Etsy Interview With Lee From CloudNineCreative

Today's interview is with Lee from CloudNineCreative. The shop features hand drawn, original, highly detailed drawings and jewelry created by NZ artist and designer Lee Sinclair. Take a look inside the shop - you'll love what you see! Read on.

About Me
Hi, my name is Lee Sinclair I’m a 29 year old Freelance Graphic Designer born and bred in New Zealand. From a young age I was always interested in art and crafts. Throughout school I studied art and photography and at any opportunity would be making a ‘creative mess’. It wasn't until recently when I returned home to NZ after six years of being overseas I decided to follow my passion and really push the 'crafty side of me'.

At present I'm working on a series of Russian doll drawings, mounted on patterned fabrics and framed. Various styles of jewelry using beads, wire & brass fittings. And a collection of highly detailed ink pen drawings consisting of patterned hearts and various other icons. Each piece is made with great care, attention to detail, and genuine love and passion.

What inspires me
I'm fascinated in intricate detail, patterns, textures, nature, anything vintage, typography and bright colours, so generally my works fall in to one or more of these categories.

Why I love what I do
I really enjoy making a product from start to finish, with no machines, very little tools and a lot of patience and hard work. It gives me great satisfaction to know people are enjoying my works. I love doing what I do, and really don't think I would want it any other way.

Where else might we see my work?
My Website – www.cloudninecreative.co.nz
My Facebook Page –www.facebook.com/CloudNineCreative
My NZ online shop – www.cloudnine.felt.co.nz

Favourite item in my shop

My red love heart drawing
http://www.etsy.com/listing/49949259/red-love-heart-original-pen-drawing
It was one of my first creations.

Interview With Jessica From Etsy Shop Metroline6

Today I'm interviewing Jessica from Metroline6. I think you'll agree that her photography is simply superb. I had a difficult time deciding which of her art work to include in this feature as I really loved every piece. So read on and check out her shop, Metroline6. I'm sure you'll feel the same way as me!

A little background about yourself
I am a 28 year old stay at home mom/whenever I get the time photographer. I have 2 great kids, my son is 2 1/2 and my daughter is 1 1/2. They are only 11 months apart so for now they are the best of friends. (I hope that lasts for a long time!)

Why you love what you do
I love my style of photography because I like to capture those moments in the day that might go unnoticed, things that would happen and you would never think about again. I really like the print called "Vespa Scooter" for this reason. Someone drove that red scooter to work that morning and leaned it right against the red and green wall and probably never thought of the beauty in it. It was just part of that persons daily routine. That is what I love to capture.

What inspires you
I get my inspiration from ordinary things. I like to capture the little things in every day life. I am drawn to lines and architecture also.

Favorite item in your shop
It's probably a series of photos taken in the South of France. A lot of my photos are edited to really make shadows and colors pop but with my prints from the South of France that is pretty much just what it looks like there....beautiful.

Any specials deals customers should know about?
Free shipping on all orders worldwide for all your readers for the duration of this feature. Just use the code "JDfreeshipping" in the "Message to Seller" field during checkout! :)

Facebook?:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Metro-Line-6-Photography/133641959987404?ref=sgm
Twitter?:
http://twitter.com/metroline6

Featured Artist - ToBoldlyFold

This week's featured Etsy artist is Melissa from ToBoldlyFold. I love the name of her shop! It's so appropriate when you see what she sells - what an incredible craft! Read on...



- A little background about yourself
My name is Melissa and I am an artist and bookbinder working out of Boston, MA. My aesthetic is strongly influenced by a love of nature and reverence for Italian culture. I love cooking, creating, and most of all, sending and receiving mail. My shop currently sells handmade sketchbooks and journals. They are softcover leather journals with artist paper inside and vintage buttons for closures.


- Why you love what you do
In this increasingly digital and virtual world, I find myself wondering what we’re leaving behind. To do my part in keeping the art of paper alive, I want to start a handmade bookbinding business. I find enjoyment in creating sketchbooks and journals for other creative types. Surrounded by mass produced merchandise, I celebrate the creativity, care, and individuality that can only be found in high-quality handmade goods.

- What inspires you
I'm inspired by nature, and Italian culture.

- Favorite item in your shop
Softcover Warm Brown Leather Sketchbook or Journal with White Thread and Vintage Button
I love the strong contrast between the stark white thread and the dark leather. The button also mimics that contrast beautifully.



- What items are you promoting for the holidays?
I will be posting some mini books in a few weeks! They're perfect for stocking stuffers and as gifts for co-workers!

- Any specials deals customers should know about?
Free shipping from now until December 1st when they mention this blog post in the convo when purchasing!



- Blog?: www.ToBoldlyFold.com

- Facebook?: http://www.facebook.com/ToBoldlyFold

- Twitter?: ToBoldlyFold

Also, http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/toboldlyfold/to-boldly-fold-where-no-bookbinder-has-gone-befor

Tuesday Feature Artist - EchoEndeavor

This week's featured Etsy artist is Jamie from EchoEndeavor. She creates a variety of unique, delightful jewelry! Read on to learn more about the non-profit charity Jamie founded and that she donates all her sales to! It's certainly a very worthy cause.



My name is Jamie Miller. I live in north central West Virginia with my husband (Brad) and our little one (Logan), along with our parrot and cat (and fishies!). I work part time as director of health and life sciences for a non-profit research firm located in West Virginia called MATRIC and hold an adjunct faculty position in the Department of Medicine at West Virginia University. I hold a doctorate degree in microbiology and immunology and focus most of my research endeavors on autoimmunity, infectious disease, and cancer research. I began making jewelry in graduate school as an "escape" from all the "hooplah" associated with such a degree and decided early on that I would donate all the proceeds from items I sold to our local breast care center. So far I have donated over $7,000 to a non-profit charity I founded called echo: Endeavor to Contribute to the Health of Others.



Why you love what you do?
I love what I do because it gives me a creative outlet that allows me to help other people in the process.

What inspires you?
There are so many things that inspire me. My mom is probably one of my biggest inspirations, though. She always taught me that every little bit counts and that if you shoot for the moon you'll land among the stars.

Favorite item in your shop
That is a tough one. Can I have three????? I would have to say:
the vintage sapphire glass bracelet



the creamy cocoa pearl earrings


and the prasiolite necklace



What items are you promoting for the holidays?
I haven't really started focusing on holiday specific items yet this year. The way the economy has been I have tried to create pieces that reflect the season maybe in their colors but can be worn throughout the year so that they 0offer more practicality.



Any specials deals customers should know about?
Look for seasonal sales. In October I will have a sale in celebration of breast cancer awareness month where pink items will be on sale. I will likely have a snowflake or winter sale after that. Maybe blue and silver items featured??????

I do have a web site for "echo". You can learn more about the me, the fund, see pictures of my work and custom orders, and learn more about breast cancer by going to: http://www.orgsites.com/wv/echo

I will offer free U.S. shipping from October 20th through October 24th for anyone who makes a purchase from my shop and puts "jacaranda blog free shipping" in the message to seller. I will refund shipping through PayPal.

5 Degrees of Inspiration

Theme: "5 Degrees of Inspiration"

Date: August 1st, 2009

What to Do:
*Sign up for the blog party by leaving a comment on Inspiration Avenue's posting - your blog and link will be added to the sidebar list on their blog. (be sure to include a link and the name of your blog in your comment)
*Grab the party images and details, then write about it on your own blog. Be sure to post the smaller badge on your sidebar linking back to the posting. (sidebar badge and link are located below...)
*Join us all on the date of the party by writing your own blog posting about the 5 things that inspire you the most. Feel free to post photos too - they love eye candy!
*Visit the other participating blogs from the list posted on the Inspiration Avenue sidebar and enjoy! It'll be such fun discovering what inspires each of us!

♥Prizes:
They're hosting 2 wonderful prizes!
*The first is a fabulous collection of work from their team members and will be awarded to one of the participating blogs so be sure to sign up before August 1st! (A photo of the prize package is coming soon so keep checking back!)
*The second prize will be awarded to one of the visitors who leaves a comment on their blog posting the day of the party. This will be a $20 gift certificate to their team shop.

This sounds like a lot of fun and I'm getting involved. Why don't you?

Sidebar Blog Badge:

Badge link: http://inspiration-avenue-team.blogspot.com/2009/07/5-degrees-in-inspiration-blog-party.html

Featured Artist - LillyEveDesigns

This week's featured artist is Eniko of LillyEveDesigns. She's a very talented artist who has been on Etsy since last December. Eniko likes to incorporate aspects of nature into her designs. Read on for more information about the inspiration behind LillyEveDesigns and visit her lovely shop.

Give us a little background about yourself.
My name is Eniko, and I live in New hampshire with my husband of whom I've been officially married for one year beginning of June 09.! I am currently in college finishing up my B.A. degree in photography and have 2 yrs left to complete. I love nature and go hiking whenever my husband and I get a chance to.

What do you create?

I create jewelry which is inspired by nature and my love of antiques, so I blend those two together to create elegant and fun pieces. I also sell my photography on Etsy, most of which are nature shots and abstract works of art.



What type of materials do you like working with?
I like working with brass, stones,glass beads, and vintage / vintage inspired items.

Is this a full time or part time venture?
As of right now this is a part time venture.

How to you manage your time?
I try to first get all the house chores complete, then I have the rest of the day to create my jewelry!

What is your favorite item in your shop right now and why?
hmm.... As of right now, it is probably my dancing leaves earrings. I just love how the leaves have movement around the turquoise beads.



What are your goals for 2009?
My main goal is to create a whole new line of jewelry in the next couple of months! Which will include more nature/garden themes to them, branches,birds,leaves, antique style charms etc...



And just for fun...
Favorite color
green, powder blue.
Favorite food
mexican, indian,thai, spicy foods.
Favorite music
big band music, pop rock, celtic.
Favorite movie
hmmm... so many to choose from! Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, You've Got Mail.

Wednesday Featured Artist - TheEclectricElement

My featured artist of the day is Kayla from TheElectricElement. Kayla makes stunning pieces of jewelry, each very different. You can spend quite some time browsing her shop as there is so much to see. Take a look for yourself and read on to learn about this budding young artist!



Give us a little background about yourself
Well my name is Kayla and I am 19 years young. I have lived in Illinois for most of my life so needless to say I can't wait to get out of it. Lol. Unfortunatly I have been sick with Lyme Disease for the last 5 1/2 years so I have missed out on pretty much everything a normal teenage life consists of, but everything I have gained from the experience makes up for the 'normal teenage' part. Like the fact that being sick brought me to my love of jewelry making!

What do you create?
I love to create anything and everything that I get my hands on. But what takes up most of my time is my jewelry.


What type of materials do you like working with?
I will work with anything that you give me, but my favorite is upcycled materials that I stumble upon. When I see a certain piece of something or other, I can envision what it's going to look like in jewelry form.



Is this a full time or part time venture?
This is a full time venture at the moment because I'm too sick to go to work or hold any sort of job.

How to you manage your time?
Honestly I don't have to manage my time because 24 hours out of 24 hours are free.

What is your favorite item in your shop right now and why?
I think my favorite thing would be the Au Natural necklace because it is one of my earlier pieces and is directly tied to the Earth. Also, it was my first wire wrapped pieces.



What are your goals for 2009?
My number one goal for 2009 is to be able to live my life. I don't have to be 100% better, but I would love to be able to go out on a walk by myself without having to lug out the wheelchair and have someone drop everything to go push me around.


And just for fun...

Favorite color
Purple.

Favorite food
That's a hard one! I would have to go with a cheeseburger =]

Favorite music
I'm now into the alternative music like Iron & Wine and Joshua Radin.

Favorite movie
It depends on my mood and the genre.
I guess today it would be Love Me If You Dare.

Featured Artist of the Week - Pieces of Me by LMG Design

This week I am featuring the Etsy shop Pieces of Me. Lisa makes wonderful pieces of jewelry from puzzle pieces. Read on to learn more and don't forget to visit her shop! Give us a little background about yourself I am Mom to three children and have the pleasure of being able to stay at home with them while working as a graphic artist/illustrator. When I do have free time to be in the studio, I am able to paint and create other works of art. Many of these creations take up residence in my Etsy Shop. What do you create? Mostly painted pieces that center around my love of nature. I can become very easily lost in my paints and just let my creative mood take me into different compositions. One day it might be all about abstract compositions, other days it is more whimsical and childlike. Painting on puzzles began when I did a craft project with my children using an old puzzle that had lost several pieces. The idea to create charms and necklaces came from this project. It is a challenge creating a work of art on something about 1.5" in size. When completed, the charms are quirky, fun or even a bit glam depending on the colors and composition. What type of materials do you like working with? Paints, Paints and More Paints! I love gouache, acrylics, watercolors, pen and inks, prismacolors... the more mediums the better. Mixed media is also a fun. I don't limit myself too much. Experimenting in art is part of the process. Is this a full time or part time venture? This is a part-time venture right now. I began my Etsy shop at the prompting of several blogger buddies and I am so happy I listened to them. I have had more fun coming up with a variety of puzzle piece charms and love to share my work with other people in this way. It also provides me with some "mad money" to spend on some of the wonderful items I enjoy on Etsy. How do you manage your time? Some days are busier than others. Depending on how many freelance projects I have going and my families active schedule, it can be tricky. I keep a calendar and post-it notes on hand at in my studio. I also recently added "Reminder Fox" to my browser, which is a wonderful tool for keeping to-do's in check. Setting aside one weekend afternoon a month just for my Etsy store is a top priority. It ensures I always have time to create new inventory, even at my busiest. Sometimes my afternoon will be incredibly productive and other times it isn't but the time I spend creating is always something I look forward to. What is your favorite item in your shop right now and why? I would have to say my dragonfly charm/necklace. I just LOVE dragonflies, they are so interesting and their wings are so intricate... filled with patterns and color. I once did an ATC of just a dragonfly wing! They are a subject that I never tire of. What are your goals for 2009? To keep building and improving on my store, as well as make more connections with fellow artists/crafters on Etsy. There is such a wonderful community of supportive people here and they are willing to give advice, critiques and encouragement. I really love that about Etsy. And just for fun... Favorite color Pink Favorite food Sushi and chocolate... but not together. Favorite music Dave Matthews Favorite movie Really tough to name only one! Gone With the Wind remains one of my all time favorites.

Wednesday Featured Artist - Mbmclees

Today we meet Mary Beth and her Etsy shop Mbmclees. She has a wonderful selection of handcrafted cards in her shop! Read on to learn more about this very talented artist.

Tell us about yourself
I grew up in Atlanta, GA and now live in Clemson, SC. I'm graduating from Clemson in a few weeks and moving to Augusta, GA to start physical therapy school. Besides crafting, I love to exercise, travel, cook and bake, watch 24, and spend time with my family (older sister, younger sister, awesome mom and dad)and friends.

What do you like to create?
I create paper crafts, mainly greeting cards.

What is your favorite material to work with?
My favorite material is patterned paper (I get excited every time I find new paper!) and scrapbook embellishments. Also, I have recently started playing around with rubber stamps, which I have enjoyed so far!

Part-time or full-time?
This is part time right now, but one day I would LOVE to be a full time crafter. A dream of mine is to have my very own crafts store/bakery when I am older.

How do you manage your time?
I manage my time by making LOTS of to-do lists. If I don't have a list, nothing gets done. I write eveything on my list - laundry, exercise, grocery shopping, school work, phone calls, emails, craft time, time with friends, reading - EVERYTHING! Thats how I make sure everything gets done =) It usually works, too! Another way I manage my time is getting enough sleep. When I am tired, I can't focus and don't get any work done. Finally, when I am being super lazy and wasting time, I disconnect from the internet. I could spend all day reading blogs, looking at news sites, keeping up with friends on facebook, looking up recipes, and so on. When I can't do any of those things, I get SO much work done - its amazing!

What is your favorite item in your shop?
My favorite item is this set of mini greeting cards
I like them because they are so unique and personal. I love the colors too..."happy" colors without being too bright and overwhelming. And the font is so cute, too!

What are your goals for 2009?
My goals for 2009...I want to continue to build/market my Etsy store and blog, and to start getting sales that are somewhat regular. Nothing huge, because I think that is unrealistic, but a I'm aiming at a 4-6 each month by the end of this year. I will be staring grad school in a month, so my big challenge will be adjusting to that while maintaining my crafting.

And just for fun...

My favorite color is blue - like the sky on a gorgeous day, and the water in Cancun.

I love any kind of fruit, I love grilled chicken, and I love peanut butter. And Ice cream. That's just the tip of the iceberg =)

My favorite music is probably country, but I like just about anything except jazz and really loud/heavy metal stuff. I also really enjoy listening to old hymns.

My favorite "inspiring" movie is To End All Wars (Les Mis is a close second). My favorite chick-flick is Baby Mama. My favorite "just for fun" movie is Dan in Real Life. And my favorite animated movie is Ice Age 2. Can't pick just one =)

Wednesday Featured Artist - DesignsByTwilight

Today's featured artist is DesignsByTwilight. Read more about her in this interview as well as a collaborative project she is involved in, created by TinkersShop.

Also, DesignsByTwilight is offering buyers 10% off posted prices (excluding shipping). Just mention my blog when you purchase!





Give us a little background about yourself

I currently live in Albany, NY with my husband, our cat, and our standard poodle. I grew up all over the world so in a way it's odd that I've ended up in Upstate NY for now, but I really do like it. My childhood was spent in Belgium, Indonesia, and Taiwan. My "day job" is working with an organization which provides free legal services to victims of domestic violence. I love the job a lot, but it can be stressful, which is why I enjoy having the opportunity to be creative.

What materials do you like working with? 

I love working with glass, both with beads made by other artists and beads I make myself. I always string beads onto wire rather than cord. I also like stones, jump rings, crystals, shells, and vintage beads. I am always happy if I can re-purpose a beloved old necklace or broken pair of earrings and give them new life in my work! 

Is this a full time or part time venture? 

Part time. I've been making jewelry for a while, but only just started selling it last year. It would be great to do something creative full time, but I also love my other job. Having the jewelry making along with my legal job helps me have some balance in my life. 

How to you manage your time? 

I am obsessed with making lists. I always have a whole bunch of "to-do" lists going at once, ones for work, for home, for shopping, all kinds of things. I just love getting to cross things off of my list when I am done with it. 

What is your favorite item in your shop right now and why?

I have two. My very favorite item is the first one I ever listed - my Snowdrop necklace. I love this because it is made with my own lampwork beads, including the focal bead which is my favorite bead that I've ever made! I will be sad when this piece sells, but I hope that someone else can enjoy it as much as I do.



My other favorite are my Epherma Earrings I  and Epherma Earrings II These are part of a collaborative project created by TinkersShop, also on Etsy. Each artist was given three vintage pharmacy labels and asked to create something original with them. I love these earrings because I feel that participating in this project gave me an opportunity to branch out from my regular jewelry designs and try some new techniques. I also love being part of a collaborative project with other Etsy artists, and I can't wait to see what everyone else makes!

What are your goals for 2009?

I am hoping to continue getting the word out about my shop. I also want to set up my lampwork studio in my new house and also my dark room. I love photography as well, and I feel that with some of the direction my work is taking I might be able to combine my photographs and my jewelry together.

Favorite color
I'm a lapsed goth, so I have to say black. And red. Oh, and purple. You'll notice not a lot of my jewelry is in these colors as I tend to keep a lot of those pieces for myself!

Favorite food
Anything spicy. I also love, love, love olives (prefer green but will also be happy to eat other ones if my choice is that or no olives). Spicy green olives are the best.

Favorite music
The Cure, U2, Depeche Mode, Tori Amos, Sisters of Mercy, Joy Division, New Order, Bob Marley, David Bowie, tribal belly dance music

Favorite movie
Anything with Johnny Depp!

Wednesday Etsy Feature - DelightfulDeceits!

Starting today I shall be featuring another Etsy artist each Wednesday. The first artist I'd like to introduce you to is Becki from DelightfulDeceits.  She has a wonderful selection of greeting cards, tags, prints and more.

Read on to learn more about Becki!

>>> Give us a little background about yourself
HI! I am a 28 year old stay at home mom. I have an 8 year old daughter and have been married for 8 years. I have always been artistic, either acting on a stage, painting, drawing, singing ect...I became fascinated with jewelry and creating unique pieces. A friend introduced me to scrapbooking and from there my creative mind desired to create unique and fantastic greeting cards. I started off making them only for family, but every family member said I should sell them! There are not many crafts I do not do I enjoy creating no matter what it is.

>>> What do you create?
Many things, Jewelry, hair accessories, keychains, magnets, greeting cards, art, digital photography, and altered jewelry boxes.

>>> What type of materials do you like working with?
I create many things and use a vast array of materials. I always use high quality materials in anything I create.

>>> Is this a full time or part time venture?
Full time, I do not work outside the home, therefore i spend most of my time creating things. I come up with new ideas all the time.

>>> How to you manage your time?
I manage my time very strictly. I am writing a book, manage two shops, and one blog. I also manage a household. I blog three days a week. I spend two days a week creating new items. I spend most late evenings promoting my shop. Three days a week I focus on writing a book.

>>> What is your favorite item in your shop right now and why?
I have so many favorites in my shop. I have two shops as well so This is my favorite from my art/card shop: Vintage Tatoo - Mother Card - Funny

This is my favorite from my jewelry and accessories shop: Grandmas Broach Barrette

>>> What are your goals for 2009?
My main goal is to reestablish my shops and regain traffic. I would absolutely love to sell many items, but my main goal is just to reestablish.


And just for fun...

>>> Favorite color
Turquoise

>>> Favorite food
Lasagna

>>> Favorite music
Depends on what I am doing I am well rounded musically
Current favorites include
Celtic folk music
Lilly Allen
MOdest mouse
Black eyed peas
Kate Nash

>>> Favorite movie
Currently Role Models
All time
Bram Stokers Dracula