Happy birthday to our April babies.
APRIL
4-15 little dearies
4-19 lilysgoatsoap
4-19 OddlyEnchanting.(Brenna)
To connect with Etsy Sellers that share the unique background of growing up in a military family. To promote our art and increase our exposure to other military brats who participate,and to expand Etsy's customer base by attracting buyers through promotions and other marketing strategies.
4.03.2010
3.17.2010
3.13.2010
March's Featured Artist/Seller
Every month, the Brat Team chooses one of it's members to “highlight;” as it’s Featured Artist/Seller. This month, we are pleased to introduce you to “Anise” of Seavbeach Designs. http://www.seavbeach.etsy.com/
What are your favorite materials?
Why should people buy handmade?
What features/services would you most like to see on Etsy?
In ten years, where would you like to be?
How did you come up with your Etsy Shop Name?
What is the connection between being a Crafter and being a Brat?
Thank you for spending time with our Featured Artist/Seller and please stop by and visit her blog http://www.seavbeach.blogspot.com/ and her etsy shop http://www.seavbeach.etsy.com/
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I grew up in a rural town in NC. My mom and I were brought here from California to live where my step dad grew up. Dad was always tinkering in the shop and I was always helping, wearing coveralls with pockets full of things. I learned to be an individual and got my artistic ablilities from the both of them. Mom loved to draw and dad put things together, for me that was the best combination.
Today, I live in a small coastal town that is just blooming with artistic people. I love collecting things on the beach, walking the dogs and socializing with friends.
Today, I live in a small coastal town that is just blooming with artistic people. I love collecting things on the beach, walking the dogs and socializing with friends.
What inspires you and where do your ideas come from?
My inspiration comes from many places, for example, right now I'm looking out the window watching the dogs play under a beautiful tree stripped of all its leaves... And I’m thinking to myself, how can I recreate this moment?
I usually daydream and then sketch out my ideas: nature, such as leaves, vines, patterns, all give me creative ideas.
I usually daydream and then sketch out my ideas: nature, such as leaves, vines, patterns, all give me creative ideas.
What are your favorite materials?
My absolute favorite materials are Silver and Copper. I love forging, bending, drilling and making things shiny. My newest and most enjoyable medium so far would have to be PMC: Precious Metal Clay. I've worked with Silver Clay and can't wait to work with Copper Clay.
A Rose is a Rose - Hand sculpted fine silver rosebud
What have been the most valuable lessons learned from other artists on Etsy?
Patience! Not all shops start out full force; although I've only had one sale, I am learning more everyday. Being self taught and having your own business isn't easy, I know if I have any questions, there are fellow Etsians out who are willing to answer them. I have met some wonderful people on Etsy by staying active in forums.
Why should people buy handmade?
I think about this question often. There is so much put into something handmade, far more than the average person might think. For one thing, when you buy handmade 9 times out of 10 going to be one of a kind. I like the idea that no one will have the "exact" same thing that I have. It always puts a smile on my face when I order something from Etsy and I get my item and someone has put their personality in packaging or boxing. That is the personal side of Etsy and what makes buying handmade so great!
What features/services would you most like to see on Etsy?
I would like to see a privacy feature for our own purchases. I have family members that frequently look at my shop and I wouldn't want them to see a gift that I’ve recently just purchased for them.
Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I am currently out of work, and have been focusing on getting my Hand Crafted Jewelry out there. I have always worked with the public and probably always will; I love the interaction with people.
Read any good books lately?
Cookbooks.. I love them! I read them like books, lol! I like the Vintage Cookbooks the best, and they have to have pictures so I know what its supposed to look like when its done.
In ten years, where would you like to be?
Still creating, successful with a husband and maybe children.
How did you come up with your Etsy Shop Name?
Its my name combined with the beach; since, I live at the beach.
What is the connection between being a Crafter and being a Brat?
Well, being a brat teaches you discipline from an early age. I think that with my art it has taught me to reach to a higher boundary than I would have if I hadn't had my dad in the Military. He was very proud of who he was and this country and I am glad that he instilled it in me as well.
Thank you for spending time with our Featured Artist/Seller and please stop by and visit her blog http://www.seavbeach.blogspot.com/ and her etsy shop http://www.seavbeach.etsy.com/
Robin
2.06.2010
February's Feature Artist - Lindsey
The Brat team would like to introduce to you, February's Artist/Seller of the month;
Lindsey of
*Baubles for Everyday Wear*
*Wire Wrapped Creations*
*Tell us a bit about yourself?
After eight years in the Navy, I landed in Central Massachusetts with my dog. My last tour was teaching NROTC Midshipmen at the College of the Holy Cross. I was lucky enough to find another job in the same town and have been working as an Engineering Product Manager for just over three years now. Although I enjoy my day job, I needed a creative outlet. So when my sister suggested I stop by one of the wholesale bead shows that are abundant in my area, I did and was hooked. I think the most enjoyable part of my jewelry business is buying the stones. I love learning about them - where they came, their chemical make-up, what stones are associated with others. I never knew there were so many types of natural stones out there until I started working with them; and the natural colors of them never cease to amaze me.
*What inspires you and where do your ideas come from?
An idea can start from one simple stone. Once the seed of an idea is planted, I become obsessed with finding the best combination of colors and textures. The most frustrating thing, and I’m sure we have all been there, is knowing exactly what you are looking for, and not being able to find it. I think most of my ideas center around color, shape and texture. It may take me a few tries to find the right combination that makes the finished piece pleasing to my eye.
*What are your favorite materials?
Natural stones combined with colorful crystals. I work mainly with sterling silver, although sometimes I think the design calls for gold. I use a lot of wire and I enjoy finding what new ways I can securely wrap something. (I haven’t stepped into the realm of soldering my jewelry, but someday I will…
*What have been the most valuable lessons learned from other artists on Etsy?
-Keep working at finding your niche. Don’t try to make it all – keep your designs within a certain style so your customers can recognize you. -Treat your customers as you would like to be treated – communicate, communicate, communicate!-Market yourself .-Don’t expect immediate success on Etsy. You have to work at it almost every day.I think that my shops are still in flux, but I can look at other Etsy success stories and work toward making one of my own. My shop has come a long way from where it began, and I am still trying to improve it. My ultimate goal is to be recognized by the Etsy community (and I don’t just mean ‘getting on the front page’. I recognize other seller’s styles when I see something in the Time Machine or in a search. I’d ultimately like to be recognized by buyers and sellers that same way.
*Why should people buy handmade?
I take a lot of pride and responsibility in the pieces that I sell. I want the people who buy my pieces to be as happy about them as I was making them. You just don’t get that level of commitment when buying something that was mass produced. I want to support the other artists who feel the same way I do. There are so many creative people in this world; why would I limit myself to a brand name just so the person next to me knows who I am wearing? I would miss so much if I did that…
*What features/services would you most like to see on Etsy?
This is a tough question. I think that Etsy does a great job at making necessary changes when we tell them what works and what doesn’t. I think Etsy is as useful as we choose to make it. So, I can’t think of any changes that I’d like to see from them at the moment.I think a better question for me is “what would you like to see happen with your jewelry business?”
Festival season is right around the corner and I am very excited. This will be my second full summer of festival season and I have my schedule pretty well solidified. The jewelry market really is a tough one, so I’ve been making sure my pictures accurately represent my jewelry. It helps both on Etsy (yet another lesson learned from fellow Etsians) and so I have great portfolio to submit to the juries. Here’s hoping to a successful 2010! Before I get too wrapped up in festival season, I’d like to redefine myself at home by creating a studio for myself in the house. Right now, my studio is the dining room table. I am organized to an extent, but I want to be able to easily see the materials that I already have. So, my next goal is to change out my den into a sort of studio for my jewelry making. I love rearranging, so to pull apart the den and make it functional is going to be A LOT of fun for me!
*Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I am an Engineering Product Manager by day. It allowed me to get my jewelry business up and running and now supports my jewelry habit. I don’t expect to make millions in my jewelry business. I will continue to create new pieces as long as I enjoy what I am doing.
*Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I am an Engineering Product Manager by day. It allowed me to get my jewelry business up and running and now supports my jewelry habit. I don’t expect to make millions in my jewelry business. I will continue to create new pieces as long as I enjoy what I am doing.
*Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I am an Engineering Product Manager by day. It allowed me to get my jewelry business up and running and now supports my jewelry habit. I don’t expect to make millions in my jewelry business. I will continue to create new pieces as long as I enjoy what I am doing.
*Read any good books lately?
I am always in the middle of a book. Right now, I am reading one by Barbara Kingsolver – Pigs in Heaven. She has written some favorites, Poisonwood Bible and Prodigal Summer. I’ve been waiting for Diane Gabaldon to finish the 6th book of her Outlander series, though. She is a great story teller and is very well written. My mom is reading it now and will hand it over to me when she is done. They are the types of books that I just can’t put down, even when I know I should be doing other things.
*Where would you like to be in ten years?
In ten years, I would like to be traveling around the country to various shows, selling my jewelry. I have found that I really enjoy being face-to-face with my customers. I never thought that I would love that side of my jewelry business, but I look forward to the Festival Season every year! In all practicality, though, I will probably be doing the same thing I am doing now – selling at shows and online all year, while working as an Engineer during the day. I enjoy the way it has all started to work out.
*How did you come up with your Etsy Shop Name?
Years ago, on hot summer nights, I used to drag friends to actually go swimming in fountains– back at the University of Michigan or in Charleston where I was stationed for a little while. I threw around a few different ideas for a shop name, but once I came up with Swimming In Fountains, I liked how it rolled off the tongue. I was a little concerned that it didn’t have anything to do with jewelry, but I kept it anyway… if people find me and like my pieces, they will come again.
When I started selling jewelry, I was making more standard, simple pieces (stranded or linked), still focusing on color, texture and finding fantastic stones. When I starting making my wire wrapped pieces, I noticed they really showed my personality. I loved how they were turning out! I saw that other Brats had multiple shops, so I thought I’d open another one specifically to showcase my wire wrapped pieces. I came up with the name, Wired and Twisted, as a play on words. In addition to describing my wire wrapped style, it expresses how I feel sometimes, especially after one to many cups of coffee. I still love making my original pieces, so I won’t be phasing those out. I think my customers appreciate my original jewelry as well as my new designs.
*What is the connection between being a Crafter and being a Brat?
I think that putting your artwork out there on the web (or in a craft show) takes a lot of courage, forward thinking, and self esteem. Although he never specifically said it, through his involvement in the Marine Corps and his personality, my father taught me not to be afraid of anything and to go after what I wanted. I enjoy traveling and meeting new people; I speak my opinion; I take pride, whether in my country or myself and my work. I learned all those traits through my military upbringing and I believe they are necessary traits of being a successful crafter. My father always did it all… why shouldn’t I?
I have a Facebook page under ‘Jewelry Designs by Lindsay.’
Everyone on facebook should become a fan! I will be running a special while being a Brat Feature. I run other specials throughout the year, so anyone can follow my shop through the page to keep updated on new listings, sales and promotions. I have all my past pieces in albums also, so if you see something that is not in my shop, let me know and can wrap up another one. My show schedule listed on the Facebook page, too. Most of them are in the New England area, but I sell at a festival in my hometown of Canandaigua, NY. I would love to meet any fellow Brats or Etsians that are in the area!
Thanks for stopping by and getting to know one of our FAVORITE Brat SELLERS!
2.02.2010
February Birthday Babies
FEBRUARY
2-1 2PureJoy
2-6 ForYourJourney
2-7 oceankisses
2-7 comfuzzled
2-16 LizEdgar
2-21 BirdcageBalcony
2-21 SueLaing
2-27 earthseessencellc
2-27 MichelesEssentials
2-27 thrudkukinglassbags
hunnelle
1.01.2010
12.06.2009
Happy Birthday December babies
DECEMBER
12-9 SuperiorStones
12-9 MoonMystic
12-18 SexyGeekWithAttitude
12-27 LocoBead
12-18 MyDarlingBaby
12-31 LaughingFridge
11.09.2009
FeaturedArtist for November - Penguinetta Afghans
"Winters are Cold and Afghans are Warm"
Quote from Valarie
Every month, the Brat Team chooses one of it's members to “highlight;” this week, we are pleased to introduce our FEATURED ARTIST–SELLER…Valarie of Penguinetta Afghans.
*Tell us a bit about yourself?
I am a Navy brat, the oldest of six. My Dad retired when I was 14 and we moved back to his hometown in Mn. It was sever culture shock to say the least.
*What is the first thing you can remember making by hand?
How and why did you make it?The first thing I made was a macramé belt. I was in the 7th grade and got a macramé’ belt kit for Christmas; I was hooked! Before that I had attempted to make things but never finished a project.*What inspires you and where do your ideas come from?A lot of my inspiration comes from need; winters are cold in Mn and afghans are warm.
*What are your favorite materials?
*What have been the most valuable lessons learned from other artists on Etsy?
I think the most valuable lesson I have learned so far is that we are all connected. The brat team is great at supporting each other and rallying around to lend an extra hand when another is learning.
I opened my shop when I was jobless, homeless and depressed; For the first time in my life, I was very far away physically and emotionally from family. I felt an instant connection with the brats and realized that I wasn’t any worse off than anyone else and I was a lot more fortunate than many.
I opened my shop when I was jobless, homeless and depressed; For the first time in my life, I was very far away physically and emotionally from family. I felt an instant connection with the brats and realized that I wasn’t any worse off than anyone else and I was a lot more fortunate than many.
*Why should people buy handmade?
A handmade item is unique. Why have something that is exactly like something that someone else has?
*What features/services would you most like to see on Etsy?
I think it would be helpful if each new Etsy member was offered a mentor. There are so many tricks to getting your shop set up and things that you only learn once you’ve been around etsy for awhile
*Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I am the Safety and Training Coordinator for Johnson County Public Works in Olathe, Kansas. I began working in Sept after being unemployed for 10 months.
*Read any good books lately?
Baking cakes in Kidcaria.
*In ten years I'd like to be?
Settled and looking forward to retirement.
*How did you come up with your Etsy Shop Name?
My birth-mom is always calling me Penguinetta because I, the girl from Mn, is always cold. My sweetheart came up with Penguinetta’s Afghans.
*What is the connection between being a Crafter and being a Brat?
Moving all the time was difficult. I was shy and my mom was a bit over protective. I turned to crafts to fill my time. It gave me a sense of purpose to create things for people.
You can find me at
http://PenguinettaAfghans.etsy.com andhttp://www.linkedin.com/in/valeriehannon
Thanks for stopping by and getting to know one of our FAVORITE Brat SELLERS!
Robin
11.01.2009
10.21.2009
Our Fall Challenge WINNER !!!
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FALL CHALLENGE WINNER
http://www.beadworksbykerri.etsy.com/
http://www.beadworksbykerri.etsy.com/
Thankyou to all who entered our annual Fall Challenge.
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