Let's Meet Heartsabustin! -Friday Blog Feature

1. Who is heartsabustin?

heartsabustin is a two-woman, mom and daughter team who work respectively out of Knoxville, TN and Wilmington, NC. Mom Kathryn is an ophthalmic tech during the day and daughter Erin is a stay-at-home mom at Etsy guru for the heartsabustin team.We found a mutual love for jewlery making about three months apart three years ago.

2. What kind of crafting/art do you do? How long have you been doing it?

Kathryn went to the Ringling School of Art in Sarasota back in the freewheeling 70s and became a fabulous master watercolorist. Three years ago, she discovered the immense satisfaction of stringing beads and bits of metal on beading wire.

Erin taught herself to sew when she was twenty ('cause she can't draw or paint worth a lick!), and has immersed herself in several fun crafts - crocheting, quilting, home sewing and cross stitch. Jewelry making became an extension of the clothing sewing because most commercial jewelry is just not that cool. (Can we get a heck yeah on that one?)



3. Where do you pull your inspiration from?

Everywhere - dreams, magazines, colors, shapes. Kathryn and Erin both have tear sheets all over their repective work spaces in their homes.

4. What is your favorite medium?

Gemstones, glass beads, vintage findings, and sterling silver with gold-filled thrown in for fun. Swarovski crystals are a must in almost every piece we make.

5. Is Etsy a full time job, or just an on-the-side project?

For Kathryn, her full-time job is working for an ophthalmologist. For Erin, her full-time job is being a wife and mother. So for both of us, it is a side job, but one that we take great satisfaction from and have a lot of fun doing!


DANCERS

6. How did you find Etsy?

Kathryn found it while browsing the Internet one fateful night. Last July, she set up the storefront, but we had to wait until Erin got a computer to begin listing items.

7. How did you become ADDICTED to Etsy CHAT?

The usual way - Erin was bored and decided to check it out. She'd never been in a chat room before - ever. She found lots of friendly people who were willing to answer a newbie's questions. She got totally hooked!

8. What is your favorite piece that you have done?

Wow, there are so many! Erin's personal favorite right now is her new "Queen of the Sunflowers." It shows a certain maturity starting to form in her polymer clay work.

9. What is your favorite Etsy shop (other than yours)?

Kathryn's would probably have to be ImagineStudio. Not only is her artwork amazing, she is a wonderful, sweet person on top of it! Erin is hooked on DukDesigns right now. Who knew Erin would be such a bag freak?




Opals and Avon

10. Tips for other Artists?

Believe in yourself, and everyone else will believe in you, too!

11. Tell me a secret about yourself.

Erin is 100% terrified of the rattlesnake rattle earrings that Kathryn just bought. LOL

12. Any parting words of wisdom? Questions? Comments?

Having an Etsy shop is a LOT of hard work, if you want it to succeed. We spend entirely too much time doing this, but we love it. We have found that if you really love something, you are willing to work your tail end off for it, no matter what.



Sunflower Earrings!!

Heartsabustin has put these adorable sunflower polyclay earrings up for a giveaway!! HEre is what you do:

1. Go to www.heartsabustin.etsy.com and choose your favorite thing. Come back here and post what you like!! (1 entry)
2. Follow US! (leave a comment here that you follow) (1 entry)
3. Tweet a promo to heartsabustin.etsy.com, then link us to the tweet (1 entry)

Next Friday, I will random.org to choose a winner. That winner gets these CUTE earrings!

Oh and dont forget!! Follow the Chatters Team blog for a chance to win a 50$ or 25$ gift certificates to one of our participating shops!! SO VERY EASY!! We will be choosing the winner(s) once we reach 200 followers (or May 27th whichever comes first)