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1. Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Sarah Jones and I live in a pretty suburb of Atlanta. I'm a married mom of two amazing girls, 3 and 9. My family and my Etsy shop are my great passions as well as my occupations. My obsession with beads began about 10 years ago with a project to make a set of wine stem charms for my mom for Christmas. Once I started looking at beads, an addiction was born. I quickly realized I was going to have to figure out a way to support my expensive habit so I started looking for venues where I could sell my creations.
2. What made you open your shop and why Etsy?
I found Etsy by accident. (I was selling on ebay at the time.) I remember that I was searching for something on the web and a link to an Etsy shop popped up. I'm sure most of my evening was eaten up by exploring the site. I was absolutely amazed at the artistry and professionalism. The photography alone was so inspiring. I had to sign up and learn all I could.
3. Do you sell your jewelry anywhere else?
Currently, Etsy is my only home. I sometimes think I would like to expand and then I remind myself how many hours are in a day.4. How did you choose your shop name?My shop name was derived from a poem called, "Delight in Disorder" by 17th Century English poet, Robert Herrick. It makes imperfection sound gloriously sexy, so of course, I'm a huge fan.
5. What are your favourite things to do?
I love to create, read, write, learn, build forts with my girls, cook with my husband, and help things grow.
6. What inspires you?
I'm a big nature freak and a fan of noticing the little things. I love looking at fashion and art, but I can't really "do" either. I try to stay aware of trends and might incorporate a color or theme that seems to be hot, but in the end, I do what I love and just try to make beautiful things.
7. Which pieces of jewelry do you enjoy making the most?
The piece of jewelry I enjoy creating the most is the new one. Too much repetition gets me down.
8. What piece of jewelry is your most popular?
The blooming earrings are popular all year. Last fall, I was delighted when my "Little Pumpkin" earrings sold very well. They're a favorite of mine to wear.
9. Which handmade possession given to you do you cherish?
Of course, I have a lot of little handmade treasures from my kids. Besides those, I would have to say the blue and white afghan that my Nana crocheted for me when I went off to college. It was a little piece of home, as lovely and warm as she was in life.
10. Name 3 other Etsy shops you love to visit.Only 3?? I think I have around 600 shops listed in my favorites right now. Instead of naming three, I'll refer you to my wonderful, unofficial Etsy team, the Daily Sweets. I know much of my success on Etsy has been about seeking and taking some great advice from these ladies, not to mention, the support and humor I know I can always find on our thread in the Team forum on Etsy. You can discover all of their amazing shops here, http://thedailysweets.blogspot.com/ on the right hand side of the page. 
Thank you so much to A Fine Distraction for being my featured Etsy shop this week. I love how her jewelry has a vintage look but with a modern twist. I especially love the colours that are used. Everything just seems to fit. Not only is the jewelry beautiful but the photos of each piece are stunning. As an Etsy shop owner I can tell you that sometimes it is the taking pictures of your products that is the hardest thing to do. These pictures could be used just as photography art. If you like this small glimpse of what is available at A Fine Distraction, then you need to visit this shop and see what else there is, because you will love it all.
1. Tell us a bit about yourself.
I live on a beautiful 50 acre farm in New Hampshire with my husband and daughter. I used to practice law in Boston but I now practice art full time. A little (well a LOT) less lucrative but much more fun. 2. What made you open your shop and why Etsy?My friend Loribeth (maminkagirl.blogspot.com) told me about Etsy. I was looking for a way to sell my photographs online without investing a lot of money. 
3. Do you sell your photographs anywhere else?I sell my photographs in several galleries including Noa in the Boston area http://www.noagifts.com/, the Vermont Center for Photography http://www.vcphoto.org/, and the Walpole Artisans Cooperative www.walpoleartisans.org.4. What are your favourite things to do?I garden and photograph my garden, knit and bead. You can read about my garden on my blog, newhampshiregarden.blogspot.com. You can see my bead and knit work in my shop www. beadedwire.etsy.com.I am also on the Board of Director of our local cooperative gallery, The Walpole Artisans Cooperative, which grew out of our annual artisan tour. Aside from providing a venue to sell my photography and jewelry it is simply wonderful to have a group of supportive artists to work and share with. Making art can be a lonely, isolated job and having the friendship of other artists is vital. 
5.What inspires you?My garden, my land. As a photographer I tend to photograph what is around me. Over the years my inspiration has changed as my life changed. 6. What is your favourite thing to photograph?Garden, flowers, sky, water. 
7. Which is your most popular photograph?I couldn't really say which is my most popular photograph. I sell a lot of peony cards, the peony is the queen of all flowers to me. 8. You have so many flowers which one do you love the most?I have so many favorite flowers, I tend to love big, lush, decadent blooms - parrot tulips, peonies, iris, poppies, and lilacs for their intoxicating scent. Some of the old roses are also gorgeous and fragrant.
9.Which handmade possession given to you do you cherish?
Gifts made by daughter of course, a pink felt heart sachet, a little knit bag, a felt book for pins
.10. Name 3 other Etsy shops you love to visit.
Etsy shops I like a lot: Maminka Girl Studio Virginia Wyoming Xanadu 2 You
A big thank you to Judy Stalus for being my featured seller this week. Dont you just love these photos. They are simply beautiful. I would love to favourite all of them. You have to go and look at all of these photos. I love the idea of the scanned flowers. So different and new. If your a lover of flowers then this is the shop for you.
I had a hard time arranging an interview for the feature this week. I have one set up for next week so for this week I will just put a link to a couple of shops that take my fancy. This is not as exciting I know.
I have also been a bit slack on posting during the week. My Victoria got sick and I have been working on a custom order lately. Some wonderful socks using hand painted yarn. I will have to post pictures when they are finished which should be soon. I have also been meaning to show off the stegosaurus I made for Victoria. Steggy hasnt left her side since I gave him to her 2 weeks ago. He was my first attempt at knitting and felting a toy and it turned out great.
So the two shops that I wanted to show off this week are
Dancing In The Rains
www.dancingintherains.etsy.com
This shop is so so cute. Lots of cute kitties with very smiley faces and you cant leave out the turtle coasters. Not made of real turtles of course but something original and cute to put your drinks on. Definitely a conversation starter. But go and check out this shop because those kitties will bring a smile to your face and brighten your day.
Zygopsyche
www.Zygopsyche.etsy.com
This is a shop filled with fuzzy bunnies and guinea pigs in all sorts of colours. They look so soft and fluffy that you could swear they are about to get up and hop away. I have noticed that these bunnies get featured on the Etsy front page alot and for good reason. They are just so darn cute. Whenever I see them I just want to scoop one up and give it a hug. If you havent already seen this shop go and check it out and if you already seen this shop go and check it again because I am sure you will fall in love all over again.
1. Tell us a bit about yourself.My name is Heidi, a mum of two beautiful girls and a designer/maker of homewares and accessories made from vintage fabrics. Originally from the northern part of Germany, I have lived in the UK for the past 15 years. I launched polkadots & blooms in September 2009 with the opening of my Etsy shop. 2. What made you open your shop and why Etsy?
I had been thinking about launching my own business for years, but either my business ideas or the timing were not quite right. Then everything seemed to fall into place. I was made redundant, which I took as my opportunity to set up on my own. I wanted to sell sustainable and quality accessories and homewares but it soon became clear that I wanted to be involved in the whole process of designing, making and selling not just the selling side of a business. Another mum then introduced me to Etsy and I was probably hooked after my first few clicks. I grew up with many different crafts - knitting, sewing, embroidery, weaving - but had ignored my creative side more or less for years to pursue a business career. Since I launched polkadots & blooms I am in a much happier place.
3. Do you sell you items anywhere else?I am also selling on Notonthehighstreet.com (British website) and Dawanda.com (German website). I completed my first wholesale order for a boutique in Norfolk, UK and am in discussion with two other boutiques in Germany and Italy. I also sell at craft fairs.
4. How did you choose your shop name?I wanted a name that reflects the vintage aspect of my business. Both polkadots and flowers are very representative of vintage fabrics and polkadots & blooms was born.
5. What are your favourite things to do?I love the performing arts and really cherish my visits to the theatre. I've started taking my eldest to the theatre, which is just fantastic. I also have a weakness for fabulous architecture and love to explore houses and buildings.6. What inspires you?Definitely nature. But my biggest inspiration at the moment are my two girls. I discover and re-discover so many things through them. For example, my eldest is really taken by dandelions, which she also calls fairy flowers. Through her I have re-discovered dandelions and incorporated them into my embroidery designs for cozies and cushions.
7. What made you decide to use vintage fabrics for you items?
I grew up with recycling, re-using or even re-inventing an item's use when necessary, this combined with an urge to live a more sustainable life made the decision to use vintage fabrics an easy one. Sometimes when I hold an 80 or 90 year old piece of linen in my hands, I can't help thinking who may have used it and what its story is. I think there is this added bit of mystery and peek into the past that makes vintage fabric extra special.8. What is your most popular item?Definitely my linen baskets, followed by my vintage linen christmas stockings.
9. What handmade possession given to you do you cherish?Unfortunately, it has long since perished but I still have pictures. When I was in primary school my mum sewed this amazingly beautiful tafeta gown for the carnival season for me. I still have it in my minds eye, it was light blue and adorned with fresh flowers all over it.
10. Name 3 other Etsy shops you love to visit.
It is difficult to only choose three, as there are so many amazing shops on Etsy, but I will chose some of my more recent shop finds:MaaP Studio - gorgeous porcelain jewellery
lightexture - stunning lighting
Knit Frekkles - beautiful scarves (not just for winter)
Thank you so much to polkadots & blooms for being my featured shop for this week. I found this shop a few weeks ago and fell in love with the linen baskets and the embroidered linen pillows. I love the fact that the material is vintage. It gives it a story. I too love to hold the material in hand and imagine its history. I cant believe that this talent and creativity has not been utilized for so many years. Thank goodness she has found her creative outlet in Etsy and we all get to benefit from it. Take a look at this shop and you find beautiful things that you can use in your every day life.
1. Tell us a bit about yourself?My name is Abby Emerson and I’m a 30-year-old Vermonter living on beautiful Lake Champlain. I share my home and life with a lovely husband and four beastly cats (Shmoo, Cookie, Chairman Mao, and Midas). I have a day job that I don’t like to talk about because it makes me miserable, but I spend nearly all of my non-working hours working on my shop and Plumpies. I love nature and animals and craft fairs too, so every once and a while I put down my felting needles to venture out into the world. When I’m not needle felting, I try to paint with watercolors and sculpt a little with clay.
2. What made you open your shop and why Etsy?
About five years ago I took up painting with acrylics. I would paint these elaborate skies and then draw a thin, black line across them and paint a bird on it in silhouette. I called these my “Bird on Wire” paintings. At the time, I had a Livejournal account and began selling the paintings through that venue. I think I read about Etsy on another person’s journal and opened my shop there. I had two sales and then didn’t revisit my shop until March of this year (2010). I’m a HUGE Etsy fanatic. I check it at least ten times a day. There are sellers on Etsy that I love like my own family and who inspire me each and every day. There’s no place on Earth I’d rather be than part of the Etsy family.
3. Do you sell your items anywhere else?Presently I have a collection of Plumpies and Mini-Plumpies in an ecological home store in Burlington, Vermont called The Green Life. I’m also going to be doing some craft fairs this summer and hopefully (fingers, eyes, toes crossed) sell my creations on consignment with my favorite local toy store.
4. How did you choose your shop name?
Back in 2005, when I was painting birds on wires, I named all the paintings “Bird on Wire 1,” or “Bird on Wire 2,” and the name just stuck. I never called them “Bird on a Wire” – which makes more sense to some people. I have a little studio in my apartment and I would spread the paintings out all over the place, so it became the “Bird on Wire Studio.” I love it now because I’ll never forget my roots. It means a great deal to me to look back on how far I’ve come as an artist and soul. Of course, if I were to be truthful about my studio space, it would be OhMyGodThereAreCatsEverywhere! Studio. But, you know, that’s not really marketable. 
5. What are your favourite things to do?Listing things I like to do is one of my favorite things to do, so here goes: needle felt, pet my cats, sleep, eat cheese, swim in the ocean, watch movies, make pancakes on Sunday morning, window shop on Etsy, drive really fast, nap on the beach, visit the cow herd at the local dairy farm and let them lick me, walk in the woods, point out groundhogs eating grass on the side of the road, explore thrift shops, paint, collect art, introduce myself to dogs at the park, and decorate spaces. This is an abridged list.6. What inspires you? I’m inspired by all things cute and cuddly. I love animals and can find a good thing to say about pretty much any creature on earth. Even spiders – but that’s a stretch. I didn’t have an excellent childhood, so now that I’m an adult and in control of my destiny, I’m learning how to approach the world with innocence, grace, and wonder. I think animals are the embodiment of those qualities and I have always been fascinated by them. I feel like I can relate more to a cat than most people. In addition to animals, I’m inspired by art, color, nature, beauty, rocks, skies, candy, moments of kindness – you name it. I think inspiration is everywhere if you open your eyes to it. I’ve learned how to listen to what makes my heart purr. 
7. What is your favourite thing to make in your shop?I really love making the Plumpy Walrus. There’s something deeply satisfying about his simplicity. The Walrus is an iconic animal – easily distinguishable, and I love really simplifying his form. Whenever I make a Walrus, I tell him he’s cute about twenty times. I do talk to my art. I’m also HUGELY fond of the owls because they can be tricky to get “right.” Then, all of a sudden, the details fall together and you have a little owl in your hands. It’s kind of cool. I’m still surprising myself all the time.
8. What item is the most popular?Hands down it’s the Sitting Fox. Etsy featured him the very first day I opened my shop and I have been inundated with requests for custom foxes. The problem is, he takes the most time of all of my creations, so getting orders filled has been slow going. I think Etsians love foxes more than any other animal. I can see why.
9. Which handmade possession given to you do you most cherish? When I was five, my mother made me a stuffed cat pillow. I can’t tell you how many times I have cried into Kitty Pillow. She is full of 25 years of sad moments and comfort. She lives in my studio now and my cats sleep on her, but even when she’s threadbare, I’ll frame her remnants. I could never, ever part with her.
10. Name 3 other Etsy shops you love to visit.Just three?JooJooLand (Everyone loves Afi!)
elukka (Szilvia is one of my all time favorite people on the planet)Song & Branch Studio (Karen has an amazing gift to capture the gesture and grace of animals)
Thank you so much to Bird On A Wire Studio for such a great interview. This shop is a recent find and as soon as I saw the little critters in this shop I knew I had to feature them on my blog. I wondered how she got so much character and life into each animal and after reading this interview I think I've figured it out. It must be from being chatted to and all the praises they get while being created that does it. With so much love and attention being put into each little critter its no wonder people fall in love with them. Check out this shop and have a look at all the other animals that are being created. I just know you'll find some favourites.
1. Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Lauren Marzursky, and I live in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with my husband, three kiddos, three cats, one dog and a bunch of fish. I took a beginner lampwork class just over 2 years ago and was immediately hooked. I practiced making round beads every day as much I could. But I soon discovered that penguin and turtle beads were more my thing, so I guess Ive found my niche in sculptural animal beads.
2. Why did you open your shop and why Etsy?
I had sold for a little while on Ebay to support my glass addiction, but I wanted something more solid. When I found Etsy I thought it was nice and easy to start up in so I gave it a try.
3. Do you sell your beads anywhere else?I have a very small shop on Artfire, but that's it for online selling. I did just sell some finished bead pendants to an art gallery shop in Chicago called Art & Artisans. Im pretty excited to see how they do there.
4. How did you choose your shop name?My maiden name is May, so I just attached beads to the end of it and voila! Maybeads. When I first started making beads and some were very questionable, I liked that my shop name had the word "maybe" in it, as in "maybe its a bead, but maybe not."
5. What are your favourite things to do?Aside from melting glass, I love to bake, walk ( I used to run but I've got a bum knee) and read.
6. What inspires you?Animals inspire me - cartoon animals and real ones. Also my kids come up with some whacky ideas for beads.
7. Do you use your beads to create other items?
I turn some of my beads into jewelry, but mostly I sell just beads. I also make bookmarks out of them.
8.Which is your most popular bead?
Probably turtles.
9.Which handmade possession give you do you cherish?
I love the beads I have received from other lampworkers. I have a gorgeous off-mandrel heart from HollysFollyGlass, a super cute puppy from loribeads and a critter trio of a dino, cow and sheep made by Nikki from NLC Beads.
My husband surprised me and got me a blue kitty lampwork necklace from DorsetHillBeads that I love! I wear it all the time.
10. Name 3 other Etsy shops you love to visit.
Only 3?
First off, elukka, for the best dog sculptures evah.
CrazyBliss for the sweetest cat prints - she totally captures the quirky cat personality.
And I love visiting all my Fire Diva teammates' shops - they're all so talented and the variety is so great. I'm in loriandkim a lot because that's where I buy my murrini - can't get enough!
Thank you so much to Maybeads for being my featured shop this week. I have been a fan for a really long time. I think it would be great just to collect these beads even if you didnt have a specific crafting purpose for them. How cute would they all look lined up on a shelf? Reading this interview has pointed out many other great lampwork bead Etsy shops to check out so if you love what you see in Maybeads you'll have to check out the other shops as well. It sounds like the lampwork crafters have a great supportive community. One of the great things I love about Etsy.
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