Jewelry

Infused Designs
Roselynn Designs
Lotus Jewels
Anatoliantale Designs
AnnieHowes
A Passion For Fashion
Bead Story Jewels
Bijouled Designs
Blue Root Creations
BoHo Rose Jewelry
Boriville
Button Jewelry & More
Colorado Morning
Elizabeth Lyons Designs
Gayl's Goodies
Got Maille By Christy 
JudithGayleDesigns
Lilly Jane Jewelry 
Lindy's Whimsies
Little Bits of Faith
MicsLovesPink

Our Children's Earth
Peakview Creations 
Rachel Dawn Designs
Sharkittens
She's A Belle Designs
Smiley Kit Creations
Tangs & Tines
Wave Cloud
Wind In His Hare
With Love From Montana
Your Baby's A Beauty
Zaisy

RED Christmas Treasuries

The theme for this week's treasuries is RED! Post items from your shop in this thread that you feel fit the theme -RED- and those who want to make a team treasury around the theme can use this link as a guide to get started.

To encourage team treasuries to be made, I am going to give the treasury with the most favorites by Saturday at 12:00 midnight, their choice of a FREE handmade bookmark. Would make a great gift if you can't use it for yourself. Choices are here:
www.etsy.com/shop/BookishKind?section_id=8018141

So let's see some team treasuries with the theme of RED! Remember, the team treasury posted in this thread
www.etsy.com/teams/9623/mountain-standard-timers/discuss/9371752
that has the most favorites on it by Saturday at midnight, MST wins the bookmark! Yay!

Let's hear it for Christmas!

Friday Store Spotlight is Lotus Jewels!

 

This week's spotlight shines on one of our team leaders, Jen, owner of Lotus Jewels.  I know many of you are already familiar with Jen and her great contributions to our team, but lets get to know her store a little better.

Infused Designs- How did you come up with the name for your store?

Lotus Jewels- In Buddhist philosophy, the beautiful lotus flower blooms from the mud, proving that beauty can evolve from something that is ugly. I like to think that when I put simple, perhaps not necessarily attractive beads together, I create something beautiful, or at least beautiful to me!

ID- And beautiful to us too! How long have you been crafting, and who taught you?

LJ- I’ve always done some sort of artsy thing although I am fairly new to beading. I’ve been doing it for perhaps 4 years. My best friend taught me one pattern of beading and I went from there.

ID- That's great; that you could learn from a friend. Do you have any formal training in any craft/art subject?

LJ- I’ve taken lessons in clay (as an adult) and oil painting (as a kid).

ID- When did you open your Etsy store?

LJ- Oct 11, 2008

ID- Wow!  So you're a veteran Etsian. :-)  Do you have other venues you sell at, like craft shows or other online stores?

LJ- I have not had much luck with my jewelry in boutiques or craft shows. I have the best luck selling to friends and family.

ID- That's how it usually starts, though, right? What is one of your favorite items in your store?

LJ- One of my favorites is www.etsy.com/listing/81604930/beautiful-blue-violet-heart-pendant-hand. It has a beautiful, unique heart pendant and an 8 strand braided cord. I have started making more braided jewelry and I find the technique very calming.

ID- I can see why, the colors are really beautiful!  Where do you gain inspiration for your items?

LJ- Inspiration usually comes from the stones themselves.

ID- Do you feel like you have found a niche for the items you sell?

LJ- I don’t think I’ve found my niche yet. However, I didn’t start beading to make money, I started it for relaxation and the joy I get from making pretty things. Perhaps the niche will find me!

ID- LOL, that's a nice Zen way of looking at things. Where do you see your shop in 5 years?

LJ- Not much different than now. Hopefully, more people will have run across it and I’ll have a few more sales.

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

LJ- If you make crafts, do it because you enjoy doing it. Don’t do it to make money. If you make crafts because you enjoy it, you will always find happiness. If you do it just to make money, you may end up frustrated and unsatisfied.

Thank you for the interview, Jen.  It's always great to get to know more people and their stores!  I'm sure you all agree, so go take a look at Lotus Jewels, add her to your circle, and favorite a few items if you like!

MSTTeam THANKSGIVING Treasuries

We are doing something different for the team treasury this week - a theme. Post items from your shop here that you feel fit the theme -THANKSGIVING- and those who want to make a team treasury around the theme can use this link as a guide to get started.

Let's hear it for Thanksgiving :)

Friday Store Spotlight is Hoooked Bath and Body

Tara from Hoooked Bath and Body is this week's spotlighted team member.  Lets see what she has to say about her lovely shop.  She hales from Albuquerque, NM.

Infused Designs- How did you come up with the name for your store?

Hoooked- Hoooked began as a play on crochet, the art of hooking yarn, but the word "hooked" also means addicted to or obsessed with. With 3 Os, Hoooked stands out, makes a statement, and grabs attention.

ID- I'm certainly hoooked on crocheting too.  I love the name!  How long have you been crafting, and who taught you?

Lick Me All Over Soap

Hoooked- I've been crafting and expressing my creativity for as long as I can remember, but I started crocheting seriously about 10 years ago and was taught by my mother. I started teaching myself to make soap (with a lot of internet assistance) 3 years ago. There is still a lot I have left to explore in both categories.

ID- Well it looks like you are well on your way with your talent.  When did you open your Etsy store?

Hoooked- After careful consideration and planning, HoookedBathandBody launched in January of 2011.

ID- Do you have other venues you sell at, like craft shows or other online stores?

Hoooked- I sell more of my crochet at Hoooked.etsy.com but after some miserable craft show experiences (bad weather seeks me out), I've decided to stick primarily with Etsy. I do sell locally at a small store but have plans to continue solely with Etsy after the end of the year.

ID- Hmm...I'm sorry to hear about the bad craft shows, but it sounds like you know where you want your business to go.  What is one of your favorite items in your store?

Hoooked- I can be such a girly girl when it comes to scents and absolutely love the Sweet Pea, Lavender, and Lick Me All Over Soap.

ID- It's too bad we don't have the technology to smell the computer.  Where do you gain inspiration for your items?

Hoooked- Everywhere! We are bombarded by scents everywhere in our daily lives and now when I smell something fantastic, I want to make it into a soap that someone can experience in the shower.

ID- Do you feel like you have found a niche for the items you sell?

Hoooked- Not yet, but I get closer with every sale.

ID- Where do you see your shop in 5 years?

Hoooked- In 5 years, I see Hoooked having a much larger variety of soap. I want to expand, expand, expand! By then, maybe I will have finally started listing the lip balm and other bath and body products I've been making.

ID- That's the key, isn't it? :-)  What advice can you give your fellow team members?

Hoooked- Right now, I would suggest including the color of your items in your titles and tags. This is extremely important if you want to be picked up for treasuries. Overall, I would suggest readying your shop as much as possible for change. Try and prepare for the unexpected and be prepared to adapt at a moment's notice.

Tara, That is great advice!  Thank you for giving me this interview.  It was a pleasure getting to know more about you and your shop.

OK, everyone, you know the drill.  Got take a look at Hoooked Bath and Body, add to your circle and leave a comment if you like!  Thank you!