MakingsbyMary on Etsy

Here is part two of a series I am doing on my fellow shop owners on www.etsy.com

Who: MakingsbyMary

Where : British Columbia Canada for summers, Texas USA for winter

What do you like to make?:  Denim Bags from recylced jeans, Barbie Doll cothes and Crocheted scarves

What are your favourite mediums?:  I really don’t have a favourite, I love to sew and crochet

When did you start and why?:  Oh my, when did I start you ask?  Well when I was about 8 (too long ago to mention) my grandma tried to teach me how to knit and I just couldn’t get those two needles working together so she gave up and gave me a crochet hook and I have been crocheting ever since. As for sewing my mother taught me that and I started with barbie doll clothes and moved up to my own clothes then clothes for my two daughters.

How long have you been on Etsy?:  January 2008

Do you sell your creations anywhere else?:  Yes at markets and fairs when  I have the time and inventory.

What is involved in your creative process?:  Time

What is the best thing you love about your art?:  I love to create things, especially originals.

What is your all-time favourite piece?:  Not sure I have a favourite, I love them all equally !!

What is the biggest drawback you have found in selling online?:  Listing

What do you do to advertise?:  I hand out little match book note cards to anyone and everyone. Add my Etsy shop address to bottom of my emails.

Do you have any suggestions to others who want to sell their crafts online?:  Persistence, patience, reading and learning.

Thank you Jewelz for the interview and opportunity to be on your blog.

Mary has some absolutely gorgeous Bags and Barbie & Ken doll clothing available on Etsy!  I myself have purchased a beautiful Black Denim Bag and look forward to buying more!  To check out her shop just go to www.makingsbymary.etsy.com and see for yourself just how creative she is! 

Barbie Fashion Doll Outfit

 

I will be back again later with more from Etsy!

UxCritter’s Place on Etsy

During the last month, I have met many wonderful people on Etsy.  One of them, a favourite shop of mine, is UxCritter.  I decided I wanted to know a little bit more about her and what brought her to Etsy, so I asked her some questions. 

 

Name of shop?:  UxCritter’s Place http://www.uxcritter.etsy.com

Where are you located? :  Ontario, Canada

What do you like to make?:   My favorite has always been working with beads. I like to make beaded jewelry.

What are your favourite mediums?:   Along with beads, I also like to work with yarn, for knit and crochet projects, and I have a passion for the wellness products involved in aromatherapy. It involves essential oils, carrier oils, as well as bath salts, candle making, and sometimes soaps. I also enjoy working with magnetic beads for therapuetic jewelry.

When did you start and why?:   I started making jewelry during down-time at work in between clients at my nail technichian job.

How long have you been doing this?:   Since 2001

How long have you been on Etsy?:   I joined Etsy in March 2007.

Do you sell your creations anywhere else?:   Anywhere and everywhere I can. I always am promoting my business and Etsy in general. At hair appointments, standing in line at the shopping malls, and absolutely everywhere. I always have business cards with me and of course I wear my own jewelry.

What is involved in your creative process?:   I get most of my ideas from my own needs of a product. Rather than by it, I make it. Then I think that someone online on Etsy might like one too. So I list mine and say I will make more like it.

What is the best thing you love about your art?:   I enjoy the creative process from start to finish and it always amazes me just what I am able to create.

What is your all-time favourite piece?:   Since I am starting a new enterprise right at the moment, I would have to say it is my line of essential oil blends that smell so devine and really accomplish the desired effect wanted in the alternative healing process.

What is the biggest drawback you have found in selling online?:   The postal system in our country is very tempermental to use as it is has such a variance in pricing, and delivery times. A lot is uncertain and I don’t think that for the amount we pay out to use the service offered, that there should be so many upsets and gliches to it.

What do you do to advertise?:   Keep business cards with me ALWAYS. Have my website address at the end of every email I send, regardless of who I am sending emails to. Talk about Etsy and my shop at every opportunity that I get. Place cards in library books. Leave cards on bulletin boards, doctor’s waiting room magazine tables. EVERYWHERE.

Do you have any suggestions to other artists who may be interested in learning your craft?:   There are lots of tutorials readily available online and at library’s. Join groups and find out what is your passion and try new things.

Do you have any suggestions to others who want to sell their crafts online?:   Etsy is so reasonably priced for the arts and crafter just starting out, that it is easy to want to tell everyone about it. It is the best place to begin online selling as the cost is not going to drain someone totally if they aren’t doing well for whatever reason, and they want to quit.

 

I would like to thank UxCritter for taking the time today to answer all my questions.  It is a full time job for a person to make their products, and to advertise, let alone answer a bunch of questions 🙂  I do know one thing!  I am definately going to have to try one of her essential oil blends, they sound devine! 

One of UxCritter

So feel free to stop by her shop anytime, and check it out!  http://www.uxcritter.etsy.com