Larissa789 ... explains it all!! Friday Feature and Giveaway 8-14~8-20

It is Friday again.. This week we are QnAing with LArissa from www.Larissa789.Etsy.Com

1.Who is Larissa?
I'm just a simple girl who likes to try everything! I am constantly online looking something crafty up to try. Normally, I have my 9 month old crawling around my feet wanting attention. I love Etsy and enjoy putting my work up to share with other people.

2. What kind of crafting/art do you do? How long have you been doing it?
Like I said in my previous answer, I am always looking up something to try. Which means my crafting abilities are very wide spread! I love to make jewelry, sew, knit, crochet, needle felt, scrapbook, decoupage, paint, draw (though I'm horrible at it!) work with clay and anything else interesting I find. I'm not saying I'm good at any of those, because most of them, I'm really not! But I love to try it all and be able to do any fun projects I see. But my main shop is only jewelry. I opened my second shop for everything else! =) I have been crafting my whole life, but I just started working with jewelry about 3 years ago and only really intensely about a year and a half ago.



3. Where do you pull your inspiration from?
I get my inspiration from things I see walking down the street, things I see on the internet, things people say. It's really varied. Sometime I just feel inspired to make something out of no where!

4. What is your favorite medium?
Probably all my jewelry making supplies. Like my beads and chains and everything that goes along with that. I don't

5. Is Etsy your art your full time job, or just an on the side project?
Etsy is my passion. My art. I love to create things to add to my shop and it is really exciting to see what other people think about it. I am a stay at home mom so I don't have a full-time job really. I would eventually love to open a shop with all the results of my crafts in it. But I don't know if that is feasible!



6. How did you find Etsy?
I think a friend was showing me some baby things on Etsy and later I checked it out myself. I set up an account to purchase things originally, then decided to open a shop about 2 months later. I wish I would have used a different username, but I already had some feedback that I didn't want to sacrifice.

7. How did you become ADDICTED to Etsy CHAT?
A friend told me to go check out the chat rooms and I was instantly addicted. I think I am a chat addict by nature, so when I entered the Etsy chat rooms it was even easier to get addicted when everyone is talking about the things I love most!


8. What is your favorite piece that you have done?
I am so obsessed with The Littlest Mushroom Cameo necklace. I just finished it recently but it really is me in necklace form! I love it! I still am not sure that I want to part with it! I also really love the Rainy Days in Spring necklace. I think it is pretty unique and clever.



9. What is your favorite Etsy shop (other than yours)?
I am always obsessed with sparklerocks shop! I just love everything she makes! But I can't get enough of blueberryshoes, plushlifeisyummy, jupita, thelovelyteaspoon and cashewedalmonds. Is that too many? I think not. I told you I am obsessed with Etsy!

10.Tips for other Artists?
Be yourself and don't try to do what is "cool" or what everyone else is doing if it isn't you!
Get out there and make yourself known! Talk to people so more people will know about your shop.
Trade. It's fun! =)


11.Tell me a Secret about yourself.
I don't really have any secrets...well nothing that I can think of. Man, I'm so lame!

12. Any parting words of wisdom?
Never take a laxative and a sleeping pill at the same time.
Never play leapfrog with a unicorn.
Never do your shoelaces up in a revolving door.
Avoid parking tickets - leave your window wipers on fast-wipe.
When everythings going your way - you're in the wrong lane.
When sliding down the bannister of life - make sure the splinters are facing the right way.

Now.. for the giveaway:
LArissa789 will give away a this adorable rose necklace to the winner:

Wouldnt that look lovely??

1. Go to Larissa789.Etsy.Com, find your favorite item, come back here and comment (required, 1 entry)

Extra Entries:

2. Follow the Etsy Chatters Team Blog, Comment here. (1 Entry)
3. Follow EtsyChatTeam and Larissa789 on Twitter AND Tweet about this Contest (place link here in comment, 1 entry per day - 7 possible throughout contest!)
4. BLOG about LArissa789.Etsy.Com and this Post (Leave a 2 comments here with the link, 2 entries.)
5. Purchase something from Larissa789.Etsy.Com(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)

must have email address, or link to shop for contacting to win. in the event the # chosen does not.. We will pick another winner. Sorry, but those are the rules.
Good luck!!

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!!

And the winner is....

The winner of theframedfrog giveaway $25 gift certificate is NotQuitePhotoJENic !

Congrats NotQuitePhotoJENic and thank you to everyone who entered!

Happy chatting (and shopping)!

An awesome giveaway

Our very own modmomME is having a giveaway hosted by Savvy Stitcher! Be sure you click HERE, give it a read, and then enter!

C'mon, let's promote one of our team members!

DukDesigns is AWESOME!! Come see why...

1. Who is dukdesigns? Heather Wayne is the owner-operator of DuK Designs. Specializing in designing handbags and backpacks, Heather expresses her creative side through designing different bags with a bit of engineering skills, color coordinating, and imaginative exploration... no patterns!

2. What kind of crafting/art do you do? I love my sewing machine! If it involves fabric and thread, I am in! How long have you been doing it? I learned the beginner skills of quilting and sewing when I was a young girl. However, it wasn't until after graduating college that I took the time to grow my skills and dedicate time to sewing. While job-hunting I needed something to invest my time and energy. I bought a brand new sewing machine and started creating bags.

3. Where do you pull your inspiration from? I love fabrics and draw inspiration from the beautiful variety of different fabric designs and colors! I can spend hours in the sewing store and online, pulling together fabrics, colors, and gathering ideas for new designs.



4. What is your favorite medium? Purse design.

5. Is Etsy your art your full time job, or just an on the side project? It started out as my full-time job, and I remained dedicated to my Etsy shop on a 50 hour work week schedule for 8 months. Recently, however, I was offered a full-time job in my field of study (Human Services), and I now work my Etsy shop part-time. But my love and passion for designing is definitely more than a hobby to me! I am whole-heartly dedicated to it!

6. How did you find Etsy? A close friend of mine saw the bags that I had created and told me I needed to check out Etsy. The rest is history!

7. How did you become ADDICTED to Etsy CHAT? I first started joining chat as a way to promote my shop. After getting to know many Etsy regulars, it became more of a daily socializing ritual for me! I have gotten to meet so many awesome people online through Etsy. Now if I don't get my daily Etsy chat time, the day is just not the same!

8. What is your favorite piece that you have done? I created a "Skulls and Roses" handbag, which I was totally impressed with. The skulls theme is not something I would personally consider “my style,” however, once it was completed, I was IN LOVE with the bag! The colors of red and black, and the goldish rings I used all pulled this bag together so perfectly. It was really a piece of art to me... and one hot lookin' bag!

9. What is your favorite Etsy shop (other than yours)? Oooh that's tough because I have several close Etsy friends who all have awesome shops!




10.Tips for other Artists? If you are ever faced with a time where you lack creative inspiration or motivation, go back to the roots of when you first fell in love with your art and draw upon that passion.

11. Tell me a Secret about yourself. I am an avid NASCAR fan. Only my close friends know that about me, and if I tell people that I love NASCAR, they seemed surprised. I guess because it’s not the most girly sport in the world. But I have been around racing my whole life, so it’s in my blood.

12. Any parting words of wisdom? Questions? Comments. Do what you love and love what you do. And don't ever sell yourself short! Don't mark your product down in price because you are anxious for a sale. When the right buyer comes along, they will pay you what you say it is worth! And you deserve the compensation for your hard work!
GIVEAWAY TIME:

DukDesigns is giving away a "Lotus Dreams in Blue Handbag" to one lucky winner!!
How do you enter to win? SIMPLE....

1 Entry: go to www.dukdesigns.etsy.com and pick your favorite item, then come back here and tell us what it is! (required)

1 Entry: Twitter this Blog post AND DukDesigns.Etsy.Com, Leave a link here to the twit and get another entry.

1 Entry: BLOG about this Giveaway and DukDesigns, leave comment here with a link.

2 Entries: Purchase an Item from Dukdesigns.etsy.com, post a link to the transaction here, and get TWO more entries..

1 Entry: Follow this blog, leave a post here to let us know you follow.


SO, 6 entries in all!!

HAve fun!!!

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)

Mamaslittlemonkeys is our featured Chatter

Mamaslittlemonkeys is a fabulous little Etsy shop with all sorts of goodies. You can find everything from Baby Bibs, to duckie soaps, to clothes and more!

Mamaslittlemonkeys.Etsy.Com is also giving away a set of 12 wipes/cloths. All you need to do is go to her shop, come back here and tell me your favorite item. Next Friday we will randomly select a winner to receive this awesome, useful gift.

Now.. Let's get to know our mamaslittlemonkeys.....

1. Who is mamaslittlemonkey? A former rodeo clown....okay, no really, a mom, wife, friend, sister, blogger, handmade lover, seamstress, soaper, indie music loving, etsyholic, fabricholic, soapaholic crazy lady who happens to sell some nifty creations for baby, mom and more!

2. What kind of crafting/art do you do? How long have you been doing it? On www.mamaslittlemonkeys.com I do a little bit of everything, clothing, toys, blankets (I heart minky!), recycled crayons, photography, graphics, soap, gifts, gag gifts, and more! On www.fleurdeink.com that is purely my flower pens...something i used to love as a teacher and the only flower I can't kill....


Some CUTE Duckie Soaps!

3. Where do you pull your inspiration from? For MLM, my kids mostly! I don't have girls, so I get my 'girly' tendencies out there, and my boys inspire many of the prints I use (pirates are popular as of late....). On FDI, I just love flowers but have the blackest thumb EVER, so I love that i can have flowers that are functional, pretty and I can't kill. For my soaps, I just love them! Handmade soap is my porn. (can i say that? LOL) I love the colors, fragrances, the mad scientist aspect of it! I only do melt and pour as of now but am DYING to get into Cold process at some point!! ( as soon as I move through my current stock of soap/fabric supplies!)
4. What is your favorite medium? Sewing: minky..it is a PAIN in the butt to sew, but a good minky (yes there is bad minky), is just so freaking luxurious you just HAVE to touch it. I've been known to just wander the fabric aisles fondling everything. Soap: I love the fleur de lis mold...I'm still perfecting my black and gold "Saints" soap for the New Orleans Saints. It's my mission in life to get it PERFECT. And I only use soaps that are SLS free and as pure as possible. Flower pens: the 'realistic' roses...they feel so real and are just lovely to look at and feel. (can you tell I'm a tactile person?)

5. Is Etsy your art your full time job, or just an on the side project? Right now, hobby. I've spent FAR too much ON etsy and on my fabric/soap supplies to actually pull a 'profit' at this point! :) But I plan on doing it for a long time! My 'real' job (besides being mommy), is I work from home as Public Relations/Promotions/Blogger for Blockhead Radio. You can check them out at http://www.blockheadradiolive.com. Its a great place for artisans and we focus on exposing artisans to the world. Check out the Artisans challenge and our charity sampler box that's going on now!

6. How did you find Etsy?this is the sad part. I honestly do NOT remember!! I think I found it from friends on a mommy networking site, but I honestly can't recall!

7. How did you become ADDICTED to Etsy CHAT? Because there are awesome freaking ppl there!! :) I just like hanging with people who also support and love handmade! And every now and then I get a sale! :) (ok I mostly go to chat...LOL)

Want something net to keep the kiddies occupied on those car trips? What about one of these crayon rolls?:



8. What is your favorite piece that you have done? Mmmmm. Sewn items, this is my latest: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22874549 I just LOVE michael Miller and the minky is devine.
Soap: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22742845 this gift basket is a baby of mine...something I decided to do months ago!
Flower Pens: this set, it's sold but I have more to list... I just love the roses in it! http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=13612820

9. What is your favorite Etsy shop (other than yours)? Oh man. One? Seriously? is that possible? Crap. Man, I don't know if I can decide!! Man, this is hard, and in NO way a reflection of my MANY other favorite Etsy sellers! But I am really digging this shop lately.. and this listing.. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20778667 because I really need a soap cutter and i LOVE all the wooden goodness! I also love www.banished.etsy.com bc he made me a super awesome anniversary gift for my DH! And i LOVe all my team members from Cafemom Team, Lartisans Team, Pluggers United and OF COURSE Etsychatters! :)

10.Tips for other Artists? DO NOT GIVE UP! Every time you get a sale, you should FEEL HONORED! In the wide world of Etsy, handmade, and shopping, someone chose YOUR item to bring into their life. Your hope is they love it as much as you, but if they are unhappy for any reason, you should do your very best to make them 110% happy. Never forget everyone you meet is a potential customer! If you aren't selling you need to look at either your items, your competition, or how you market yourself. (take the crappy economy out of the equation for a minute!) KEEP trying! Try new things, new venues, new promotions, new crafts!

Catch some of those dribbles.. A Funky, Punky Bib..



11.Tell me a Secret about yourself. I am 5'12", can curse in American Sign Language and have Celiac Disease and thus eat Gluten Free. (leading to another of my fave shops, www.shelovescake.etsy.com)

12. Any parting words of wisdom? Questions? Comments: Keep on trucking! :) Oh, and you can also check out my Cafepress shop! :) www.cafepress.com/momsmonkeys I love to do custom graphics!! :)

WOOOOT etsychatters!

Balanced Interview and Giveaway!

1. Who is Balanced?

My name is Rachel. I'm originally from Northern California, but currently living in Dublin, Ireland with my wonderful Irish husband and our baby Ginger, the cat.

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

Oh goodness. I've been making things all my life. But, regarding my Etsy shop, I've been making jewelry for about 10 years. I do papercrafts as well, my sold section shows a set of cards I did. I paint also and sell prints an another venue you can find on my blog, http://balancedcrafts.com.

3. Where do you pull your inspiration from?

Everywhere really. Nature, art, fashion. I browse a lot of magazines and read a lot of blogs. I'm inspired everyday.

4. What is your favorite medium?

I haven't met a medium I didn't like yet and I'm always looking for new ones. Right now I'm trying out encaustic painting, but the old stand buys like oil, acrylic, pencils, chalk, etc. are always near. I do a lot of digital painting these days as well. And with jewelry, I would say beadweaving as opposed to bead stringing, though I love that too.

5. Is Etsy/your art your full time job, or just an on the side project?

I suppose it is. I'm always working on it in one way or another and I have no other job, so, yeah. :P

6. How did you find Etsy?

Magic.

7. How did you become ADDICTED to Etsy CHAT?

I think it was all the awesome people I met.

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

Wow, I am no good at these 'favorite' questions. I love and am proud of every single thing I make to sell, or I wouldn't put it out into the world. I'm very sensitive, haha. I do, however, have a special fondness for the beadwoven pieces as there is more time put into them.

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

My head is spinning trying to think of favorites, honestly. There are just so many!

10.Tips for other Artists?

Yes, though it's not originally mine.“Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some" by Robert Fulghum.

11. Tell me a secret about yourself!

I know where you live. (If you've ordered from me that is.:P)

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

Just a sincere thank you. I'm so glad to be a part of this team and to have met the wonderful people in it. It's a lovely thing.

Balanced is offering this beautiful Pearly Squares Bracelet in our giveaway! To enter, all you have to do is go to her Etsy Shop and come back here and leave a comment telling us which of her items is your favorite! Be sure you leave your email address so we can contact you if you are the winner!

This giveaway is open internationally and will run until Sunday, March 8th at midnight EST.

MyMotherMary Interview and Giveaway!!

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

I do all kinds of needle craft, but have been concentrating on sewing, machine embroidery and crocheting. I received my first sewing machine at the age of 6, and have been sewing since! I can’t even remember my first project. My mother taught my brothers and I how to crochet as well. After a long car rides, we kids would crochet chains of yarn. The person who crocheted the longest chain would get a prize. My mother knew how to keep us busy! My first sale was of crocheted hair ties. My second sales job was selling doll clothes to classmates!

2. Where do you pull your inspiration from?

Working with a customer on a custom item is the most inspiring. I just love getting an idea from a client and bouncing ideas back and forth. What first starts out as a simple idea usually ends up becoming a beautiful, personal item.Alchemy, I have discovered, is a wonderful place! It allows me to create a custom item for a customer, freeing my creativity more than the listings allow.

3. What is your favorite medium?

I love cotton…in yarns, materials and threads! Different combinations of such a simple item can create a keep-sake for years to come. In our closet, I have beautiful little gowns hand made for my daughters. They are 100% batiste cotton with hand embroidered shadow work. They were a joy to work on, and I look forward to the day my daughters have little girls to where them again.

4. Is Etsy/your art your full time job, or just an on the side project?

Everything seems to be on the side! I am a mom to eight kids ranging from 16 years old to 9 months old. They will always come first. My etsy business is growing fast, but I always try to remember to pull back if it interferes with my family life. Usually the kids are just as excited as I am when I create a new item or have a new sale. I could easily become a work alcoholic, but my kids are keeping me grounded.

5. How did you find Etsy?

I found Etsy through a friend who urged me to set up a shop. After a year of her encouragement, I finally took her advice. I am so glad I did!

6. How did you become ADDICTED to Etsy CHAT?

I have a bit of the blarney in me! Becoming addicted to Etsy chat seemed to happen instantly. Can you imagine? A room full of people who love to chat and craft, all in one place?? That’s just asking for addiction to happen!

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

My favorite piece is the custom tote I made for Pumpkinpye517 (a fellow etsian). She wanted a tote with her daughters name embroidered on it. It turned out wonderfully! I love it, and from what I hear, so does Pumpkinpye517ei!

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

Favorite shop? Oh my! That is hard! There are so many wonderful crafters that I can’t just pick one. The crafts and skills that are on display are just amazing!

9.Tips for other Artists?

Believe in your work. An artist gave my daughter great advice, value your art and never give it away. Too many times we see our items as “simple” and think no one would pay for them. Don’t fall into this trap! Value your work, and others will too.

10. Tell me a secret about yourself!!??

For a while I was on the way to being a college professor. I was even a graduate assistant, teaching and grading papers for professors. How life has changed for me!

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

“The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.”~ Mother Theresa

There are so many quotes from Mother Theresa that I love, but this is one of my favorites. It reminds me to do all things in my life with love.

MyMotherMary is offering these adorable Squishy-Soft Baby Blocks in our giveaway! To enter, all you have to do is go to MyMotherMary's Etsy Shop and come back here and leave a comment telling us which of her items is your favorite! Be sure you leave your email address so we can contact you if you are the winner!

This giveaway is open internationally and will run until Friday, February 27th at midnight EST.

Aaaaannnnd....we have a winner!

For the BeInspiredDesigns Interview and Giveaway!

Using random.org a winner was randomly chosen to win this amazing pendant from BeInspiredDesigns!

And our winner is Enchated! Congrats, Enchanted! We hope you enjoy your new pendant from BeInspiredDesigns!

BeInspiredDesigns Interview and Giveaway!

1. Who is Be Inspired Designs?

My name is Inga Leonce. I live in “Hot-lanta” (Atlanta, Ga) with my lovely husband, three kids and dog. I graduated from Gwinnett Tech with a degree in Photography. My home is filled with up and coming artist as we are all pursuing art in some fashion.

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

I am a self taught jewelry designer. I currently run two shops on Etsy. Be Inspired Designs where I sell upcycled Scrabble Tile Pendants and Ingas Gems where I sell gemstone jewelry. After taking a break from product photography in the late 90’s (showing my age) I began making gemstone jewelry as a hobby. After a friend suggested that I start selling my jewelry, I began to throw home parties and eventually opened my own website. I have been selling my wares for over seven years and I’m currently focusing my time on my scrabble tile pendant shop. My mom and I love playing scrabble and to be able to use those little tiles in a creative way has been great. I’ve added phone charms, hair bows, magnets to my shop. I’m currently working on something special for those “blank” tiles. I’m not telling yet, you’ll have to check my shop in the near future to see what it is!

3. Where do you pull your inspiration from?

I draw my inspiration from this beautiful world that we live in. I love to incorporate bright colors, nature and different cultures into my pendant designs.

4. What is your favorite medium?

For me, this question has many answers. Currently, I would say Japanese washi paper and digital painting.

5. Is Etsy/your art your full time job, or just an on the side project?

My Etsy shop is my full time job.

6. How did you find Etsy?

I found Etsy in 2007 after I became totally exhausted running my own website.

7. How did you become ADDICTED to Etsy CHAT?

Unfortunately, when I originally signed up with Etsy in 2007, I was unable to use the Etsy chat rooms or even view a Treasury. For almost a year I tried everything the techs said to do but to no avail. So for me chat was something I read about in the forums but couldn’t participate in. I felt like an outsider. I switched internet service providers and they installed Firefox onto my computer and to my amazement, chat opened up. I was so excited that I began to spend way too much time in the chat rooms! I have met some awesome people in Etsy chat, we talk about our lives, businesses, showcase each others work and shop; what more could a girl ask for!

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

My favorite piece is “The Lord’s Prayer” Scrabble Pendant. I haven’t sold any on Etsy as yet but I wear one and it reminds me to never lose faith and keep moving forward towards my dreams while loving people in the process.

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

Heathens Hearth is my favorite shop. I met these two beautiful young ladies in chat and there was something special about them. For the longest time I actually thought Heathens Hearth was one person with two very distinct personalities (some type of multiple personality disorder) but it pays to read a shops “profile” lol. I love their handmade bath and massage oils as I am a “spa baby”. There shop is defiantly my new “gift shop” for family and friends.

10. Tips for other Artists?

When it comes to business, we are all artist but we also have to keep in mind that we are in the “service” industry. Provide good customer service, respond quickly to convos and never talk bad about your customers. Most of all do what you love, make it your own and have fun. Enjoy the journey!

11. Tell me a secret about yourself.

Shhh, don’t tell anyone but I run a business in my PJ’s! I’ve always wanted to do that so with coffee in hand and fuzzy slippers on my feet I run Be Inspired Designs!

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

See you in chat!

Inga is offering this awesome pendant in our giveaway! To enter, all you have to do is go to BeInspiredDesign's Etsy Shop and come back here and leave a comment telling us which of her pendants is your favorite! Be sure you leave your email address so we can contact you if you are the winner!

This giveaway is open internationally and will run until Thursday, February 19th at midnight EST.