Etsy Feature: ViceandVelvet

Bar soaps, body mousse, bathing whips, body polish....who doesn't love listening to these words? 

....Because it means, a long day of pampering ahead!!

 

ViceandVelvet is a beautiful store with a gorgeous bath and body collection.

well, you are going to love this!! 

(most adorable valentine packaging!)

Let's hear from Mei about, how she keeps the cuteness coming!

- What is your favourite part of creating beautiful bath products?

 

K: The "creating" part - i.e. making the actual products in my kitchen as I get to work with so many wonderful ingredients. I also love getting messages or reviews from customers saying that they love the consistency, scent or functionality of the product they purchased - this is what I work hard for

 

- Have you always wanted to do that?

 

K:  No, it was my hobby that has now become my full time job. Before this I was studying physiology and public health in university.

 

- Which is your personal favourite of them?

 

K: It is difficult to choose a favourite product - probably the Body Mousse as customers have described the formulation to me as "perfect" and it took the longest time to get right.

 

 (tempting!!!)

 

- How does your normal working day looks like?

 

K: I don't have a "normal day" - it depends on how many orders I have to pack or which products I'm running low on. I work 7 days, all day, but it is usually intermittent work as I can watch TV or even nap during the day, if need to, and then resume working until I go to bed. I'm free to create my own work schedule because I am my own boss.

 

- What is your most memorable moment, when opening a shop on Etsy?  

 

K: When I was chosen as an Etsy Featured Seller - it felt really nice to be recognized by Etsy and to receive so many lovely comments from other Etsy members. 

 

 

All images belong to Viceandvelvet

 

 

Etsy Feature: RossLab

If you are looking for something pretty and adorable, to add to the collection of things made with love! You have to visit RossLab

Super adorable

So lets ask Rossella, how she does it all....

- What is your favourite part of creating beautiful ceramic ware?

R: I really like the designing and decorating process. I constantly work on my designs and process because I believe colors and patterns are just as important as shape and functionality. Some of my pieces take up to an hour to paint, and I often use four different glazes that have to be applied at different times. Every step is necessary to obtain the final result. Details are key to me – from testing and selecting the best raw materials to using extra care to pack every piece on its way to my customers.

- Have you always wanted to do that?

R: Yes, I have. It is always been something I wanted to try, and when I finally had the chance to do it it felt right. The potters' wheel is highly addictive!

- Which is your personal favourite of them?

R: My favorite piece to make is the ceramic vase from my Black Bird Fly collection. I throw it on the potter’s wheel in the same relaxing and meditative way I throw all my pieces, but decorating it is truly special. I hand paint nine black swallows on each vase, and afterwards I see a flock of birds before my eyes. It’s like staring at the sky on a clear spring day, and it always cheers me up!

- How does your normal working day looks like?

R: It really depends on what other tasks I have for that day, but I try to work on the potter's wheel during the day, when the studio is sunny and warm, and keep other duties for the evening (packing orders, answering emails, etc.).

- What is your most memorable moment, when opening a shop on Etsy?

R: I came to Etsy by chance, opening my shop when I had no more room to store all my pieces. I wasn’t planning to start a business, but after some positive feedback I decided to turn it into a full-time job. Since then, my shop has grown bigger and my creations have evolved, but my customers' emails and thank you notes are still the what makes every day memorable.

 Thank you Rossella for sharing. 

All images belong to RossLab

Etsy Feature: makenziandmadilyn

Personalized embroidery, sweet quotes and hoops with vintage fabrics. Pretty things to add sweetness to your space. All of which you can find at this store.

(isn't that adorable?)

I just love everything at this place. So lets hear it from Kristi, how does she keeps the cuteness coming!

- What is your favourite part of creating beautiful embroidery hoops?

K: My favorite part is simply sewing - it is soothing to me and I feel a good contentment while stitching. 

- Have you always wanted to do that?

K: No, I hadn't always wanted to be an embroidery artist, although I have always enjoyed sewing. I didn't even realize it was something I could do until a friend of mine wanted something embroidered for a wedding. It sort of just evolved from that.

- Which is your personal favourite of them?

K: My personal favorite item is the one with "You are my favorite." I have it sitting between photos of my two girls, for they are both my favorite!

- How does your normal working day looks like?

K:When I sit down to sew, if I don't have an order to fill, I begin by writing out different quotes and sayings and playing with different letters. I love to arrange words on the fabric in an organized way, but so that it still looks sort of written out at random. Then I decide on colors and get to work!

- What is your most memorable moment, when opening a shop on Etsy?

K:Most memorable is a very special item I was privileged to sew, it was for a bride whose father had passed away years earlier. She had a letter from him, and wanted his writing embroidered onto silk to be sewn into her wedding dress. This is my favorite kind of work to do, so sentimental and meaningful.
 

Thank you so Kristi, for sharing. 

All images belong to makenziandmadilyn

 

Etsy Feature: TheChequeredLily

Glittery shadows, pretty rosy blushes...glossy balms, If you are always on the lookout for same. Then you are in for a treat. This lovely store has it all.

I am personally smitten by the glitter shadow range. (how can you not??)

They are just so pretty!!

see....

Lets get to know more from Kimberly, the lady behind it all. 

What is your favourite part of creating vegan cosmetics collection?

K: My favorite thing about creating any collection is the inspiration phase. Brainstorming ideas and mixing test colors to see which combinations best fit my vision. When I am working on challenging colors that I want to be vegan (reds, pinks, purples), it is the challenge I enjoy – trying to get the desired result with a limited set of ingredients.

Have you always wanted to do that?

K: No. I've always loved makep, but never really thought about making it. I have had many jobs, but no real career. I got very close to having a career as a cook, and I'd like to get back to that someday, but for now I'm really happy with making color cosmetics and personal care products. 

Which is your personal favourite of them?

K: I don't have a favorite color, but I am very proud of the Halloween collection from 2011 because it was my first big collection and I felt like I really was successful at making it cohesive. It also was one of the easiest collections to make because it just came together so fast. 

How does your normal working day looks like?

K: I'm pretty lucky that I don't really have any normal workdays. Every day is different. I still have a real job at the moment, and I have to work my business around my work schedule, which is always different. Most days I am able to pack orders either in the morning or late at night and work through the day making products and filling samples and containers. Some days are spent entirely on packing up orders when I'm busy. All last week I spent making bath products for a craft show and dind't get any makeup formulating in at all. I expect that this randomness will continue for awhile, as I have a new product line launching soon and a packaging change coming up too. At least I'm never bored. 

 What is your most memorable moment, when opening a shop on Etsy? 

K: I think the most memorable experience was opening up my 3rd shop and just hoping it was the right thing to do. When I opened The Chequered Lily on Etsy, I already had 2 shops going and had been selling eye shadows on one of them for a few months. I had decided that the makeup line needed its own space if it was to succeed, with a brand identity and a professional appearance, so I opened up my third shop and started working on branding. Looking back, it was definitely the right move, but it was scary at the time.

Thank you so much Kim, for sharing :)

But that's not all my friends, there is a special coupon!!

Use coupon code GORGEOUS

and it is good for 20% off any order of $5 or more through Dec 31st, 2013 

 
All images belong to TheChequeredLily

Etsy Feature: LITdecor

This store is the kinda place, where you can't stop looking through. The very same thing happened with me, when I stumbled across this place. The designs are just mesmerizing and you can see the impeccable detailing.

Its truly hard to pick a favourite.

So lets hear from Vanessa, what it takes to have such a lovely store!

- What is your favourite part of creating exquisite home decor products?

V: - My favorite part of my work is coming up with new designs and creating these new jars, whether these are custom orders or just new ideas.


- Have you always wanted to do that?

V: - I haven't necessarily always wanted to paint glass jars specifically, but I have always been artistically inclined.. I have a background in Product Design, and I often said that my dream job, if money were no object, would be a job as an artist or painter. Through Etsy, I have been able to achieve this in a real way, even with money being an "object". I feel so blessed to be able to help support my family and have my dream job in this way.

- Which is your personal favourite of them?

V: - I don't have a specific favorite design, but I enjoy making newer designs that I have listed. It is fulfilling to see a design become popular, and always surprising. I honestly couldn't predict which design will become the most popular out of a group of new listings. Some designs are sleepers, they will hang out in my Etsy store for a long while without many sales, and then they will get hot. Sometimes I can figure out how this happens, link it back to a front page Etsy spot, a feature in a blog, or a great treasury that includes the listing; but sometimes it is a mystery. I would probably get very bored if I was painting the same 3 or 4 designs all the time, but this is never an issue with my store.. I am always painting different style jars or creating new designs for custom requests. I guess my favorite type of order is when a customer gives me some guidelines such as glass color, detail color, or design style (ex: henna patterns, geometric styles, etc); but then asks me to come up with the designs for the jars. I always come up with new designs when this happens. I love this freedom, and I love to reward customers who allow me this freedom with first access to new designs.

 - How does your normal working day looks like?

V: - I am a definite night owl, so I have a rather unorthodox work day. I wake up my daughter Chloe for school at 8 am and ensure that she is dressed, fed, and ready for school- my darling fiance Nick knows that I am very bad at mornings, so he drives her to school while I take a little nap on the couch. Depending on the night before, I sleep anywhere between 30 min to a couple of hours. Once I really wake up, I start my work day. I generally start the day preparing orders that are ready to ship. The shipping prep process ( for me this involves putting handles on the jars, individually boxing them, then packing them in their shipping boxes) is pretty time consuming, which is definitely not my favorite. I would rather be painting all the time :-) If orders need to go out that day, they are rushed out to either the post office or other shipping services,depending on individual package needs. Nick works from home as well, and he often makes these runs for me (see? saint!) . Short break for child retrieval/ homework/after school activities, then I am back to work painting jars. I do most of my actual painting in this time, and tend to work until around 2 or 3 in the morning.

- What is your most memorable moment, when opening a shop on Etsy?
 
V: - My most memorable Etsy moment was probably when one of my lanterns was featured in an Etsy "Get the Look Decor" article. I opened my Etsy shop in Oct 2011, and this article in Jan 2012 really increased my shop views and changed my whole business dynamic. I love how the Etsy format has allowed me to grow a business with lots of hard work, creativity, and a fresh idea, but not a big budget for advertising. It was an overwhelming and amazing day for me when this article first came out. I spent the whole day answering messages and creating custom orders! I could not have reached so many people without opportunities like this. I am still a bit shocked and amazed at the way my shop has grown, it is so fulfilling to have so many customers who like my artwork, enough to spend their hard earned money at my shop!  

Thank you so much Vanessa for a lovely conversation!


All images belong to LITdecor

Etsy Feature: CoquetteBath

Yummy lipbalms, delicious smelling scrubs and adorable packaging, Is that what drives you to a bath and beauty store? Then, I have got a catch for you today!!

A beautiful store, with all the beautiful products you would love to stock on!

So lets hear from Cari, about her lovely journey :)

- What is your favourite part of creating beautiful cosmetics and bath products?

C: My favorite part of creating is...creating. And knowing that what I've made is both beautiful, fragrant and lovely to use. I use my products and I always say that if it isn't good enough for my family, I won't sell it to yours.

- Have you always wanted to do that?

C: Have I always wanted to make products? Actually no. I rather fell into it. I owned a gift store for about 6 years and when I couldn't find anything at Market that met my quality, ingredient and price requirements (first for candles) I learned how to do it myself. I quickly got 'hooked' and just won't buy anything else, now. 

- Which is your personal favourite of them?

C: I like every single product, but of course, not every scent is a favorite. I prefer my lip balm to anything made by anyone anywhere. Seriously. I love my rollon perfumes, and my soap...well, my skin is very happy. I also use both my body bliss cream and my lotion bars.

 - How does your normal working day looks like?

C: I don't have a normal working day. I still have a full time, fairly demanding, 'day job'. When I get home, I get online, see if I have any orders to pack, and then do some website/online shop maintenance. Adding new photos, improving tags, etc. I batch product weekly, but not every product. Recently, I've handled a huge batch of roll on perfume, soap, lotion bars and will dig into the wax melt production in day or so. 

- What is your most memorable moment, when opening a shop on Etsy?
 

C: I don't have a most memorable moment. I strive to make each product to the best of my abilities. I'm constantly trying to improve my quality and my product image. My kids get tired of me changing my labels but as my vision sharpens...so do they.
 

Thank you so much Cari, for sharing :)

 All images belong to CoquetteBath

Etsy Feature: Creatiate

Do you love crafting so much that you dream about all the pretty stamps? Well, I have got just the right place for you!! Creatiate

This place is loaded with all the pretty stamps you can image! I am especially smitten by this feather one! Isn't it just adorable?

So lets hear it from Sarah.....

- What is your favourite part of creating beautiful stamps?

S: I love the sketching, drawing & brainstorming stage of making. I get to have complete freedom over this part of the process, and I could spend hours just writing up new ideas. 

- Have you always wanted to do that?

S: I have always wanted to have a creative business, but I wasn't sure what type until I really just got started. I made cards and boxes, but once I started with stamp making, I was hooked.

- Which is your personal favourite of them?

S: I'm not sure I could really choose a favorite, but I definitely love patterns the best. If I had to choose, probably the modern circles pattern. It is versatile, and I use it a lot to make up last-minute gift wrap for birthdays and holidays.

- How does your normal working day looks like?

S: I am up around 7am to answer emails & send out design proofs for orders that have been placed. Once I finish responding to overnight e-mail, I make up a To-Do list and then get straight to making stamps that have been ordered. If I finish filling orders before 4pm, I will sit with a sketch pad (and usually some of my favorite hot tea) and draw out new design ideas for the shop. I usually break for a trip to the gym around 4, and when I return I always sit with my notebook and a pack of colorful markers to brainstorm new ideas. 

- What is your most memorable moment, when opening a shop on Etsy?

S: When I was just starting out in stamp making, I had a customer place an order for a big, beautiful logo stamp. I still remember, it was a huge ball of yarn & her business name. I was so honored that she had chosen me! Since then, I have made hundreds of custom orders, and it is still a thrill and a privilege to have others commission me to make stamps for their businesses, weddings, and other personal events.

Thank you so much Sarah for sharing :)

All images belong to Creatiate

Etsy Feature: LuxeSoapsbyBOSSGirls

Delicious smells, catchy colours and oh so good feel. Well are you just as crazy about bath products as I am? then you get to see this one!

So lets hear it from Kristina, the story behind a beautiful shzop :)

- What is your favourite part of creating beautiful bath collection?and have you always wanted to do that?

K: After putting in long hours as a programmer during the day, I turn inward and spend quality time with God by making inspiring fragrances, body butters, and soaps that captivate my personal experiences, revelations, and hopes. I am inspired and assured by His peace and love. It is my way of communicating with God.

- Which is your personal favourite of them?

K: That is hard to answer. Each one of them represents the finale of a conversation that I had with God. But, if I had to pick just one, it would be the Balinese Honey Mint Soap. I had such high aspirations when I started out to create this soap. What I ended up with was a MESS. This was a soap that I created without talking to God first and going about it on my own. After my initial disappointment, I sought Him out and we were able to make something beautiful out of something that I was going to throw away. This was God telling me that there is beauty in everything, you just have to seek it out.

- How does your normal working day looks like?

K: My normal work day requires me to put on my thinking cap and solve problems. I do not have many opportunities to be creative at my real job.

- What is your most memorable moment, when opening a shop on Etsy?

K: I was very nervous about putting my personal "conversations" on display for the world to see and judge. I just knew no one would get it. But when I got my first sell, the Lord reminded me that folks are seeking beauty in things that aren't so obvious. There is a soap for every person and a conversation to go along with it

Thank you so much Kristina for sharing with us. 

 All images belong to LuxeSoapsbyBOSSGirls

Etsy Feature: PotteryLodge

Looking for something special? something made with love? something just so adorable that it is so hard to resist?.....then you have to head out to PotteryLodge

Beautiful ceramic-ware, oh so pretty designs and a very sweet owner!

So lets hear it from Casi...

I grew up around pottery. My great-grandmother and grandmother both enjoyed cast slipping and had a little shed in the backyard where they kept their molds and kiln. Life happened and the shed was locked up for about 10 years. I've always been into arts and crafts and one day I called up my grandmother and asked if she would teach me how to cast molds. She was over the moon excited and that's how it all started!! I researched new techniques, explored clay building, which my grandmother had never learned herself. I started playing with textures, shapes, sizes, and even making my own molds.

All of my planters are hand built starting with a ball of red clay, carefully and patiently formed then left to dry for several days. Once the clay is moisture free I fire them in my kiln for 4 hours. After firing they have to remain in the kiln for an additional 12 hours. The pieces are then glazed which can take hours depending on the design. I then kiln fired again for 4 hours, cooling for 12. Its a long process for each piece whether made with casting slip or slab clay.

My lace ceramics are made using white clay. I roll out a small slab on canvas and then take one of my great grandmothers vintage doily and press it into the clay. I then take a shaped cutter, heart, circle, or whatever shape I'm making and press that into the clay to get the shape I want. For my heart jewelry dishes, after cutting out about 5-10 of them I will lay them on wood to dry. Every hour or so I will go and slightly lift up the edges to get a curved look. It takes about 5 days for them to dry enough before firing them. The firing process is the same as with all of my pottery. 4 hours to fire, 12 hours to cool, glaze, fire again.

My work is very personal to me. My kiln is only 3 ft tall so my production time is slow as I can only fit a small batch of pottery in with each firing. Pieces can't touch while firing or else they will stick to each other, so I only can make a small amount each time, but it gives me more time to work with each piece and discover new techniques. I'm a glaze junkie and absolutely love combining glazes and getting to see what will happen when this glaze and this glaze will do when applied together. It's like Christmas morning every time I open my kiln!

I know that it may be a little too long....but I have to share it...its so sweet and inspiring :)

- What is your favourite part of creating inspiring ceramic ware?

 C: I think my favorite part is glazing pieces! It's really fun to experiment with glazes and how they interact with each other. 

- Have you always wanted to do that?

C: Honestly, not really. I've always been into the arts, but it wasn't until I found out about etsy a few years ago that I wanted to start experimenting with clay. I saw etsy and all the beautiful shops and it really inspired me to branch out and gave me the confidence to start selling my ceramics. 

- Which is your personal favourite of them?

C: My fox planters! I love them! They are so stinking cute and I absolutely love the way they look. My lace ceramics are also my favorites as well. I love getting to show my great grandmother my lace ceramics and she loves that its her lace that in pressed into them. Its very rewarding. 

- How does your normal working day looks like?
 

C: A normal work day starts with checking emails and messages, then packaging orders to shipping. I then spend the rest of the day getting my hands muddy working on existing orders and creating new pieces. I'm consistently working, many times I'm up at 1am just in the zone creating. I have a whole notebook full of ideas so I always have something I'm working on.

- What is your most memorable moment, when opening a shop on Etsy?

C: Probably my first international sell, which was to the U.K. Since then I've sold to Austria, Canada, Norway, Australia, Singapore, Argentina and more! It's just so neat to know my work is being enjoyed on a global level. 

All images belong to PotteryLodge

Etsy Feature: AgathasBags

Beautiful bags, quirky designs and bright colours are some of the qualities that catches your eyes at this shop

so adorable!!

In conversation with Anna to know more about her work!

- What is your favourite part of making creative bags?

A: My Favorite part of creating bags is the moment when it turns out better than the idea.The process itself is fairly simple, but each bag has a piece of me.

- Have you always wanted to do that?

A: I finished sewing school, then I had a few years break. Then I rediscovered  the secrets of sewing and thanks to the previously acquired skills I can transfer my vision from paper to fabric easily.

- Which is your personal favourite of them? 

A: I like to sew, and mostly just handbags, but still looking for something new and unique. 

 my favourite!

- How does your normal working day looks like? 

A: I work professionally , sewing bags is my passion.I am a mother of 5-year Agatha so I can not devote myself entirely to my passion as I have a family too. I have a husband who understands my passion and often helps me. I find time for sewing in the evening when the baby sleeps and I have taken care of all the home responsibilities.

- What is your most memorable moment, when opening a shop on Etsy?

A: A memorable moment on etsy is the day in which I opened my shop, I had a lot of hits. Waiting for the next big thing happens....when you sell!

 Thank you Anna for sharing :)

All images belong to AgathasBags

Etsy Feature: BizimWedding

Beautiful and elegant shoe clips, hair accessories and bridal bouquet.....all the prettyTh goods that you find at BizimWedding.

I am a big fan of shoe clips, a lovely way to jazz up any pair of shoes. The ones you find by Nurgul are such a delight.

this one is my favourite! 

So lets see, what all goes into this oh so pretty shop!

- What is your favourite part of creating inspiring beautiful shoe accessories?

N: My favorite part of creating shoe clips is making the flowers. It is a pleasure for me to deal with colorful fabrics. There are so many fabrics in every corner of my house....Fabrics waiting to be flowers for a day by me:) 

- Have you always wanted to do that?

N: -I really want to work at home and create something.I have been a full-time accountant for 20, before I quit my job, 15 months back. I understood that it makes me unhappy and I should quit. Now I am very happy.

- Which is your personal favourite of them?

N: I really like these roses in the middle of the rhinestone

 wow! so pretty

- How does your normal working day looks like?

N: - Except for that time at the computer, I'm always making flowers.

- What is your most memorable moment, when opening a shop on Etsy?

N: - I remember, I used to try so hard to get good pictures. 

Thank you so much Nurgul! :)

All images belong to BizimWedding

Etsy Feature: Emilymcdowelldraws

So inspiring, so beautiful, this is the effect her illustrations have on everyone.

 Whenever I see them, they make me smile and I am sure they are the reason of many others to smile too.

Today Emily shares her journey with us...

 Here is my absolute favourite one! 

- What is your favourite part of creating inspiring illustrated printworks?

E: There are so many things I love about the process, but I'd have to say my two favorite parts are 1) knowing I'm making something that inspires/touches the person who'll buy it -- I love knowing where my work ends up! -- and 2) being able to see my own ideas through from start to finish based on my own creative vision. I worked in advertising for many years before leaving to write and illustrate my own work full-time, and while there are things I loved about the process of being an advertising creative, the decision as to whether our ideas ever saw the light of day was ultimately up to our clients. So it's fun to be able to have an idea and go make it!

- Have you always wanted to do that?

E: No! I actually didn't know what I wanted to do until the last couple of years! I spent close to ten years climbing the ladder in advertising, and when I finally got to the place I thought I wanted to be when I first started in the business, I realized it wasn't right for me at all. I quit my full-time ad job in 2011 in order to freelance and figure out what I actually wanted to do when I grew up. :)

- Which is your personal favourite of them?

E: I have two -- the Joan of Arc quote, "I am not afraid, I was born to do this," both for the sentiment and the design. I feel like both of those things really represent me as a designer and a person. My other personal favourite is "You Are Doing A Fucking Great Job" -- I have that one on the wall of my office and I think none of us hear it enough!

- How does your normal working day looks like?

E: It varies depending on time of year and what deadlines I have approaching, but most days, I wake up, check email from my bed (a terrible habit!), then go into the studio. I spend the first half or so of every day responding to email, doing phone calls about licensing or with my sales reps, working on my website -- administrative stuff. I try to shift over to actually creating work in the second half of the day -- some days I'm more successful than others! When I'm on a deadline, I take illustration work home with me at night as well.

- What is your most memorable moment, when opening a shop on Etsy?

E: I’d always wanted to have a greeting card line, but I’d successfully talked myself out of it, thinking I could never make enough money, it was too hard, etc. Last January, I designed one last-minute Valentine card and had 100 copies of it printed, figuring I'd sell a few, and I put it in my Etsy shop. The next day, Etsy posted it on their Facebook page, and I hate using the phrase “went viral,” but it went viral. It got over 10,000 likes on Facebook (I think it may have been the most-liked post of the whole year?!) and my card ended up being featured on Buzzfeed, CollegeHumor, Reddit, Glamour.com, Design Sponge, 9gag, and a million other blogs. It was insane.

From my Etsy shop, I sold and shipped over 1,600 individual copies of that card to customers in 8 days(!?) and came out of the experience with the decision to create my own card line. So Etsy is really a critical part of the story of my business!

Thank you so much Emily!!

All images belong to Emilymcdowelldraws

                                                                       

Etsy Feature: Ceraminic

Pretty designs, wonderful colours and soo much love, that's what goes into making every piece in this shop

...and my favourite...

So lets ask Ildi, how she does it all!!

- What is your favourite part of creating colourful and bright ceramic ware?


I: I really enjoy the process of making pottery: I sit down at a table with clay and try to make something that I have an imagination of. I want something and the clay wants something but in the end I can work until I am most satisfied with the outcome. For me, the best part is after the first kiln firing when I can paint withfantastic bright, shiny colors and decorate in different ways. I love the tiny details, experiments with new technics. I do have patience to work with really small things to achieve those fascinating patterns.

- Have you always wanted to do that?


I: Actually I’m a psychotherapist and an economist, mother of 2 girls and a wife of an engineer. 7 years ago my husband got a job in the Netherlands and we left our home country, Hungary. Until this moment I always worked in a full time job, I could not stay at home all day, I had to look for something else and found pottery this way.

- Which is your personal favourite of them?


I: I really like my new personalized ring dishes

 

and my new Christmas collections

 - How does your normal working day looks like?


I: I really force myself to live and work as a normal full time job employee but I’m a night owl and like to create new things in the evening, painting at night.

- What is your most memorable moment, when opening a shop on Etsy?

I: I’m looking for success and I’m so glad so many people are happy with my ceramics. I was the happiest this year before Valentine Day. Etsy promoted one of my love dish and I packed and posted all day my little plates☺ 

Super adorable!! Thank you so much Idli for sharing :)

All images belong toCeraminic

Etsy Feature: PencilMeInStationery

Either a fan of black and white or full on burst of colours. There is something for everyone at Keema's shop!

The work is absolutely stunning! The moment you click on her shop, and you look at the prints......and you are just head over heels. 

Well, that is kinda what I feel...

.....and this is the one, I am completely in love with :)

And here is the a beautiful chat, about her work, designs and more....

- What is your favourite part of being a textile and stationery designer? 

K: My favorite part is being able to express myself creatively. A lot of my prints tell a story of how I am feeling during the creation process of that piece. Sometimes I'm feeling super simple and geometric, while other days I'm feeling bold, colorful and abstract. It's fun!

- Have you always wanted to do that?

 

 K: When I was younger, I wanted to be an architect. However, the college I attended did not have that as an option. My counselor suggested I attend the visual communication design course and I fell in love! So for the past 11 years, this is all I've been doing.

- Which is your personal favourite design?

K: My personal favorite is my black and white plus sign collection. It's the simplest design, and clients all over the world can relate to it. That print represents positivity at all times.

- How does your normal working day looks like?

K: I am working all day everyday. I have a night job, and I work on Pencil Me In products in the morning/afternoons. My day involves, designing textiles, sewing, packing, shipping, cutting, pasting, all of the above. I am a one-woman shop, so it gets a bit hectic. However, I am enjoying every bit of it because this is what I was meant to do. I am debuting adult leggings, kiddie scarves and handmade notebooks very soon!

- What is your most memorable moment, when opening a shop on Etsy?

K: My most memorable moment was the first time my item made it to the front page on Etsy. My shop was only open for a short period time, so I was super shocked and excited.  I had about 1,000 views overnight. Thanks Etsy!

 

All images belong to PencilMeInStationery

Thank you so much Keema for sharing!

Etsy Feature:TrendiSoaps

Polka dots, bright colours, fun designs....what do they remind you of? dresses?...well you are wrong! Today we have the most fun shop, with the beautiful and quirky soaps!! Trust me...you are gonna love them!!

Linda here...shares with us, the beautiful story of how it all started!

Trendi Soaps started in a pretty unlikely place… as you may know, the FIFA Soccer World cup of 2010 was held in South Africa.

My son Aidan, became obsessed with trying to create the South African Flag completely out of soap ... and finally, after many attempts, he succeeded. Seeing that first bar was amazing. Neither of us had done any soap-making before this.

When the initial process for the flag was worked out - it was then possible to use the same principle to make other soaps: polka dots, lattice and african design soap. These are the ones I enjoy making the most!

I have tried to reflect the colours of Africa, the muted shades of the bushveld and also the bright jewel colours and patterns of Ndebele hut decoration. 

All the soaps have the design going all the way through, so even the flag stays the flag until the very end!

Each soap is made in stages from vegetable glycerin soap base .. and using the melt and pour method.

I work from home and have a lovely lady from the Eastern Cape - Phumla, that I have trained to help make the soaps, as I now also have a stall in the craft market at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront here in Cape Town.
  

- What is your favourite part of creating beautiful and fun soaps?

L: My favorite part is working out new colour combinations and seeing this translated into soap. For Etsy I stick to a certain range - but for my Waterfront stall I am experimenting with new combinations all the time.

- Have you always wanted to do that?

L: I have always been artistic - my mother and daughter are both artists - so it runs in the family. But I never thought it would be expressed in soap making.

- Which is your personal favourite of them?

L: I love the Taupe and white polka dot soap the most.

 - How does your normal working day looks like?

L: I really don't have a normal working day - each day is different!
Now that we are coming up for the main tourist season here in Cape Town (October to March) I am working day and night to make stock for my stall. I take turns with Aidan sitting in the market - supervise Phumla early in the mornings before I leave home, and make soaps at night when I come home.

- What is your most memorable moment, when opening a shop on Etsy?

L: Our first order on Etsy was very special - but the best moment was when someone featured one of my polka dot soaps on Pinterest and we got a huge surge in traffic!
 

So if you are in Cape town...you know where to drop by!

 All images belong toTrendiSoaps

Etsy Feature: Hettle

Are you always on the lookout for interesting pieces to add to your decor? looking for new elements for your wardrobe? changing the mood with colourful pieces? or maybe few printed ones?

Well, I couldn't be more happy to share this etsy shop with you today!!

I love each and every piece, be it a bag, a scarf or a pillow :)

So without any further ado,  I will let Gina take us behind the scenes!!

- What is your favourite part of creating lovely and colourful print works?

G: My favorite part of creating is the exploration. I always feel more myself when I can just go to the materials and color and play.

- Have you always wanted to do that?

G:I don’t know if I thought that I wanted to be a maker, I’m not sure I thought that was a job. My first actual job though- was as a craft teacher at a summer camp.

- Which is your personal favourite of them?

G: It’s hard for me to play favorites but I am definitely drawn to the metallic dots screen prints, and organic fabrics

 - How does your normal working day looks like?

G: A normal workday is pretty hectic, I am a single mom with two school age kids, so after my kiddo’s are out the door, I sit down at my desk in my home office, I always keep a checklist that’s updated daily and I usually start there. Focusing on social media and my blog comes next. Prepping orders, shipping and packaging is done early so I can get things together for pick-up. Next is going through my stock and making items that are low. Everyday I try to play around with some materials and look for new ways to work with my screens and dye. Pinterest has been a huge help for me to keep organized with my ideas, it’s easy to let too many ideas get in the way of being productive, so having a board with some inspiration keeps me focused. Since I wholesale my work,time needs to be spent advertising, applying for events and looking for new retailers to work with and contact with my line sheets. By the close of day I try to return emails and wrap up details with vendors. Finally, I start my checklist for the next day forwarding what was not completed that day and adding to what needs to taken on. Then it’s back to picking up my kids and making dinner :) 

- What is your most memorable moment, when opening a shop on Etsy?

G:My most memorable moment on Etsy was after a few months of opening my shop, I was featured on “Etsy Take Five Tuesday’s” on Holly Becker’s blog Decor8. I was very green to world of blogging at that time, so it was a fantastic boost to not only my shop but my work and brought me to a whole new world of artists and makers.

Get to know more through facebook/ twitter/ instagram 

Thank you so much Gina :) 

 All images belong to Hettle

Etsy Feature: SofiaVidal

Today I share, behind the scene process of Sofia's shop 

The moment I stumbled across her shop, I knew I had to ask her all about the process and her inspiration. Her work is the most unique and very fascinating at the same time, each piece has this charm, that you instantly want to know more about it!

( I fell in love with this one, the moment I saw it )

-What is your favourite part of creating unique ceramic-ware?

S: Since i work mostly with slipcasting, model and mold making consumes a lot of time before the first piece is made, so when i finally cast the first piece in clay, that moment can be a joy by itself because all the expectations I have.

-- Have you always wanted to do that? To Work with clay?

S: Yes, have been always attracted by ceramics. 

- Which is your personal favourite of them?

S: I love functional ceramics, specially when the cultural context has influenced them

- How does your normal working day looks like?

S: I usually work as a product designer during the day, so I spend my spare time to work in the studio, plus I teach ceramics in the university.

 - What is your most memorable moment, when opening a shop on Etsy?

S:  I never expected having so many positive comments from people, definitely the first couple of days receiving so many messages where very happy for me.

All images belong to SofiaVidal

Etsy Feature: Villavera

Exotic prints, colourful prints, abstract prints or mesmerizing ones....whatever you need..It's all here. Today Silvio gives us the scoop of behind the scenes excitement and work that goes into it all. 

Do check out her shop

- What is your favourite part of designing such beautiful prints?

  

S: my favourite part is create something from zero and keep going

- Have you always wanted to do that?

S: Yes I always wanted it. and did it.

- Which is your personal favourite design?

S: my personal favourite design are the geometric set

 

- How does your normal working day looks like?

S: My normal day looks like someone working as graphic/web designer... :)

- What is your most memorable moment, when opening a shop on Etsy?

S: open the store was amazing as well the first sale!

 All images belong to Villavera