A bit of an update...

I haven't posted too many personal things on my blog lately.  I've been busy trying to be productive.  I think some of it has to do with the fact that I am going to be putting myself out there a little more than usual.  I have been trying to silk screen my own journal covers.  I have been struggling with materials more than the actual designs.  I do admit that my first design is a tad 3rd grade... but I love to doodle, and I came up with this...

I printed this onto fabric, but I'm used to working with card stock & papers.  What do you guys think?  Like I said... I like to doodle.  I tried different colors.  I tried on card stock.  We'll just say a lot of trial and error, a lot. The next prints I make will be on blue... I think.

So aside from all my frustrations & growling & hair pulling I was on the front page of Esty TWICE in the last two days!  I added the craftcult versions of the front pages to my sidebar because Etsy hasn't gotten the screenshots to their flickr pool yet.  It takes them a while sometimes.  I can wait...

So not wanting to get myself frustrated further, I put off doing anything for my shop tonight & joined my husband in the studio.  I haven't gotten a chance to work with clay since we moved in... so this was long overdue.  I pressed out a few platter molds.  I was only out there for about 45 minutes, but it was nice getting back into it.  I've never been able to throw, but I make a great assistant.  We are de-molding them in the morning.  Wish me luck!  I hope they come out nice... but if not I can just start over :)  I love clay!

And an update for my husband's shop... he is working on getting enough for another firing.  He made a dish mold for a butter dish, but I think it would make a perfect chocolate or small cookie platter.  Of course there will be mugs... lots of mugs :)  He has also made some tumblers that are extruded and then altered on the wheel.  I'm hoping we will have tons of wonderful people to come help with the firing, it is going to be COLD!  I think I might have to find a great hot cocoa recipe before then!

Featured Etsian... 2SweetThings!

Sally: What brought you to Etsy?

Mandy: I ran into etsy from another blog (I'm not even sure which one!), and I was immediately hooked! I signed up for an account on that first day, even though it was almost a year before I began selling. It kind of felt like 'home' and I found myself spending hours just searching and sort of drinking in all the amazing shops and products.

Sally: Who or what  inspires your creations?

Mandy: Mostly I am inspired by my darling little ones, Remy, who is almost 4, and Halle, who is 1. I also find inspiration in random things like a Josh Groban song, a dress from an Audrey Hepburn movie, or a favorite Psalm. I find that God waits to inspire anytime I'm willing to listen!

Sally: What time of day do you work best and why?

Mandy: Usually I find the time to create during nap time and/or after their bedtime. I am truly a morning person and love to work early, but out of necessity I work when I can keep little fingers away from my supplies.

Sally: Who do you market to? Who do you see buying your work?

Mandy: My items are great for parents who want to be a little bit bold and funky in their baby gear but don't want to spend a ton of money or lose the functionality of the piece. I have sold a lot to young, new moms and also those buying gifts for new babies. I am finding that people think my items make great gifts so I try to incorporate great packaging into the items as well.

Sally: What item do you like to work on the most and why?

Mandy: I love working on all my items, truthfully, especially new items. Baby things make pretty quick projects because they are so small, and that is gratifying. Right now I am working on patterns for dresses that will be coming in the spring, choosing fabrics and making sketches, and that is really exciting to me!

Sally: What is your favorite beverage while you work?

Mandy: Coffee. I drink gallons of coffee!

Sally: What is something that you don’t do well that you’d like to do better?

Mandy: I have a really hard time valuing my work, as do I think a lot of hand-makers.. I wish it were easier to find the kind of confidence to really see the items for what they are!

Sally: If you could interview your main influence who would it be and what would you ask?

Mandy: I have a hard time pin-pointing this one because so many things influence me!

Sally: What do you listen to while you work? While you don’t work?

Mandy: During nap time I usually have soap operas on... I know, I know, smut, but it's my guilty pleasure! Otherwise I listen to a lot of silly songs with my littles=). I also adore Josh Groban, Frank Sinatra and Doris Day- I really think I was born in the wrong era!

Featured Etsian... PrettyNPreppy!

Sally: What brought you to Etsy?

Jennifer: I've known about Etsy for awhile and when mom and I decided to start a business and make some of our own products, I knew Etsy was the best place for us to get our feet wet.

Sally: Who or what  inspires your creations?

Jennifer: Without a doubt, the fabrics.  There are so many designers out there making fabulous fabric lines.  As soon as we see one, ideas start flowing as to how we can best showcase it.

Sally: What time of day do you work best and why?

Jennifer: Afternoons and evenings tend to be the most productive around here.  No sense even trying to work before caffeine has been consumed.

Sally: Who do you market to? Who do you see buying your work?

Jennifer: We market mainly to women although we have had some requests for more "manly" designs.  I would think college students, moms, eco-friendly type people would be drawn to our work.

Sally: What item do you like to work on the most and why?

Jennifer: So far, we've liked everything we've worked with.

Sally: What is your favorite beverage while you work?

Jennifer: We get so wrapped up in making stuff that drinks usually go warm.  We will celebrate their completion though with a beer. :)

Sally: What is something that you don’t do well that you’d like to do better?

Jennifer: I just started sewing in June so there's still a lot I need to learn.

Sally: If you could interview your main influence who would it be and what would you ask?

Jennifer: Starting out, we looked towards Lily Pulitzer as a role model - all the pinks, greens, and flamingos!  I would just love to know what words of encouragement she could give us.

Sally: What do you listen to while you work? While you don’t work?

Jennifer: While we work, our go to music is Pink Floyd which seems kinda weird but it works for us.  While we're not at work, I tend to stick with the 70's classic rock, 80's new wave, or 90's grunge.  Mom leans a little more country.

Janet & Jennifer, Thank you for taking the time to answer all of the questions!  It is always so much fun getting to know new people!

Readers, Thank you for joining us once again... it is a joy to have so many interested in what is behind the shop!

Whole lotta hedgies...

Featured Etsian... AbsolutelySmall!

Sally: What brought you to Etsy?
Claire: I've always wanted to share and sell my artwork with a larger audience. Etsy really enables me to do that, and fairly easily too. I'd really rather not do all that coding myself.

Sally: Who or what  inspires your creations?
Claire: I'm inspired by fiddling around with words, bad puns, good fabric, and all things cute. My pugs and bunny keep me pretty inspired, too. There's nothing like watching some animal antics to perk your brain up.

Sally: What item do you like to work on the most and why?
Claire: Making the regular 7" Chickenpants is absolutely my favorite thing to do. For one thing, it allows me to play with all that fabric I've been hoarding. Nothing compares to seeing another Chickenpants come to life!

Sally: What is your favorite beverage while you work?
Claire: Coffee. Coffee. Coffee. Wait, is this a trick question?

Sally: What is something that you don’t do well that you’d like to do better?
Claire: I'm always working on improving my time management skills. I know that's not a 'creative' answer...but the better I get at balancing time, the more creative projects I could do!

Sally: If you could interview your main influence who would it be and what would you ask?
Claire: I'd love to talk to Maira Kalman. I don't know specifically what I'd ask her...I'd just want to know everything!

Sally: What do you listen to while you work? While you don’t work?
Claire: I've been listening to They Might Be Giants a lot lately. Jonathan Richman, the Katamari Damacy soundtrack, and Of Montreal are always on pretty heavy rotation too.

Sally: Do you have any deals or promos to share?
Claire: I've got a few retired plushie designs that are still waiting to find homes.  (http://www.etsy.com/shop/absolutelysmall?section_id=5927960) They're marked down to $11 each already...but there's also a listing or two floating around the shop where you can buy two of the Poppets/ Wee Goats for just $20. (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25860939)

Claire Chambers ~ Absolutely Small

~Thank you, Claire!  I love getting to get a little peek into the lives of other Etsians.  And, yes, coffee is a preferred beverage for me also :)  I need my daily caffeine fix!

~Readers, thank you for joining Claire & I for our little interview... I hope you go check out those listings!  There is a little guy for everyone!  I think I love them all!!!