Mortar & Pestle

Garden 2010

2010-04-01T09:43:00.001-07:00

We got our garden in the ground yesterday. Well, the vegetable part, and most of them. I sank into the mud halfway up my calf as I struggled to plant my seeds. It was too wet to plant some of my root vegetables that have to have finer soil, so those didn't get planted. And Anna's sunflowers didn't get planted because they were at the end of the garden that was still under about three inches of standing water. I will take pictures throughout the year as things progress and grow. We (my dad and I) tried a couple of new plants this year that we've never grown before. We are trying broccoli, which to be honest, I didn't even know what the plant looked like before I carried the flat to the garden. We are also trying Serrano Chili Peppers. I'll have to be really careful when harvesting and working around them to make sure I don't transfer any of the capsaicin oil to Anna's skin.

We planted our herb seedlings today. They can't go outside for another month because of the big dip in temperatures that are still occurring at night, but they'll be ready for their pots by the time the temperature evens out.

Other than that, today has been a quiet day. I've written out a few more recipes that may be fairly tasty that I need to taste test, but that's just about it. I'll keep you updated with garden pictures and process pictures as we go. :o)

Bad, I'm Really Bad

2010-03-30T04:42:00.001-07:00

I'm sorry. I was sidetracked with the upcoming holidays, then I just never got back in here to post anything. I really think my mind went on vacation for a few months. However, I do have a few things to update.

Our upcoming season has started off fairly well. I have replenished the grill rub and dip supply, and they are packaged and ready to go to the Farmer's Market with my father this year. I have a few soups that are ready to be mixed and packaged as soon as the "soup season" gets here. And, starting this week, I'll have a rather large garden planted at my grandpa's house filled with my fruits and vegetables for Mortar & Pestle, and my balcony will be teeming with many containers of herbs for Mortar & Pestle. Any extra fresh produce will go to the market every other day with my dad. This includes fruit, vegetables, and herbs.

My Artfire shop (http://mortarandpestle.artfire.com) is estimated for a grand opening around July/August this year. This is all dependent on how well my stuff does at the market this year and if any other income comes in that I can use a little from to buy a few presentational items. (Better packaging, photograph props, equipment, etc.)

Further good news is that my husband and I found out that I am pregnant again just a few weeks ago. I'm due approximately November 4th. We won't have a definite date until we have our ultrasound in another couple of weeks, but that is the doctor's best estimate on when I will be due. So, Anna will be getting a younger brother or sister around Christmas. :o) All of the grandparents are thrilled, as is Sam, so it's all good. I will just have to be really careful while I'm in the garden this summer not to get too hot or lift anything too heavy.

Calling All Artists: Repost

2009-11-06T07:18:00.000-08:00

Starting in August 2009, I began to feature an artist a week from either any online selling venue. I only asked that they be handmade and homegrown sellers. The featured artists were presented in the order in which I receive this questionnaire from them. Also, along with a post about their shop, their smaller Etsy Mini or Artfire Shop Window remained in my sidebar for the entire week, and the larger Etsy Mini and Artfire Shop Window code they provided was attached to the end of their blog entry, permanently. Each blog entry was submitted to MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter via my personal and business profiles. (If your venue is not specifically spoken about above, still submit your questionnaire and any kind of shop window code that your venue supplies, if any. I will feature you, but if there is a code error, I will not be able to fix the code on my own. If your code is not on your feature when it is published, please check your mailbox and respond to my email.)

I'm asking again for more artists who are interested in a little free publicity. Below in the questionnaire. Please copy and paste it into an email, answer all the questions, and submit it to mortarnpestle@hotmail.com. November 13, 2009 is the first open Friday for a feature. The second person to submit the questionnaire to me will receive the following Friday, and so on. Your spot is chosen on a first come, first served basis, so please, send your questionnaire to me as soon as possible if you want to be promoted before the big holiday season.

Feel free also to submit the Featured Artist entries along your social networking channels. The more people who submit it, the more people that will see it and possibly purchase from the shops.

============================

[ Please provide a short biography about yourself/your shop. Also include a link to an item in your shop that you would like featured at the beginning of this entry.]

1. When and why did you start crafting?

2. What do you enjoy most about your crafting?

3. How did you find out about your selling venue and why did you start selling there?

4. What is the hardest thing to do for your shop or you dislike the most about selling online?

5. Do you rely on your selling venue to help pay bills or is it mainly for fun & extra spending money?

6. Have you tried or do you sell in offline shops? Do you enjoy that more or less than your selling venue & why?

7. Where else can you be found online?

Please include the following code(s) for your shop with your response:

Artfire:

1 x 5 Artfire Shop Window (for sidebar)
3 x 2 Artfire Shop Window (for blog post)

Etsy:

2 x 4 Thumbnail Etsy Mini
2 x 3 Gallery Etsy Mini

If you are not on these two, but your venue does have a shop window, please submit your code. If it does not fit my margins, I will send you an email as soon as I can to determine if the problem can be remedied or not. If it can't, I will "create my own" shop window at the bottom your entry pointing directly to your shop. If this is not okay with you, please let me know.

(You may include codes for all your venues, if you wish.)

Featured Artist: Tadd Hardy of Hawkwolf's Armory and Accoutrements

2009-11-06T07:08:00.000-08:00

Hello! My name is Tadd Hardy, and I'm the artist behind Hawkwolf's Armory and Accoutrements.
I've loved anything remotely medieval since I was very young, my lovely wife is the same way! We enjoy attending rennaisance faires, watching fantasy movies, and for the last ten years, making really special chain maille jewelry, accessories, and more.
Link:

1. When and why did you start crafting?

At first, it was just for myself and my wife, I thought it would be fun to make some accessories for our ren faire outfits. Soon after that, our friend from work saw my wife's headdress and ordered one for her medieval handfasting (wedding). Then people saw my stuff at the wedding and asked her where she got it! Kinda a big word of mouth thing.... By then I was hooked on maille, and how can you buy more supplies if you don't sell something once in a while? :D I started in 1999 and have been going strong ever since!

2. What do you enjoy most about your crafting?

Having people you've never even met want your handmade work is really exciting to me. And being able to work with people and make their dreams come true with a customized piece just for them is a lot of fun too. It's like they have the only piece like it in the world! Oh yeah, getting paid is nice, too..... :P

3. How did you find out about your selling venue and why did you start selling there?

At first it was just my website in '93, then later I started hearing about selling venues like Etsy and artfire. I sell on multiple venues, just getting my name out there as much as possible. I even had limited success on Ebay for a while, I've tried quite a few....I still use quite a few!

4. What is the hardest thing to do for your shop or you dislike the most about selling online?

Getting your name out there! It's a never ending thing, trying to advertise on every pertinent space about your product. It seems to be working, and it seems the longer I've been on the web, the more people are able to find me. Maybe it's working? I always get that little twinge of fear when I send something out to a person I've never really met or even seen, hoping the size is right, or that the piece is everything the customer hoped it would be. Actually I think that helps me, I pay extra attention to little details, I want everything to be perfect for the person receiving my wares.

5. Do you rely on your selling venue to help pay bills or is it mainly for fun & extra spending money?

It helps pay the bills, but mostly it feeds my addiction! (my chain maille, silly!)

6. Have you tried or do you sell in offline shops? Do you enjoy that more or less than your selling venue & why?

Yes, I do a few art shows and faires every year, some in spring and some in fall. I had a lot of my stuff in a local shop (with a nice fan base too!), but unfortunately with the recent economy troubles, they had to close thier doors.
I enjoy both for different reasons, I'm really not sure if I enjoy one more than the other, though? I love offline selling to see how my things look on many different people, the smiling faces, shaking hands with someone after a sale, the kids (and adults) that say 'You made that? Wow!'. On the other hand, I can't imagine another way to get my jewelry and items into the hands of someone in Alaska, or Utah, or Paris, London, or Germany than online. The internet just opens so many doors that aren't available otherwise.

7. Where else can you be found online?

http://www.hawkwolfs.com
http://hawkwolf.etsy.com
http://www.artfire.com/users/Hawkwolf
http://maillemarket.com/
http://www.1000markets.com/users/hawkwolf

Visit Hawkwolf's ArtFire Shop

Featured Artist: Kelly Murphy of Kelly is Awesome

2009-10-30T09:30:00.000-07:00

Kelly Murphy is an artist who was born in Brooklyn and currently lives and works in the suburbs of New Jersey. She holds a B.F.A. in printmaking and art history from Mason Gross at Rutgers University. Kelly has exhibited work in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Her work is inspired by natural and man made structures, childhood memories and an overactive imagination.

1. When and why did you start crafting?

I have always been making things whether it be for fun or more serious artwork. I started making this series of drawings of chickens singing rap songs and mailing them to my friends. They thought they were hysterical and wanted to pay for more! So I started an Etsy shop to sell my drawings and recently some jewelry.

2. What do you enjoy most about your crafting?

Mainly I like to make things that amuse me and will amuse my friends. I'm pretty simple, I do it all for a smile.

3. How did you find out about your selling venue and why did you start selling there?

I sell on Etsy which I had heard of through friends and felt comfortable with the paypal set up.

4. What is the hardest thing to do for your shop or you dislike the most about selling online?

Sometimes, I will get random purchases and appear on blogs of other Etsy goers which is nice. Otherwise I have no idea who or if anyone is looking to buy my stuff.

5. Do you rely on your selling venue to help pay bills or is it mainly for fun & extra spending money?

It's mainly for fun and a little extra beer money.

6. Have you tried or do you sell in offline shops? Do you enjoy that more or less than your selling venue & why?

I do sell at Urban Alchemist which is a super cool design collective in Park Slope Brooklyn.
I like both venues for selling. Sometimes it's nice to see things in person especially the scale of the drawings and the frames they come in, but online shopping is quick and easy and safe through Etsy.

7. Where else can you be found online?

Twitter: Kellyisawesome
Blog: http://suburbansabbatical.typepad.com/
Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6772803
Shop name: Kelly is awesome

Real Life's Ups and Downs

2009-10-23T05:52:00.001-07:00

Once again, I am sorry that I have not posted in here for a while beyond my Featured Artist of the week. I haven't even had a moment of peace to post the Top Ten Artists of the Week, and those are chosen by others. All I have to do is post. I will get them caught up though.

Life has been crazy. The little human is teething. She started showing signs of her first tooth almost a month before we ever saw a tooth, so she was miserable, even with Baby Tylenol and a frozen teething ring. And since that tooth has broken the gum, it's been like back to back teething. Not even a week after the first tooth peeked, her second bottom one appeared, and now that it's slightly out of the gum, she's chewing like a puppy on a chewbone to get pressure on her top gums. Poor little girl.

We've also been trying to find a new house. When we moved into this one, it was within our means to rent it and pay all our bills. Now that I'm staying at home and it's reached the slow season for Mortar & Pestle, the rent payment has become a little more than we can afford with baby necessities taking the foreground. Our neighborhood has also been very active lately with unsafe things (gunshots, racing cars, fights, etc.), so my parents offered to let us put a single-wide trailer on the back acre of their property where there is already a septic tank and electricity and water access is very nearby. We had found a trailer we wanted and tried several times to contact the people selling it (my cousin and his wife, to be honest). Each time we called them, the house was still available but they didn't have a time that day that they could be home to show it around. Understandable; people work. However, after four days of this, my mom finally called his mom to see if they would be able to get the key and let us see the house, and his mom informed my mom that he had already sold the trailer like a week beforehand. Now, I know the world seems to have forgotten common courtesy these days, but damnit, tell someone when they are calling about a house that it has already been sold. Don't string them along. We had our hopes up and everything.

So, after all of that, we are back to square one on finding a used single-wide to move to the back of my dad's property. But on a good note, as soon as we find the single-wide and get it moved and set-up, my dad has all his connections coming to hook up septic, water, electricity, and heat/air within a week.

Must go for now. Have to get my husband out the door so he can bail hay all day. Toodles!

Featured Artist: Kerry Wilkinson of Penny Dog

2009-10-23T05:41:00.000-07:00

1. When and why did you start crafting?

I have always crafted since I was at nursery, I guess I've always been creative, but not artistic as I can't work with pencils, paint, etc. I started making jewellery 11 years ago when I was 12 and haven't looked back.

2. What do you enjoy most about your crafting?

I like coming up with my own techniques and having my own recognisable style. I think it's taught me a lot about myself; my likes and dislikes, etc. It also relaxes me, I get quite anxious and stressed sometimes, but never when at home crafting, or even promoting my work.

3. How did you find out about your selling venue and why did you start selling there?

I first started selling on Etsy when I discovered it through Google a couple of years ago. I can't remember if I was looking to buy something or not but I found it completely by accident as it's not that well heard of here in the UK, and then I decided to see if I could sell some of my photography prints. I've closed that shop now, but it was a good taster to see if Etsy was for me or not.

4. What is the hardest thing to do for your shop or you dislike the most about selling online?

I dislike the irregularity of selling, and the fact that I sell more if people can actually touch my pieces and study them in real life. I don't mind promoting but struggling to get into Facebook!

5. Do you rely on your selling venue to help pay bills or is it mainly for fun & extra spending money?

I can't survive purely on my job because of debts that I need to pay off, though if I stopped buying supplies, who knows! I do now sort of rely on it, and I hope to gradually cut down my working hours to devote more time to my business as I'm doing quite well getting into bricks and mortar shops at the minute.

6. Have you tried or do you sell in offline shops? Do you enjoy that more or less than your selling venue & why?

I like selling offline because the customer can get a better idea of the product. Sometimes it has been more successful that others, but it's about finding the right location and the right market. I lie the feedback I get from the shop owners and the cheque in the post is quite nice to open too!

7. Where else can you be found online?

I have my own website: www.pennydog.com The UK has it's own versions of Etsy too, so I can be found at http://pennydog.folksy.com, http://pennydog.coriandr.com, and http://www.misi.co.uk/handmade/pennydog.html as well as on twitter: http://twitter.com/pennydog and my blog http://pennydog.wordpress.com.
There's also Facebook and Flickr but I think there's plenty of links to be getting on with there!

Featured Artist: Theresa Cole of Michigan Hemp

2009-10-16T06:56:00.000-07:00

I am 33 years old, married to the man of my dreams, mom of two boys, step mom of three boys, and am currently pursing my bachelors degree through Oregon State University's online program. I hope to transfer to The Academy of Art before the fall term starts. A few of my favorite things include sunsets over water, the smell of fresh cut grass, and the smile of a child.
My Etsy shop is full of high quality hemp items at affordable prices. While surfing my shop, you will find necklaces, anklets, bracelets, Soulful (barefoot) sandals, keychains, and just recently I began selling my photographs in ACEO form.
1. When and why did you start crafting?

Over the years, I have always enjoyed crafting and art.
All through school, art was my favorite subject, and I absolutely love to make things with my own two hands. It was about six years ago that I began making hemp jewelry.
My husband and I were at a small craft show here in Michigan and I fell in love with the cutest, simple little hemp necklace! It was at the point where I picked it up to purchase it that I noticed the price. Don't get me wrong, I completely understand the value of handmade, but this little necklace was way overpriced. It was then and there that I knew that I could make better items from better supplies, and offer them at better prices. We stopped at the craft store on the way home from that show for hemp supplies, and I have been creating my jewelry ever since.
2. What do you enjoy most about your crafting?

The versitility of design and the beauty of the lampwork beads are my favorite aspects of making hemp items. I love the fact that if I can think up the idea for a different knot pattern, it is almost always possible to make it come to life with the hemp. Lampwork pendants and beads are amazing inspirations for my designs. It is usually the pendant and beads that inspire the design of the item I make.

3. How did you find out about Etsy and why did you start selling there?

For six years I have been trying to find places to sell my items, with almost no luck at all. Only once did I find a shop willing to try my stuff, and I had to sell my items for less than what the supplies had cost just to get him to try them out! I wanted a place where I could sell my items and actually get out of them what I have put in. I had only heard of Etsy once before our local news channel had a small blurb about selling online one morning. After hearing it on the news, I figured "Why not?" and opened up shop that same afternoon.

4. What is the hardest thing to do for your shop or you dislike the most about selling online?

The hardest thing for me is promoting my shop. I have literally spent at least 8 hours per day, every day for the last 5 months, online trying to get the word out about my shop. So far, I am doing OK, but finding my target market is a little trickier for me than for most other people. Not everyone loves hemp the way I do, so it can be difficult.
5. Do you rely on Etsy to help pay bills or is it mainly for fun & extra spending money?

When I opened my shop, it was just for fun and a little extra spening money, but the economy has definitely gotten worse since then. Now, what ever money I make goes towards helping to pay the bills since both my husband and I have become unemployed.

6. Have you tried or do you sell in offline shops? Do you enjoy that more or less than Etsy & why?

Only once did I find an offline shop that was willing to sell my items, and I had to sell my items to the owner for such a low price that I actually made nothing through the experience. I much prefer selling on Etsy even if my sales are slower because at least there, I feel that I am getting what my items are worth.
7. Where else can you be found online?

I also sell on Zibbet. http://www.zibbet.com/michiganhemp
I have a blog: http://michiganhemp.blogspot.com
and I twitter: http://twitter.com/michiganhemp

Featured Artist: Heather Gaff Mewis of Feathered Friends Mementos

2009-10-09T11:10:00.000-07:00

My name is Heather Mewis. I'm a full time paramedic and a life long artist who started Feathered Friends Mementos in August '08 and have been having a blast ever since! I specialize in feathered jewelry and personal items for the mainstream and not-so-mainstream. If you ever thought feathered jewelry was not for you then you haven't seen my shop!

http://jinx1764.artfire.com

I've always been an artist and crafter. Started when I was a small girl and have been picking up and putting down different crafts and hobbies ever since. I started making jewelry last summer and immediately became addicted!

I love crafting because it allows me to express all of the ideas banging around in my head! It's very therapeutic for me.

I first sold feather earrings on Ebay and when my first three pairs sold, one of the outbid buyers emailed me and asked if I was going to make more. She then referred me to a forum that was discussing my earrings, I joined and from there I was referred to Etsy and found Artfire from Craft Cult. It's been fast forward ever since!

The hardest part is staying in touch online with old and new contacts. I don't mind online promoting itself but it can be so time consuming and obsessive that it's easy to forget about everything.

My business is mainly for extra money to reinvest in the business. I fortunately have a stable, well paying job and my ultimate goal is to retire in 12 years and have this business well established and perhaps making extra money.

I haven't tried selling in other shops but have done several craft fairs. The fairs are a lot of work before and during but at the right venues I have always been very successful. My last fair I made more sales then any of the other vendors! I do really enjoy meeting my customers in person and my work sells extremely well in person. The online photos just don't ever do the pieces justice, unfortunately.

www.jinx1764.etsy.com
www.featheredfriendsmementos.com
http://jinx1764.blogspot.com

Featured Artist: Theresa Kwong of Studio 618

2009-10-02T05:20:00.000-07:00

I'm a practicing licensed architect and jewelry artisan/ metalsmith, using traditional metalsmithing techniques to create modern metal jewelry and Judaica gifts.

My inspiration comes from my past experiences in life, my cultures, my environment, or a specific moment in time. Sometimes interesting techniques will challenge me to come up with different designs too. My work keeps evolving, with fresh ideas all the time.

1. When and why did you start crafting?

I took a class in the local bead shop back in 2005 and was instantly hooked. The piece I made in class gave me a feeling of accomplishment and total freedom of expression. It is so strange but I never had any interest in jewelry before that. Haha!

2. What do you enjoy most about your crafting?

Besides the satisfaction of “I made it myself”, I find the crafting community to be a warm and supportive group who eagerly help each other. We all know how hard and passionately we work towards our dreams. Since we often work in individually to create our art, it is great to have a larger community to tap into for support, exchange of ideas, motivation, inspiration, and much more.

3. How did you find out about Etsy/Artfire and why did you start selling there?

I found out about Etsy from a friend and joined July 2008. Then I saw Artfire’s button ad on Craft Cult and opened up shop there December 2008. Although I sell at local fairs, I’d like to have a wider audience that these two venues can provide. It would be a dream to be able to sell full-time online and not having to do physical shows. That, would be totally awesome!

4. What is the hardest thing to do for your shop or you dislike the most about selling online?

I find marketing to be the challenging, especially I’m just not comfortable pushing my wares. Since I make jewelry, it is extremely important to create unique pieces and to market them and let people see my work. Joining teams on Etsy and Artfire is a great way to “work around” this because we promote each other’s work. I’m on the Twitter committee for Artfire Jewelers Guild where I tweet about our members’ shops and other committee members can tweet about mine.

5. Do you rely on Etsy/Artfire to help pay bills or is it mainly for fun & extra spending money?

Oh, how I wish I can – but I’m working towards that goal, where I can rely solely on Etsy and Artfire income.

6. Have you tried or do you sell in offline shops? Do you enjoy that more or less than Etsy/Artfire & why?

No, I don’t have any retail presence at this time. I do participate in local fairs, and would enjoy the indoor shows more so I don’t have to deal with weather issues and transporting/setting up my canopy and such. The fees of fairs are getting quite high and with the current economy, I’d be ecstatic to make enough to pay for expenses only. I see each show as an investment (paying fees, my time away from production, gas mileage) and hoping that I see at least an equal return. I do enjoy meeting other artists at each show.

7. Where else can you be found online?

I can be found –
http://studio618.blogspot.com
http://studio618.artfire.com
http://studio618.etsy.com
http://twitter.com/studio618
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Studio-618/131484845570

Artfire:

* I was given an Artfire code for the main post and the sidebar. The sidebar code works fine, but this one just will not load. Please visit http://studio618.artfire.com to visit Theresa's Artfire shop. Thank you. - Jessica

Etsy:

Featured Artist: Sisi of Peacefully Folding

2009-09-25T07:11:00.000-07:00

Origami By SiSi is a shop where you will find origami items. I make things such as cards, flower decorations, and jewelry - all out of origami paper. All items are hand folded by me. I hope you will come by my shop and take a look sometime, you might find something very unique!

1. When and why did you start crafting?

I started playing with origami when I was a child. I remember using old strips from our calendars and making 'puffy stars'. I continued doing crafts and just decided to start selling recently.

2. What do you enjoy most about your crafting?

I enjoyed using paper. It's very versatile and so easy to find - it's everywhere! I can get ahold of paper at home, at work, at the office... Being able to turn paper into something else is just cool.

3. How did you find out about Etsy/Artfire and why did you start selling there?

I found out about Artfire from a friend's blog post. It was very new back then, I started out with the 10 free listings. Eventually, I fell in love with the studio options and the fact that I could maybe have my shop for free eventually... :)

4. What is the hardest thing to do for your shop or you dislike the most about selling online?

Taking pictures is the hardest thing for me to do for my shop. I have to take at least 10 pictures to get 3 good ones sometimes...

5. Do you rely on Etsy/Artfire to help pay bills or is it mainly for fun & extra spending money?

Well, right now, I can't say that my shop on Artfire has helped me pay the bills... yet. I guess I have it to support my paper and jewelry addiction :P

6. Have you tried or do you sell in offline shops? Do you enjoy that more or less than Etsy/Artfire & why?

I have not had the opportunity to sell in offline shops.

7. Where else can you be found online?

My Artfire shop: http://www.origamibysisi.artfire.com
My blog: http://www.origamibysisi.blogspot.com
My Twitter: http://twitter.com/origamibysisi

Visit origamibysisi's ArtFire Shop

Teething and New Recipes

2009-09-20T12:15:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry that I haven't left many posts lately that were personal. Most of them have been featured artists or ten items that I found that I wanted to share. My reason isn't the best of one, but it's very hard to concentrate when it's at its worst. Anna is teething. Now, some people are saying, "that can't be all that bad." Well, I've seen some kids handle it well. Anna is holding her own, but there are some days where she screamed and cries for what feels like an eternity as she tries to literally shove her entire teething ring in her mouth. It's very hard to concentrate and form sentences when she is like that, so I have just given blogging a rest.

And since I have spent more time away from my computer, I have been able to test out a few more recipes (mostly meat rubs and breads). Sam and I have been testing most of them out alone. I'm going to try to coerce my mom into using a rub or two at our next meal that we eat at her house, and possibly bring the stuff to bake bread while I am there. (I usually have to ride in with my husband and sit at my mom's house all day if we have to do something in that town before 5.) After that, if it all goes well, I may see if a few of my close friends want to try it on their own and give me some feedback. Then, I might just start selling them to the public.

We had an excellent meal last night with a rub not used for it's intended purpose. I put a pork roast in the crockpot around noon, sprinkled the bag of rub on top and filled it with water. After it cooked until 7:30, it was absolutely marvelous. Husband said it was a little strong in a particular herb, so I may tone that one back some, but after chopping the meat up and serving it over rice with mushrooms, with a side of bread, it was so good.

My Recipe of the Week entry will be starting soon. It will appear every Wednesday first thing in the morning (to give you time to prepare if you want to try it that night and it has to be marinated), so I hope that you enjoy.

And on that note, I bid you adieu until another day.

Featured Artist: Michele K of MaruMaru

2009-09-18T04:03:00.000-07:00

MaruMaru.etsy.com is an online boutique that features retro and vintage inspired jewelry from flower cabochons and 70s kitsch to cute owl charms.

1. When and why did you start crafting?

I started liking jewelry when I began working in the jewelry department at a well-known retail store. At first, I didn't see what the big hype was over jewelry until I would stand for hours at a time and become anxious to try a few things on. When I wasn't helping customers, I was trying on jewelry whenever I could and soon enough I put everything I liked on hold so nobody could buy them! I'm really picky about jewelry, so whenever I'd buy a necklace, I'd use my pliers to take off or add parts to it to make it just right.

I just opened up my shop two years ago on Etsy and recently one on Artfire :)

I love vintage-inspired and retro charms, and absolutely cannot live without color. I wanted my shop to reflect this, so I started using origami papers I had lying around to use as backgrounds. When I'm not playing around in my jewelry supply box, I'm at the movies or drinking champagne! I especially love independent/foreign films and annoying my tuxedo cat, Neko.

2. What do you enjoy most about your crafting?

I enjoy crafting because I love putting little pieces together and being able to wear them and know that I made them. I like it even more when I receive compliments or have people ask me where they can get my pieces.

3. How did you find out about Etsy/Artfire and why did you start selling there?

I randomly came across Etsy by surfing through profiles on MySpace and saw them promoting their Etsy shop. I decided that it wouldn't hurt to try and it looked like a lot of work but fun, too!

4. What is the hardest thing to do for your shop or you dislike the most about selling online?

It's hard to sell jewelry! It's such a saturated category, there's just so many jewelry shops on Etsy, it's important to keep promoting and not let your shop sit there. I had some problems with people sending checks/money orders, so now I only accept payment via PayPal.

5. Do you rely on Etsy/Artfire to help pay bills or is it mainly for fun & extra spending money?

I wish I could rely on Etsy to pay my bills, but I work a part-time job elsewhere. I do this mostly for fun and to treat myself to some champagne and tickets to the movies :)

6. Have you tried or do you sell in offline shops? Do you enjoy that more or less than Etsy/Artfire & why?

I have sold many of my items wholesale to shops in the mainland as well as another website. I have yet to sell my items in person at a craft fair.

7. Where else can you be found online?

You can find me at:

Etsy: http://marumaru.etsy.com
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/marumarudesigns
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marumaru
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/marumarudesigns
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/MaruMaruetsycom/45920829452

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
MaruMaru.etsy.com

Featured Artist: Lorena Knezevic of Lolodaisy

2009-09-16T10:05:00.000-07:00

My apologies to Lorena and everyone who expected this to appear on the 11th. My computer gave up the ghost for about a week. But I am back online and playing catch up. Her feature will run today, and then I will resume normal schedule (I will not play catch up on the Top Ten editions, but I will instead push back the two I missed so that they will appear on a normal Tuesday schedule).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My name is Lorena and my shop is called Lolodaisy. (http://lolodaisy.etsy.com) I started it in May, but I am having tons of fun with it. Lolodaisy sells dolls, bags, and aprons.

1. When and why did you start crafting?

I can't even remember when I started crafting. I just know that I always loved making crafts!

2. What do you enjoy most about your crafting?

I love creating things. It gives me that instant happiness to see that what I had imagined came to life.

3. How did you find out about Etsy and why did you start selling there?

A friend had told me about Etsy because she saw how I was always creating bags and dolls. She said she thought they were good enough to sell. So I just thought I might as well take a shot at it. I thought "what have i got to lose?"

4. What is the hardest thing to do for your shop or you dislike the most about selling online?

I think the worst part about having a shop is waiting for people to hear about me and respond. But, I quickly fixed that by making something else I love.

5. Do you rely on Etsy to help pay bills or is it mainly for fun & extra spending money?

Etsy is just something i started doing for fun. I thought it might be interesting. It turns out that i have had a few sales out of just having fun!

6. Have you tried or do you sell in offline shops? Do you enjoy that more or less than Etsy & why?

I haven't tried to sell in offline shops yet. I have a feeling that people are more eager to buy something if it is right in font of there eyes. I think they like that satisfaction of getting what they bought right away. Then again, being on the internet means that more people have the chance to see your work.
7. Where else can you be found online?

I can also be found on Face book and I have my own blog that is still a work in progress. I also have my own website (www.lolodaisy.com) but it is still under construction.

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
lolodaisy.etsy.com

Featured Artist: Crista Grasso of Amber Tortoise Creations

2009-09-04T03:57:00.000-07:00

Artist/AmberTortoise Creations Bio:

I have always been a very creative person and studied art in college at both The University of Connecticut and Massachusetts College of Art in Boston. Art has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember and I look for any opportunity to use creativity.
I started making jewelry as a small child, making string bracelets for myself and my friends, and never stopped! After years of making jewelry to wear and to give as gifts, I finally listened to the advice of my family and friends and started a business. AmberTortoise Creations was established in 2005, although it wasn't until 2008 that the business really took off when I was fortunate enough to find a wonderful shop in Storrs, CT to sell my jewelry. Since that time, I have focused all of my energy on making jewelry and now have a line of over 1,800 unique one-of-a-kind creations. I make new pieces every day and always challenge myself to create pieces which are different, timeless and beautiful!
The thing I like so much about jewelry is that it says so much about the person who wears it! It reflects your personality, your mood, your interests... It can say I am bold and adventurous, I am a little quiet and reserved, I am a happy person who loves life, or maybe that you are all of those things~ I know I am! A great piece of jewelry can reflect all of these characteristics and more but say different things on different individuals. It is the perfect start or finish to any outfit! Jewelry can be a great conversation starter, and the right piece of jewelry can draw people to you. Do you ever see a piece of jewelry and just know that you NEED to own it? It's as if it was designed specifically for you. That is what I am hoping my jewelry will be to those who see it!
My creations have evolved significantly since the string bracelets I used to make as a child. I offer a complete line of handmade jewelry, including necklaces, bracelets, earrings, watches, matching jewelry sets, anklets, barefoot sandals, belly chains and handmade pendants. All of my jewelry is handcrafted using semi-precious stones, freshwater pearls, corals, wood, shell, sterling silver, pewter, copper and green elements such as seeds and limestone coral. I also love to incorporate vintage beads or focal pieces for a completely unique look. I occasionally make handmade pendants and findings out of pure silver polymer clay to incorporate into my creations. I draw my inspirations from the world around me, primarily from the beautiful and sometimes surprising color combinations and textures in mother nature. All jewelry is crafted in my Tolland, CT studio.

1. When and why did you start crafting?

I think I strated crafting as soon as I could move my hands! I have always been very creative and love making things with my hands. Textures and colors have always been very appealing to me, so I have done everything from sculpting to clothing deisgn to interior design to photography to jewelry making. I can first remember making jewelry as a kid- I used to make string bracelets for myself and my friends. I asked for a loom kit for my 8th birthday and learned how to make beaded bracelets. I made all my own jewelry (and clothes) for my prom and other formal events and eventually made jewelry for a few weddings, including my own. The main reason why I started making jewelry and doing many of the other crafts I have dabbled in over the years is that I like to be unique! I like to know that what I am wearing or doing is different from what everyone else is wearing or doing. I have never been afraid to stand out in a crowd and I always received so much positive attention and feedback from the jewelry I would create and wear, that I decided maybe I could turn my hobby into a career. I strive to keep my jewelry unique! Aside from a small line of limited edition pieces, each piece I create is a unique one-of-a-kind creation. That makes it hard for me to part with the pieces sometimes, but it makes me so happy to see something I created on someone who truly loves it, that it makes it okay.

2. What do you enjoy most about your crafting?

Everything! I love everything from picking out the perfect materials to creating a new piece of jewelry. I love taking a walk outside to look for inspiration. I love the feeling of the natural stones in my fingers when I bead and against my skin when I wear the jewelry I create. I love getting to be creative and trying new materials and color combinations and constantly learning new things.

3. How did you find out about Etsy and why did you start selling there?

A coworker told me this story about how her sister decided to quit her full-time job to pursue making pottery full-time. She told me a little about her, and all I could think was "this woman is living my dream". She sent me a link to her Etsy site- www.downtoearthceramics.etsy.com and I fell in love with her store and with Etsy. I loved that there was a place that creative minds could all come together to sell their crafts and ask eachother questions! I was so happy to have found Etsy and opened up my own Etsy store. I still tell everyone to check out Etsy since I think it is such as amazing place to go and browse, shop or spark creativity!

4. What is the hardest thing to do for your shop or you dislike the most about selling online?

There isn't anything I particulary dislike about selling online, but I do find the photography to be the most challenging. Taking the pictures is fun, but I find it difficult to get the picture to reflect the true colors and textures of my jewelry. It usually takes me about 10 pictures to get 1 I am comfortable with, so there is a great deal of work that goes into every picture I post in my Etsy listings.

5. Do you rely on Etsy to help pay bills or is it mainly for fun & extra spending money?

My goal is to eventually be able to design jewelry as my only full-time job and make a true career out of it. Right now, I rely on Etsy and the sales at Art Shows and the Offline Shops I sell at to purchase new supplies and market my jewelry. Every penny I make gets re-invested into AmberTortoise Creations.

6. Have you tried or do you sell in offline shops? Do you enjoy that more or less than Etsy & why?

Yes, I sell in 3 stores across Connecticut. The nice thing about selling in the offline shops is that people get to know me and my jewelry. They get to pick it up and try it on and see each piece exactly as it is. I have a "following" (or so I am told- hehe) at the local shops where I sell and people look forward each week for me to bring in new items. I also get many custom orders, since people have gotten to know me and trust my work. The benefit to selling online is that I am able to reach people all across the world and there is so much potential to find customers who share in my love of stones and texture and everything jewelry! So, I don't know that I like one more than the other. They both have their unique benefits and I am so happy to be able to do both!

7. Where else can you be found online?

Website: www.ambertortoisecreations.com
Etsy: www.ambertortoise.etsy.com
Etsy Beadstore: www.ambertortoisebeads.com
Blog: www.ambertortoisejewelry.blogspot.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ambertortoise
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/AmberTortoise-Creations/68560683131

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
ambertortoise.etsy.com

Calling All Artists

2009-09-01T07:55:00.000-07:00

Starting in August 2009, I began to feature an artist a week from either any online selling venue. I only asked that they be handmade and homegrown sellers. The featured artists were presented in the order in which I receive this questionnaire from them. Also, along with a post about their shop, their smaller Etsy Mini or Artfire Shop Window remained in my sidebar for the entire week, and the larger Etsy Mini and Artfire Shop Window code they provided was attached to the end of their blog entry, permanently. Each blog entry was submitted to MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter via my personal and business profiles. (If your venue is not specifically spoken about above, still submit your questionnaire and any kind of shop window code that your venue supplies, if any. I will feature you, but if there is a code error, I will not be able to fix the code on my own. If your code is not on your feature when it is published, please check your mailbox and respond to my email.)

I'm asking again for more artists who are interested in a little free publicity. Below in the questionnaire. Please copy and paste it into an email, answer all the questions, and submit it to mortarnpestle@hotmail.com. October 23, 2009 is the first open Friday for a feature. The second person to submit the questionnaire to me will receive the following Friday, and so on. Your spot is chosen on a first come, first served basis, so please, send your questionnaire to me as soon as possible if you want to be promoted before the big holiday season.

Feel free also to submit the Featured Artist entries along your social networking channels. The more people who submit it, the more people that will see it and possibly purchase from the shops.

============================

[ Please provide a short biography about yourself/your shop. Also include a link to an item in your shop that you would like featured at the beginning of this entry.]

1. When and why did you start crafting?

2. What do you enjoy most about your crafting?

3. How did you find out about your selling venue and why did you start selling there?

4. What is the hardest thing to do for your shop or you dislike the most about selling online?

5. Do you rely on your selling venue to help pay bills or is it mainly for fun & extra spending money?

6. Have you tried or do you sell in offline shops? Do you enjoy that more or less than your selling venue & why?

7. Where else can you be found online?

Please include the following code(s) for your shop with your response:

Artfire:

1 x 5 Artfire Shop Window (for sidebar)
3 x 2 Artfire Shop Window (for blog post)

Etsy:

2 x 4 Thumbnail Etsy Mini
2 x 3 Gallery Etsy Mini

If you are not on these two, but your venue does have a shop window, please submit your code. If it does not fit my margins, I will send you an email as soon as I can to determine if the problem can be remedied or not. If it can't, I will "create my own" shop window at the bottom your entry pointing directly to your shop. If this is not okay with you, please let me know.

(You may include codes for all your venues, if you wish.)

Top Ten Items and Artists of the Week

2009-09-01T04:30:00.000-07:00

This is a new feature that I want to try. If it gets attention and maintains it, I'll keep it going. If not, I will probably cancel it because it did take a while for my selectors to find ten items that they wanted to feature. These items were not selected by me, so hopefully you'll see a large variety of items over time.

1. Sweet Summer Rose - Original Photograph 1/5 by Curious Robin

2. Blue Teardrop Earrings - Turquoise and Silver by DistinQue Jewelry

3. Palm Wax Apple Jar Candles by rmkcreations

4. Chrysocolla Eilat Stone and Copper Rustic Earrings by Karmelidesigns

5. Oatmeal, Milk and Honey - Cold Processed Soap by FayeFarms

6. Silver Bird Pendant FLY FAR - by FlybirdDesigns

7. Hand Dyed Superwash Sock Yarn - Ocean Waves by Handarbeitskram

8. Blue Ray Eye Shadow Mineral Makeup by Pink Quartz Minerals

9. Filigree Chandelier Earrings by lanzacreations

10. Hand Knitted Baby Booties (Multi Coloured) by Valmade

Rooting Rosemary and Preparing the Greenhouse

2009-08-30T09:23:00.000-07:00

Three days ago, I took twelve cuttings from the rosemary bush in the front yard of our rental house. The plant was already well-established when we moved in, so I do not think it would survive an uprooting and re-potting, therefore, I took the cuttings. I followed the directions verbatim from a plant nursery that I found online, and I'll be danged if my cuttings are looking like they are dying. I'm going to give them a few more days to see if they suddenly perk up, but I'm doubting that they will. If they don't, I'll give twelve more cuttings a shot. If those die, I'll just buy a few plants from a nursery when the season starts next year.

On the greenhouse front, I'm still gathering supplies. I have many new seedlings starting for the winter for my indoor container garden. I'm still in the process of finding larger pots for re-potting time. My dad used to have an entire workshop full of old plastic pots from plants that he planted years ago, but his barn burned down several summers ago and all the pots went up with it. I'm hoping to hit up the End of the Summer sale at Walmart here soon to see if I can get some gardening supplies for fairly cheap.

The big plan is to either have a raised garden in 2010 (if we get our own house and property), or to make a huge container garden in the backyard (if we are still in this rental next summer). We have plenty of room in the backyard here now since our landlord came over and cut down a lot of our trees and shrubs. However, I can't plant an actual garden because the backyard is a 2 inch load of topsoil over an asphalt parking lot. Our grass barely survives, so container garden, it will have to be.

For now, however, I need to get the Lil' Lady down for her afternoon nap, and then I'll be preparing some more of my products labels. Stay in touch!

Featured Artist: Dongedy

2009-08-28T05:13:00.001-07:00

1. When and why did you start crafting?

I'm a french photographer. I began photographing tiny-people last year, when I was looking for an idea for greeting cards for one of my customers (I've own my own advertising agency). I found it funny and decided to open my own shop at Etsy to share them.

2. What do you enjoy most about your crafting?

Imagining new mini-worlds . Often, when I find a fruit, a book, a bottle, I try to imagine how tiny people could interact with the item.

3. How did you find out about Etsy and why did you start selling there?

I discovered Etsy when I opened a shop for my mother who creates wedding favors. I found this website incredible and decided to open my own shop too!

4. What is the hardest thing to do for your shop or you dislike the most about selling online?

At the beginning, it was hard trying to understand all the ways I could promote my artwork, but now, that's ok. I think I spend too much time promoting for few results, but I hope I'll have more sales soon ;)

5. Do you rely on Etsy to help pay bills or is it mainly for fun & extra spending money?

At the moment, it's for fun, but I'd like if it could become part of my day-to-day job because I love doing that!

6. Have you tried or do you sell in offline shops? Do you enjoy that more or less than Etsy & why?

I tried on Dawanda too... I'm a newbie in both shops, but I think that Etsy can give me more.

7. Where else can you be found online?

at Redbubble, Dawanda and Zazzle, Flickr.

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
dongedyframe.etsy.com

Featured Artist: Tracey Rediker of Red Linc Art

2009-08-21T05:04:00.000-07:00

My name is Tracey Rediker and I have been an artist for as long as I can remember. I love working on my own and with my children at my side creating their own masterpieces. For years I have created art for the homes of my friends and family but had never considered selling it for fear of rejection. Etsy, with its inexpensive start-up costs and easy promotions, has been a great way for me to get my work out there. My art tends to be interpreted as dark though i see it as introspective. It is generally figurative or natural in content.

1. When and why did you start crafting?

I started my training in oil painting when I was 8 and have dipped my brush in lots of tester pots since. I opened my shop to sell my handmade greeting cards which I illustrate and assemble myself. love trying out all different forms of expression which is why my shop has such a variety of items available. Knitting is probably my most recent form of expression.

2. What do you enjoy most about your crafting?

I enjoy creating something new out of nothing. I love being able to put a spotlight on things that others may not notice and give emotion to inanimate objects.

3. How did you find out about Etsy and why did you start selling there?

A friend was successfully selling her crocheted shawls on the site and suggested it would be a good venue for my wares. i figured for the low start up costs it was worth a try.

4. What is the hardest thing to do for your shop or you dislike the most about selling on-line?

I am having trouble finding time to create and to keep up with my on-line promotions. I also find it frustrating that the sales are so inconsistent.

5. Do you rely on Etsy to help pay bills or is it mainly for fun & extra spending money?

My goal is to pay for the material costs of creating my art, though it would be nice to be able to have an actual income from it!

6. Have you tried or do you sell in offline shops? Do you enjoy that more or less than Etsy & why?

I have my greeting cards available in some local shops in my area and I had some paintings on display available for sale as well. The personal level of rejection when things don't sell in those venues is much more painful then on-line where you rarely meet your customer. Though the joy of seeing them purchase an item with excitement cannot be matched.

7. Where else can you be found on-line?

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eatontown-NJ/Red-Linc-Design-by-Tracey-Rediker/91698714501

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/redlinc

Blogger: http://jello84.blogspot.com

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
redlinc.etsy.com

Featured Artist: Erin Mycroft of Rock Fern Designs

2009-08-14T05:02:00.000-07:00

My name is Erin and I'm a graduate student studying forest ecology. I have a passion for nature and the outdoors, and am grateful that I can use my education to further the education of the world about important issues such as conservation, climate change, and biodiversity. My other passion is crafting - I spend my summers at a remote research station, where I knit and crochet up a storm - making a new sweater, hat, or pair of socks - and teaching others to do the same. When back at school in the winter, I turn to jewelry-making! My Etsy shop is filled with elegant testaments to the inspiration of nature: http://rockfern.etsy.com.

1. When and why did you start crafting?

Crafty roots run in my family - both of my Grandmothers were avid sewers, as was my Mom. I learned to knit and crochet at the age of seven, and sew possibly earlier than that. Those women are the inspiration for some of my more unique pieces, such as my crocheted and woven bracelets and necklaces: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23228793.
2. What do you enjoy most about your crafting?

I love crafting because it allows me to use my hands. I'm a really tactile person, and am constantly touching things (I'm the girl that's wandering through the store touching ALL the fabrics). Crafting give me a creative escape, and forces me to slow down while I'm doing it. I love the feeling of making a beautiful piece and being incredibly proud of creating it with my own two hands!

3. How did you find out about Etsy and why did you start selling there?

I've always had an entrepreneurial spirit; both my parents had own their own businesses. It's been a dream of mine since I was small to do the same.

When I started jewelery making, I would give jewelery to friends as gifts. However, the jewelery quickly started accumulating faster than I could give it away! It also became an expensive hobby. At the same time, a close friend introduced me to the Etsy community, and suggested I open a shop. What a great find - I love Etsy, and all the artistic talent it has to offer! I can spend hours browsing through all of the wonderful handmade and vintage items.

Opening my Etsy shop has fulfilled a bit of my entrepreneurial dream - now only if I could finish school and do this forever!

4. What is the hardest thing to do for your shop or you dislike the most about selling online?

I think I miss face-to-face contact. Etsy takes a lot of my time - however it is also a lot of fun - and can be addictive! But above all, I think I would like to meet my customers face-to-face, and get to know the person who will be wearing my art!

5. Do you rely on Etsy to help pay bills or is it mainly for fun & extra spending money?

Right now, Etsy helps me to recoup the costs of my crafting habits :) However, I have a small amount of profits tucked away in another bank account that I will use for my fiance and I to go traveling! We'd like to go to West Africa.

6. Have you tried or do you sell in offline shops? Do you enjoy that more or less than Etsy & why?

I haven't tried selling in offline shops, but I am currently preparing a proposal for some nearby boutiques to see if they are willing to carry my jewelry.

7. Where else can you be found online?

I just started a blog! I'm hoping to find more time to update it later in the summer :) There will be giveaways and great discounts on my products, as well as features from other Etsy sellers. Feel free to check it out: http://www.rockferndesigns.blogspot.com

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
rockfern.etsy.com

Featured Artist: Kym Tolson of Hypnotransformations

2009-08-06T04:59:00.000-07:00

My new blog feature was due to begin tomorrow, but since I will be leaving early in the morning and will not be returning until late in the evening, I will begin the new schedule one day early. Today, I present Kym Tolson of Hypnotransformations.

* * * * * * * * *

My name is Kym Tolson. I am a Hypnotherapist certified by the National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists. My hypnotherapy sessions are available as a CD or as an mp3 download. The hypnosis sessions allow you to be hypnotized whenever you have a spare hour to spend transforming your life.

1. When and why did you start crafting?

I actually have two shops on ETSY one for my pottery and one for my hypnosis CD and mp3 business. I started making pottery during the mid-90's and I became a hypnotherapist about five years ago.

2. What do you enjoy most about your crafting?

My favorite part is getting feedback about all the wonderful changes my hypnosis session make in people's lives. It actually makes my day =)

3. How did you find out about Etsy and why did you start selling there?

My sister told me about ETSY she is also a potter and started selling on ETSY about six months before I did.

4. What is the hardest thing to do for your shop or you dislike the most about selling online?

The hardest thing is actually recording my hypnosis sessions. I do literally make them at home and sometimes it's hard to get a quality recording. Recently, I got some really great software that allows me to edit the recordings more.

5. Do you rely on Etsy to help pay bills or is it mainly for fun & extra spending money?

The money I make from ETSY goes right into my travel fund. I have always had a strong desire to see other parts of the world and other cultures. So far, I've been able to go to Mexico. I'm planning to travel to Nicaragua in November.

6. Have you tried or do you sell in offline shops? Do you enjoy that more or less than Etsy? Why?

I haven't tried to sell offline.

7. Where else can you be found online?

Artfire, 1000 markets, Zibbet, Bonanzle, and Shop Handmade.
I also have a blog at www.hypnotransformations.blogspot.com

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
hypnotransformations.etsy.com