Useful Information For Your Shop

Great post at Everything Esty.

"20 Ways to Promote Your Etsy Shop With Discounts"

Read post here.

25 Common Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs

Do you have what it takes to get through the recession?

Here are the traits that get home based business owners through the hard times.

Read here...

Interview with Diana Corpus

Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Diana and I am a student at Cal State University Fullerton. I am majoring in communications with a minor in anthropology. I work in the retail and fashion industry. I also intern for a magazine.

Where did you learn to craft?
I learned to craft on my own and at school and from friends.

How did you start selling? Where did the idea come from?
I heard about etsy and started selling there, but I have attended craft fairs. I think my items are very unique and I want to share them with the world.












What are your goals? Your inspiration & motivation?
I want to be a respectable working professional. There are so many things I want to do that some I’m doing now. I want to be a writer, photographer and a fashion designer. I can mix these three together easily.

If there is a new craft you could learn, what would it be and why?
I’m currently learning how to crochet. I want to learn silk screening, anyone know how to?

Where do you receive your inspiration, in general?
I receive my inspiration in the streets and from belly dancers and friends.

What is the best advice you have ever received?
Never give up and believe in yourself.

What is your favorite craft/item you have created?
My headband made of antique turkoman buttons, not for sale.



Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I’m a student and I also work.

If you won a thousand dollar craft shopping spree, what would you spend it on?
I would spend it on a serger, thread, needles, fabric, feathers, pens, makers, etc etc!! Everything!


Please add any links here:
http://www.dianacorpus.etsy.com/
http://www.dianacorpus.com/
www.myspace.com/diana_corpus
www.twitter.com/dianacorpus

Interview with Moonflower Jewelry

Tell us a little bit about yourself?
I am a relocated New Mexican living in Southern California. Except for one of the cats, I am the only female with one husband, two sons and three cats total. I have a tendency to be painfully shy, which sometimes makes selling my work rather difficult.



Where did you learn to craft? Where did the idea come from?
I went to art school in my early 20's, and majored in Film/video/performance - I started working in collage/assemblage because San Francisco was a treasure trove of street scores and thrift stores, and I got hooked on working with found objects. But... then I discovered my one true love, sterling silver... although I still have a respectable stash of effluvia for just in case.












How did you start selling?
I began selling at my local farmers market over 5 years ago. It's a weekly gig, and I still do it, although the economy has affected sales. I started selling primarily so I could buy more tools and supplies. I don't sell on ebay any longer, and my only online venue is etsy.

What are your goals?
My goal is to get better at the cabbing, as I have invested quite a bit of money in rough rock. I am not so much inspired as I just love playing with my materials and acquiring more to play with.

If there is a new craft you could learn, what would it be and why?
Aside from cabbing, I'm not too interesting in picking anything else up right now. I get too scattered. I've gone through a papermaking phase, a book making phase, a soap making phase and also a knitting phase. Like I said, I have a prodigious amount of unusual supplies in my hoard from all these things.

…Your inspiration & motivation?
I never can think of what inspires or motivates me. My work has always been a reflection of my person: quirky, rough around the edges, non representational. I like texture and shape and color as a way of getting out of my very verbal and critical head.

Several years ago I made a series of assemblage boxes and gave them to a few friends. I love working silver, but the boxes were an important artistic expression rather than jewelry which is more a craft to me.

I've been a stay at home mom for 15 years, and I am actually looking for a "real" job because the pressure of making a living selling jewelry has squeezed some of the fun out of it.

What is the best advice you have ever received?
"Honor your mistakes as hidden intent."

If you won a thousand dollar craft shopping spree, what would you spend it on?
One good trip to a gem show, give me an hour and that money would be gone so fast on beads and cabs. Except $1k doesn't go far since spot silver went over $10 per troy ounce.



Favorite links:

THE BEST CHOCOLATE on planet Earth is: Guanni Chocolates
My favorite soapers are Kreamy Soaps

Visit Moonflower Jewelry at: Moonflower Jewelry

An Interview with Pink Gingerbread Girl

Getting to know Pink Gingerbread Girl!

Tell us a little bit about yourself?
Where did you learn to craft?
No one taught me.. I have always just loved craft stores and finally messed around with enough stuff I'd picked up over the years and put it to some use!

How did you start selling?
Where did the idea come from?
I started with ebay, then etsy, and now my website. I can't really call it "selling" though, at this point I'm still mostly just "listing". Every once in a while though, even a blind squirrel gets a nut, right? I came up with the idea to make the Ponytail Tree when I finally became fed up with my 2 daughter's tangle of ponytail holders in their bathroom drawers. I couldn't find anything that
would organize and store them so.. I invented what I was looking for!

What are your goals?
My goals are to be a bajillionaire!

…Your inspiration & motivation?
I am inspired and motivated by my 2 daughters. I don't want them growing up thinking their mom was just "there". I want them to remember things I've done or created and be proud of me.

If there is a new craft you could learn, what would it be and why?
I would love to create a new craft, start something that others haven't made yet. As soon as I find out what it is, I'll let you know! And why? So others would want to learn how to make it and there by becoming… you guessed it, a bajillionaire!

Where do you receive you inspiration, in general?
Not sure this answers the question but I'll answer "when" do I receive my inspiration. When I'm walking. I go on loooong walks and carry a pad of paper with me. Everything that pops in my head, I write or draw on my pad.

What is the best advice you have ever received?
Everything I read in The Secret.

What is your favorite craft/item you have created?
The Ponytail Tree Apart from creating things, what do you do? Schlep kids to and from school, laundry, clean, grocery shop...and check my Facebook.

If you won a thousand dollar craft shopping spree, what would you spend it on?
Acrylic paint, fabric, and silk flowers.

Visit :
Pink Gingerbread Girl
http://www.pinkgingerbreadgirl.com/
http://www.pinkgingerbreadgirl.etsy.com/

An great idea for promoting our team...

If everyone can add a team members etsy shop somewhere in their profile or announcement, we can form a team shop chain. Which would be a great way to promote each other and may it easy for people to look through our team shops. We can discuss it more in yahoo group, but here is the link to read more about.

http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/team-tip-form-a-shop-chain-2161/


And we'll start planning it out in yahoo.

Etsy Now Facebook Friendly

You can now post your Etsy mini on Facebook.

Read how here.