When I was a child, I loved painting. Unfortunately, I am weak in this. I cannot draw the image in my mind onto paper.
Laura creates great painting and sell them in various web sites include Etsy. My favorite is the painting on Chihuahua.

1. What is your shop name ?

BARBOSAART: The Art of Laura Barbosa

2. Can you introduce a little bit about yourself and what you make ?

On Etsy, I am offering my Original Acrylic Paintings that are hand painted, signed and copyrighted by me, the Artist, Laura Barbosa - AKA barbosaart. Each Artwork Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity(COA), Artist Biography and Monthly Promotion Flyer. All my Art is an original creation! I am a Full Time Artist living off my income obtained from selling my original work.

3. What is your shop URL ? barbosaart.etsy.com

4. When did you start selling handmade ?

When I was in high school. My first successful sale was a hand painted sweatshirt and from there I received more orders for custom t-shirts created from photos.

5. How did you start selling handmade ?

Just seemed to happen on its own. I have been selling hand painted t-shirts, sweatshirts, shoes and custom pet portraits ever since I can remember. I am now a full time artist and rely on my art sales to live.

6. Why do you like crafting ?

Because it is something that truly comes from the heart and soul. How wonderful is it to receive a custom painting or handmade item from a loved one or even ordering one for yourself? These are the kind of things people treasure forever...There is no substitute for a handmade, one of a kind gift!

7. What is your favorite product in your shop ?

I have alot of favorites because everything I create, I truly LOVE! But on the top of my list is "END OF THE AGES" & "BULLDOG IN A BOG"

8. Do you sell offline ? If yes, where ?

I tried selling offline but it actually cost so much more to rent a space and set up your products, that I would rather sell online.

9. Do you buy handmade ? What are your favorite stores ?

I LOVE HANDMADE GIFTS!!! I just joined ETSY but I would love to buy products from Studiomusings, Piddies, Lizardsjewerly, OMG I could go on forever. I truly think the Etsy Artists are the best at their crafts..better than anywhere I have ever been to or seen in my life!

10. Any interesting things about your shop you would like to share ?

I offer ***** FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ARTWORK TO USA AND CANADA ***** Plus I have a wonderful Original Painting that I must sacrifice due to Medical Bills...What an incredible piece. I really wanted to save it for my retirement, but with the economy of today..I have to sell all my originals....But as long as I sell them on ETSY, I will be happy because I know that whomever buys it will truly love it. I also OFFER **ALCHEMY**On occasion I take orders for Pet Portraits and Custom Made Artwork to match any decor. Email me to check my availability for custom work. If you are ordering something for the Holidays...PLEASE contact me ASAP so I can get your gift finished on time. If you are looking for something not listed in my etsy shop...email me what you may be looking for...I just may have it on another website and will list it on etsy just for you.

Featured Shop: The Wildfire

TheWildfire.etsy.com

I don't use candles actually, but attracted by the beautiful candles in this shop. The design and colors of the candles are so beautiful that it's hard not to love it. The candles are all wax, no paint is used. Isn't it wonderful ? My favorite in this shop is Dragonfly Luminary.

1. What is your shop name ?
The Wildfire

2. Can you introduce a little bit about yourself and what you make ?
I'm blessed to be a stay-at-home mom, though I didn't always feel that way. I have an independent personality and it was hard to adjust to not working, not providing for myself, and the monotonous routine of wash clean cook. I love my children,  but desperately needed something for "me time". (that oh so joyous moment called nap time) 
My husband bought me a little candle maker for Christmas one year and I haven't stopped since. I upgraded my equipment, taught myself all the techniques to a perfect a candle, and now take those techniques to the extreme. 

3. What is your shop URL ?
www.thewildfire.etsy.com

4. When did you start selling handmade ?
Summer of 2007
I opened my Etsy shop in the Fall of 2007; the best decision I've made so far.

5. How did you start selling handmade ?
Once my house had a candle (or 2) in every room, I would give them out to family and friends. I soon had people offering to buy them and I definitely took them up on that offer.

6. Why do you like crafting ?
I love working with my hands. 

7. What is your favorite product in your shop ?
Oh boy, that's a tough one. Every new candle I produce is my favorite. If I don't like it, I don't put it out there.
If I really had to make a decision, I'd say my Red Flower. It's big (4x4), so it has a long burn life, the design is beautiful when lit and even unlit, plus you can reuse it over and over again by just placing a tea light in the center once the wax has burned all the way down. All of my 4x4 pillar candles leave an outer shell behind for that reason. 

8. Do you sell offline ? If yes, where ?
Yes. I would love to own my own shop one day, but for now I sell to my community. It's a word of mouth thing.
My goal for 2009 is to push wholesale and get my candles in a local shop, then maybe even do a few fair/festivals.

9. Do you buy handmade ? What are your favorite stores ?
Of course!
I love handmade soaps and really enjoy Shannon's Irish Bliss. They smell wonderful and she offers many organic products which is A+ to me. 
Then I have a few friends offline who do amazing work, as well.

10. Any interesting things about your shop you would like to share ?
I don't use paint on my candles. All of my designs are all wax. I do this because it gives the candle a more sleek and stylish look. Plus, it helps me get some of the unique illuminating effects I love so much. 

Featured Shop: Rose Works Jewelry

roseworksjewelry.etsy.com

Ruthie sells colorful and jewelry in her shop. My favorite is her Brick Weave Bracelet in Blue Diamonds which is in my favorite blue.


1. What is your shop name ?

Rose Works Jewelry

2. Can you introduce a little bit about yourself and what you make ?

My name is Ruthie. I'm a newly-wed with severe health problems so I work from home. I split my day between doing work for others (ie, my "real" job), and working on building my business :) I create jewelry in a variety of styles. I love to bead weave, but that's very time consuming and I also enjoy making simpler, more traditional pieces. I'm always looking to expand my knowledge in jewelry creation and to learn new things!


3. What is your shop URL ?

www.roseworksjewelry.etsy.com

4. When did you start selling handmade ?

May of this year.

5. How did you start selling handmade ?

I've had friends telling me for years that I should sell the jewelry that I made for fun! I'd been seriously thinking about it for awhile but wasn't quite sure where to start. Last spring a friend introduced me to Etsy and the rest, as they say, is history!

6. Why do you like crafting ?

I find it very relaxing! I also love that it allows me to stay productive even when I'm house-bound by my health problems. Plus- there's nothing like the thrill of seeing someone wearing an item you created!

7. What is your favorite product in your shop ?

Oh - that's so hard to decide! I have two that I really love right now. My Heroes, Godsend, bracelet was a journey of learning for me. It looks simple, but it took me awhile to figure out how to translate the symbol into a workable and weave-able design! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15500587 I also really love my Rosita's Coffee House Necklace - because I love coffee! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16028460

8. Do you sell offline ? If yes, where ?

Yes and no. I don't have any place where I consistently sell off-line at the moment, but I had a lot of fun doing farmers markets this summer, I have a jewelry party at my Mom's coming up, and I plan on doing a Christmas bazaar or two :) Plus there's always word of mouth!

9. Do you buy handmade ? What are your favorite stores ?

I do! When I can afford it :P I love http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5589742, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=72942, and http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5843010 :)

10. Any interesting things about your shop you would like to share?

Um, um, um, I'm always expanding my shop inventory - so check back frequently!

Your Shop Information Is Needed

It is always like to do window shopping on the Internet and there are always lots of good shops. I'd like to feature some of these shops on this blog and a shopping guide which is still in progress. If you're interested to be featured, please fill in the following questionnaire and send email to dorothywyn@gmail.com. I'll notify you if you are featured.

1. What is your shop name ?

2. Can you introduce a little bit about yourself and what you make ?

3. What is your shop URL ?

4. When did you start selling handmade ?

5. How did you start selling handmade ?

6. Why do you like crafting ?

7. What is your favorite product in your shop ?

8. Do you sell offline ? If yes, where ?

9. Do you buy handmade ? What are your favorite stores ?

10. Any interesting things about your shop you would like to share ?

7 New Ponytail Holders

I have decided to make more hair accessories with my fabric covered buttons since hair accessories are more useful than simply buttons. When you see some lovely fabric covered buttons, you may not buy them unless you're a collector or you craft. Hair accessories like ponytail holders, bobby pins made of these buttons may be more popular (I hope...).

I spent some time on thinking about the package. How should I pack the ponytail holders to make it more adorable? Finally I've decided to buy a pair of wave-cutting scissors for cutting the edges of the cards, and use a hemp rope to tie the ponytail holders onto the cards. This look simple and clean.

I listed ponytail holders with simple pattern like polka dots this week. There will be more different style e.g. cute cats, dogs etc in the future.

Nice tool - Stumble

I registered Stumble the day before yesterday for promoting our handmade store.

Stumble is a personalized web sites recommendations tool. What you need to do are only registering for an account, adding a Stumble bar to your Firefox. After that, you can recommend your site or blog to Stumble so that your pages can be recommended to the others. You can also train Stumble by 'Like' web sites you love, so that it knows how to recommend sites to you.


I've got only a little traffic from Stumble yesterday, but what makes me happy is that it is really really fun to visit sites randomly with Stumble. I've found interesting quilting sites, fabric stores etc through Stumble.

This reminds me my final year project in the university years ago. I did similar thing, about recommending web sites to the users according to their interests.

Featured Seller: bfbeads

www.bfbeads.etsy.com

Well... I believe that my mother would not cut her long and beautiful hair if she saw this shop 26 years ago.

This is a lovely store with functional jewelry for nursing mothers. Instead of pulling mother's hair, there is something safe and more attractive to baby to focus on.

Sometimes ago, I heard that babies love red things. This necklace would probably be attractive to babies.



Personally, I like this one most. It is elegant. The idea of child's stone and mom's stone is interesting.



Jewelry in this shop is absolutely perfect gift to your girl friends or wives with babies.

I believe if I have a baby after years, I won't have to cut my long hair like my mother did.

A Game of Tag

I've been "tagged" by manderlyrose, a fellow Etsy shop keeper. The name of the game is to learn about people, so I need to list six things about myself...and I need to tag five others. I shall randomly choose them from the etsy bloggers...Please take a few minutes to visit these shops, they have some cool stuff! At some point I'll learn how to do mini shops, but for now, take my word on it :-)

www.DirtyFootprints.etsy.com
www.curiousmess.etsy.com
www.greyeyedesigns.etsy.com
www.LazyTcrochet.etsy.com
www.memoriesforlifesb.etsy.com

6 secret things about me:
1) Apart from my husband, I sleep with a teddy bear, a lion from Nicci, a fish (which is like a ball) every night. I treat them as my sons :P

2) I want to move to San Francisco if I have retired. I love the weather there. I like Marina very much.

3) If I have 10 million, I would resign from my day job immediately and concentrate on my shop.

4) I like swimming, but have never swam in the sea. I'm afraid of the waves....

5) I hate sweating, so I'm a bit lack of exercises and easily catch cold.

6) I like playing the piano, but I don't like taking piano exams. So I'm still grade 7....