Team Spotlight! Interview with 2RavenChicks

MsAnomaly's interview with 2RavenChicks

1. When did you open your Etsy store and begin selling?
We posted items to our shop the middle of May 2009. We did not get our first sale for about a month. We had just joined the Beagle Team and had our sale a couple of days later (the Beagle Team is good luck!) We were SO excited – we could hardly believe that someone would want to buy our jewelry over the internet! Our most exciting sales to date have been to Forks, Washington (you Twilight fans know what I’m talking about) and Australia! I panicked a bit about how to mail the International package, but the lady at our Post Office helped me right through it.

2. How did you select your shop’s name?
I LOVE ravens. I think they are the most amazing, clever birds. They are such survivors and are so funny to watch. My DH refers to our teenage daughters and myself as his hungry chicks in the nest that he has to go out and provide for. Two of us making jewelry +Raven+chicks = 2RavenChicks.

3. What do you create and sell in your Etsy shop?
Costume jewelry – a lot of it with vintage bits and pieces. We want to add birdhouses, but our summers are so busy we haven’t found time. In the winter when minus 40F temperatures and colder coop us up indoors, we will be a lot more productive. I have so many ideas rolling around in my head of what I’d like to do and what I’d like our shop to look like. With working full time and all the summer projects and activities – I don’t think our shop will be what I want for a few months. A photo redo is definitely in order!

4. How did you become involved in your craft?
Both my 17-year-old Nicole and I make items for the shop. About two years ago, she needed to do a fundraiser for a wonderful youth service organization she is in – the Rainbow Girls (link posted on our blog). I had made a couple of pairs of earrings at a crafty friend’s house and she said we should try to make some earrings. We headed off to Joann’s and loaded up. We made earrings and bracelets for the sale and my DH made some birdhouses. We got to our first craft fair with high hopes on top of the world. Our hearts sunk as we saw all the jewelry there. We looked at each other and said we won’t sell any of our jewelry. We were wrong – people actually were buying our earrings and bracelets! Her fundraiser was a roaring success and we fell in love with a new craft.

5. Explain your favorite part of the creative process.
The time Nicole and I share together. She is one of the best people I know and I love spending time with her. We give each other feedback, drink tea and often watch Jane Austen movies and chick flicks when we make jewelry. It’s our girl time. Just looking at all the beads, charms and stones is so therapeutic and relaxing for us. Sometimes we act so goofy – coming up with atrocious bead combos, asking the other what they think, and things like that.

6. Do you sell in another Etsy store or anywhere outside of Etsy? If so, where?
Nicole and I have only done one craft fair and a harvest festival, but plan on doing more before year’s end. We would like to get some of our items into local shops, but have not mustered up enough courage to do that yet

7. So far, what project are you most proud of?
Nicole likes the Bollywood inspired bracelet she made: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26261888I like my octopus necklace:http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25040237

8. What advice can you give to someone who would like to learn your craft?
Even if you are not making fine high-end jewelry, you should make sure jump rings and loops are tightly closed! Stones, beads and charms should be secured in a way that they will stay put! Wear your own jewelry to make sure it will stand up to everyday wear and tear. I cringe to think that the people who bought our first attempts might have had them fall apart – some of our first loops were atrocious! If you plan to sell your jewelry, keep in mind competition in the jewelry market is fierce! Make what you love – because if it doesn’t sell – you can keep it yourself! Develop a tough skin; people can be incredibly rude and insensitive at times. Not everyone will like what you make and sometimes you will have to hear hurtful comments – especially when you put yourself out there to sell to the public. On the flip side - it is so satisfying and rewarding when someone gets excited about your jewelry and buys it letting you know it will make a perfect gift or it’s just what they’ve been looking for.

9. What motivated you to join the Etsy Beagle Street Team?
Getting two beagle puppies! We bought them from a Breeder in Missouri but could not get them shipped to Fairbanks for some reason. My DH and I were going to an NFL Seahawks game last December and arranged for them to ship to the Seattle airport the day we would be flying back to Fairbanks. We carried them into the cabin. They were like magnets to everyone who saw them. Kids, seniors, Men. Puppy therapy is REAL (LOL).We donate all proceeds from the “Going to the Dogs” section of our Etsy shop to the Loving Companions Animal Rescue in North Pole, Alaska: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=2504023 We just had our first sale in our Going to the Dogs section! Our Lab/Newfie mix Lucky (aka Luckydog) appreciates that he was welcomed with open paws too!

10. Any other places we might find you (Flickr, blog, MySpace, etc.)?
2RavenChicks on Twitter, RavenChicks on Facebook and our blog: http://2ravenchicks.blogspot.com/ - we have some photos of Lucky, Lucy and Sly on there.

Thank you for interviewing us Linda! You are our E6000! We love being part of the Beagle Team and welcome any comments or questions that any of you have!

Team Spotlight! Interview with Cody's Creations

After taking a little time off to get the yard, house, and family ;) ready for summer, I am going to start posting our Team spotlight interviews again! Today's interview is with team member Cody's Creations.

1. When did you open your Etsy store and begin selling?
I first started listing items/selling in November 2008, I had reserved the name months prior while I was shopping.

2. How did you select your shop’s name?
Cody’s Creations is named for my eldest dog, Cody. I knew when I was trying to name the shop that I wanted something with Cody’s name in it, and I just went through different words till I paired her name with Creations.

3. What do you create and sell in your Etsy shop?
Pet accessories – collars, leashes, treat pockets, bandanas, doggie day bags, I frequently add new items.

4. How did you become involved in your craft?
When we adopted our two younger pups, Kona and Pepe, I was searching for a camo crate mat and a crate mat with skulls. I could not find what I was looking for, so I went shopping for some fabric and my mom showed me how to make what I was looking for. Since then, I have taken sewing classes and developed an obsession for fabric and ribbon. I love making bags and purses as well – they have been all local custom orders. Maybe one day I will open a second shop

5. Explain your favorite part of the creative process.
I often will come up with a new idea as I am drifting off to sleep – it usually is enough to catapult me out of bed to draw out a quick sketch so that in the morning I can work on it. I love being able to come up with a concept in my head and be able to make the concept a reality.

6. Do you sell in another Etsy store or anywhere outside of Etsy? If so, where?
For now, just Etsy. I have been approached by many shops who would like to carry my items, I am just not ready to wholesale yet, but soon you will be able to find our items in some pet boutiques.

7. So far, what project are you most proud of?
The Treat Pocket! I admit I wore a “fanny pack” type treat pouch for training class and I hated every minute of it. I refused to wear it on walks so I would keep treats in my pockets. I got tired of having treats go through the washing machine, so I made the pocket. I love color, so you often see lots of bright color and patterns. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5393437&section_id=6066499

8. What advice can you give to someone who would like to learn your craft?
Learn from everyone that you can. Take classes, but also make sure that you sit and learn from an experienced sewer – they have all the great tips and tricks that once you learn you don’t know how you survived not knowing them.

9. What motivated you to join the Etsy Beagle Street Team?
Honestly, the name! I have three rescued beagle mixes, and when I saw there was a Beagle Team I knew that I had to join. I worked for many years in veterinary hospitals and for animal shelters. Cody was supposed to be a foster, but I just couldn’t adopt her to anyone else. I have fostered since then, and have not had another foster failure.

10. Any other places we might find you (Flickr, blog, MySpace, Facebook, etc.)?
Cody’s Creations has a fan page on Facebook, we often post new items, look for testers and announce our sales. Our page can be found: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=38614&id=1742340739&ref=nf#/pages/Codys-Creations/51786178461

Beagles Team Members in the Etsy Gift Guides

Arrrooooo! Some of our Beagles Team members have items featured in the Etsy Gift Guides!

Wedding Attire GG
Bayousalvage

Pets GG
Gertiegearstore
Mygreydog
CiaoHound

Travel GG
Anandi

Luxury GG
Bluedogrose

Dad GG
MadrinPhotography

Teens GG
MsAnomaly

Free Shipping Sale GG
Anandi

Entertaining, Vintage Style GG
IndulgeYourShelf

Americana Folk GG
Anniekdesigns

Steampunk and Noir GG
Bayousalvage

Woodland and Feathers GG
Talkofthetown
Bluedogrose

Geek Chic GG
Anandi