Interview with kookababy!

Kookababy is one of those great sellers that is looking for their first Etsy sale, so stop by and show her some love. I adore her sweaterbunnies; they look so soft and cuddly...who could resist?

1)How did you hear about Etsy?
The real answer is that I have no idea. I think it was one of those things where the name got thrown around by some people and I looked it up. I set up an account and then did nothing about it until now. I also read Coolmompicks and they are talking about etsy all the time.




2)Why did you decide to sell your handmade items on Etsy?
I decided to sell my wares on Etsy because It seems like a great community of crafters and artists. I feel like some of my favorite things I read about and covet have been on etsy. I wanted to make things that people covet (and hopefully buy!).

3)Tell us about a little about yourself and your favorite craft/art!
Right now I'm a mostly work at home mama trying to find the time to sew, knit, and brainstorm ideas. I acutually went to school for fashion design and have a degree from The School of The Art Institute of Chicago (BFA). I really hated the whole bussines, cutthrought world of fashion. It wasn't all about great design, love of clothing, fabric and style like I thought. I took a break and then for some crazy reason I though it would be a good idea to get an MFA in fiber arts, so I have that too from the Univeristy of MIchigan. I got it so I could teach college kids but then learned I hate teaching collage kid's .Whoda thunk it?

I really love, love knitting and have spent several hours/years trying to find a way to make a living from it, but have yet to figure that out. Sewing is my second love born out of nessesity. I have all these ideas that I want to come to life and the method that works best is sewing. Oh, I adore sewing paper, I made a dress out of maps once (for my MFA) , unfortuantly there is not a great market for paper dresses and the like :)

4)What inspires you to create a new design?
A lot of the times it comes from the fabric or yarn, I feel like I can see a new idea in pattern and textures. Also, I know this is going to sound sappy, but my son is inspiration too! The sweaterbunnies were born because I was trying to come up with a cuddly sleep-mate for him.

5)How do you intend to promote your Etsy shop?
Blog, blog, blog some more http://www.kookababy.blogspot.com, talk about it on facebook, send emails to friends, friends of friends, family, strangers. Talk it about anywhere I can to generate buzz.

6)Tell us something about yourself that would surprise others!
I would really like to write children's books and I've never seen any of the Godfather movies.


Children's books sound like a great idea! How about a bunny book? Kids would love'em!

Visit Kookababy!


I want to interview your shop, leave a comment so that I can draw a random shop. Be sure to put your shop name in the comment. An online randomizer is used to choose the winner....so leave a comment each week as your chance to win!

Interview of Etsy Shop - Montagyoo

Montagyoo's shop owner shows incredible talent, she takes the everyday and turns it into something fun and unusual. It was hard just choosing one item from her shop to illustrate, so stop by her shop and take a look at more...you have to!

1)How did you first hear about Etsy?
I somehow stumbled onto a fantastic blog called decor8, which features lots of awesome etsy sellers and products. I had to check it out, and I was hooked pretty quickly.

2)Tell us about a little about yourself and your favorite craft/art!
A little about my self... I'm a graduate student in counseling psychology. I just moved to Mississippi from Kentucky, but I went to college in Virginia. I love reading, traveling, and worshiping. And of course, I love being creative! Taking pictures and making collages are just hobbies, but they're both wonderful means of creative expression and add a lot of richness to my life (internally, if not externally.)

3)What inspires you to create?
Oh, goodness. Everything. Nature, people, interesting places, God, language, artists, random objects, psychology, music, books... life in general.

4)Tell us something about yourself that would surprise others!
I don't put milk on my cereal.

5)How do you get the word out about your shop and Etsy?
I tell everyone I know about etsy and all the cool things I've bought there! I also spend a little too much time in the etsy forums. :) I have a blog as well, but sometimes (like now) I don't update as much as I should.


No milk on her cereal...he..he...now that's different!

Visit Montagyoo and also check out her Blog.


I want to interview your shop, leave a comment so that I can draw a radom shop. Be sure to put your shop name in the comment. An online randomizer is used to choose the winner....so leave a comment each week as your chance to win!

WOW - 20% off - Look at all the shops!

Help us celebrate the one year anniversary of EFA (Artists for Animals) by saving 20% in the following stores. Just use the code TACKY and wait for a revised invoice before paying.





Accessories
annieswearableart
FallenFey
jarvisgift
makemesmile
popalicious
StrandedTreasures
Trendcycle
weiopensecret
whimseys
9livesphotography

Art
aktie9
alteredgirl
arnicae
backroomtreasures
bethgumnick
brownrose
dboudre
DonnaPellegata
dragonhouseofyuen
ellebeephotography
fenrislorsrai
gingercatpress
glittergirlgalleries
jcatphotography
jcollander
jenis1321
jenrosesegrest
jmcguinness
karenkayartworks
kyeliza
lancerika
latejuly
LolaLynn
mimilove
mistyisle
mvegan5
pigatopia
PurrPrints
Schmoomunitions
SharonFosterArt
sherryart
shessochic
SnapHappyPhotos
snitterdog
StrayNation
teaandcakeriot
westcorinthstudio
wolfgangzehen
wonderfulworld
Zuppaartista
DragonRags

Bags and Purses
HazelHoney
louisiana1966
MidnightRabbits
tackyhandmade

Bath and Beauty
adorationsoap
CozyMoments
Darktemptations
Domaly
MoonsHarvest
PinkParmentSoaps
Women'sWit

Books and Zines
thisisbexx
NaturesStudio

Candles
northmountaincandles

Ceramics and Pottery
claynfiber
judybfreeman
memekiwii
PhantasyCeramics

Children
GoldtoneDesigns
scandeez

Clothing
Xenotees

Crochet
laacesplaace
lissalush


Housewares
cricketapollo
Luminosities
PequenoPequeno
sassyanddapper
TheCrystalChandelier
TheRusticHome

Jewelry
4utheworld
aimeedars
ApacheMoon
artbysusmitha
autumnsweater1
BeadedTail
BeauxBangles
botanicalbird
chendric
Cthings
daisywares
DebbieB
designbysunzeri
emmarosejewelry
enca EsotericEnchantments
EveryDogsDelight
fashionsplatter
happyshackdesigns
Kellybot
kimiko611
LieblingDesigns
likearollingstone
lindsaykristine
littlestudiojewels
myunrulysun
nightshadesart
novelartsanddesigns
OutofthePinkSky
preciouslinks
prettyinskulls
punkybunny300
Rainbowmom
silverrosedesigns
smilingfrogs
TheClayPony
thefrogbag
ThePeachTree
VictoriaB2007
whskr
Wildlifer78

Knitting
linesdesigns
mskittyfantastico
Bluewhimsy

Needlecraft
aguavino

Paper Goods
birdhaven
CrazyHappy
ElephantDance
emmarts
EnsorcelledMinds
gingercardco
haleyshandmades
Mycatlulu
pwnmonster
sallers Shellsnoel
Taravictoria
thisisit
UniqueGrabs

Pets
AcmeCouture
BazStore
casbahkitten
chambers
ciaohound
ciaralovesyou
classychassy
codyscloset
Craftopotamus
creaturecomfort
Dogonwear
EmbraceableUrns
endlesswhimsy
KittenCrazies
Lizart
nanjodogz
PetLoversBoutique
PollysPawPrint
tejana54
TheModDog
uberdupercreations
UniqueTreatDogBones
uniqueXpression
VivaleChat

Supplies
pinkee
polymerpamela
TantalizingStitches
theknottysheep

Vintage
Everthesametreasures
innerchildbooks
lynnaddison
SharonFosterVintage
Tackybackintime
thefaeriecupboard
deermountainwoodart

Interview with ChristopherandTia

Welcome to the bright, neon world of ChristopherandTia, I found their interview to be more of the same...colorful! Recipe boxes and cards are so very popular and their work should tickle your kitchen fancy!

1)What did you think when you first found Etsy?
I felt like Alice in Wonderland. Or, Alice in Handmade Wonderland. I think that like most people, I was instantly addicted.



2)Tell us about a little about yourself and your favorite craft/art!
Christopher is in the Air Force, and I'm a stay at home mom. We've got a beautiful 2 year old daughter, and another baby due in December. We like to do arts and crafts together. We use our kitchen table for more of a painting station than we do eating on. Now that our daughter is a toddler, we're really looking forward to starting some Halloween crafts. Ya know, puffy cotton ball ghosts and silly things like that, haha.

3)Tell us something about yourself that would surprise others!
I don't know if its much of a surprise, since I spend way too much time in the etsy etc forum, but, I have about a million food allergies. We cook everything from scratch, and haven't been out to eat in over a year. I'm on a gluten/soy/dairy/egg/corn/potato/cellulose/amaranth/sorbitol/carageenan/caffeine/avocado free diet. Meal time sure gets interesting, haha.

4)How do you get the word out about your shop and Etsy?
I don't do much in terms of advertising. I spend a lot of time, probably too much time, in the etsy etc forums. And I like to update my blog daily.

5)Without giving us the benefit of a picture, how would you best describe your work area?
Well, our work areas are kind of spread out from the craft table in our bedroom, to the bar in the kitchen. We do a lot of our paper crafts upstairs in our bedroom, where little 2 year old hands can't reach. All of our paintings stay downstairs in the kitchen area. The clutter can get overwhelming, but it comes to a point where we have to say "who cares?", its our house, and we can craft how we want to craft, haha.


VisitChristopherandTia and enjoy their great blog!

Get 20% off in over 180 shops!!

What is EFA? Artists helping Animals! When you purchase something from an EFA member, in most cases, they are donating a portion of that sale to a local charity. I donate 10% of sales from both my shops to Town Cats of Ocean City MD! EFA members also donate items to our team shop:
All the proceeds from the sales from the team shop go to the Animal Charity of the Month!

We are having our First Birthday Bash Extravaganza..help us celebrate by shopping in over 180 shops and receive 20% off! Use code TACKY in the buyer's comments!

Here is a list of the shops that will accept the above code:
EFAartistshelpinganimals.org

HoydenDesigns - Interview!

HoydenDesigns was chosen as my 3rd interview on Izzy-IT. Her artwork is so whimsical; yet exudes with love! I want to highlight her fantastic original watercolor titled "Be Still My Heart".

HoydenDesigns was so excited to win, here is her interview. I'm sure you will find it fun to read as well as very interesting!:

1)How did you first hear about Etsy?I’m a member of a fabulous website for artists called wetcanvas.com, and one of the members had mentioned Etsy in the forums. I came and was immediately hooked! I signed up on the spot.


2)Tell us about a little about yourself and your favorite craft/art!
I’m married to my childhood sweetheart and am mommy to one. I have a full time day job, so my art is pretty much put on the back burner until late at night when the house has settled a bit. But my family is so supportive of me and makes sure I have the time I need to create!
I’ve been drawing and painting since I can remember. I took art in high school but put it aside almost completely from the time I graduated until the birth of my child. Then, it seems, my imagination exploded! I haven’t stopped painting since!
I usually work in acrylic paints, but have recently picked up watercolors as well. I love painting anything from a large stretched canvas to a tiny pendant. And the bookmarks have given me another method to express myself as well. I love to push myself with my craft, so a challenge is something I look for often!

3)What inspires you to create?
My most obvious way of getting inspired is to read Jane Austen novels or watch the movies based on her books. But I also see things differently since I’ve become a mom. I see things through a child’s eyes, and everything is new. So even a trip to the grocery stop is like candy for my imagination now!

4)Tell us something about yourself that would surprise others!
I’m allergic to pineapple and kiwi…but also have a dog named Kiwi (who I also happen to be allergic to!).

5)How do you get the word out about your shop and Etsy?
I’m often in the forums at Etsy, and joined a fantastic team called SFEtsy there. I’ve also just started blogging obsessively. I like to wear my pendants as often as I can. I have contests ever now and then. And I send out a newsletter every few months. I’m not as active in this department as I’d like, but I’m getting there!

Stop by and visit:

HoydenDesigns

I want to interview your shop, leave a comment so that I can draw a radom shop. Be sure to put your shop name in the comment. Winners are chosen each Sunday nite and the interview is then posted that Thursday morning. I use an online randomizer to choose the winner....so leave a comment each week as your chance to win!

This weeks winner is HoydenDesigns. Look for her exciting interview this Thursday! Each and every week we will choose a radom winner from the comments left on our blog (using an online radomizer tool). The contest ends each Sunday Evening and the interview is posted that following Thursday. If I do not draw your name one week, just leave another comment for a chance at winning the interview!

So, please leave a comment...and make sure you mention the name of your Etsy shop. I will convo you if you win!


This weeks Winner (our 3rd), her interview will be posted right here on Izzy-IT! So be sure to stop back!




Thanks again for visiting and let us know what you think of our new blog! I will choose another winner (at random), from the new comments this week. Be sure to put your shop name in the comment. Best of luck, I'm looking forward to interviewing your shop!

Tacky
Tackyhandmade