in the cafe spotlight: yonpli

Featured Etsian: yonpli
Shop link: yonpli.etsy.com

Pain, Abstract Nude, Mosaic Art (by yonpli)
Give us the basics:
Yonpli
Baltimore MD (USA)
I make mosaics - anything from wall art to jewelry to home decor.

What’s your favourite smell?
I love the scent of flowers, especially those with a thick, heavy, slight sweet scent.

How long have you been doing your craft?
I've been mosaicing for a couple years now.

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
I love the work of Sonia King. Her work is so innovative and visually stunning.

Red Statement, Mosaic Pendant (by yonpli)
What do you like least about your craft?
That's easy - cleaning up from grouting!

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
Do what you love, but do it with business sense. For instance I love making mosaics, but didn't start creating lower price points mosaics until recently. These lower price point mosaics have started to bring in sales and views.

How do you discover new things on Etsy?
Sometimes I find things through the treasury and sometimes I just browse different categories and sub-categories.

By Any Other Name, Mosaic Box (by yonpli)

Happy Halloween!

BOO! How are you celebrating this spooky holiday?

Since I don't have kids, I won't be taking anyone out to trick-or-treat, but I love seeing some of the kids on my street in their little costumes - they're so cute!

I did get my share of candy today at the office though as we had a Halloween party so part of me did feel like a kid again.

How did you celebrate?

in the cafe spotlight: jenngee

Featured Etsian: jenngee
Shop link: jenngee.etsy.com

Coffee Corset - Disco Dots in Blue and Aqua (by jenngee)
Give us the basics:
My name is Jenn George Burt, but I'm better known as JennGee to other Etsyians. I live and work in Raleigh, NC and the most popular thing that I make and sell is my world famous Coffee Corset.

What’s your favourite smell?
What else? Fresh brewed coffee!

How long have you been doing your craft?
I've been sewing since I was big enough to hold a needle and thread. I've been using a sewing machine since the mid 90's when I had a roommate who was a design school student. I fell in love with her sewing machine and had to have one of my own. The rest is history.

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
It is more of a need than an inspiration. If I don't make things on a regular basis I go a little crazy.

Coffee Corset - Red Stone Wall (by jenngee)
What do you like least about your craft?
I would definitely have to say the ironing. I hate to iron.

What’s a normal day for you?
Get up around 10, take the dog out, make coffee, check my email and answer anything urgent, package up anything that needs to be shipped, get another cup of coffee, answer the rest of my email (I'm an online math teacher so there is always a lot of email), take a shower, go to the post office, run any necessary errands, return home and check email again, sew, email, sew, email, sew, email ... until my husband gets home ... make/eat dinner, watch television, tuck in the hubby around 9pm, sew/email cycle until 2 or 3 am.

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
Don't expect immediate results, but DO expect to succeed. If you go in with the attitude that it isn't ever going to work for you then you are probably right. DO spend lots of time in the forums (and not just in the promo and etc. sections!) - there is much to learn and that is honestly the best place to figure out what you need to do to get where you want to be. The bonus is that you are getting free publicity just for being in the forums. Most of my first sales were from people who I talked to in the forums.

How do you discover new things on Etsy?
In the forums I click on the avatars of people that I find nice/interesting/thoughtful. I also find many great things by looking at the treasuries.

Coffee Corset - Jingle My Candy Cane (by jenngee)

tweet, tweet

For those of you who want to know what I'm up to when I'm not blogging, you can now follow me on Twitter!

Check me out!

http://twitter.com/pandacubcafe

Or, you can check this blog for updates (I've added my Twitter updates in the left side-bar.)

my best seller...

Happy Monday everyone! As anyone who knows me can tell you, I'm NOT a Monday person, but I've decided to make the best of it.

Pandacub has officially been open for just over 2 months now and I'm already at 33 sales! I never thought that it would be going so well after such a short span of time and want to give a huge thanks and virtual hug to all my customers, Etsy friends, and blog-readers for your support. :)

To celebrate, I'm posting a photo of my current best-seller. this cute little deer - part of my In the Forest bobby pin set. I like this pattern so much I've bought the same fabric with 2 other background colours (blue and pink) and will start posting those soon!

In the Forest (by pandacub)

in the cafe spotlight: MeaCulpaBodyandBath

Featured Etsian: MeaCulpaBodyandBath
Shop link: MeaCulpaBodyandBath.etsy.com

Give us the basics:
My stores name is Mea Culpa Bath and Body. I am located in Metro Detroit, Michigan. I like making massage oils, aromatherapy things, shampoos, lotions, body sprays, conditioners, shower gels....anything to do with oils..lol. I usually use therapeutic essential oils, but sometimes make something only for the smell with the fragrant ones.

What’s your favourite smell?
Ummmm.....only one? The sandalwood essential oil has me. It really does.Also the Rose Morroc Absolute...wow, breath taking...Champa too...wow I cant stop...lol

How long have you been doing your craft?
Does it mean if you are a newbie your things are not as good? I don't think so. I have been doing this only for a couple of months, though.

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
Just the aroma when I open my box with oils gives me inspiration. Also, I love finding use for the oils in homeopathy, helping people to heal naturally - that motivates me.

What do you like least about your craft?
Ohhhhh...the headaches I get from working on new scents for too long.

What’s a normal day for you?
Long, long days...getting my 6 year old ready for school, taking care of the 3 year old at home, 2 dogs and a husband. And in the meantime I get to squeeze in working on my craft, networking on the internet. It gets overwhelming, but I am not complaining.

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
I wish I could. I am just starting out myself. The only thing I can say - don't ever give up! Always have a vision in your mind that you have made it. Never doubt yourself.

mmmm...cupcakes!

I just got this adorable new fabric covered with cupcakes and I wasn't sure which ones to use for a magnet set, so I put them all up! It's like going into a cupcake bakery and being able to choose your five favourite cupcakes to take home with you! :)

in the cafe spotlight: HomemadeZen

Featured Etsian: HomemadeZen
Shop link: HomemadeZen.etsy.com

Give us the basics:
Etsy Name: HomemadeZen
Location: Baldwinsville NY (just outside of Syracuse NY)
What I make: I design and crochet cute stuff toys for everyone!

What’s your favourite smell?
I have a lot of favourites, but my current favourite is lavender.

How long have you been doing your craft?
I've been crocheting since I was a little girl, and finally got into Etsy earlier this year.

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
I like crocheting because it's a way for me to relax and be creative. I can get inspiration from anywhere but I tend to like creating things that are cute and adorable.

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
Take lots of good pictures and be patient. It's something that I'm still working on too...

How do you discover new things on Etsy?
I found a lot of new things from treasuries and also from chatting with other Etsy people on forms and chats. I've also found a lot of great shops by joining an Etsy team too!

in the cafe spotlight: LaurenAlexander

Featured Etsian: LaurenAlexander
Shop link: LaurenAlexander.etsy.com

Give us the basics:
My name is Lauren Alexander and my shop is www.laurenalexander.etsy.com. I live in Overland Park, KS which is just outside Kansas City. I am a painter with a passion for creating colorful whimsical watercolors.

What’s your favourite smell?
My favorite smell is fresh baked cookies. I'm a sugar-holic so anything fresh baked is about my favorite thing!

How long have you been doing your craft?
I have always painted for as long as I can remember but I have been making and selling paintings on Etsy for two years. I started making ACEOs and that is what really gave me my start.

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
I am inspired by all forms of art. I LOVE music, movies, great stories, and all things creative.

What's a normal day for you?
A normal day for me right now consists of waking up early, working on my shop, going to work as an art teacher, and then coming home and working on my shop. Occasionally I find time for a nap and dinner too!

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
My advice for Etsy sellers is to take yourself seriously. Take your business seriously. Provide the most excellent customer service you can. And DEFINATELY get to know the Etsy community. Make friends, support each other, and always work really hard to build professional relationships.

hooray for weekends!

I've been having a great week. Not only has the pandacub shop reached 20 sales in less than two months, with FIVE sales happening in the last 48 hours (WOW!), but it was a short work week (Monday was the Thanksgiving holiday here in Canada).

Things will be a little quiet on the pandacub front today and tomorrow. Today is my hubby's birthday so we'll be celebrating with a nice dinner (mmm, ribs!) later this evening and then tomorrow we're heading out for a daytrip with our friends to visit a few wineries and enjoy the fall weather.

In the meantime, I hope everyone else is going to have a great weekend!

in the cafe spotlight: MimisCrafts

Featured Etsian: MimisCrafts
Shop link: MimisCrafts.etsy.com

Penguin Bell Pull Applique Wall Hanging Quilt (by MimisCrafts)
Give us the basics:
Mimi's Crafts, Titusville, FL, I make quilts, bag, totes, table runners, jackets, things made from fabric.

What’s your favourite smell?
Coffee...I just love to smell ground coffee.

How long have you been doing your craft?
I've been sewing as long as I can remember. My mother sewed and I would watch and ask questions. Then she let me sew with needle and thread. When she let me use her machine I was so excited. I'm age 53, soon to be 54, that will give you an idea of how many years. I started working in a quilt shop about 6 years ago. That when the fabric bug got me. It's been down hill ever since. I could sew everyday for the rest of my years and never use all my fabric.

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
That would be my mother. She does such wonderful work. The only thing I do better than her is quilt and knit.

Sweet Dreams Baby Embroidery Quilt (by MimisCrafts)
What do you like least about your craft?
The clean up. I make such a mess when I work.

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
I'm a newbie myself, but I would say be patient. That not one of my traits so it's been hard for me.

How do you discover new things on Etsy?
You need to take the time to read the forum. It's very time consuming but very important.

Dorothy Bag and Clutch (by MimisCrafts)

in the cafe spotlight: countrywindows

Featured Etsian: countrywindows
Shop link: countrywindows.etsy.com

Stone Bridge (by countrywindows)
Give us the basics:
Countrywindows, Manhattan, Kansas. I photograph anything from a old barn to a butterfly sitting on a flower on a spring day. I also make and frame alot of pictures in barnwood.

What’s your favourite smell?
I love the smell of a fresh rain.

How long have you been doing your craft?
I have been heavy in the photography for about 5 years now.

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
The love of nature and its beauty inspires me to continue to take photographs.

1944 Steam Engine (by countrywindows)
What do you like least about your craft?
I really don't have a least thing I like about my craft unless it would be the higher gas prices that keep me from traveling them country roads.

What’s a normal day for you?
I retired a year ago last June, I rent some farm ground that I plant different things on, and I also help a farmer that I have known for several years, so that's where I find alot of my photographs.

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
I have only been on Etsy since May of 2008, my advice to new people joining etsy, would be have patience, think positive and good things will come.

How do you discover new things on Etsy?
I discover new things on Etsy by visiting the forums, I visit the chat room often and I belong to the photographers of Etsy team.

Diamond Colt (by countrywindows)

my latest treasury

I managed to nab a treasury earlier this weekend and filled it with lovely pomegranates! I love the deep red colour and juiciness of these Etsy items.

Treasury: Persephone's Downfall
Curator: pandacub

look at me - i'm famous!

Fellow Etsian, Sun2Create, surprised me yesterday by including my little birdsong ponytail holders in her latest gift guide featuring Gift for Bird Lovers!

Check out the rest of her blog On The Mary-Go-Round!

Earlier this month, Sun2Create, was featured in the cafe spotlight, so you can learn more about her and her amazing crafting in this post.

happy thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow Canadians!

I'm thankful for so many things that I won't be able to list them all, but I'm most thankful for the same things I think everyone else is: my family, my friends, my health and all the things I've been given in life.

Let the feasting begin!

in the cafe spotlight: Meekiyua

Featured Etsian: Meekiyua
Shop link: meekiyua.etsy.com

Red Lover's Knot Meekiyu Couple (by Meekiyua)
Give us the basics:
My store is www.meekiyua.etsy.com and I'm based in New York City and I make tiny origami people called Meekiyu into tags/magnets and whatnots.

What’s your favourite smell?
My favorite smell is light scent of peonies... and also mint.

How long have you been doing your craft?
I've always been into arts and crafts since I was very young like 6 years old? Meekiyu's were something I just created during the summer of 2008 for an art auction I attended.

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
I guess everything I see and do inspires me especially if people are involved in giving me ideas and nudges on what they like. My biggest inspiration is my late grandma Mee who I named the Meekiyu's after.

Meekiyu Flower Blank Stationary Luv Cards (by Meekiyua)
What do you like least about your craft?
I like all my crafts except when I need to cut the faces out and other tiny things that stay constant. The reasoning is because I'm impatient and I want to capture my design on it ASAP.

What’s a normal day for you?
I go to school part time and also work part time. So I always wake up at 7:30, drop my brother off at school... if I have time before work/school I would check if anything sold and browse the forums a bit. Around 9-10 the sunlight is bright but not too strong... so it's perfect time to take pictures of my items. After that I usually post my item for the day. Usually around 11am I go to school or work and depending on the day I come back home at 8pm-10pm where I check on my site and forum and start making some new pieces and jot any new ideas. Friday and the weekend is when I usually do most of my creating.

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
For people just starting out... you must promote yourself... I have blog, facebook and spread though word of mouth. Get into the forums and don't be scared to ask questions! Read the storque articles! There are alot alot of useful articles!

How do you discover new things on Etsy?
I'm still fairly new so I discover new things about Etsy either by roaming around the site or reading on the forums.

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe Costumed Trio Tags (by Meekiyua)

my favourite little nut collector...

I recently bought some great new fabric from an amazing Etsy seller that I have just discovered - sweetflavor. I can't wait to buy more for her, but in the meantime, I have used some of the fabrics I bought to make new items for my own shop.

in my garden (by pandacub)
And I fell in LOVE with this adorable little squirrel! I made bobby pins with him and he and his little red birdy friend sold within ONE DAY of listing! Wow!

So now I have to make more adorable little squirrel bobby pins!

in the cafe spotlight: Sun2Create

Featured Etsian: Sun2Create
Shop link: Sun2Create.etsy.com

Bright Yellow Sunflowers on Red Throw Pillow Cover (by Sun2Create)
Give us the basics:
I make removable throw pillow covers from good quality fabrics in contemporary and retro patterns. I also make market tote bags and travel-sized, lined, drawstring bags to use for travel laundry bags or large-project knit/crochet bags.

What’s your favourite smell?
Amaretto

How long have you been doing your craft?
I started sewing about 20 years ago. I sewed a lot when my children were small, then not so much during their soccer and cheerleading years for lack of time. My youngest just went to college and I have gotten back to doing many of the crafts I love.

Black and White Lined Market Tote (by Sun2Create)
What’s a normal day for you?
A normal day for me starts with my part-time job. I work in an office 25 hours a week. Then, I usually head home where I start cutting fabric or sewing pillows and market totes while my three-year-old grandson plays nearby. There are always several breaks to read him a book or play cars for a while. If I have new products to photograph, I try to do it in the afternoon while there is good natural light. After dinner with my husband and daughter, I usually take out my "idea book" where I keep my notes, patterns, color swatches and all sorts of things I jot down to remember. Late evening seems to be a very creative time for me. This is when I get a lot of clear ideas about what I want to do. I usually check email stop in the Etsy forums for a while before bedtime.

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
I would advise new Etsians to be aware that they are not going to experience overnight success. I would tell them to be prepared to put in the time required to not only create a quality product but also to work at getting their product seen. Make their photos the best and most interesting that they can. Work at getting their descriptions to read clearly and eliminate spelling and grammar errors. And finally, do not get discouraged! Work at promoting your shop and your products. Get involved in the community on Etsy. It is a wonderfully friendly and supportive place to be. Ultimately, every seller must create their own success. But, if you love your art or craft, it is worth all the effort to put it out there. Seeing other people enjoy what you do is a great feeling.

Brown and Blue Damask Pillow Cover (by Sun2Create)

check out pandacub's new glam rings signature collection

Although many of the items in my shop, pandacub, are adorable and probably more likely to appear on a little girl's head than on an adult's, I also want to share my love of fabric buttons with the stylish women out there.

Enter, the pandacub Glam Rings Signature Collection.

These fabric button rings are more "style" than "cute" and have lovely patterns and colours. At a crazily affordable price, you can mix and match these adjustable rings with your daily wardrobe!

Rings from the 2008 pandacub Glam Rings Signature Collection
Many of the rings in the Glam Rings Signature Collection are Limited Edition or One-of-a-Kind, which makes them even more special and collectable. Each ring comes with a cute little Signed by Me card which gives you more details about the ring (name, number and year).

Why not start your collection today? Or give one as a gift!

in the cafe spotlight: brookberrys

Featured Etsian: brookberrys
Shop link: brookberrys.etsy.com

Initial Wall Hanging - Letter A (by brookberrys)
Give us the basics:
* Etsy Name: Brookberrys (brookberrys.etsy.com)
* Location: Guyton (outside of Savannah), Georgia
* What I make: Anything and everything. I started by listing my illuminated light panels after being convinced to sell them by my boyfriend. But I can never stick with just one craft, so I also sell necklaces, and may begin selling some knit items as well.

What’s your favourite smell?
* You can never go wrong with vanilla, but I also love pumpkin and cinnamon, smells that make me think of Fall and Winter.

How long have you been doing your craft?
* I've been making wall panels for just a few months, but I have been making crafts for as long as I can remember.

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
* I get inspired by either seeing other items that I like, or I make things out of necessity. I can up with the idea to make a light panel because I had a bare wall in a dark hallway. The illuminated light panel serves as wall art, and also as a light. It is functional, but creative as well.

Jack O Lantern Illuminated Wall Panel, Halloween Decor (by brookberrys)
What do you like least about your craft?
* Hmm, how about the fact that I haven't sold one yet! My office is overflowing with them, which is great if the power ever goes out. I have enough illuminated panels to light the whole neighborhood!

What’s a normal day for you?
* I'm a graphic designer by day, so I head to work every morning, check my email and Etsy, and try to get on the Etsy forums throughout the day. In the evenings I come home and usually knit while I watch TV.

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
* PLEASE do not get discouraged if you do not make a sale immediately. I can't tell you how many times I have seen someone asking "What's wrong" in the forums when they're been open for a week and don't know why they haven't sold anything. Welcome to the club. Just sit back and be patient. It will happen.

How do you discover new things on Etsy?
* I like Pounce. Not just the Undiscovered sellers, but I've been able to find lots of great supply sellers in the "Just Sold" category. I also like the forums, I've purchased a few items from sellers who I met in the forums.

Candy Swirl Necklace (by brookberrys)

Here's a heads-up, brookeberrys is planning to have a sale mid-October. Anyone interested can sign up for my email newsletter on my website, brookberrys.com, if they would like to be informed about the sale.

in the cafe spotlight: BauerDesigns

Featured Etsian: BauerDesigns
Shop link: BauerDesigns.etsy.com

Salsa Bubble Fused Glass Pendant (by BauerDesigns)
Give us the basics:
Bauer Designs is a creative endeavor constructed by husband and wife, Nathan & Kelly Bauer, from Troy, Ohio. Both graphic artists by day, at night they turn to creating unique handmade art. Every week brings new projects giving Bauer Designs a diverse, ever-changing selection of products. Most of our creations involve glass, wood, beads, fabric, screen printing, and graphic design.

What’s your favourite smell?
The smell of wet concrete after a summer rain.

How long have you been doing your craft?
We've been selling on Etsy since Oct of 2006. Originally I was making beaded jewelry under a different shop name, Beadwined. I quickly got bored just working with one medium and wanted to incorporate my stained glass work which I had learned when I was in college. Nate also wanted to contribute to the shop, and he had no interest in jewelry, so we switched names and have been selling under Bauer Designs since. We have no boundaries for our shop, as in what we make and sell, just so long as it's handmade and we have fun creating it.

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
A visit to the hardware store or craft store is a definite source of inspiration. Also necessity...if there's something we need and don't want to buy it, we'll make it (which usually involves purchasing the raw supplies to make whatever it is so we have the supplies to make just about anything!)

Blue Bubblegum Pincushion (by BauerDesigns)
What do you like least about your craft?
With our glass creations it would definitely be the cost of the supplies. For Nate's wood projects, the mess of the saw dust is unavoidable. Of course the end product always makes up for any complaints along the way.

What’s a normal day for you?
Normally Nate & I work our design jobs during the day. At night he retreats to his wood shop and I find some time to work on stained glass or fused glass. I fill Etsy orders and maintain the shop. Currently I'm on Maternity leave so recently my days have been spent juggling a baby, working on glass and habitually checking my Etsy shop.

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
Stick with it. Just because you don't sell something in the first week or month doesn't mean sales won't pick up. Advertise on the web if you can, ProjectWonderful.com is a great place to find cheap web ad space.

How do you discover new things on Etsy?
I love to use Time Machine 2 and search under the sold stuff. I see all the super cool stuff that's already sold. If I can't live without it I'll see if a shop can make another.

Color Tile Mirror (by BauerDesigns)

in the cafe spotlight: starshinegallery

Featured Etsian: starshinegallery
Shop link: starshinegallery.etsy.com

Hamburger Whimsical Pig Clay Sculpture Art Original (by starshinegallery)
Give us the basics:
My shop can be found at http://starshinegallery.etsy.com where I list light-hearted artworks. I include acrylic paintings on canvas, miniature paintings on paper, sculpted clay figures, larger mixed media folk art characters and sculpted Christmas ornaments. I'm located in a small tourist town just a hop, skip and jump from Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.

What’s your favourite smell?
I'm surrounded by it now. The smells of autumn, rich and earthy, damp ground, cut grass, burning leaves, pumpkin pie (that's a lot of smells but they all blend into a perfect day).

How long have you been doing your craft?
I've been painting for 30 years and sculpting for over 10 years. I've been creating this and that for as long as I can remember.

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
I suppose I'm inspired by the need to create. It brightens my life and gives me purpose and joy.

Puppy Games Original DOG Art Painting Acrylic Gallery Canvas 12x12 Black White Check (by starshinegallery)
What do you like least about your craft?
The thing I like least about my craft is just trying to get the best photographs I can of them. Like alot of Etsy sellers, I strive to improve my pictures and they are slowly getting better. Etsy is making me a better photographer!

What’s a normal day for you?
A normal day for me is spent in my brick and mortar shop. My husband and I operate an antique shop / art gallery in a tourist town near Niagara Falls, Ontario. We enjoy meeting people from all over the world who come to visit the Falls and then go exploring the surrounding towns. My studio is also here so when the shop is quiet I can create or spend time on Etsy, listing items or visiting the discussion forums.

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
I'm not sure that I've been on Etsy long enough to give advice except to say spend your days doing what you love and try to enjoy each moment of the experience.

How do you discover new things on Etsy?
I spend alot of time visiting the Etsy discussion forums and find so many interesting new (and just new to me) shops there. It is a wonderful, friendly and helpful environment full of great people and amazing shops!

Original Santa Claus Christmas Sculpture - Folk Art One of a Kind Mixed Media (by starshinegallery)

Who is Cinnamon Kitten and why is she posting here???

Haha, some of my eagle-eyed readers have noticed that all blog posts are signed by "Cinnamon Kitten" and not "pandacub". Well, here's why...

When I first decided to start blogging, I created a little blog called, you guessed it, Cinnamon Kitten. It was a place for me and my friends to share product reviews on our favourite beauty products and try to connect with other beauty product junkies to try and help each other wade through the marketing noise and discover the best beauty projects on the market.

Well, that "little" blog is almost two years old and has about 300 visitors daily and although I still blog on Cinnamon Kitten daily, I have expanded my blogging to a few other blogs as well.

But because Cinnamon Kitten was my first blog, that's what my profile name is, so any other blog I have, I'm still "Cinnamon Kitten". :)

That's a pretty simple explanation, no?