Karen Copeland - Couture!

Hello Karen!

- How did you get started ?
My grandmother taught me to sew when I was about 4 or 5

- Where are you from?
Opp, Alabama

- Are your creations limited editions or unique?
Some of both actually

- How long have you been doing it?
I've been sewing since I was 4 or 5, but I've been sewing for others for about 30 years

- Are you a professional artist or is this a hobby?
That's a really difficult question...I don't look at it as a "job", but it is definately more than a hobby.


- What inspires you?
Fabrics! Most fabrics just sort of "speak" to me and "tell" me what they should be made into!

- What is your favorite piece (that you still have for sale) and why?
Well, my favorite would probably have to be the memory quilts that I make for people. I love taking their photos and putting them with special fabrics to tell their life story.

- How do you promote your work?
Word of mouth has always been my best promotion, but I also give out business cards, promote in the forums here at Etsy, blog, myspace, classmates.com, and local ISP classifieds.

- Where are you showing your work?
I do a few craft shows each year, and I also have a room set up at home where the "locals" can come by. Of course there's also my Etsy shop!

- What advice you wish someone had told you when you started?
Not to be affraid to price my items in a way that I actually "made" something! I used to be notorious for underpricing my items because I was affraid people would not buy them otherwise.

- Do you have any advice for fellow artists?
Never give up! Enjoy what you do!

- Her site - http://soandsewcrafty.etsy.com
- Her blog - http://soandsewcrafty.blogspot.com

Plastic Pumpkin - such a misleading name ..

What do you first think of when you see this name?

Well, with Halloween around the corner, I think Big Orange Pumpkin.

Wrong!!!

I should have thought mainly of delicate Chinese brush paintings LOL


Ren Adams is an Artist located in Albuquerque, New Mexico (USA).

He offers fun, philosophical, and intriguing artwork and crafts for the discerning (and playful) collector.


He works in quite a variety of mediums: mixed media assemblages, pencil, marker, acrylic, Chinese brush painting, watercolor, oil pastel, pen & ink, etc. as he finds something special and engaging about each artistic method and takes every medium seriously.

For Ren, art is a state of mind and a fulfilling pathway.

He says "I can't NOT do it. I simply must. If I'm not drawing, painting, or otherwise expressing myself (however badly), I'm not in harmony with everything around me.Art is a sensation, a sense of humor, a sense of elation, a tantalizing window... it's pure energy, pure thought, and pure darkness, and pure light.I explore themes, people, and places that intrigue me..."

Also a Taoist, the artworks reflects his spiritual pathway (the art of compassion, simplicity, and patience).



This talented Taoist enjoys artists who aren't afraid to be themselves.


Check this blog: http://plasticpumpkin.wordpress.com/

also custom orders, so don't be afraid to ask! You can purchase some original or limited edition artworks here.

teamwork - Bridgette and Mike

Dedicated to create happiness.
"We are here to create happiness. We strive to bring out the creativity and imagination in you. Our first and foremost goal is to make you, the client completely pleased, not only with our product but with our service. We will do everything we can to make this process a smooth and pleasurable experience for you. "


All sort of wonderful stationnery, cards, journals and even magnets, many being screen printed by hand.



All very stylish and quite affordable.
An ideal outlet to stock on the fabulous item your heart desires.



They LOVE CUSTOM WORK! If you are looking for something specific, or just want a personalized design, feel free to contact them for custom pricing and information. They do custom birthday cards too!

Funky Art and Jewelry to adorn your body and home!

Ever thought of wearing pendants with your favorite images?
This is one of the things Yasmin has been proposing for over a year now.
- Her site - http://Yaslani.Etsy.com


- How did you get started ?
I’ve been painting and drawing since I was old enough to hold a crayon. My mother made everything…our clothes, costumes for Halloween, cards for holidays. Even our Christmas tree got recycled. Mom would use the dry pine needles to stuff pillows and my dad would carve a nativity scene for the next Christmas. When you grow up without money you are forced to be creative.

- Are your creations limited editions or unique?
Eventually I’d love to do prints or limited editions but for now all of my pieces are unique…a little piece of me, if you will : )

- How long have you been doing it?
I’ve been selling my artwork online for a little over a year.

- Are you a professional artist or is this a hobby?
Listen up fellow artists…the first time someone gives you money for your work it is no longer a hobby. You are
now a professional and don’t let anyone tell you different.

- Where are you from?
I’m born and raised on the Jersey Shore. A place where they say you either kick ass or get your ass kicked. That’s the philosophy we grow up with and it toughens you up quick. (I totally understand if you don’t use that quote : )I also lived and went to art school in Los Angeles which is quite opposite of Jersey but I love it there too. I plan to retire in LA.

- How do you promote your work?
I do what I call “subversive and guerilla marketing”. I work a 9-5 job in a very very corporate environment so I combine traditional marketing techniques with my creative quest for attention. I have a couple cool ideas that I have tried that really do work:

1. Page yourself when you are at the airport. Let people get used to hearing your name. Try this at the mall too.
2. Leave your business card and a sample (if you can afford it) when you leave a tip for your waiter or waitress. Don’t forget to leave an actual tip too. It’s mean to stiff the wait staff.
3. Include your business card or flyer when you mail your bills. Hello??? You don’t even have to pay for postage!
4. Make up a bumper sticker with your website and put it on your car
5. Comment on blogs and always leave your site name.
I’m also writing a book with a bunch of my crazy marketing ideas so stay tuned.

- Do you have any advice for fellow artists?
Don’t listen to those idiots that say it’s impossible to make a living from art. Those people are jealous because you are doing what you love and they are sad little sheep trapped in a claustrophobic cubicle. They wish they had the guts to be you.

- anything else you'd like to add?
Believe in what you do. A true artist is independent of the opinion of others. Do your thing and laugh all the way to the bank!

Isn't she just right? Visit her shop for your own special pendant.

New feature

A feature about my work by Becki of Beckisdesigns
http://beckisdesigns.blogspot.com/2007/10/etsy-store-featured-artists-kalicat.html

Coconuts, Palm trees... everything I dream of

A few words with Joanne Abrahams the creativity of CoconutPalmDesigns
She makes amazing signs with Belizean hard or soft woods.


- How did you get started ?
I have been crafting for as long as I can remember. I began making signs out of wood only last year when I decided to make my niece a sign of her name for Christmas. Following that I designed and made a welcome sign for my brother and his wife. That went over so well my brother begged me to make a variety of other welcome signs for him to sell in Jamaica. I found that I really enjoyed working with wood more than any of the other mediums I've tried and so when I found out about Etsy I just had to join.

- Where are you from?
I was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and have lived in Kingston, Jamaica, Toronto, Ontario, Canada and now I live in Belize, Central America.

- Are your creations limited editions or unique?
My creations are limited editions.

- Are you a professional artist or is this a hobby?
Right now this is a hobby but I have plans for it to turn into a fulltime business.

- What inspires you?
This is always such a hard question to answer. Everything and nothing inspires me. I design mostly based on what I am designing, who it's for or where it's for.

- What is your favorite piece (that you still have for sale) and why?
My favorite sign is the Zig Zag Welcome Sign. I love the way the colors ended up working so well together. It's the simplest of my current signs but to me it's the most aesthetically pleasing.

- How do you promote your work?
I promote my work on the Etsy forums, through my blog, through word of mouth, family and friends and also my brother, in Jamaica, is a wholesaler so he markets them for me there.

- Joanne is showing and selling her work on etsy. Check her shop out. You may find just what you need.
a little selection great for Halloween :)


- anything else you'd like to add?
I love working with people to do custom orders. It's always so exciting for me to see someone's idea come alive.

Jewellery artisan Patricia Vener

Patricia Veneer : Ballerina, Illustratorm published artist... Let's find out more.

- How did you get started ?

Life is a fluid thing that meanders thither and yon with a destination far (one hopes) in the future. I have been a Ballerina, a restorer and conservator of vintage works of art on paper, a scientist and a teacher; many of these things at the same time. And throughout I have always been an artist. My media are both two and three dimensional with the emphasis, of late, on the beadweaving, jewelry aspect of art.

Short answer? I was born that way!

- Are your creations limited editions or unique?

I prefer to create one of a kind pieces but will occasionally produce limited editions. Or at least in a few cases (my anklets for example) give myself permission to create the same design more than one time.

Visit her gallery there

- How long have you been doing it?

I have been expressing my creativity since the moment I got a crayon or pencil in my hand. I really cannot recall a time when I wasn't creating something!

- Are you a professional artist or is this a hobby?

I am a professional artist.

- Where are you from?

At the moment I am living in Hamden Connecticut but I was born in Irondequoit NY and have lived in a variety of places from Manhattan to Big Rapids, Michigan to Maryland and places in between and around.

- How do you promote your work?

I give away cards and bookmarks and along with a number of talented jewelry artists from the Art Jewelry Collective have taken out a cooperative ad in Ornament magazine (I must start checking the bookstore soon!).

Also recently I am part of a smaller cooperative of artists from Etsy Beadweavers Street Team who have had large postcards produced for handing out. I post in several forums and publish occasional articles both in my blog and in the ezine, "Bead Bugle." I am working on articles for other publications which I hope will be published in the future.

I also "pound the pavement" despite the sheer terror of this activity. Brrrr.

- Do you have any advice for fellow artists?

Don't ignore the business aspects if you hope to make any sort of living at this. Marry rich or make sure you are born from rich parents if at all possible. Too bad I can't take my own advice!

Seriously, any endeavor dear to one's heart takes serious and determined commitment. And sometimes it also takes a bit of slogging against prevailing winds. If it means so much, don't give up!

Well, this was very informative. Thank you Patricia.

You need to go and see (and buy ) her unique jewelry

Sparkles of Talent

This interview features the multi-talented Jamie Hinson.

How did you get started ?
I learned how to string pearls in college from a family friend that's a jeweler. My mother bought me a beautiful bead book for my birthday that same year that had some instructions in it. I learned from that and kept trying to make everything I could find instructions on. I am self-taught for everything I do.

- Are your creations limited editions or unique?
I usually post my more "one of a kind" items here in my shop. My website is designed so that I have styles of earrings, necklaces, etc to peruse, then you can help design your piece by choosing the color, length, etc from drop-down menus. Makes it more fun for the customer.

- How long have you been doing it?
Over 10 years for jewelry, over 25 years for crochet

- Are you a professional artist or is this a hobby?
It's a hobby turned business. I am an occupational therapist and can incorporate beads and crafts into my therapy. Then this is MY therapy when I get home.

- Where are you from?
Friendswood, TX--suburb of Houston that is b/w Houston and Galveston.

- How do you promote your work?
Blog, word of mouth, craft shows, Etsy, Myspace,etc

- Do you have any advice for fellow artists?
Do what you love, and don't be afraid to incorporate different mediums, items into your work.

- Anything else you'd like to add?
I love custom orders. That way people get exactly what they want.

Thank you Jamie
website: http://www.sparklystrandz.com/
blog: sparklystrandz.blogspot.com

a feature from My Fairy Babies

Read the interview

Elements by Dawn Brandt, a line of Jewels

Hello Dawn,

You make beautiful fabricated jewels.
- How did you get started?
Partly out of frustration, partly out of curiosity, partly a need for a creative outlet.
It started when I was searching for a very specific piece of jewelry. I had a picture of what I was looking for in my head: gold filigree and amethyst. However, I didn't like the jewelry being offered in many big-box department stores. It was very pretty...from a distance! Affordable...but cheaply made. So out of curiosity, I started reading and researching the jewelry industry and bought a few hand tools and materials. I dabbled in beads, pearls, and various metals. But something just wasn't right. I did a little soul searching and rediscovered my passion for symmetry, circles, shapes, texture, and lines. In my adolescent years, I wanted to peruse a career in architecture, but it never came to fruition. Creating jewelry is akin to building mini architectural works of art.


- Are your jewels limited editions or unique?
Most of my creations are open editions. However, due to the rarity of vintage beads, I suppose you could say my pieces which feature vintage components are limited. Additionally, since every piece I sell is handmade by me, one at a time, you could also say each piece is unique!

- How long have you been doing it?
I have been officially in business since June 2006, but I have been creating most of my life.

- Where are you from? This is always a tough question.
Here's the short answer: My family originally hails from the Midwest, but I grew-up in Florida. I spent a few years in the Mid-Atlantic and now I’ve returned to my roots in Wisconsin.

- How do you promote your work?
I promote my work on high-traffic blogs that also feature other indie business owners and their craft. I participate in promo-swaps, again with other indie businesses. I'm also fortunate enough to have a few dedicated Elements customers who promote my work by word-of-mouth (thank you!).

- Do you have any advice for budding jewelers?
Find your style! Develop and perfect your own style and then have fun marketing, promoting, meeting other crafters, and developing your business.


- What are your favorite stones/metals?
I love working in Argentium tarnish-resistant sterling silver! It provides such value and convenience to my customers. This new silver alloy is not only tarnish-resistant but mar resistant too. Silver jewelry pieces look like new much longer than traditional sterling silver. I also like working in copper and gold. My favorite gem is the pearl. Pearls are so versatile and inherently classic.

- Anything else you'd like to add?
Be on the lookout for my new 2008 collection tentatively scheduled to be released in November! It will feature a marriage of metals, Argentium silver and solid gold combined to create truly spectacular pieces.


Visit her website