Spotlight On ...

Maia of Astrida Naturals and Media Move!

1. Tell us a little bit about who you are and your life up to this point in time.
My name is Maia of Astrida Naturals and Media Move. I'm 24, and currently live in the suburbs just outside of Chicago. I went to undergrad for New Media Design but before I finished, I knew I wanted to work for myself. After I earned my BFA, I went back to school and earned an MBA so that I could start my own business. During this time I was also working with my father, selling African American books online. Now we have a store, and I am fully pursuing my dreams of self employment by selling shea butter products and providing graphic, web, and flash design services.

2. Besides your fantasy creative life, what else are doing currently?
I own a bookstore! In November, 2007 I opened a bookstore with my father, we actually earned out MBAs at the same time and used our store, Azizi Books, as our final business plan project. I'm here at Azizi Books all the time, even as I write this. We also continue to sell books online at http://www.blackbooksdirect.com/.

3. What do you offer in your Etsy Shop?
At AstridaNaturals.etsy.com, I sell unrefined shea butter products and African black soap. MediaMove.etsy.com is my new shop. I currently offer premade banners and custom banner designs, but I would ultimately like to offer dynamic advertising and marketing solutions, such as video and interactive flash movies and banners and websites, for other merchants.

4. Where do you create?
I've completely taken over the kitchen for my shea butter creations!

5. Where do you get your inspiration from?
I draw inspiration from my family when creating new products. My shea butter business originally started because I wanted to create natural skin care solutions for myself and my family. They pretty much tell me what I need to create next.

6. How did you learn how to do your craft?
I did a lot of research before I started the shea butter business. Owning a bookstore gives me lots of access to great books, so I read as much as I could about skin care and all the ingredients that I could to use to create a line. I also did a lot of experimenting on my family and friends before I started selling.

7. How do you promote your wares?
I have a blog, astridanaturals.blogspot.com where I talk about my products and share my knowledge about skin care. I also promote a lot on Etsy. You can find me on the forums almost daily. Even if I only have time for one post, I think that it has helped. I don't really promote my design services too much. Word of mouth usually gives me enough design work and new media jobs to keep busy.

8. What has been the most important lesson you've learned since you started selling your own creations?
I've learned not to get too distracted by what other sellers are doing in my category. I used to compare, and it was driving me nuts, so I don't anymore. I've also learned that great communications leads to happy customers.

9. Is there any advice you can give others who are just starting out?
Do your research! Try not to get distracted but what others are doing in your category. Stay true to your goals and remember why you started selling in the first place. If getting hundreds of sales is your goal then you have got to promote like a street fighter. Also take great pictures.

10. Do you have any favorite Etsy artists you'd like to promote here?
Why, yes, I do have some favorites! I love, the Adinkra pendents from CreativeArtandSoul.etsy.com, the journals from Kreativlink.etsy.com, needle tatting from TotusMel.etsy.com, and soaps from dennisanderson.etsy.com.

Spotlight On ...

Stephanie Vance-Patience of Stephani Vance and My Philosopea!

1. Tell us a little bit about who you are and your life up to this point in time.
I am a woman who has had my hand in art — in one form or another — my entire life. Both of my parents appreciate and created art, and still, to this day, encourage me to stretch beyond my self-imposed limits and create what I want. I am very proud of my 3 children: one is returning to school to be an RN, one is planning to finish college in graphic design, and one is studying 2D animation. I also have 2 more children. I recently married a wonderful, supportive man who is 100% in my corner. Our blended family is a major part of my life.

2. Besides your fantasy creative life, what else are doing currently?
I am in my 19th year as a full-time graphic designer, and intend to "retire" within the next 2 years to be a full-time creative person! I read a lot, and, besides my love for and of God, am growing spiritually. I desire to make my world a place filled with love, peace, joy, and gratitude.

3. What do you offer in your Etsy Shop?
Etsy offers me a place to showcase and [hopefully] sell my fine art and miscellaneous creations. I sell signed, numbered prints, some originals, ACEOs, and now, beautiful handmade journals (completely handmade!) I also love working with polymer clay, and have created beads and a few dolls! I am not sure where the clay-thing is going, but I am open to what the universe has in store!

4. Where do you create?
I turned my son's bedroom into my studio during his second year of college! He's moving to the West Coast to finish earning his Bachelors degree. His old room/my new studio is a very calm sanctuary for me.

5. Where do you get your inspiration from?
My inspiration comes from looking at others' work (paintings, sculptures, etc.) and a very private place within my soul.

6. How did you learn how to do your craft?
I was raised in a home that encouraged creativity. I studied all forms of art at Moore College of Art in Philadelphia, PA throughout middle and high school (every weekend, and 5 days a week during my summer vacations... back in the ’70s!) Even though I chose a different route as an adult, I always appreciated art and never stopped creating. I find it easy to read a book or watch a DVD and learn how to, for example, make journals. Then I add my personal flavor to the technical part and am creating beautiful items!

7. How do you promote your wares?
Although I am in advertising 40-hours each week, I don't spend much time promoting my own art (I need a personal assistant, or two of me!) Most people who know me appreciate and buy my art. I have participated in a few art and/or craft shows over the past year. This is only my 3rd year of focusing on art as my full-time ambition, so this is the year that I intend to step out and participate more, hand out more marketing materials, and get more involved in showing my work.

8. What has been the most important lesson you've learned since you started selling your own creations?
I've learned that there is a difference in the quality of my art when I base my work on selling it as opposed to basing it on the process of creating. I absolutely LOVE the process, and find joy in my finished pieces. And IF I sell it, that's good, too!

9. Is there any advice you can give others who are just starting out?
Focus on your vision, and never base your creations on what other people are doing. You'll be a happier, satisfied artisan!

10. Do you have any favorite Etsy artists you'd like to promote here?
Wow... I have a few hundred favorite sellers on Esty right now! I always spend at least 3 to 4 hours each week looking at and appreciating others' work! Let's see (in no particular order)... birdandflower, Kreativlink, AgJewelry, polpetteclay, belleandboo, TheIntuitiveGarden, kerijoy, fancykstudio, lakeillustration, LouAnnsdesigns, marciapalmer, sweetsassyboutique, lyoungstudio, to name a few!

Spotlight On ...

Nicole Lee of Nicole Lee Designs!

1. Tell us a little bit about who you are and your life up to this point in time.
My name is Nicole Lee of Nicole Lee Designs. I have been crafting and DIYing since I could hold a lump of Play-doh. Although I like to dabble in all sorts of crafts, my heart remains in design and textiles.

2. Besides your fantasy creative life, what else are you doing currently?
I am trying to write a novel and I write a blog called Style Conspiracy, styleconspiracy.blogspot.com, that features independent designers, artists and business owners of color. I also enjoy digging through flea markets and antique store for lost treasures.

3. What do you offer in your Etsy Shop?
Clothing in a wide range of sizes, handbags and other accessories.

4. Where do you create?
In my home studio (formally a third bedroom) that tends to migrate into the dining room. So, I sometime end up occupying 2 rooms with all my on going craft projects.

5. Where do you get your inspiration from?
I get inspiration from all over, fabric, color, flowers, music, art, etc. I've always loved the colors of traditional heritage clothing of Africa, India and Tibet. The vibrant colors, intricate patterns and the bright reds, oranges, yellows get me every time.

6. How did you learn how to do your craft?
I have a Bachelor of Science in fashion design.

7. How do you promote your wares?
Through my own website nicoleleedesigns.com, and blog nicoleleedesigns.com/blog, vending at craft shows and participating in promo swaps with other indie businesses to reach cities and customers that I'm not able to reach otherwise. I also promote though involvement in collaborative networking groups like, the Richmond Craft Mafia (I'm a founding member), being a member of the Etsy Artists of Color and Richmond(VA) Etsy Street Teams.

8. What has been the most important lesson you've learned since you started selling your own creations?
Be determined, creating is only 50% (and sometime less!) of what you will spend your time doing, the rest is the un-creative, mundane, frustrating, time consuming "business" side.

9. Is there any advice you can give others who are just starting out?
Believe in what you are doing and don't be afraid if it takes awhile to find your niche. An old professor I had told his students this, "If you mind can conceive it, and your heart can believe it, then your hands can achieve it" I always thought the quote was a little corny, but its true.

10. Do you have any favorite Etsy artists you'd like to promote here?
OMG! There are so many! Other than the fab artists of the EAOC and my girls of the Richmond Craft Mafia, I'll just list with some favorite artists I have recently discovered:

Marcia's Passions - marciapalmer.etsy.com
Boogie Babee - boogiebabee.etsy.com (I have a owl!)
Treehouse 28 - treehouse28.etsy.com
Cicada Studio - cicadastudio.etsy.com (I love these, I hope to someday have my own textile design line)

Spotlight On ...

Naturalezanica!

1. Tell us a little bit about who you are and your life up to this point in time.
My name is Marlon Obando Solano, of Naturaleza al Descubierto natural jewelry. I grew up in a small rural community in Nicaragua. During most of my childhood a civil war was raging. Alongside my parents, I learned to farm and explore the countryside, where my attention to nature’s details developed. I have been an environmental activist for many years. I studied archaeology, learning more about the traditional uses of materials for tools and adornment. My art brings together these interests. I started making and selling jewelry when I was living in Managua, Nicaragua. I gave my work to my friends and started selling through fair trade vendors to get a fair and sustainable price for my work. I moved to Kentucky with my wife (who I met in Nicaragua) and we’ve been working together to sell my jewelry at art fairs and on Etsy.

2. Besides your fantasy creative life, what else are doing currently?
I work as an archaeologist “shovel bum” doing digs throughout the Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio area. I am a musician, I play the guitar and write songs with my group Appalatin. I also enjoy gardening and cooking.

3. What do you offer in your Etsy Shop?
Jewelry handmade with sustainable organic materials I collect myself in Nicaragua and Kentucky. Every piece is one-of-a-kind and made to honor the earth. I love to do custom orders and designs.

4. Where do you create?
I have a wonderful spot in my garage, just feet away from the vegetable garden in the Germantown Neighborhood in Louisville, Kentucky.

5. Where do you get your inspiration from?
Most of my inspiration comes from nature, but I’m also drawn to symbology and archaeology. I like simple lines, balance, and form.

6. How did you learn how to do your craft?
I’ve never taken a single art class. I love experimenting with different materials and techniques. Growing up in the countryside taught me ingenuity – to invent my own tools and use unique materials. Every day I try something new.

7. How do you promote your wares?
Until recently, most of my sales have been through local juried art fairs. Etsy has been a wonderful way to reach more people who appreciate sustainable organic art. We promote via Etsy, Flickr www.flickr.com/naturalezanica and we have a website: http://www.martierrasol.com/.

8. What has been the most important lesson you've learned since you started selling your own creations?
Keep evolving and stay excited!

9. Is there any advice you can give others who are just starting out?
Good pictures and networking make a world of difference.

10. Do you have any favorite Etsy artists you'd like to promote here?
So many great sellers – Etsy is a wonderful community!

• If it wasn’t for our friend Wendy we might not have found Etsy:http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=100813


• To narrow it down the Snot Pot from LaPella Pottery changed my life: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=49275


• And it was great to meet Gaia Creations at the LEAF Festival in North Carolina:http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5381559

Spotlight On ...

The Pairabirds!

1. Tell us a little bit about who you are and your life up to this point in time.
My name is Tabitha Bianca Brown. I'm a twenty-something illustrator who loves to glue things together and paint things up. My nails are usually covered with the stuff.

2. Besides your fantasy creative life, what else are you doing currently?
Thrift store shopping, organizing the playlists on my Mp3 player, trying to enjoy the summer sun.

3. What do you offer in your Etsy Shop?
I currently offer original paintings, mixed media work, and drawings. I may add prints in the future.

4. Where do you create?
My initial sketches can occur at any moment. I keep a sketchbook in my purse and on my nightstand. Finish work is done on my drawing table (after I remove other unfinished work and clutter from the table).

5. Where do you get your inspiration from?
Music is usually my inspiration. I listen to quite a bit of 70s Jazz and Funk. The colors and moods of those two genres are reflected in my work.

6. How did you learn how to do your craft?
I studied illustration at the American Academy of Art in Chicago in 2001-2005 (I graduated in '05).

7. How do you promote your wares?
Flickr http://www.flickr.com/people/thepairabirds/
DeviantArt http://tabithabianca.deviantart.com/
My website http://www.thepairabirds.com/
and my blog http://coverthatmother.blogspot.com/

8. What has been the most important lesson you've learned since you started selling your own creations?
The most important thing I learned was to create what I love. Making something that I don't like, just for the sake of a few sales, gets old fast.

9. Is there any advice you can give others who are just starting out?
Take good pictures of your work. If you're selling online, people don't have the opportunity to touch and feel your work. You have to show the beauty through pictures. Advice on Etsy: promote outside of Etsy and directly to your niche.

10. Do you have any favorite Etsy artists you'd like to promote here?
This is so hard for me. I have a ton of favorites. But, two of my current favorites are: Shop 66 (great vintage kitsch) http://shop66.etsy.com/ and Tonya Engel (beautiful dream-like illustrations) http://tonyaengel.etsy.com/.