in the cafe spotlight: IllusionFusion

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

Give us the basics:
My shop is called IllusionFusion. I work out of my home studio in Hampton, VA making art glass. Items range from housewares and dinnerware, to jewelry and accessories.

What’s your favourite smell?
My favorite smell in the whole world is honeysuckle.

How long have you been doing your craft?
I’ve been working in glass for the last 27 years. My art is self taught.

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
Inspiration is easy. Look around and you’ll find it everywhere - outdoors, in the kitchen, color combinations. My kids give me the most inspiration because they think outside of the box more easily than I do. If I get stuck, I just hand my boys the art box and watch them work.

What do you like least about your craft?
It really bothers me when I’m on the last of a series of 5 firings and something happens to ruin the piece. Each firing takes between 9 and 12 hours, plus any of the handworking done between each step. After investing that much time in something, it’s absolutely heartbreaking to see it destroyed.

What’s a normal day for you?
I get up about 6:30am, feed the children and get them dressed. The oldest catches the bus to school and I drop the youngest at the sitter. I work 8-9 hours at my day job where I check in with Etsy frequently, answering convos and participating in the forums. After work I pick up the youngest and head home to cook dinner. We eat dinner as a family, then I supervise homework, baths and bedtime stories. House chores take over from about 8-9 pm and then I can spend time packing products, checking on Etsy, and either working in the studio or listing until 11pm or so. Now that it’s cooler, I’ll probably start running again which means getting up about 4:45am. Early, but it’s worth it!

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
Learn everything you can about Etsy before you open your shop. Read the TOS, ask questions in the forums and learn the ropes before you ever sign up as a seller. Make sure you have a business plan and a great product. When you open your shop, market yourself on and off Etsy. Tell your friends, pass out business cards and get the word out. Most of all, have fun and don’t expect to be an overnight success!

How do you discover new things on Etsy?
I adore the Pounce feature and probably spend almost as much time on there as I do in the forums. I also click on other seller’s shops in the forums and have found tons of wonderful things to buy just by typing in random words in the search box.

Free Shipping Promotion

It's the super-crazy shopping frenzy known as Black Friday and Cyber Monday!

Pandacub is offering free worldwide shipping on all its items! Sale starts at 8am Nov 28 and ends at midnight on Dec. 1.

So quick! Take advantage of this great deal and pick up some cute hair accessories for yourself or stocking stuffers and gifts!

See my shop for more details!

pandacub.etsy.com

my first trunk show

I'm so excited! I've been invited to take part in a Trunk Show at "the workroom" in downtown Toronto. This is my first in-person selling experience, so I'm both excited and nervous and it seems like I have a million things to do before the show, which is less than TWO weeks away!

Currently I'm working on new packaging for all my items, so watch for photos of those soon!

For those of you that live in Toronto and want to come by and check things out, here are the details:

Date: Sunday, December 7, 2008
Time: 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location: the workroom
Street: 1340 Queen Street West, Toronto

There will be 13 lovely vendors all selling their handmade treasures, so please come by and say hi!

in the cafe spotlight: magicbeanbuyer

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

Strawberry Creme Doughnut Pendant (by magicbeanbuyer)
Give us the basics:
magicbeanbuyer - Delaware, USA - I make miniature figurines and accessories. Mostly polymer clay, and mostly food related...because food is awesome!

What’s your favourite smell?
Bounce Fabric Softener. I could sit in the aisle at the store forever just smelling the box. I looooove clean laundry smell.

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
My inspiration comes mostly from food. There's just so many kinds. The colors and textures. And they all have different meanings to different people. Plus, I love cute things. Have you ever come across a cupcake that wasn't cute?

The Wedding Couple in Blue (by magicbeanbuyer)
What do you like least about your craft?
The waiting! With my Plinis I have to wait and wait and wait between coats of paint and varnish. I think I could get a lot more done if they dried faster. I have a fan, that helps a lot, but there's still a lot of waiting

What’s a normal day for you?
I get up in the morning and check my email for anything time sensitive, then leave for my "9 to 5" job. On my breaks I'll browse the Etsy forums and answer convos if I have enough time. If I'm feeling fancy I'll renew an item or bid on some Project Wonderful ad space. Mostly I waste time in the forums though. I get home and pack up any orders I've received. Then spend the rest of the evening either taking and editing photos, painting, blogging and/or answering more convos and emails and of course playing Rock Band. Somewhere in there I manage to make dinner, feed the cats and clean up the apartment too. There's never enough time in the day for everything!

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
Don't underprice your work. Really take the time to research and determine how much your items are worth - how much time goes into them, the cost of your materials, listing fees, etc etc. I'm not a pro, but I have learned a ton since starting out. I look back on my first few sales and can't believe I ever made any sort of profit. If you're looking towards selling for more than a hobby it's definately very important, as I've learned.

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.

Black Kitteh (by magicbeanbuyer)

in the cafe spotlight: soapdeli

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

Pomegranate Soap with Shea Butter (by soapdeli)
Give us the basics:
Roanoke, VA. I make yummy scented shea butter soaps, goat milk lotions, milk bath and foot cream.

What’s your favourite smell?
Definitely pomegranate.

How long have you been doing your craft?
I've been making soap since 2001 and everything else since 2006.

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
I'm definitely inspired by scents. Anything that smells fabulous I just have to make. I scent all of my soaps so you can smell them from the time you get in the shower to when you get out. You'll notice a light fragrance on your skin after you bathe.

Raspberry and Vanilla Soap for Extra Dry Skin with Shea and Cocoa Butters (by soapdeli)
What do you like least about your craft?
I have to say the one thing I detest about soapmaking is lining the molds. It's tedious.

What’s a normal day for you?
On days I stay home I usually check and mail orders, chat in the forums and list goodies til around 12pm. I break for lunch then I'll wrap and label soaps, unmold my soaps from the day before and then make three new batches of soap. Then dinner. Then I'll either spend a little time on etsy and if there's nothing I must do - like clean house, soccer practice, etc. I'll make lotions, creams or milk baths. I go to the local city market at least three days a week. On those days I'm on the market by 9am and I usually pack around 3:30pm or 4pm. Later on Saturdays. Then I come home, check etsy and relax for the evening.

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
Promote, promote, promote. Also, don't expect to get 100% unless you are giving 100%. Nothing is going to be handed to you. You must work for it.

How do you discover new things on Etsy?
I like to visit shops with neat avatars that I find in the forums. I also browse treasuries and occasionally I use pounce.

Lemon and Lavender Honey and Goat Milk Lotion with Shea Butter and Aloe (by soapdeli)

in the cafe spotlight: wendyconradart

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

New Orleans - Travel Block Series (by wendyconradart)
Give us the basics:
wendyconradart; blairsville georgia; original paintings, photography, & handmade goodies

What’s your favourite smell?
the smell of the air after a fresh rain

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
I am mostly inspired by nature and using ordinary things in unexpected ways.

Branchy Tree Blank Note Card Set (by wendyconradart)
What do you like least about your craft?
I would definitely have to say the ironing. I hate to iron.

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
Definitely do your research! Read up on Storque articles, spend time reading answers to forum questions, and get to know successful etsians and their stories. As you go along and learn, make the necessary changes to your shop and policies. Most of all, BE PATIENT!

How do you discover new things on Etsy?
Sometimes front page, sometimes in chat rooms, sometimes from visiting shops who have hearted my shop. There's always something wonderful to discover!

Love Letters Triptych- Hearts Painting and Poetry (by wendyconradart)

in the cafe spotlight: plumstars

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

Give us the basics:
I am located in Santa Clarita, CA, which is Southern California. I make gift tags, notecards and all paper fun!

What’s your favourite smell?
My favorite smells are fresh laundry, new falling rain and the ocean.

How long have you been doing your craft?
On etsy I have been selling since the middle of August 2008. A friend of mine referred me to Etsy and I just jumped right in! I have been scrapbooking and making paper crafts since I was in middle school, so that's almost 15 years.

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
I'm inspired to craft when the mood strikes. If I see a beautiful item I'd like to incorporate into my items, then I'm on it. New paper, stamps and punches also help since I can't wait to try out new things!

What do you like least about your craft?
The thing I like least about my craft is not having enough time to do it! For me its just a fun side hobby, so my free time is spent with it, instead of devoting all my time. If only there were more hours in the day...

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
I would say that getting your name out on the forums, in chat and in a blog are great ways to promote your shop when first starting out. Also, get a trade or two in so you get feedback and hopefully some repeat customers too :)

How do you discover new things on Etsy?
I love to find new things through pounce and even just watching new items listed on the front page. There are so many shops on Etsy that everyday I see something new!

cats everywhere!

I absolutely adore cats. I have had a huge love of cats and kittens since I was really, really young and now I've finally added some cats to my shop!

Some are really pretty and others are whimsical - which ones do you like best?


top row: princess kitten; purring harmony
bottom row: hi kitten; here kitty kitty
(by pandacub)

in the cafe spotlight: JoannaGoldman

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

Give us the basics:
I'm in Montreal, Canada, and i specialize in all things cute!

What’s your favourite smell?
Coconut bodybutter from The Body Shop. I seriously can never get enough of it!

Set of 7 Mini Greeting Cards with Hand Made Envelopes (by JoannaGoldman)
How long have you been doing your craft?
I've been drawing all my life, but selling for a couple years.

What’s a normal day for you?
I wake up, take the train to my day job (Motion Graphics/ Visual Effects Artist), get to my desk, have my tea, browse Etsy for a bit, do some work, doodle while my work is rendering, go home and turn my doodles into pieces that I eventually list on Etsy! Then I go to bed! :)

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
Try not to get discouraged too easily. Selling your art is hard work, but worth it in the end.

How do you discover new things on Etsy?
Treasuries and pounce are my favorite browsing methods right now.

Lest We Forget...

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

— Lt.-Col. John McCrae

On this Remembrance / Veteran's Day, let's all take a moment to remember...

in the cafe spotlight: AMomentAMemory28

Featured Etsian: AMomentAMemory28
Shop link: AMomentAMemory28.etsy.com

Plantable Card 4 1/2 x 6 (by AMomentAMemory28)
Give us the basics:
I live on the shores of Lake Erie in good old NY state. I do photography. I make plantable ACEOs (Art Cards, Editions and Originals) and plantable greeting cards, as well as printed greeting cards - all using prints of my
photographs.

What’s your favourite smell?
Sugar cookies just after you take them out of the oven!

How long have you been doing your craft?
I have been taking photographs since I was old enough to have a camera, though only professionally (ie getting paid for my work, lol) for the past year.

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
My biggest inspirations are my family and faith, foremost, but I am constantly being inspired by nature and the world around me as well. There is so much beauty all around us. I love the adventure and challenge of capturing shots that evoke long lost memories in others.

Photographer wise, I have been very inspired by couragemylove.etsy.com and jaredks.etsy.com. Both of them have a phenomenal talent for taking ordinary moments and capturing the extraordinary uniqueness and beauty in those moments. Couragemylove is very whimsical and when you look at her photographs, you feel like you are transcending the humdrum of the world and entering a place of daydreams. JaredKS's photographs are just sheer magic. He can take an ordinary bird bath or dandelion and capture it in a light or angle that makes it appear so surreal and lovely you would think at first glance it was a painting!

4x6 photograph print (by AMomentAMemory28)
What do you like least about your craft?
My least favorite things are trying to decide what pictures to sell in my shop and use for cards and ACEOs. My hubby helps me with choosing because two heads always seem to be better than one. I don't love cutting the plantable paper because it is very tedious, but I love making the cards themselves.

What’s a normal day for you?
There is no normal in this house with 3 cats and 3 daughters, lol! Most days are up at 7 or 7:30 am, get my oldest off to school and the other 2 fed and dressed. Then I check emails and work on any cards or ACEOs I am making. After lunch, we head off to shoot pics with the 2 little ones. Later, I pick up my oldest from school and we go to the park or beach for more pictures and adventures. Then its dinner, baths, and bed. Once the kids go to bed, I put pictures on the computer, go through them, crop, etc. I respond to emails and prepare any orders that need to be shipped the next day. These days, I go to bed between 12am and 1am.

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
I would tell all new etsy sellers several things that others have told me and I have found to be very helpful. First and foremost, don't ever forget why you started crafting. It is very easy to get caught up in the business aspects of selling. Hold on to, and utilize, that passion and inspiration - it will keep you going and help you to always strive to better yourself and your items. Secondly, I would say always have fun with your work. Always challenge yourself to try new things. Work hard, stay focused, and NEVER give up! Don't forget to enjoy the quiet times of business and use them to be creative. Lastly, PROMOTE, promote, promote - on and off etsy.

How do you discover new things on Etsy?
I do searches, I view treasuries, I participate in teams and the forums. My biggest method of discovery has been my custom orders. I have had some awesome customers sending me requests for very cool and new items to make. I love the custom order feature and wish more people would use it. I never grow tired of going out and spending hours or days shooting a shot to use for a custom card. It keeps me on my toes for sure!

5x7 Greeting Card (by AMomentAMemory28)

in the cafe spotlight: LynnsBeadsNThings

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

Graduated Green Turquoise (by LynnsBeadsNThings)
Give us the basics:
Hi, I'm Lynn of Lynn's Beads 'N' Things. I'm a California girl, born and raised and a self admitted bead addict! I make jewelry using mostly Semi Precious Stones and Freshwater Pearls. I also make cards using real flowers and leaves pressed and laminated for lasting beauty.

What’s your favourite smell?
My Favorite smell is fresh baked bread.

How long have you been doing your craft?
I have been making jewelry since I was a teenager when my mother took me to my first bead shop. I was instantly hooked! I currently sell my craft at a local Art Gallery as well as Etsy.

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
I am inspired by the beautiful colors and creations of God.

Pearls With Aqua Quartz and Aquamarine (by LynnsBeadsNThings)
What do you like least about your craft?
The thing I like least about my craft is when things don't go right!

What’s a normal day for you?
A normal day for me is going to work at my "real job". I mostly do my crafting on the week ends and sometimes in the evenings.

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
My advice to new Etsy sellers is to frequent the Forums &/or chat rooms for visibility which is how I discover new things on Etsy and get discovered myself.

Vintage Glass with Pearls (by LynnsBeadsNThings)

ponies for the grown-ups too!

An Etsy forum reminded me that adults wear pony-tails too (I know I do!) so I was inspired to start thinking of a line of hair accessories with a more "grown-up" flair and I think there's some great ideas coming out.

Check out this gorgeous dark blue pattern I turned into ponytail elastics!

flowers in the dusk (by pandacub)

in the cafe spotlight: stelmadesigns

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

KAIKALA Necklace With Abalone Pendant And Vintage Ocean Pearl Shell Buttons (by stelmadesigns)
Give us the basics:
Stelma Designs, We live in the Great Northwest in Sammamish, Washington very close to Seattle.

What’s your favourite smell?
My daughters heads, really! A close second would be the smell outside after a rain.

How long have you been doing your craft?
I have always been an artist, but making necklaces and jewelry from vintage and antique buttons started about 16 years ago while I was living in Chicago and came upon several large tins of antique buttons at a thrift shop. I found buttons dating to the civil war and began stringing them and just have kept at it!

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
I'm inspired by all the endless possibilities that come to my mind thinking of past era's and who wore these buttons and I think of the fact that women were the ones who sewed all these tiny buttons onto articles of clothing. I think vintage and antique buttons of shell, abalone, and bone are simply beautiful and I just keep thinking of new designs I have yet to make. It's all up in my head.

Dramatically Long Flapper Necklace of Vintage Buttons (by stelmadesigns)
What do you like least about your craft?
I love it all; the time it takes to string all the buttons is relaxing and meanwhile my mind is thinking up new designs.

What’s a normal day for you?
Well, I'm a Mom of two young daughters who, by the way also sell things in our shop, so they come first. I do a lot of things for myself however such as exercise, I belly dance and I have a large sometimes overwhelming organic garden with perennials as well as veggies, fruit trees and berries. We have eight chickens, three dogs, one cat and a mean love bird. Also, a wonderful husband who thinks I spend too much time with etsy, and shoot, I've just started!

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
Well, since I'm just starting out myself, I can only say to be positive and make sure you have nice photos. clear descriptions, all shop policies and bio filled out and when in doubt, go to the forums because you will learn so much there and all the other etsy members are just great.

How do you discover new things on Etsy?
I like the front page but I have found things to buy after seeing shops while in the forums and also looking at the favorites of shop owners I like.

Leucosia Siren Necklace of Antique Buttons (by Leucosia Siren Necklace of Antique Buttons)

in the cafe spotlight: VivaceCrafts

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

Give us the basics:
My Etsy name is "VivaceCrafts". I'm from Wisconsin, woot! I make nerdy jewelry and accessories. Mainly the items are off-the-beaten-path and geeky but they are still feminine and pretty (at least to me!). Resin is my favorite medium :)

What’s your favourite smell?
My favorite smell is definitely freshly baked lasagna!

How long have you been doing your craft?
I've been specializing in resin jewelry since about May, constantly changing and perfecting my methods for different styles. I've been making jewelry since I was in highschool. I've been a fan of crafting overall, though, since I was a little girl.

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
My parents are definitely my "who"s. My mom always supports my pieces and gives me her honest opinion. My dad finds broken computer parts for me to use as well as packaging materials. They are amazing! My studies in the sciences are the "what" for my craft...I'm such a nerd.

What do you like least about your craft?
Oh man, for the resin it's definitely the smell!

What’s a normal day for you?
A normal day for me is a rather crazy one! Since I'm a college student I wake up at like 7:30, check my email to see if I got sale or a message. I'm in class pretty much all day and then I scoot over to my part-time job. I come home at about seven. Crafting is definitely my creative outlet. I spend about an hour or more to make new items and work on promoting my Etsy store. Eventually I have to do all my homework (which takes hours), practice my violin (I'm in a cool, folk band) and then go to sleep.

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
Keep with it and involve your friends and family. My friends love to look at everything and they really appreciate getting freebies. My family thinks it's neat and tries to help promote with their friends. Definitely keep with it, too! Don't give up and be original.

How do you discover new things on Etsy?
I am always browsing through the categories. I love to look at stuff I can't make... like knitting and papercrafts. I'd like to give a shout out to ahetland.etsy.com here! She makes AMAZING cards!