The Thrill of the Hunt

Don't you just love the adventure of finding new materials, and being inspired by colours, finding treasures- old and new. Antoinette enjoys the hunt for materials and finds it almost more fun than making the objects. She says ...I'm always looking for great sales and interesting fabrics and yarns. This makes for original and one of a kind items. Have fun visiting her Etsy shop~ Ants Accessories at http://www.ayoka.etsy.com/

My name is Antoinette and I am AntsAccessories. During my regular job I am a freelance makeup artist. There can be long intervals between projects and I needed a way to stay productive and creative. My husband bought me a new sewing machine complete with embroidery options and things started to take shape from there.

I love fabric,yarn and beads and just cannot resist searching for bargains and new,
fun things. Antique shops and Thrift stores are also becoming an interesting source for my pincushion addiction. So really my shop is a product of addiction and obsession. As long as I have a need to collect materials and create things I will have my Etsy shop.

I am endlessly grateful that I am able to live a creative life. And again because I am given the opportunity to share it. I thought at first it would be hard to part with the things I took so much care making. But the experience has been quite rewarding, and my customers are very encouraging. So...I keep sewing.

I don’t know that I can give advise on keeping organized since my work space and storage system is continually a work in progress. But for anyone who is uncertain or hesitates to push forward I say "Don’t stop, keep doing this thing you are driven to and good things will follow".

My "Second Career" !

Designing and creating jewelry is Naked Jewelry's “second career”. She loves to design with techniques that create organic textures and finds it a privilege to use the precious metals and stones of the earth to create personal adornments that bring people happiness. Her Etsy shop offers many beautiful pieces http://www.nakedjewelry.etsy.com/ .

Designing and creating jewelry is my “second career”. For 26 years, I co-owned a video production company (www.onthescene.com) headquartered in Los Angeles. I loved the company and the employees who called it home, but my partner and I did not want to grow old “propped up at our desks” as we used to say and so in 2006 we sold the company to investors and I was able to pursue my growing passion for jewelry making.I took my first beading class in 2006 and was hooked!

After about six months, I realized that I wanted to have a design range that required metalsmithing skills so for the past two years, I have been taking a variety of classes along with book learning and plain old experimentation. I find that I gravitate to techniques that create organic textures. I love to use my rolling mill to imprint grasses, bark and leaves into silver. I figure you just can’t improve upon Mother Nature so why not use it, along with natural gemstones, to create beautiful jewelry!My bucolic studio is perched atop a hill in our backyard. From there I watch squirrels, hummingbirds and spiders go about their business. I can hear the next door neighbor's baby burble and coo. And, as I pass by our vegetable garden, I am able to watch the plants grow almost imperceptibly day by day.I did not imagine even five years ago that I would be making jewelry. Life has a way of taking some unexpected twists and turns. I was never interested in science or chemistry, yet as a jeweler, I am now fascinated by the characteristics of stones and the use of heat to manipulate precious metals. After nearly three decades working in a service industry under tight deadlines, spinning pie plates and huge pressure, I love the peace and solitude of creating a piece of wearable art that is all my own, entirely with my own hands; relying only upon myself to conceive, design, execute and sell. For me, it is a privilege to use the precious metals and stones of the earth to create personal adornments that bring people happiness.

So Many Ideas and So Many Projects!

Sherri enjoys making jewelry with sports in mind and adults who just want to have fun jewelry.

I can relate when she says that she has so many ideas and so many projects on the go at the same time (the reason for my messy art space!). I like to keep a journal beside my bed or in my "art room", formally the "ping pong" room so that I can draw or write my ideas down (by the way, a ping pong table is an excellent work space to spread out!). Etsy Studios followers would love to hear how you keep track of all of your ideas until they are created. Enjoy a visit to Sherri's shop and check out her many wonderful projects http://www.winningwreaths.etsy.com/ .

by WinningWreaths

Hi, my name is Sherri and I'm the creative one behind WinningWreaths. I started my name

based on the idea that I was going to make wreaths. Not just any wreaths, but wreaths for Nascar, MLB, NFL, NBA, and Harley Davidson. Somehow along the way I got side tracked. I ended up making jewelry. Now I make jewelry with sports in mind and adults who just want to have fun jewelry. I also have wine glass charms, cell phone charms, and barrettes. I enjoy being creative and coming up with different ideas. Right now, I have a full time job outside the house, but I work on Etsy every available moment I have. After work and days off are spent in the garage working on my jewelry.

I have a table set up in the garage with a tall cabinet to keep all my supplies in. I also have roll carts with drawers where I keep everything I make. Every drawer is organized with each item I make. One for rings, one for necklaces, and so on. My table is a different story. I would have to say everything is all over the place because I have so many ideas and projects going on all at once. In the end, it's all ok as long as I make something that someone will love to have.

I Can Do That! I Want To Do That!

Lizzy was inspired to start making jewelry after a visit with her Aunt and admiring the beautiful pieces she was creating. Seeing these beautiful things made her think "I can do that"..."I want to do that". Inspiration seems to find us in the most unusual ways and places, sometimes when we least expect it...and it is wonderful! Have a look at LizzyB Designs~beautifully designed, exceptionally handcrafted, unique & wearable jewelry http://www.lizzybdesigns.etsy.com/.

by LizzyBdesigns

I have always loved beautiful things, especially jewelry. Growing up I loved anything art: drawing, painting, pottery, photography..beading. As I got older however, I soon became distracted with 'real world' responsibilities & forgot my passion. I went away to college & decided that I needed a real career and never thought I could make money as an 'Artist'.

I continued to work through college and finally graduated with a B.A. in Psychology, deciding I wanted to be a therapist when I grew up:)

After my college days I worked with adults with developmental disabilities & now as an addictions counselor for the state. Needless to say my creative, carefree self was quickly slipping away from me. I have been working in the field now for almost 5 years and really do enjoy counseling. I am pursuing my Master's degree and working two jobs. Although, something was missing, and part of me just wasn't satisfied until January of this year when I decided to take a trip down to South Carolina to visit with some family there.

My Aunt has always always been an inspiration to me as she never lost her love for the art's, she practiced as a teacher for many years & has her own studio where she makes her lovely creations. When I went to visit with her a few months ago, it really got my creative blood flowing again. Seeing the items she was working on and visiting beautiful galleries in Asheville, NC just made me think "I can do that"..."I want to do that".

So when I got home that is what I did, and I have been enjoying the art of making jewelry ever since (only a few months now). I have taught myself little by little & have so much more to learn, but that is the fun of it...the possibilities are endless!! Artist Elizabeth Bohaker designs her handmade pieces using natural gemstones & other materials. As a lifelong resident of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, nature has always played an important part in her life.She is able to create one of a kind pieces by implementing her independent style & meticulous attention to detail. Every piece is unique & different as the stones used naturally come in different shade variations, shapes & sizes.

Come and visit! Here are my links :

http://www.lizzybdesigns.etsy.com/

http://twitter.com/lizzyb_designs

http://www.lizzybdesigns.blogspot.com/

Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=1704434536&ref=profilehttp://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=761863932&ref=profile#/group.php?gid=70819831600&ref=mf

Studio Haus Photography and Creative Projects

Adrienne opened her Etsy shop in March and loves the opportunity Etsy provides her to share her creativity. Enjoy looking at her many creative projects http://www.studiohaus.etsy.com/.
She also shares that she was involved in her first fair last week! Best wishes Adrienne on your Etsy shop!



































by StudioHaus






















My name is Adrienne and I opened StudioHaus this past March and have been loving the outlet that Etsy has provided me ever since! I think my passion for being creative has been with me since the day I was born. As a child, I spent summers with my grandparents in a small town in Oklahoma. My Grannie would crochet and do creative projects with me while my Papa would take me in his wood shop and help me create anything that I could think up. They are a lot of the inspiration when I’m out taking photos because they really taught me to appreciate all the little things. I think I really discovered that my biggest creative passion was photography when I worked at a portrait studio for about three years. However, I love to dabble in lots of creative projects and try my hand at many things. That’s the reason you will see a variety of items from photography prints to handcrafted envelopes and cards in my shop!

The Pink Camellia Etsy Shop

Amy has been making gifts for friends and family for a long time, and decided she'd give it a go on Etsy, a site she really enjoys and is proud to be a part of. She takes pride in every piece she makes and sells. Enjoy a visit to her gorgeous shop at http://www.thepinkcamellia.etsy.com/ .

by thepinkcamellia

I started up my Etsy shop in April of this year, after being encouraged by friends and family to sell my creations. I have always been "crafty", which means something different to everybody I suppose. Since I was a little girl, I have always spent my free time creating things. It started when I was very little, my Mom was a very talented seamstress (as well as full time career woman & super single Mom!), and I started off making purses & hair ribbons for myself while she made clothes and fun things for us. I must've been the only little girl with hundreds of hair ribbons, which I pressed and stored as if they were my prized possessions! In college, I still had the bug to create, but was sidelined a bit by my studies and working 2 jobs (one nights, one days) to put myself through school. I made gift baskets for weddings and other special occasions, but never made it official. People told me I should get into the gift basket business, but I just couldn't see having to do it instead of wanting to do it. I never lost the desire though, and here I am today, as a thirty-something career girl here in the SF Bay Area, creating the items you now see in my shop! I think I finally decided to set up my shop when I started making gifts again, primarily baby gifts for my nephew & niece, but for other friends as well. It was just really boring to me to go to the store and buy something that anyone else could buy too, I wanted something more original, more personal.

I think a quality handmade gift says so much more than something mass produced! People started commenting again that I should sell my gifts, but until I heard about Etsy, I thought it would be too much trouble to go about setting up shop online. Once I became familiar with Etsy, I was hooked! It was much easier to create, post, and ship items, even for friends and family to buy, than to try and coordinate it all on my own. I started making my Wipes Clutches out of designer fabrics, and that led me to Baby Bodysuits, then to Drink Coasters....you can see fabric takes me in so many directions! I was inspired this spring by all the beautiful flowers I've seen women wearing in movies, on the red carpet, and in magazines, so I created a line of Hair Blossoms that have sold really well.

I have branched out lately, and have recently become hooked on making jeweled hair pins, which I have started calling "Hair Sparklers", incorporating gold filigree, gorgeous Swarovski crystals, and other embellishments. I am really proud of the way they have turned out, and am in the midst of creating a whole line of them, including some silver and antiqued bronze...so keep your eyes open, they're coming soon!I find inspiration in just about anything that catches my eye, but only make and sell things that I myself would want to buy or give as a gift. My head swirls constantly with ideas, which means I have a notebook with me at all times of projects I'd like to make. In order to keep organized, I have invested in quite a collection of those plastic storage containers with drawers. I find they keep my items sorted, clean, and easy to access when an I get an order. A good filing system is also a must in order to keep copies of invoices, purchases, supplies, and even ideas for new projects. I have a big plastic accordian file I carry with me to put things in when I'm away from home. I don't have a studio, per se, but I do have an office and a coffee table in my living room that I use when I'm making things. I find the most difficult thing for me is photographing my items, and it sometimes takes quite awhile before I get a photo that I feel really shows the item well. I think photos are what sells an item, in addition to the quality and beauty of the item itself. I spend time after work almost every day updating my site, and reevaluating my photos and items I have listed to make sure they are attractive to buyers. So Thanks to all who stop in my shop! Every single sale gets me excited and makes me want to keep going! I welcome "convo's" anytime, so feel free to drop a line and tell me what you think of my shop!

Stop by & become a fan on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/ThePinkCamellia?ref=ts&__a=1

MouthyMitts

You will absolutely enjoy Jennifer's whimsical handmade creations! I love the personality of her mitts~they make me smile every time I see them. These would certainly be great in my very chilly neck of the woods! Have a look at her Etsy shop http://www.mouthymitts.etsy.com/.

by MouthyMitts

I think I'm a bit of an Etsy fraud - I'm no artist and there are so many talented people out there making beautiful things. I'm a mum, a University student and a knitter. I have been knitting since I was tiny - taught by my grandma whilst babysitting. For me knitting has almost meditative qualities, it's one of the few things that I find truly relaxing. MouthyMitts started very recently with no planning whatsoever. It developed out of a glass of wine too many over dinner, which is a story for another day.

The result was that I knitted a pair of mittens for my daughter (aged 13) who insisted on wearing them to school the next day - a very hot and sunny day as it happens. Next thing I know she's bringing orders home from school and it developed from there. Now I'm on Etsy. Organisation? There is none. I knit when I watch TV in the evening, when I'm out with the children, whenever there's a few minutes. I always keep some wool, needles and designs in a bag that I can just pick up and take with me. I keep some graph paper in there too so I can work out designs and make a note of new words etc. It's amazed me what a conversation starter knitting is too. As I sit in the park/hospital/library with my five needles on the go, so many people come over to ask what I'm doing. Anyway the shop is very new and we're not in mitten weather yet but in the meantime I'm doing something I enjoy and for me enjoyment is key. If you enjoy what you're doing you'll always find time for it and the organisational side will fall into place without feeling like too much of a chore. Jennifer @ MouthyMitts.etsy.com

OwlyBaby

Take a peek at this little cutie, Lucy. Mom enjoys creating handmade adorable outfits and other gorgeous items. Enjoy a visit to her wonderful Etsy shop www.owlybaby.etsy.com.

by OwlyBaby

Hello! My name is Becky and I’m a new stay-at-home mom to my lovely daughter Lucy. I started Owly Baby when she was 2 months old because I was bored of sitting at home while she napped. I was used to working 70+ hours a week, so the stay-at-home lifestyle has been quite a change for me and my family. My husband is a professional baseball player and soon-to-be Lutheran pastor (ELCA). We are *almost* in transition between his two professions and a move to a nearby town. Just like most of the readers out there…I love to create. I’ve been a lifelong crafter, drifting in and out of painting, scrapbooking, jewelry making and sewing. Our apartment in very “cozy” (i.e. small) and my workspace is our kitchen table. This means that to eat dinner, I’ve got to put away the sewing machine and tools! It really forces me to be organized. I am very lucky to get a sewing room in our new home later this month. YAY!One of my best organizational tips is to put all small, related items together in a plastic or net bag. I then hang the bags in my closet for easy storage. Because the bags are see-through, it’s very easy to grab what you need! As a sewing tip, I love to use masking tape to take out a whole row of stitches at once or to clean up stray threads. What I enjoy most about sewing is making my own patterns and trying out new ideas, so I tend to have a lot of one-of-a-kind items. Sometimes when I wake up in the morning, I have so many new ideas I *try* to write them all down. I’d guess that only 70% of my ideas make it to paper and only 10% of those ever see the sewing machine. The thing I love about ETSY is that I can make 30 one of a kind items and still be in business!!!Thanks for looking at my shop and a special thanks to Etsy Studios for this opportunity to share!Become a Facebook Fan of OwlyBaby and get in on special deals! Search OwlyBaby on Facebook!

FreakyKeen

I just love this adorable plush kitty. FreakyKeen makes some lovely handmade gifts and items that you are sure to enjoy. In her feature she offers some amazing how-to organizing tips. Enjoy a visit to her shop http://www.freakykeen.etsy.com/

by FreakyKeen

I’m almost 25 years old, but I don’t look it, and I’ve been crafting my whole life. If I could go back in time and change something about how I started my shop, it would be to start sooner. I set up in November last year, and I think that’s just too close to the holiday season to start out all brand new. I had to compete with all these seasoned veterans at their prime. I should have just sat back and watch. As least I got started and I’m glad I did too because it’s been great for me. I think I’ve gotten much more creative and confident about my work.

Now about my work. I’m mostly into sewing, mainly tote bags, wallets, hankies, and plushies and dolls. I also tend to dabble a bit with other crafts, and I think this is reflected in my shop. Lately I’ve been into painting things to make them “pretty”, mainly notebooks and pencils. I do make jewelry on occasion, and in the near future I hope to add more jewelry pieces. I do most of my work in a corner of my bedroom on an old castoff computer desk. I’ve managed to cram most of my craft stuff on, under or next to my desk with the help of plastic drawers, closet helpers, and several container and other odds and ends. My desk lamp is quite handy because it holds my paintbrushes while it shines more light on the situation. My pencil holder is made from an old food can cover with a book cover I used in 9th grade. I just couldn’t throw it away. My sewing machine is a Brother and very basic, but it’s the first and only machine I’ve ever had. I didn’t really do much machine sewing until last winter, always by hand. I keep my “works in progress” in a cardboard box I decorated with bus passes and rickrack , and most my completed work goes in bags that I‘ve hung on the walls to save space. I also hang my fiberfill and other items on a plushie hammock I crocheted. My crocheting sucks which is why you will never see crocheted item in my shop. My leopard print lunchbox is where I mostly keep receipts. I got it thrifting which is how I got most of the containers I use to organize, if you can really call it organizing. I guess all that matters for organizing is that you can find what you’re looking for and the container it’s in reflects your personality. One out of two isn’t too bad. The most organized thing I have is my binder, isn‘t it cute? I keep tons of stuff in it like patterns, my inventory, budget stuff, even my goals and log. The log is more of a diary about my progress, strictly private. Everything else I do for the shop I do at the library on my netbook, it’s name is Paul. The netbook, not the library. From there I update my shop and my blog regularly.

Although lately I’ve been spending more time on my blog than my shop. If you’re interested it’s at http://freakykeen.blogspot.com/ . Come say hello sometime.

Magnificent

MegnificentCo is a lifelong Jersey girl who loves to create and be inspired. She believes that it is important to accessorize because it is a reflection of your personality, and something which allows you to experiment with more readily than anything else. Enjoy a visit to her shop and to be inspired by her beautiful pieces http://www.megnificentco.etsy.com/ .

MegnificentCo

I started knitting and crocheting about six years ago, after I took a class at a local community college. I’ve always been artsy and crafty, but unfortunately, I did not pursue that avenue in college. I love all different types of yarn, but lately have gravitated towards the thicker, bulkier types (I like the exaggerated look and feel of them). I find it so rewarding when all the long hours of stitching results in wearable item. I look at the finished product and really feel proud of myself, because in the past, I tended to start projects and then abandon them. I work a 9-5 job with a 45-minute commute. I’m married and have 6 rescued pets, so I do have to manage my creative time wisely. I try to use any of my spare time towards working on my craft or tweaking my Etsy page. I do not have a set space where I like to knit—it depends on my mood, the season, the day. But I have an office with a craft table and an upstairs enclosed porch overlooking my backyard which makes a great “yarn” room. I enjoy working with bright, vibrant colors. I think accessories, such as scarves, are great to experiment with, and I try to search for patterns or develop ideas that deviate from traditional scarf designs.

californiablue

Enjoy the serene tranquility of Melissa's gorgeous jewelry. She creates fresh , casual designs which could be worn everyday, and some for special occasions. Enjoy a visit to her Etsy shop
http://californiablue.etsy.com/ .

My name is Melissa, and I live in beautiful Northern California with my husband and 2 kitties, Pinky & Newbie. I only started making jewelry this year, as a result of a huge urge to make something, and because I had more time on my hands having been recently laid off. My new obsession also led to a clean up project in our small unfinished basement which now serves as my studio for making jewelry. My urge to make something was followed by a desire to make jewelry that I would wear and was affordable. I wanted to create fresh, casual designs which could be worn everyday, and some for special occasions. My creative process involves a lot of trial and error, but ultimately it is the shape and color of the beads I work with that determine the final design. I am most attracted to a softer palette of colors, and never can get enough of blues and greens. I definitely feel inspired by my beautiful surroundings. We are fortunate to live in an area of the country where the weather is typically beautiful, and as a result you can spend a lot of time outside. The flowers, plants and trees that grow in our climate are just amazing. I find myself observing my surroundings more closely since I started to make jewelry. I also maintain a blog which chronicles many of the things that inspire me (http://californiablue.tumblr.com/).


The handmade community has been such a supportive one, and it has been a great pleasure to be part of this dynamic group. I look forward to many more years of creating, sharing and supporting one another!My suggestion for anyone interested in making something is to go for it! The Etsy community is an amazing resource which will make things much easier, and it's a lot of fun!
My info:shop: http://californiabluejewelry.com/, http://californiablue.etsy.com/

Blog: http://californiablue.tumblr.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/californiablue
Twitter: http://twitter.com/cabluejewelry

Lux Art

There is something magical about Natasha's creations. Her creative muses for light painting came about when she was pondering the root words photo meaning light and graph meaning to write. She began exploring the concept of literally writing with light. She has designed a special tool just for this purpose. Enjoy her amazing work.

by LuxArt
http://www.luxart.etsy.com/

I began art studies at a young age, and have been experimenting with art processes and media ever since. During the time I was pursuing my photography based art degree I witnessed meteoric changes within the photographic world. While the once commanding darkroom was being replaced by the newest computer lab, prosperous photography businesses were closing their doors forever.

I both embraced and questioned the digital world photography was being assimilated into. I delved further into the basic concepts of photography; where it came from, what it meant, and where it was going. Pondering the root words photo meaning light and graph meaning to write, I began exploring the concept of literally writing with light. I developed various methods of painting using light on photosensitive paper, and designed a tool for this purpose. A US patent is pending for both the tool and process by which I create. I couple cutting edge technology with the most archaic of photographic processes, blending painting and photography, creating art with an innovative medium. Spending summers in Portland, Oregon and winters in Bend, Oregon, I live with my husband, Tony, and our dog, Syan. I own and operate Lux Art LLC and teach photography at Central Oregon Community College.
Visit her website at www.luxartwork.com/media.

Eclectica

In keeping with the "Eclectica" in her shop name, Jan makes crocheted wearables, afghans, and throws; collaged greeting cards and ACEO's; and her signature Tabletop Labyrinths. Jan shares her belief that beyond that, the sky's the limit! Enjoy her feature and a visit to her shop!

by EclecticaByJan

Be sure to enjoy a visit to Jan's shop http://www.eclecticabyjan.etsy.com/

Jan's blog: http://www.jan4geo-glow.blogspot.com/

I have been needleworking and crafting since I was a kid - that's over half a century with a crochet hook & yarn in my hands! In keeping with the "Eclectica" in my shop name, I make crocheted wearables, afghans, and throws; collaged greeting cards and ACEO's; and my signature Tabletop Labyrinths. Beyond that, the sky's the limit, and I will be updating my offerings as my creative nose leads me onto new paths.

I freely admit that organization is not one of my strong points, but I want to share one thing that really works for me:

These folding canvas bins, which are available at variety stores like Target and Kmart, are great! They fit perfectly on the built-in shelves in the photo, where I use them to store sewing supplies and notions. The lowest row of bins holds books and items I don't use very often. I have more bins on freestanding shelves in my collage room, where I store markers, paints, embellishments, photos, floral materials, and so forth.I like the bins because - first of all - the bright colors lift my spirits when I see them lined up like this. Then, I don't have to be too organized to corral my clutter when I toss it in the bin. I put just like items together in a plastic bag, and I'm good to good to go. On the handle of each bin, I've hung colorful tags to identify the contents. Not bad for someone who's organizationally challenged!One last thing: I really can't work without a studio cat! The second photo shows my cat Luvlee, helping me out with a fabric-sorting project. And I've included a picture of me holding the furry culprit, just before we head off for some noms :)