Friday Spotlight is Little Jade Lizard

   
    This weeks Friday Spotlight is all about Little Jade Lizard, who hales from Northern New Mexico. She is pretty famous already.  She shows up in just about every BNR/S that I see around Etsy and she is always glad to help promote.  She is also a fun person to chat with.  Here are the answers to some questions I had for her.

Infused Designs: What is your full name, so we can know the 'face' behind the shop?

Little Jade Lizard: My name is Lois J. Libiran... (Little Jade Lizard) used my initials in my shop name.. I thought it would be fun.

ID: That is super fun!  I wish I had thought of that.  How long have you been crafting?

LJL: We learned how to sew buttons on, and patch when I was old enough to thread and hold a needle. I was born into a large family and crafting was a way to make ends meet. So, I would say I have been doing some form of crafting all my life. 

ID: Who taught you?

LJL: I learned a lot of crafting from my Mother and through 4-H classes. One of my Aunts taught several of the classes. I lived in a small community where 4-H was a big part of the festivities throughout the year.

ID: Do you have any formal training in anything?

LJL: The most formal instructions I have had were through 4-H, where I learned to sew, crochet, garden,and embroider. Never got into the sewing though. I have picked up the sketching on my own over the years and started airbrushing off and on in the 90's.

ID: When did you open your Etsy store?

LJL: My Etsy store was opened in June of 2009. 

ID: Congratulations on your recent 2 year anniversary!  Do you have other venues you sell at, like craft shows or other online stores?

LJL: Yes, I also have a Zazzle shop; www.zazzle.com/littlejadelizard and Cafepress shop; www.cafepress.com/thejadelizard where I sell my designs. These companies are called print on demand, anyone can go in with their own design and get it put on a tee shirt, mug, phone cover and several other products. I have thought about craft shows, but have not tried one yet.

ID: Cool, we'll all have to go check out those websites as well. What is one of your favorite items in your store?

LJL: The Radi-Koke character is my favorite guy in the shop. He just kind of sprung out of my first visit to New Mexico years ago. But I would say my favorite item is our new Solar night light. It is so fun working with my husband in the workshop making this night light. 

ID: I love your Radi-Koke character, but your nightlights are cool too. The monkey is so fun! Where do you gain inspiration for your items?

LJL: It may sound funny, but some of my characters come from dreams I have had. That is how Radi-Koke came about, and the book Dragon Skurfers that I wrote a few years back was because I kept dreaming of Dragons and snowboarding.

ID: Dragons that snowboard.  Now that's something I've got to see! Do you feel like you have found a niche for the items you sell?

LJL: Etsy is the perfect place to sell a lot of my items, I have so many things I am working on and it gives me a great place to chat and check out what may, or may not work in the future. 

ID: What advice can you give your fellow team members?

LJL: Chat. That is my best advice for fellow Etsian. Since I joined some great teams and have been in the bnr/bns world I have learned so much and met so many great shop owners. My sales have increased and so has my knowledge of tags and how Etsy works. The new friends I have met make it all so fun too.

      Thank you, Lois, for giving such great advice and giving us the chance to get to know you and your shop better.  It's been a pleasure and I'm confident that we will continue to see you around Etsy for a very long time.  

       If you haven't already, go check out Little Jade Lizard's shop at: www.LittleJadeLizard.Etsy.com