Etsy Bloggers Featured Artist - Mystic Wind

I almost missed it! It's the last day of the month, so my last chance to feature this month's featured artist from the Etsy Bloggers! Ok, well, not really, I've been known to do it the first week of the next month too. *shhh* don't tell anyone! Let's get a cheer for procrastination! Moving on...

Etsy Bloggers Featured Artist - March 2011

Here's three of my favorite items from her shop!

Pink Rose Floral Glass with Pearl Necklace

Blue Butterfly Button Ring on Black Filigree Band

Frilled Purple and Green Flower Earrings

Don't forget to check out this weeks Giveaway!

Coming up Tomorrow - Featured Friday!

Etsy Bloggers Featured Artist - Faerie Garden Fancies

Now that I'm getting back "into the flow" it's time to start catching up on my team requirements for the Etsy Bloggers Team! I've always loved these guys, and I'm more than happy to feature this month's featured team member! She's not one of the team mates I know, probably because I've been out of the loop, but I had a lot of fun checking out her shop! 

Faerie Garden Fancies

Isn't her shop banner cute? That was that the first clue I was going to love her shop! I thought I'd share my two of her awesome pieces. 

Magical Shamrock Flower Necklace

Isn't this perfect for St Patricks Day?

And this one is my favorite item...

Magical Mermaid Art Doll and Treasure

And last but not least - don't forget to enter this week's giveaway!

A Big Texas Welcome

I love the Etsy Bloggers Team! I don't always get to participate as much as I would like, but when I have these are some of the most wonderful gals around. Recently we did a journal swap! I had a really bad month and wasn't able to complete mine (barely started it) but fortunately my partner understood. Look what I got!

This journal was made by Erica of Nico Designs. I had a lot of fun reading what she wrote and looking at her cute little pictures she drew for me! Definitely not my forte, I can't really draw and I've always wanted to, so it always extra impresses me when other people can!

Etsy Bloggers MEGA Giveaway!

It's our teams second anniversary and we're doing a massive giveaway! I'm so excited! I donated a necklace (scroll down and you'll see it). Go to the team blog to enter to win: http://etsybloggers.blogspot.com/

In the mean time - here's the ways you can enter :)

Note: don't leave your entries here...go to the team blog!

HERE'S HOW TO ENTER:
Each entry must be written in a separate comment.

* For the first entry/comment – Visit any of the above listed shops and pick your favorite item. Then comment here and include a link to that item.

Then for all additional entries:
* 1 extra entry/comment – Make a purchase from one of the shops listed above.
Then leave a separate comment here, with a link to the receipt/sold item.

* 1 extra entry/comment – Follow EtsyBloggers on Twitter:http://twitter.com/etsybloggers and tweet about this giveaway. Then in a separate comment here, leave the link to your tweet. (Find the tweet URL by clicking on the tweet's timestamp.) Here is some text you can use for Twitter:

You have GOT to checkout the EtsyBloggers MEGA GIVEAWAY at http://etsybloggers.blogspot.com
Good luck to all the contestants in the EtsyBloggers MEGA GIVEAWAY!! http://etsybloggers.blogspot.com
Love handmade goods? A blogging team is having a MEGA giveaway. Almost $300 value! http://etsybloggers.blogspot.com

* 1 extra entry/comment – Become a fan of the EtsyBloggers on Facebook:http://etsybloggers.com/facebook Then in a separate comment here, leave your Facebook name and tell us you’re a fan!

* 1 extra entry/comment – Write a blog post about this EtsyBloggers MEGA GIVEAWAY and link to http://etsybloggers.blogspot.com – and you can use any of the graphics here: http://etsybloggers.com/MEGA_GIVEAWAY/graphics
Then leave a separate comment here, with the direct link to your blog post.

* 1 extra entry/comment – Using the EtsyBloggers Random Blog Generator which is listed over there in the right-hand column, visit one of our team member’s blogs. Comment on a blog. Then comment here in a separate comment, and include a link to that blog you visited!

* 1 extra entry/comment – Make a purchase from one of the shops listed here:http://etsybloggers.etsy.com Then in a separate comment here, leave the link to the receipt.

* 1 extra entry/comment - Are you one of the fab sellers giving an item away?
In a separate comment here, let us know and tell us something about your giveaway product!

* 1 extra entry/comment – Follow this team blog. Then leave a separate comment here, let us know you’re following our blog.

* 1 extra entry/comment - If you write a blog post AGAIN about the EtsyBloggers MEGA GIVEAWAY, on the actual day of our Anniversary, (which is next Thursday August 13th) then you will get another entry in the giveaway!! So on the day of our EtsyBloggers 2nd Anniversary, head on over to the team blog to say Happy Anniversary EtsyBloggers and let us know you again blogged about the giveaway, and include the direct URL to your post.

Friday's Featured Artist - Miesmama

I'd like to introduce you all to Becky of Miesmama! Becky is one of my Etsy Blogger team mates (and the featured blogger this month!) and she is not only a talented artist, she also has a sweet spirit that radiates through her every interaction! I have one of her felt flowers (like the purple one shown below) on one of my purses and I simply love it!

1. What type of art work do you do?

I do fiber art, mostly with felt, it's a medium that makes me extremely happy - I love looking at fiber arts, maybe it's because it's so tactile, I don't know!

2. How did you get started doing art work?

I guess I've done it all my life, you start out so creative when you're a child, when I watch my children drawing, or paiting, I wish I could get a little of that freedom back! I also went to college for a while, doing textile arts.

3. Do you do any other crafts?

A couple of years ago, I joined a knitting group run by a dear friend, and she taught us how to knit, it had been something I was yearning to do, and now i love it, it's so relaxing, and yet productive at the same time!

4. What's your favorite piece in your shop right now?

Oooh that's hard, you become so invested in all of them! I think it's my "tree fern clutch bag" though, it embodies what my style is well I think, felted and full of nature! Though, I'm loving the fun and versatility of my felt flowers.

5. Where do you sell your work?

At the moment, it's only at Etsy. I would love to do art and craft fairs, but finding the time is hard at the moment, with two children and their many summer plans.

6. Do you blog?

Yes, and what a lovely world that is to be in, full of warm, friendly, supportive and like-minded people. http://www.miesmama.blogspot.com

7. Are you on any social networks you'd like to share?

I'm on Twitter, and probably soon Facebook. But I really love Flickr, does that count as a social network?, it can so inspirational, and a great place for feedback.

8. Do you watch or listen to anything while you work? If so, what?

Both, all my work lends itself well to multi-tasking, it can be anything - lately, I love listening to Wilco, Feist, Innocence Mission and Sigur Ros. TV mostly is Doctor Who, Primeval, and Torchwood on BBC America, and I can't wait for the new season of Lost, I'm totally addicted!

9. Tell us one random fact about your self *wink*

I'm addicted to all things Japanese and Kawaii, and I swap a lot on Swap-Bot, if you're ready for a new addiction go and check it out, there are swaps for everyone!

Tuesday's Tips #5

Can you guess what today's tips are about? That's right - joining teams and guilds! I chose banners from two of my favorite teams to start out this post today. The Etsy Bloggers and the The Stalkers. I'm on several other teams (more on that later) but these two hold special places in my heart! The bloggers because they are the team I have been a part of the longest, they have some awesome people, and they feel like family :) I'm still pretty new to the Stalkers over on Artfire, but I love the mission of promoting others, without telling them what we're doing! 

Ok, enough about me, WHY am I bringing up teams and guilds? Because I think that they are a very important part of the selling experience. 

If you remember last weeks tips I talked about making connections through your blog. Well, another important place to make connections is in the communities that you sell in. Forums can be great tools as well, but I think that teams and guilds provide the core of the support you need.

Simply put, most teams exist for a purpose. It might be to promote a particular type of art or craft, it might be a unified passion, it might even be a common location, but whatever it is you are likely to be surrounded by a community of people who have similar interests. If you have a question or need support, these are the best people to turn to! I've learned a lot from my various team mates and I consider it to have been invaluable experience. 

I also know that MANY of my sales have been either direct sales too or trades with team mates. Now how great is that?

Before I say anything more I should say that I don't know as much about other selling venues. I'm on etsy and artfire - but look around whatever other sites your on and see if they have teams or guilds or something similar! 

So how do you find the team/guild that's right for you?

1. Location based is always a great way to start. It's the best way to find out about local events and resources.

2. Does your shop specialize in something? Like jewelry, paintings, cards, or knitting? Well there's probably a team all about YOUR medium! Which can be great for personal growth in your artwork :)

3. Do you have a passion like blogging, being a Mom, or living green? That's right, there's teams for that too.

Things to look at when choosing teams to join:

1. What are their requirements? Do you meet them?

2. What do they require of active members? Is it going to put to much on your plate?

3. Is it an active team? Or is it just kinda sitting there doing nothing? A team that's really active might be too much for you if your schedule is full, but on the flip side there's really not much point in joining a team that's completely stagnated.

Now since I'm talking about teams and guilds I want to give a shout out to my teams and guilds! Before I do...just be aware that I'm a stay at home disabled woman ... therefore I have more time on my hands than most of you!

On Etsy:

 ~ The Etsy Bloggers - because we love to blog and we love each other! Search "etsybloggers team" to find our stuff :)

~ Team Big Damn Crafters - geeks who love the show Firefly and love to create new items inspired by the show! Search "teambdc" to find our stuff :)

~ The Etsy Bead Weavers - because we love to work with tiny little beads to create beautiful creations :) Search "ebwc" to see our monthly challenge item and follow our blog to vote in the challenge each month! Search "ebw" to see the rest of the teams incredible work :)

On Artfire: Still getting to know these guys - but having fun!

~ The Stalkers - Not as scary as it sounds! Each week our fearless leader picks a different shop - and we all go out to promote it! I love doing this :) 

~ Pacific Northwest - There's that local connection I was talking about!

~ Blogfire - Um, did I mention that I love to blog? I missed the last carnival and I was sooo sad :(

~ Artfire Beadweavers Guild - Haven't really had a chance to get to know these guys yet, but I love to weave beads so there I am!

So what teams are YOU on? 

Etsy Bloggers Featured Blogger - Create a Thought!

Art Book Journal Kit

This month's featured Etsy Blogger is Create a Thought - and I had so much fun going through her shop! I mean, look at this quote she has in her shop announcement:

"There are thousands of thoughts lying within a man that he does not know till he takes up the pen and writes. ~William Makepeace Thackeray"

Since you all know I love to write - my love of that quote should come as no surprise!

Here's just a few of the cute items you can find in her shop:

Imagine the Stars Ring

Robot Love Mini Journal

Just Because Handmade Card

And don't forget to check out her blog!

Etsy and Me

Hey everyone! Before I dive into this blog post - I just wanted to say that my migraines are back full force. My couple of good days seems to have been a fluke. BUT the good news is we're trying more things, and I figured out how to get my lap top set up on the couch to use when I'm stuck flat on my back. So hopefully I'll be able to get more consistent about blogging...although adding new things to my shop is still going to be hard.

This weeks etsy blogger carnival is all about why you got started on etsy and what you think about etsy.

I found etsy through a friend. This was around a year ago, and my health had been rapidly declining for a few months. This gal saw me working on my jewelry when she'd come over to hang out and told me I should try selling. Well, she wasn't the first person to tell me that, but she was the first to introduce me to etsy!

Long series of events later - I found myself opening up my shop on May 5th, 2008. I was so excited and so nervous all at the same time! It seemed like there was a never ending stream of information to learn- and you know it still feels that way sometimes. Slowly but surely I got my feet under me, and a lot of that was because I met a few awesome people who were willing to help me find my way.

Now I have two shops on etsy. The first is my jewelry shop. I haven't has as many sales as I'd like, but I love that I have made sales! I've made enough to keep me going :) Besides, I LOVE making jewelry, so what else would I do with all the stuff I create?

Etsy Buy Handmade roseworksjewelry

My second shop is one I share with my Mom. I haven't been able to do as much to develop this shop as I'd like because of the migraines - but once I can get rid of those my Mom and I have lots of ideas! We've always been close - but it's been fun to have this to talk about :)

Etsy Buy Handmade kstreasures

While I love etsy - I'm also well aware that there are limitations to it. It can be hard to get recognition on etsy because it's grown so fast and they haven't always done the best job at allowing people to get time and recognition. Also my main market, jewelry, is very saturated no matter where you go, so that's just hard to sell in general.

I do love the people I've met on etsy and the friends that I've made!

Will I stay with etsy? Yes. Will I ever open up shop on another venue? I'd like to. I need to get a little more consistency to my health first though. For now, I have enough work with two shops and two blogs :)

Etsy Blogger of the Month - Donna Pool

You haven't seen me mention too much about the etsy bloggers on this blog lately because...well...I've been behind the ball cuz of my migraines >_> oopsie! But...I'm still not to late to do this months featured blogger! So with out further ado...here she is :)

Donna is one not only extremely talented - her work is diverse! You can find her shop at www.donnapool.etsy.com and in her shop your find all sorts of fun stuff. I had to show off this example of her photography because, well, we all know I'm addicted to purple!

Iris

Donna also has tons of cute buttons in her shop. I had a hard time picking - but this one just fits me so perfectly I couldn't resist!

My life...

Donna ALSO sews. By hand. Can you believe this awesome ball was sewn by hand????

Sweet Heart Patchwork Puzzel Ball

Want to see more of Donna's awesome work? Don't forget to check out her shop and blog!

Come Meet SpottedCowSoaps ToNiGhT

Red Velvet Cake Soap

If you've been around my blog for awhile you've seen me feature this awesome artist :) Linda, of Spotted Cow Soaps, is a great friend, fellow team mate, and an AWESOME soap maker! She will be my lovely guest host tonight at 9pm EST - so come join us!

Did you know Cows make Soap?

They do! Really! One of the most active team mates on the Etsy Bloggers team is affectionately referred to as Miss Moo, because she is the proprietor of spottedcowsoaps :) I was tickled pink earlier this month when I discovered that she was our featured blogger - because not only do I love her as a person - but I had an order for some of her soap on the way! I don't know why I haven't gotten around to posting this blog before, because the instant I smelled my order I fell in LOVE! Here's what I got...

Vanilla Whipped Scrub

Sparkling Champagne Bubble Bath

Both smell utterly devine - and I use the Whipped Vanilla Scrub  every single day! I'd use the Sparkling champagne bubble bath more if I could afford to buy it constantly :P Back to the sugar scrub though...

I've always LOVED the smell of vanilla, there are few other smells I love as much, and this soap is perfect! Not only does it smell devine, but it feels wonderful on my skin! My husband says I smell yummy :) I agree :) I could lick my skin! Of course eating soap is a bad idea...which is why I'll never be able to buy this soap...I'd never be able to resist!

Chocoholics Unite Soap

I'd put up a pic of what I'll buy next - but I can't make up my mind! I'm also kind of betting she'll come out with new scents by the time I finish the sugar scrub, so what's the point in making up my mind now?

Anyway, here's too Miss Moo, one of the greatest Etsy Bloggers around!

Fantastic Friday

Why is today fantastic you may ask?  For many reasons! For one - it's Black Friday and I no longer work in the customer service industry! *dances* Also, my fantastic Etsy Bloggers Team is doing a sale!!!

☆:*¨¨*:★:*¨¨*:☆:*¨¨*:★:*¨¨*:☆:*¨¨*:★:*¨¨*:☆:*¨¨*:★:*¨¨*:☆☆ ; ;:* ¨¨*:★:

H a p p y H o l i d a y s ! !
The EtsyBloggers HOLIDAY S*A*L*E* is going on from Black Friday thru Cyber Monday!!
That's Friday 11/28 thru Monday 12/1!!
See a list of the 50+ shops having a SALE below...
H a p p y S h o p p i n g ! !

☆:*¨¨*:★:*¨¨*:☆:*¨¨*:★:*¨¨*:☆:*¨¨*:★:*¨¨*:☆:*¨¨*:★:*¨¨*:☆☆ ; ;:* ¨¨*:★:

I've got 10% off my entire shop PLUS FREE shipping on orders of $20 or more.  If you mention this post I'll make it 15% off. Nice eh?


I also received this award a couple of days ago and have been so busy I haven't had a chance to blog about it. Yikes! So thanks to the fantastic Spirit Mama for considering me worthy :) Now the rules say I'm supposed to nominate 7 other blogs - but I'm not going to pass it on today - because I'm really tired! Sorry guys - i know - I'm a spoil sport :P

Why am I so tired if I'm not working in customer service you might ask? Good question, because I certainly didn't go shopping! I'm not that brave/crazy/whatever *wink* No, today was the last day of moving stuff out of the place we've been house-sitting for the last two months! We thought it would all be done by yesterday except for some cleaning, but that was not to be.  I ended up having a nasty allergic reaction to a new medicine the doc's tried putting me on and that kinda made everything take longer.

So now everything is in the new apartment and my hubby and I spent the first night in our new place last night! Even though everything is disorganized and in boxes, and we'd forgotten our pillows at the place we were house-sitting, it was still a nice feeling to be in a place that was "ours" again.  Since moving back to our home town we've been in limbo, and I'm really happy about how everything has worked out with a living place, job for hubby, and getting hubby into a new school!  Now if we can just get me healthy - I'd be on top of the world :) That's ok - I can wait!

As soon as we've got some more of the boxes cleared I'll post some pics of the new place - give me until next week sometime - I'm exhausted!

I'm so Excited!!!

There are many things I'm excited about today :) For one - I'm thankful to be alive - you can read about that story here. I'm also very excited to announce that the Etsy Bloggers are having a sale! My shop is participating with 10% of the entire shop PLUS FREE shipping on orders of $20 or more! Here's our team announcement :)

H a p p y H o l i d a y s ! !
The EtsyBloggers HOLIDAY S*A*L*E* is going on from Black Friday thru Cyber Monday!!
That's Friday 11/28 thru Monday 12/1!!
See a list of the 50+ shops having a SALE at http://etsybloggers.etsy.com
H a p p y S h o p p i n g ! !

I'm also very excited to share with you an exciting opportunity I have! Have you listened to Blockhead Radio? If not - check the widget on the side of my blog! And clicking on the logo below will take you to the blog!


Anyway, Rod, the founder of this radio program and a man we call the "King Plugger Lugger" (because he loves to plug other people's businesses!), is doing a lot to expand the program. The Monday night show is now being called Artisan for Artisan and will be covering a wide range of topics related to the artisan world! Come join is Monday's at 9pm EST for an awesome time of laughter and fun :)

Rod's also added on a Wednesday night show, also at 9pm EST, called the Indie Music Artist Spotlight. He'll be doing live interview's with a wide range of artists, the first week's show is already in the archives, so go listen!

Now for what I'm REALLY excited about! Starting Thursday, December 4th, and 12pm EST, will be the new show - Spotlight on Artisan! Rod will be there to introduce the show and run the chat room, but it will be co-hosted by none other than the fabulous Lily of Tulips Treasure Box and myself! That's right - each week we'll lining up fantastic indipendant artists to interview - and you'll get to hear my voice! Here's a hint - I sound 16, but I'm really not :P

The opening show will feature a live interview with a wonderful artist - Lauren of TheChainMailleLady :) I have a thread going in the forums to help promote this - so if your as excited about getting to know other artisans as I am - go chat in the thread with us!