Search results (tags) for: "animals"

Quit Your Day Job: weeones

2008-09-22T12:25:00Z

Jillian of weeones has been making a successful go at her Etsy business since leaving her day job as a research scientist in April of 2008. As a research expert, she fully analyzed that statistical side of her Etsy business and made plans accordingly before fully taking the plunge. She's learned how to reach and cater to her target audience. She even tells us how creating new designs is a much better marketing tool for her business than trying to drum up interest in her listed designs! Keep reading to find out how this full time scientist took the plunge into full time Etsy seller.

When you first started selling on Etsy, did you have dreams or goals of eventually quitting your day job?
I think that being self-employed has always been a wild dream of mine. I started sculpting miniature animals out of clay when I was still running around the playground. But to be honest, when I started selling on Etsy I was hoping to offset the cost of eating out for dinner on Friday nights. I was so excited when my Etsy shop started to do more than that. About once a month, my husband and I have a discussion about how we can't believe how much the business has grown. It's all pretty mind-blowing.

How long were you selling on Etsy before taking the plunge into selling full time?
That depends. I was putting 40 hours a week into my Etsy shop after about two months, and my time commitment continued to grow after that. But at that time I was still working as a full-time professional research scientist. I left that profession to focus only on Etsy after a year and a half.

What was the deciding factor resulting in pursuing Etsy as your full time job?
I wanted to be my own boss, and to have control over my own time. It's true that running an Etsy business is not a 9 - 5 job. And although you're likely to be working many more than 40 hours a week, you can schedule those hours to fit with the rest of your life. Because my handmade items don't require a lot of equipment, my business is essentially portable. I can pack my Etsy shop into a suitcase and visit my family without having to worry about the number of vacation days I have left.

Did you do anything to prepare ahead of time before taking the plunge?
Yes, I did my homework and understood what running my own business would mean from a financial and time-management perspective. I made graphs plotting my sales, average prices of the items I was selling ... you name it, I plotted it. I knew what my best-selling items were from month to month and tried to identify traits of successful items. I also made sure to offer items that would fit a range of budgets.

My husband and I are both scientists, so we take great joy in analyzing data. We were able to see to see where WeeOnes had been, and to project where it would go. I also made sure I had longer-term plans for my shop that I thought would be profitable.

What are the most effective ways you have promoted and marketed your Etsy business? What's you're best marketing tip?
My best marketing tip is to know who your target customers are, listen to and respect them, and find ways to reach them. I love accepting special orders for unique dogs or cats, and have found that my customers have excellent ideas. Some of my favorite items were suggested by my customers.

Although I sell my miniature sculptures as jewelry, most of my items are stitch markers. Stitch markers are used to keep track of pattern motifs and rounds in knitting and crochet. Because these are social activities, my items are readily seen by other fiber artists. In addition, many of my sales are spurred on by knitters who blog about WeeOnes. Word of mouth is a powerful form of promotion, and I'm grateful to my customers.

What have you found to be unsuccessful promotion? What's something that's just not working for your shop?
In general, I think that time is best spent being innovative rather than promoting the items that I already have. Although advertising is important, making new products invigorates me and keeps the shop feeling fresh. No one wants to come back to a store that never changes. If I am trying to promote my existing items rather than coming up with new ideas, the sales don't come as readily.

Would you walk us through what a typical workday might entail being your own boss?
Like many people, the first thing I do when I wake up is run downstairs to check the shop. I excitedly tell my still sleeping husband how many items we have sold during the night.

Then I have two shots of espresso.
My morning hours are spent restocking items that have sold.
During the afternoon, I work on new items and special orders. Most of my special orders are requests for animals that aren't in my Etsy shop, or miniature sculptures of pets.
When I'm done with my checklist for the day, it's time to package items so they are ready for the post office in the morning.
Whenever my fingers get tired from sculpting, I respond to conversations and send emails notifying customers that their items have shipped.
Balance is necessary in life (something I have come to appreciate after moving on from my day job) and I make sure that I get out of the house to exercise and spend quality time with my husband and dogs in the evening. Balance makes me more excited to work.

What do you enjoy most about not having a day job? Is there anything you miss?
I enjoy structuring my own day and doing what I love. When I worked as a scientist, I barely had time at the end of the day to fill orders for my shop and certainly did not have time to create many new products. All those things that I always wanted to make can now be made. The one thing I miss is spending time during the day with coworkers.

If you could go back in time before you took the plunge, what advice would you give yourself knowing what you do now?
My decision to start running WeeOnes full time was not a spontaneous one. I spent a lot of time mulling it over and researching it and I have no regrets. That said, I wish that I had known the benefit of owning my own business well before two years ago. The U.S. tax system is set up to benefit business owners with deductions, etc. I never knew that you could deduct a percentage of your rent, electricity, and more. Running my own business has taught me so much!

What advice would you give someone else thinking about taking the plunge to sell full time on Etsy?
I would suggest researching everything fully. By everything, I mean that it is important to know who your target customers are and how to reach them, and also to be aware of the tax and other savings benefits associated with owning your own business. How much income your shop generates is important, but it is also important to understand how much income you are keeping that would otherwise have been spent on taxes, gasoline, and wear and tear on a car. There is also a lot of value in having control over your own time.

How's it going so far? Are you supporting yourself?
Things are going really well so far! Self-employment is a relatively new thing to me since I left my job in April of 2008, but sales have continued to grow and I am enjoying every second of my current life.

What goals do you wish to accomplish in the coming year for your Etsy business?
I would like to continue to expand my Etsy business. I know there are a lot of potential customers who aren't yet aware of my products, and I'd like to find ways to reach them. I have a list of ideas that I'm planning to implement over the coming year. One of my shorter term goals is to make one new item every day. This keeps my creative juices flowing. Many times the new items never make it into the shop, but they do get me thinking, creating, and honing my skills.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I would like to thank Etsy for providing artists with a venue for selling handmade things, and my customers for their business and support. Also, a special thank you to my husband Jim and my mother-in-law Nancy for all the time and suggestions they have offered over the past two years!

Thanks to Jillian for sharing her story and business with us! Check out the related items below to see some of her items. You can find some of our previous Quit Your Day Job posts here.

Etsy Finds: Pet Costumes

2008-09-15T08:22:00Z

Ah, the time-honored practice of dressing the family pet in an embarrassing and oft-ridiculous outfit! Those of you who are lucky enough to share your household with an animal friend know that this is truly the best thing about Halloween. (Unless you are me and have a Baby's First Halloween on the horizon*. Hello, tiny beer can.) I went searching around Etsy this weekend for the top nine costumes that are guaranteed to win admiring looks from other pet owners and cause your lil princess to hide under the sofa all night in sheer mortification. Enjoy!

Dragon Costume

This one has pretty much everything you could want in a pet costume: it's unique, it costumes your pet as a big scary monster that he is definitely not, and has an opening at the tail end. By nomorenekkiddogs, $20.

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Pedro Cowboy Vest and Bandana

This is so, so cute. You can complete the look with a doggie cowboy hat, also from Etsy. By daleydoolittle, $15.

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Wee Wittle Jack OLantern sweater - 2 to 20 lb dogs

Pumpkins = classic. By DianaDesignsNY, $18.99.

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Dog Hoodie with Zipper with your choice of Crystal Designs

This really falls under the category of "everyday wear" — if that category exists in canine fashion. Your pooch could totally pull off [insert name of Juicy-Couture-wearing celeb you'd like to make fun of here] as their costume in this. By miascloset, $22.

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Custom Made Frankenstein Dog Costume for Halloween

No words. Okay, one word: hilarious. By sewsweetfinery, $15.

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Halloween Witch Hat Pets Puppy or Kitty Sz. Small

Aw! Add an orange ribbon and this puppy is ready for Halloween. By SparkleberryCrafts, $14.

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The Green Polka-Dot Tie

Add a doggie sweater and this guy is business casual. I mean, look how fresh this kitty looks rocking the same vibe. By dogties, $8.

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SAVE 20 PERCENT...........Pink Rhinestone Frilly Scarfette

The first step towards a really good "sad clown" costume. By thevintagedog, $6.40.

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Custom order Tutu for Dog or cat

Cats are usually not so stoked to wear clothing of any form, and a black cat like this lil guy is a Halloween icon as is. However, putting your cat in a tutu still seems like a great idea, and I can't wait to see how adorable/miserable my two look in these. By jiniaj, $15.

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Looking for more animal Finds? Try these Etsy links:

Pet Category | Pet Lovers Gift Guide | Items tagged "pet costume"

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* Send your hilarious baby costume ideas to anda@etsy.com, the more funny and inappropriate the better. Thanks!

Handmade Portraits: MV Knits featured on YouTube!

2008-08-03T20:25:00Z

Today, August 3rd, 2008 YouTube has featured one of our Handmade Video Portraits on their front page! Please watch our portrait of shepherd Susan Gibbs and then subscribe to the Etsy channel on YouTube and Itunes to keep up-to-date on the latest Etsy videos.

Check out the Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm's blog and flickr site. You can also check out the Etsy Labs flickr site for Calder Martin's photos from the shoot.

Watch the rest of the Handmade Video Portraits series and leave a comment! Let us know if you find the stories inspiring and enlightening.

Handmade Portraits: Julia Pott

2008-08-01T12:00:00Z

Artist Julia Pott began drawing at an early age. After watching her first Disney film, she knew she wanted to be a cartoonist, which later meant becoming an animator. Her thesis animation from Kingston University, My First Crush, is a sweetly nostalgic vignette of anthropomorphized animals talking about their first crushes. Beautifully rendered and lovingly assembled, the little film touches the hearts of anyone who has ever longed for love.

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(Music credit: Elijah B. Torn)

Julia's illustrations and animations are usually about love and revenge. However, Julia's frilly aesthetic and her handmade illustration style give her drawings, cards and films a touch of pure sweetness.

Etsy sent independent filmmaker Gabriella Kessler, aka gkessler, to visit Julia at her home and studio in London, England. (See Gabriella's film production company's site for more information on her work.)

Watch our other Handmade Video Portraits and subscribe to our Youtube Channel!

Fresh Shops: merlinsbarkproducts

2008-07-31T11:45:00Z

Recently, I was clicking through Pounce Undiscovered with my right hand while rubbing my dog’s head with my left. I saw this great (well-crafted and simply designed) elevated dog feeder (in red-stained chestnut) by merlinsbarkproducts, and I ah-ha’ed aloud.

I love finding good woodwork on Etsy. This shop couples creative carpentry with a design sensibility that’s driven by deep compassion for animals.

So far, merlinsbarkproducts features an assortment of feeders and little wooden homes for an array of animals, such as bluebirds, bats, butterflies, flying squirrels…and of course, dogs.

I put a few questions to the creators behind merlinsbarkproducts, Sherry and Jerry:

There is a great beauty and variety of wood in your items. What are some of the benefits to using sustainably harvested or recycled wood?

It is very important to me that we use wood that comes from trees that are managed and farmed in ways that ensure the protection of the environment and other natural resources. Also, I would hate to think that I was contributing to the removal of old growth trees. I know that a lot of different animals depend on those trees for housing. Also, you can find a lot of beauty in old recycled wood. We get a lot of our recycled wood from a local building material recycling center. I am hoping to use some of their old barn wood for owl house I have in mind.

The designs of your animal homes seem strangely inviting...

I love to lay outside in my yard and watch all the different animals run around. When I’m watching them, I start to think about what type of houses and feeding station they would need.

One of my favorite products is our condominium for flying squirrels. It is just amazing! It is over 3-feet tall and has four floors. I came up with the design after watching our own flying squirrels and wondering what type of house they would need if our old pine tree didn’t exist anymore. I did a little research and came up with a house that any flying squirrel would be proud to call home.

I also realized the need for Purple Martin houses when a whole colony of them decided to move into our gutters this spring. I did a little research trying to figure out why they moved in and found out that Purple Martins are the only birds that totally depend on humans for housing. So now we will be adding Purple Martin houses to our product line.

Your blog details a very interesting story about how you turned an idea into a real company. Can you talk about some of the challenges you faced and how you resolved them?

One of the biggest challenges was figuring out what type of products I wanted to concentrate on. At first I was thinking about making products for animals and humans, but I have found myself concentrating more on products geared toward animals.

Though, humans benefit from our products too. Whether it is from installing a bat house and having Mother Nature’s little pest control experts take the place of using poisonous insecticide, or being entertained by song birds eating out of a feeder, the enjoyment our of products can be shared by animals and humans.

Our product line continues to evolve. I love receiving feedback and suggestions from customers. Recently we had people ask us about elevated cat bowl feeders. I had never thought making those before, but now we will be adding elevated cat bowl feeders to our product line. I also continue to do research on animal husbandry to see what other types of products we should be offering.

You are a member of the Abandoned Wild Babies Animal Resuce (AWBAR), who also keeps an Etsy shop. How does being a member of such a compassionate organization affect your role as a shop owner?

Since I’ve joined, I’ve been helping to spread the word about AWBAR through my blog and also on forums. I recently donated one of our dual feeders (a feeder that can be used by both birds and squirrels) to the AWBAR Etsy store. I can’t wait for it to sell. All of the proceeds from the sale will go directly to support the care of the baby animals at AWBAR.

See more Fresh Shops and say hey to a new seller!

Etsy Finds: Elephant Puzzle

2008-07-19T09:00:00Z

My son loves animals, especially when they are in puzzle form. To see him get excited when he is done and mimic the sound the animal makes is really fun. We’ve purchased puzzles in the past that have been poor quality. After usage, the paint comes off and some puzzles have even had splinters. I would much rather buy something handmade that is safe for children.

That is when I stumbled upon this elephant puzzle from usnavyretiredvet. It is especially made for children using real wood. It also has a non-toxic finish as well as sanded edges. This seller also has a great selection of puzzles to choose from. I wonder what my son's reaction will be seeing the baby elephant as a puzzle piece!

Check out other animal themed puzzles below. Also be aware if there are small pieces, depending on the age of your child. Read the description from the seller carefully. Have fun!

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Handmade Kids Series | Special Kids Showcase | Baby Gift Guide | Children Gift Guide

Etsy Pets: Brawny Cats

2008-07-12T09:17:00Z

Deep in the Magic Forest of Arizona there is a property set back which is nearly unseen from the dirt road. If one ventures onto it the tranquility one feels is almost palpable. Stop for a minute and listen. All one hears is the singing and chirping of birds, the buzz of hummingbird wings, and the gentle rustling of leaves as squirrels and rabbits forage for food. When breezes pick up, the melodic wind chime collection fills the air.

Two humans and two cats inhabit the home, which has a wrap-around porch on three sides. The alpha male human is an inventor who came from a long line of inventors (his grandfather invented the folding box process and the first folding box machine). He spends his days in a separate building creating his own inventions, and has several patents to his name, with the most recent being for the world’s best electric heater. His wife is a nurse half the week and works diligently at her Etsy shop the rest of the week.

The couple lost many cats over a period of years because the wildness of the area has some major predators. There are bobcats, coyotes and hawks, always hungry, and always ready to make a meal of house cats.

The couple was very sad for about 10 months after their next-to-last cat went missing. The husband pestered his wife several times a day about getting more cats. Finally, the wife agreed, and decided each of them would have their own kitten. She decided hers would be a Bengal named Mica, a purebred that arose from the blending of an Asian Leopard Cat and a tabby. The animals have sleek, velvety fur which either sports spots like a leopard, or a mottled, almost tie-dyed look. She chose the spotted look. Her husband chose an alley cat of the same age, named Bart. The two would be raised as brother and sister.

The plan was to have a place where the cats could enjoy the outside and yet remain safe from predators. Thus the inventor created a wonderful outdoor porch in which the cats could play without fear of being added to a lunch menu. But that was not all — he added a giant wheel to the enclosure, and trained the cats to run on it for exercise. The original Bengal cattery had such wheels, and it seemed a wonderful idea. The cats run on the wheel off and on each day in their special covered porch, and have buffed up incredibly! The veterinarian says she has never seen such healthy cats! They spend from 9 am to 4 pm outside, and return inside and spend the evening basking in the glow of their health. They have never scratched a piece of furniture, they don’t smoke, have sex or get in trouble with the police. Mica and Bart do have one vice, though: a squirt of whipping cream each evening. Mica yowls loudly for it, and Bart stands by silently and accepts the gift.

Both cats have inspired the wife in her collage art; they are remarkable cats and are putting their human counterparts to shame with their exercise ability and commitment. The cats inspire the couple to forge ahead with their exercise regimens.
Would it not be wonderful if zoos had such giant wheels for their larger cats and maybe even some primates?

Northstaralapacas: Alpaca Granny

2008-07-11T14:51:00Z

When Maple of northstaralpacas sends out her Etsy packages, there's a little treat included in addition to the luscious handspun yarn and cozy handknit hats. The unexpected surprise that awaits each customer? A photograph of the specific alpaca from which the item originated. The handmade movement has always been about the person behind the product, but northstaraplacas and other fiber artists on Etsy are taking this one step further: crediting the animal behind the product, too.

Maple appreciates the gift these animals provide her, and in exchange, nurtures them, above and beyond commercial responsibilities. On her blog, Alpaca Granny, Maple tells the story of one baby alpaca (cria), named Spot for the light patch on the top of his head, who was having trouble nursing from his mother, Ariana. Maple saved this little guy by bottle-feeding for his first few weeks.

Just this week, Maple posted a triumphant update about Spot's progress: "He will have absolutely nothing to do with his bottle and is a little aloof to me now. I'm so amazed that after 3 weeks he is figuring out the instincts that he should have had at birth. And thank you, Ariana, for being so patient with him."

It's inspiring to see this symbiotic relationship succeed. I hope Spot will reciprocate the love!

Handmade Portraits: MV Knits

2008-07-11T11:00:00Z

After quitting her day job in Los Angeles and moving to Martha's Vineyard, a quiet island off the Massachusetts coast, Susan Gibbs aka MVKnits had a great idea. She started Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm and figured out how to make a living making yarn. Why not use the local food movement's model of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and apply it to a yarn harvest? Shareholders pay for a share in the yarn harvest as a way to support a local farm (or in this case, a local farm supported through the internet) and in return they get weekly updates, photos from the farm, an invitation to the shearing and ultimately a share of the yarn.

[Music by Barry London & Charlie Parr]

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Check out the Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm's blog and flickr site. And check out the Etsy Labs flickr site for Calder Martin's photos from the shoot.

You can watch more of our Handmade Video Portraits and we'd be so thrilled if you'd subscribe to our free Etsy iTunes podcast.

Etsy Finds: Vintage Animal Print

2008-07-11T08:37:00Z

Since we've been celebrating all things pet and animal related on The Storque for the last two weeks, I thought it only fitting that this week's Vintage Etsy Finds be animal related — animal print, that is. Add a little animal allure to your wardrobe and you can be a Bettie Page or Sophia Loren caliber siren! With some red lipstick and cat eye sunglasses you'll be beating off your admirers with a stick. Don't be shy: get in touch with your ferocious side! Animal print is retro glamor done best.

vintage safari top xs

This demure top is a cross between tropical and animal. Very nice. At shu1245, $18.

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Gorgeous Boho Print Silk Dress, Small

A floaty dress for summer with hints of zebra and leopard. Found at leolucaescobar, $65.

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Meow Leopard Print Onesie Unitard Catsuit ML

This looks hard to pull off, but it is possible. As the description states: "What on earth does one wear with a leopard print catsuit? Well, what doesn't one wear with a catsuit?" Push that envelope, baby! From thecovetedshoppe, $24.99.

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Vintage Jungle Capris S M

Sassy giraffe! These pants would be pretty comfy (and stylish!) in the jungle heat. Seen in somegirlsvintage, $20.

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Tiger Beat Brown Black Animal Vintage Indie 80s Button Dress SM

A classic dress with a great shape. Get this one before it's gone! At VintageDress, $38.

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Vintage. MAXI SKIRT. Leopard Print. Leopard Head. Novelty. 70s

A maxi skirt like this doesn't come along often. Wear it long and be a bold diva! At vintageitville, $19.

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HOT Vintage 1970s Blue Purple Black Animal Like Printed Semi Sheer Dress with Pleated Neckline

What do you get when you cross secretary with animal print? SEXY. At SkivvyLuLuVintage, $50.

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SALE. Roar

I totally covet this bathing suit. Leopard is hot. At jenn3star, $8.

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wornAGAIN vintaGE 70s slinky LEOPARD reconstruct dreSS

A slinky dress for a night on the town. Rawr! At wORNaGAIN, $38.

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Bark the Vote

2008-07-10T16:00:00Z

Dogs are definitely getting more political these days. (Or at least their owners are.) It seems our dogs can get us to do just about anything. They want to sleep on the bed? We move over. They whimper and give puppy dog eyes? We give them treats. Bark at the door? We let them out. So how far does the dog’s influence go? For some people, it extends into giving their dog a political voice.

Owners and their politically-minded dogs have a wide range of products to choose from. They can support their favorite presidential candidates with items from several Etsy sellers. I have been inspired to sell dog bandanas bearing the slogans, "Barkers for Barack", "RePUPlicans for McCain", and "Canines for Clinton". AutumnLeavesJewelry creates custom dog tags for Barack fans. Dogs looking for a less subtle way to speak their mind can opt for the full t-shirts from alfieandrex with the logo, "Dogs 4 Obama", emblazoned on their back.

The messages move beyond the upcoming presidential election. An intelligent dog would probably appreciate a "Smarter than the President" bandana available from makeyourdogsmile's shop. Peaceful pups are the perfect candidates for the "Another Puppy for Peace" shirt created by Blackflag317.

Have a dog who is afraid to speak his mind? Never fear! Dog-owners can wear their pets’ opinions as well. Campaign buttons abound in thedogcoatlady’s shop for every breed from Boxers to Westies.

These buttons are not limited to dogs, either. Cats and even ferrets can speak their mind vicariously through their owners.

Want to support your dog’s opinion but not sure which party your dog would endorse? Take this quiz from squidoo.com to quickly determine your dog’s political leanings.

Republican vs. Democrat: Is your dog a donkey or an elephant?
Republican Pets:
1. They bark at passing neighbors and traffic; home security is very important to them.
2. Their ears perk up when Fox News comes on.
3. They are a big spender at the local pet store.
4. Strongly believe pet matrimony should only occur between two cats or two dogs.
5. Believe in the 2nd amendment right to bear teeth and claws.
6. Are for electric border fences for the yard.
7. Want national ID tags for all pets.
8. They advocate for the pet tracking chip — you can never have too much security!

Democrat Pets:
1. They want universal veterinary care for all!
2. They want their treats for free.
3. They socialize with all breeds at the dog park.
4. They prefer their owner uses biodegradable poop bags.
5. Are very concerned with the rising rate of pet food.
6. Have the young puppy and kitten vote locked.
7. Want an end to the war of dogs vs. cats once and for all.
8. Think of Ralph Nadar as the dog catcher.

Once you know where your dog falls, you can register him to vote at mypoliticalpet.com, a "non-partisan, informative, free website dedicated to your pets and the latest political news." There you and your dog can connect with pets from across the nation and discuss the latest political issues. You can also monitor important animal issues including keeping pets out of labs and the dog and cat fur prohibition act.

When you consider the fact that elected officials make decisions that can affect the lives of pets, it doesn’t seem so far-fetched to let your dog influence your vote. After all, it is not just your world, it’s your dog’s, too.

Now I have to wonder, would my dog influence the way I vote? I don’t know…I guess it would depend on what she was wearing at the time, and of course, where she bought it.

Etsy Find: Beware of Dogs!

2008-07-10T10:10:00Z

Pets are a bone of contention for my family. My son, age 4, wants a dog TODAY. (A Rottweiler, to be exact — preferably one named Manny that sleeps under his bed.) My daughter, age 2, is very afraid of dogs. In fact, she’s still talking about the only time she worked up the courage to pet a dog.

So what pet did I find for my kids? This awesome rock star by HoneydewStudio. It's extinct, and therefore less scary for my daughter. It has flames on his skin, so it's cool enough for my son. Best of all, I don't have to get up early to walk Iggy.

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Etsy Pets: Pet Memorials

2008-07-09T12:30:00Z

My passion for clay has taken me down many roads in the 12 years I've been throwing. Most of my experience has been in creating functional pottery (dinnerware, vases, bowls, etc.), but every once in a while I would receive a request to make an funeral urn. Each time I sat at my wheel to make one I was flooded with ideas and inspiration; creating something so meaningful gave a deeper meaning to my work. When I would return to making functional-ware I would miss the satisfaction of creating something that was so much more than an object. So I decided to take it on full time. I love it. Etsy has given me the opportunity to directly connect with families looking for a one of a kind vessel with which to honor their loved ones. The Etsy community has responded well and I've learned so much about how we can celebrate and honor a person's life when they pass. I'd never heard of the blazing Viking funerals or having ashes cast into hundreds of resin pendants for everyone in attendance. My favorite idea for a send off was to have a bit of ash put into hundreds of helium balloons which are released for one last trip around the world.

Pet urns are my favorite to create because I usually hear so much about the pet. In most cases, “pet” just doesn't seem like the right word. "Soul mate" — those are the words I hear most often to describe this little life that has been right at their sides through good times and bad. I have two stories of families that recently lost pets that had been with them for 14 years.

The first came to me as an Alchemy request by fury716. This urn was so special because I was able to inscribe the cat's name on the bottom before it was fired in the kiln.

Fury716 writes,

“I adopted Genji. In 2004, we all moved to Japan. The military required us to get him re-vaccinated, despite my apprehensions. A few months later, we noticed a lump at the injection site. This was the start of two years of surgeries. Finally, in late June, we began palliative care…and I realized I would have to make some tough decisions. I decided I would want him cremated and that I would want a special container, not mass produced. I wanted warmth not seen in mass-produced items. And I wanted something unique too and having purchased all kinds of cool stuff on Etsy, I figured that would be a good place to start.

It was intuition about what shape and color was "right." As far as the conscious part of the selection process, I was drawn to the shape I chose because it reminded me of the details I had studied in college of churches and castles, spires and domes. The pieces had a substance, serenity and gravitas, a bit of monumentality to them. I found the right shape and I chose the cobalt glaze because I'm drawn to deep colors, and the cobalt is such an elegant and soothing color. It's a color I often see in the twilight skies here or in some of the colors of the sea of Japan. Additionally, one of the collars that Genji wore was orange (it was one of our favorite ones on him) and it would make a nice contrast when I set up his memorial.”

The second story that I have to share with you is one that I think of every time I sit to make pet urns. Fellow Etsy seller, DantesSpirit first contacted me to reserve an urn for her 14 and a half year old Akita, Dante. She knew the day was approaching that they would no long be together. Throughout this process we shared stories and pictures.

I could feel, even through an email, the love she had for Dante and what a special dog she was. A few days later I received a convo that read “I lost Dante-Inu yesterday morning. She decided she wanted to go then, and as usual, she did things her way.” My heart was heavy all day and it still brings tears to my eyes. She allowed me access to her live journal. The following passage is always with me as I throw. DantesSpirit writes: “I have a craving. One that will never, ever be satisfied. I want to scritch Dante's head, right between her ears. I want to do this so badly, that my fingers started twitching.”

I am a true Etsy addict and love to see “Etsy transactions” in my inbox, but for me it is always bittersweet.

The Flipbooks of Etsy: Motion Picture Objects

2008-07-08T17:00:00Z

Going to the movies is wonderful, but it is a temporary experience. When the movie is done, all you are left with is a ticket stub. However, with flipbooks you can keep the memories forever, or at least until you spill coffee on them. Until that imminent coffee disaster, a flipbook is an object you can keep as a thing of beauty to watch over and over again.

Besides being fantastic art objects to make and treasure, flipbooks are also a great project for kids. When I was a school teacher, making flipbooks was one of my favorite things to teach. While sequential art may seem simple, making a flipbook entertaining and stylish is a serious process with lots of planning, consideration, and playfulness. Something about having to draw pictures over and over with subtle changes makes for a mesmerizing and creative project. When I taught my students, we did it with notecards and a binder clip, but there are lots of ways to make flipbooks and the possibilities are endless. Etsy has awesome flipbook makers so I email-interviewed them and asked them to describe their process of flipbook making and wax philosophic about flipbooks in general.

lookability makes super sweet flipbooks! Besides listing them for sale in her store, she also posts videos on YouTube.

"I do a lot of thinking beforehand deciding on my theme or topic. Most of the planning is in process as I think through the 'motions' of the characters page by page. I assemble them myself, which I like doing, although it's turning out to be very time consuming.

Usually I come up with an idea, often by adapting a previous piece of art or characters. Most recently I have been putting body parts/pieces of the characters into a template page of 24 book 'pages' I made in InDesign or Illustrator. Then I individually rotate each part for each page to make the animation. Then I print out the 8.5 in x 11 in paper, cut out the pages (previously with x-acto blade, now I have a rotary cutter), add in the title page, cover, end page, back cover. Then I drill tiny holes in the spine of the book (previously with a thick needle — dangerous; now I bought some tiny bits I will try out). Then I bind it by sewing with dental floss. I put a layer of glue on the spine and let it dry, then I dry mount the spine cover onto the book with rubber cement. Finished! Unless I put the book together backwards, which I have done a couple of times.

Flipbooks in general never cease to entertain me. Somehow I feel like I might not 'know what's going to happen' even if I've already flipped a book twenty times. I hope my flipbooks are the kind people just want to flip over and over again."

Hine has been doing stop-motion animation and has been experimenting with using the photos from her animations to make flipbooks!

"I have been making some stop-motion animations since last year, so I already have lots of continuous photographs. I use them with iStopMotion 2. It's a software for making stop-motion animations for Mac ( I just purchased it a few weeks ago, so I haven't actually used it for stop-motions yet). There is a fun feature called 'Print Flipbook' in it. I just import my photos to iStopMotion, and choose the size of flipbook, then print them and cut them. And I assemble the flipbook with glue. For the squid ones, I just found the flipbook feature and I already had the photos, so I didn't have any plans, just started to make them for fun!
If you really like to make flipbooks, and you want to use your photographs or digital illustrations for them, getting the iStopMotion 2 software would be one of the easiest and fastest way to make flipbooks and it costs $49."

PenFelt makes flipbooks and describes her process and inspiration.

"Flipbooks were the one thing I collected when I traveled in Europe, so I have flipbooks from all over the world. My favorite shows the pattern of the stone labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral.

I love Etsy's flipbooks — I have at least one from each seller who sells them.

My process: I am usually inspired by found objects or images. 'Good By' (the flipbook in my shop) has drawings inspired by kid art, and the text is from a note I found on the ground. I cut and pasted these items and shrunk them on the copier, then manually moved the images to make the animation. I prefer to make flipbooks zine style like this. I decide the first and last image, and the rest I just let happen.

The book in my shop is assembled by me. I cut the pages, assembled, hand-stamped the color and bound each one by hand — phew! I am working on some that will be a sent away job. Look forward to seeing them in my shop soon.

If you're getting started, get a flipbook and go through the pages slowly. This way you can see how much movement takes place between the pages to create an animation."

Joe Freedman, aka sarabandepress makes all sorts of contraptions. I recently fell in love with the Retroscope! It's a technically advanced and mechanized flipbook!

"Technically what I'm making is a tabletop Mutoscope. Precursors were the Kinora and the Midgette viewer. My biggest 'improvement' was to lift the cards out of the box and make them visible. In the old days the cards were put into a box to hide the magic and make the box more mysterious. Now we just assume that boxes will do magical things and we take them for granted. Seeing the cards as they flip by makes it more amazing, I think. My Retroscope has only 36 flips so the stories aren't about a linear plot line. Flipbooks give you a lot of flips but since it is linear, the viewer only does it a few times. With the Retroscope, the viewer isn't really sure where the beginning or end is. I like that it goes around and around. Retroscopes are like a slice of life.

Some of them are just instantaneous events. Just prior to WWI there was a company called Biopix that had small studios in Paris and London to make flipbook portraits of customers. Pascal has the actual flipbook of Guillaume Apollinaire, the surrealist poet. Apollinaire has a description of the process of sitting for the portrait. I love the idea that we have an actual document showing Apollinaire moving and reacting to the viewing camera. I'm going to be trying a similar project of making Retroscopes on the spot of people. Probably at a flea market or something like that.

I had the black cardboard box commercially made. All the rest of it I make myself. The laser lets me do short runs with super accuracy. The Retroscope seems like a very simple thing but it works because of the precision laser cutting. The cards are just slipped into the reel. One key aspect is the diagonal slit at the bottom of the card. This relieves the stress and lets the cards flip well. At the bottom of the slit there is a .004 inch circle that stops the cards from ripping. I've run them in an electric drill for hours and the tiny circle prevented any ripping. The precision of the laser makes the simplicity possible.

Mostly I'm interested in the overlap between digital and analog. I love taking a digital file and producing an antiquated analog device. Of course the analog version will probably last longer and be more archival than the digital original.

I'm not an animator so that limits some of what I explore in my Retroscopes. I have a 'make your own' kit that lets animators do their own reels that play in the Retroscopes.

Pell Osborne does wonderful workshops with students doing hand drawn flipbooks. After they draw them, he has a device which digitizes them really quickly so everyone can view it on a big screen at the end of the seminar. Very cool work."

If you love flipbooks and want to tell us about the ones you have found, post in the comments below!

Update: since I wrote this article, two more flipbook makers showed up on Etsy. Check out jamiralaquaglia and greenchairpress's shop!

Please join our Handmade Video Group if you are making videos or animation. If you get a bee in your bonnet and want to get started in video, check out our Getting Started in Video series.

Vegan Tagging: A How-To for Sellers

2008-07-08T15:45:00Z

Samantha Sauvé aka bookworms helps clear things up in the ongoing debate over what should or should not be tagged as "vegan" on Etsy. A vegan is defined by Vegan.org as "someone who, for various reasons, chooses to avoid using or consuming animal products. While vegetarians choose not to use flesh foods, vegans also avoid dairy and eggs, as well as fur, leather, wool, down, and cosmetics or chemical products tested on animals." Samantha kindly elaborates...

Dear Sellers:

Lately, there's been a lot of discussion in the Forums about tagging items as "vegan." A lot of sellers are confused about what does and does not constitute a vegan item — some don't use the tag at all, for fear of being mistaken.

I'm here to say, "Fear not!" Utilizing the "vegan" tag (when appropriate!) can open up your store to a new audience, and may very well direct more business your way — and more sales are never a bad thing! However, abusing the tag can really turn off some customers who care passionately about the types of products they buy.

The nuts-and-bolts idea of veganism is a life free from consumption of animal products. Vegans aim to not use anything that comes from an animal or is tested on an animal.

[Vegan Yarn by hobbledehoy]

The aim of this article is to provide a basic list of materials that are not vegan. Proper tagging helps both the buyer (for ease of finding truly vegan products) and the seller (adds a popular search term to your items, helping to direct more traffic your way).

The following are NOT considered vegan, and should not be tagged as such. Bear in mind that even if these products are organic, they are still not vegan!

Animal fibers:
Alpaca, angora, cashmere, merino, mohair, qiviut, silk, wool, yak, wool felt, velvet made from silk
Bee products:
Beeswax, bee pollen, honey, royal jelly
Foodstuffs:
Butter, casein, cheese, eggs, cow's milk, goat's milk, animal rennet, whey, white sugar*
Other products:
Bone, coral, feathers, animal gelatin, animal glycerin, ivory, lard, leather, shell, pearl, lanolin

*Many brands of white sugar are produced with bone char, which is not vegan. Check out the link at the bottom of this article for more information.

(Fragrance oils are almost always vegan, so if you're selling an "Oatmeal, Honey, & Milk Soap" that is made from vegetable glycerin and uses an oatmeal, honey, and milk fragrance (and no actual milk or honey), you could accurately tag it vegan. You might want to explain that to your customers in the listing's description.)

[Faux Leather Clutch by CrystalynKae]

Etsy is home to several vegan-friendly Teams. Check out Cruelty Free Etsy (tag is CFE Team), EtsyVeg, and VeganEtsy.

Trying to decide if something is vegan can be confusing. Please keep in mind that this list is rudimentary — hopefully, enough to clear up common concerns. If you have any specific questions, please don't hesitate to comment here or contact me — I'm happy to help!

Further Resources:
Vegan Resource Library (Especially helpful for bath and beauty products)
Is it Vegan?
The Vegan Wolf (Food-oriented list)
Veg Family Mmore about white sugar)

Cruelty Free Etsy | EtsyVeg | EFA Etsy for Animals | Handmade4Hounds | VeganEtsy

Looking for more vegan friendly info? Check out our past articles on the subject. Stay tuned for an upcoming article from the VeganEtsy Team.

Etsy Finds: Sugar Gliders

2008-07-08T11:30:00Z

I've been on the lookout for Etsy stuff inspired by sugar gliders and I found this great print of a collage by onecreativegirl. Sugar gliders are cute. If I could have a pet, I would have a sugar glider. I daydream of having one that I could carry around in my pocket and be my little pal. I've heard they bond strongly with humans and, because they are marsupials, you have to carry them in a bag around your neck when they are babies.

(I'll admit it was this video on YouTube that got my sugar glider obsession started!)

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Workin' Like a Dog

2008-07-07T10:43:00Z

One of my favorite shows on the National Geographic Channel has always been Dogs with Jobs, a show that profiles canines with working jobs. It's got something to do with the idea of a dog having a higher purpose than just a household pet. Don't get me wrong, I think that all pets have a purpose, but it's those truly extraordinary pets who fascinate me. It was this fascination that led me to the Forums in search of people who would want to share their pets' stories with me. I got a lot of really great responses to my request, but below you will find the stories of three different Etsy members and their dogs, who prove that they are more than just man's best friend.

[Photograph by fluffnflowers]

Our first extraordinary pet belongs to fluffnflowers and is trained as a Seizure/Motion Disorder dog. The dog, an Airedale named Ellie, assists people who are prone to seizures by alerting them of upcoming episodes. Extensive training to get her used to the public has aided in Ellie's success. Along with regular obedience and aptitude training, Ellie has also been trained to pull a card from her service vest which states: "Stand Back! Call 911 — my partner is having a seizure!" Ellie is not just a working dog though, she also enjoys spending time in the garden, chasing bumblebees and helping her Mom cultivate her gorgeous plants and flowers.

[Photograph by ShoeTheLittleFilly]

Jasper, who raced under the name Atomic Bear, is a retired racing Greyhound who resides in Australia and belongs to ShoeTheLittleFilly. Jasper is a pet therapy dog who visits nursing homes and elderly-resident hostels, to help the residents who are often having a hard time transitioning between their lives at home, and their lives in the new facilities in which they reside. Due to the gentle nature and stature of Greyhounds, Jasper has been a welcome addition to the Pet Therapy program. Training for this program required acclimating Jasper to things like motorized scooters, walking through a crowd, and people who may have unpredictable movements. When Jasper isn't working, he enjoys sleeping, being the head taste tester for his mom's baking, and encouraging his mom to buy new embroidery hoops, by eating her old ones.

[Photograph by MVKnits]

Fettucini, Biscotti, and Sabine are all Maremma, which are livestock guardian dogs, who live on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts with their mom, MVKnits. Maremma are raised to protect flocks of sheep and goats from predators like coyote and domestic dogs. Above being good natured and playful, these dogs are fiercely loyal and will lay down their own lives to protect their flock. Maremma have guarding instincts that don't require any formal training, and while they do have basic obedience training, they will ignore any command you give them if they think it puts the flock in danger. Without these dogs, the flock may be in danger, and MVKnits wouldn't be able to offer her gorgeous fiber for sale on Etsy. Interesting Fact: More sheep are killed by domestic dogs than coyotes or wolves each year.

Further Resources:
Paws with a Cause
Adopt a Greyhound
Maremma

Etsy Finds: Horseback Rider Handmade Metal Sculpture

2008-07-05T14:19:00Z

My Etsy Find is Horseback Rider Handmade Metal Sculpture, by artexchange.

You can't hold a horse in your lap and skritch behind his ears. You can't put a horse on a little wheel and watch him run. Dignified horses don't play “fetch” with tennis balls. But all the same, horses are beloved to human beings, and it's only a little stretch to call them pets. Dogs may be man's best friend, but who can dispute Silver's loyalty to the Lone Ranger? Cats may be clever and cute, but I've seen a horse that was smart enough to do math, or at least smart enough to fake it. Horses are big and beautiful, and almost symbiotically connected to humankind, at least as much as any other species of pet. And after all, who among us hasn't ever concluded a wish list with, “and I want a pony”?

I'll have to admit, I have never had a pet horse. But as I was wandering the byways of Etsy, thinking about pets, I came upon a gleaming horse bearing a knight in shining armor. (Or was it a jockey in shining armor? I couldn't tell, they went by so fast.) I tried to follow along, to see what they were doing. I could tell they were on a mission. All I found was a field full of other horses, and a swordfish.

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Etsy Finds: Woof, Dog Beds, Woof!

2008-07-04T12:12:00Z

So, my woofer, Signahl aka Sidgeemon aka SidgitalDigital aka Sidgee wanted me to tell you all about how older dogs need comfier habitats!!

Our first adventure in the Pacific Ocean here in San Francisco:

She's almost 10 years old now (I cry, sniff! both photos taken within the last year) and she has mild arthritis, even though she loves running on the beach and playing in the water. She says that, even though she sleeps in bed with Mommy, it's not ALL the time, and the couch works, but she also needs a place that is ALL her own.

Here's the couch sleepytime, while Mommy does QA for Etsy:

So, in the search for comfort for my lovely child dog, I found this bed from Chubby Trubby so awesome and perfect for dogs like Signahl! This bed has an extra added feature: You can cuddle with your puppy on it as well, but unfortunately, it cannot be made big enough for adult humans!

Additionally, this bed can be made from pieces of your old jeans if desired, and it COMES WITH the tie dyed pillow! How perfect for my now resident San Franciscan dog!

Enjoy these other pet beds, below. Thanks, Storque Readers!

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Etsy for Animals: Working Together

2008-07-03T15:25:00Z

It all started with an idea and an Etsy forum thread. A year and a half later, Etsy for Animals (EFA) has over 530 members, and is one of the largest Teams on Etsy. For EFA's first Storque post, click here. You can get to the team members' items by searching "team efa."

Although the only membership requirement is a love for animals, many members also choose to donate a portion of their proceeds to animal charity: either to the EFA charity of the month (this July, the charities are Dogs for the Deaf and the Vancouver Aquarium's Marine Mammal Rescue Program) or to other animal charities that they individually support. EFA also has a shop, where all items are donated by EFA members, and 100% of proceeds from sales goes to the EFA charity of the month. When contributions from the EFA shop and EFA members are totaled, many small donations add up to large contributions to animal charity.

How does such a large team function? Electronic communication, shared documents, and the EFA Yahoo group, administered by Darktemptations, are essential since team members live all over the world. But, most importantly, many EFA members have volunteered their time to help. Here are just a few of these hard-working people and the EFA projects they're working on.

[Michele aka mvegan5 and her cat, Moses]

Michele aka mvegan5 is the EFA team founder and co-leader. She's a California artist who currently lives and works in Israel. Michele says, "I've always known I wanted to help animals and be an artist, and have now been able to combine the two." Michele is the contact for new members, writes the EFA newsletter, manages the EFA Flickr group, assists with the EFA shop, and promotes EFA wherever she can.

[El aka ElephantDance modeling her blue and white spiraling cloche]

El aka ElephantDance is the EFA co-leader, and administers the Etsy for Animals shop with the help of eight dedicated volunteers. El recently moved to California from Saipan, a small island in the Northern Mariana Islands. El says, "Seeing the poor neglected animals on the streets of Saipan convinced me that I needed to do something, even if it was one animal at a time." El also manages the EFA blog and her own two Etsy shops while working, going to school, creating lovely crochet, and running a Help the Puppies campaign to provide ongoing medical care for animals she rescued in Saipan.

[Poodle Boating Party by haleyshandmades]

Haley aka haleyshandmades contributes many hours of her free time to maintain the EFA website. She also creates wonderful poodle artwork. Her favorite piece, made when she was a student at Washington University in St. Louis, is Poodles Crossing the Delaware, a huge 3 foot by 5 foot print of poodles fighting in the American Revolution, based on the painting by Emanuel Leutze.

[Emerald Kitty by Lynn aka LolaLynn]

The multi-talented LolaLynn organizes the EFA monthly challenges where EFA members vote on a challenge theme each month, and then members submit entries based on that theme. Entries are then showcased on the EFA blog, in forum threads, and in Treasuries. Lynn says, "I so firmly support El and Michele's mission that I took on coordinating and editing the monthly challenge even though I knew nothing about blogs! In the process I have made new friends and learned a lot."

[Etsy for Animals logo, designed by alilsumptinsumptin]

Welsh felt artist and costume designer, Kim aka Midnightrabbits, keeps track of donation requests that EFA receives from animal charity groups for handmade items to be used in fundraising activities. Many EFA members have contributed their time and talent to create items for these fundraisers.

Fiber artist, Marjorie aka WHSKR, is the EFA publicity coordinator. Marjorie, who lives in New Zealand, says that when she first joined EFA, she was concerned that her relatively small contribution would not make a difference but then realized that the small amounts contributed by many sellers "all grow together to make a donation of several hundred dollars each month. People can touch the other side of the world without leaving home — it's an astonishing thought and a powerful motivator."

You can meet EFA members in the lively and fun weekly EFA team chats hosted by Gena aka Dogonwear every Thursday from 10:30 to 11:30 AM ET in the Etsy Virtual Labs. Come on in to network, learn, and have fun! Gena, who designs canine fashions, also organized a cooperative quilt project as an EFA fundraiser. The quilt will be available soon in the EFA shop. Stay tuned!

Further Resources:
Etsyforanimals.com
Etsyforanimals.blogspot.com
EFA Team Interviews:
mvegan5, ElephantDance, haleyshandmades, LolaLynn, Midnightrabbits, WHSKR, Dogonwear