Cheerleading

We went to Target today to get some Eggo waffles because our coupons for them were expiring, also because they are delicious.  (Jessica is an avid coupon-er/ money saver, she has many smiles one of her smiles is reserved only for saving money and clipping coupons.)

During pic taking

While walking in to Target we walked in to the dollar section and noticed they had dog costumes for Halloween.  Devil horns and angel wings for Red, easy pick!  Ellie on the other hand we had a dilemma, cheer leading costume or referee outfit?  We both instantly knew that Ellie is just too butch to have a cheerleaders costume.  Did we choose wisely?  Whatever, I know my dog and she is NO cheer leader. 

After pictures

I need quotes people!

4pm came too fast today, we rushed to get all the packaging finished, and I was at the post office by 4:58pm (I was the last one in).  More keychains and bracelets going out today!

Keep Calm & Carry On

Any ideas for new quotes to be put on keychains, bracelets, pumpkins, butterflies, scalloped circles, stars, or hearts would be much appreciated.  I am constantly quoting things (quizzing Jessica) all day long, but it seems like when I sit down to try to think of a good quote for a key chain I got nothing!

Red snoring tells me its time to go out to the very disorganized workshop to start creating for the morn. 

I (Brian) have commandeered this blog.  I now work full time with/ for my wife (well I say for she says with).  I must say my wife is an absolute genius.  This little one person company that she made has tumbled into a full on factory/ sweatshop.

Here is our daily routine:  -> wake up-> eat breakfast-> print out orders for the day-> start stamping-> post more product on Etsy-> ink, bend, put on key chains-> print shipping labels-> package-> drive 90 mph to the post office-> eat dinner- cut metal-> reply to conversations and emails-> go to bed.  

After looking at this list my lovely wife responded, "You don't do any of this."  To which I can only say one thing, "someone has to watch the dogs."     

Featured Seller: Lanamarenco

Today's Featured Etsy Seller is Lana from Lanamarenco.

Lanamarenco features gorgeous handmade jewelry. Her PMC and Porcelain pieces are exquisite!

Porcelain and Hammered Silver Earrings

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you started your craft. I grew up in San Francisco and attended the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA and majored in Studio Art, concentrating in photography and ceramics.  For the past few years I have worked at a paint your own pottery studio in Berkeley, CA.  During the past 2 years I found ways to continue with pottery, learning to do what I love without throwing on the potter's wheel, I also discovered PMC (precious metal clay).  I've been focusing on combining the two media and I think I have found what I was looking for my whole life: making jewelry.  I was recently laid off and though that sucks, the past week has given me the free time to start my Etsy shop and really start my business.  Now, I'm looking for ways to promote my work.


Besides crafting, what do you like to do.  I have a puppy whom I love to train and play with.  Since I got him, I go on a lot of walks and just love getting out into the sun and enjoy all that the outside offers. Not to mention that the outdoors fuels my creativity as I love floral and organic shapes.

How do you promote your work. I am trying to get to know other Etsy sellers through the online chats and the forums.  I also have myself posted on my blog, website and Facebook.  All my friends share my etsy links with their friends.  Word of mouth has always been a great way of doing things.  I have bought a couple of spots in the jewelry and ceramics showcase.

Name your top five books, movies, TV shows, musicians, or websites.   DreamGirls (movie/musical), Michael Crawford (singer), Christa Assad (ceramic artist), Whitney Smith (ceramic artist who sells on Etsy), Ansel Adams (photographer), craigslist.org

What's next for you and your shop? I am currently look for a job, until then, I am focused on my etsy shop. Improving it by talking to other etsy sellers, promoting my work through other people I know in the field.  Trying to improve what I make and create something everyone would want to have!



Thank you so much for your time, I really appreciate it.

~Lana

Thank you Lana for sharing with us! I wish you tons of luck and success!

Lana has great presence on the web - please check her out at her
Etsy Shop http://lanamarenco.etsy.com
Website   www.lanamarenco.com
Blog lanamarenco.blogspot.com
Facebook Page www.facebook.com/pages/Marenco-Art-Studios/148566765182523?ref=ts

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Featured Seller: Heroicbeer

Kathy from http//heroicbeer.etsy.com hails from my home state, California. (Ah how I miss California weather!) Her shop, Heroicbeer, offers amazing fine art photography prints.

Lantern - 8x10 Photo Print

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I'm in my late twenties and love taking photos. It's my creative outlet and it's a great excuse for me to go on a long drive and see something new!

How did you start your craft?
I've been taking photos since I was a little girl with a disc camera. I have my parents to thank for sparking my interest in photography - they were both hobby photographers.

Besides creating, what do you like to do?
When I'm not out on a photo adventure, I'm working on iPhone apps, playing with my cat Jihad, or baking something sweet.

How do you promote your work?
I keep a Facebook page at  http://www.facebook.com/heroicbeer and like to make new friends in the ever-active Etsy forums.

Name your top five books, movies, TV shows, musicians, or websites. 
My top 5 musicians:
Pavement
X (Los Angeles)
Smashing Pumpkins
Low
Yo La Tengo

What's next for you and your shop?
I'm moving to Los Angeles soon for work and fun. The change in scenery will no doubt inspire me and my camera lens!

Happy Sales Kathy!

Embarrassing bathtime photos!

Oh the shame!

In an effort to save a little cash, I have started to regularly groom our dog myself. Manned with clippers, a shaver, some shamp, and my husband, the whole ordeal takes about 30 minutes. This is record time considering I once cut and washed my MILs collie and it took 2 hours!!!

It never ceases to crack me up that when you add water, our poodle terrier furball turns into a cross between a rat and a squirrel.







Thought I'd share. :D

Can't you tell she secretly loves it.

Featured Seller: Squidooink/Somewearintyme

Thank you to everyone that checked out my new Featured Seller’s Featurettes and filled out a questionaire. I am so surprised at the response and I am so happy to be able to spread some creativity around!

If you would like a featurette and have an online shop, be it Etsy, Artfire, Dawanda, etc, check out becoming a Featured Seller!

On to my very first Featured Seller.....

From the Etsy community, we have Jen!

She is a busy lady with not one but two shops - Squidooink, where you will find a ton of assorted crafts and destash, and Somewear In Tyme, carrying delicate times past inspired jewelry/vintage items.

Here are Jen’s favorite items from her two shops: 

On A Wing steampunk earrings - SomewhereinTyme

I love the length and how it has wings and clock pieces in it.  Its so unusual looking to me

Giraffe says Love - Baby congratulations card - Squidooink

 I've always loved giraffe's and had to incorporate one in my shop somewhere :)” Me too! I hear giraffes and foxes are next!

Tell us a bit about yourself.  I'm terribly at these so here it goes.  I am as some tell me a "crafty oozing out of my pores" type girl.  I am always making new items, or writing, or reading.  Always doing something creative and sometimes I sleep.  My two shops kinda opened by chance I think, I never really intended to actually sell my work.  Shortly after being forced to move and having my heart broken I open Somewear in Tyme.  I don't think it would have ever opened if I hadn't had that happen to me.  Squidooink was created way before Somewear In Tyme but after I learned how to make jewelery. 

How did you start your craft?  I learned jewelry in high school and kept at it, ripping apart anything I could find and making it into jewelry.  Then a friend of mind got me into paper crafting, the rest is history ;) shortly after that I wanted to learn how to knit so I taught myself.

Besides creating, what do you like to do? Read and write my own stories, I would love to have a story of mine published one day.

How do you promote your work? The etsy forums, anyone I met, I wear my work, or offer crafting services to anyone, spread my moo cards everywhere

Name your top five books, movies, TV shows, musicians, or websites. 

Books:
 InkHeart - Cornelia Funke
East - Edith Pattou
Lord of the rings trilogy - J.R.R Tolkien
I"m assuming that trilogy uses all 5 slots

Movies:
Penelope
Enchanted
Legend
Phantom of the Opera
moulin Rouge

Tv Shows
Bones
White Collar
Lie to me
Eureka
Warehouse 13

Music
The rasmus <3
Evanescence
Three Days Grace
Florence and the Machine
The Kin

What's next for you and your shop? Grow expand, make new unique items.  Make more cards, since I haven't done that in awhile, as for jewelry I'm trying out the domino/ picture frame pieces and enjoying that.   I'm hoping to show case my work in a market next year!

Thank You!
Jen

Happy sales to you Jen! I hope everyone takes some tyme to check her out.