9.29.2008

Featured Brat - indigobaydesigns and littlepinkplum



The Military Brats of Etsy Global Street Team
~ Fall 2008 Brat Feature ~
Every few weeks we feature one of our members, this time we are proud to Feature:
indigobaydesigns and littlepinkplum
Double Brat with two stores!
1-Tell us a bit about yourself (name, location, affiliations, and personal stuff).

My name is Janet and I’m married with 3 kids. I live in El Cajon, CA (same place as our team leader oceankisses and also lizedgar). I am an Army brat and was born in Maryland. I graduated from high school in Japan and then my father was transferred to Arizona. A friend of mine was living in San Diego and asked me to share an apartment with her. So I moved out here and that was almost 20 years ago.
2-What is the first thing you can remember making by hand? How and why did you make it?

I remember in elementary school gluing Popsicle sticks together to make a picture frame, and then gluing macaroni shells onto the Popsicle sticks. My teacher spray painted the frame and I gave it to my parents. It was something all the kids in my class made to give to their parents for Christmas.

3-What inspires you? Where do your ideas come from?

With my pocket mirrors, I look at various types of paper and try to figure out if that particular paper would be a good design for a mirror. And I make a lot of pendants based on what my two daughters like or ask me to make. I have recently started to experiment with my original drawings and digitally coloring them, and hope to turn them into mirrors and pendants soon.
4-What are your favorite materials?

Paper and more paper. I also like fabric. I sew a little and just made some lavender sachets to give as gifts this Christmas.

5-What have been the most valuable lessons learned from other artists on Etsy?

One important lesson I’ve learned from other artists on Etsy is to take great pictures since that is what is going to catch the eye of a potential buyer. That is something I still need to improve on, but I have come a long way from when I first started listing.


6-Why should people buy handmade?

People should buy handmade because it’s not a mass produced item that a million other people are going to have. You’re getting something very special that had a lot of attention, caring and pride that went into making it.

7-What features/services would you most like to see on Etsy?

One feature I would like to see is to be able to block non paying buyers from returning to your shop. I would also like to see Etsy become just as well known as the other “E” site. When I tell people that I sell on Etsy, I usually get a blank stare.


8-Apart from creating things, what do you do?


I love to read and I usually go to the library at least once a week to check out books or to get on the waiting list for the latest bestseller. I’ve been a stay at home mom since my son was born 3 years ago, and I spend a lot of time chauffeuring my kids around to school, after school activities, etc. They keep me busy.

9-Read any good books lately?

I just finished reading a book by Anne Perry. I love her Victorian murder mysteries.


10-In ten years I'd like to be…


... happy and successful at whatever I’m doing. I would also like to have some wholesale accounts. I just completed a small order for a boutique in Los Angeles, and I would love to sell my pendants and mirrors to more shops.

11-How did you pick your business name and your etsy avatar?


For littlepinkplum, I chose that name based on my favorite colors and the “little” part comes from me being not quite 5 feet tall. Indigo Bay is the name of a beautiful island resort near the Indian Ocean. I would love to vacation there someday.

12- What has being a brat at Etsy meant to you?


Not only is there a common bond of being crafters, but there’s also a special connection because of our unique background as brats.

9.16.2008

Thank you to all who entered the Military Brat's Fall Challenge. This had the HIGHEST EVER participation in a team challenge! All of the entries were fantastic and in fact some have already sold their entries! HAPPY DANCE!! The entry that received the most votes was NCTeddyBearLady's "Speaking of Pumpkins" purse!


NCTeddyBearlady has a pattern for this pouch with two different themes. One is the "Blossom Pouch" currently for sale in her Etsy shop. Here's the story behind the purse!

"As it happens, there is a story to that pouch. I have, like so many Etsy artists, a day job. That day job is resident artist and teacher at a bead shop. For me it is a little like having a drunk working in a bar. Every day when I leave for work, my husband is fond of reminding me, "Remember that you are going to sell, not to buy." I don't often listen, I am afraid. Not too long ago, the owner of the shop where I work ordered some seed beads and some pearl cotton from color charts rather than actual samples. Most of the order was wonderful but one box of the pearl cotton and one master hank of beads looked nothing like the caramel color she thought she had ordered. Instead both were pumpkin orange, a color she was absolutely certain she would never be able to sell. Just about then, the Fall Challenge was suggested. Rather than have my boss return the beads and thread and eat the shipping costs plus a restocking fee, I suggested that I take her lemons and make some lemonade or should I say pumpkins. I definitely was not heeding to my husband's words that day. I had already done a blossom pouch that is currently for sale in my Etsy shop. It was only a slight stretch to work up a variation on the theme and turn the blossom into a pumpkin for the challenge. I have a customer who is a fanatic for my bears and pouches. Over the years she has spent well into the thousands on my work. I figured the pumpkin pouch would be a perfect thank you to her for all her purchases over the years. I was right. She loves it. Like so many of my projects, I work on them during my breaks at work. I usually sit in the shop at the work table when I do. As I worked on the pumpkin pouch, it generated a considerable amount of interest, so much so that I drafted a pattern for both the pumpkin and the blossom pouches."



9.11.2008

Fall Challenge

It’s time for the Military Brat Team’s fall challenge. Etsy shop owners and buyers are invited to vote September 12 – 14 here. The poll will close at midnight on September 14. Oceankisses will announce the winner on September 15. The winner will receive a special made piece of stained glass art from OceanKisses.

1. NCTeddyBearLady



2. Rhradcliffedesigns

Fall Challenge Continued

8. LocoBead





9. SwimmingInFountains




9.09.2008

A Couple of Bratty Treasuries

ElephantDreams curated this beautiful Treasury this morning. Unfortunately, the Treasury is having a multiple personality disorder today and someone else's pics ended up in the Treasury. Below is the Treasury with ElephantDreams title but with another etsyians curation!

haveart's got the blues today in her bluetiful treasury! It's so calming. I just love it! Go give it some clickin' good love!

9.01.2008

September's Bratty Birthdays

Happy September everyone... Happy Labor Day too! BUT, MOST IMPORTANTLY...

This is going to be fun, because... Brats love to celebrate!!! Recently I volunteered to help out on the Brat team and have now become the "Brat Birthday Secretary!" Each month I'll be contributing a "Happy Birthday" post to celebrating members!

After much research and interesting Brat Shop exploration, I'm proud to announce the following Military Brat Members celebrating birthdays in the month of September. Click their name links and go wish them a great day as each arrives!

♥ W.Rabbit - September 8th
♥ Angee Art~WonderWorks~Visualicious - September 12th*
♥ T.L.Sexton0913 ~ Mr. Moon's Originals - September 13th*
♥ Craft Manor - September 18th
♥ Mother of Jackals - September 20th
♥ Not That Jaded - September 21st
(*same artist shops)

Happy Birthday to all ... ♥ Angee
P.S. There were a few members that didn't divulge their birthdays in their profiles. If you were left out and want to be included, convo me your b-date anytime.