Monday, February 28, 2011

Member Feature: Little Paper Boutique



Tell us a little about your shop.
I make greeting cards, invitations, announcements, note pads, gift tags, and pretty much anything paper related. Some of the items are made of paper and other items I make on the computer and have them printed.

What brought you to etsy?
I shopped there for my wedding and loved how unique and fun everything was. I was so impressed by the quality of the items and how nice all of the shop owners were. Once I started selling items, that was the first place I thought of, I wanted to be a part of the community.

How long have you been crafting?
I have been making items for a few years now, but only selling for about a year now.

What is your favorite item in your shop right now?
I love my little matchbook notepads. So easy to throw into a purse or car in case you need something to write on.



What is your "day job?"
I am an event coordinator for a golf club. I love my job and seeing all of the weddings and showers definitely inspire me!

Where do you find inspiration?
My job inspires me (seeing all of the color combinations). I also get inspiration by colors in nature and in clothes.

What is one thing you wish you could do better?
I wish I could sew. I am in awe of the people that can just take a piece of fabric and create clothes or purses. I can sew a blanket and that is about it.....

What is one crafting tool you couldn't live without?
Stamps and ink. I have a huge collection of hundreds of stamps...

What is your favorite book/movie/song?
I just got a NookColor for the holidays, so I am on a big reading kick right now. I just finished The Time Traveler's Wife and it was much better than the movie! As for movies, I am a hopeless romantic, I love Serendipity and the Notebook. I could watch them over and over...

Where else can we find you?
Etsy: http://www.littlepaperboutique.etsy.com/
Website: http://www.littlepaperboutique.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/littlepaperboutique
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/littlepaperboutique/

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Member Feature: Pearls Night Out


Tell us a little about your shop
Pearls Night Out is a shop dedicated to jewelry that is stylish, fun, chic, and unique. While I love jewelry for special occasions and I have a special place in my heart for jewelry for brides, I think jewelry is for every day and can make any day a fun, special day.

What brought you to etsy?
The first time I ever heard about Etsy I was purchasing beads and crafts supplies in a local store and the salesperson mentioned it to me as an avenue for selling my jewelry. At the time, I had never heard of it and Etsy was smaller than it is now and I just forgot about it for a while and then I wanted to focus on my store a little and I remembered what she said.

How long have you been crafting?
I've always loved crafting and over many years have dabbled in different things. In high school I loved to sew and took sewing classes. I made some really (awful) things, like a bubble skirt and a jumper. In graduate school I took several oil painting classes. I've also tried crochet and card making. When I was planning my wedding I really wanted to do all DIY projects, but we had so many guests that it wasn't feasible. I was inspired by some necklaces I saw in a shop and I decided to try to make jewelry for me and for my bridesmaids since that was a manageable number and I was hooked! The rest is history!



What is your favorite item in your shop right now?
That's probably a tie between the pink and green Cami necklace and the new Blue Leopard necklace. Both of them have bright colors and Kazuri beads and they both have personality and I love that!

What is your "day job?"
During the day I am a physical therapist. I specialize in working with people with neurological disorders and dizziness.

Where do you find inspiration?
All over the place. Craft magazines mostly. But, sometimes, I like to look at color combinations on different design websites.

What is one thing you wish you could do better?
That's easy! Use my camera and photograph my jewelry!!! I always struggle with that.

What is one crafting tool you couldn't live without?
For jewelry, I'd have to say my bead board, but if you want to know my favorite craft tool of all, it'd be the Cricut machine!!!

What is your favorite book/movie/song?
I don't have one favorite book, but I do have a favorite author- Jodi Picoult. I love her books.
My favorite movie is probably Dirty Dancing.
My favorite songs are anything and everything by Elton John.

Where else can we find you?