Artist Spotlight - Koatye1

Good morning!  Welcome to another edition of Artist Spotlight.  Today's artist is Vesna Koatye  from Koatye1.   Here is one of Vesna's beautiful items:

Gray Green Tote Bag Hand Painted

Tell us a little about yourself and your creative business.

My name is Vesna, I live in Belgrade, capital city of Serbia, southeast Europe.  I am a visual artist and mother of three.  I have created my business out of some skills that I have. I make WearableArt, as I name it, mostly bags and purses made of delicately chosen materials, seriously developed/designed and hand painted.

Urban Glam Oversized Hand Painted Clutch Bag

How did you get your start?

I studied visual arts in Belgrade and Utrecht, the Netherlands.  One of my non-professional interests always was sewing. When I started making WearableArt I have joined my passion and my profession. I was searching for a right platform that suits my way of working and presenting my work. Etsy was a great way to share my creative ideas.

Pink Yoga Mat Bag

Where do you get your inspiration?

During years of artistic practise in general, I have been searching for complex relation in materials, texture and structure, within composition. I have realised that organic shapes and natural forms (like “free patterns of nature” as a kind of texture) are attracting my attention the most. So, I focused on that.  Exploring relations between these elements, by transforming, stylizing, simplifying I have found my expression.

Natural Linen Hand Painted Clutch Bag

What has been your biggest successful moment so far?

The biggest success, so far, was a moment when I have reached the balance between people’s interests and my goals.  The style that I have created is recognized by many. Still, that fact didn’t disturb or deform my way of living and working. I still can choose how much time and energy I want

Green Pink Girls Purse Recycled Fabric

What challenges do you face selling online?

The biggest challenge was how to become visible in the ocean of similarity. For me, in the beginning, the serious challenge was, also, how to make a good relation with costumers, since I had no experience as a shop owner.

What advice would you give someone just starting out on Etsy?

The advice I would give to starting shop owners would be to be patient, to diligently create their vision in order to gain recognition and take time in networking and be in contact with the nature of such way of communicating.

Handmade Pencil Case

 

 

Want to see more of Koatye1?  Check out her Facebook page.

 

Thank you Vesna for sharing your story and letting us see some of your beautiful items.  Next week we'll share another Etsy artist.  If you'd like to be considered, please drop Zoica or myself a note via Etsy convo.

 

Until next time...

 

Thanks for stopping by,

 

Friday Finds Christmas in July

Welcome to this week’s Friday Finds! The theme was “Christmas in July” and we could not resist the bold colors in this treasury curated by Julene-Baker Smith from  ArtByJulene. Red is an exciting color, and can bring energy to a house, room or outfit. Red is the color of energy, passion and action. It is stimulating, exciting and motivating.
Julene has a beautiful art shop with originals and prints of animals and abstracts.

Here is one of Julene's amazing work:

                       You Can't Help But Love Me Shih Tzu Dog Fine ArtPrint

We hope you have enjoyed this edition of Friday Finds. Next week's theme will be “Ride a Bike”. If you have a treasury you would like to submit, just send me or Susan a link via Etsy convo by Thursday afternoon and we will take a look. Remember, if your treasury is featured, we will feature an item from your shop. Thanks for stopping by! Until next time… 

 Zoica

Artist Spotlight - Louise Leder

Welcome to this week's artist spotlight.  Today's artist is Louise Leder from the shop Louise Leder.  Louise creates beautiful statement and artisan jewelry.  Here is one of her beautiful pieces.

Red Artisan Earrings

 

Tell us a little about yourself and your creative business.

 

My name is Louise. I am an artist and metal smith. I make handcrafted artisan and statement jewelry in sterling silver, gold and mixed metals.

 

Gray Gemstone Earrings

 

How did you get your start?

I got my degree in art. My interest at that time was doing portraits. During my course work, I took a jewelry-making class that introduced me to all the basic silver smith techniques. Although I did many commissioned portraits, I was continually drawn back to my hammers and files and torch.

 

Pink Gemstone Bracelet

 Where do you get your inspiration?

 

My inspiration comes from my raw materials. I love gemstones! The colors, textures and shapes are wonderful. I design my metalwork to showcase the gemstone. But the metal itself is often my inspiration. It can be manipulated in so many unique and interesting ways.

What has been your biggest successful moment so far?

 

I am fascinated by the global market on Etsy. I opened my shop in 2011 and my very first sale was to Australia. That was exciting!

 

Sterling Silver Brooch Pin

 

 

What challenges do you face selling online?

The two biggest challenges for me selling online were my photography and getting found. I had to take thousands of photos before they were good enough to use in my listings. I have spent the last three years getting better and better at it. I still have much to learn! And don't even get me started on SEO! Getting found? I couldn't even find myself! :)

 

Artisan Necklace

What advice would you give someone just starting out on Etsy?

 

My advise to a newbie on Etsy: Take great photos! Use a good camera, and not your phone. Do lots of research to learn how to get found.

 

Want to see more of Louise?  Follow Louise on Facebook.

 

Thank you Louise for sharing your story and letting us see some of your beautiful items.  Next week we'll share another Etsy artist.  If you'd like to be considered, please drop Zoica or myself a note via Etsy convo.

 

Until next time...

 

Thanks for stopping by,

 



Friday Finds- All about 1950's

   Welcome to this week’s Friday Finds! The theme was “All about 1950” and we picked a treasury called “1950 Style we love” curated by Aggie from LocoTrends. Aggie makes beautiful silk scarves and silk headbands.
   Here is one of her designs:

                                               Snake Silk Scarf - Pink Infinity Scarf 

We hope you have enjoyed this edition of Friday Finds. Next week's theme will be “Christmas in July”. If you have a treasury you would like to submit, just send me or Susan a link via Etsy convo by Thursday afternoon and we will take a look. Remember, if your treasury is featured, we will feature an item from your shop. Thanks for stopping by! Until next time… Zoica

Artist Spotlight - Funky Box Studio

Welcome to another edition of Artist Spotlight.  This week's artist is Andreea Radu from Funky Box Studio.  Here is one of Andreea's beautiful items:

Art Deco Table Numbers Flat Cards

Tell us a little about yourself and your creative business.

I am Andreea and along with my husband we create paper and card stock supplies: boxes of various shapes and sizes, envelopes, tags, coasters, various die cuts, table numbers and more.

Die Cut Hearts - use for confetti, display cards, scrapbooking,

wedding decorations, gift tags

How did you get your start?

My husband and I have been thinking of doing something on our own for quite some time; something challenging and something that we're good at.  So we decided to buy a die cutting machine and start working locally offering die cutting services. I admit I was skeptical at first, but as soon as I saw what she can do (yes, I decided the machinery is a girl, I gave her a name, welcomed her into the family and everything), I fell in love. There are so many paper and cardboard/card stock products that wouldn't exist if it wasn't for her! Therefore, we decided actually selling the products she can do, so our Funky Box Studio came to life!

Wedding Table Number Tents

 Where do you get your inspiration?

The creative part is more related to the table numbers section. The boxes and envelopes are made based on what our customers need. When I design table numbers I simply think of what I would have liked at my own wedding or baby shower or special event. Luckily, future brides and moms seem to enjoy them too, so I am motivated to create more designs.

Scalloped Gift Tags

 What has been your biggest successful moment so far?

The most successful moment for us so far is definitely having a customer regularly placing large orders with us. Any customer makes us happy; every return customer makes us even happier, but large sales return customers are definitely considered our biggest success.

What challenges do you face selling online?

The shipping issues are by far the greatest challenges. Shipping fees, lost packages, delays and so on. I really wish they’d invent teleportation soon so we can avoid this whole thing.

Self Sealing Kraft Envelopes

 What advice would you give someone just starting out on Etsy?

 Be patient, be available and have great photos!

Thin Gift Boxes, Jewelry Boxes, Party Favors

Want to see more of Andreea?

Follow Andrea on Facebook

Andreea's Blog

Thanks Andreea for sharing your story and some of your lovely items with us.  Next week, we'll feature another Etsy artist.  If you would like to be considered, just drop me or Zoica a note via Etsy convo.

Until next time...

Thanks for stopping by,

Friday Finds Summer Fun

Welcome to this week’s Friday Finds! The theme was “Summer Fun” and we picked a treasury called  "Dream! Soft Breeze”. curated by Holmesties from TheBestBoysTies. The shop sells high quality Handmade neckties and bow ties.

Father and Son Bow-Tie Set

Here is the treasury created by Holmesties:

We hope you have enjoyed this edition of Friday Finds. Next week's theme will be “All about 1950”. If you have a treasury you would like to submit, just send me or Susan a link via Etsy convo by Thursday afternoon and we will take a look. Remember, if your treasury is featured, we will feature an item from your shop. Thanks for stopping by! Until next time… Zoica

Artist Spotlight - Rainnua

This week's artist/designer is Jennifer of Rainnua.  Jennifer is a mom and an artist. She started her first Etsy shop in 2011 combining her 3 loves: art, graphic design, and jewelry. Her inspiration comes from the renaissance, modern fashion, foreign animation, words of wisdom, web designers, and nature.  Here are a few of Jennifer's lovely items:

Vintage Style Bicycle Pendant

 

Hope Pendant

 

C'est la vie Necklace

 

Eiffel Tower Pendant

 

Jennifer's other Etsy shop is called Cells Dividing.  "Cells/Dividing" combines art jewelry made of my tiny pen & ink drawings, watercolor paintings, and my own original typography & design work.

Follow Jennifer on Facebook

Follow Jennifer on Twitter

I hope you enjoyed seeing a few of Jennifer's lovely designs.   Next week we'll select another Etsy artist to showcase.  Who knows it could be you!

Thanks for stopping by...

Until next time,



 

 

Friday Finds Rustic America

Welcome to this week’s Friday Finds! The theme was “Red, White, Blue” and we picked a treasury called “Rustic America” curated by Tiffany Dawn Smith from TiffanyDawnSmith. Tiffany is a photographer and in her shop she offers fine art prints and home décor.

Here is one of Tiffany's art pieces:

                                 Original Fine Art Photograph Fairy Tree

We hope you have enjoyed this edition of Friday Finds. Next week's theme will be “ Summer Fun”. If you have a treasury you would like to submit, just send me or Susan a link via Etsy convo by Thursday afternoon and we will take a look. Remember, if your treasury is featured, we will feature an item from your shop. Thanks for stopping by!
 Until next time… Zoica