Featured Etsy Artist: Sugar Village

Featured Etsy Artist: Sugar Village

1. What is your shop name and what do you sell?
Sugar Village. I sell small, original watercolor paintings.

2. What is your shop URL?
http://www.sugarvillage.etsy.com/

3. What is your blog URL?
http://wanderingnancy.blogspot.com/

4. When did you start selling on Etsy?
October 22, 2008

5. What is your favorite thing about Etsy?
That it's a place to find unique, one of a kind, handmade items. The community is also very nice and helpful.

6. What is your favorite thing about what you sell?
The process. I love coming up with new ideas and imagining what the creatures of Sugar Village would be doing.

7. What is your favorite item in your own shop and why?
My Giraffe and Flowers piece (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16513239) because it was the painting that made me realize I wanted to continue to make these little paintings and share them with other people. So it was basically the first Sugar Village resident.

8. What teams do you belong to?
None at the moment

9. What is the most fun thing you do to promote your shop?
I created my own business cards and I have mailed a few to other Etsy members that offered to promote. I also have Twitter, Myspace, Facebook and Flickr accounts, as well as my personal blog.

10. What are some of your favorite finds by other sellers on Etsy?
Vintage cameras by Domistikate http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5363986
The animal portraits of BerkleyIllustration http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5404421
The feminine necklaces by RachelleD http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5139840

11. What do you do in your spare time?
Photography, bake and spend time with my geeky husband and weird sheltie.

12. What blogs do you follow?
I follow many blogs! Just to name a few favorites are:
http://bread-and-honey.blogspot.com/
http://decor8blog.com/
http://prettyinthecity.blogspot.com/

13. Do you have anything else you would like to share?
Nope, just thank you!

Featured Etsy Artist: Lauren Alexander

Featured Etsy Artist: Lauren Alexander

1. What is your shop name and what do you sell?
My shop is LaurenAlexander and I sell my original paintings, prints, and more!

2. What is your shop URL?
http://laurenalexander.etsy.com/

3. What is your blog URL?
http://laurenalexanderart.blogspot.com/

4. When did you start selling on Etsy?
I joined Etsy in May 2006 and sold my first painting that October. I didn't become serious about selling until January 2008.

5. What is your favorite thing about Etsy?
I love the spirit of Etsy. I love that we are a community of handmade business people, creating with our own unique ideas, running our shops with integrity and personality.

6. What is your favorite thing about what you sell?
My favorite thing about what I sell is that painting comes very naturally to me; I seem to have an endless supply of ideas, colors, and designs. Painting small allows me the ease of selling at affordable prices too, which keeps me in business!

7. What is your favorite item in your own shop and why?
Oh, that's a tough one! I have so many favorites. Right now, I am in LOVE with my new calendars. Here is the link: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16808803

8. What teams do you belong to?
I am a member of Etsy's Watercolor Works

9. What is the most fun thing you do to promote your shop?
I love to put surprises in my packages. So if someone is kind enough to shop in my store, I like to reward them with more Lauren Alexander goodies, like stickers or something. I've had really positive feedback about that.

10. What are some of your favorite finds by other sellers on Etsy?
There are soooo many! I can't even look at all the great jewelry artists. And then there are the great candle, soap, and clothing makers! If I could I'd buy from every person in my favorites.

11. What do you do in your spare time?
What is "spare time"? Just kidding! I love music. I like to go see live music, make my one mixes on cds, and generally just dream about joining a band and travelling everywhere.

12. What blogs do you follow?
I like to read the blogs of the people that read my blog! I like developing friendships and trusting relationships with other sellers on Etsy.

13. Do you have anything else you would like to share? I would just want to share that I happy and humbled to have been fortunate enough to create things people want to own! I think I'm a generally happy and helpful person and when you are running your own business you have to enjoy making people happy, not just yourself.

Featured Etsy Shop: Karen Faulkner Art

Featured Etsy Shop: Karen Faulkner Art

1. What is your shop name and what do you sell? karenfaulknerart, original contemporary watercolors--specializing in abstract flowers

2. What is your shop URL? http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5237883

3. What is your blog URL? http://karenfaulknerart.blogspot.com/

4. When did you start selling on Etsy? July 2007

5. What is your favorite thing about Etsy? It is easy to set up shop and I don't have to deal with the hassle of maintaining my own site.

6. What is your favorite thing about what you sell? Part of me goes into every painting that I do and then goes out into the world!

7. What is your favorite item in your own shop and why? Right now it is Gourd Love.
I painted it for the Watercolor Works September challenge. I usually paint flowers, so this involved stepping out of my comfort zone since we all had to work from the same set of three photos. I love how I was able to put emotion into a couple of vegetables through artistic license.

8. What teams do you belong to? Watercolor Works, VAST and Acetsy (ACEO)

9. What is the most fun thing you do to promote your shop? blogging; I enjoy it much more than I thought I would. It's great to have a place to put new work when it's barely even dried, and I like being able to give some background on what inspires me.

10. What are some of your favorite finds by other sellers on Etsy? Lauren Alexander's watercolor ACEOs, Bear Creek Pottery tea bowls, Keys and Memories typewriter key necklace, North Star Alpaca yarn and Lava jewelry. Oh, and pixelcafe for my banner and avatar!

11. What do you do in your spare time? Paint! Enjoy the outdoors. And spend time with my two children and dog.

12. What blogs do you follow? Lauren Alexander, Christy Dekoning, Lily Pang, printmakerjenn, sooziebee, VieiraGirl

13. Do you have anything else you would like to share? I am so blessed to be able to do what I love and share it with people all over the world through Etsy and my blog.

Featured Etsy Shop: monicaj

Featured Etsy Shop: monicaj





1. My shop name is monicaj and I sell artwork mostly.

2. You can find me at: http://www.monicaj.etsy.com/ I also have a jewelry shop at: http://www.monicajtwo.com/

3. I've had my shop for a little over and year now.

4. There are a lot of things I love about Etsy, hmm, let's see I think my favorite thing about Etsy has to be all the friends that I have made. I am rather addicted to making treasuries, it's so much fun and a great place to socialize. And the people I've met are so nice and friendly.

5. My favorite thing about what I sell is that I am living my dream. I have so many things that I want to create and to sell what I love to do...well, that's my dream job!

6. My favorite item in my shop right now is the World of Flowers in light periwinkle. The colors in the background are very light, its hard to capture the true beauty in a photo.

7. I actually do not belong to any teams, I am not sure why. There are so many that I think I am not sure where to go. This is on my list of things to do.

8. As far as a fun way to promote my shop I have recently purchased buttons from http://www.pipinghotpapers.etsy.com/ with my painting and website on them and it has been fun to give them out. I also have a blog: http://etsylove.ning.com/profile/TheDrawingRoomwithMonicaj?viewAsOther=1

9. Oh, I have a lot of favorites. Where do I begin?
I love DrikaB bags. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15167888
And MichelleMoode's artwork. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15153896
Fray's scarves. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15017490
LeiLiLaLoo's work. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14658015
Elleabelle jewelry. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12666687
Hondamom's bags. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14582804
If I had a little on to buy for it would be humblebea’s dress.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13931657
This dress by kitkitdodge is lovely. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11961662

I could go on and on if you would like to see my complete list of favorites it is in my shop.

10. In my spare time I, well. hmm I was going to say I make jewelry. I guess that would considered work but it is another passion of mine. I love spending time with my family. And enjoy doing pilates and yoga. I am a member of a handmade card club. And recently have had rubber stamps made with some of my artwork.

11. I would like to say Thank you to Suzanne. I am truly honored to have this opportunity, you have brightened my day. Your shop is lovely!

Etsy Shop Feature: Sidheforest

Featured Etsy Shop: Sidheforest

What is your shop name and what do you sell?
My shop name is Sidheforest. And I sell Surreal and Fantasy Paintings in Acrylic, Watercolor and Ink.

What is your shop URL?
http://www.sidheforest.etsy.com

When did you start selling on Etsy?
I joined Etsy in March of this year as a buyer, and began selling this summer.

What is your favorite thing about Etsy?
Oh man! The Talent! Gobs and Gobs of Talent. I was astonished by the sheer spectrum of items I could get expertly made, by the individual who made them!

What is your favorite thing about what you sell?
I get to create my own Universe. I am an Artist. I live with paint in my hair and on my nails. And, I own one dress with no paint on it. ( For now...LOL) So the fact that I can paint all day, then sell what I love keeps me grinning from ear to ear.

What is your favorite item in your own shop and why?
My Favorite item is actually not in my store at the moment. "In the Beginning" . This one will be in the Etsy CO-OP Craft Ad in Nov. and will go on sale Oct 20 th. It can be seen on my EBSQ art page and the Sidheforest Fan site on Facebook. I love this painting because it was the first painting I did the way I wanted, in the colors I wanted, in the style I wanted, and turned out the way I wanted. As an artist I believe that "self" being a part of the art is what sets different artists apart. And "In the Beginning" was when I began to discover my own path.

What teams do you belong to?
I am not on any Etsy teams yet, I've been a bit shy. But, I think I should change that and find myself a team of two to join. Any suggestions? hehe

What is the most fun thing you do to promote your shop?
Bragging about how cool Etsy is. Too many people have not heard of Etsy and I love spreading the word. I am also absolutely head over heels for my Moo cards. But, my biggest fun promoting myself is learning to have confidence in me and my work, so that I can talk about it with others.

What are some of your favorite finds by other sellers on Etsy?
Ok, I can so tell you about my favorites. I will try to make it a short list.
idea2lifestyle.etsy.com , bravegrrl.etsy.com are two of my favorite clothing stops!
oh, and elfland.etsy.com

then of course there's..... figurka.etys.com, buildersstudio.etsy.com, jodieflowers.etsy.com,
And obsoleteworld.etsy.com is one of my most favorite artist on Etsy!

What do you do in your spare time?
This is so easy! Reading, Reading, Reading....LOL I am an avid reader and go through books like potato chips. Early onset Rheumatoid Arthritis has taken away most of my gardening, but not yard sales, building a library, painting, and reading! Oh...and I will bashfully admit to being a bit of a facebook addict. hehe

Do you have anything else you would like to share?
Thank you so much for helping create a wonderful day.