FroggyFibers Fabulous Features Friday Fantastical!!

For those of you who dont know Froggyfibers already...boy are you missing out!!

Froggyfibers.etsy.com is one of my most favorite shops on Etsy!! I love her fibers, and I am certain you all will too.

Come take a moment to get acquainted!!


1.Who is FroggyFibers?
Froggy Fibers is a genius and fiber superstar! Okay, I like to think if I say that out loud that it will become true. =D Honestly, Froggy Fibers is one woman named LaRhanda who has the most undying support of her husband and son. If they weren't in the background cheering me on I doubt I would be nearly as sane as I am. **madly cackles**

2. What kind of crafting/art do you do? How long have you been doing it?
I dye, spin, knit and crochet fibers of all kinds. I also occasionally do some felting as well. As far as how long I have been doing, well I wish I could say forever. My recent addictions started in early 2004 but I have an on again, off again love affair going.

3. Where do you pull your inspiration from? My inspiration comes from the deep recesses of my brain. Its all that trying to connect color to reality. Or really, just anything can strike my fancy. I need to get one of those notepads and write it down sometimes.

4. What is your favorite medium?
Currently my favorite medium is fiber... any form of fiber. I may change it to sewing or painting on day (I've done them both before) but who knows.

5. Is Etsy your art your full time job, or just an on the side project?
Ohhh, had question. Etsy is both at the moment. I was employed full time and the economy caused cutbacks at my job. So right now Etsy is my income, If I had my way right now I would open a store for the fiber artists online and then a brick and mortar.

6. How did you find Etsy?
I found Etsy by accident. I was checking out a spinners website and they had the link to Etsy where they had set up their online store. I waited 2-3 months because I wanted to come up with a business username since it can't be changed later.

7. How did you become ADDICTED to Etsy CHAT?
How? When is the question... from the moment they introduced Chat I was in the rooms. I have watched so many permutations of chat and see so many people come and go. When I first went into chat I was on the bottom row, now I am almost always the first avatar in the room. (Which is only significant if people know that the avatars in chat are organized by account age Oldest to Newest)



8. What is your favorite piece that you have done?
To date I am pretty excited about my Princess Goldilocks handspun yarn and also a custom order I did in lime green and violet.

9. What is your favorite Etsy shop (other than yours)?
I have to say that I am loving on some staceyrebecca and abitabite. StaceyRebecca makes the cutest little finger puppets but in real life she does adult puppet shows. Its always the quiet ones you have to watch out for. =P
Abitabite is great cause she makes plush prick pincushions. 'Nuff said.

10.Tips for other Artists?
Be Yourself.
Do what makes you Happy.
Work hard, money wont fall in your lap by accident.
In the event money did fall in your lap, send me the lottery ticket and keep working hard. =P


11.Tell me a Secret about yourself.
I don't have secrets. I can't keep my damned mouth shut. That may be the biggest secret of all but if you are around me for any length of time you would find that out. Oh, I could say something like “I'm kinky in bed.” I could say something like that... but then again I might be lying for the purposes of having a secret.

12. Any parting words of wisdom
No matter what they say, those pictures will end up on the internet. ;D

Now.. A giveaway!!!
Froggyfibers is giving away to one lucky reader.. "Gruppleberry" Roving. See it:
You can opt to have it spun into a single or 2 ply yarn.

How to enter:
1. Go to FroggyFibers.Etsy.Com , find your favorite item, come back here and comment (required, 1 entry)

Extra Entries:

2. Follow the Etsy Chatters Team Blog and http://froggyfibers.blogspot.com/ Comment here. (2 Entries)
3. Follow EtsyChatTeam on Twitter AND Tweet about this Contest with a link to froggyfibers.etsy.com (place link here in comment, 1 entry per day - 7 possible throughout contest!)
4. BLOG about Froggyfibers.Etsy.Com and this Post (Leave a 2 comments here with the link, 2 entries.)
5. Purchase something from FroggyFibers(Leave 4 comments here with link to transaction, 4 entries)
6. Submit a To-Torial to the CHATTERS Team blog to Heathenshearth or Jupita, then post here for two additional entries. (2 entries)

Good luck!!

Meet cuddlycuties!!!

1. Who is cuddlycuties?
Cuddlycuties is the product of two friends who love to sew and together got drawn in by the wonderful world of machine embroidery. The things you see in Cuddlycuties' shop today are made by Dawn. Shannon is the second member of Cuddlycuties, and she contributes more to the shop in the way of fulfilling custom requests.

2. What kind of crafting/art do you do? How long have you been doing it?
I have been sewing for more years than I care to count, definitely more than 25. Machine embroidery came into my life just over a year ago. I also do knitting, and many other crafts. My grandmother taught me to knit when I was about 5 years old, so I've been knitting for around 30 years now.

3. Where do you pull your inspiration from?
I get most of my inspiration from my son. I start with things I loved to have when he was a baby, and add in things I wish I had then. Other inspiration just comes from life. I will get an idea of something that would make my life easier, and usually end up thinking "I could make that!"



4. What is your favorite medium?
I love natural fabrics for sewing and knitting. I am currently in love with embroidery though, so I have expanded my horizons to include it in my favorites.

5. Is Etsy your art your full time job, or just an on the side project?
My time with my son is my full time job, but I would like to make Etsy into a full time venture as well.

6. How did you find Etsy?
My aunt called me one day and told me about this website she had read about in a magazine, and I checked it out that same day. Signed up that day, and then started formulating a plan to make a go of it.




7. How did you become ADDICTED to Etsy CHAT?
I decided one day to see what Etsy chat was all about, and I've been hooked ever since.

8. What is your favorite piece that you have done?
I have a hard time picking a favorite piece. They all have different things I love about them.

9. What is your favorite Etsy shop (other than yours)?
For someone who hates picking favorites of anything (I still don't have a favorite color!), this is a difficult question. Today my favorite shop is Heathens Hearth. I absolutely adore their soap.

10.Tips for other Artists?
Do the art you love the most. In the end, whether you make a profit or not is not important. It's if you enjoyed the labor that went into the pieces you made.

11.Tell me a Secret about yourself.
I'm terrible at keeping secrets, so I don't think there are any left!

12. Any parting words of wisdom?
Don't give up! The more difficult the road to success, the more rewarding in the end.

and now..

Cuddlycuties will be giving away a market tote embroidered with the winning shop's information.! How fun would that be to have?!! You can have something functional, eco friendly and ADVERTISE your shop! awesome.



All you have to do is go to: CUDDLYCUTIES etsy shop then....

1. pick your favorite item. Come back here and leave a comment on what your fav item is. (for 1 entry)

2. FOLLOW the chatters team blog and comment here (for 1 entry)

3. Purchase something from Cuddlycuties, come back here and comment TWICE leaving the link to your transaction page here. (for 2 entries)

Winner will be chosen by random number generator in one week (Friday June 12).

Miasophia Rocks.. Come and meet her and a giveaway too!

Let's all say a cheery hello to miasophia !!

One of our chatters with some amazing jewelry. Here is a bit about her:

1. Who is miasophia? I am a suburban stay at home mom who dreams of fancier things. I adore where I am in my life, but I love Italian art and French design. Vintage European design captures me the most. I love how feminine it all is.

2. What kind of crafting/art do you do? How long have you been doing it?
I am a jewelry designer and have been designing for a little over two years. But only began selling it on etsy a little over a year ago.



3. Where do you pull your inspiration from?
Books mostly. Since my beautiful daughters keep me occupied here I study books.

4. What is your favorite medium? While I am currently trying to focus on silversmithing I can’t seem to keep away from vintage things. I seem to find vintage beads wherever I go. I buy the old jewelry, take it apart and viola! New fun things to create!

5. Is Etsy your art your full time job, or just an on the side project?
My full time job is my daughters, so I would say my Etsy shop is my Art.




6. How did you find Etsy?
Watching Martha Stewart, the BlackApple was making one of her dolls. I went to investigate and was hooked that day!

7. How did you become ADDICTED to Etsy CHAT?
How does anyone explain an addiction? You find your self in a situation where you feel the need and drawn into whatever feeds that need! Ha ha. I love the friendships, fun, interesting people and amazing artists you find in there. Even the occasional drama is fun. Everything is better with a little spice.

8. What is your favorite piece that you have done?
Wow, every week it changes, depending on what I create. Right now I’m working on a very long necklace made from vintage rosary chain, so right now, that is my favorite of what I'm making. However, I wear simpler things. I have made and then kept and constantly wear a simple purple bead on a chain. It is really fun. I sit and spin it on it's wire while I think. It seems to suit me.



9. What is your favorite Etsy shop (other than yours)?
Unfortunately, I can’t pick one. I love the other jewelry artists who create, I love the newbies just finding their way, I love to see the pottery (amazing stuff there!) and the photographers and painters. I can’t say I have just one favorite.

10.Tips for other Artists? Stay true to yourself and your vision. Surround yourself with people and things that feed your soul.

11.Tell me a Secret about yourself.
I don’t wear much jewelry at all! Earrings (just studs), an simple necklace (one of my favs is a purple solitary bead I created for my shop but kept for myself) and a ring my daughter got me in Greece, which I only wear when I go out.

12. Any parting words of wisdom?

The thing I struggle with the most is not getting caught up in the commercial side of Etsy. Also there is a huge “I can make that” draw. I try not to look too often at many jewelry artists who are similar in style to me because I find myself thinking in their designs. I have to go back to my books and clear my head to re-focus on what it is I want to create. So, I would say for other artists to know yourself and what you want, stay focused on your true desires and abilities and, no matter what the sales numbers say, you will love what you are doing. That is how I stay an artist and not get caught up in the commercial side.


Want a chance to WIN one of Miasophias Pieces? Well, you are in luck!! miasophia Is giving away this lovely necklace.

For your chance to win:

1. Leave a comment about your fav item in miasophia Etsy Shop.
2. BLOG about miasophia and link us to the post!!
3. Tweet a link to miasophia and to ETSYCHATTERS then leave comment here with that link.

So THREE chances to WIN!! How fun and wasy is that?? hmmmm..

We will choose a winner by random number generator at random.org next Friday. The winner will be notified Via Convo or Email (so make sure your contact info is clear in the comments)