Search results (tags) for: "michigan"

Quit Your Day Job: julipbags

2009-09-21T16:26:00-05:00

Amby, the self proclaimed Type A personality behind JulipBags, has been able to successfully quit her day job in the mental health field to focus all of her energy on her bag business, which is now bringing home the bacon. After finding herself at a point where she could either dial back on her Etsy business or quit her day job in order to fuel its budding growth, she made the decision to become her own boss. Keep reading to find out why Amby takes being her own boss seriously, how she filed for a utility patent and why buying a BlackBerry has been one of her best business moves to date.

Come on by and chat with her Wednesday, September 23 at 4 p.m. ET in Etsy's Virtual Labs.

How did you originally get into the business of making things?
I’ve been making things for fun and gifts for as long as I can remember, but my first creative business was when I started my own wedding photography business seven years ago while also working a full-time day job. I loved the work, but eventually it was too exhausting to work full time during the week and then shoot a wedding all day Saturday and sometimes Sunday too. I couldn’t do both, and at that time, the day job took precedence.

I started Julip Bags just over two years ago when I made a Roman shade for our living room window and remembered how much I LOVED to sew, then discovering how many gorgeous fabrics are out there now! I love bags and purses and already had quite the knitting bag collection, so it was a logical next step. I found out about Etsy from all the reviews on Lime & Violet’s podcast, checked it out, and discovered what a wonderful platform it was for an online crafty business.

When you first started selling on Etsy, did you have dreams or goals of eventually quitting your day job?
Honestly, not at first. My husband JP is a chef, and I was working 9-5 in the mental health field. We don’t have kids, so it started more as a way to keep busy since we had such opposite schedules, and to provide a little extra spending money. I was genuinely shocked when I sold my first bag just a couple of days after opening up my shop. I was also very attached to the security of a steady paycheck...the idea of not being able to pay the bills is a sure-fire way to send me into a full-on freak out.

Did you do anything to prepare ahead of time?
I didn’t really do anything that I hadn’t been doing all along. I had a DBA (Doing Business As) and sales tax license from the start, and I do my own bookkeeping with Quickbooks. I’ve treated Julip Bags like a business from the beginning, even if it was a part-time one. When I did start having “Wow, I would love to do JUST THIS full time!” thoughts, I bought a BlackBerry, and it’s absolutely the best business investment I’ve ever made, right on up there with my laser printer! With an online business in a global economy, people want responsiveness from a seller or else they’ll go elsewhere. With my BlackBerry, I’m immediately notified of all new sales, Convos, and emails. If I’m not at home, I can respond from my BlackBerry so I often have people comment on how quickly I respond to inquiries. I also have my own dedicated working area; for a while I had my workspace in our kitchen, but then I took over our larger guest room so now I have physical boundaries to contain the chaos.

I actually quit my day job at the dumbest possible moment from a logical standpoint. We live in Metro Detroit, my husband had been unemployed for several months and had just taken a new job with a significant pay cut. My day job was bringing in the majority of our income AND our health insurance AND was fairly secure in a very insecure economy. I had come to the point where I could either do Julip Bags full time or back off it, because I had reached my limit juggling both at once. At that time, I’d invested so much in bringing Julip Bags to where it was, I couldn’t imagine scaling back. So I took a deep breath, gave notice to my boss, bought a bottle of champagne and went home to give JP the final word. He was incredibly supportive although I know he probably questioned my sanity more than once, and my family and friends are the greatest support system anyone could ask for. There is no way I would be where I am without their unwavering cheerleading and support, and I will never be able to thank them enough!

What are the most effective ways you have promoted and marketed your Etsy business? What's your best marketing tip?
I have to be completely honest, I owe so much to the knitting community, it’s very interconnected and online-savvy. You can make or break a business on word of mouth alone, between knitting groups, blogs, podcasts, online forums, and now Ravelry. It’s an incredibly supportive worldwide group that supports and nurtures, one that other mediums don’t necessarily have.

My most effective promotion, marketing, and advertising has been through Ravelry, hands-down. The only paid advertising I do is through Ravelry, I have a fan group there, and it’s an incredible gateway for real-time feedback, suggestions from my customers, questions, etc. I also have a Facebook fan page since Ravelry can only be accessed by members at this time.

My main advice to others is to be confident in yourself; when people ask what I do for a living, I don’t dither about “Oh, I have my own business,” I confidently tell them that I’m a bag designer and then go on to explain from there. I always carry an example of my work, have business cards and don’t hesitate to hand them out, as do my friends and family. Being shy about tooting your own horn will not make sales, you have to be willing to do the legwork to get your name out there. I would also suggest that you try to diversify and stay keenly aware of customers’ needs while staying true to your vision for your business…in my knitting bag shop I have dog poop bags! Designer bags for poop! But they’re one of my customers’ favorites!

What have you found to be an unsuccessful promotion?
I’m on Twitter now, but I don’t think I have enough interesting things to post to really garner a following. I’d just rather read other people’s Tweets. I also used to give donations for contests, giveaways and doorprizes for anyone who approached me, but I’ve learned to review these requests with a critical eye and ask myself if it will actually benefit my business. Sometimes they’re totally worth it, sometimes I know it would be smarter to list that bag for sale in the shop than to give it away.

Walk us through your typical workday.

I normally wake up around 8 a.m.; I do my blog-surfing, emailing, and other quiet stuff before JP wakes up. While he takes our two Jack Russells for a walk and gets ready for work, I’ll start packing up any orders that came in overnight.
After he leaves for work around 12:30, I head down to the post office, come back home, put Pandora on the computer and really buckle down to work. I try to make bags a day ahead of listing, so first I’ll take photographs outside in my light tent and list items.
Then I’ll start making new bags, and that keeps me busy for the rest of the afternoon. Our Russells wake up and start demanding playtime around 5 p.m., so I’ll stop for dinner and try to either take them for a walk or play ball in the backyard.
After that I usually pop a movie into my laptop and finish up the bags for the day. I wish I could say that I drop work when JP gets home between 9:30-11, but oftentimes I’m still working while he relaxes after his day.
When I first started doing Julip Bags as my full-time job, I planned to take off Mondays and Tuesdays with JP, but that has definitely not happened. I don’t have any set days off now, but if I’m genuinely in need of a break, I don’t feel bad about catching up on business necessities and then kicking back to knit or going out for sushi and martinis with friends. Letting go of my Type A personality guilt for taking time off has been hard, but I know I need it to be productive and creative.

What do you enjoy most about not having a day job? Is there anything you miss?
Aside from being my own boss (and who doesn’t dream of that?!?), I like that the buck stops with me. I call myself the Owner, Chief Creative Officer, and Chief Grunt because ultimately the success or failure of my business is up to me. Not my supervisor, not my lazy coworker, ME. So many people have told me that I need to hire help, but I would never be able to truly relax without being completely in control of every aspect of my business and knowing that it’s all up to my standards. And yes, I’m a control freak, but I’m okay with that.

What's the hardest part about running your own business?
The main thing is the lack of a guaranteed paycheck and health insurance. We just found out that it will cost too much to add me to JP’s insurance through his job, so I’ll be paying to self-insure. It’s tough, but it’s doable as long as you have a written budget and stick to it. Additionally, it’s ALL up to you, even if you’re exhausted or sick or dealing with crises in your personal life, you still have to make your product, market it, provide customer service, etc. if you want to continue to sell. Not having someone to lean on for nitty-gritty help is the flipside to being your own boss!

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself? What advice would you give someone else?
I would have stockpiled a lot more money! Although, in retrospect, if I’d waited until I genuinely felt that I could take the plunge, I never would have done it! My advice is to always treat it like a business, even when facing that reality is big or scary or uncomfortable. Just a couple of months after quitting my day job, I found myself in the position of hiring an intellectual property attorney and filing for a utility patent. Talk about WHOA! My friends and family pay full price when they buy a bag. I don’t answer the home phone, do laundry, or wear my pajamas while I’m working. This IS my full-time job now, and I treat it as such.

Don’t be afraid to form collaborations with other Etsy artisans! I have a blog with two friends called The Boss Knits about the ups and downs of indiepreneurship. Also, get out of the house…working from home can be very isolating and lonely, so be sure to recognize when you need to get out of the grind and be around real people! It will re-energize you and give you that deep breath of fresh air that you need!

What goals do you wish to accomplish in the coming year for your Etsy business?
I really want to start doing craft shows regularly, I’ve already taken a step in that direction for the holiday season. Other than that, I’d just love to keep coming up with new designs and providing the best customer service I possibly can! I’m blessed with a very loyal customer base, and I want to make sure I live up to their expectations!

Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Always take your business seriously, because if YOU don’t, no one else will. But at the same time, don’t forget that YOU are the living breathing heartbeat of your business and take care of yourself accordingly! And finally, don’t lose sight of why you quit your day job in the first place…it’s so unbelievably rewarding that I can’t even imagine going back to the corporate grind!

Thanks to Amby for sharing her story. Have your own questions to ask? Come on by and chat with her Wednesday, September 23 at 5 p.m. ET in Etsy's Virtual Labs.

You can see some of Amby's beautiful work in the Related Items. Check out previous Quit Your Day Job posts here.

Gift Ideas: Shop Local Milwaukee with Jenniferladd

2008-12-13T14:17:00-05:00

Shop Local this holiday season and support independent craftspeople. It's a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and get packages more quickly! This post comes from Jennifer Ladd, aka jenniferladd, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. That's her in the photo above. Where is she? Read on to find out!

If it's a lazy morning in Milwaukee and you're trying to find me, chances are I'll be here: the Milwaukee Art Museum. My two-year-old daughter and I will be strolling through the galleries on a treasure hunt for triangles. Or maybe we'll be counting the circles we see. Or searching for dogs and cats hiding in the paintings. The Milwaukee Art Museum is one of my favorite places in our city and we both love to come here for inspiration. I look for color combinations and shapes to use in my purses and bags, and my daughter is always inspired to come home and draw her own colorful masterpieces.

Our museum is not huge — it's definitely not the Louvre or the Tate or even a very large museum by most standards — but its beauty comes from the diversity of pieces it has from all different genres of art. In fact, the reason I love the art museum so much is the same reason I love Milwaukee so much. Our city is not as large as Paris, London, or New York, but our beauty comes from our diversity. We are one beautiful city made up of so many different, unique neighborhoods. You can still get delicious plump Italian olives in the old Italian neighborhood. I love the chrusciki pastries from the Polish bakery at the end of my street. And of course, German beer flows all around our city. Each neighborhood in Milwaukee is like a small town with people who know each other, maybe even grew up together, and work together to preserve their uniqueness. Each neighborhood has its own feel, its own specialties, and its own character. And as Milwaukeeans, we are proud of our own neighborhoods, and also proud of how they each contribute to the beauty of Milwaukee. We make it a point to celebrate all of our cultures with dozens of ethnic festivals each year —T Bastille Days, Polish Fest, Festa Italiana, German Fest, Asian Moon Festival, Irish Fest, African World Fest, Mexican Fiesta. Milwaukee may not be a huge city, but it is a masterpiece in my mind, and each part of my town adds the splash of color that makes Milwaukee as beautiful as it is.

I hope you enjoy these colorful finds from Milwaukee. Their uniqueness — and the diversity of the artists who create them — is a part of what makes Milwaukee beautiful!

Ken Neitzel of UrbanTurn: "I'm fortunate to live near a gem of a county park, Grant Park. This part of the park is known as 'Seven Bridges.' It's an area that was developed as a Works Progress Administration project during the 1930's. They built lannon stone stair cases, paths and foot bridges over ravines that leads through the woods to Lake Michigan."

Susie of Mooi Bags: "This is one of my favorite places close to home, Whitnall Park Botanical Gardens. My family and I love to take walks here in the summer to enjoy the most beautiful variety of roses and in fall to see the gorgeous colors, or we ride bikes through the park. As you can see from my photo, we are in the throes of winter here in Wisconsin. What can you do at the gardens this time of year, you might ask? How about a delicious brunch every Sunday? Yum-o!"

Dana of Magical Pony Farm and Tom of Oh Yeah Studios: "Here we are on our snow covered balcony in Milwaukee. We put a candleholder on the balcony so that when friends have trouble finding our house we just start singing to them 'Candle in the Wind.' Sorry Elton. Our singing doesn't exactly do that song justice."

Rebecca Cook of RosyBird: "Here I am on my block in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Milwaukee. Even though I am in the city, I seek out all the nature I can find to enjoy. I watch the birds at my bird feeder and the squirrels running around like crazy chasing each other on tree branches and power lines. There are woods and trails near my house that I bike and hike regularly. When I am out there I take in the rich, constantly changing colors and shapes of my environment. This feeds my soul and nourishes my creativity. It is truly amazing what fresh air and sunshine can do for you everyday."

Tara Scheuerman of Cracked Designs: "This picture is taken of me by the lakefront in Milwaukee. I'm lucky enough to live close to the lake in Bayview, so I frequent here often, especially in the summer. Milwaukee has a beautiful lakefront and there's always tons of events going on down here in the summer."

Papavier: "At the local diner in my neighborhood."

Tracy Renner of trcreations: "Milwaukee is an amazing city, a place that inspires me every day and I'm proud to call home. The picture is of our River Walk near Old World Third Street, a quaint few blocks in downtown Milwaukee with old red brick roads. I love our city's history and revitalization of downtown neighborhoods developing old buildings and warehouses into new urban homes, retail boutiques, great restaurants, lounges and brew pubs. This is one of those areas!"

Jox and Eliot of Daisuki: "Eliot and I are standing inside the Golda Meir Library (the UW-Milwaukee library). I've worked there for the past two years, and Eliot works there as well. As UWM students, it's one of our favorite places not only at the school, but in Milwaukee. It's comfy and it's home. We took this picture in the Art Book section, where I spend way too much time."

Thank you to jenniferladd for scoping out these Milwaukee based Etsians!

Shoppers, get your holiday gifts this season with Shop Local and meet your talented neighbors (shrink that carbon footprint too)! Find sellers belonging to the local Wisconsin Street Team!

Shop Local Posts | Gift Ideas | Shop Local in Your Area

Fresh Shops: Ruth Marks

2008-09-11T13:20:00-05:00

My pal Michael Troutman from the band Awesome Color has heard a lot about Etsy (mostly because I've been touting its praises to everyone I know). Michael in turn mentioned all the wonderful things he heard to his friend — artist and sculptor Ruth Marks — and encouraged her to open a shop. Ruth knew about Etsy, but wasn't aware that it was a marketplace for fine art as well as crafts. Voila! A little over a month ago, Ruth opened her shop and I was mesmerized by what I saw. Her paper clay sculptures of women and children are beautifully rendered and have an eerie dreamlike quality. As a filmmaker interested in the work of Jan Svankmajer, The Brothers Quay and Bread & Puppet, this work resonates with me not only as visually pleasing objects, but as physical manifestations of some netherworld that I long to explore and dream about...

Here's a little interview we did with this Fresh Shop.

Can you tell us a little about the person behind ruthmarks?
I live in Michigan with my husband and two children. My husband James is an entrepreneur as well. (He runs a screen printing shop called VGKids.) It's perfect, because we work as a team to make our family life work and to make our businesses thrive. My studio is an converted kitchen in our old Victorian house. I like integrating home life and art making, it works well for me. Currently I sell most of my work through galleries and the occasional art fair. Making this Etsy shop has been a fun way to make my work even more widely available. The feedback has been wonderful.

What inspires you as a creative person?
Most of my imagery comes from childhood dreams and memories. I love to read and see films, and I think those narratives leak in to my work as well.

The doll artists of NIADA have an incredibly high quality craftsmanship and skill. I love going to their conferences to see the work in person and meet the artists. They are very generous group that I learn a lot from.

Of course the Pop-surreal or New Brow genre of work that is happening on the West Coast is so exciting. I love to keep track of the artists you can see in Juxtapoz magazine or in galleries like White Walls in San Francisco, Thinkspace in Los Angeles, Roq La Rue in Seattle.

How do you like Etsy so far? What are your favorite features of the site?
I love the accessibility of Etsy. I love that is always changing and that the staff seem to have a good eye and pick out fun things to highlight. I love just searching around and finding new artists all over the world. Sometimes being an artist can be isolating; it is good to remember that there are so many of us out there making beautiful things.

Anything else you'd like to add is also welcome!
I have a website at www.ruthmarks.com with links to some of my favorite artists and examples of my past work.

Looking for more Etsy newbies? Check out our previous Fresh Shops coverage!

Etsy in Action: Upcoming Events August 15 - 21, 2008

2008-08-14T11:26:00-05:00

While it's still summer, why not grab the family and get out to see what your fellow art and craft lovers are up to? Here are a few of our picks, plus lots of ways for you to get involved. Let us know what's happening in your area by sharing in the comments below.

August 16, Craftin' Outlaws, Columbus, Ohio

This is an event not to be missed, with cool free swag bags given out to the first 100 people through the door, free ice cream, crafty workshops and entertainment on stage, a fun game to play to benefit charity, and of course, amazing handmade creations to buy!

For more information, and a complete schedule of crafting demos (oh yeah!) check out the site.

August 17th, Grand Rapids, Michigan

The Fulton Street Artisan's Market is hosting an Etsy Day. The EtsyWMI team will be attending along with many other local crafters. Come out and meet the team. The market is open from 11am-3pm every Sunday, now through September.

Calls for vendors: Mark your calendars now for these upcoming events, better yet, why not get involved?

Maker Faire, Austin, Texas

This two-day, family-friendly event celebrates the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) mindset and features interactive exhibits organized by individual enthusiasts, hobbyist groups and clubs as well as student groups. It's for creative, resourceful folks who like to tinker and love to make things. Maker Faire is an opportunity to share what you do with others.

Call for Makers! Are you a maker who would like to show off your project at Maker Faire Austin, October 18th - 19th? The call for makers is now open!

Click here for entry details.

The Glass House Swap Meet, Pomona, CA

Saturday September 20th, 10am-3pm at The Glass House ...with To Die For Clothing, Kid Robot, Obey, Paul Frank, Rockett, Alphacult, Hooligan Skate, The Militia Group, Kung Fu Records, Trey Q, SP Radio 1, London Calling, and many more to be announced!

Plus, The Handmade District featuring Etsy sellers: AnnieRexic, Armas, CutthroatBodyArt, EveryLittleCounts, JaneClothing, LeanDogPottery, LuckyFindDesigns, MJPartetc, SkullFlower, SpittingImage, SpunByVer, Susuten, VozClothingandArt, Windchime, and ZombieFactory.

We are still looking for more handmade vendors. For more information, please convo LuckyFindDesigns.

City of Craft, Toronto, Canada

Becky of Sweetie Pie Press, and one of City of Craft's organizers, passed on this post, she says:

(Note our hilarious Canadian spelling differences):

City of Craft returns December 13th for a second year of craft vendors, local craft organisations, installations, activities & more!

This community-based craft culture event invites local community-arts groups, craft based initiatives/projects, studios, and other organizations to do outreach to the public alongside a large-scale curated craft fair and craft-based installations. The 2008 City of Craft event will also feature crafty activities in satellite West Queen West neighbourhood businesses and galleries.

Applications are being sought through August 31st (midnight deadline) for craft vendors, community exhibitors, and craft-based installations. Check cityofcraft for FAQ's, applications and more information as it arises.

See below for a small sampling of the Etsy sellers exhibiting at this weekend's Craftin' Outlaws. Best of luck to all involved!

Made it out to any events we've listed in this column? Upload your "Etsy in Action" photos to Flickr here.

Etsy Finds: Amazing Dog Art

2008-04-28T14:30:00-05:00

It's pet week here at the Storque! Keep tabs on the Etsy Pets featured column for all the cute pet stuff you can handle. Pets, ahoy!

My very best friend in all the world is a Boston Terrier named Satchel. We've had so many fun times together, and the amazing dog art of Brian Rubenacker reminds me of all the laughs we've shared throughout the years. Check out his etsy shop at rubenacker.etsy.com. He paints all dogs, but is partial to Boston Terriers, and his work captures the personality of the breed so perfectly.

Here is a picture of my good buddy, Satchel, relaxing after a long day of chasing squirrels in the backyard.

Need a daily fix of Etsy Finds? Sign up for the Etsy Finds e-mail! Conveniently delivered to your inbox on the daily!

Etsy Success Stories: OhMyCavalier

2008-02-04T14:22:00-05:00

You've seen those big sellers on Etsy who seem to be making sales left and right. You have to wonder how they've made it to where they are: can they actually be FOR REAL? What's their recipe for success? And just how do they do it?

This week's installment of our Etsy Success Story series features Juliana Swaney of OhMyCavalier. Dwelling in Michigan with a BFA in Printmaking from Maine College of Art, Juliana Swaney is a one woman show running the success that is OhMyCavalier. In just under two years of selling on Etsy, Juiana has steadily worked her way to the top with an impressive 1,200 sales! She is inspired by fairy tales, animals with sharp claws, Victorian hair weaving, antique ephemera and postcards, bird song, nursery rhymes, lace, cabinets of curiosities, and anthropomorphism of all kinds. Keep reading to get inside this mythical and magical head that Juliana has shared with us.

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
I think I started hearing the name in various blogs, so eventually I investigated. It was fortunate timing because I was trying to find a way of selling my work online that was doable for me with my limited computer skills!

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
It’s probably a combination of different things, but I think a big key to any success I’ve had is that I am always thinking about my artwork and my shop and trying to improve it. The work itself is the most important thing of course, but when you’re selling art over the internet clear presentation plays a big roll in how your work comes across.

I make an effort to have a cohesive look in the shop, with interesting, thoughtfully made things. Even if I’m selling several sorts of things like prints, cards, buttons, etc. I am constantly reevaluating all the pieces and thinking about how the shop looks as a whole. Before I list anything new I spend a minute looking at it and thinking about how it will effect other things in the shop, like curating a tiny show! My work has changed a lot over the last year, and I think I’m getting a little better with presentation and descriptions the more I work at it.

I also try to practice good customer service and to always, always be friendly. I try to answer convos and emails right away and accommodate all special requests that I can. I don’t know if that’s a key to success, but it’s good business!

How do you promote your shop?
Mostly I rely on word of mouth. I’ve gotten some lucky mentions in blogs such as Design*Sponge and Modish, and that kind of exposure tends to snowball a bit.

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders?
It’s a pretty simple system really: I print orders the day I get them and put them in a folder to keep them orderly until I’m ready to pack them. If the buyer has any change of address or special request I mark that down on the form in red pen. If the buyer hasn’t paid I mark that on the order and put those into a different folder (and I usually send a friendly reminder after a few days). I address the envelopes and put the corresponding envelopes with the order forms. I have all my prints and cards arranged, bagged in their cello bags, and marked by title so I can easily look at the order, find the prints and put it in the envelope (I also usually include a little extra thank you gift). When they’re packed I put all the order forms into a binder arranged by month so if there is ever a problem with an order or I need to double check something I can easily find the original. I get steady but not overwhelming sales, so I handle them all myself, really it’s just a matter of not falling behind. I still take all my orders to the Post Office myself, so I’m on a first name basis with everyone there!

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers? What do you do to gain repeat buyers?
Mostly new I think, but I have a few really loyal repeat customers. I add new pieces to the shop fairly often, and they are all in limited editions, so I have some buyers who look out for the new pieces and buy them as soon as they are listed.

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
The art side is always pretty easy to stay motivated about since I’m happiest when I’m working, and I can’t imagine wanting any other job. Even if I feel like my art isn’t going well, I always feel better when I’m at least working on something, even just jotting down ideas. I hate being idle. It’s with the business side that can sometimes be a little tough to stay motivated with. Staying on schedule, book keeping, answering emails, can all sometimes get overwhelming. Getting positive feedback about my work is always a good motivation though. It always gives me a bit of a lift when people say something nice in the ‘note to seller’ or take the time to convo me. When I buy something I always try to tell the seller how much I like their work, or at least “thank you” because I know how much that can mean sometimes.

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job too?
I Etsy full time, and I also have my work in a few online shops such as Little Paper Planes and The Shiny Squirrel, and I show in galleries when I can.

If you "Etsy" full time, were you able to quit your day job due to your success selling on Etsy?
I was lucky enough to find Etsy right after graduating from college, and I honestly started my shop to make ends meet while I looked for a “real job." After not too long though I realized that the only way I was going to be happy was if I actually tried to make a living selling my artwork. That always seemed like a vague mystic unachievable goal, until I found Etsy and saw how well other people were doing on it. So I make a go of trying to make my living on my own terms, and it’s gone better than I could have hoped!

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
One of my favorites is looking at other seller’s favorite items and sellers. I always think its so interesting to see what the people whose work I like are looking at and interested in. I’ve found some wonderful sellers that way that I wouldn’t have found on my own.

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop one year from now?
I’d really love to buy a tabletop letterpress this year and experiment with that.

What piece of advice would you give to a new seller on Etsy who might be feeling discouraged? Do you have a quick tip or trick that you have learned over time you would be willing to share?
I feel strange giving advice because I definitely don’t feel like an expert! What I am always telling myself is; don’t expect overnight success, love what you do, and work constantly.

Anything else you want to add?
I’d just like to say how honored and humbled I feel by all the interest and support that I’ve gotten though the Etsy community, and thank you for supporting me and my art!

To see what Juliana hearts on Etsy the most, check out the gallery of Etsy finds below:

Fresh Shops: NorthForge

2008-01-24T16:15:00-05:00

NorthForge caught my eye with this awesome ceramic tile coffee table, and won my love with his collection of furniture made from wrought iron and salvaged materials. We caught up with the artist briefly to talk to him about what he does and how he's settling into the Etsy lifestyle.

What brought you to Etsy?
My craft has taken me down several avenues. One is mostly commissioned decorative functional metalwork. Another is making pieces based on my own desire and need to create. When I was looking for an outlet to showcase the pieces of my own design, I consulted my brother, Chris Ryniak, who is evolved in the arts community on a grandiose scale. Without hesitation he said “Etsy. You need to be on Etsy.” And here I am. Thanks, Chris.what brought you to etsy?

When did you start making things?
I need to make stuff. It is my nature. I made my first piece of furniture when I was in grade school. It was an ugly wooden bench painted white, and I never stopped creating from there. Living near Detroit, I worked in the field of mechanical design for nine years, all the while building furniture in my garage. This job was lame so I switched gears and took a two-year apprenticeship at an architectural metal studio as well as taking blacksmithing classes at the Collage for Creative Studies. Now I run my own metal studio with my wife full time, as well as raising my daughter, who was born in 2006.

A lot of my items are functional. I get design inspiration everywhere, especially found and discarded objects. I have never been able to create my ideas as fast as I come up with them, so I hope to continually add items to my Etsy shop to keep it fresh.

What's your favorite thing about Etsy so far?
Etsy is AWESOME! It creates an atmosphere of goodness. I get a lot of people sending me messages just saying my pieces are cool. This is a great motivator for me. It makes me want to push my skills to the next level. And even though Etsy is global, it has a cool sense of community. The ability to shop locally is sweet. I have also met a few people around town that happened to have Etsy shops as well.

Be sure to check out the rest of his shop, as well as some of the other great blacksmiths here on Etsy!

Gift Ideas: Shop Local Michigan

2007-12-10T13:30:00-05:00

Michigan state, representing!

This is list of sellers from Michigan. I have been lucky enough to have become friends with some of them through the treasuries, and they are amazing sellers and great people!

Editorial note:
Keep your BuyHandmade Pledge and support local artists! See all of the Storque Shop Local pieces.

We want to do a series of Shop Local via Etsy posts, so give the Storque@etsy.com a shout and show us who your favorite 18-21 local Etsy sellers are. We can't wait to see what the Etsy Universe has to offer! You could consider your city or state or country local. That's up to your interpretion.

P.S. Don't send us tons of attachments with photos please. But do send us a screenshot of your Poster Sketch and 18 to 21 item numbers separated by commas. Yay!

P.P.S. Hey sellers! Fill in your geographical location so it's easier to find you! Here's how with the Geolocator.

Gift Ideas: Shop Local Detroit

2007-12-07T07:26:00-05:00

I used to be a founding member of the Michigan Indie Crafters of Etsy. When I moved to Brooklyn I had to sadly say goodbye - but my time with these Detroit artist is very much missed. I wish I could fly up and attend their holiday show December 8th at the Royal Oak VFW (it was literally right around the corner from my old house!). Please pop by and tell them I miss 'em! Here are the details:

What: Holiday Craft Extravaganza (with all Etsy sellers!)

When: Saturday December 8th, 11am to 6pm

Where: VFW Acorn Post 214 E 4th Street Royal Oak, MI

If you can't make it - check out their work below and order online! There are some great gifts in here!