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: Alphabet Hill

Featured Etsy Artist: Alphabet Hill

1. What is your shop name and what do you sell? My shop is called, The Alphabet Hill. We specialize in custom alphabet photo keepsakes. Photographs are taken of architecture, nature, and everyday life and resemble the letters of the alphabet.

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

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

4. When did you start selling on Etsy? I started selling on Etsy on Labor Day 2008. Pretty ironic, isn't it?

5. What is your favorite thing about Etsy? My favorite thing about Etsy are the forums. I have learned so much from talking with and bouncing ideas off of other sellers.

6. What is your favorite thing about what you sell? The best part of what I sell is that it every piece of artwork is customized. I have never created the same piece twice and that makes it so meaningful for me.

7. What is your favorite item in your own shop and why? My favorite item in my shop is the custom black and white framed alphabet keepsake. I really like the way the framed pieces look the best and the black frame that I use is gorgeous.

8. What teams do you belong to? I have just recently applied to the Etsy Moms..and I am looking for a Michigan team that is a little closer to me in Metro Detroit.

9. What is the most fun thing you do to promote your shop? The best thing I do to promote my shop is to pass out business cards and sell at local craft shows. I love talking to my customers and recommending Etsy to people.

10. What are some of your favorite finds by other sellers on Etsy? A few of my favorites are...YUMMYBUBBLEGUM's necklaces, OKTAK'S handbags, and of course Suzanne's BLISS CANDLES, the three-layer jars are on my "want to buy" list.

11. What do you do in your spare time? In my "spare time", I am the mother to three boys, ages 8, 3, and 2. My "real" jobs are a first-grade teacher and volleyball coach.

12. What blogs do you follow? I am pretty new to the blogging world...I still am trying to figure out how to find people out there. Come find me and I will follow you! :)

13. Do you have anything else you would like to share? Thank you so much for reading! And thanks to Suzanne for featuring me, be sure and visit both of our shops. http://www.blisscandles.etsy.com/ and http://www.thealphabethill.etsy.com/.

Featured Etsy Artist: LoriMirabelli

Featured Etsy Artist: LoriMirabelli

1. What is your shop name and what do you sell?

My Shop name is LoriMirabelli (Mirabelli's Gallery). I sell contemporary abstract paintings.

2. What is your shop URL?

http://www.lorimirabelli.etsy.com/

3. What is your blog URL?

I'm currently not blogging at this time.

4. When did you start selling on Etsy?

I first joined Etsy on January 16, 2008, but I didn't really list anything until January 28, 2008. I spent the first two weeks looking around and getting to know the site. Within two weeks I sold my first painting, and I can't even begin to express my excitement. Within in the next few weeks, I sold a few more and at present I'm selling 3 to 5 paintings a week. It has been an amazing experience and a busy one too. I've sold 157 paintings to date. Some times I pinch myself just to see if it's all been a dream!

5. What is your favorite thing about Etsy?

Etsy is an amazing site. It is unlike any other site that I have found. Both the sellers and the customers are amazing. It is such a warm and friendly place to sell and buy. I've had so many emails from other sellers welcoming me to Etsy and wishing me the best of success. From that point on I was hooked. Every time I glaze at other sellers stores, I feel like I just took a stroll down a street at dust in the most beautiful quaint little artsy town.

6. What is your favorite thing about what you sell?

I love art and everything about it. I'm particularly drawn to painting and the use of acrylics. It never ceases to amaze me when I lay that first brush stroke on the canvas. The bright crisp colors gently placed on the canvas eventually develop into a work of art and before I know it hours have passed me by.

7. What is your favorite item in your own shop and why?

The new series that I'm currently working is called Across the Nation. I have to say that this is my favorite series to date. It symbolizes my desire to travel and explore art in other countries. Currently I'm saving for a trip to Europe and plan on traveling in the late spring of next year.

8. What teams do you belong to?

I currently belong to Design Style Guide and Mesty.

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

I'm not sure I can say promoting is fun at this time.. lol It's a lot of hard work and late nights. I try to promote my shop every where I go. I post on Flickr.com and EBSQ. I'm currently working on my first art exhibit; it's scheduled for Oct 9 - Nov 3 at Loplops Gallery in Sault Ste. Marie. It's been tuff working on show pieces as well as ensuring I still have new and fresh pieces of work at my shop. It's definitely been all worth it and I owe it to many of the Etsians out there who sent me their encouraging words. Thank you so much!

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

Oh Gosh!!!! Where do I even begin.there are so many.

There are two that stand out in my mind one is called sprucehome.etsy.com Their shop is filled with retro furniture. I just love there taste and style. One day I might just be able to afford a piece from their shop!

The other is RozArt.etsy.com. She has a series called Leap LOVE IT!!!


11. What do you do in your spare time?

Currently I have very little spare time. I work full time at Chid Protective Service and paint nearly every night and weekend. But when I need to take a break from it all, I get together with friends. I also have an English Mastiff that I hang with as often as possible. He's my side kick and every where I go, he goes. Literally lol.

12. What blogs do you follow?

I'm currently following the Interiordesignteam blog. It's very informative and they are great at helping promote Etsy. Thanks Team!!

13. Do you have anything else you would like to share?

It's taking me 37 years!!! But I'm finally living my dream. Thanks Etsy!!

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.