in the cafe spotlight: beeandbee

Hidden
Featured Etsian: beeandbee (we got to interview Erica, half of this creative duo)
Shop link: beeandbee.etsy.com

Give us the basics:
Beeandbee is a collaboration between two college friends who share a love of photography. Even though we are both Florida girls, Katie was born in Virginia and I (Erica) in Maryland. We were exposed to art in all mediums at a very early age, but only recently started seeing the world through frames ;)

What’s your favourite smell?
I think we both have to agree that home is our favorite smell.

Tea Time
How long have you been doing your craft?
Katie's been into photography for a bit longer than me but I'm trying to catch up ;)

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
I think the real beauty of Beeandbee is that we inspire each other. It's nice to have someone else out there in the field with you who supports you and helps you grow as an artist.

Copper Field
What's a normal day for you?
Our normal days up at school are monotonous until the weekend hits - that's when we have the time to go out and explore unmarked trails and shoot all day. We love trying to find new places to photograph and have had quite the adventure from time to time! In our eyes, it's totally worth it.

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
Starting an Etsy shop took a lot of preparation on our part; you have to look at it as a dedicated investment. Make sure you have something that sets you apart from the others and that would have a large audience. We received so much support from the Etsy & Blogging community before setting up, so we recommend you test the water before diving in ;)

How do you discover new things on Etsy?
I'm the "blogger bee" out of the two of us so I'm always reading about featured Etsy sellers. Twitter is also a great way to find and links of new items being listed.

in the cafe spotlight: prettycooljewels + GIVEAWAY

Necklace, - Queen Jane Approximately -
Featured Etsian: prettycooljewels
Shop link: prettycooljewels.etsy.com

Give us the basics:
I will be celebrating the 9th anniversary of my 27th birthday at the end of July. I am married, and a stay at home mom to 3 boys (ages 13, 4, and 2 1/2). We live in a tiny house on the edge of Chester County, Pa (large Amish community just over the county line, next door in Lancaster County, Pa). We have 2 Westie dogs and 1 blue fronted Amazon parrot. We are Christian hippies, trying to be more and more eco conscious every day. I bake my own bread, dry my laundry on a clothes line...just trying to live a much simpler version of the "good life"!

What’s your favourite smell?
It's tough to pick just one, but probably vanilla...sounds so, vanilla, I know. I also really like Nag Champa...and amber essential oil...

Necklace, - New Minglewood Blues -
How long have you been doing your craft?
About 20 years. In high school I made all of my hippy friends single strand multi colored "hippy bead" necklaces, and everyone LOVED them. I ended up making more for other kids at school...and I was hooked. In college I started weaving and peyote stitch beading, and sold some things to Hippy stores in the area.

Then I didn't do much for several years after the birth of my first son, until about 5 years ago I started up again with wire work (instead of weaving) and loved it!

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
I always say I make what my brain tells me to make! It sounds crazy, but I don't feel that I have a muse or anything, I just look at the beads and stones and findings until the way they are "supposed" to go together comes into my head, and that's the way I create. I love the process of digging through my supplies! I surround myself with little piles, and sort them back and forth - sometimes I plan several projects at once just sitting on the floor!

Earrings, - Eyes of the World -
What's a normal day for you?
I would not say anything about my day is normal! 8^) But with 2 kids still at home all day (and I babysit a 1 yr old M-F 40 hours a week too) I try to schedule, schedule, schedule, and stick to it! I block out chunks of my day that I can work while the kids are busy playing - or napping! And after the kids bedtime is a busy time for me to get work done, too. I try to leave flexability in my "blocks" of time, so I can do anything from catch up on email, Facebook, Twitter, and my Blog: I can set up pieces to be made, work on jewelry making itself, or I also make individual display cards by hand for each of my jewelry pieces. I try not to plan my "blocks" too far ahead, because if you don't FEEL like doing any particular aspect of your work at that moment, and you force yourself to do it anyway, it always comes out crappy (which makes me cranky 8^)

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
Believe in what you are doing, DON'T GIVE UP, and don't be shy about telling ANYONE who will listen about your shop/items/passion! All advice I tell myself everyday, because I struggle with being shy about self promotion, and when your pieces (made with love) don't sell, it's easy to get discouraged!

How do you discover new things on Etsy?
I am a HUGE fan of POUNCE! Especially the "undiscovered" pounce! My shop is only 2 months old, and I want to support other "newbies" too. I will pounce and heart people's shops and items for hours...it's nice to get some encouragement, and there are so so many talented artisans on Etsy!

Now, how about a GIVEAWAY?
Diana of prettycooljewels has generously offered to host a giveaway here on pandacub cafe! ONE lucky winner will receive a cute pair of flower barrettes.


Value (including the free shipping): $12 USD

Here's how to enter:
Visit prettycooljewels' shop, then come back here and tell me what your favorite thing in her shop is! Just leave it in a comment on this post.

Want extra entries? (you must complete the first entry above before doing these)
- 1 extra entry: Follow this blog. Leave a comment telling me that you've become a Follower or that you were already a Follower
- 3 extra entries: Blog about this giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post. Leave a comment here and include the URL where I can see your post

Remember to leave your email address IN EVERY COMMENT so I can contact you if you win! The prize will be shipped directly to you from prettycooljewels after I forward your contact info to her.

Notes:
- This contest will run from June 24, 2009 to midnight (EST) July 10, 2009.
- Winner is chosen randomly using a Random Number Generator.
- Winner will be announced on this blog a few days after the contest ends.
- This giveaway is open worldwide.

GOOD LUCK, EVERYONE!

in the cafe spotlight: lilesj

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

Dancing Pearls Earrings (by lilesj)
Give us the basics:
Liv'nGood Jewelry at http://lilesj.etsy.com in central NC. I combine chainmaille, silversmithing, and wire wrapping with semi-precious stones to create hand-made, one-of-a-kind jewelry.

What’s your favourite smell?
ooohhh that's a tough one - chocolate, lavender, gardenia, garlic bread - but not all together of course!

How long have you been doing your craft?
I'm pretty new. I took my first basic beading class in 2007 (the day after Thanksgiving in fact). From there I got a few beading magazines and in the back found and add for a chainmaille kit. Once that one arrived I knew I was hooked.

Midnight Dogwood Necklace (by lilesj)
What do you like least about your craft?
The HUGE amount of competition. Not from other artisans so much, but it's very hard to battle the "you want how much for earrings? I could get those at wal mart for 4 bucks" mentality.

What’s a normal day for you?
I still have a day job that pays the bills, so it's get up, go to work for 8, then back home. I usually carve out about an hour after dinner to work on some aspect of the business.

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
Have patience, and do your own marketing. Etsy is a great place to sell, but it's definitely not "build it and they will come". You have to promote yourself and bring your own customers in - then anyone who finds you some other way is just gravy.

How do you discover new things on Etsy?
Treasuries definitely. I cruise through, looking for little yellow stars, about every other day. Then I check out the ones that haven't gotten much attention or comments and try to spread the love. I figure the ones that are already hot don't need my help.

Waterfall Earrings (by lilesj)

in the cafe spotlight: blinkingmouse

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

Ask for the Stars Bracelet (by blinkingmouse)
Give us the basics:
My Etsy shop is called ‘Pretty Little Love Objects’ and can be found at http://www.blinkingmouse.etsy.com/. I make individual, original pieces of jewellery that people can buy and treasure for many years. My mission is to put the romance back into gift giving (even if you’re just giving a little treat to yourself) so all my jewellery follows imaginative designs and uses quality supplies so that anyone receiving a Pretty Little Love Object gets a happy little gift getting moment in their day. I also make some paper items like cards, bookmarks and I even have a fancy dress mask up at the moment.

What’s your favourite smell?
I love strong scents like tobacco flower perfume but I also love lighter smells like jasmine (I’m a Body Shop perfume kind of girl).

How long have you been doing your craft?
I’ve been making jewellery in some form for about 5 years now but I’ve only been selling seriously for about a year. I started out making my own stretch bracelets in college, then moved on to making fun presents for friends and family when money was running short before realizing that I needed to make all year round because I had so many ideas.

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
I love fashion magazines photo shoots so I look in magazines like Marie Claire and Glamour to spot fun trends. I also read a massive amount of bead magazines like Bead Style and Bead and Button which leads you down the wayward path of buying more supplies. I never run short of ideas, just time.

Eat Cake, Live Happy Three Card Set (by blinkingmouse)
What do you like least about your craft?
Crimp findings! Whoever invented those little jewellery endings that need you to hold cord or ribbon in place while keeping your fingers out of the way of crimping pliers is the devil.

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
Although I’ve been going for a year now when you look at my sales you can see that I’m still really just starting out. I’d advise that you don’t give up, small businesses take a while to grow. Take every decent, free marketing opportunity offered to you and try to think of your own marketing initiatives as they’ll be more in your control.

How do you discover new things on Etsy?
I love the front page treasury spot as it lets you find new artists really easily, I’ve bought a lot of spontaneous presents from people who were featured on the front page. If I’m looking for something specific I’ll try to use the search function but as we all know that can throw up a lot of unrelated craft so I mostly use the search feature when looking for supplies.

Everybody Loves A Sailor Earrings (by blinkingmouse)

in the cafe spotlight: herebirdiebirdie

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

Give us the basics:
My shop is here, birdie birdie. I'm based in Tacoma, WA, and I make one of a kind bags and cases from upcycled and repurposed fabric.

What’s your favourite smell?
I don't think I can pick one favorite smell! I love aloeswood incense, Virginia cedarwood, and the nicotiana flowers and nasturtium foliage in my garden.

How long have you been doing your craft?
I've been sewing for over 15 years now. I taught myself to sew making clothes for my doll when I was 8. (They were awful. But I still have them.) I started sewing bags about two years ago.

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
A lot of my inspiration comes from the fabric; I use these garments and pieces of fabric that have so much character. I also like to see what other people are doing with textiles in clothing and home dec, how they're combining prints and colors, how shapes and textures are combined in dishes and other objects.

What do you like least about your craft?
I have to buckle down and focus on one or two types of things to make! I found out it's better for my shop if I make things like bag sizes uniform and don't branch out too wildly with embellishments or shapes. In my ideal world (you know, the one in my head) I'd be sewing a zillion different kinds of things, painting, decoupaging, but in reality I have to put my nose to the grindstone and limit myself.

What’s a normal day for you?
Oh, truly boring. I parent two kids, one of whom is still at home all day, try to get breakfast and lunch on the table, walk my huge black Lab to pick up the older kid from school in the afternoon, hug and kiss my partner when he gets home in the evening, try to get dinner on the table, help round both kids into bed, feed four yowling cats and the Lab, and then put on my iPod and sew madly for a few hours. Sometimes, somehow, I find time to do a little housework, take care of my garden and make things that aren't for my shop.

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
Well, I'm just starting out myself, but it seems to me like a lot of people have something they enjoy doing and imagine Etsy is a way to magically make money doing that thing the same way they always have. I think these are very rarely the successful sellers. I think if you want to actually make sales you have to study what sells well, and adjust your product accordingly -- and plan on setting aside and investing time and energy just for your shop on a regular basis.

How do you discover new things on Etsy?
I like to search for things that usually pique my interest: "bird" in the Vintage category is always dangerous and so is "vase" in Pottery and Ceramics. I click people's avatars in the forums, I notice people who like to swap and sometimes I follow the other favorites of people who hearted me. I found the most awesome metalworker recently by doing that.

in the cafe spotlight: pennydogaccessories

Featured Etsian: pennydogaccessoriesjenngee
Shop link: pennydogaccessories.etsy.com

Recycled chain resin bubble ring (by pennydogaccessories)
Give us the basics:
My name is Kerry and I live in Leicestershire in the UK. My Etsy shop is pennydogaccessories, focusing on unusual resin jewellery, and a few seller supplies and acrylic bits and pieces thrown in. It's mainly resin stuff though!

What’s your favourite smell?
Fresh paint, it's clean and I like it. It's a whole lot better than the smell of resin!

How long have you been doing your craft?
Only about a year, but I am serious about it, so much so I am writing a book as well as magazine articles here in the UK.

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
Everything! I took my dog for a walk in the park this morning and picked up feathers, fallen leaves and sycamore seeds, all with the intention of embedding them later!

Red jasper or coral effect resin hoop earrings (by pennydogaccessories)
What do you like least about your craft?
The fumes. I craft in a separate room, but the smell often spreads throughout the house. It's a bit of a health risk.

What’s a normal day for you?
I get up at 6.45am, check my e-mails for sales, do a bit of moderating on http://crafteroo.co.uk and get ready for work. In my "real" job I work in marketing and design. I get to work at 8.30am and I am there until 5pm. I get home, walk the dog and do a bit of promoting, chatting on the Etsy forums, a bit more moderaing and a bit of making. I'll do some housework and cook a meal if the time hasn't escaped me. Then I'll go to bed at about 10.30pm. On a weekend I'll make a lot more, and I try and list something every other day.

How do you discover new things on Etsy?
I have recently taken to Pounce, though I love the search facility and the treasuries.

Refreshing citrus fruit mix resin pendant on 16 inch chain (by pennydogaccessories)

in the cafe spotlight: maked

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

Vintage Button Ring - Tuxedo (by maked)
Give us the basics:
We're Maked (like naked only craftier). We're a collaborative group of 4 women in Vancouver, BC. We met through www.craftster.org and decided to craft together and sell our wares to fund the purchase of more craft supplies. We have fun and share crafty knowledge with each other. Between us we do almost every craft you can think of, we: sew, knit, crochet, weave (I just started), spin, dye fiber, bead, make soap, make candles...I'm sure I'm forgetting something!

What’s your favourite smell?
Freshly baked cake. yummmmy.

How long have you been doing your craft?
I've been sewing since I was big enough to hold a needle and thread. My crafty road started with beads waaaay back - I got some seed beads somewhere and started stringing them together. For a long time beading was my only craft. Then I found craftster.org and my craft world exploded. I blame much of my current craft diversity on the other Maked girls. I think we've all been crafting since we were kids. We've been crafting together as Maked for about a year now so we've just gotten started!

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
We're inspired by the creative people on etsy and craftster and in Vancouver - people who do their own thing, have their own style; it's fabulous to see so much creativity out there! Our stuff is always a mixture of the styles of the 4 Maked girls so the end product isn't easy to predict - which adds to the fun.

Necklace with Yellow Delica Bead Pendant (by maked)
What’s a normal day for you?
We all work full time at non-crafty jobs so Maked work gets done in the little bits of time left over from full time work and other life demands. We usually meet at least once a week to discuss things or to have a craft session. With 3 or 4 of us getting together at once, we can get a lot done in a little bit of time.

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
a) relax, it takes time, don't expect overnight success.
b) promote yourself, don't just set up shop and wait for people to find you.
c) have fun
d) marvel at how easy it is to have an online business that lets you sell your things to people in far away places - this really is an amazing thing.

How do you discover new things on Etsy?
Through the forums, and by browsing around randomly (or while searching for a gift). Our favorites are exploding with amazing, fabulous stuff. I rave about Etsy to my friends - it's just so much better than mass produced stuff from a store...it's works of creative genius from the artist direct - that's an amazing thing.

Howlite Ring of a Feather (by maked)
There's more info and pics on the maked website: http://www.maked.ca/ and on our blog baremaked.blogspot.com

in the cafe spotlight: LuvNknit

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

Cable knit bag in black (by LuvNknit)
Give us the basics:
LuvNknit.etsy.com, Lakewood OH, (suburb west of Cleveland), Handknit and crocheted apparel and accessories.

What’s your favourite smell?
"New baby smell"

How long have you been doing your craft?
I think I was born with the crafting gene. I was always interested in making things but have only been selling my creations for about 12 years or so.

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
I get inspiration from anything! Sometimes I see a button and design a purse around it. Sometimes I see a particular color yarn and it just begs to transformed into something fabulous! I have a lot more ideas in my head than I have time to create!

Lotus bag in spicy pumpkin (by LuvNknit)
What do you like least about your craft?
I hate cutting out patterns on the rare occasions that I use them, hate weaving in ends, cutting stray threads you know, the boring stuff! Once I get to that point in a project I get bored with it and start itching to get to the next one.

What’s a normal day for you?
Well, I'm pretty busy. I have a 2 year old, 7 year old and 16 year old and babysit 2 kids under 2, 3 days a week. The majority of my time is spent with the kids, then of course there's housework, cooking, homework. I also work 3 nights a week as a nurse on the night shift, since I happen to be a night owl. A lot of times the only time I have to pursue my crafting is on my nights off, so I often stay up till 3 or 4 am. Somewhere in all that mess I try to carve out a little "husband and wife time" ;)

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
I was very discouraged when I first started out. I've been told for years I should "open my own store" and loved the idea of selling my creations on line. Then I did and...nothing. no sales. When the sales didn't come in I thought "Oh man, my stuff is crap!". It took a while for me to "get" that if no one sees your stuff, no one will buy your stuff. You can have the most appealing product in the world, but if no one knows about it you won't sell a thing. I wasn't aware I had to promote. So, my advice is : Have faith in yourself and your talent. Work hard on getting your name out there. Give it time and all the effort you have the time and energy for.

How do you discover new things on Etsy?
Oooh I just love the "pounce" feature. I love going through the "undiscovered shops", after all, I was one of those not so long ago. I think it might be nice if they had a "approaching milestone" feature. You know, shops that are waiting for their 10th, 100th or 500th sale. That would be cool! There is so much talent on etsy it's almost overwhelming.

Purple passion cable knit bag (by LuvNknit)

in the cafe spotlight: kimforbeads

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

How long have you been doing your craft?
I have been beading & selling my work for approx. 18 yrs & I love it.

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
Everything inspires me, colors, beads, my children, nature, moods, feelings, people, stories, clothing. I could go on & on, I get inspired in my dreams & when I am awake. It is hard to turn it off to go to sleep at night.

What do you like least about your craft?
There are never enough hours in the day, & I have so many ideas, that I can't get them all done.

What’s a normal day for you?
I get up at 5:40 - get ready for work, go online while eating my cereal and check convos with Etsy & the forum, post some, then finish getting ready for my day job. At lunch I am either shipping product I sold, beading or on Etsy on the forumn or making a treasury. After work I do the usual mom things, dinner, dishes, cleaning, play & read with my 7-yr-old. My other child is no longer a child at 19, almost 20 yrs. Then I tuck my young one into bed, & either bead or go on to Etsy or both. I am up every night until about 12:00 or 12:30 - depending on how much I need to get done. Then I start all over again. My husband has medical problems, and is not able to work, so I have to keep up these two jobs - late hours and crazy pace to make ends meet. If I had my options, I would & have in the past, just be beading, instead of having my full time day job.

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
Be patient, Be kind, Listen, Share, Respect & Take great pictures (I am still working on that one.)

How do you discover new things on Etsy?
Search on the forumn, talk to friends, & I am sure there is a lot I do not know yet. That is the fun part, discovery.

in the cafe spotlight: lluviadesigns

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

FLORECITA ROCKERA necklace (by lluviadesigns)
Give us the basics:
My name is Jenn George Burt, but I'm better known as JennGee to other lluviadesigns (lluvia means rain in spanish), i'm in west covina, california, but no one has ever heard of it, so i say i'm in l.a. (i grew up in l.a. and still miss it very much!). i make what i call "unwearable" jewelry. by the time i feel it's complete, it's usually huge and way out of hand.

What’s your favourite smell?
cilantro and wet clay

How long have you been doing your craft?
i've been making jewelry for over 20 years.

Who/What inspires you in your craft?
i look at magazines, strands of beads, my garden, and other etsians, or course for inspiration. most of the time i just have to peruse through my large bead collection and the beads alone inspire me.

HIBISCUS repurposed necklace (by lluviadesigns)
What do you like least about your craft?
i hate selling the stuff. i hate waiting for new beads to arrive at my doorstep.

What’s a normal day for you?
i get up around 6:30 am, have coffee, check email, make a to-do list (i'm very disorganized), take a hike or walk with my dog, do "house" stuff, make some jewelry, list some stuff on etsy. right now i have the luxury of only working part time and being able to take 3 hour walks with my dog and make jewelry all day in my pajamas if i want to.

What advice would you give Etsy sellers just starting out?
list a lot of stuff, like always try to have A LOT of items in your shop, advertise outside of etsy, spend time in the forums getting to know the AWESOME people you're sharing this space with. i've met some great people both online and in person through etsy.

How do you discover new things on Etsy?
i pounce! i love pouncing and pounce every day, just to see what and who is new.

red bamboo CORAL freeform sticks (by lluviadesigns)

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.

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!

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.

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)

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)