Monday Feature - Etsy West Michigan Team

Today I am sharing some of the newest items from the Etsy West Michigan Team. To view more items from this team go to Etsy and search handmade for "etsywmi team".

Strawberry Rhubarb Glycerin Soap - Vegan

Made by You Stink Soap
www.YouStinkSoap.etsy.com

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Lovely Lavendar Sachets - Set of 3 - Regans Garden Collection
Made by Mom N Mia Quilts
www.MomNMiaQuilts.etsy.com

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Large Sterling Silver Tree of Life Necklace
Made by JustJaynes
www.JustJaynes.etsy.com

Monday Featured Artisan - Dee's Adornments

I would like to introduce you to the work of Dee's Adornments:

What do you make?
Jewelry and some related housewares like wine glass charms. I expect to branch out more but to stay within the accessories side of things. I'm fond of variety.

What drew you to your craft and why did you start selling your items?
I used to do stained glass and mosaics. I'm drawn to the play of light and color and shine. So when I looked for a hobby that didn't exile me into the garage, I found a class on making jewelry. It sounded like something I would enjoy so I went, and it didn't take long to realize how much I was enjoying myself.

Oddly I enjoy designing and making jewelry more than actually wearing it. The problem with this combination is that I'd go broke making everything I want to make! So when I ordered my first set of supplies I planned on making Christmas gifts, and items to sell, in hopes that it would help me buy more supplies, etc. Since I've sold stained glass in the past it wasn't too far-fetched to look at doing the same with jewelry, though I didn't approach selling my glass products as seriously as I'm taking my jewelry business.

What is your favorite part of creating your items?
I like variety and I like to experiment, so sometimes I'll have spent time trying many different things before I finally hit that moment where I go "Yes!" and know I've got it. The process of actually assembling the pieces can feel very zen, so I enjoy that too. I've been writing professionally through my entire adult life and wrote prolifically in school as well, but writing is a very cerebral pursuit and can result in me getting too stuck in my head. The ability to achieve some mental quiet and just enjoy making something with my own hands is precious.

Is your craft a full time endeavor or a hobby?
Part-time business. For my "day job" I'm a technology writer and journalist, but this year my goal is to have jewelry account for 50% of my income. That might be expecting too much of my first full year but I like to aim high.

When you aren't working on your craft what do you enjoy doing?
Right now I'm volunteering with the 2010 Winter Olympics (http://dee-annleblanc.com/2010/02/15/the-olympic-volunteer-experience-part-1/) and so far it's incredibly rewarding. It's really eaten into my business time as I'm doing 15 shifts, but I'm trying to be flexible and do things like renew, where normally I prefer to list a new item every day instead.

Outside of that, I enjoy playing with my dogs, playing games on my PS3, and generally being a geek.

Is there anything else about your craft or yourself you would like to share?
I used to think that I'm a lucky person and opportunity just fell into my lap, when it came to my writing career. One day I finally realized that my career wasn't so much about luck as it was about being open to opportunity, recognizing it, and reaching out for it before it passed me by. Doing this means being open to rejection. I don't enjoy that any more than anyone else does, approaching life with an attitude of "it never hurts to ask" is an important part of constantly taking yourself to the next level. That and just pushing yourself to be more.

I try to remember this as I work on my jewelry and building my jewelry business.

My locations online:

shop: http://deesadornments.etsy.com/
blog: http://deesadornments.wordpress.com/
twitter: http://twitter.com/deesadornments
facebook: http://facebook.com/deesadornments

Pieces in this post:
1. Granite, Serpentine, and Sterling Silver Chandelier Earrings
2. Third Chakra Thumblet in Amber for Energy Work
3. Four Seasons Memory Wire Bracelet in Glass, Silver, and Gold

Monday Feature

Some of the newest creations by the Etsy West Michigan Team
To find more of the fabulous works by the Etsy West Michigan Team go to Etsy.com and search for etsywmi team

HAVE A HEART - Genuine Drilled Beach Stones - Slag Glass Set - focal jewelry beads
by
StoneMe
www.StoneMe.etsy.com

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Exotic Coconut Body Butter with Cocoa and Shea - 4 ounces - Vegan
by
You Stink Soap
www.YouStinkSoap.etsy.com

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Wine Bottle Bling
by
One Haute Hostess
www.onehautehostess.etsy.com

Monday Featured Artisan - Jasmine Worth

Today's Featured artisan is Jasmine Worth
Jasmine's work can be purchased at JasmineWorth.etsy.com. More of her work and information about her work can also be found at JasmineWorth.com.

What do you make?
I am an oil painter.

What drew you to your craft and why did you start selling your items?
I have always been as artist, since as far back as I can remember I was drawing or painting. I started selling my artwork on etsy because I wanted to make original art available to everyone. I want anyone who enjoys my art to be able to afford a print or something with my art on it. I have shown in galleries for many years now, but I know that not all people are able to afford original art from a gallery. Selling on etsy allows me to make my work available to those people, as well.




What is your favorite part of creating your items?
My favorite part of painting is the last stage, where I get to put in all the details and highlights. I love seeing the painting come together into the finished product.

Is your craft a full time endeavor or a hobby?
I am a full time painter. I worked at a record store for many years, after the store closed in 2009, I decided to try my hand at being a full time artist. Hopefully the etsy store will help me to achieve this dream :)

When you arn't working on your craft what do you enjoy doing?
I am an avid reader. My house is crammed full of books, they are stacked nearly up to the ceiling in some places! I also enjoy hanging out with my cat Punkin, and watching cartoons.






Etsy Shop: JasmineWorth.etsy.com
More info/images: JasmineWorth.com
Art shown here:
1. 'Midnight Dreary' - Original Oil Painting
2. 'Detached' - Fine Art Print
3. 'Suspended' - Fine Art Print

Monday Feature

Today I want to share some of the new items from the etsywmi team (Etsy West Michigan team)

Recycled Handmade Journal - Golden Keys to the Joys of Music
by
ForrestConcepts
www.forrestconcepts.etsy.com

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heather and moss - hand embroidered thread ball - japanese temari
by
julie and co.
www.julieandco.etsy.com

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Espresso Cup
by
Bella Joy Pottery
www.bellajoy.etsy.com

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Aqua and Blue Zircon Multistrand Necklace with Sunflower Pendant
by
Abacus Bead Creations
www.abacusbeadcreations.etsy.com

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You can view more creations from any of these artisans by visiting their Etsy shops

Monday Featured Artisan - Breath of the Dragon

Today's featured artisan is Breath of the Dragon - unique and custom wood burning by Sunfire
http://www.breathofthedragon.etsy.com
Sunfire is one of my Pagans of Etsy teammates. She is also having a 50% off moving sale in both of her shops

What do you make?
- Pyrography means "writing with fire", but what I do is more like "drawing with heat", creating art on wood rather than canvas. I love the fact that there are so many things that can be made with wood. In my shop, I have a variety of things, from key chains and cell charms with small wooden disks that I've burned on, to boxes and altar tiles that serve a purpose, to magnets and larger wall art that are simply decorative. Every day, it seems, I have another idea of something that I could burn, create and sell.

What drew you to your craft and why did you start selling your items?
- Being around my mom and other crafters that were selling their art really got me started. I wanted to find something that I enjoyed making that could be profitable as well. After trying other crafts, from painting and sewing to candle-making, I finally came across wood burning. Back in 2006, a friend bought me a pen and a piece of wood from the craft store, and I was hooked. By late 2007, I was having a great time with it, and had lots of positive feedback on the things I had made. It was that energy that told me I was ready to give it a go as a money-making adventure, so I set up shop on Etsy.

What is your favorite part of creating your items?
- The smell of the burning wood, for sure! It gets in my hair, and for days I feel like I was at a campfire... :) Cheesy, I know, but so true. Besides that, I love creating custom pieces, because I know that someone is willing to pay me for my work. I love creating something, knowing that it is exactly what they want. The variety of projects is probably my absolute favorite part, though. It's great to know I can spend 1/2 hr on one piece, and 4 hours on another, and both are wonderful.

Is your craft a full time endeavor or a hobby?
- I'm hoping to make it full time ASAP, but until then, I work overnight throwing freight at a local grocery store. It's tough balancing both, as well as school and trying to have family time, but I know if I can make it through this, I will have what I want in the end - making enough money doing what I love that I can quit working for someone else and still have the lifestyle I want. It's this image of the end goal that keeps me moving forward, that makes the sacrifices worth it.

When you aren't working on your craft what do you enjoy doing?
- Watching movies or playing games with my boyfriend on the chilly winter evenings. Since I'm going to school for Web Development, it would be silly if I didn't enjoy working on websites... I love the idea of making simple sites for small-biz folks like myself (I created and currently maintain 2 others besides my own). I also love to get out in nature when its warmer, so we do a lot of biking, hiking and exploring the rest of the year.

Is there anything else about your craft or yourself you would like to share?
- While pyrography is my number one crafting adventure, I've also taken on a mission to spread the message of a Pro-Peace symbol. My mom and I started an Etsy shop to sell hand-crafted Turn Peace Around items (http://turnpeacearound.etsy.com). This second shop gives me a chance to explore other crafting methods between wood burning projects. Or, as in recent weeks, to combine the two.


This is a small selection of the items that Sunfire makes, you can see more in both shops:
Breath of the Dragon & Turn Peace Around
Both stores are running a 50% off moving sale! Now is the time to get some great deals on Sunfires handmade works!

Items in this post:
1. Dream Cherish Live plaque
2. original yin yang
3. Smiley Clean/Dirty Magnet
4. Hemp Choker w/ Pyrographed Charm

Monday Feature

Today has been a very busy work day so I have not had the time to put together my usual Featured Artist post. However I would like to share some of the latest creations from the Etsy West Michigan Team....

Vegan Olive Oil Soap- Simply Unscented
from
showertreatsoap

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Asian Inspired Floral Toddler Kid Bib
from
luckybugboutique

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Garnet Red Valentine Heart Cubic Zirconia Drop Wire-Wrapped Earrings

from
abacusbeadcreations