Featured Etsy Shop: susiesplace

Featured Etsy Shop: Susiesplace

1. What is your shop name and what do you sell?
The name of my shop is Susiesplace, I sell custom orders, wedding floral arrangements, wearables, Macrame'd necklaces, Holiday specials and crocheted and sewn items and more..

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

3. What is your blog URL? My Blog URL is = http://homemadeaccessories.blogspot.com/

4. When did you start selling on Etsy? I began my shop on Oct 22, 2007

5. What is your favorite thing about Etsy?
My favorite thing about Etsy is getting to meet others and enjoying there homemade items. And of course shopping!!!

6. What is your favorite thing about what you sell?
My favorite thing about what I sell is I feel a part of me is in my items. I make each one with love hoping someone will buy and give it with love and in return receive love.

7. What is your favorite item in your own shop and why?
My favorite item in my shop is the Bridal Bouquet http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15144541
because I love weddings and enjoy making silk floral arrangements.

8. What teams do you belong to?
I belong to THE Christian Artists Street Team (CAST)

9. What is the most fun thing you do to promote your shop?
The most fun thing I do to promote is going into the forums. I also enjoy talking to locals here in Clay City,Ky. about Etsy inviting them to shop with us.

10. What are some of your favorite finds by other sellers on Etsy?

Some of my favorite finds are ;Playing card and flowers crafting set
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15221926
10x Brass Guitar Charms
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10841147
Clean Laundry Soap Bar
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_1&listing_id=14866687
MACINTOSH APPLE - Bliss Soy 10 oz Premium Jar Candle - http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13212480
Wow there are many items and everyone does such a wonderful job its hard to decide which is a favorite when I would like to have one of each!

11. What do you do in your spare time?
In my spare time I cook and sew and enjoy singing with my sons. They both sing and play guitars and write lyrics. I also enjoy making them a item when I can they are older so it is a challange but I found one thing I made our 16 yr. old seem to love it. A wall quilt of his Jackson Guitar. I enjoy life as a whole and being home with my loving Husband.

12. What blogs do you follow?
I follow this blog I have just began to do the Blog thing so this is it at this time.

13. Do you have anything else you would like to share?
I want to share my thanks to Suzanne blisscandles for featuring my shop here. I truely appreciate it and it is uplifting to me. Also want to thank Vanessa Cengic
Bears Banners & Graphics http://www.bearcengic.etsy.com/ for my Banner she does a wonderful job and is a true Blessing. If you get a chance stop by her shop.

Also if you are ever in Stanton, Ky. visit the Bluegrass Craft and Antique Mall Booth #C41 I have lots of my homemade items and some vintage items in our booth.
Thanks again and May God Bless, Susie:)

Featured Etsy Artist: Elizabeth Graf Fine Art

Featured Etsy Artist: Elizabeth Graf Fine Art

1. What is your shop name and what do you sell? Elizabeth Graf Fine Art. I sell original oil paintings on canvas

2. What is your shop URL? http://www.elizabethgraf.etsy.com/ ORhttp://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5629664

3. What is your blog URL? http://www.elizabethgraf.blogspot.com/(Note: this blog is brand new and I still have to learn how to set it up and actually use it)

4. When did you start selling on Etsy? I started setting up my site on Feb. 17, 2008 and it took me several months to figure it all out, including designing the banner and putting my work on the site. This was during the economic downturn when things were a lot slower (especially sales). I also during this time learned all about treasuries and now do lots of them continuously. My actual first SALE occurred on Sept. 11, 2008.

5. What is your favorite thing about Etsy? Besides designing and posting treasuries and networking through them, the wonderful support I have gotten from other artists and the conviction that I want to make my Etsy selling experience work, so I don't have to leave my studio! I love supporting other artists and when you are networking back and forth and making other artists happy (by putting them in treasuries), there is an excitement to being an "Etsian". It is a very special place and I am glad I found it! I also sometimes send a screenshot of the front page to an artist I recognize or who's work I admire -- just because AND I heart a lot of artists' work and shops, sometimes an artist who hasn't sold yet just to boost them up. I believe in mutual support!Also, what I have learned by looking at other artists' work -- it is priceless! (I sometimes take out old paintings and finish them with new vision).

6. What is your favorite thing about what you sell? My love of color, the texture of the paint and the joy I get while painting them. There is always a new painting on my easel -- I have a huge body of work.

7. What is your favorite item in your own shop and why? The painting "Plumeria the Beautiful" -- it pops out, it is complete and it is colorful and has wonderful texture.

8. What teams do you belong to? The Design Style Guide (search for interiordesignteam), VAST (Visual Artists Street Team) and Gallery United

9. What is the most fun thing you do to promote your shop? Treasuries

10. What are some of your favorite finds by other sellers on Etsy? Painted palm fronds by http://www.srallsmith.etsy.com/ (very unique -- her name is Suzanne too), paintings by Debra Linker, Amy Giacomelli, etc., etc. (the list is very long -- I won't list them all here and if you are not mentioned, don't fret, I like your work too), work by ImagineStudio, painted gourds, all mosaics

11. What do you do in your spare time? Besides work in my studio and read the internet, I garden and for 2 1/2 years have been helping my husband renovate our house -- I do a lot of "men's" work other women would not consider doing.

12. What blogs do you follow? I am not a blog person -- I comment on team forum threads and that is about it. This doesn't mean I won't be one in the future, it is just that I would rather work on another painting rather than deal with blogs BUT I spend a considerable amount of time on Etsy almost every day -- convo'ing people, working on treasuries, putting up new work and adding new pictures to my site, renewing items, etc. I have to admit that I don't understand blogs...I need a crash course.

13. Do you have anything else you would like to share? I have been an artist all my life since I could hold a crayon and I am very persistent in creating my work -- I have never stopped painting! I am always so inspired and it just keeps getting more so -- I feel that I walk around with a glow in my face and eyes because of this.I am very grateful to be an artist because I always have something wonderful to do. Being one also inspires me to collect beautiful objects that appeal to me (right now I am painting a TY brand stuffed red cardinal on light blue cloth that I will put on Etsy in the next day or so). I hope very much that I sell MANY paintings through Etsy -- I have quite a collection and I am always ready to make a deal! Thank you for reading this.

About My Etsy Shops!

About My Etsy Shops!

I had so much fun doing this for another blog, I thought I would put it on my own!

1. What is your shop name and what do you sell? I have two Etsy shops! My main shop is Bliss Soybean Candles and Gifts which sells high end, decorative soy candles in jars, teas, gift sets, and the occasional votive. My other shop, Posies for Lewis, sells photography.

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

3. When did you start selling on Etsy? Back in 2007. I actually gave up after a few months in 2007 and then came back in 2008, learned the “tricks of the trade,” and began to do very well. Posies for Lewis opened in 2008.

4. What is your favorite thing about Etsy? There are so many! Etsy has such a wonderful range of artists. Where else can you go and buy a $2 item or a $2000 item, both of which are fantastic?! I love turning people on to Etsy. From the seller side of things, the buyers are high caliber. I have sold on other sites as well and I just find the experience with Etsy buyers to be top notch! I also love the teams I am on. People are so wonderful and supportive. It is fun to create treasuries, network, blog, and all of that good stuff

5. What is your favorite thing about what you sell? I have to admit I am one of my biggest fans. I have always been a candle addict – especially soy because it is just so much healthier and performs so much better than other waxes. I often tell people if you can’t afford to buy from me, at least promise me you will buy soy. I am so proud of my items because I know the quality is top notch and I love almost every single one of my 140+ fragrances! Sorry…I just can’t stand Patchouli and Clove…not my thingJ I’m all about the food, Fall, and Christmas fragrances making this my favorite time of year! I love to put fun gift sets together and am always keeping my eyes open to see if my suppliers have added any new jars or lids.

6. What is your favorite item in your own shop and why? Oh dear! That’s tough. I LOVE my bigger jars. The Premium 16 oz jars are my fave because of the rusty lids. However, being a candle addict, a girl needs more candle than that so I make the 26 oz for myself! My favorite fragrances are Pumpkin Souffle, Pumpkin Spice, Vanilla Hazelnut Pumpkin, Cozy Home, Cinnamon Buns, Cinnamon Spice, Cool Citrus Basil, Spiced Apple Pecan, Energy, Coconut Bay (new!), Caramelized Pralines, Victorian Christmas, Twigs of Spruce, Balsam and Spice, and Pumpkin Pie. I have several more but those are ones I can’t do without!

7. What teams do you belong to? Etsy West Michigan, Interior Design Team/Design Style Guide, Cruelty Free Etsy, MICE, and Cottage Style. All are wonderful teams!

8. What is the most fun thing you do to promote your shop? I do so many things. I love to comment in Treasuries and create them. I am just never home any more when they open up! I like to talk in the Forums. My new favorite is doing Etsy Shop features on my blog (http://blisscandles.blogspot.com/) and MySpace page. I am always developing promotional materials. I have the best time with this because I create my own stuff and send it off to VistaPrint and it looks like I paid big bucks – too cool! Yes, I am a computer nerd

9. What are some of your favorite finds by other sellers on Etsy? I have so many! I love Serendipity’s stuff – always have: http://anneball.etsy.com/. I found a handbag shop that is way cool: http://daphnenen.etsy.com/. Dennis Anderson is very inspirational and has wonderful products. He has been so successful on Etsy that he quit his job!: http://dennisanderson.etsy.com/.

10. What do you do in your spare time? Ha! I don’t have spare time. I have been making time to go to the beach lately though and it is time to start thinking about raking leaves and cleaning up the yard.

11. Do you have anything else you would like to share? I highly encourage people to shop and sell on Etsy. The sellers and buyers are wonderful and the products are outstanding. If you are a seller, don’t give up. Learn the tricks and eventually it will pay off!