Spotlight on...

sedruola Original and Custom Crochet & Knit Gifts and Patterns

Become I begin this fabulous feature, I must say HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! It has been a pleasure learning more about you! Gloria's Jewelry Box is very excited about our weekly Artist Spotlight Series. You have to check out the creative work by this multi-talented artist! I am absolutely in love with the Crochet Neckwarmer Adjustable - Hot Pink ! Let's show some birthday love for Sedruola!

Just for her birthday Sedruola is offering 43% off of your purchase! Enter code "BIRTHDAY1143" to get 43% off anything in Sedruola!

1. Tell me a little about yourself! What inspired you to open an ETSY shop and what is your business? My name is Sedruola, but everyone calls me Sedie (Say-dee). I am a mother of two little ones and my business is crochet! I first opened my shop in 2006 when I was pregnant with my son, because I was on bedrest and needed an outlet. After my son was born and many changes took place, my shop stayed quiet until about 2009. My life again went in another direction and stayed quiet until October of 2010 when I was pregnant with my daughter and had little energy for much else. I've found that crochet is my passion, where I'm meant to be and I'm moving in that direction.

2. What ETSY team(s) are you a part of? I am a part of the Etsy Artists of color team, the Handmadeology team, the Etsy Hookers team, The Shameless Self Promotion team, and the Knit and Crochet Designers team.

3. When did you begin your business? I consider that I really, officially began my business in January 2011 because that is when I realized, it would be my work.

4. What inspires you to create? Fashion, color, weather all inspire me to design and create various items. The more I tap into those areas, the more ideas flow and the more I'm compelled to create!

5. What do you envision your business in the next five years? Within the next five years I expect to complete my certification to teach crochet, I expect that I will have published at least two patterns per year and I also expect to have a pattern book published or on it's way to being published. I have big plans for my passion. I'm taking it one step at a time and seeing great results.

6. What is the best business advice you have ever received? The best advice was to read "The Kaizen Way" and implement it. The Kaizen way says to take small incremental steps toward your goal, be consistent and you will see it take shape. That is what I'm doing and continue to do every day.

7. What are three of your favorite ETSY shops?
-1) Deshawn Marie Handmade Soaps, because her soaps are beautiful, and great to use. I also know Deshawn and that adds to my really liking her shop. www.etsy.com/shop/DeShawnMarie
-2) Raghouse International, because it was inspiring to see another woman of color doing beautiful things with yarn! She has her own style and makes it sing! www.etsy.com/shop/raghousenternational
-3) See Jayne Knits Yarns, because she has yummy, yummy yarn in beautiful colors and textures. I've purchased from her before and I love her stuff! www.etsy.com/shop/SeeJayneKnitYarns


8. What is something that you tried crafting, that turned out to be a disaster? I'm a pretty crafty person so disasters don't come my way often in that area. . . I can't think of any.

9. What are three things that few people know about you? 1) I love country music; 2) I love Korean food; 3) I plan on hiring a cook one day

10. Check out this fabulous seller at:

sedruola.etsy.com
www.twitter.com/sedruola
www.facebook.com/yarnobsession
yarnobsession-2.blogspot.com

Spotlight on...

Ella Parry Art for the Young at Heart!

There are times when you are completely amazed by another artist's work. I fell in love with the Little Curly Series as soon as I joined ETSY in 2008. Gloria's Jewelry Box is very excited about our weekly Artist Spotlight Series. You have to check out the creative work by this multi-talented artist! I am in love with the Little bridesmaid - small print! Show her some love!


1. Tell me a little about yourself! What inspired you to open an ETSY shop and what is your business?

My name is Ella Parry and you can call me “Little Curly” too. I am an artist, illustrator and graphic designer living in London with my musician husband and our cat summer. (As you can see she is always featured in most of my illustrations).

The main reason that I was inspired to open an Etsy shop is the amazing amount of artists that are selling their own hand made products and the awesome quality of items that you can find. That alone made me want to be part of it.


2. What ETSY team(s) are you a part of?

The teams I am part of are : EAOC, Etsy Success, Business Topics, Etsy international, Etsy Ugly Cute, British Sellers on Etsy, Ideas, Etsy’s UK & Ireland Seller Support Team and UK handmade.

3. When did you begin your business?

I began to sell my work on Etsy from March 2008. But I have worked as a graphic designer and freelance artist (commission work) since 1990.

4. What inspires you to create?

Every little and pretty thing in life, a photo of my family or the memory of childhood times are always things to inspire me.

5. What do you envision your business in the next five years?

I will have a completed my full range of Little Curly’s merchandise which will sell internationally and not just online. I will have my own Little Curly shop and the first one I would like to open will be in my hometown- Hong Kong.

6. What is the best business advice you have ever received?

I would say the best business advice I have ever received is to keep all items in a smoke free area and do not spray any of your own personal favourite perfume or fragrance into a package when you send it to your customers.

7. What are three of your favourite ETSY shops?

www.etsy.com/shop/chickabiddybaby

http://www.etsy.com/shop/RoseAndRaven

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Lalilouche


8. What is something that you tried crafting, that turned out to be a disaster?

To be honest I don’t really have many disasters with my products, most of what I do is pencil based drawing and therefore I can take my time to be sure of no mistakes plus art is a personal thing anyway, maybe my cooking could do with some attention! ☺

9. What are three things that few people know about you?

I am Chinese, I am dyslexic and I am also a published Illustrator!

10. Check out this fabulous seller at
my Etsy shop: www.ellaparry.etsy.com
my blog: www.ellaparry.blogspot.com
my website: www.ellaparry.com
facebook: www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Ella-Parry/43176685758

Brooch Bouquet - My D.I.Y. Wedding Part IV

As you know, my wedding was a complete DIY affair. I loved planning all of the intricate details of my special day. I loved the idea of a brooch bouquet, but had no idea how to put it together. I came across this blog post on Glamour This Official Blog of Blush!nk. Check out that blog post if you are interested in making one for your wedding! The instructions were very easy to follow and it truly popped against my purple wedding dress. It was the perfect touch for my wedding at home!

Enjoy ;)

Spotlight on...

MlleCafeAuLait: Mademoiselle CafeAuLait's CHIC BOUTIQUE

Gloria's Jewelry Box is very excited about our weekly Artist Spotlight Series. You have to check out the creative work by this multi-talented artist! I am in love with the Haley's Comet Bead and Chain Earrings! Show this amazing artist some love!

1. Tell me a little about yourself! What inspired you to open an ETSY shop and what is your business?

My name is Adrianne and I have an Etsy Shop Called Mlle. Café Au Lait where I sell earrings. It started last year, with me attending a beading class with my mom, at a local bead store in San Diego. It was “Beading 101” and we had to make a necklace. I had my heart set on making earrings and the instructor allowed me to make bracelets instead! Once I got home, without knowing how, I decided to try to make some matching hoop earrings. I mainly started making earrings for myself that I couldn't find anywhere. When I wore them, I got lots of compliments! I have a Youtube Channel and several of my subscribers made comments on earrings that I wore in my videos. I then started making hoop earrings as gifts for family and friends. Eventually people were saying to me that "this person" or "that person" wanted a pair of earrings. That they would actually pay for me to make them a pair. I was so surprised! But also delighted! People were interested in the earrings that "I" had made and were willing to pay for them?!? It amazed me! My mom suggested I try to sell on Etsy and that is where I have started. Etsy is a great place for anyone who is artistic or crafty to develop their art or product!


2. What ETSY team(s) are you a part of?

So far, I only belong to four Etsy Teams. I belong to Etsy Business Topics. It is a great forum to meet other Etsy-ers and get to know them. And it is also a valuable place to discuss concerns and get or give business advice. I also belong to Etsy Artists of Color, a wonderful place to meet and support other artists of color. The last two are Etsy Talent Hunt and Shameless Self Promotion where I discovered one is able to promote their recent listings. I love looking to see what other Etsy Artists have created. It is a great way to check out other shops and support one another!

3. When did you begin your business?

I started making my own earrings about a year ago in May, 2010. I held the “Grand Opening” of my Etsy Shop, “Mlle. Café Au Lait’s Chic Boutique” and started selling in November of last year.

4. What inspires you to create?

My inspiration comes from many different sources. Lots of times it will be the beads themselves that will remind me of something from my childhood. For instance, this past April, I had many beads that were made from shells or looked like something you might find on a beach. That inspired a group of earrings that I call my “By The Seashore” series. They made me very nostalgic! Living in Southern California and growing up in San Diego, we spent so much time down at the ocean’s edge and we would pick up shells, sea glass and other shiny bits. I wanted my earrings to have the feel and delight that a child would have of nature’s treasures. So, the beads started the inspiration, but my memories finished it. Other times, it might come from an object or an idea. Currently, I have been making brightly colored wood earrings and for some reason, they remind me of picnics. So that is what I named them. And, it seems that almost every batch of earrings that I make will have a pair that reminds me of Egypt or Cleopatra! I don’t know where that comes from! LOL!


5. What do you envision your business in the next five years?

My current plans include selling earrings at events, such as edgy art and craft fairs and maybe Natural Hair Shows where natural hair products and accessories are sold. I would like to be able to sell to Boutiques that specialize in handcrafted wares or stores that cater to Women of Color. These are my immediate goals. Another current goal is to develop my own website. Long term goals are that I have my own shop, not necessarily selling just earrings, but perhaps even clothing and other fine handcrafted items.


6. What is the best business advice you have ever received?

“Make and keep it fun.” You must truly like and enjoy what you do! In other words, don’t take it too seriously. Have fun with creating. And help your buyers have a sense of delight when they order from your shop. Fun packaging, a personal “thank you” note and even a little gift go a long way to show your gratitude. That was my second best advice. “Always be grateful and let your buyers know that you appreciate them”. Because really, folks could buy earrings from anybody, they could just go to Forever 21 or H&M, but they have chosen to purchase my earrings! That makes me feel so humble. And I am very grateful for my customers. I try to show it by making the nicest earrings that I am able and send them off, packaged nicely, and I always try to add a personal touch. It is really from the heart when I say thank you to my customers. They have been so wonderful! I have been very lucky to have met some of these incredible women! I probably would not have been able to do this if it had not been for Etsy.

7. What are three of your favorite ETSY shops?

Lucky Spot Shop-They have such pretty beads! I admire their excellent customer service and appreciate the little extras that they always include with my orders!

Lottie Frank Illustrations-This is the artist that I worked with to create the logo for Mlle. Café Au Lait. Lucy was invaluable as an artist. She was so open and patient with me. She took all of my ideas and made them into just what I had envisioned. I highly recommend her. Plus she has some very adorable ready made cards and illustrations.

Modern House Art-I love Susanna’s art work. It is Contemporary. (My favorite style) She calls it Palette Knife Style and all of her paintings have beautiful texture. Besides being very talented, she is very kind.


8. What is something that you tried crafting, that turned out to be a disaster?

When I first started making earrings, I never paid attention to how heavy they would be! I have a soft spot for EXTRA LARGE earrings; the bigger the better! I cringe sometimes when I think of all the stone beads I loaded on to my hoops. I should have called them Wilma Flintstone Hoops! Now, I really take weight into consideration when I am crafting earrings.

9. What are three things that few people know about you?

I am extremely shy when it comes to meeting new people.
I sing, and hope to perform on Broadway!
I love animals! I would be like Jim Carey in “Ace Ventura Pet Detective” if I had the room! Remember that one scene with all of his animals? That would be me!


10. Check out this fabulous seller at (Give your ETSY shop, Facebook, Blog and Twitter info if applicable):

Facebook-http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mlle-CafeAuLait/112461782156828

Blog- http://www.mllecafeaulait.blogspot.com/

Twitter- http://twitter.com/#!/mllecafeaulait

Etsy- http://www.etsy.com/shop/MlleCafeAuLait

Enjoy ;)

Love for my Blog...

It was really great to come back after my destinaion wedding to see this post on ETSY EAOC Team Blog http://eaoc.blogspot.com/2011/06/blog-love-glorias-jewelry-box.html! Thanks for the Blog Love!!!

Spotlight on...

shopsouthernyankee Fresh - Vintage - Handmade

1. Tell me a little about yourself! What inspired you to open an ETSY shop and what is your business?
It all started years and years ago. My grandmother, Inez, learned to sew at a very young age. She then taught my mom, Nancy, when she was little. And then when I was about 10 or so, my mom taught me! Over the years, I have had many, many "businesses". I had my own clothing line, which I "sold" to my friends, a jewelry line "Junk to Jewels by Jen" clever right?? A nail salon out of my dorm room at Texas Tech (actually this one was profitable!) I was a Fashion Design student, so I could put my sewing & creative talents to work.

So after graduation, I moved to NYC. It was Christmas of 1998 that this latest business took off! I had recently married (the Yankee), and wanted to do something fun and cute as our "first Christmas card." The response to my card was overwhelming and a coworker even urged me to sell them! A friend (a fellow ZTA alum) was opening a stationery store in New York City, and agreed to let me use her as my "test market." And so I kept busy creating new and exciting handmade cards. And I haven't stopped since!
The rest is history.

2. What ETSY team(s) are you a part of?
The Etsy Tristate Area Team, Connecticut & Fairfield County Connecticut Etsians

3. When did you begin your business?
1999

4. What inspires you to create?
Anything & everything... and of course VINTAGE!

5. What do you envision your business in the next five years?
Would love my website to be the main stay...

6. What is the best business advice you have ever received?
Go for it!

7. What are three of your favorite ETSY shops?
Vintageinbloom, Clothandpatina & Backhomeagain

8. What is something that you tried crafting, that turned out to be a disaster?
Tablecloth skirts.. did NOT look cute :-)

9. What are three things that few people know about you?
Hhhmmm that's a tough one...I laugh when I am nervous, I hate coffee flavored icecream (but LOVE coffee!) and i thought I was going to be a super model when I grew up!

10. Check out this fabulous seller at:
shopsouthernyankee (www.etsy.com/shop/shopsouthernyankee),
FB is Southern Yankee, LLC (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Southern-Yankee-LLC/317381739411)
Twitter is Southrnyankee

Thank you so much!!!!!

Enjoy ;)

Spotlight on...

Irisbiran Iris' illustrations & paper-art


1) Tell me a little about yourself! What inspired you to open an ETSY shop and what is your business?

My name is Iris, I'm a freelance illustrator working at my home studio.
I live in Haifa, Israel, on the Carmel mountain.
In my illustrations, I use manual techniques such as acrylic, collage, 3D paper cuts and drawing. I think it makes my style diverse in a way.
I also design items printed with my illustrations: coasters, greeting cards, calendars, bags, jewelry-boxes and original 3D paper cuts pictures

2) What ETSY team(s) are you a part of?
I'm a member in several Etsy teams such as Etsy Graphic Designers, Etsypreneurs, Etsy Talent Hunt, On Fire for Handmade.


3) When did you begin your business?
A few months ago I met a friend who saw my designs and suggested I should open an Etsy shop. So I did.

4) What inspires you to create?
When I illustrate for clients I have to fit the theme to their will and needs. As to myself, I'm inspired by fiction and fantasy literature like Lewis Carroll's creations: " Alice" books and poems he wrote. Next month, I'm having a solo exhibition regarding his works.

5) What do you envision for your business in the next five years?
I'd like my business to grow and be known as "My Illustrated designs". Aside with this and my work as an illustrator, it's important to me to continue illustrating and painting for fun and pleasure.

6) What is the best business advice you have ever received?
I was getting a few business advices lately but haven't got the chance to implement them yet. I guess it's a matter of time.


7) What are three of your favorite ETSY shops?
Three of my favorite shop are: LisaKaser (www.etsy.com/shop/LisaKaser) which has interesting illustration style, BayColonyDesigns (www.etsy.com/shop/BayColonyDesigns) - creates cats that looks so real ( I love cats!) and BROOMCHICK (www.etsy.com/shop/BROOMCHICK) that makes fabulous brooms.

8) What is something that you tried crafting, that turned out to be a disaster?
I can't tell I have had such an experience.

9) What are three things that few people know about you?
I'm a mother, an illustrator and a cats lover.

10) Check out this fabulous seller at:

www.etsy.com/shop/irisbiran

irisbiran.com/

www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=782749117#!/pages/Iris-Biran-Illustrator...

twitter.com/illudes


Enjoy ;)