FOUND IT! The perfect felted boot slippers.
I’m always searching for something to keep my feet warm. Many of you probably don’t know, but I have a metal rod in my right leg. Any bit of coldness causes some not so fun pain. I always wear socks, slippers, or anything I can to keep my feet warm. Everything I’ve found has been decent, but not perfect.
Then I found a LOVELY shop on Etsy, zoeysbags. They looked adorable! That’s what first caught my eye. I sent the shop owner a message asking for a custom listing, which she created right away.
I received my felties SUPER fast. I put them on.. and I couldn’t believe it. My feet were INSTANTLY warm. And my feet looked beyond cute in these slippers! The quality superb. It’s another reason why I support handmade and will continue to do so.
This wasn’t just another cute thing to buy, for me. Well, they are insanely cute. But more than that – they’ve helped me. I don’t like taking them off! Now I’m off to sip on some hot cocoa in my warm & cozy felties!
Have a Snarky, Bitchy, Bacon-filled Misanthropic Valentine’s Day!
It’s Valentine’s Day. For some of us, it brings out our inner snark. For others, snark is just natural. And hilarious. I found these wonderful greeting cards from a few witty sellers on Etsy. Who said Valentine’s Day has to be all mushy, anyway?
How romantic. These three cards are sure to make your partner, or lack thereof, go “aww!” See more snark-filled cards at VixensEmpire
It snowed in Atlanta this weekend. This card from GoatCards seems fitting for “the one.”
DippyLulu knows when a couple is simply made for each other!
NeatThings knows whats important in life. Money, money, money.
Happy Valentine’s Day, you cynical rays of sunshine!
Wrapped Wire Flower Rings!
The best part of Etsy? CUSTOM! Well, the handmade part is rad too. Seriously, how many times have you wanted something and it’s NOT the right fit? I saw these Flower Rings by dovetailoriginals and KNEW I wanted one as a thumb ring!
I tend to like thumb rings the best simply because I type a lot. My ring, middle and index fingers kind of get annoying to have rings on when I’m typing.
I was SUPER happy with finished result. They really look professionally made. It was the perfect fit! And of course, I’m going back to get more. The assortment of colours has the variety to give every girl what they want.
Go visit dovetailoriginals’s Etsy shop now! click HERE to buy the rings directly.
PLUSHIE GIVEAWAY SAY WHAT?
Tiamagic is doing a giveaway over at the Will Craft For Food blog.
You can win these THREE plushies. They’re devastatingly cute!
There are a total of NINE chances to enter. NINE? YES NINE!
Tutorial : Make Your Own Beaded Bookmark!
April over at Kawartha Beads was kind enough to share a tutorial on adorable little handmade bookmarks. I think they’re gorgeous! If you use this tutorial, share a picture of your finished work! Happy crafting!
Supplies:
7″ of beading wire
two crimp beads
a charm
6-10 beads depending on size
1 jump ring
1 beadable bookmark
flatnose pliers or a crimp tool
Tutorial:
To begin, thread the beading wire through the crimp bead and the charm.
Bring the beading wire back through the crimp bead and crimp with a crimping tool, or flatten with pliers.
Add your beads in whatever order you like.
Add another crimp bead. Thread wire over the jump ring then thread the tail of your wire through your crimp bead and a couple of beads.
Crimp or flatten your crimp bead. Trim excess wire.
Open your jump ring and add the bookmark. Most bookmarks have a hole through which you can thread something. I find it easiest to attach everything to a jump ring. It’s easier to turn around if you happen to have your charm backwards!
And voila! You now have your own bookmark to enjoy or give as a gift
For supplies you need to make your own beaded bookmark stop by Rouge River Beads.
Interview with Nanda @ Lilmisspolkadot
** 25% off of all paintings, dreambeads and brooches for Gigglebot readers! Just mention “Gigglebot discount” when you check out.
I think being cute is one essential part to why many people love handmade. Cute is the new black! Nanda at Lilmisspolkadot is definitely not lacking! Nanda’s little slice of Etsy includes party decorations, paintings and neat little paper goodies. Her illustration aesthetic is unique and memorable, and did we mention cute?
Background info:
Nanda, 32, Alhaurin el Grande Spain. I am a mother of 3 and married to a wonderful husband, they mean the world to me. I started Lil´Miss Polkadot in 2009…
The Interview:
What is the story behind Lilmisspolkadot?
I always have been creative, drawing, painting, crafting…
When i was pregnant of my first i started making decoration for the nursery and i started selling my paintings and painted furniture in the store of my best friend, who had a little store at home with all kind of handmade items. Later i moved to Spain and i stopped selling my items for a while, focussing on our new life… After the birth of my 3th child i wanted to start making things again, and i discovered Etsy… And Lil´ Miss Polkadot was born. Lil´ Miss Polkadot is named after my daughter, who loves polkadots, princesses, pink and all girly stuff…she is my very own little miss Polkadot.
How do you stay connected with your customers?
During the process i keep in contact with my customers, showing pictures, let them decide on colors etc. When the item is finished i send them an picture with the endresult for aproval.
I also have twitter, facebook and a blog to stay connected with my customers.
http://www.lilmisspolkadot.blogspot.com
http://www.twitter.com/lilmisspolkadot
http://www.facebook.com/lilmisspolkadot
How often do you list new items?
I am trying to list new things often, but a lot of my items are custom made, and therefor i spend most of my time creating custom orders… I try to list fresh and new items frequently…
How do you decide what to create next?
While i am working on things, new ideas are bubbling… I write all of my ideas down and when i have some time left i start with these new things… I have a whole list of things that i want to create… handpainted peg – clothes pin dolls picture frame, mirrors, plates, bead and felt mobiles, and more…
You seem to have a multitude of different talents, was your family creative or did you discover these talents on your own?
Actualy my family is not creative at all, my mother is always saying that she is wondering from whom i have the creativity… LOL
I just love trying new things, materials, combinations… i buy materials, experiment with them…
There are so many things i like… painting, working with fabric and felt, making jewelry, workings with beads, design on the computer, working with clay, crocheting etc….
In the future i will probably opening an extra store to offer some more and other things…
What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a shop owner in Spain?
Disadvantage is that i have to ship most of my items to USA, Canada etc. And that i have to sell in Dollars, while here i can sell in euro´s and will receive more money for the same item…
Are there any crafts that have caught your eye lately? Do you want to try anything new?
Yes, i want to try so many new things… I would love to try to work with polymer-fimo clay, creating cake toppers and sculptures. That is on my ¨what i would like to do as well¨ list…
** 25% off of all paintings, dreambeads and brooches for Gigglebot readers! Just mention “Gigglebot discount” when you check out.
Interview with Jamie @ MySweetMoe
Jewelry is probably the biggest category on Etsy. The more the compeition, the harder you have to try to stand out from the crowd. Jamie at MySweetMoe is putting her foot in the door. She has simple, fun designs that are good for all ages. She appeals to a mass audience of jewelry lovers. One of her staples that I absolutely love is the free shipping. I hate going to a shop, being okay with the price, and then suddenly the shipping as almost as much if not MORE than the item. Jamie decided to offer free shipping so you actually know what you’re paying and don’t need to pull out the calculator. MySweetMoe designs are perfect for all ages at prices that wont break the bank.
Background Info:
My name is Jamie and I am a Libra. I am 31 and live in Naperville, IL. I opened my jewelry shop this past July. I just love to make jewelry and this past spring I had to leave my job due to some health problems so I started making it much more to pass the time. It is something I really enjoy doing and came across Etsy one night and the rest is history I guess you could say. I love cute jewelry, but I am not a wealthy person and sometimes I can’t afford the cute things I find so I wanted to make a shop with cute things that are both quality as well as affordable for any budget.
The Interview:
1. How did you come up with your shop name?
Coming up with my shop name, My Sweet Moe, was pretty simple for me. Moe is the nickname I have for my boyfriend..I have called him my sweet Moe for over 2 years so I named it after him. 
2. When did you start making jewelry?
I have made jewelry occasionally just for myself since high school, but I started making it regularly this past spring when I had to leave my job.
3. Shipping rates continue to go up, is there any reason in particular you offer free U.S. shipping?
That is just from my own personal experience with online shopping. So many times I see something I love and I think, oh, that is a good deal, and then I get to the shipping and it is so high..in all honesty, sometimes I think the rates are a little more than they would need to be. When I started my shop, I just remembered that and didn’t want there to be a question for potential customers. When they see, something in my shop, the price they see is the price it is, no extra cost later..if that makes sense.
4. How often do you update your Etsy shop?
In the beginning, I tried to update it every day or every other day, but circumstances came up that led me to have to take a break. I am able to get back to it now so I am updating more often. I like to keep it fresh and add new things often, but, unfortunately, life doesn’t always cooperate as we would like.
5. What is the best thing about making your own jewelry?
I think the best thing for me is the creativity. I like to play around with designs and experiment with different colors and beads. A lot of times in the mall, for instance, it seems like all the jewelry is similar in every store and sometimes I like to be different.
6. Are you interested in any other crafts?
I very much am. I have been trying to learn to crochet for the past few months, but don’t have the hang of it just yet. It is something my grandmother did for as long as I can remember, crocheting beautful afghans and baby booties. She taught my aunt and several of my cousins, but I am quite a bit younger than them. She tried to teach me when I was young, but I didn’t get very far because of my age and by the time I was old enough to understand better, her eyesight had gotten bad and she could no longer teach me. The older I get, the stronger my desire to learn gets so I am working on that. I guess it is in my blood you could say. I have also started making rosaries recently and have a few one decade ones in my shop now. I made a lot of those for Christmas gifts this year for the kids at the Catholic school and I have thought about maybe opening a rosary shop in the future as well.
7. What was your New Year’s resolution?
My New Year’s resolution was to overhaul my diet. All through college, I was a bit of a junk food junkie and now that I am over 30, I feel like I need to change those habits. Potato chips and peanut butter are the biggest source of my bad eating so I have cut them out the past week and have been forcing more vegetables and apples into my diet. It is time for me to stop eating like I am still 20. I think it’s not uncommon for people to struggle with changing to a healthy diet at first, but that is a resolution that I am trying very hard to keep. I have learned the hard way that it is very easy to take your health for granted until you lose it and then you realize what a gift good health is. While I have health problems that are out of my control, I have become aware that I was one of those people who completely took my good health for granted and so now, things that I can control like my bad habit of eating things that will eventually just clog up my arteries I am trying to change because when I am healthy again, I want to be in all ways.
Interview with Lena @ Babayagada
Babayagada Shop
I love finding artists from different parts of the world on Etsy. I feel for the most part, their point of view is different. Lena’s point of view in her artwork is captivating, and the energy takes you to a different dimension. There are statement pieces, such as “Mass Media Victims“, which serves as a calling-out media-obsessed American culture. On the other hand, there are pieces like “The Owl, which gives a futuristic feel to beloved owl imagery. Lena shares with us her background, art and other favourite Etsy shops in this interview.
A Brief Background:
My name is Lena Yampolsky. I was born 36 years ago. Astrological sign : Taurus. I live in Israel. I have 12+ years experience as a textile and graphic designer along with being an illustrator. My Etsy Shop is offering for sale high quality prints of my original digital and mixed media artworks. I works in a variety of mediums, constantly experimenting with a new techniques ; often mixing customized photos and textures, my pencil or ink drawings and also found objects with digital manipulation.
I’ve been lived in Israel almost 18 years (I have russian origins and my
native language is Russian). Actually the most of my ancestry trace their descent from Ukraine and Poland, inspite of they lived also in a different regions : Uzbekistan in Middle Asia and Caucasus. I was born and raised in Georgia ( this’s the country in Caucasus region which was a soviet republic in the time of USSR and a part of Russian Impire before the revolution of 1917).So, this melting pot of languages and cultures could
be considered my major inspiration. By the way, my nickname “Baba Yagada” is the invention which came from the russian folk tales but in fact it has more complex meaning. Baba Yaga is a character of ugly old witch. She lives in a deep enchanted forest in a hut with a gigant chicken legs.”Baba” is a demotic word which means “woman”. “Agada” means “tale” in Hebrew. “Yagoda” is “berry” in Russian ( some russian folk idiomatic expression tells “baba yagodka”which means “attractive woman”).
The Interview:
When did you first realise you were an artist?
This is a very good question! This is so powerful and complicated definition! If somebody consider me an artist it’s very flattering indeed ! But I still don’t feel myself an artist. I’m just curious about universe, I’m inspired by this world and flawed human nature. I’m just trying to express my thoughts and feelings creating my pictures. I remember myself drawing something at age of 5. I suppose that was a beginning!
Do you feel it’s hard being an international seller? What are the pros and cons?
I’m honoured to be a part of Etsy community! The most incredible thing of being an international seller is that I’m presenting my work to so different people from various cultural backgrounds. And I’m happy when somebody from another corner of the earth find something interesting in my creations. All before mentioned are certainly the pros. The cons : you have to be more careful, more conscious and involved when you tring to establish yourself as a successful international seller. I’m just a beginner on this way and trying to find my own niche.
What other interests do you have (besides art)?
I’m passionate music lover. I love reading and movies. I love to explore new things : places, cities ,countries, languages etc!
Do you survive solely as an artist, or do you have a day job?
I’ve got a day job. I’m a graphic and textile designer.
How do you get motivated when things get tough?
I’m trying to switch from inappropriate mood ! It’s not easy ! The most successful way is meeting good friends.
Do you like the business aspect of being an artist?
I don’t like the business aspect! I’m definitely not a talented business lady!
But I have to learn!…
What are your favourite Etsy shops?
I love a lot of Etsy Artists!
These are some of them:
Vocisconnesse
Yellena
OctopusMe
Awesomeart
Olofsdotter
Pinkflamingo61
Labokoff
Makye77
Interview with Amy @ The Pink Camellia
I don’t have kids. Visiting The Pink Camellia almost made me want one, just to be able to buy these gorgeous baby items. I’m always at a loss at baby showers. Everything seems so generic, boring and mass produced. Amy just started her Etsy shop back in April of 2009. Not even a year later and she’s been in a tremendous amount of magazines and blogs all over. She calls it luck, but I say she’s got some serious talent. It really says a lot about her business, as well. She wouldn’t have been able to get this kind of momentum without being really talented at what she does, as well as treating her customers right. She is truly an inspiration to other Etsy shop owners, and business owners everywhere. Whether it’s for your own baby or for your friends & family, The Pink Camellia is absolutely your number one source for baby cuteness.
A Brief Background:
My name is Amy, I’m a 30-something located in the San Francisco Bay Area here in California. I’m a Libra, but was born on the cusp, so depending on what publication you’re reading, I might be a Virgo…
The Interview:
You’ve been featured in numerous magazines and blogs. What’s the best part about that?
I’ve been extremely lucky and honored to be featured in many on line magazines & blogs, which has been so encouraging to me! The best part about that is that it makes me feel like I’m doing a good job. I think often, when we make handmade items, we sort of put them out there and wonder if other people like our work as much as we do. It’s a labor of love for all of us crafters to create these items, and it’s nice to see such positive feedback! I also get to see and follow some really great new blogs & websites, and I’ve found some new favorite sellers of my own through this! It’s a way for us to support each other in the handmade world.
When I say CSPIA, what does it make you think of? Has this effected your business?
CSPIA…well, I know what A LOT of us think about those fairly new regulations! Honestly, I think some kind of regulation was inevitable as far as childrens items go, but some of the CSPIA rules were a bit extreme. It has effected my business, as well as everyone else who creates baby items, insofar as we all have to make sure we are creating items that are still safe for baby, and that satisfy the new requirements. As with anything else new, I think there’s an initial shock, but it will all normalize with time.
What made you decide to focus on baby items?
I decided to focus on baby items mostly because that’s what I used to make and give to family and friends the most. It was just a natural place for me to start! I’ve branched out a little into some beautiful Swarovski hair pins and things, but my main focus is on baby gifts.
What’s the worst gift to give at a baby shower?
I think any gift given to an expecting Mom at a baby shower is given with the intention of being thoughtful and helpful, so I can’t say something would be necessarily “bad” to give. That said, I can say that some gifts are better than others, and I think that the BEST gifts are those that are either handmade, or gifts given with a little tidbit of advice from someone else that has been a New Mom, like a “I found this to be a lifesaver in getting the baby to…”, those kinds of things.
What do you Google the most?
Oooh, I Google lots of things! Mostly I would have to say I search for supplies I’m trying to find, or I’ll search new ideas I’ve come up with, to see if anyone else is already making them. When I came up with my Baby Washcloth Sushi, I was SO excited that I couldn’t really find many things like them! It’s always fun to feel like you’ve created something new.
Besides creating wonderful baby goodness, what do you do?
Besides my Etsy shop, I also have a full time job. It takes a bit of juggling sometimes to get everything done, and I admit some days I feel like sitting on the couch and staring at the television. But, I love what I do, and that gives me the energy to keep going!
How do you promote your work?
I mainly promote my work on Etsy, in the forums, and through wonderful blog & on line features. In 2010, I’m going to step up my promotions locally, and get my work into some local boutiques. I just opened up shop in April 2009, so I’m always learning & trying to grow.
Thanks Anna, and Etsy!
I can’t believe the fantastic response I’ve gotten from everyone on Etsy. I really appreciate it more than you all could know. It is important to me to feature handmade sellers (AND the people who supply us!) on a regular basis. It’s my way of thanking a community of wonderful people who have helped me in ways I can’t describe.
I’m not sure if I mentioned it, but my Dad has stage 4 sarcoma lung cancer. (I can’t even pronounce the TYPE of sarcoma.) Honestly, crafts and the Etsy communities (and others like it!) have helped me tremendously.
The first person I interviewed was Anna at Almost Precious. I interviewed a supplier purposely. She wrote a response to my feature & interview on her blog. It was really touching and sweet. You MUST check it out!
Thanks to everyone out there who is supporting me! You don’t know how much it means to me.
