I did it!!

I opened my second shop and I started moving some items over. I would like to thank everyone who voted in my poll and for all of the great comments. GlitterStitch won by one vote. The close second was GlitterGarb. I like them both, but decided to go with the winner. I feel GlitterStitch has a little more spunk to it. My temporary or maybe permanent tag line that I came up with on the spot is, Ink N Stitch Designs for You. I still need to make a banner. Right now I'm just using one from the bannerator. Now I just have to go fill it up!!

Etsy Buy Handmade GlitterStitch

Featured Artist: Fashiongreentbags

What do you create?

Reusable bags from recycled clothing. I also make other items like watch bands, collar necklaces, ipod cases and whatever I think all from recycled clothing.

What made you start?

I started out of concern for the environment and to find something constructive to do while I'm on a (hopefully) temporary medical disability.

How long have you been crafting/selling/creating?

I've been creating and selling since the end of November, 2007-so not very long.

Do you have any short/long term goals?

Relating to this business, I hope I can earn enough money to pay for my investment.

Describe your craft room/area in three words or less.

Our dining room

Where do you sell your product? (online and offline)

Only on Etsy.

Where can we find you on the net? (myspace, blog, etc.)

You can find me at fashiongreentbags.etsy.com
and fashiongreentbags.blogspot.com

Is crafting your full time job?

Crafting is my full time job for right now.

What inspires you?

I get inspired by the articles of clothing I find. Sometimes I think of an item I want to create and I create it as I go. I'm sure that sometimes I find the absolute most difficult means to an end and pursue an even more difficult method.

Any crafts you would like to learn or are currently learning?

I'd like to improve my sewing. Needle felting seems interesting too. I'd like to do so many different things but if I knew too much it would only make my distractability worse.

What is your favorite material(s)?

Used

Are you a self taught crafter or have you taken some classes?

I'm self-taught. As I mentioned earlier, I usuallly just make things up as I go along

What is the best gift you have ever received and why?

There is no gift that compares to finding my husband and having the children that I am priviledged to know.

Apples or oranges?

Fruit salad

What do you listen to when you are crafting?

NPR, some TV shows, other radio stations

Are you a night owl?

Absolutely!

Do you have any other hobbies?

Swimming, biking, hiking

How many people live in your home town/current town?

About 30,000. We're a college town so the population varies.

Read anything good lately?

I'm currently reading a book about depression and anxiety that is teaching me a lot.

Do you have kids? If so do you have any tips for other crafting
moms/dads?

I have a 20 year old daughter and an almost 18 year old son.

They're both unimaginably wonderful. I'm a very lucky person.

Blog carnival: Poetry

This weeks etsy bloggers blog carnival is about poetry. I've never really been into poetry. Anytime I write any it is either to be silly or because I had to in school. I remember we had this huge poetry unit in the 8th grade or maybe it was 7th. I can't remember. Anywho, recently I had recovered my poetry books from my mom. We had to write two books full of poems. After reading a few I wonder just how weird of a kid I was...

Poem 1
"When I grow up"
When I grow up, just wait and see
I know you'll be so proud of me.
After school I'll go to college
So then I can get more knowledge.
I will get a fantastic job
So, that way I won't be a slob.
I do not know what I will be
I hope it is the job for me.
My beauty will begin to fade
I'll get old and killed by my maid.

Poem 2
There once was an old man named Bob.
He was a complete and total slob.
He never cleaned a room,
Or picked up a broom.
Forming in his house was a big, green, glob.

Poem 3
There once was an old lady named franey.
Who got up and fell on her fanny.
She fell into a cup,
and tryed to get up,
but to big was old Franey's fanny.

Poem 4
"Anger"
When I'm mad
I wish I was an elephant
So I could stomp on
everyone I was mad at.
I would
Smoosh them like ants
on the sidewalk.
Swinging my trunk at the ones that got away.
Then I would stab them with my tusks.

There is your look into my mind over 13 years ago.. I find them all quite hilarious.

EtsyBloggers featured blogger: Stormy Designs

This months featured blogger is Stormy Designs. She creates amazing works of art using polymer clay. Her items are one of a kind. Here are a few examples of her work.

Dragon sculpture

Psychedelic cuff


Abstract designer vase

These were just a few of my favorite items from Stormy Designs shop.
Please check out more amazing items at Stormydesigns.etsy.com
You can read her blog at www.stormydesigns.blogspot.com
Also check out her website www.stormydesigns.biz
Thanks for checking out this month's featured blogger.

Etsy ABC's: B is for...

BagsThatBite

This item can be purchased at BagsThatBite.etsy.com

Beard Disguise

This item can be purchased at Lupin.etsy.com

Bikini

This item can be purchased at Harajuku.etsy.com

Featured Artist: Debby Arem

What do you create?

I create jewelry ( pins,earrings and cufflinks),green office products ( clipboards of various sizes and styles including mini magnetic for post it pads! , keychains, bookmarks ), clocks, picture frames and suncatchers - all from recycled circuit boards. I add various other recycled materials - everything from vintage beads and cabochons to recycled metal from a scrap metal facility, and recycled brass stampings and recycled electrical components. And I'm always trying to think of new products to introduce to my shop that are made with recycled circuit boards so stay tuned!

What made you start?

My husband actually had a company many many years ago that assembled computers! I was in the back room one day and saw my very first circuit board and I thought it was just beautiful with all the intricate circuitry! I remember thinking " I could make some really neat jewelry out of these! " I was already a jewelry designer so this idea then became my new line which I named " Three Ring Circuits". We always joke that we were " green" before it really was fashionable !

Oddly enough, we had a neighbor at the time who owned a company that manufactured circuit boards! When they had a 'run' of boards that had a defect in them , she was more than happy to let me acquire them rather than have to have them disposed of ! That's when my favorite hobby of 'dumpster diving' began as she'd let me go out to the back and go through all the dumpsters to find 'treasure'!

How long have you been crafting/selling/creating?

A long time - since 1980 ! That's when I first began designing beaded necklaces for the Smithsonian Insitution's mail order catalog and museum shops as well as doing a lot of custom work. ( I sell a lot of these loose beads that I used in my designs in my other Etsy shop with is http://www.EurekaEureka.etsy.com )

Describe your craft room/area in three words or less.

Cluttered but organized

Where do you sell your product? (online and offline)

I sell not only on Etsy, but also on DaWanda and I have my own website
( www.debbyarem.com )
I also have a number of wholesale accounts and do some custom work from time to time which I really love to do.

Where can we find you on the net? (myspace, blog, etc.)

Well besides Etsy and DaWanda and my own website, I'm on Stumbleupon, myspace and my pictures are on Flickr.

Is crafting your full time job?

Yes it sure is.

Any crafts you would like to learn or are currently learning?

I've always wanted to learn how to make glass beads by hand ( lampwork ) and hope someday to find the time although I can't imagine when that will happen! I'm lucky these days if I can still find time to knit!

What is your favorite material(s)?

Recycled circuit boards of course with amazing circuitry!

Are you a self taught crafter or have you taken some classes?

I have my B.A. in Fine Arts from American University although my concentration was in silkscreen printing. My (3RC) Three Ring Circuits line ( which is what is on DebbyAremDesigns) is all "self taught " and still is as I come up with new ideas. My husband collaborates with me on this and is great at helping me figure out how to create something many times when I have the idea but can't envision where to start! He was the one , in fact, who came up with the clipboard idea and many of our green office products.

What do you listen to when you are crafting?

Country Western music!

Are you a night owl?

Most definitely!

Do you have any other hobbies?

I sure do! Almost too many to list! Knitting, gardening,cooking, refinishing furniture,dumpster diving ;-) for items I might use in my DebbyAremDesigns shop, and I volunteer with 2 dog rescue groups.

I love this cartoon..

Mr. Men


I remember reading these books as a kid.

They had an old cartoon as well, but I don't remember ever watching it. I watch this cartoon every morning while I'm getting my son off to school..



I need a Mr. Persnickety to come sleep clean at my house.. hehe

Help me pick a name!

Ok! I said this before, but I plan on opening a new shop. The new shop will have my screen printed items


and my handmade clothes.


I just can't decide on a name. I'd like to keep it similar to Glitterstar Designs.

Garb: –noun
1. a fashion or mode of dress, esp. of a distinctive, uniform kind: in the garb of a monk.
2. wearing apparel; clothes.
3. outward appearance or form.
–verb (used with object)
4. to dress; clothe.

Rage: 1.the object of widespread enthusiasm, as for being popular or fashionable:
all the rage, widely popular or in style
2. A burning desire; a passion.
3. A current, eagerly adopted fashion; a fad or craze: when torn jeans were all the rage

Duds: –plural noun Informal.
1. clothes, esp. a suit of clothes.
2. belongings in general.

You can help me by answering my poll. You can find the poll at the top right hand corner on this page. Thanks!!

Business conference

Today I attended a women's business conference. I had to ditch out early though, because I'm a mom and had no one to watch my daughter once my husband left for work. I attended two classes. The first was a class on record keeping. I'm not sure I actually learned anything I didn't already know. She basically said "keep everything and track it" This I know.. I just don't know how. She said use quickbooks and peachtree.. She also went over some tax forms which was helpful and different things you can claim on your taxes.

The second class was on marketing. It wasn't very helpful for an online business, but I did get some ideas from it. They had a bunch of vendors and information booths. I handed my business card to everyone of them. YaY! I gathered up a bunch of information as well.
(one of my free goodies)

They had a speaker that talked about motivation and things of that sort. That was interesting. Then we had a break for lunch. They had box lunches. We ate at 12:30 and I hadn't eaten a bite all day. Not even breakfast. So that was awesome! I had to leave then so my husband could leave for work.

I missed out on the web tools class. Which would probably have been nice to attend. I will be going again next year. It was a great networking opportunity. I'll also be better prepared next year.

Featured Artist: Penguin Love

Our featured artist for this week is Penguin Love.
Learn a little bit more about her and her craft below.

What do you create?
I mainly create journals from recycled books. I use the left over book insides to make pocket mirrors, light switch covers, and recycled envelopes


What made you start?
I saw a tutorial online about painting pages in old books white to make a sketchbook. I am way too impatient to do that, so I thought, “Why not make new insides!” So I learned Coptic stitch and started making new insides for my old books. I liked it so much I decided to start selling them.

How long have you been crafting/selling/ creating?
I've been crafting and selling for 3 years now. But I really started selling on Etsy in the past 7 months.

Do you have any short/long term goals?
My short term goal is to reach 200 sales on Etsy, I have 45 to go. My long term goal is to make enough crafting to be a stay at home mom once I have children.


Describe your craft room/area in three words or less.
Full

Where do you sell your product? (online and offline)
I sell mostly on PenguinLove.Etsy.com but I do occasional craft fairs in Virginia.

Where can we find you on the net? (myspace, blog, etc.)
You can find me on Etsy and on Myspace http://www.myspace.com/etsypenguinlove

Is crafting your full time job?
Nope, I am currently a full time student.


What inspires you?
I love vintage materials and drawings. My favorite thing to find is an awesome vintage book.

Any crafts you would like to learn or are currently learning?
I'd like to learn to knit but I don't have the time quite yet.

What is your favorite material(s)?
I love paper.

Are you a self taught crafter or have you taken some classes?
I'm self taught via the internet.


Apples or oranges?
Both, together.

What do you listen to when you are crafting?
Depends on my mood, but lately Sublime, Queen and Radiohead. Yes I know it's a weird combo.

Are you a night owl?
Yes, especially when I have an idea in my head. I have to make it right then.



How many people live in your home town/current town?
38,000 during the school year and about 5,000-8,000 in the summer.

Etsy ABC's: A is for...

Apple Jacket!

This item can be purchased at Jacquelineknits.

Apron!

This item can be purchased at Saucyfrocks.

Armadillo!

This item can be purchased at Narchi

mini-zine swap!

I keep forgetting to make this post. Better late than never though. A couple weeks ago I participated in a mini-zine swap for the Wisconsin street team (WIST). Basically 10 of us made mini-zines based on the theme "growth". Then we sent them all to oddstuffbyXanthe and she was kind enough to divide them up and send them out to everyone.


Xanthe even provided little boxes to keep our zines it. Which are made from magazine pages.. Perfect!


I thought this swap was a lot of fun and I hope to do it again in the future. I have also discovered my love of the zine. They were a ton of fun to make and even more fun to read. I haven't actually bought any yet, but I would love to in the future.

April = Birthdays!

Is it april already? YES! It is and that means BIRTHDAYS! I wake up yesterday (April 9th my birthday) thinking I would just be getting something from my hubby and kids, but I was pleasantly surprised. I got a few phone calls for birthday wishes. My friend Nika called to wish me a happy birthday and while on the phone my door bell rings. She had some beautiful flowers for me!


After that I went to check the mail. I wasn't really expecting anything, I was checking it because I happened to be out there. To my surprise I had two birthday cards waiting. One was from my friend Desiree. She just had a bridal shower this weekend so I assumed it was a thank you card. My first thought was, "Good lord des! You are quick" but no.. It was a bday card! MUCH better..


I also got a card from my friend Kevin and Nika. The same friends who gave me the flowers.


I just have to share the inside.. with the four legged chicken.. hehe..


After my son got home from school, the kids and hubby gave me a card.


The inside has a picture of my hubby and I frolicking on a hill.


They also gave me a gift card for Hancock fabrics. I have to confess though, I knew exactly what I was getting because I made the mistake of checking the bank account the day they bought it. I hadn't gone there in a few days so I knew it was my hubby.. Oops.. I didn't tell them though..

Since my birthday was on a wednesday we're doing some more celebrating this weekend. We're going bowling with some friends. We go bowling about once every two years. I believe the last time we went was for my birthday. I also went out for a bit last weekend with my friend Des and my sister. I've had a pretty fun birthday week so far.

My son turns 6 at the end of the month and my daughter turns two a week after that. Time to start planning some parties!

Featured Artist: Jamieleto

Check out my newest featured artist Jamieleto

What do you create?
I knit things, sew little plush squees, write on jeans and make jewelry.

What made you start?
I felt like i needed something to occupy my time, and needed some money.

How long have you been crafting/selling/creating?
About 4 months.

Do you have any short/long term goals?
I want at least 50 sales and 200 hearts by the end of the year.

Describe your craft room/area in three words or less.
Wherever I can.

Do you sell your product? If so, where do you sell? (online and offline)
Yes, I sell at jamieleto.etsy.com

Where can we find you on the net? (myspace, blog, etc.)
I have a myspace page, blog at vox.com, indiepublic, lastfm, among other things. My user name for each is commonly jamieleto.

Is crafting your full time job?
I am a full time student.

What inspires you?
I'm inspired by films, art, music, the environment.

Any crafts you would like to learn or are currently learning?
I want to eventually improve my sewing skills and learn to make clothes, but I'm fine for now.

What is your favorite material(s)?
Felt, acrylic yarn, wool yarn, kitsch charms.

Are you a self taught crafter or have you taken some classes?
My mom taught me to knit. Other than that, no classes.

What is the best gift you have ever received and why?
Best gift ever was life because I love living it.

Apples or oranges?
Oranges because they're juicier and are tangy.

What do you listen to when you are crafting?
The television or some sigur ros, the beatles, rufus wainwright, smashing pumpkins, etc.

Are you a night owl?
I guess I'm fairly nocturnal.

Do you have any other hobbies?
I love filmmaking, collaging, reading, hanging out with friends.

How many people live in your home town/current town?
I'm not sure, but there are enough that we have two high schools, four middle schools and even more elementary schools.

Read anything good lately?
I read a lot. The last book I read was a short story by marcel marceau (yes, the famous mime). It was called pimporello and I did love it.



Do you have kids? If so do you have any tips for other crafting moms/dads?
No, I don't have kids.

I've been sewing..

I've been sewing a lot lately. Pretty much every night. I've made lots of pants before, but I never really tried a dress. Here is the one I just made a few days ago.

It wasn't perfect though, so I decided to try again with some cheap dollar fabric. The result was a way better.

I also made this shirt recently. I bought 10 yards of this fabric, so expect to see a lot more items made with it.