Friday Feature -- Rebecca Sanchez

This week's featured Etsy artist at Mama's Magic Studio, cross posted here for your enjoyment, is fellow SFEtsy member Rebecca Sanchez. The jewelry in her shop is really lovely. I especially admire these hammered sterling silver hoop earrings with wee birdies:
Enjoy the interview!

1. Please tell us about the items in your Etsy shop. What do you make? How did you learn your craft? What is involved in your creative process?

I make a variety of jewelry. I work mainly with sterling silver, genuine stones and pearls. I also like to incorporate leather in to many of my pieces. Most of my pieces come together by experimenting with combining different stones and materials. I’ve also done a few lost wax cast pieces which is a pretty laborious process and involves melting silver. Hammering and hand stamping silver is my favorite, though. As for how I got started: When my youngest daughter started driving, I really felt a void. For years I used to spend my days, evenings and weekends picking up and dropping of my kids at different activities and events. Then one day – the day she got her driver’s license - it all stopped. I now had to find something to do with all my new free time (since both my kids were now driving) so I started spending my evenings at a local bead store. I found I really liked creating pieces of jewelry I could wear and started to take an interest in different stones and styles of jewelry that other people were wearing. When that bead store closed about a year later, I took a couple of lost wax casting classes. I enjoy the whole creative process and know that when my kids and their friends ask for and wear my jewelry, it has passed the “cool” test!

2. How did you get involved with Etsy?

A couple of friends encouraged me to sell on Etsy and I took their advice!

3. What inspires your creations?

The love of my kids inspires me above all else.

4. What is your biggest challenge related to your Etsy shop?

Marketing - by far. I have to confess that I am not on any social networking site and am a bit shy in talking about it too much. I need to get beyond that so I can bring in more sales!

5. What is your favorite item in your shop (currently for sale or previously sold)? Why is it your favorite?

I have a couple. I like this sterling silver horseshoe necklace that I made using the lost wax casting process. I like the size and shape of the horseshoe and also that fact that it started off as a piece of wax I shaped.

I also like this carnelian and suede ribbon tie necklace, too. I like the orange on orange. The facets on the carnelian show off the stones irregularities and flaws and make it all-the-more interesting. I also like the texture of the suede ribbon.

I should also mention, that in the beginning, I got too attached to some of the pieces I made and didn’t want to sell them. I’ve had to force myself to part with them. I just have to remind myself that someone else will get to enjoy the piece, so that makes it easier for me.

6. What advice do you have for other folks selling or buying on Etsy?

I’m still learning, but I would say to make an effort to post on the forums and ask questions. Do quality work. Have high standards and take pride in your finished pieces. Also, have good communication with your customers and ship quickly!

7. Tell us two (or more) other interesting things about you.

My kids really have been my inspiration for all things artistic. When they were young I took lots of pictures of them. One of the snap shots I took of my daughter with my old Canon A-1 camera happened to come out nice and I entered it in a local photo contest. I won third place. The prize I won was a free photography class. I came to really like it and was pretty hooked. I also made high-end clothes for my kids when they were little. I used to study the European children’s designers and subscribed to Vogue Bambini. I even sold a couple of my pieces to a local children’s boutique. From there I started making them some pretty elaborate Halloween costumes. I did it not to impress anyone, I just felt a “need” to see what I could create.

8. Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about your shop or your work?

I find that I am more artistic than business-minded. I would like to learn more about marketing and technology so that I can increase my sales!

Friday Feature -- Handwerks

This week's featured Etsy artist at Mama's Magic Studio is SFEtsy member Handwerks. Her yarns are absolutely gorgeous! It's hard to pick a favorite from her shop, but this one especially caught my eye -- Superwash Merino Sock Yarn in yummy blues and purples.

Reminds me of a beautiful summer sunset over the ocean. Soooo pretty!

Enjoy the interview!

1. Please tell us about the items in your Etsy shop. What do you make? How did you learn your craft? What is involved in your creative process?


I specialize in artisan yarns. I use high quality base yarns that I have knit tested and dye them in unique colorways inspired by the California landscape. I use professional grade dyes and am careful about both the environment and my finished products. I have been a knitter for 40+ years and a dyer for 20 years. I love the creative process and I also spin, weave and knit on antique circular sock machines. From time to time I have socks and sock scarves for sale on etsy. I am also happy to knit socks from any of my hand dyed sock yarns for custom orders depending on demand.

2. How did you get involved with Etsy?

I started an etsy shop just a few months ago after a friend suggested it. My etsy site compliments my main website and allows me to offer limited edition one of a kind items.

3. What inspires your creations?

I draw on my training in the sciences and teaching to observe the colors and details around me and transfer those to my arts. I love looking at the way the land changes over the course of the year, each season has a unique quality. We live in a very special part of the country that offers a lot of variety. I love the Lake Tahoe area but I also find a great deal of inspiration along the coast and in the sea life.

4. What is your biggest challenge related to your Etsy shop?

The two biggest challenges related to my etsy shop are 1-marketing/getting the word out and 2- learning all about all the inner workings of the etsy venue.

5. What is your favorite item inyour shop? Why is it your favorite?

I love my yarn! This is going to sound narcissistic but sometimes I like a yarn so much I don't want to sell it! I am currently in love with a yarn named "dawn" in my store. Its just one of my favorite colors and I only dyed one skein of it. Its a rich red violet with gold and bronze tones washed over it.

6. What advice do you have for other folks selling or buying on Etsy?

I guess I would advise others to give etsy a try and tell all their friends, relatives, and co workers about it! Pass the word>

7.Tell us two (or more) other interesting things about you.

Hmmmmmmm - other interesting things about me- I wrote a small booklet about how to knit on antique circular sock machines. It is listed for sale on ebay (horrors - is that like Treason??I started selling it there before I had an etsy shop!) I also love to hike and often take photographs of things that I want to use for color inspiration later. I spend some time every year in the hiking in the Sierras.

8. Where else can we find out more about you and/or your creations?

I have a website at
http://handwerkstextiles.com

I recently started a blog
http://handwerkstextiles.wordpress.com/

I'm on Ravelry as
Handwerks

I'm also on Facebook as "Handwerks" but I very rarely say anything there. My kids on are Facebook so I try not to lurk there too much!

The only other thing I'd like to say is that "Handwerks" is my business name and that is what I have registered as a home-based business. However, later when I started my online site, my domain name ended up being Handwerkstextiles because that is what was available! If I had to do this all over again I would have had a crystal ball and checked domain names before registering my buisness! I didn't know initially I would set up shop online. I hope that is not too confusing to everyone!

Friday Feature -- Eristotle Intelligent Home Accessories

Greetings! I'm happy to announce that after a bit of a hiatus we will be doing our best to revitalize the SFEtsy team blog. First up for your consideration is a cross-post from the Friday Features at Mama's Magic Studio.

This week's featured Etsy artist is SFEtsy team member Eristotle - Intelligent Home Accessories. I love her whole shop, especially these charming little pincushions!

Isn't it adorable? And her description is almost as good: "Sweet cupcake pin cushion in heart-shaped silicone baking cup. Thrifted paisley print in greens, white, gold and pink stuffed with new poly fiber. White button "cherry" on top came from my great aunt's variety shop and has two tiny hearts on it as well. I think that's my favorite part. So cute, you almost want to eat it! Though you probably shouldn't, it wouldn't taste very good."

Her Tiny Pockets are wonderful, too. I especially like this turquoise one:

Enjoy the interview!

1. Please tell us about the items in your Etsy shop. What do you make? How did you learn your craft? What is involved in your creative process?

All items in my shop are handmade by me - mostly sewn - using vintage, upcycled, thrifted or eco-friendly materials whenever possible. When you look in my shop you might notice a mixture of things. I have been exploring different ways to express my creativity while also making sure to keep my wares enticing. Lately I've been making lots of fun and funky pillows using slightly unexpected materials. I love the juxtaposition of different fabrics together in one design, such as burlap combined with calico.

My newest pillows are made from vintage feed sack fabrics or thrifted fabrics, with a silhouette applique on the front. Silhouettes are hand-cut from felted wool sweaters found at thrift shops. The soft bird cut-outs are then machine appliqued for sturdiness.

I started sewing when I was pretty young, 6 or 7 maybe. My grandma taught me on her sewing machine, which is the one I now use in my own studio. I remember when I first learned, I couldn't sew round shapes. Straight lines only. My grandma tells me a story that I was making a monogrammed tea towel for my dad (whose name is Tim) for Father's Day, and apparently I told her, "Good thing his name isn't Jim!!"

My creative process is a pretty organic thing, I think. A lot of times, I'll be somewhere completely random and I see something I like. I usually sketch it out in my idea notebook, and then it morphs and changes a few times as its made. Meandering around on the internet ends up inspiring ideas as well. So far, I feel like I have WAY more ideas than time, so really the process of making the newest thing in my head is just a matter of thumbing through my idea book.

2. How did you get involved with Etsy?
A friend of mine told me about it a few years ago and the addiction has slowly grown from there. :) I lost my job as a CAD tech and Designer at an Interiors and Architectural firm in February, so after a few months of wondering where to go next, and looking for a new job unsuccessfully, I decided Etsy was my next big adventure.

3. What inspires your creations?
Nature, and my love of color and texture. These translate into a borderline addiction to fabrics and linens. Oh, I could play with fabric all day. I'm also inspired by old fashioned ways of doing things. The 50's 60's and 70's are really big right now, so looking at Vogue and midcentury furniture and collections books is great material for designs.

4. What is your biggest challenge related to your Etsy shop?
Time management. Hands down. And that is my biggest challenge in LIFE, so it stands to reason it would translate to my business. Its a learning process, and I just try to be forgiving with myself, and try again the next day.

5. What is your favorite item in your shop (currently for sale or previously sold)? Why is it your favorite?

I love the pair of Midnight Dreary Raven pillows. Mostly because I have a recent facination with ravens. I see crows all the time, but I was never sure of the difference between a raven and a crow. I could have looked it up, I suppose, but it was just a passing interest. Then, the other day, I was sitting in my kitchen, and I hear this funny clicking noise. I slowly peeked out the back sliding glass door, and there in the big pine tree in my backyard were these two HUGE Ravens, sitting in the tree, picking pine cones clean. They don't look like crows, they're bigger and kind of scruffier, with these huge gothic-looking beaks. They've just got this cool, stoic, intelligent presence that was so cool to get to witness.

6. What advice do you have for other folks selling or buying on Etsy?
Its been interesting to go from just a buyer to being a seller. I've learned so much as a seller that has made me a better buyer. I've also become a much more *frequent* Etsy buyer - which is probably just a product of my being on the site so much.

Buying:
1. Communication communication communication! I'd say 99.9% of all the sellers I've come across so far have been SO nice and so accomodating. They are the small guy, just trying to get their little piece to pay the bills, and really just want to know what you, their buyer, want, need or think.
2. Before you buy, read the seller's Shop Policies! Every shop's are a little different, and it makes the process go much smoother if you're on the same page as the seller.
3. Then after your purchase, if you enjoy your experience with the Buyer, when you are done, leave them feedback. As a seller, it's so nice to know your buyer thought you did a good job.

Seller: I'm not sure I can add much to this that hasn't already been said. Be as responsive to convos and communications as possible, send friendly notes to your fellow sellers whom you admire, and try to have fun out there!

7. Tell us two (or more) other interesting things about you.

-My favorite type of ice cream varies with my mood; sometimes its rainbow sherbet, and sometimes I just need that uber chunky chocolate gooey yummy-ness of "Phish Phood."

-I've started playing disc golfing with my boyfriend. The way we play, its nothing like golf. It's more like a walking frisbee park toss, with beer.

- I LOVE embroidered antique linens, and love to shop for them, the more whimsical the better. I got to the Alameda Antique show and I'm like a kid in a candy store. So many boxes to rummage through, so little time!!

- I'm on the Handmade Ho-Down craft fair committee in coordination with my street team, SF Bay Area Etsy. We just recieved a grant from Etsy, so are officially being sponsored in part by them. It's going to be a 21+ event, held at 1015 Folsom in San Francisco, on December 3, 2009 from 6pm - 12am.

(Note from Jen: I'd really hoped to be a vendor with Mama's Magic Studio at this event, but I'd turn into more than just a pumpkin if I had to be out past midnight on a Thursday night only to get up at 6 am with the kids next day! For more info about this awesome event, check out their website:
http://www.handmadehodown.com/
or blog:
http://www.handmadehodown.blogspot.com/)

8. Where else can we find out more about you and/or your creations?
You can find me on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/eristotledesign

9. Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about your shop or your work?

My shop name is from the very first "handle" I had when people first started going on the internet, mainstream. This was when people still called it a "handle" because there were lots of people doing BBS. I had an AOL dial-up account, and I fancied myself a philosopher of sorts (mind you, I was like 17, ha.). While I have a great respect for Philosophy, it was never my major or anythiing of that nature. At the time, I mostly just liked his name and what it may have respresented. People were always trying to spell my name with an "A" - the boy way! So I'd have to say, "Erin with an E". So I came up with Eristotle, with an E. I'm still kind of proud of it to this day, so I thought a shop with the same name would be fun.

Muddipuppy gets judged

Muddipuppy has just gotten into her first juried show!

Check out her work at the Pacific Art League in downtown Palo Alto,
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27022149.

Angelina Fong Designs June Sale & Giveaway!

For the entire month of June, receive 15% off your total purchase when you enter the code "MIMSIE" in the Message to Seller during checkout. Your discount will be promptly refunded to you via PayPal after checkout. PLUS, you will automatically be entered to win a free 18"x18" pillow. The winner will be chosen at the end of the month.

http://www.angelinafongdesigns.etsy.com/

More details about the promotion can be found Angelina's blog here: http://angelinafongdesigns.blogspot.com/2009/05/june-sale-and-giveaway.html

Featured Shop - California Blue

This weeks featured shop California Blue sells beautiful earrings inspired by the colors of nature. Especially prevalent are the cool shades of blue throughout the collection. Shop from 3 different series: Water, Stone, & Spring. As a bonus, California Blue is offering FREE SHIPPING all during the month of May.

Here's my Q&A with owner Melissa:

1) Tell us about your product and where you get your inspiration.
- Honestly, my motivation in making my own earrings was selfishly driven. I wanted to make simple, yet elegant earrings that could be worn every day. My inspiration comes from the beads themselves, as well as the beautiful palette of colors we are exposed to living in the Bay Area, hence my shop name - "californiablue". As a transplant from the East Coast, I am constantly amazed at the plants, landscapes, geography in California.

2) How did you get involved with etsy?
- A friend of mine introduced me to Etsy, and I was immediately impressed by the variety of
beautiful handmade items for sale. When I was recently laid off from my corporate job (after 13 years), I felt it was time to explore my creative side, and after exploring Etsy, I decided to give it a try!
I had a blast working on my banner, and taking all of the pictures of my earrings. It really made me feel good to focus on a creative endeavor.

3) Do you sell your work in any bay area stores?
- No, unfortunately I don't at this time. I'm still trying to determine what local stores would be interested in selling local handmade crafts. It would be cool if we had a little directory of these shops for the team!
(*I made a post a while back with a list of stores who sell handmade items in CA click HERE to check it out)

4) When you're not creating what are you doing?
- Given that I was recently laid off from my job, I now have the time to "give back" to organizations I feel strongly about. I am currently volunteering for a local cat rescue group, the new Humane Society Silicon Valley, and Breast Connections, a non profit in Palo Alto that provides support to breast cancer patients. Other than volunteering, I am gardening, reading, taking pictures, trying new recipes and just enjoying day to day life with my husband and 2 sweet kitties. You can check out my blog at http://californiablue.tumblr.com

Featured Shop - Mae Bee

This weeks featured shop MaeBee has some adorable jewelery to adorn yourself with. MaeBee specializes in bracelets in silver & gold.
Check out my Q & A with designer Marianne:

1) Tell us about your product and where you get your inspiration.
I make handmade jewelry (mostly bracelets) from unusual links, charms and beads in sterling, silverplate, gold vermeil or goldplate. I love the earthiness of waxed linen and leather cords. My pieces have been described as unique, simple and casual...just what I was going for! I get inspiration everywhere...nature, graphics, other art, colors...like most creators, I'm always looking for it, always visually aware.

2) How did you get involved with etsy?
I got involved with Esty through a letterpress class I took in San Francisco from Susan Angebranndt who has an Etsy shop called "Greenchair Press". I mentioned to her that I would love to sell my invitations and paper creations online and she said to check out Etsy...the rest is history! I started posting a few note sets and then suddenly one day I started making jewelry. I wanted a certain bracelet and I figured the best way to get it was to make it! My head exploded (in a good, creative way) and I went nuts (also in a good way) creating all these pieces I had in my head. Poof! M Paper Arts became a jewelry shop. Still wish they'd let me change my username, but somehow people find me. Within 6 months, I was happily working on the shop fulltime and I guess it's paid off. I love the marketing aspects as much as the creating, thank goodness!


3) Do you sell your work in any bay area stores?
I do have many pieces at Coupa Cosa gallery in Palo Alto. I've had shops near me request I consign there, but consignments are a lot to track and not usually worth the time. I've avoided selling too much to local retail shops just because they usually want big percentages off my price and it's already pretty low for my Etsy customer. This makes it not profitable or barely. Most of us fulltimers have the same problem. I do have lots of wholesale accounts in the U.S. and places as far as Australia and even Thailand! I love doing biz out of the country, it's exciting!

4) When you're not creating what are you doing?
When I'm not creating or maintaining my Etsy shop, I can be found walking my dog, hiking with friends, skiing with my family, going to kids games or goofing off on Facebook with old buddies.
And if I'm at an airport, my husband and kids and I spend time looking at people's wrists for a MaeBee bracelet -- can't wait to see one, there's thousands out there!