Etsy Artist Feature: IllusionsbyDonna

1. What is your business name and website/shop URL? What do you create?

http://www.1000markets.com/users/13070

http://www.etsy.com/shop/IllusionsbyDonna

http://www.artfire.com/users/Illusions

I create one of a kind knits and jewelry.

2. What is the theme or idea behind your website/shop?

In early 2007 I spent 3 mos in Maine painting a house for a friend. The house was mostly empty, so to give me something to do I decided I would try some knitting. I quickly became pretty much obsessed with it. Upon my return home to Indiana my best friend twisted my arm into making some jewelry. By the Fall of that year I was selling knits and jewelry to friends. I became involved with Ravelry and met a local woman on there who encouraged me to open an Etsy store and become involved with our local Farmers Market. After a few months I opened stores on 1000 Markets and Artfire also.

3. What makes your items unique?
I have a background in art and as a decorative painter so color is my life. I get a lot of compliments on my color choices. Trying to do most things one of a kind keeps me looking for fresh ideas. I love making things that no one else has.

4. What is your favorite item on your website or in your shop right now?
I made the Horsey Hat as a special order for a girl I was working with one evening. I love the way it turned out. She was ecstatic! In jewelry, the Organic Leaf earrings are one of my favorites. They are very simple and pretty. I’ve been very surprise that they haven’t sold. I made a pair of earrings for my daughter on those ear posts and she gets a lot of compliments on them.

5. What teams do you belong to? How do we search for their items?
On Etsy I belong to the INCrowd team. Items can be found by putting the tag incrowdteam in the search box.

6. What is your favorite thing about handmade items?
Finding things that are one of a kind and knowing that someone put a piece of themselves into each piece.

7. Do you have any favorite finds by other handmade artists?

Omigosh! There are so many. I get the Etsy Finds emails and I’m constantly finding things that make me go WOW!! The creativity that I see is just amazing. Some things I see I just would never have thought of myself.

8. Do you have anything else you would like to share? Other links?

One of my hats was featured in a handmade blog called Meylah for green things having to do with St Patricks Day. That is the first time I’ve ever been asked to do anything like this so it is pretty exciting for me.

http://meylah.com/blog/212/Going-Green-8-Products-to-Celebrate-St-Patricks-Day

Now Carrying Bliss Candles! The Peacock Main Street Boutique

The Peacock Main Street Boutique Opens in Downtown Sevierville

Sevierville, TN, February 18, 2010 - A new boutique has opened its doors in downtown Sevierville. The Peacock, located in the historic Christopher House at 213 East Main Street, opened earlier this month. The boutique features home décor and furnishings, as well as a bountiful array of gifts for every occasion. Unique offerings such as locally made jewelry and art, as well as an apothecary brimming with organic herbs for custom blends of bath salts and sachets are featured at The Peacock Main Street Boutique.

Browsers will find an inviting shopping environment with goods for garden and patio, the modern or retro kitchen, fun clothes, accessories and jewelry, books and cards, plus the store touts one-of-a-kind handpicked furniture just in time for spring redecorating. Store owner, Meleah McMahan, states she wants The Peacock to be “just like coming home,” a place where customers can take a little time out for themselves and enjoy the cozy atmosphere of the store while sipping a complimentary cup of hot tea. “People have been so impressed with the new look and feel inside the house” says McMahan. The new store kitten, “Chat,” named for the French word for cat, seems to enjoy her new home as well and can be seen darting throughout the store with her catnip toy from The Peacock Apothecary.

The Peacock will be celebrating their Grand Opening March 18 - March 20, 2010, which culminates on the first day of Spring. During the Grand Opening, onlookers and well-wishers will also be able to view the upstairs, newly renovated to accommodate classrooms and a meeting room. The upstairs of The Peacock will be open for yoga and pilates classes, as well as a meeting space for book clubs, moms groups and whatever else the community has a need. “We are really wanting feedback from locals, regarding what kind of classes they’d like to see at The Peacock, “ says McMahan.

The Peacock is open every day but Sunday from 11:00am until 5:30pm with extended hours until 7:00pm on Thursday and Friday. To contact the store or to sign up for classes, call Meleah McMahan at (865) 365-5555.

The Peacock Main Street Boutique can be found online at www.prettypeacockboutique.com or through their Facebook Fan Page.