#45 unofficial etsy featured seller - franticmeerkat

#45 unofficial etsy featured seller - franticmeerkat
Date joined etsy - 5/27/07
Sales to date - 3259-Give us some basic info about you: name, where you live, kids/pets, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.

My name is Kim Bagwill and I live in the foothills northeast of Los Angeles with my talented husband who has his own shop, The Mincing Mockingbird.

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

My “average” day is surprisingly boring. I’m still working a full-time job, so I get up at 6:30 or 7 a.m., shower, dress and run out to the studio (we converted our one car garage into a studio) to check emails. Then off to work and home at 6:30 where I eat a fabulous meal that’s been lovingly prepared for me. Next it’s off to the studio to print and send orders for etsy, or a wholesale account. I’m out there until 10 or 11 and then back inside on the couch with a glass of wine to relax a bit before bedtime. I don’t really have a specific time where I “create” – that’s mostly done in batches while I’m on my lunch hour at work or riding in an airplane where I am captive and not distracted. Most weekends we run errands and brainstorm new ideas or plan big things like upcoming craft or trade shows, or designing a new catalog or website.

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

I’ve always been creative and received my first oil painting set when I was 12 years old. That’s still my preferred medium, but I don’t have the luxury of time to let things dry that I used to, so I work in acrylics a lot now, or design digitally. I got my bachelors in studio art which was a combination of painting, photography and graphic design.

-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

My fiancé, now husband, started selling little hand-painted magnets on etsy three years ago. I started out helping him with shipping and accounting, and then decided I’d try opening my own shop.

-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?

I sold my first item within a week, but since that was to a good friend, it doesn’t count. Looking back, I think it took 2 ½ months to get my first “real” sale. But at that time I was still trying to find my “voice” on etsy and it was three months before I sold my first thank you card set.

-Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands?

1. Pizza
2. Dark Chocolate
3. Cheeseburgers
4. Chocolate Chip Cookies
5. Is wine a food?

We don’t have network or cable TV, so we watch everything on hulu or DVD
1. 30Rock
2. Modern Family
3. The Amazing Race
4. The Office
5. Mad Men

I don’t have much time to download music and my work commute is short, so I’m limited to whatever random people who get hold of my ipod put on it. My choices will change frequently, too, and I’m due for an update. How about random things I’ve been listening to on my ipod?
1. Lily Allen
2. Beastie Boys
3. Flight of the Conchords
4. Girl Talk
5. Elvis Costello

-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, etc.

I just took up knitting three years ago and am really enjoying that – even though I haven’t progressed much past scarves, except into afghans, which are just really big wide scarves when you think about it. I’d like to try my hand at screen printing, and I even took a class and bought screens and everything, but didn’t really have the room (we lived in an apartment at the time). Mincy recently bought me a Yudu screen printer and I’m excited to try it, but—again--haven’t had the time. I currently love painting, photography, baking and collage, but I’d also like to try mosaics. Really, if I walk through an art supply store, it’s dangerous because I want to try everything!

-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

Well, Mincy always told me to get into the forums to meet people and see what others were creating and to show off my stuff. I did that a lot, but now I don’t really have the time to do that anymore. I’d still recommend it though, but I’d also recommend to be as professional as possible, because you don’t want to turn off a potential customer with an offhand comment that might offend someone.

-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?

www.Mincingmockingbird.etsy.com (my fabulous husband’s)
www.mcaplan.etsy.com
www.hannahmade.etsy.com

and I have to mention our son’s (he makes our magnets and does an amazing job!)

www.RobotHouseParty.etsy.com

-By New Years Eve 2010 I'd like to have _____ amount of sales.

Hmmmmm…well, my goal this year was to hit 3000 sales, but I didn’t make it, so I’m a little superstitious (thanks to Valentine’s Day I have now reached that goal). I’m going to have to go with 4000 sales.




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Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#44 unofficial etsy featured seller - SquidInkKollective

#44 unofficial etsy featured seller - SquidInkKollective
Date joined etsy - 9/29/07
Sales to date - 517-Give us some basic info about you: name, where you live, kids/pets, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.

Squid Ink Kollective is Brinnea (Brian + Lynnea). We currently live in Austin, Texas with our two cats Pai Mei and Scribble. We first met almost 8 years ago when Brian joined Lynnea's band, and have been working together creatively ever since. We is married. But only informally, and less than two months ago! Working together on the business was a natural progression in our relationship, since our individual goals and interests complement the other's quite nicely.

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

Wake up, make tea and breggs (bread + eggs). Check email, prepare packages, order shirts if needed and start working. Brian does most of the printing specific stuff - burning screens, printing, heat curing. Lynnea handles the online maintenance, like our social networking, Etsy shop updating, and looking for potential shows to vend at. She also sews the handmade bags and linens that are in the store. We take time off to do food shopping or work on small projects like building a two-tiered grow light area for vegetable seedlings.

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

Brian: I've always been drawing, and wanted to be a cartoonist since age 3. My first try at screenprinting was in high school, and my college degree is in printmaking. I also have played drums for many years and love skateboarding.

Lynnea: I've also been creative my whole life, and am one of those people that can pick up virtually any new skill and run with it. I was groomed to be a professional musician/composer but couldn't handle my performance anxiety. I taught myself how to sew two years ago as a creative outlet while the performance anxiety gets tackled in a less confrontational way.

-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

Brian first heard about it from a fellow printmaker, and was inspired by the goal-driven creative people he found. We both really love the community feel of Etsy and the personal approach of staff. We also lived in smaller town in Texas at the time and needed to be able to reach more people who appreciated both quality craftsmanship and eco friendly wares(and had a decent sense of humor!)

-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?

Oh, several months. You should check out our first sale. The photos are hilarious.
http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=7105167

-Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands?

5 Favorite Foods:
Indian food
Falafel i rull (particularly from Carmel Grill in Oslo that has a Lebonese version of Adam Sandler working there)
Salad of most forms
Cheese - favorites being snøfrisk, halloumi, grædost, and any quality sharp cheddar
Mock chicken salad from Whole Foods (it's like crack for vegans!)

Shows:
Arrested Development, of course!
The Office
30 Rock
Lost
Brian: Lovejoy
Lynnea: Dr. Who, both old and new versions

Music:
Brian:
Winter Sun
The Bad Plus
Return to Forever
The Roots
Hella

Lynnea:
Karen O, esp her soundtrack for Where the Wild Things Are
Rachmaninov's preludes played by Gabriela Montero
The Bad Plus
Consider the Source
Bjork

-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, etc.

Lynnea - currently learning to knit! Would like to learn hand-dying with plant material.
Brian - surfing.

-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

We've never been big on paying for promotion. Just show everyone what you do, and if it's authentic and full of life, word is bound to spread. Find a team in your local area and listen to those with experience and success. Do craft shows and be visible online. And of course your photos, if good enough, promote themselves!

-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?

We've always had a soft spot for http://ruffeoheartslilsnoty.etsy.com/ even though we can't really afford them.
We buy our delicious, fair trade organic coffee from http://downtownroasters.etsy.com/
And we also love the work of http://tugboatprintshop.etsy.com/

-By New Years Eve 2011 I hope my number of sold items is:

1500 all the way!


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Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#43 unofficial etsy featured seller - blackbirdtees

#43 unofficial etsy featured seller - blackbirdtees
Date joined etsy - 2/20/08
Sales to date - 668-Give us some basic info about you: name, where you live, kids/pets, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.

My name is Jody Dyer, and I live with my boyfriend of 6 years in a cozy Seattle apartment. We also share an art/print studio just down the street, so it's a wonderfully short commute. Hmm...as for ice cream flavors, this is a difficult one for me. Currently, I've got a little thing for salted caramel, so I'll go with that for now.

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

Luckily, there isn't really an average day in the life of Blackbird Tees. I get to change it up from week to week depending on how busy my online shop happens to be. When sales are up, I'll take care of all correspondence, printing and packing orders, re-listing, etc. I usually schedule wholesale work for the slower times of year in order to fill in the gaps. For instance, now I'm working on a large order for a festival in MA, and I'm also drafting & prepping new designs that will launch this Spring.

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

I was a daydreamy kid, skipping off to play outside, humming constantly, and always getting my hands dirty. I loved reenacting musicals in my living room, building forts, and most of all, baking. Still to this day, the smell of butter, flour, and chocolate is so comforting and therapeutic for me.
-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

A very sweet friend of mine, Angie (the woman behind the Twilight bags- http://www.etsy.com/shop/stitchandswash) kept telling me about Etsy and encouraging me to sell my tees there. I created my shop in February of 08, but it wasn't until January of the following year that I actually took the initiative to really get involved in that community and invest substantial time and effort.

-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?

Within a week of editing all my tags and beginning to re-list regularly, I had my first sale. And for the most part, it has been a wonderfully steady, symbiotic relationship with Etsy. The more effort I invest, the more I get out of it.

-Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands?

Favorite foods: bittersweet chocolate, almond butter, coconut, goat cheese, curry
TV shows: The Wire, Homicide, News Radio, Seinfeld, Alan Partridge
Bands: Beach House, The Wrens, MGMT, Neko Case, Sharon Jones
-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, etc.

Handmade truffles, but I'm sure I'd gobble them all up and there would be no evidence of my hard work ;)
-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

Engage with others in any way that feels natural for you, whether that's going to participate in festivals and farmers markets, reaching out to boutiques with wholesale information, starting a blog, taking part in the Etsy Virtual Labs, etc. Learn some marketing fundamentals, like how to write a great press release and pitch your work to a magazine, blog, or newspapaper (Design Sponge has a fantastic series of guides for any & all of this: http://www.designspongeonline.com/category/biz-ladies).

Also, I would just emphasize the power of tags and re-listing when it comes to Etsy. Learn how tags work, and how to make the most of them. Etsy has several Storque articles on this subject. As for re-listing, set a spending limit for yourself, i.e. $3 a day or $60 per month and consider that your marketing budget. Remember, you can write off marketing expenses at the end of the year, but be realistic and do only what you can afford.

-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?

http://www.etsy.com/shop/halfpintsalvage
http://www.etsy.com/shop/stitchandswash
http://www.etsy.com/shop/alisaw
-By New Years Eve 2011 I hope my number of sold items is:

3000. Hooray!


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Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#42 unofficial etsy featured seller - whitneysmith

#42 unofficial etsy featured seller - whitneysmith
Date joined etsy - 6/20/07
Sales to date - 906-Give us some basic info about you: name, where you live, kids/pets, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.

My name is Whitney Smith and I live in Oakland, California. I have a cat named Leo whose personality is not unlike a spoiled supermodel, and a fabulously sweet husband named Andrew. No kids, thank god, since I like a clean and quiet house. I’m a pretty typical Bay Area girl, which can be embarrassing when I leave the bubble... I practice yoga, I meditate, I ride a cruiser bicycle to do errands, I complain about the cold if the thermometer hits below 62 degrees, I spend an inordinate amount of time blogging (http://whitneys-pottery.blogspot.com/) in my local cafe, and I only eat ice cream if it’s made with organic, sustainably raised, non-GMO ingredients. Any flavor as long as it's not mint chocolate chip.

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

Mornings are usually spent at some form of exercise, office work, or distraction from my “job.” I ride my bike, go to the gym, post on etsy, update my website, answer emails, write, look at myself in the mirror, and drink about a gallon of coffee in between all of that. Afternoons I go to the studio, crack the whip on my assistants, make some stuff, cry a little bit when things don’t go my way, and try to be home in time to make dinner for the before-mentioned husband. Evenings I like to relax and read a book or watch a movie.

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

Yes, I was always a creative kid. When I was a toddler my parents would put out watercolors for me so they could sleep in. Their lazy parenting and selfish desire for sleep lit that creative fire in me early. When I got older I started painting more seriously, and I have always enjoyed drawing and writing. I’ve dabbled in all kinds of craft, from sewing to linocut to crocheting to making mobiles to origami. Making things always makes me happy, clay just happens to hold my attention for long, extended periods of time.

-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

Seeing other clay artists I admired selling on etsy.

-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?

6 days. I was shocked that I sold anything, I went into it with zero expectation, and sales were pretty slow the first 6 months. I never anticipated my etsy shop would become the selling monster is has. I say it everyday, “Thank you, etsy.”

-Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands?

I’m only going to talk about food here, because tv makes me want to poke my eyes out and I’ll listen to any music as long as it’s not teen pop or death metal.. And trying to name my five favorite foods is like asking Hugh Hefner to name his 5 favorite Playboy Bunnies, but here’s what are my favorites right now:

vodka cocktails (I throw in an orange slice to make it a food)
brussel sprouts with butter and cheese
berries of any kind
lamb sausages, with a side of stewed greens and carmelized onions... so good
fish tacos

-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, etc.

I would really like to try papercutting, I think it is the coolest art. I’m signed up for a class in April and so who knows, it may become Whitney Smith Papercutting instead of Whitney Smith Pottery.

-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

I suggest making something a well-crafted and original item, and listing and renewing as much as one can afford. Etsy has incredible work, and just as much poorly conceived and crafted items. In my opinion, money is wasted on showcases; that money is better spent renewing or relisting 10 times a day. Also, participate in the etsy community, ask for help and feedback in the forums. And I will repeat what most people say: Your photography IS your product. Figure out how to photograph your items so your stuff looks banging. Bad photography will kill new sales faster than anything else. That was a long learning curve fore me—just look at images of my first year of sales-- but I practiced a lot, learned, and I think I do a decent job now.

-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?

http://www.etsy.com/shop/elsita this girl is a freaking genius and I want everything she makes.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Ureshii I’ve spent ungodly amounts of money on this seller’s flattering, beautiful clothing.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/SophieBlackall I love the way this artist captures small moments in life.

-By New Years Eve 2011 I'd like to have _____ amount of sales.

2,000. I like to think big.

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Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#41 unofficial etsy featured seller - BrokenRoadFarm

#41 unofficial etsy featured seller - BrokenRoadFarm
Date joined etsy - 4/10/08
Sales to date - 1239-Give us some basic info about you: name, where you live, kids/pets, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.

My name is Jenny Lowe. I live in Waynesfield Ohio. I am married and have two ornery kids - both cute little redheads. We live on a small farm raising a variety of rare (and some not so rare) animals - sheep, ducks, chickens, rabbits. They keep us busy.

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

I work part time, but my passion is baking. Not a day goes by that I'm not in the kitchen working away. I'm always busy with something. I'm not one to be idle.

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

Yes, I was very creative and started my own craft business when I was 15 years old - selling my own floral arrangements, handpainted items, etc. From there it moved to baking. I have been baking and tinkering in the kitchen since I was 12. I've always enjoyed it.

-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

I heard thru the local news that etsy was a really great outlet for selling homemade items so I checked it out. I love it here and the people seem really nice.

-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?

If I remember right it was only a day or so. Things started out slow, but has really grown like crazy.

-Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands?

I love pizza, chinese food, and of course CHOCOLATE! : )
I don't watch much tv - the kids have taken over the tv with their cartoons. I sometimes wonder if we get any other channels : )
I enjoy listening to Casting Crowns, Third Day and The David Crowder Band

-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, etc.

I've always been curious about soap making. I would love to try that sometime. I would also love to make homemade cheese - perhaps use some of our sheep's milk.

-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

Use good pictures, offer sales, and be patient. It takes time and hard work to build up a good, reputable shop.

-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?

I love TSCookies, cakeboxcookies, and sugarandflour. They have such beautiful cookies!!

-By New Years Eve 2010 I hope my number of sold items is 2500 items. A big goal and alot of hard work ahead!


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Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#40 unofficial etsy featured seller - Sypria

#40 unofficial etsy featured seller - Sypria
Date joined etsy - 1/4/08
Sales to date - 1598-Give us some basic info about you: name, where you live, kids/pets, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.

My name is Tara Fletcher-Gibbs and I live in North Little Rock, Arkansas with my wife Sarah and our two kids, err… I mean cats, Leela and Fry.

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

I get up around 7:30 during the weekdays and get ready for my day job (which I haven’t been able to shake yet) and check my email for any new orders that I need to get together and then drive to said day job to work from 9ish to 5ish. I have the fortunate opportunity to do a lot of my Etsy-ing from work as I am secretary with not a lot of work to do. I take care of wrapping and packaging my orders in the morning and then on my lunch break I head to the post office to ship off the international orders that I’m unable to just slip in the mail. I head back to work and make lists and dream my crafty dreams of what I’d like to do in the evening until it’s time to go home and then I cook dinner, have dinner and relist some items before going to bed. On the weekends is when I really make most of my items right now, when the spring and summer arrive I’ll be in my garden all weekend which works out because the summer is a slower time on Etsy (for me at least). I spend a lot of time relisting items throughout the day between gluing, shanking, swirling and sewing. My wife has recently got into leatherworking so I bring my supplies downstairs and we craft together while watching Mythbusters which has been a welcomed retreat from my cramped and lonely craftroom.

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

My mother was a very nurturing person when it came to her children. She noticed I had an interest in drawing and put me in kids painting classes at Michael’s (craft store) when I was 5. After that, I was hooked on anything creative. Being the art club president four years through high school, you could say I was pretty dedicated. When I was younger I really enjoyed colored pencil and pastels but after I got out of high school I wanted to express myself in 3-D things. It didn’t even occur to me that wearable 3-D art is called “jewelry”. (This comes from the same person who didn’t realize olive oil came from “olives”, I may be a redhead but everyone else in my family is blonde, it’s in the genes.)

-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

I had no idea Etsy even existed until January 4th of 2008. There is a band called The Moldy Peaches whose singer is Kimya Dawson. She mentioned on her website that she would be selling her hand-painted tote bags (with robots!) to help her get some extra cash and when I clicked on the link *cue the orchestra* and immediately joined. I think my jaw was dangling on the floor for about an hour while I perused the website. I was exstatic, it was –exactly- what I’d been telling all my friends should exist, and here it was, and two years old no less back then! Then I started getting mad that no one had told me about it. When I mentioned it to one of my good friends mother, she simply quipped, “Oh yeah, I joined it the day they launched the site, you didn’t know about it??” Gr. Grrr indeed.
-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?
I made my first sale about fifteen minutes after I listed it. I had taken pictures of all the things I wanted to list and I was just listing away and when I had about five items in my store I chose to “look at your public shop” and one was missing, I couldn’t for the life of me figure out where it went and then I checked my email and there it was, “Etsy Order confirmation..” I was sooo excited and so scared!-Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands?

Foods (ONLY five??!):
Homegrown Tomatos eaten like an apple right after pickin’
Fresh Sushi with a Shiner Bock
Paper-thin crust pizza with mushrooms and crumbled Italian sausage
Raw Oysters with some Louisiana hot sauce and saltines and a Sam Adams beer
Liver Pate on super thin crusty bread from Provincetown, MA (with such accouterments as egg whites, relish and mustard)

TV Shows:
Mythbusters
Iron Chef
Good Eats
Man vs. Wild
The Simpsons

Bands:
The Postal Service
Interpol
Modest Mouse
The Killers
The Cure
-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, etc.

I’ve had my hands, fingers, feet and toes in just about everything. I took cake decorating classes with my mom and sister when I was 12. Had a knitting phase, made soap, even tried my hand at wood-burning. I’m going to leave the intricate crocheting untouched until after I’m 40 (15 years to go!).

-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

Take very eye-catching photos. Look at your shop from the eyes of a customer. Can you see the item clearly? Is it described in enough detail or would you need to ask questions about it before you bought it? Is it –really- the right price for someone to buy it? Is your shipping and handling accurate or are you just trying to get a couple of extra dollars on the value of your item?

I think that if you take the time and the effort (and the crossed-eyes) to build a beautiful, informational shop then it will sell itself. I’m also a firm believer in relisting your items. You’ve got to spend money to make money. And until Etsy brings in an updated search engine, your items are just going to get buried under the thousands of other items that are for sale on Etsy.
-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?

I LOVE LOVE LOVE RollandTumblePress. Christy and Caleb are good friends of ours (Caleb does all mine and my wifes tattoos!) and we purchased the “All I need is you” poster in pink, the “Sweet Dreams” and the “Love Nest” posters and they are absolutely gorgeous. Wonderfully handcrafted and have excellent customer service!

I LOVE Glamarita!!! She made my wedding dress last summer which was made completely out of neckties (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28195038) She uses it as a stock photo now for her custom made wedding dresses. Absolutely amazing seamstress and sooo earth friendly!

And last but not least HydraHeart! She made my custom wedding flats and they were absolutely gorgeous, made perfectly, fit snuggly and are completely vegan!

-By New Years Eve 2010 I hope my number of sold items is 3,125.
That is a –hope-. My first year on Etsy I sold 500 items. On my second year anniversary I had sold a total of 1,250. With that same increase of 150% over the previous year, on my third year anniversary that would bring me to 3,125 items sold. You’ve got to have a goal, be it lofty or reasonable and with a little determination and some creative thinking along the way, you can make anything happen. Now get dreamin’!




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Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#39 unofficial etsy featured seller - TotusMel

#39 unofficial etsy featured seller - TotusMel
Date joined etsy - 4/18/06
Sales to date - 990
-Give us some basic info about you: name, where you live, kids/pets, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.

My name is Pamela Quevedo, I live in the center of California, where not much happens with my husband, two small daughters, four black cats and a revolving cast of insect pets.

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

I am a homeschooler to my 5 year old daughter, so my day revolves around classes for her, entertaining her younger sister and occasionally getting some tatting done during nap time. I try to get up ridiculously early to get things like email and orders out of the way before the kids rise and my laptop is never far away from me, so I can spend too much time on twitter and etsy.

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

My entire family is creative to varying degrees. I was always exposed to art, sewing, knitting, crochet, painting, music and any number of crafts at all times. Though I only discovered tatting in the last five years or so, there has been thread and yarn flowing through my fingers as long as I can remember.

-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

I discovered etsy about the same time I taught myself tatting. I had seen the site profiled on Attack of the Show on G4. I had lost my job to a store closure while pregnant and after I had my first baby I knew I couldn't go back to work, so I thought I might be able to bring in a little extra money there, or at least pay for my hobbies myself. There were plenty of knitters selling on etsy, but no tatters, so I thought it would be a great thing to sell there.

-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?

I made my first sale the first day I listed. Of course I had listed dozens of items that day not knowing I should space them out. After that I made a sale every couple of weeks for quite some time. It took at least a year before I started making steady sales.

-Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands?

I don't have a top 5 favorite anything. I am far too fickle to settle on just a few. I do love food, but I hate to cook. I like a lot of t.v. but most of what I love gets canceled so I try not to get attached. After working in a music store for nearly a decade, I have far too many favorites to choose and what I like rarely impresses anyone.

-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, etc.

I've tried so many crafts it's kind of crazy. I would love to try metalwork someday, though the start up for that is a bit prohibitive for me

-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

Things that have worked best for me promoting, which honestly I hate doing, are REAL social networking, not link dropping to other sellers. You have to get out there, meet real people, make friends and promote occasionally. I use twitter a lot, I write two blogs 5 days a week, one for my stuff and another finds blog to post what I like. I upload photos to flickr occasionally and I have recently started a facebook fan page. I never advertise anywhere, though I think that is a failing on my part. I also owe much to joining the right street team. I joined Esty Steam Team and it has afforded me many opportunities as well as support.

-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?

After nearly four years, my collection of favorite shops is HUGE. Some places and people I love to shop with: Rocklove, WoebegoneArt, stilettoheights

-By New Years Eve 2010 I hope my number of sold items is ______.

-By New Years Eve 2010 I hope my number of sold items is at least 1300…though if we're being fantastical, I'd love to hit 2000 as unrealistic as that is.

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Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#38 unofficial etsy featured seller - Lanyapi

#38 unofficial etsy featured seller - Lanyapi
Date joined etsy - 8/22/08
Sales to date - 1097-Give us some basic info about you

name: Daisy
where you live: Washington, DC
kids/pets: No kids. But I do have two cats that are brother and sister- Haile and Freckles
favorite ice cream flavor: Peppermint

-Describe an average day in life of "you"

An average day for me includes some sort of workout. My favorite way to get moving is going to a yoga class or swimming laps with my fiance. Then I package jewelry orders, create new designs, and tend to my etsy shop (www.lanyapi.etsy.com) and blog (www.lanyapi.blogspot.com). Then I work on the job hunt. I just relocated to DC from Boston so I've been searching for a job as a media planner at an advertising company. In the meantime, freelancing for a Healthcare branding company keeps me busy. At the end of the day I love to cook a healthy meal with my fiance and kickback and watch our favorite shows or go out on the town with friends.

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

I've definitely always had a creative streak in me and have always been the artist of the family. My parent's house is filled of paintings I made in high school and college (some that I wish they would take down!) I enjoyed and still love using my hands- knitting, drawing, cooking, and making hand-crafted gifts.

-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

I wanted to start selling on Etsy when I realized I couldn't keep my hobby going if I didn't start selling some of my creations. I didn't have enough room in my apartment and I need money to make more! I love that Etsy is an easy way to showcase your art to the world. It has given me the confidence to do things I never dreamed would be possible.

-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?

One week. It was an order from an old friend.
-Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands?

Foods:
1. Sushi
2. Gumbo
3. Cupcakes
4. Guacamole
5. Anything French!

TV
1. LOST
2. How I Met Your Mother
3. Sex and the City
4. Seinfeld
5. Weeds

Music:
1. Beyonce
2. Jason Mraz
3. Bob Marley
4. La Oreja de Van Gogh
5. Shakira

-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, etc.

I just signed up for a silver jewelry making class where I am going to learn how to make pieces by wax molding and I am so excited! I would also love to learn how to play the guitar, make my own solid perfume, and silk screening clothing.

-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

I would suggest that etsy sellers join the social media craze. Join twitter, create a facebook fan profile page, or start writing a blog. Also post new items often- keep it fresh and exciting!

-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?

Wow that's a hard one. I find a new etsy shop I love everday :-) Here are today's favorites:
1. Photography http://www.etsy.com/shop/aliciabock
2. Frida inspired clothing http://www.etsy.com/shop/minimalista
3. Upcycled bags and luggage: http://www.etsy.com/shop/roundtrip

-By New Years Eve 2011 I hope my number of sold items is 3000.

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Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#37 unofficial etsy featured seller - KarinLorenc

#37 unofficial etsy featured seller - KarinLorenc
Date joined etsy - 4/1/08
Sales to date - 501-Give us some basic info about you: name, where you live, kids/pets, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.

My name is Karin Lorenc (as you might have already guessed), and I'm from Niagara Falls New York. My husband and I have a neurotic cat named Moses. She's convinced she should be the only cat in the world and has some issues dealing with reality. My favorite ice cream is Coldstone's mint ice cream with almonds.

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

My day begins with coffee in a handmade mug carefully chosen to fit my mood. I do most of my work in the morning because that's when my brain works best. Nights I spend a lot of time reading in front of the fireplace. With tea in a carefully chosen mug. Caffeine is very important to me.

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

I've been creative as long as I can remember. Creating is my life. I've always enjoyed a wide range of media. Crocheting, drawing, pottery and painting. Cooking, making gourd musical instruments, and anything else I can get my hands into. Especially if it's messy.

-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

A friend recommended Etsy to me a few years ago and I never looked back. I had acquired both a pottery wheel and kiln and needed to get rid of some of my work in order to justify making more.

-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?

My first sale came after a couple of weeks but it took months to start getting regular sales.

-Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands?

Foods: Cheese, garlic, black beans, avocado, pizza.
TV shows: Anything on PBS. It's the only channel I get.
Bands: My favorite bands are constantly changing. Lately I've been listening to a lot of folk music, Tom Waits, The Supremes, Mogwai, and Nick Cave.

-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, etc.

I'd love to learn to knit. And spin. I might as well get my own sheep as well so I can enjoy the whole process.

-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

List items everyday! It's important to space out your listings to increase exposure. Take the best pictures you can and don't settle for any that are blurry.

-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ScarletBeautiful2
http://www.etsy.com/shop/BeautifulSoaps
http://www.etsy.com/shop/jamiespinello

-By New Years Eve 2010 I hope my number of sold items is ______.

Over 1000!


--
Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#36 unofficial etsy featured seller - zwzzy

#36 unofficial etsy featured seller - zwzzy
Date joined etsy - 2/4/08
Sales to date - 492-Tell us a bit about yourself name, location, affiliations, personal stuff.

I'm Jen, the nerd behind Zwzzy. Zwzzy is actually an old childhood online alias my dad came up with when all the "gymnast" and "dancer" names were taken, hee hee. I decided it was a super unique and stand out name, which would be great in the big world of vintage selling. :) I sleep and eat in Northern California (bay area) and dream of Isla Mujeres, which I recently visited. Seriously, that island is paradise! Other passions include kitties, ducks, salads, and taking photos in those props where you stick your head through (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3373181&l=cdb3eae91e&id=553841587)

-Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I slave away at an independent record store, and also volunteer at this amazing college radio station. Between that, I'm trying to take tons of trips everywhere I can. 2010 is the year of travel!

-Name your top five books, movies, songs/musical groups, and web sites besides Etsy.

Books....errr...ummm.... WHAT'S THAT OVER THERE!!?

movies:
Labyrinth
Dark Crystal
Return To Oz
Star Wars (yes, all of them)
But I'm A Cheerleader

music:
Mono (Japanese band)
Air's Virgin Suicide soundtrack
Neil Diamond
Can
Suicide

websites:
http://shrinkle.com
http://www.geekologie.com
http://kfjc.org

-What advice would you give to artists who are new to Etsy?

Just relax and become best friends with that little stinger called patience. Come pop in some Virtual Labs (Lab Rats, squeak!). They're totally fun and helpful. And please, learn to use the brightness/contrast tool!! Dark photos make me crazy! ;P

-What are your favorite features on Etsy? What new features would you like to see?

I do love going into the chat rooms, it's been ages since I have though. It's nice to have extra things like that to get to know people and create new friends. Same thing with forums, and treasuries, but those can whip you in the face so fast, hahaha. Like everyone else, I'd love to be able to change shipping prices all at once!

-How do you promote your work?

By wearing a giant cat costume that says ZWZZY! in bright rainbow colors.

-In ten years I'd like to be...

eating a nice big burrito in the Caribbean. ;D


--
Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#35 unofficial etsy featured seller - annastrunk

#35 unofficial etsy featured seller - annastrunk
Date joined etsy - 11/6/08
Sales to date - 336-Give us some basic info about you: name, where you live, kids/pets, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.

Well, my name is Christine Lally and I live in Fond du Lac, WI, but I am really a transplanted Jersey girl! I am married to my high school sweetheart, Sean and we have two great kids-Sarah who starts college in the fall and Ben who starts Kindergarten in the fall (yeah, a bit of an age difference there, but it keeps things interesting!). A day of bliss for me is hanging out with my family, watching classic movies with some mint chocolate chip ice cream-it doesn't really take all that much to make me happy! :) Or if the weather is nice, I love to just find new places to explore-it really doesn't even matter where!

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

Whew! That's a tough one! I have A LOT of variety in my days, but usually I'm up to see my daughter off to school (she's a senior, but she still likes to chat with mom in the morning before she heads out for the day). Then, I check the computer to see what is going on in my shop, email, etc. Then it's time for my little guy to get up. My attention is pretty devoted to him and getting the house running smoothly and then he has his "shows" to watch (Handy Manny, Imagination Movers, etc.), which gives me time to sit with him and work. When he's up, I pretty much concentrate on prep work-cutting out fabric, making bows, cutting ribbon hangers, restocking supplies, etc. Then we swing into dinner/family mode. I save all the work that requires fine sewing and concentration for the time when he goes to bed for the night. Actually, I'm up quite late most nights-I like the quiet of working on detailed work by myself...

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

Absolutely! From the time I was about six until college, it was tough to find me without a sketch pad and a pencil box! When I was little, I had an obsession with drawing horses-it's all I drew!! But that all changed when my family moved to Brazil for four years-there were a lot of old Hollywood musicals on tv down there at that time and I developed a real passion for costuming (from any era!!). I used to steal my mom's curtains (the cafe curtains with all the ruffles) because I kept trying to make those big fluffy dance petticoats that were all over the musicals from the 1940's and 1950's! I kind of took a break from drawing/designing for a while but picked it back up again about 10 years ago when I really started getting interested in Jane Austen's work.

-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

Well, I had been trying to find a way to combine all my passions (classic literature, sewing, costuming, etc.) but never really got serious about it. Unfortunately, I lost my mother suddenly in July 2008. I was really devastated and wondered how I was going to get through the upcoming holiday season (she so loved Christmas!). I wanted Christmas to remain a happy, magical time for my own children (especially the little one), so I knew I had to find an outlet...a project. My mom's mantra was "Just Do It" looong before Nike came up with it. So one day in November, a couple of days after my birthday, I woke up and said "today is the day I start my shop on etsy!" I cannot tell you how empowering and therapeutic it has been for me!! I love my shop!

-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?

When I first started, I only had one item in my shop (and it wasn't even a sachet!)...gradually I was able to add a few more things and got my first sale about three weeks after I opened. As a newbie, it felt a lot longer! LOL

-Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands?

Top 5 favorite foods (probably none of which are good for me!)
1. Lasagna
2. Cheeseburgers
3. Just plain low carb pasta with a little teeny bit of olive oil and parmesan cheese
4. Cheese!!
5. Mint chocolate chip ice cream (I'm a real fan!)

TV Shows:
1. Cake Boss!!
2. Pretty much anything on Turner Classic Movies
3. 19 Kids and Counting
4. NCIS
5. Imagination Movers (sure, it's a Disney show for kids but I like the message!)

Bands: (I'm embarassingly Old School)
1. Tavares
2. Glenn Miller
3. Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
4. Dion and the Belmonts
5. old school Jackson 5

-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, etc.

I would LOVE to try soap making!! I am always admiring the beautiful bath/body shops and creations here on etsy and would love to be able to create some of that magic!! Oh, and I'd like to be able to knit something other than reeeeallly long rectangles!!LOL

-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

I would say that the biggest piece of advice I could offer new sellers on etsy is to believe in what you are doing and realize that running a business (online or otherwise) is more of a marathon than a sprint. Promoting is kind of like that too. Any opportunity for your shop to be seen is a good one! The more you are seen, the greater the chance that you will increase your sales. Often, small, new shops don't have a very large advertising budget (if one at all-I still don't!) so I've found these things to be helpful:
* The etsy forums: not only can you learn tons here but as you participate, you increase your exposure. I can't guarantee sales from doing this but you will increase your etsy presence!
* Twitter: I don't twitter that often, but when I post a link to an item in my shop, my views go up, up, up! If you do use twitter, be sure to "tweet" about more than just the things for sale in your shop. I have found that lots of people are interested about how and why you create too! This doesn't need to take a lot of time either...I am on/off twitter in about 10-15 minutes every day.
* Flickr: You can't directly advertise here but you can include photos of your work, etc. and this does help drive traffic to your shop.
* Facebook: You can create a page specific to your shop where you can share all kinds of stuff with friends, family and potential customers!
* MyCraft.com A kind of Facebook for crafters. I've gotten a lot of traffic into my shop from being a member of this site. Check it out!
* Try another selling venue in addition to your etsy shop!
* Try alchemy on etsy.
* Start a blog
* Try offline advertising too-business cards, etc.

The suggestions that I listed above are all pretty much free-check them out, see if they are right for you and see what happens! You never know!! Good luck!

-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?

1) Darvahlous (digital collage sheets-GORGEOUS!!!)
2) Pemberley Dreams (beautiful regency era bonnets and clothing)
3) Pretty Wit (charming, homespun whimsy-cozy comfort things!)

-By New Years Eve 2010 I hope my number of sold items is

I don't really like to put a number where I'd like to be but I would love to surpass the 500 sales mark! (GRIN!!)


--
Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#34 unofficial etsy featured seller - stinkybomb

#34 unofficial etsy featured seller - stinkybomb
Date joined etsy - 9/4/08
Sales to date - 409
-Give us some basic info about you.

I live with my ubber talented husband, a soon to be 2 year old and our deaf puppy dog in Columbus, Ohio. I am currently raising our daughter at home, while working daily with Stinkybombs. My down time is spent serving on a few local and civic creative arts group in our town. Or you can find me on twitter and facebook. I live and play on online.

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

Most days start with a crying baby and mid-morning snooze. Then it's coffee and seeing the husband off for work. I'm either attending to Olivia or to my online affairs. I'll fill some orders, make a lunch and then wash, rinse and repeat. When the weather warms I'll throw in a walk with the dog and a stroller ride to the playground.

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

Yes. My grandmother taught me to sew at an early age. We made pillows out of old jeans. I dabbled in a good amount of things as I grew older; photography, ceramics, candle making, beading, fiber arts.

-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

Before Stinkybombs I had an Etsy Shop, moogancreations, where I made stuffed creatures. Etsy was a no brainer because of the audience you could reach, the user friendly set up and the low shop cost. I followed the same path with Stinkybombs.

-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?

I was fortunate that a few friends and fellow crafters were my first Stinky customers.
Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands?

Food: Anything Mexican! Anything Indian, A tasty burger with a beer. I'm a giant foodie. If it's well made with good ingredients you can put me down for seconds.

Tv Shows:
Dexter, True Blood, The Wire, Project Runway and Lost

-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, etc.

I'd love to spend time really learning how to paint and how to run a letterpress.

-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

Renew, renew, renew. Social sites are also a great way of getting your name out there.

-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?
www.plushteam.etsy.com
www.tsurubride.etsy.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/HowToUseArt

-By New Years Eve 2010 I hope my number of sold items is 1000.
A girl can dream.



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Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#33 unofficial etsy featured seller - lilafrances

#33 unofficial etsy featured seller - lilafrances
Date joined etsy - 3/5/08
Sales to date - 1499

-Give us some basic info about you: name, where you live, kids/pets, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.

Hello! My name is Anna Hartshorn and I live with my husband and 2-year-old son in Nashville, TN. We have three (slightly annoying) cats and our favorite past time seems to be relocating. We've lived in 8 different states (collectively) in the past 12 years (three of them just since our son was born). But we are all loving Tennessee, and my husband and I are both, finally, in career paths we enjoy. So hopefully we'll stick it out here, at least long enough for the kid to grow up! (oh, and cookies 'n' cream, the best!) : )

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

My days are hectic and long, but I love them. They usually start around 9am, when my boy gets up. I make him breakfast and then check emails, overnight sales, etc. while he eats. Then we goof around for a little bit. Go to the park or the library. Play some games, run some errands, drop packages off at the post office, and clean up the house a little bit (a very little bit). Around 2pm, I put him down for a nap, and provided I don’t also fall asleep, this is when my work day really begins. I go into my studio (what, in most people's homes would be the dining room) and just make and package up hangers. For hours. Often my husband will make and bring meals, right to my work table so I can just keep going. I'm usually twisting wire until about 2am. Then I sit down at the computer again and answer as many emails as I'm physically able. Bedtime is usually 3 or 4am. This a typical day, seven days a week. It's exhausting, but it beats having a real job.

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

I've always been artistic. My mother was a working artist as well so my whole life has been enriched with support and encouragement in this direction. As a child I loved to draw and build and sew. I recently found some old paperwork from art/drawing lessons I'd started when I was three! I didn't remember that I'd had official lessons that young, until I found those old sketches! I've been making clothes (not all of them very good) since I was about 14 yrs old.

-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

I knew I wanted to be a stay at home mom. That's always been very important to me, but I never really knew how to make it possible. When my son was born, I still didn't have a plan but was like, f*@k it, I'll figure something out, and I quit my job. After that it all happened very organically. It was like the universe was just waiting for me to take that first leap of faith. Suddenly I started hearing "Etsy, Etsy, Etsy" all over the place. I'd never heard of it and about three friends in one week approached me and ask if I'd ever looked into it. So I did…

-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?

I think about two months, which is a very long time when you're waiting for something you're so excited for, but have no idea if it's ever actually coming. I had all these delusions of grandeur. When I first started, my shop was originally filled with handmade children's shirts, and I remember thinking, "okay, how fast can I sew, so that when I sell out in 2 weeks, I can be ready with new items…" And then I post my shirts and no sales, no sales, no sales. It was a very humbling experience. But I had to look at it objectively. I was up against, literally, every other person and company selling kids clothes on the internet. When I finally got my first sale, I was so excited I couldn't believe it, but it wasn't until I started making my hangers that things really took off.

-Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands?
Foods:
1.Anything Indian!
2.Lasagna, specifically my mom's recipe
3.Carrot cake
4.Pot pie
5.Brownies, lemon bars, any baked good really!

Tv shows:
Sadly, many of them are cancelled now
1. The Office (American and British versions)
2. Gilmore Girls
3. Pushing Daises
4. Sex and the City
5. Seinfeld
(okay, for some reason, rereading that list slightly embarrasses me, but I have to stand by it. At least I resisted adding Three's Company, the Chrissy years, because I really, really wanted too.)

Bands:
1. Coconut Records
2. Modest Mouse
3. White Stripes
4. Johnny Cash
5. Fiona Apple

-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, etc.

I've already been relatively lucky enough to try my hand at most endeavors I've had even the slightest inkling toward. I have always wanted to learn welding though. And I've done some basic carpentry and blacksmithing (is that the correct term?) but would love to get more experience in either/both of those.

-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

Since I had zero dollars to spend on promoting myself, I took the easiest, cheapest route. Renew!! That was my number one tool when I began. I would renew an item at least once a day to keep my page at the top of Etsy's searches, and I'd keep track of what times of the day and days of the week a new item seemed to bring in the most traffic. I'd also spend a lot of time on Etsy, "heart"ing my favorites and visiting other people's favorites. I'd write to people if they had items or shops I really loved just to tell them I was out there and I thought they were cool. Many times they'd return the favor by visiting my shop and hearting me. The more people out there who heart you, the more access random people have to stumble upon you. Also, keep your items stocked, if you're able to, so that if someone buys it, the listing won't appear as "sold." This way if someone blogs about you and an interested person clicks the link they won't see "sold out," just because the person who got there right before them already made a purchase. I lost a lot of business this way in the beginning. People unfamiliar with Etsy don't always know that sold out items can often still be made or custom ordered. So to sum up, stay stocked and renew daily!

-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?

Skunkboycreatures
~she's on winter vacation now, but still go there and check out her sold items. I honestly called people up to tell them about her when I first found this shop. I LOVE it!
carambatack
Roadside

-By New Years Eve 2011 I'd like to have _____ amount of sales.

I've honestly stopped counting specific sales, and this little business has already taken me places I never even dreamed of going, so I'd like that to just keep happening. My hope is that by New Years Eve 2011, I'll be enjoying amounts of success, I never even would have imagined!

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Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#32 unofficial etsy featured seller - evilneedles

#32 unofficial etsy featured seller - evilneedles
Date joined etsy - 1/15/07
Sales to date - 652-Give us some basic info about you: name, where you live, kids/pets, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.

I'm Patricia Valery and I live in a tiny house in Oviedo, FL - just outside Orlando. I have a Boxer/Terrier pup and a German Shepherd/Rottweiler mix, but they're currently living with my parents because my place is too small. Ice cream is okay, but with the weather I'm all about the hot cocoa.

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

Everyday is a roller coaster ride. Some regular tasks are answering emails followed by packing orders. I then sew, Soon it's dinner time so I skip dinner. (I also usually skip lunch. At 6:00PM everyday I walk the dogs. When I get home I finally make dinner. I then go back to sewing. I sew until about 1:00AM. I then take care of website stuff and get to bed around 2:00AM

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

Yup, I wasn't too into dolls. Instead I was always making things. I actually started my own cake making business when I was little. The problem was I didn't really bake so I made a bunch of sales, then my mom had to bake the cakes.

-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

People on Etsy are nice and polite. Other online venues really bring out the worst in people, but Etsy seems to really attract clean, intelligent, responsible people; and those are the kind of people with whom I like to work. So it seemed natural to gravitate to Etsy.

-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?

It didn't take too long. I'd say it was just a day or two. Etsy was relatively new so the categories weren't totally flooded.
-Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands?

Food:
Vegan steak from Reggae Shack
General Tsao's chicken from Garden Cafe (vegetarian chicken)
plantains
homemade cookies
my boyfriend's vegan tacos

TV shows:
Tim & Eric
Lost
Burn Notice
Dexter
I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant

Bands:
Dex Romweber Duo
the Yardbirds
Jens Lekman
Nakatomi Plaza
Jawbreaker

-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, etc.

Funny thing, I've done all of that except woodworking, my brother does that. I'd like to learn how to play the fiddle.

-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

Make something good. Good products promote themselves. Everyone has excuses why they're not selling. If it isn't selling, make it better. Take better pictures of it, describe it better. People want good stuff. If what you're making is good people will find it.

-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MajoReyStore
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LittleHouses
http://www.etsy.com/shop/DivaDogBakery

-By New Years Eve 2011 I hope my number of sold items is 10000000000000000000000000.


--
Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#31 unofficial etsy featured seller - HeliS

#31 unofficial etsy featured seller - HeliS
Date joined etsy - 4/21/07
Sales to date - 394


-Give us some basic info about you: name, where you live, kids/pets, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.

My name is Heli. I live in Istanbul, Turkey but originally I am from Finland. I love coffee, I am addicted to it and to the internet. I should continue my pilates training after over 1 month break, but I feel too heavy for it now, what should I do?

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

My day starts by making coffee and opening the computer. First look at etsy, dawanda, Finnish newspapers on net and then tweeting on twitter with those who are awake.
After that I usually go to my working room, clean a little bit it if it's messy (it is for sure) and start to work. I have another shop on etsy helisengezer.etsy.com where I sell handmade bags and my huge table (70"x43") very often disappears under fabric pieces and supplies.

Normally my day goes by sewing and if I have left my computer open, jumping between computer and working room. That is the really bad habit and it slows my work a lot, but I am addicted to net, what can I do? :)

In the evening hubby comes and I need to make some food so I finish my work around 6 p.m and make dinner. I do eat in the day time too, don't worry and drink a lots of coffee.

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

I was normal creative child. I think all children are creative if they have a chance to be themselves. My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was 6 and my favorite play was building huge sandcities in sandboxes or on the ground with my friends. I also had a dog rescue club with my friend, now I just don't know which dogs we were suppose to rescue because I don't remember any dog needing help in our neighborhood!

-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

My "net friend" susarto.etsy.com told me on myspace about etsy and I wanted to try. Thanks to her :)

-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?

It took me a week to have my 1st sale but I call those first sales "beginners luck" sales, because it happens many times that when you open a shop it won't take long when you have your first sale but to have your second and third sale is much more harder, not to mention how to keep them coming regularly.

-Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands?

Pizza (handmade by me), MIL's made turkish foods like kabak dolmasi and yaprak sarmasi, all kind of soups, icecream (all flavors)!
I do not watch much TV but I am hooked at the moment to desperate housevives, dexter and breaking bad.
I listen finnish radio during the day and whatever comes there is mostly fine with me.

-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, etc.

Oh, soap making would be fun to try and I would love to learn how to screen print professionally.

-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

I am lousy promoter but I like to share my new stuff on twitter, but I do not like people who just promote and promote on twitter, I mean then I unfollow those people because I use it also social networking and chat with other tweets.
Making treasuries is a good way to get noticed by other sellers and hopefully they will in a time promote you too, it is very time-consuming though. And if you are lucky to end up to the etsy front page is the best promotion :)

-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?

8.I love many etsy shops, here are just three picked from my favorite page one:
stuartkolakovic.etsy.com
sweetbestiary.etsy.com
Middleburg.etsy.com

...There is a lot lot more talented people there :)

By New Years Eve 2010 I hope my number of sold items is 600
(huh!!Need to start working then I guess)


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Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#30 unofficial etsy featured seller - SepiaLepus

#30 unofficial etsy featured seller - SepiaLepus
Date joined etsy - 10/19/07
Sales to date - 526
-Give us some basic info about you: name, where you live, kids/pets, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.

Hi! I'm Carrie Wagner the artist behind SepiaLepus. I live with my Husband and my Corgi pup Francesca just south of Boston in Quincy Ma. I love nature shows, animals, walks with my dog, ice hockey and Rocky Road ice cream.

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

I work in a picture frame shop/gallery which takes up most of my day but I still find time to work on my art, spend time with my family and try to work on growing my business.

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

I started drawing at about 4 years old. I was obsessed with drawing dinosaurs and whales battling giant squid. I'm still painting creatures with tentacles! My parents signed me up for all kinds of other types of activities like dance and music but I was never interested. Drawing and painting has always been number one for me.

-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

When I came across Etsy in 2007 I was really impressed with some of the work I saw. I started my first shop to sell the ceramics that my Mother and I worked together to make. We did craft shows all over Southern California and I wanted to have a online shop as well. I ended up opening my own shop for my illustrations and after about a year I closed the ceramics shop when I moved to the East Coast and couldn't work with my Mom anymore. I really miss it!

-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?

I made my first illustration sale in a week.

-Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands?

:Foods - German chocolate cake, olives, Korean food, mushrooms and poutine.
:TV Shows - Venture Brothers, Ghost Hunters, Nat Geo Channel documentaries, Dog Whisperer and Haunted History.
:Nick Cave, The Bravery, Death Cab, Emporer and Flight of the Conchords.

-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, etc.

Large scale welding, furniture making, using resins...this list could get very long!

-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

I renew to help with views. It works for me. I also really like to advertise on Craftcult because it's inexpensive and I get lots of traffic from it. I have recently started to do smaller craft shows which has really been a great experience. You get so much exposure and they can be lots of fun. I have met some great people. It may seem daunting at first but I think it is worth it.

-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?

: http://www.etsy.com/shop/marymaryhandmade Love her cute jewelry.
: http://www.etsy.com/shop/sleepyking Adorable Plush.
: http://www.etsy.com/shop/waterbears Great, fun illustrations. I love their style.

-By New Years Eve 2011 I'd like to have twice the amount of sales that I had in 2009!



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Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)