Spotlight On ...

M.Todd of MCT Jeweler!

1. Tell us a little bit about who you are and your life up to this point in time.
I am a husband, a parent of two great children and a man who loves creating beautiful pieces of jewelry from simple bars of precious metal and created a business MCT Jeweler to share that enthusiasm with others.

2. Besides your fantasy creative life, what else are you doing currently?
Currently I work for a 75 person jewelry manufacturer company whom I have worked for over 35 years.

3. What do you offer in your Etsy Shop?
Offer unique handmade jewelry made of 14kt yellow gold, 14kt white gold, and 925 pure silver and genuine stones. I have a collection of jewelry pieces such as cufflinks, rings, bracelets and earrings which can be seen and sold at mct43 [!at] etsy.com or on my official website http://www.mctjeweler.com/.

4. Where do you create?
I create most of my jewelry pieces from my home.

5. Where do you get your inspiration from?
The catalyst of the jewelry pieces I create is from my childhood experiences in my native island of Trinidad. Secretly I wish I was steel pan players who are amazing musicians who create the style of music known as calypso and soca to create rhythmic and melodic music from old oil drums. Inspired by this instrument I began to generate a series of jewelry pieces to reflect the character of this instrument. Usually when I am creating these jewelry pieces I am listening to the music.

6. How did you learn how to do your craft?
A family friend, who owned a jewelry store in Port of Spain Trinidad, taught me the jewelry trade. I began learning in 1962 how to assemble, solder, mount diamonds and various gemstones, cutting and molding various metals.

7. How do you promote your wares?
I promote my product by doing various tradeshows and expositions in the New York are and other states in the U.S.

8. What has been the most important lesson you've learned since you started selling your own creations?
It is very hard to run your own business and a small one at that; however this experience has allowed me to keep the faith and push on through in sharing my products with the world. In the end I truly enjoy seeing people enjoy my pieces.

9. Is there any advice you can give others who are just starting out?
Take baby steps to get your business going. There is a lot to learn in whatever trade you are venturing in but as you progress you will keep learning and growing.

10. Do you have any favorite Etsy artists you'd like to promote here?
I like to say thank you to everyone who has welcomed me to in the Etsy and the EAOC community. I greatly appreciate the support and interest. However three who I like to acknowledge are Three Muses, Sedruola Maruska and Urban Knit.

What Can You Do?

Artists of Color is not the only Etsy street team I belong to. Each team has a different theme, however, one thing they all have in common is a view on group participation. This is not intended to point a finger at or chastise anyone. Just a friendly reminder.

The question has come up on several occasions. What can I do to help the team? As business owners I would hope that everyone is pretty busy filling orders. You may think you don't have much time left over to do a lot for the team. You are not asked to do a lot, just a little. Just enough to let the other members know you are still there, show support and promote.

So I decided to compile a list of things that can be done, as suggested by various members. You don't have to do them all. You don't have to do any (but it would be nice lol).

1. Welcome new members
2. Post to the weekly team thread in the Etsy forum
3. Read/post to this blog
4. Read/post to member's blogs (there are many if you like reading blogs :))
5. Create treasuries
6. Click & comment on the treasuries
7. Offer tips on the Ning forum, that may help out another member (promoting, selling, markets, fairs???)

There's so much more, but you get the idea!

Spotlight On ...

Sedruola of Sedruola Maruska's Yarn Obsession!

1. Tell us a little bit about who you are and your life up to this point in time.
I am a First generation, Haitian-American Black woman who is a daughter, wife, mother and friend (among other things). My "day job" is as an Executive Assistant, however, my work is to be my own boss. My life has been filled with a big extended family that I love dearly and the simple things in life. I love a friend or family gathering. I love reading (when I can). I love traveling and learning about other cultures and I love ever improving on the woman I've become.

2. Besides your fantasy creative life, what else are you doing currently?
Besides working with my yarn and expanding into craft shows, consignments and wholesale, I'm working to raise $40,000 for the St. Boniface Haiti Foundation (http://www.haitihealth.org) in honor of my 40th birthday on Sept. 25th of this year. I have been blessed with so much in my life, that I feel if there is something I can do to share that blessing, I will do my best to do it. Right now, those two things take up most of the "extra", if I can call it that, time I have in my life.

3. What do you offer in your Etsy Shop?
I offer knit and crochet accessories as well as vintage buttons. I love to play with yarn and having the shop and doing shows gives me a reason and an opportunity to play with yarn as much as I'd like.

4. Where do you create?
Wherever I am. Because my craft is so portable, I only think of what project I want to carry and wherever I have a few moments I pull out my work and create. My dream is to have a home where I have a room or space where all my supplies are gathered and I have a cushy chair to work in. Until then, I do what I do, wherever I can.

5. Where do you get your inspiration?
Fashion. I look around and all types of fashions and I get inspiration all the time. Unfortunately, my mind and hands can't keep up with my inspiration, but steady as we go, I know I'll soon be offering more than accessories in my shop and around the world.

6. How did you learn how to do your craft?
I met my husband's grandmother in 2001. She was in her late 70's then and she knits, crochets, paints, quilts, beads and makes jewelry. After meeting her I told my husband (then my boyfriend) that we needed to stop at a craft store so I could buy some yarn, a hook and a book because if his 70+ year old grandma can do all those crafts and she raised 8 children, I can certainly learn one. I learned to crochet that year, then in 2002 I decided to learn to knit. I've been doing both ever since!

7. How do you promote your wares?
I'm still a novice, but I have started taking advantage of gift bags that other artists have advertised and sending business cards, I have a blog yarnobsession-2.blogspot.com, I've recently purchase bookmarks that I've created crochet tassles for and will be giving those away at shows, I'm part of two really great street teams, EAOC and Boston Handmade and I talk about what I do as much as I can. Slowly, I think friends, family and those I meet are getting the message.

8. What has been the most important lesson you've learned since you started selling your own creations?
To be true to yourself. As in all things that you do, I've learned that in making an item, it's better to start over as many times as necessary to make it just the way you want it to be, rather than send shabby work. It will always show. Make sure you have integrity when working and giving your word to others and beleive that your work is worth your energy.

9. Is there any advice you can give others who are just starting out?
I can only say that information gathering, whether it be reading, talking, or sharing is the best way to gain more resources, information and positive motivation to get through.

10. Do you have any favorite Etsy artists you'd like to promote here?
I have a lot of Etsy artists that I truly admire so it is very difficult to promote only one. For that very reason I work on promoting one Etsy artist a week on my blog.

Why Did You Join The EAOC Street Team?

We all joined the Artists of Color street team for various reasons. As stated on our Etsy team page, "The group's mission is to establish and maintain a distinctive group presence in the arts world, thereby creating greater opportunities for individual sales." We promote other member's shops as well as our own. The group has gone through changes, lost members and gained members since I joined earlier this year. As of today there are 121 members. That's a lot of folks, a lot of information sharing and a lot of promoting. So, why did you join the Etsy Artists of Color street team? This question was recently posed to members.

Stormee of Stormee Jean and BobbyJoes40 Designs says: "I joined because I was looking for a network of artist to fellowship and bounce ideas and share. I thought that I could get some righteous critiquing for some of my peers. Also to meet other artists of color from other places. Also to offer my expertise where needed. Also to learn more about networking and promoting online."

LouAnn Ingram of LouAnns Designs adds: "I joined to be able to collaborate with other artist of color around the country. How we can be helpful to one another. Seeing all of this talent on EAOC is just amazing, we come from all walks of life. All types of creative juices flow through this team.

I am not computer savvy, so I will be a little slow. Turning 68 young on Aug 23rd, I am eager to learn all that I can but at a slower pace. This is what I expected out of EAOC and I will give back all that I can. I want to have fun too. (lol)

I agree with Stormee about how to be more proficient in marketing, and networking on line."

In addition to promoting and collaborating, the group as a whole has the potential to inspire and motivate its members. Sedruola Maruska of Sedruola Maruska Yarn Obsession says, "I joined because it's always good to connect with others who share you passion for creativity. I joined because it's always good to connect with other people of color to help boost each other up in whatever way we can.

I like being part of a group where everyone has something they're doing to push themselves forward. I joined, because I wanted to help as much as I am helped by the fellowship."

Also sharing their reasons for joining:

Nadyne Bell of Sweet Babies By Sistagirls
"I joined because I love to see how creative we can be and to bounce ideas across the globe! Our talents need to be at the forefront and shared by all. Also it is a way to receive critiques to help in marketing and selling our works. Not only that but you also get to communicate with etsians of color in places that you may have or may not have been able to visit. Keep the communication flowing and best to all!!!!!!!"

Autumn of Seasons of Autumn
"I joined EAOC because I saw an opportunity to network with other artisans and crafters, as well as people of color. I love the idea of being able to share ideas, and receive and give critiques as well.

Like most of the other members, I am looking to learn better networking skills and to share some of my own ideas with the rest of the world. It's also nice to see how others have honed their home and crafting businesses."

Jennifer of Jennifer Price Davis and Gingelime
"Hi there! I joined EAOC to feel connected to a part of the larger community by finding groups that reflect parts of who I am. I value feeling that my whole being has a place on Etsy and I think the EAOC is a part of that."

For whatever reason you joined the team you are among a group of diverse and amazingly talent individuals. As independent crafters we must take advantage of every opportunity to get our names out to the public. You've heard it before but it bears repeating - there is strength in numbers. And as one dedicated team member reminds us, "teamwork makes the dream work!"

Wow! Take A Look September Contests

I have found out about a couple of contests and sales events that will be going on this month, I hope everyone gets a chance to participate in the fun.
First the Ivory Magnolia has a coupon special in her shop. And she has decided to carry out this special until the end of the month. Mmmmm I have ordered her "White Tea and Ginger"
satin body cream and it is so luxurious. What a great time to try her products.
Weekly Coupon: $5 off $15! Save $5 off any order of $15 or more. (discount will be refunded after Paypal checkout). Offer does not apply to shipping.

Sedruola Maruska is stepping up her I'm pushing $40K! event on her blog. Please go to her blog to find out more. Happy birthday Sedruola .