Etsy Seller Spotlight Four!!!!

OK, so I am back from doing a little bit of work out if town and finally ready to feature another AMAZING Etsian! Now, this interview is a special one because this Etsy seller is also one of, if not my best customer on Etsy. Christina of 1337Art has a shop that will totally excite you. She creates items that are so fun, unique and made with love. It is so obvious when you visit her shop. I am a big fan of her gorgeous hand-made bookmarks, personally, and the fact that both of us adore our coffee. I hope you all will stop by and visit Christina's shop soon!

Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself? Your name, age, where you're from, etc?

My name is Christina. For the first 10 years of my life I lived basically on the outskirts of Seattle in a cozy place called Normandy Park. For the last 10 years I have lived on the Key Peninsula, which is about 40 minutes from Tacoma. My favorite things to do are writing, jewelry making, collage making, photography, and spending time with my fiance. Two random facts: I like wearing black sweaters and long pants in the summer, and I've been a coffee drinker since I was 12.


Q: Your products are so much fun and many of them are unique to anything on Etsy. So, when did you first decide to start you amazing Business? What was the very first product you created?

My business originally began August of 2007 making, designing, and selling jewelry. My supervisor at work and I were really getting into making jewelry, and we both decided to get our business licenses so we can start selling our designs at shows and craft fairs. The first product I created were necklaces, then I moved to earrings and bracelets, and etc.

I've since expanded my business, and I've started off by making what are called ACEOs. These are mini pieces of art the size of trading cards. My first collage work happened in my high school Photography class. We had a semester long assignment of a "photo journal." Mine mainly consisted of bits of photos I've taken and random materials like bus tickets and exposed film. The collages just started appearing, and I'm glad they did.

Q: Where do you get some of your ideas for your products? Do you create most of your products for yourself or friends first, then sell them to others?

I shop around and find supplies that strike me. This has resulted in a *slightly* cluttered bedroom. When holidays and birthdays come around I make friends and family collaged "greeting" cards. Over the last two years I've received a lot of great feedback from them, so I've decided to experiment with the ACEOs for the public. I would say all in all I make things that please me, and if I'm making something for a certain person, I incorporate their interests. My collages and my jewelry designs are all freehand-I rarely plan them out. I just match colors and themes, and the items seem to create themselves.


Q: What is your favorite item to make and what is your most popular item with your customers?

If I had to choose I think my favorites are coffee themed items and collages. All of my coffee items seem to be very popular with customers, and my bookmarks are my biggest seller.

I also love making custom designs for people. It is such a gift to present them with the final product after all of the fun chaos of colors and sizes and style. It is such a fun ordeal.

Q: What is next on your list to create?

Collaged "greeting" cards and collaged bookmarks. Each one will be completely unique and one-of-a-kind. I can't wait to work on those!

Q: Where else do you sell your products?

There is a local farmer's market coming up next month where my friend and I will sell our items every Sunday for the entire summer. The website www.memory-of.com is going to sell one of my items once they have finished setting up their online store. My personal website is still in the works, but when it launches people will have the opportunity to purchase custom pieces as well as items not available on my Etsy.

Q: Whats your personal favorite aspect of owning an Etsy shop?

The community that Etsy is. I've met a lot of great people (including you!), and before Etsy I didn't know that a large amount of people respected and understood the charms of handmade items.

Q: Where do you see your business in a year?

I see it becoming less part time and more full time. (I would love to quit my day job to spend that time working on new products and advertising!) It is possible, but it's something I'll have to truly work hard to accomplish. My goal for the next year is to at least have double the inventory and to focus more on my Collage Art.

Christina has been generous to offer a great coupon to use in her Etsy shop for all my blog readers. Just use the code below in the notes to seller or send her a message if you have more questions about that or anything in her shop.

20% off your purchase of $10 or more (before shipping). Valid until June 16th, 2008.
Coupon Code: gabriel20off10
Visit 1337Art.Etsy.com now!

Etsy Seller Spotlight Three!!

Happy May everyone and, specifically, Happy Cinco De Mayo! I am starting off this first full week of May by going local with my Etsy interview and spotlight. I found  LiciaPots.Etsy.com while seeking out new shops to spotlight in the Promos Forum of Etsy's Community. The first thing I noticed about this shop was how incredibly unique (I use that word a lot) her items were. I think the toilet paper roll beaded pendant is what got me! I was thrilled to find out that she ran her shop from a city just North of me and that living an environmentally friendly life was a priority for her.  So, I had to feature her.  Without further ado, I would like to introduce you guys to LiciaPots!

Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself? Your name, age, where your from, etc?

My name is Licia and I was born in 1976 and raised in Seattle. I am interested in living a more sustainable lifestyle and our household has taken many steps to reach that goal. One of which is we each have our own home based business. He is a landscape designer, and in addition to my part time job I have begun to take more serious steps to growing LiciaBeads. I also currently maintain each of our websites.

Several years ago I purchased a diesel vehicle which I fill with Biodiesel from waste soybean oil. Considering the mileage that I get, it is still cheaper than my last car, even with the higher cost of the fuel. Solar power and other major sustainability investments are in our future. Slowly but surely we hope to minimize the cost of living by making the right choices earlier rather than later.

This is a major part of how we make decisions, and any purchases would support our goals toward a better future.

If you want to know more I have a blog that I maintain at www.LiciaPots.blogspot.com


Q: There are so many jewelry makers on Etsy and, specifically, beaded jewelry, but I found your shop full of unique and fun accessories! So, when did you first decide to start you amazing Business? What was the very first product you created?

The bead obsession began when my sister and a friend of hers started beading. I slowly began accumulating unnecessary amounts of beads from local stores around the area and started to make things for friends, family and teachers. The very first product I created was probably in 1990 when I started making single strand necklaces with letter beads for other students at my high school.


Q: Where do you get some of your ideas for your products? Do you create most of your products for yourself or friends first, then sell them to others?

I like a lot of the ideas already out there, but at the same time I don't want to do the same thing as I see. I am always thinking of ways to do something that I have not seen before. Most of my inspiration comes from nature which may be evident in the names and descriptions of my work. A lot of the inspiration comes from our landscape design business and the plants that I am around on a regular basis.

I just create them in general... I have kept a couple just for me after they were completed. I guess I grow attached. If I create for people I know, I try to customize it to their tastes. Most everything I create is intended to be available on Etsy.

Q: What is your favorite item to make and what is your most popular item with your customers?

My favorites to make are those that have a lot of color and stand out more than most basic jewelry. They tend to keep my interest when I am creating them and allow me to break more "rules" in creating them. I enjoy creating with seed beads because of the intricate patterns and designs that they allow, and the smaller the better.

Another thing I enjoy is creating custom pieces. My sister, who likes beads but doesn't have the willpower to complete a project with seed beads, likes to give me beads to create something for her. She lives only a few miles from Shipwreck Beads, which claims to be the worlds largest bead store, and I don't disagree. The custom jewelry I have made for her are among my favorites.

I can really only base my most popular item by it's etsy hearts so far. It would have to be the Toilet Paper Pendant. Everyone has a good laugh at it.

Q: What is next on your list to create?

If only there were a list. In a way I am trying to test the market for what is most saleable. I have enough beads to continue with items similar to what I already have for sale. I like working with wire, so currently I have a few projects started using some colored wire.

My sister (who has a regular opinion) is tempting me to make items with larger beads. She most recently brought me some lava beads that are 25mm and rather heavy. I have no idea how to use them... It's always in the back of my mind, those big beads need to be used somehow.

Q: Where else do you sell your products?

I only sell on Etsy. I don't want to spread myself too thin, and Etsy works for my purposes. Plus, if I sell something, I can easily buy something! What's not to like about that?

Q: Whats your personal favorite aspect of owning an Etsy shop?

I actually have two Etsy shops. LiciaPots, in which I hope to eventually sell items made from clay. The Japanese teahouse pottery studio is in the early stages of preperation. LiciaBeads is the other shop, which I opened not long ago because it made more sense to call it LiciaBeads, since I sell beads on it. The "plan" is to sell out in LiciaPots and just use LiciaBeads for the jewelry... we'll see how it works out.

I really enjoy the community aspect of being a part of Etsy. I think it is important to teach the hand makers craft to others and pass on what it means to create to other generations. The art that is available really tells a story of each person and what their world is like at that particular place and time. I like that connection, and as we get older a specific item can take us back to that place and time in history. It's like a tactile memory. I like that I am a part of it.

Q: Where do you see your business in a year?

Ultimately I would like LiciaBeads to be able to maintain itself and if I could have a little extra spending money I would not complain. I'm really just happy to be able to create and have a forum where I can express myself.


Licia has been kind enough to extend a special offer to all the readers here! All customers who use the code "Gabriels Aunt Spring Bonus" in the notes to seller will receive a special gift with any purchase (valid until June 26th only!). You can always send a message to Licia with any questions about this or any item in her shop!

Visit LiciaPots.Etsy.com today!!!!!!

Thank you!!!!!!!!!

Just wanted to write a quick "Thank You" to ThingsandStuff Blog for her lovely write up of my "Sweetheart" scented tea lights she received from me! Also, thank you to one of my very favorite Etsians, 1337Art for writing about my new Botanical Perfume called "Summer Love" I am always very thankful for anyone who compliments my products through their blogs! Check out their Etsy shop's too ThingsandStuff.Etsy.com and 1337art.Etsy.com and shop away! Gotta love Etsy!!!!!!! Have a great weekend and look for a new Etsy shop interview on Monday with LiciaPots.Etsy.com!!!