Blog Feature on Stella B Designs

Hi Everyone,
Today Blog Feature is on a Fellow EtsyKids Member Stella B Jeska. She makes AMAZING Hats , Photo props and so much more for your little ones!!!

1) I first heard about Etsy while expecting our 3rd daughter. I was on an amazing Due Date board with some amazing mommies who shared everything! Etsy was a completely foreign concept to me but I was quickly hooked!

2)I am a 30-something Mama with 3 beautiful daughters, a baby due in November, and a loving husband. We spend our time raising our babies, going to church, spending time with family and taking care of our growing lil "farm". While I love sewing, quilting and fabric crafts, I have to admit that my personality is better suited for the relaxing and therapeutic craft of hooking - read, "crocheting". =o) I'm just impatient enough to need the almost immediate results that crocheting hats and accessories bring.

3)The story you hear most times when asking a crocheter how they learned to crochet is that their mom or grandma taught them. I was actually inspired by my brother. Yep, you heard me. My brother was my inspiration. He and his wife were making beautiful blankets and afghans and it sparked my interest. Going back to my impatience, I wanted to make something that wouldn't take me so long... that's when I asked him to help me learn how to crochet in the round so I could try my first hat. From there, I learned more technique and specialized stitches from YouTube and Google searches. The rest, as they say, is history!

4)I am inspired by babies and children and the current fashions. I love creating accessories that today's children can wear with pride. I like to say "this isn't your Grandma's crochet." I will only make items that I would only put on my own children with durable, comfortable and fashionable yarns.

5)I really started seeing more success for my shop when I created a Facebook Fan Page. I started by asking my friends and family to support my page and it's gradually grew from there. I also had success by using the advertising offered by Facebook!

6)My advice would be to hang in there. Create a maintainable creation schedule, stay consistent in your work quality, communication and customer service. While the quality of your items will speak for itself, there is something to be said for sellers who connect and with their customer base. All of these things will pay off!

Make sure you Check out her etsy shop, Facebook Fan page and Blog:
Etsy Shop: http://www.stellabs.etsy.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/stellabdesigns
Blog: http://www.stellabdesigns.blogspot.com

Party inspiration : Halloween theme Birthday / Halloween Party

Hi Everyone,
Halloween is just around the corner. If you are having a Halloween party or a Halloween Themed birthday party these ideas are perfect for you.

 Pom poms made by Addi Jai Party Poms
http://www.etsy.com/listing/57971018/layered-halloween-pom-poms

Party Straws By Babsgiddygappershttp://www.etsy.com/listing/80104958/halloween-themed-straws?ref=sr_list_34&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=halloween+themed+favors&ga_view_type=list&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade

Homemade Mashmallows by Have it Confection  
http://www.etsy.com/shop/haveitconfections?ref=seller_info

Halloween themed Photo Booth prop By  Mister Mustache
http://www.etsy.com/listing/81426934/set-2-halloween-plastic-mustache-and-one?ref=sr_list_5&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=halloween+photo+booth+props&ga_view_type=list&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade
Our Halloween Themed items are perfect to add those finishing touches to your party:

Halloween Party Pack by Expressions By Devin
http://www.etsy.com/listing/79966887/halloween-themed-party-pack

Check back soon for more Party inspiration!!!

Blog Feature On The Little Chick

1.) How did you first hear about Etsy? I heard about Etsy from a friend. I was looking for things for my daughter's nursery and thought it was a fantastic outlet for both purchasing and selling.

2. Tell us about yourself and your favorite craft: I am a mother of a beautiful 17 month old. Before the birth of my daughter, I owned a design company specializing in corporate aviation design. Once she was born, I decided to stay at home with her and work on all of the creative ideas that I had been thinking about for years.....so The Little Chick Boutique was born. It has been so much fun being able to share my days with my daughter. I do find myself keeping pretty late hours in order to keep up and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Etsy has been an amazing outlet for me and I appreciate every order that comes my way. My favorite items at the moment are the quilts and blankets that I am working on. Each one is so unique and crafted with special attention to detail and I love being able to monogram a name and know who the blanket is going to.

3. How do you get the word out about your shop and Etsy: Some of the ways that I have been able to get the word out about my shop have been Facebook, Twitter....social networking is always a plus. I have been able to be a part of some amazing teams like EtsyKids, EtsyBaby and ARETSY. Not only are they great for getting the word out, but I have met some other talented members and love to help promote their shops as well. I've just started The Little Chick blog and will be featuring some wonderful talent soon. www.thelittlechickboutique.blogspot.com

Make sure check out her Adorable shop filled with tons of amazing Items:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/thelittlechick?ref=seller_info

Party Inspiration : Star wars Party Ideas!!!!

Hi everyone,
I have a lot of orders for our Star Wars Inspired themed items. So I thought why Not write a post with some fun Star Wars items that would a amazing Party for your little one or for any age!!!

 Star Wars Han Solo Carbonite Ice Cube Tray:
http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/kitchen/e845/?cpg=fbl_e845

Robot Droid Sci fi Geek party favors chocolate Lollipops
http://www.etsy.com/listing/62616359/robot-droid-sci-fi-geek-party-favors

Star Wars Tie Fighter Pinata:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/74228123/star-wars-tie-fighter-pinata?ref=sr_list_3&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=star+wars+party&ga_view_type=list&ga_ship_to=US&ga_noautofacet=1&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade%2Fgeekery

And Of Course Expressions By Devin Party Decorations To tie it all together:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/78568459/star-wars-inspired-party-pack?ga_search_query=star%2Bwars&ga_search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5318504

I hope this blog post helps get those party ideas flowing. Check back for more Party inspiration. You'll  never know the theme you may be thinking about doing may be my next post:0)

Blog Feature On The Sewing Loft and a GIVEAWAY!!!!

 Hi Everyone,
Today's Blog feature is on a Fellow Etsykids Member The Sewing Loft.
She sells Amazing patterns and adorable kids items in her shop.  She is also Giveaway some Amazing Patterns . Make sure you enter for this Awesome Prize ( see details at the end of the feature)

1)How did you first hear about Etsy?:

I 1st heard about Etsy through a friend. She told me that there were amazing artists there and I should consider selling my items. From there it was hooked!

2)Tell us about a little about yourself and your favorite craft/art!:

My story is really quite simple..... Growing up my family reused everything, not because we were thinking of the environment but because we needed to. This reuse and re purposing always fascinated me. I would watch my mother refashion old clothes into new outfits for me with her trusty sewing machine or snuggle with my grandma on a Saturday morning while she darned thinning socks. One of my favorite things was sitting in a sunny corner of the sewing room sifting through buttons. Those buttons were like “eye candy” to me and not just because they were hidden in an old cookie tin! There were just so many colors, textures, shapes and sizes, each one more intriguing then the next. From these memories and life experiences my passion for creativity was born. My favorite projects all involve sewing but my personal crafting projects all have to be quick and easy. I am so into the instant gratification!

3)How did you get started as a designer?

I was always watching my mother sew and one day, I fell in love with a shirt in a magazine. After "stealing" fabric from moms stash, I started cutting, sewing and creating. Before I knew it, I had a new shirt. Granted, it did not fit well but I made it! And to me, at that moment, it was clear that I would be creating from that day forward. After finishing high school, I fine tuned my skills with a degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology and spent the next twenty years working for some of the top designers. This is where I learned the fine art of manufacturing from the ground up.

4)What inspires you to create?:

I am constantly inspired by everyday by the simple things in nature. Like the colors in flowers, birds on the feeder or colors of leaves during the changing of seasons. It is amazing what you can create when you think outside of the box.

5)How do you get the word out about your shop and Etsy?:

To help spread the word about my products and Etsy, I use our Facebook page. It is amazing just how much social media has changed the playing field of younger businesses. I also partner with some amazing Etsy teams. Collaborating with other talented artists helps keep my shop fresh.

6)Any advice you would give to aspiring designers?:
My advice to aspiring designers is to follow your dream and be true to yourself. I have found that my best selling products are the ones that are dear to me.

GIVEAWAY~
One lucky winner will a collection of "DIY" patterns from The Sewing Loft.
To include:

Fabric Flower Headband
Zipper Flower
Flower Brooch


These patterns/tutorials will be sent direct to the winner via email in a pdf format.


Here is how to enter:
1.) You must Fan The Sewing Lofts Facebook Page.Leave a comment below letting me know you did.
Extra Entry
2.) You must Fan Expressions By Devin Facebook Fan Page. Leave a comment letting me know you did.

Giveaway Ends Thursday September 1st. The lucky winner will be picked out using Random.org

Good Luck

Customer photos ~ Enchanted Forest Party~

Hi Everyone,
I wanted to share some Customer photos that I was sent. I a Fellow member from Etsykids team Tz Burps order some enchanted forest items from me for her daughters birthday. Check out her shop out and see what a amazing plush owls, birds ,other animals  and so much more :
http://www.etsy.com/shop/tzburps

Here are the Photos from her Adorable Party

She order a few sets of Centerpiece sticks to make this adorable centerpiece buckets!!!

Our Enchanted forest Centerpiece sticks with the Adorable Birthday girl Emma!!! Look at the handmade cake they made... So CUTE!!!

Blog Feature on Apple N Amos

Hi Everyone,
Blog feature for today is On Apple N Amos a Fellow etsy kids member. Read how her business began and Check out her Wonderful Handmade items!!!

1)How did you first hear about Etsy?: I first heard about Etsy on NPR. They were doing a interview with the creators and I thought to myself, "this sounds like a pretty cool thing, a world market place for artists.What a great way to see people from all over the Earth doing their thing!"

2)Tell us about a little about yourself and your favorite craft/art:

My name is Amos, I met my hubby on Match.com, fell in love and moved to Connecticut and have since become a co-sleeping mama to Henry, my 3 year old. I am very passionate about photography, books, gardening, camping, consigning, sewing and crocheting. I am obsessed with anything Little House on the Prairie and I aspire to become Ma Ingalls. My dream is to move off the grid...farm, make soap, live in a yurt and build a wicked tree house.

3)How did you get started as a designer?

I lost my job in July of 2010 and have yet to find another one. So, pushed up against a rock and a hard place, I did what any tough cookie does...I started to sew... that led me to Etsy and in September 2010 I opened up my shop, started a blog and the rest is still being written.

4)What inspires you to create?:
Henry is a pretty big influence on me and of course our Mother Earth. That is why I started working with wood...I wanted him to play and learn with toys that honored Her and our connection to Her. There is something to be said for toys and handmade goods that can be played with now and passed on to the next generation.

5)How do you get the word out about your shop and Etsy?:

Well, first I looked to my friends to spread the word for me and when that starts to wind down, I moved to the social networks and tried to gather a following on my facebook page and blog (www.applenamos.blogspot.com). But let's not forget Etsy Teams...they are crucial. Finding a supportive, creative and encouraging team really helped push me forward. I met other people that were just a hardworking and passionate as I am. It has been a wonderful experience.

6)Any advice you would give to aspiring designers?:

I would say just go for it! Find your voice and then scream it from every place you can!

Check out Apple N Amos shop for more Amazing Items:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/applenamos