MsAnomaly's interview with Cher of StuStuStudio
1. When did you open your Etsy store and begin selling?
September 25, 2007. I opened my first store in 2006, but had to close it because of a family emergency and they didn't have a vacation mode in those days. So, some of my replies will apply to both. Stick with me, you'll see why in the next answer!
2. How did you select your shop’s name?
Aha! The first shop, and one of my alter egos is CheyenneGlass. I borrowed the name of my little "pocket beagle" Shy~Anne. She was named that because she was shy. Well, terrified was more like it. We got her from the shelter and she was sooooo sweet, but timid and scared of men. I hadn't had her very long before I had open heart by-pass surgery and mainly due to my inability to take anti-allergy meds, she was adopted by my son, DIL & GS. Grandson was just as shy, but they became buds and neither of them are anything remotely resembly shy anymore. But the name stuck. I still have me website under the name http://www.cheyenneglass.com/.
StuStuStudio came about because my first studio was so tiny that when I took a picture of it, the term 'studio' was bigger then IT was, so I shortened it to 'Stu'. Well, obviously the next 2 words off of my pen was Stu Studio. Phil Collins rules!
3. What do you create and sell in your Etsy shop?
Hot Stuff! Kiln formed glass for jewelry, clocks, 'spa vessels' (aka sink) etc.
4. How did you become involved in your craft?
For 20 years I really didn't do well at traditional leaded glass, so when mosaics became popular, I jumped on it. I made everything from the stepping stones to garden benches. Heavy!! My DH got smart and bought me a kiln for Christmas, against my better judgement. I spent months trying to learn, and finaly drove to Corning NY for classes. I now own 3 kilns.
5. Explain your favorite part of the creative process.
Having something come out of the kiln the way you hoped it would, or even beter.
6. Do you sell in another Etsy store or anywhere outside of Etsy? If so, where?
I've got a destash store, StuStuStudio2.etsy.com and I've started the bare bones of a shop on Artfire. My website could eventually become a shop. Right now it's a brochure.
7. So far, what project are you most proud of? http://www.flickr.com/photos/1cher/2793999284/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/1cher/379873164/
8. What advice can you give to someone who would like to learn your craft?
Have a passion for glass, then lots of time, money and effort! It's been as much of a science as an art.
9. What motivated you to join the Etsy Beagle Street Team?
Here is ShyAnne (top) visiting me, and Brando looking pathetic. http://www.flickr.com/photos/1cher/2446072136/
Here is Brando & Stella, and Brandos' personals ad. http://www.flickr.com/photos/1cher/2408293607/
You'll notice the the little Stella gets the big bed, while Brando prefers to tighten up into a little-big ball of fur. My first encounter with a beagle was years ago, when a stray old beagle informed us that he'd be living with us. He was ultimately named Trouble, which he never was. Trouble and Stella are aarrrrooooing on the other side now, best buds, I'd be pretty sure. In short, I am a beagle rescue group.
10. Any other places we might find you (Flickr, blog, MySpace, etc.)?
I'm here, I'm there, I'm everywhere!
blog:http://www.tomcher.blogspot.com/
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/1cher/
1Cher on twitter
ARTFIRE: http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&seller_id=15386
I don't have time to keep up Myspace, and have skipped facebook. I'm not putting my face anywhere. Just funny that way. Cheers! Cher
Our Dogs
 |
 |
| Photo slideshow generated with Smilebox |
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Winner Chosen for Beagles & Blooms Giveaway Contest!
We have a Winner! The snausage treat was put into a bowl, the names of the voters, on slips of paper, were placed over the dog treat. Flash, the smiling beagle, went for the snausage, and the name that was pushed out of the bowl was....BUSY BEE! Congratulations! Please contact MsAnomaly with your mailing address and the bracelet will be shipped to you immediately! Thank-you, or as a beagle would say, Thank-Arrrooooo! to everyone who voted in the Beagles team challenge contest! :0)
Friday, April 17, 2009
Team Spotlight! Interview with Cutiepie Company
MsAnomaly's interview with cutiepiecompany/Hunter'sHideaway:
1. When did you open your Etsy store and begin selling?
I opened my main shop in Jan of 2008 and began selling a month later. My second shop was opened in March of 2008.
2. How did you select your shop’s name?
Cutiepie Company--It was actually a domain name I purchase several years ago with the intention of starting my own website to sell paper goods. This was before Etsy was even around. I never did start that website, but I still own the domain name, and I thought it would be a good place to start.
Hunter's Hideaway--For my second shop name I was at a bit of a loss, so I named it after my little beagle, Hunter. Since I love alliteration, I came up with Hunter's Hideaway.
3. What do you create and sell in your Etsy shop?
I sell handmade paper goods such as notecards, journals and gift tags. In my second shop I sell magnets and pinback buttons (and also a bit of vintage and destash).
4. How did you become involved in your craft?
Good question with a long answer! I have been involved in arts and crafts since I was a kid, in one form or another. I have also had a lifelong obsession with paper goods, and harbored a secret wish to make and sell them. Actually I have been making paper goods for friends and family for a long time. I discovered Etsy one day in Dec. of 2007. Browsing paper goods here I discovered the Gocco machine, which is a portable screen printing device. I knew instantly I had to have it and that I could print my designs on notecards and fulfill my secret wish! The rest is history, as they say.
5. Explain your favorite part of the creative process.
Definitely the hands-on: The drawing, cutting, glueing, sewing, printing, painting or what-have-you. Whatever makes the biggest mess.
6. Do you sell in another Etsy store or anywhere outside of Etsy? If so, where?
In addition to the two Etsy shops I also have a shop on Dawanda.
7. So far, what project are you most proud of?
I would say it is my mixed media pieces, which are not currently for sale in my shop. I do hope to be able to sell prints of these soon. (as soon as I can afford to purchase a high-end printer that I have my eye on!)
8. What advice can you give to someone who would like to learn your craft?
I'm not sure I'm qualified to be giving advice! But I will say that for anyone interested in gocco-printing, to give it a try. It is very easy and fun as well. The only downside is the scarcity of supplies. If someone is considering purchasing a unit, make sure to google around and do a little research on it. The scarcity of supplies (bulbs and screens) has driven the cost up, so that is something to be aware of.
9. What motivated you to join the Etsy Beagle Street Team?
My love of beagles of course! I adopted my beagle about 4 1/2 years ago. Her name is Hunter and she is a sweet and lazy little lady. That's Hunter in the photo at the top of this interview post!
10. Any other places we might find you (Flickr, blog, MySpace, etc.)?
Friday, April 10, 2009
Team Spotlight! Interview with BeagleBeads
MsAnomaly's interview with BeagleBeads
1. When did you open your Etsy store and begin selling?
I opened my store on December 17, 2007.
2. How did you select your shop’s name?
The shop name was inspired by my beagle, Wilson. I don't remember the exact specifics, but my husband and I were just playing around, throwing out ideas, and BeagleBeads stuck. Wilson tends to inspire a lot of our ideas.
3. What do you create and sell in your Etsy shop?
Right now, the shop is devoted to one of my newest hobbies, beadweaving. Specifically, my husband and I enjoy making beaded cabochon necklaces (a cabochon is a smooth, dome-shaped stone, or piece of glass, porcelain, button etc). Lately I have been having fun making seed bead bracelets. The agate cabochons are beautiful, but they tend to limit my color palette to earth tones, so I've enjoyed getting to play with color in the bracelets. There are also a few miscellaneous beaded items in my shop, based on randomly discovered materials and ideas. I'm always on the lookout for cool beading components in thrift stores, flea markets, etc. I get almost ridiculously excited about recycling and reusing.
4. How did you become involved in your craft?
Upon meeting my husband (about 4 years ago), my first thought was "What a cool necklace he's wearing!" Turns out, he made the necklace himself and has worn it continuously to this day. (It is permanently sewn on.) While we were dating, we spent a few months "crewing" on a sailboat and had lots of leisure time on our hands, so he taught me how to bead. I have always had a multitude of hobbies, and I was happy to learn another. We have really enjoyed beading together. Many of the pieces in my shop are joint creations. The cabochons entered into our designs because my boss has always been a gem and mineral fancier, and he has a huge collection of agate cabochons. I always thought they were so beautiful, and one day I found a book at the library called "Beading with Cabochons". It was meant to be.
5. Explain your favorite part of the creative process.
Beading is my down time, usually done while watching a movie, so I pretty much enjoy every part of it. I love selecting a yummy cabochon and trying to find the best bead colors to bring out the natural beauty of the stone. The stones have such depth and detail to them. I also love looking through all of my seed bead supply and coming up with fun new bracelet combinations. And of course, a trip to the bead store to add even MORE colors to my palette is always exciting.
6. Do you sell in another Etsy store or anywhere outside of Etsy? If so, where?Currently, BeagleBeads is my only venue.
7. So far, what project are you most proud of?
I just finished a necklace that I think is one of my new favorites. The colors just all worked together so well. Maybe it's just because I've got spring fever. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23325942
I've also been really happy with the Red, White and Blue bracelets. They just look yummy enough to eat. My husband says he thinks they are some of my best work yet. :) I figure any piece of jewelry that gets the male approval must be alright.
8. What advice can you give to someone who would like to learn your craft?
I love crafts, especially ones that are easily portable and accessible to learn. I live in a very small space on limited resources, so beading is a perfect, low-tech, small scale craft. I am very much a book learner, and there are many good books on beading. My advice to someone wanting to learn beading would be to get a few beads, a few books, and have fun! You can build up your supplies as you go and as you find out what types of beading you're interested in. Learn a few basic techniques, and then strike out on your own.
9. What motivated you to join the Etsy Beagle Street Team?
I had been on Etsy for about a year before I realized there was such a vibrant community right under my nose! I was searching through the list of team names, and as soon as I saw the Beagles Team, I knew I had to be a member. Three years ago my husband and I went to the pound to find a dog, and my husband was immediately drawn to this little beagle (currently known as Wilson) sitting morosely in his cage. All the other dogs were barking and jumping and saying "Pick me! Pick me!", but Wilson looked like he had lost all hope. He had reason to be despondent as this was his second time in jail. He was originally picked up as a stray, adopted, and then returned to the pound a month later by his new family because "he was too depressed". Well, their loss is our gain. Wilson has been the perfect dog from day one, and we couldn't imagine life without him. Shortly after adopting him, we found out he suffers from periodic seizures, which is probably why he was taken back to the pound. That is certainly not reason for us to want to get rid of him. We are happy to be able to provide a safe haven for him, and I'm doubly happy to report that he is going on 2 months seizure free! About a month ago we adopted a second hound dog (what were we thinking!) named Lily, and she is proving to be a real sweetheart. I don't have a photo of Lily and Wilson together yet, but this interview has a photo of Wilson.
10. Any other places we might find you (Flickr, blog, MySpace, etc.)?
My husband and I are "homesteading" on a small farm in rural Virginia. We chronicle our goofy adventures on our website:
Monday, April 6, 2009
Giveaway! Vote for your favorite Beagles and Blooms team challenge entry
The Etsy Beagles Street Team is running our second contest! You can enter to win the beautiful vintage button charm bracelet (pictured above) made by Etsy Beagles Team leader, Linda of MsAnomaly on Etsy. This link will let you know the details of the bracelelt:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/17124653@N03/3402083935/in/pool-etsybeagle
To enter the giveaway contest, vote for your favorite Beagles and Blooms team challenge entry (pictured below).
Here's how to enter:
First, visit the shops linked below for a close-up view of our Beagles and Blooms challenge entries.Then, you can either repost our challenge entry image above (the second one with all of them) on your own blog with info about our contest, link it back to here and then leave a comment on this post with the url where you posted the entry.
OR
You can come back here, tell us your favorite challenge item and shop (the item doesn't have to be from your favorite shop and vice versa).
And that's it! You're entered. One entry per person. Sorry, only those in the U.S. are eligible to win. Contest begins Monday, April 6, 2009 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2009. Winner will be chosen randomly from all entries on April 18, 2009.
***We'll announce the winner here on our blog, so make sure you check back to claim your prize! If you're the winner, contact Linda at MsAnomaly via her Etsy shop. Winner will have until Monday, April 25, 2009 to contact Linda to claim their prize. If winner fails to claim prize before that date, we'll select an alternate winner, who will then have until April 28, 2009 to claim their prize.
Sorry, Beagles Team members, you aren't eligible to enter this contest.
Thanks for checking us out! We hope you enjoy our challenge. Here is our shop list:
creativecomforts07 - Beagles and Blooms Team Challenge Slippers
BeagleBeads - Daisy Chain beaded necklace/choker
MsAnomaly - Blooming Bouquet Flower Pendant/Necklace
dogsrule - Holiday Spring Dog Blanket...Pastel Colors
fatbasset - Springtime Paper Bead Bracelet
anniekdesigns - Spring Flower Reversible Placemats
kookyhandbags - My Darling Clementine Straw Purse
pineapplesugar - In Bloom Lampwork and Czech Glass Necklace
frumsglassmenagerie - Doggie Daffodil Days
Happy voting and good luck!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Team Spotlight! Interview with joonbeam
MsAnomaly’s interview with joonbeam
1. When did you open your Etsy store and begin selling?
I opened my first shop, joonbeam, on November 17, 2007. I opened two more shops, flyinghousewife, on April 24, 2008 and joonwalk, February 14, 2009.
2. How did you select your shop’s name?
When our daughter, Scout, was a baby I gave her a journal nickname, moonbeam. When she was 9 she started drawing these adorable monkeys and we wanted to market t-shirts with the designs. We chose the trademark joonbeam because moonbeam was too common on google and my middle name is Juniper. I stuck with it because, searches always brought us up, exclusively. My flying housewife name derives from my items, handwritten letters from a housewife. My joonwalk shop is an extension of joonbeam, both feature eco friendly handcrafted art. And now, interestingly, I have adopted the etsy nickname joon and use it. We love it.
3. What do you create and sell in your Etsy shop?
I opened joonwalk so that joonbeam can be exclusively my recycled papers pinbacks, magnets & thumbtacks. joonwalk has my new designs; recycled/upcycled items made from vintage and/or salvaged consumer waste paper and fabric finds. Originally, my joonbeam shop had a mix of Scout's t shirts, my various recycled creations and vintage finds. I plan to open a fourth shop for the vintage items soon. It will be called joonE, a take off on Wall*E, since it involves saving treasures from the trash heap.
4. How did you become involved in your craft?
I've always loved yard sales and finding items with a history as opposed to spending money on new, bland, cookie cutter products with poor craftsmanship and no soul, but it wasn't until I moved to Eugene, OR that I found thrift stores because it was my first home city large enough to sustain those shops. I fell in love with them instantly and by serendipity, became intrigued with the old picture frames when I needed one for a photo I took. I saw a magazine article on decopauge and that was it. I started decoupaging frames, light switchplates and other discards. I don't do that now, but it was the beginning of my re-use art.
5. Explain your favorite part of the creative process.
I absolutely love the transformation and discovery. I have no clue what I will use and never use a pattern. Everything I make is different. I never make the same thing twice. So, it's always a surprise and delight for me. All I have is an idea and sometimes, I don't even have that. I'll see something out of the corner of my eye and suddenly, I'm piecing together something I never imagined. I take photos of everything I make because I would never remember all of my creations ~ and I love photography and memoirs/history.
6. Do you sell in another Etsy store or anywhere outside of Etsy? If so, where?
Aside from my Etsy shops, no. I did the Craft Magazine Sponsored Austin Maker Faire, which was fun. I just sold my pinbacks that day. They were amazingly popular, I wish I would have counted passers by. My guess, though, is that at least 80% of the people who stopped and glanced at my basket of pins, bought at least one. This tells me that visibility is the all important selling factor and a huge challenge on Etsy. You can't sell things nobody is seeing.
7. So far, what project are you most proud of?
Well, my proudest project is my children, but they are not for sale! So.... This is a tough question. I am a true nerd in the sense that I get pretty excited over every little thing. I love the first frame I ever made, shown in the photo on this interview. This is one of my prized possessions and the art project that started my eco art. Dateline: 1996 It still looks as beautiful to me now as the day I completed it. I took this photo in Yachats, Oregon. Also, making pinbacks is totally addicting. I adore them. But, I think, if I have to narrow it down, I'll choose these two: my paintings and my letter packets. My paintings because these are my first acrylic paintings. I've never had any instruction so, for me, this was a risky endeavor and I painted them on recycled book covers/papers, so I incorporated my love of earth friendly art into the project. And I love the results. Here is one:
My letter packets because they are definitely an emotional challenge for me. I put my heart and soul into every one and I have no idea if the recipient will appreciate any of it. Or if they might get lost or ruined in the mail. I spend days thinking and hours and hours on each one - it's at least one whole day of hands on work - before each one is ready to mail. Many times the buyer doesn't leave me one word in the message to seller space. I know nothing about them. Before I start on the letter, I make (or gather) their extras. Each letter paper and envelope is hand designed & unique. Just writing the letters, which are not pre-written in any way, takes at least 2 hours. As I type this, I have written over 75 letters. Whenever I open a transaction email and see it is a letter order, I am filled with a mixture of delight, anxiety and dread. I have considered closing the shop more times than I can count. Most of my feedback makes it all worthwhile. The few who don't leave any or leave something generic... it really breaks my heart. But I force myself to keep going. I am not a fan of cynicism so I don't want to give in to it myself. And it does fuel my creativity and helps me grow as a person. My perspective is this: We've all experienced unwarranted acts of unkindness, large and small. I want to tip the balance. I have written to young people who have never received a handwritten letter in their life. I have met some fantastic people - many of whom continue to write back and forth with me - you can see what kind of a business person I am, right? HA! But, this particular venture is not a fiscal one. There's no way I can put a price on this experience. It's all about spreading a little sunshine in a world that can always use it, making a connection. I call it the small world effect; faith in humanity that enough people will be touched and I've made a difference. Here is a listing with three photos of letter packets:
I regularly post these in my flickr pool.
8. What advice can you give to someone who would like to learn your craft?Eliminate frustrations & think of yourself for once. It's impossible to truly be immersed in your creativity if everywhere you turn you have a setback. As a housewife and mother, I rarely put creating first, or even in the line up. My days are filled with endless responsibilities and setbacks. I know we all face this, stay at home or not. There's only so much you can control, so control that much. I'm slowly improving. I have a sewing machine that works beautifully. I keep my massive amounts of bits & pieces well organized. We move constantly ; a huge frustration. This house is terribly unsuited to a craft space. I'm literally in the storage room with no good light and no more than 3 feet of open space. It's crazy making. If I am using the dining room table, well, dinner is Cowboy Style, folks. I know if I have to pick it all up, I'll never get it out again. End of art. Last but not least: Rubbermaid is your friend. I couldn't live without these keepers. Especially with pets!
9. What motivated you to join the Etsy Beagle Street Team?
I grew up without a dog or a cat. How sad is that? I now have Chip, our beagle who just turned 9 yesterday! (Mar 31) and three kitties. But, I never knew anyone with a beagle. I knew nothing about beagles. We went to buy a .69 fish. There was Chip, all alone in the cage. He was $400! ACK. But he put his little chin on my hand and I could never leave him there. We couldn't afford him then and that's been true every step of the way since. Yet, we wouldn't trade him for anything. Now, this was a small town pet shop and Chip came from a retired military officer's Vermont country home. He was raising beagles as a hobby. So, no puppy mill. I sent them a photo of Chip and a note about how much we loved him that first Christmas. His wife sent me a beautiful reply. I still have it. We aren't involved in rescue or foster because we rent. We search months and pay irrationally exorbitant rents and fees just to find housing for ourselves because of our pets. We did rescue our second kitty. Maybe we're rescuing all four. But it goes both ways. I started seeing all of these beagle avatars in the forums and shops and I was amazed. I had no idea beagles were so prevalent, despite the fact that I knew they have always been in the top favored pet lists. So, naturally, I was intrigued by the Etsy beagle kingdom. As I recall, I came across Linda, via her avatar, and she was so friendly and invited me to join the team. I love stopping by and am working on being more active. My co-administrating of another large, active etsy team is quite consuming.
10. Any other places we might find you (Flickr, blog, MySpace, etc.)?
I have a blog and two flickrs, which I love. I find both of these to be a lot of fun, creative, interesting, inspiring and a great way to meet and stay in touch with people. I love comments. I leave comments.
I am on twitter and facebook. I like twitter. The jury is still out on facebook, which I joined at the request of two of our sons . I keep both small. I'm not into adding 'friends' just to add numbers. I am truly interested in relationships: not promoting, not strangers. I don't grasp that concept.
I do welcome twitter followers if anyone is interested in my little blurbs. They are usually about small pieces of our day, nifty finds and updates to my shop, blog and Scout's shop. I am always available and welcome convos. I love genuine communication and friendship.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)