By Contributing Columnist Jay of Haffina Creations

Not many people know, but I am the mother of twin boys, and as such I understand how challenging it can be to be creative with twin bundles of joys dancing like a whirlwind through your house. Now let me introduce you to another mother of twin boys, who creates beautiful items whilst being a fabulous mom to her darling boys. Teri Landow is the driving force behind The Beaded Branch and my featured ArtFire artisan.

What will people find when they drop into your studio/store? What types of items do you sell?
An eclectic mix of bead jewelry, sterling silver chainmaille, Bug Bag pouches, and of course, my very own line of Present Past Treasures.

How did you come up with your studio/ shop’s name?
The name for my shop came about by combining several ideas:
1) I really love trees, and wanted to incorporate the idea of trees into my business name somehow.
2) I loved the idea of “branches” being related to arms, necks, ears, etc of a person and them being decorated with my jewelry.
3) When I started out, my designs were very simplistic bead earrings, necklaces and bracelets. I never really thought I’d expand out past the beaded branch of jewelry making. Of course, I was wrong, but I still try to incorporate beads in everything I sell.

How long have you been selling online?
I started my own online shop over 10 years ago. I ran into the trouble that so many do, though. After I got married, and started a family, the huge time commitment of having to maintain a website just got to be too much. So, I started exploring my options, and came across Etsy, then ArtFire. In November of 2008, I opened my Etsy shop, and then in May of 2009 I opened my ArtFire Studio. I still have my own website, and might actually get around to updating it now that my children are actually starting school.

What lead you to join ArtFire?
Many, many factors lead me to joining ArtFire. The sense of community was the main thing, but other than that, all of the wonderful features that AF offers. The guilds, the ability to have ten pictures of each product, the coupon and gift certificate codes, being able to edit everything in my store with a few simple keystrokes, the list goes on and on. The real clincher for me was when I made my first sale in my ArtFire Studio. I was so excited, I tweeted it on my Twitter page. When the owner of ArtFire sent me a direct message, congratulating me on my sale, that meant the world to me. I’ve never deleted that tweet, and still read it when I need a little boost. The fact that he took that time to do that was a real sign to me that ArtFire cares about the artisans that choose to sell there.

What is your favourite feature on the site?
I have to pick ONE? (lol) It’s a toss up between the coupon codes and the bulk editing feature. I love how easy it is to set up coupon codes for my customers. The fact that I can pick what code for the coupon will be is awesome, because it makes it much easier for me to keep track of when it was used.
The bulk editing feature is awesome. Being able to go in and reprice everything in my studio, or add tags to everything with just a few keystrokes, is wonderful and so time saving. It’s just so easy and convenient.

What tips/advice would you give to others considering joining the site?
Read up on how to take really good photographs of your products. Make sure your photos are nice, clear, and in focus. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Learn how to market using blogs and social networks. Figure out all of your shipping prices before you start listing. Set aside money for advertising. Join guilds and participate. Make a lot of friends in the crafting world. We are the best support to each other when sales are slow, and we need a little mental boost.

How do you want people who visit your studio/shop to feel, what mood are you attempting to create?
I try to create the feel of a cozy and relaxed slightly upscale boutique where you never quite know what’s going to spring up next.

What types of things do you do to try and create that feel/mood?
I don’t necessarily revolve my stock, but whenever I add pieces, I always try to make sure that I add an assortment of pieces in a new line at the same time, as a boutique would do when they received a new shipment, instead of one piece here and one piece there.

What is your favourite tool or material to use at the moment?
Right now, at this moment, I don’t really have a favorite. Actually, at any moment it would be hard for me to narrow down my favorite of anything to one thing. I love pearls, and would incorporate them into every piece I make if I possibly could. I’m also currently exploring materials and techniques that are new to me. Polymer clay and epoxy resins are the big ones right now, and since I’m still in the learning phase of those two mediums, I get to play with them, and learn how to make pieces that are good enough to sell.

Are there any skills or techniques that you would like to learn, or materials that you would like to work with, aside from what you already do?
Oh, several. I would love to learn to work with glass, and also I want to expand my knowledge of polymer clay, epoxy resins, metal clays, painting, and sewing. I love to learn new skills and techniques that can cross over from one medium to another, seeing how and what I can combine to create some new, unique pieces.

Are you still selling the same kind of items as when you started selling, or has it changed with time?
Yes and no. Yes, I still sell my basic bead jewelry. I’ll never fully get away from that, and wouldn’t want to. But, because I get distracted easily, and my desire to explore new techniques often overwhelms me, I switch off what I’m working on at any given moment, and my lines are continually expanding and growing. That’s the one problem with having so many friends who are so very talented in different art forms. I see their work, and think “Ooohh, I’d like to try that!”, and I do.

Which part of being an online seller do you find the most challenging, and what do you do to deal with that?
The whole process of listing products in my Studio- pricing, photographing, descriptions, tagging, all of it. It can really drag me down. The way I deal with it is to just bite the bullet and do it. Generally, I wait until I have a stockpile of products made, and I do a several day long photo shoot of everything. Then I spend another day editing the photos, and then another day or two listing. It’s a very draining week or so for me, and I always refer to them as my “necessary evil” days.

How do you balance your online and offline life?
I try to keep it balanced, but there are some days when the lure of the online world is just too great, and I’ll spend all day chatting, and drooling over my friends new works. There are other days, however, when I have no desire to go online at all, so I just check my email once or twice those days, and leave it at that. Having kids helps keep the balance, because their needs come first. So, I do have to spend time offline feeding them, playing with them, reading to them, and doing arts and crafts with them.

What kind of supplies do you always seem to buy, even if you do not really need them?
It used to be beads. Now, I have to admit, it’s pretty much whatever comes into view that I think I might be able to use. If I find a new craft that I find intriguing, I’ll buy just enough of the basic supplies to try it out. But even that I’ve slowed down on. I need to use up what I have before I buy anything more.

To see more gorgeous creations from The Beaded Branch check out her ArtFire Studio.

By Columnist Nicole M., Sugar Shox Crafts

Slide photo courtesy of Pangea Designs

When I was expecting my son, Cameron, this spring, a nursing pillow, or “Boppy Pillow,” as they’re more commonly called, was very high on my list of things to get. When I saw that the pillow would cost about $50, I thought that there had to be a way that I could make my own for less. I then sat my 8 months pregnant belly down, and came up with a plan. Bust out that cute baby fabric; it’s time to get to work!

YOU WILL NEED:

-1.5 yards of fabric–I used fleece because it’s extra soft but tough enough to withstand lots of use.

-Body pillow– Find it in the housewares department of your favorite department store–mine was 20″ by 52″.

-Marking crayon

-Straight pins

-Thread in coordinating color

-Kraft paper or other pattern paper (optional, for drawing pattern)

LETS DO IT!

1. Get a 1.5 yard cut of fabric.

2. Fold fabric lengthwise (horizontally). You will now be working with the reverse sides of the fabric. Make sure all sides and corners meet evenly.

3. Cut off any rough or raw edges.

4. Using a bright-colored crayon, sketch out a very large “U” shape on the fabric. Take your time on this step. Have your body pillow handy so you can get a good comparison between the size of the cover that you’re making and the actual pillow that’s going inside it.

TIP: You can also use Kraft paper to draw out your shape if you don’t like the crayon markings.

5. Cut the shape out along the lines you drew.

6. Pin along the sides and curved bottom of the shape. Leave the top of the pillow unpinned.

7. Sew along the pinned edges with a coordinating thread color, making sure to avoid the unpinned top.

8. Cut any excess fabric from the sewn edges.

9. Turn shape inside out.

10. Fit body pillow into sewn shape through the unsewn top of the pillow. Your pillow should fit snugly into the cover. Straighten any lumps or bumps that come about.

TIP: If your case turns out to be too big for your pillow, just measure the pillow ends again, pin, turn the case inside out again and resew!

11. Fold over raw edges of the opening, pinch together, and pin in place.

Step 11: Fold over & pinch...

Now pin shut!

12. Double-stitch the opening closed.

ALL DONE! Now you have the perfect baby shower gift for less than half the price!

Edited by Barbra aka All About The Buttons

Photo courtesy of frecklesfairytales
Columnist Michelle aka Little Toad

MyLuckyPal began when PL started to create sock animals for her kids several years ago. “I made 2 huge dogs and my boys were amazed that I could turn regular socks into stuff animals!” Socks are her major materials and she has a huge sock collection. She creates her lucky pals with thoughts and love. “I get very excited if I happen to see something so inspiring to me and I just cannot wait to start.”
{ Q&A }
Have you ever created a plush that you got attached to and it was really hard to sell or you ended up not selling it? It happened! Hard to let it go with something I felt so special. But I have learned that sharing of love and happiness is a better and bigger purpose for me to create. Selling, for me, is sharing!
What is your guiltiest pleasure? I cannot think of anything! I enjoy all things and try not to feel guilty about them.
What can you not go a single day without? I have to create, make something with my mind and hands!
If your creations came alive what would you do? WOW! That will be cool! I will hug them all! I am all the lucky pals’ mom!

KitLane: Kit admits that she’s not entirely sure where her creations came from. “I guess the wee Jacabobs and their ilk developed over time. My intention was to create a character who only exhibited childlike goodness and good humor.” Her creations are made entirely of wool with the exception of their facial bead eyes and button noses.
She is currently preparing pieces for a 6 person gallery show in August at Bear and Bird. “I’m also writing and rewriting, scrapping and writing some more for a very short children’s book, a difficult audience indeed.”
{ Q&A }
Have you ever created a plush that you got attached to and it was really hard to sell or you ended up not selling it? I fall in love with every little thing I make from paintings, sculpts, drawings and of course the little Jacabobs you see in my shop at Etsy. Sometimes it’s quite hard to part with them but the truth is I don’t own a single one. I set them all free.
What is your guiltiest pleasure? Sweetarts and Lil Debbie Nutty Bars
What can you not go a single day without? I have a 17 year old daughter, the love of my life and away at University. I have a hard time missing at least some form of communication with her every day. I do, at times suffer from Internet withdrawal too. Just the thought of a day or two without it makes me light headed.
If your creations came alive what would you do? I’d squeeze them all, show them the little home I’ve built for them and hope at least a few of them would stay. I’d ply them with muffins and jam.

It’s the fuzz by uglyclothes: Liz started making Christmas ornaments the first year she opened her shop. “I have always had a bit of a darker streak when it comes to my art so it wasn’t much of a surprise when I started making some creepy cuties for Christmas. The zombie line came from a random conversation with my boyfriend. We were trying to figure out something I could make and sell for Valentine’s Day and that is when I decided zombies need love too.” All of her creations are needle felted. “I use wool roving which I then poke to perfection. I also embellish my creations with buttons, ribbons and whatever else I can find.”
{ Q&A }
Have you ever created a plush that you got attached to and it was really hard to sell or you ended up not selling it? Yep. She’s sitting on my mantle and I love her. I made her as a self portrait to try out doing larger plush creations, and she is pretty big, but now I can’t possibly part with her, she is a part of my little family!
What is your guiltiest pleasure? Chocolate. Lots of it.
What can you not go a single day without? My kitties. Even the loud annoying one (okay I could maybe go a couple days without him, but not many).
What is your favorite place in the whole world? Home. Every time I leave I am so happy to be coming back.
If your creations came alive what would you do? Oh no! Well, the birds would probably fly away. The zombies would start wreaking havoc on the local townsfolk and the vampires would have to quickly find a coffin for refuge!

Article edited with pleasure by Barbra aka AllAboutTheButtons

Nina Newton of mamas*little*treasures has been designing and creating clothing for women and children for many years.

In addition to designing a variety of clothing and craft projects, Nina also has been writing eBook patterns for her creations for the past five years.

Having been a free-lance writer for local newspapers and other publications, it just seemed natural for her to move into the editorial position for a small online Christian women’s magazine, Ruby for Women, this spring when the opportunity presented itself.

In addition to designing, sewing, quilting, and writing, Nina has also been fascinated most recently with hand-embellished and vintage garments, shoes, and accessories which are available through her Etsy shop, Gossamer Wings Studio.

Nina and her husband live in rural northern Indiana in the midst of cornfields and woods, near a beautiful little lake, with their two beautiful daughters who were both adopted from China. With eight biological grown-up children between them, and 10 grandchildren who live in Michigan and Colorado, this is a pretty busy family!

Working from home is the perfect opportunity for this creative mama! In you are interested in knowing more about Nina and her work, please visit her blog at www.mamaslittletreasures.typepad.com or the Ruby blog at www.rubyforwomen.com.

Her Etsy shops are at www.mamaslittletreasures.etsy.com and www.gossamerwingsstudio.etsy.com

ARTICLES written by Mamas Little Treasures:

By Contributing Columnist Natalie aka HarveyCraftyCards

For my 1st article I have interviewed a fellow Folksy shop owner Sam also known as Pants from a wonderful shop called Pantsandpaper I love this shop and was actually the 1st shop I brought something from so seems quite fitting. Sam stock fabulous handmade items made from recycled fabrics the items that Sam comes up with are truly amazing and very unique Sam has been able to design a style that is very distinctive and loved by all thank you Sam for taking the time to be interviewed!

So here goes
When did you open your shop? & How many sales?

I first opened my shop on Folksy in march 2009. I did not really expect any sales but thought I would pop a few items on there to see how it went. I had three sales over a few months. At the end of October I decided to start getting more involved, chatting on the forums, stocking my shop and promoting. I felt that it was time to really make a go of it. It certainly paid off and over Christmas it was a mad rush with sales coming in. To date my sales have reached 108 and I am so thrilled. It is hard work and a lot more than just stocking your shop and waiting to see.

What got you to start making things?

I started making at a very young age. I spent a lot of time with my Grandma in her cottage and she did not have a TV. She used to keep a big bag of making bits for me. I used to love sewing on her old singer machine and I still have it. She taught me so much and the love of making has never left me and I have certainly passed it on to my children.

Where you got your inspiration?

I look for inspiration from all sorts of places and I read hundreds of books. I have always looked to find my own style and my own place in the crafting world and it is something that I found frustrating at first. Now I believe I have found me and I think my items are recognisable as mine.

How you got your shops name?

PantsandPaper name grew from Hubby callling me sexy pants – later shortened to pants. I have a love of collaging and have stacks and stacks of paper tucked just about everywhere. I was always covered in glue and bits of paper – so the name Pants and Paper was born.

How did you feel when you found out you were a featured seller?

I was so so excited about being a featured seller on Folksy. I must admit I used to sit there every Sunday waiting for the featured sellers to change, it was a bit like waiting for the lottery. The week I was featured seller I must have jumped and screamed around the room most of the evening. Im not sure my family knew what all the fuss was about.

Many thanks Sam was lovely catching up and finding out a little more about the fab people behind the fantastic shops check out Pantsandpaper for some truly unique gifts and items.

Tracy Smith of Cinnamon Jewellery

I have to be honest, sewing is not one of my favourite things, in fact if at all possible, I avoid it like the plague. I can sew I just choose not to. Hem of your trousers come undone? No need to get out the needle and thread, just use safety pins! See what I mean!

Needlework classes at school were interesting. The first thing we had to make was a needlework bag to keep everything in. Lets just say the way my foot hit that peddle on the sewing machine wouldn’t have put a boy racer to shame at a green light. I made various items of clothing, including a checked granddad shirt (hideous) and a voluminous blue skirt (even more hideous). I never wore either of them and was very relieved when I could drop the Needlework class and try woodwork instead. My efforts there resulted in an “interesting” but rather shapeless piece of wood, but at least it was lovely and smooth ( I was very good at sanding apparently). I’m so glad I eventually found my “calling” in beads and wire! Strangely, I still have the needlecase I made for my Mum years ago. It’s tucked away in the sewing tin that I never open……

I asked three Folksy sellers who do enjoy sewing to let me into the secret of the attraction of the world of needles and thread and sewing machines.

Zoe of Top Floor Treasures has always wanted to be an artist/crafter since she was a young girl. She uses beautiful fabrics to make pencil cases and cushions. “I love working with printed fabrics that have a design that I love; the best part is seeing the finished product and feeling proud of what I have created. It’s lovely when you create something and someone wants to buy it, that’s the biggest compliment you can get and is a great feeling!”

Gemma of SugarandRhubarb is inspired by fabric prints and life’s little happy moments. She takes beautiful fabrics and turns them into tea cosies, take-away cup huggers and iPhone covers. She has just lauched her new range of cute Ninja Kitties on Folksy. Gemma loves the sense of achievement she felt when she got a gold star from the teacher when she was at school and when she had finally finished a piece of work that had taken a long time to do. “I get this same buzz when I sew. The process of thinking of a design, figuring out how to create it and then the end result is so rewarding, it may take a while and several moments of throwing unsuccessful attempts across the room, but to be able to create something beautiful gives me that same sense of achievement that I felt as a child. Being a part of a community like Folksy makes it even better, you can share ideas and support and you really feel that there are fellow craftsters out there rooting for you to do well. My favorite moment is when a customer buys an item and then takes the time to thank you for it. As each of my items are handmade I become attached to them so it’s lovely to know that someone else is enjoying it as much as I did making it.”

Kate of Bluebell and Rosie makes cushions and purse and also sells sewing supplies. She likes the way sewing takes her away from the stresses and strains of everyday life. “I love being able to get lost in the moment. I find it doesn’t matter whether I make something thats useable/wearable etc – its the whole process of making that I find really therapeutic and a great way to relax.”

Being handy with a needle and thread means recycling is an important part of creating for Zoe, Gemma and Kate.

Zoe recycles materials if she has enough for the task in hand. “I’ve used old jeans to make bags, ribbons from other bought items get re-used. At the moment I’m working on some magnets which feature scraps of a lovely fabric that used to be one of my daughter’s blouses!” She also uses buttons from old clothes in other projects.

Gemma gets a particular buzz from using fabrics that other people might have just thrown away. “When I was younger I’d regularly clear out my wardrobe for new items (My name’s Gemma and I’m a shopping addict) and send the unwanted clothes to charity shops, now they become a part of my fabric hoard, and I love that. I love being able to make a cosy or lavender bag out of something that was once unwanted by myself or someone else. If anyone is having a wardrobe clearout I’m usually there stroking the clothes or inspecting the print, the same happens if I go near a charity shop!

I never throw out the scraps that I create whilst sewing new goodies. I have a box filled with randomly shaped ends of fabric that I find are perfect for those appliqué moments. It’s especially satisfying when you find a scrap from a yardage you had months ago and, even if it’s the size of a penny, to be able to use it in another project makes me really happy.”

Kate has been given a lot of fabric which she recycles. “I’ve not been sewing for long but I have a stash of materials passed to me from my mother in law which she has had for years and I’m constantly on the lookout in charity shops for any materials I might be able to use.”

It’s not just the haberdashery store that provides a source for new supplies. There are lots of other sources to increase your stash.

Zoe: “The materials I use come from a variety of places, such as charity shops, online auction sites, fabric websites, local craft shops, and I’m also given things by friends that they think I might be able to use. I can happily spend hours looking at fabric websites wishing I had enough money to just buy everything they have!”

If fabric obssessed Gemma had the money she would build another house just to store all of her finds, “colour-coded obviously!” She is always on the look out for pieces to add to her collection and will find any opportunity to buy or nip into a fabric shop. “The unexpected pleasant surprises come from eBay or online stores like Fabric Rehab. Otherwise my favourite places to spend an afternoon are Kirkgate Market in Leeds and Ditto Fabrics in the North Laines in Brighton. I bought some stunning Paul Smith and D&G fabric from them in their sales which I can’t wait to use. Plus charity shops, be it old clothes or pillow cases there’s always a fabric treat to be found, my best find was a duvet cover on sale for 99p which will make some lovely homeware goodies and toddler dresses.”

Kate loves the sales for her fabric finds. “I’m in the process of building up a varied fabric stash so I’ve got fabrics from Ikea, Fabric Rehab, Gaga Fabrics and Laura Ashley.”

Thank you to Zoe, Gemma and Kate. When I look at the lovely things in their slideshow it’s possible to make with a needle and thread a small part of me wishes I liked to sew. It’s only a very small part though!

Pic courtesy of Hello Monkey

By Contributing Columnist, Cynthia Nodland aka Puddin Pies.

As a novice clothing seamstress, I was looking online to find some cute but not-too-hard patterns that I could figure out without getting frustrated! I tried a few different ones that were either too involved or not very well done. Then while looking around Etsy one day, I found “Whimsy Couture”—and BINGO!!!

Online business owner Denise offers simple patterns in many sizes to fit your little one, your home, or yourself! And not just one or two—in all, as of today’s count, she has patterns for over 30 different items, including dresses, pants, pillows, bags, tops, and more! If you are familiar with quilting (as I was when I began), these patterns are right up your alley—Denise gives you the measurements and all sizes can easily be cut with a rotary blade and cutting mat! The prices are low and sales are offered on a regular basis.

Best of all, while many pattern makers do not allow you to sell items made from their patterns, or will only allow you to sell a few, Whimsy Couture has no limit!

I also appreciate the shop owner’s dedication to helping out other sellers in the Etsy family. Denise offers advertising on her blog, www.whimsycoutureboutique.blogspot.com, as well as giveaways and featured shops. You can also purchase a “Success Kit” to help you get the most out of your Etsy store.

To see more of this fun shop, visit Whimsy Couture.

Happy Sewing!!!

I am a stay at home mom who sews little girl’s clothing on Etsy. I live in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa area with my wonderful husband and two sweet little girls, ages 4 and 1. My sewing experience began a few years ago when I attempted to make matching Christmas dresses for my daughter and myself, with atrocious results. I decided there has to be an easier way–but I couldn’t find it! After giving up for a few years, I got the courage to buy a pattern on Etsy and the dress I made my daughter was a hit!!! Since then I have been sewing like crazy, trying any new pattern I can get my hands on.

You can find me on Facebook–Puddin’ Pies is the name of my store!

Articles by Puddin’ Pie:
Cynthia’s Favs

Cynthia’s Fav – Saratams

I’ll have the large fries

Hi, I’m Jaimie and I’m the owner, operator, and craft maker of my little Evilpotpourri shop at Etsy. I got my start on ebay back in 2004 under the same “evilpotpourri” name. I still sell occasionally on that site.

Wondering where I got my name? That’s what happens when you strike up a deal with your teenage daughter and let her choose your fabulous new name in exchange for nightly dish washing! Sometimes I regret it. But then again, I’ve never had to worry about someone else using it.

I make and sell whatever strikes my fancy. Right now I’m into sewing which is great because I’m using up all the fabric Ive collected due to an out of control fabric addiction.

I think my arts and crafts reflect my personality. I love bright colors and tend to stay away from geometrical designs. I also have that “other” side of my personality that really digs skulls and crossbones and Goth type fabrics and art. I love the whimsical, cute, and mystical and fairys are a favorite.

I am married to the most wonderful and ever patient man! He never complains about how my crafts have completely taken over the living and dining room and as long as I sew him a quilt for his birthday he’s happy!

We have 4 children, 2 of whom are grown. We have 2 grand-babies. We love animals and are owned by 6 dogs, one cat, and an African Grey bird. I have a very special dog named Chloe who is deaf. She is the inspiration behind my other etsy store “chloesbowwowboutique“.

Mention that you saw me on Indiesmiles and get 10% off your order and Free Shipping!

Jaimie
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Etsy shops: evilpotpourri and chloesbowwowboutique