Monday, July 27, 2015

Artist Showcase - Natasha Art Dolls

Welcome to this week's Artist Showcase.  Each week we select a new Etsy artist and this week's artist is Natasha from Natasha Art Dolls.  Natasha is from Armenia and makes cute textile and paper clay dolls.


Tell us a little about yourself and your creative business.

I studied philology at the University and for a time worked in a research institute of information. But I always wanted to do something creative. Some years ago our institute was closed, and it gave me the impetus to start doing something - it was a doll, but my first doll was not perfect. My friend persuaded me to try and sell her at the art gallery. To my surprise, it sold a few days. My confidence grew and I made a few more dolls. I began selling and even began to receive orders for the creation of puppets. That's how it all started.


Where do you get your inspiration and what has been your biggest successful moment so far?

As for inspiration - it may be passers-by on the street, it may be some items and the impression they produce or just some memories. I exhibit my dolls in several art galleries in Yerevan, as well as send to Sweden - where my friends have a souvenir shop. I have also participated in a Christmas exhibition.



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

And for those who are just starting sales in ETSY, I would advise to expose at least 15 items to start, to have good pictures and not sit and wait for that all by itself is formed. Before I mad Treasuries, I had very few visitors.  Once I began to create Treasuries visitors increased as well as sales.


Thank you Natasha for sharing your creative dolls with us.  If you would like to see more of Natasha, check out her Facebook page.

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.

Thanks for stopping by...

Until next time,

Friday, July 24, 2015

Friday Finds- Back to School

Welcome to this Week Friday Finds!
 This week’s treasury theme was “Back to School”. We selected a treasury curated by Ingrida from feltinga. Ingrida makes knitted, crochet and felted items for women, kids and home. Currently, her shop offers “Christmas in July sale”.
 Here is one of her beautiful creations:






Treasury Back to School: Accompanied by Owls

Handcarved Pinus Cembra wood sculpture – Miniatured books with a snail
€235.00
CIJ SALE Vintage Boy vest Retro Navy Blue suit 6 year height 116 cm 3.8 feet size made in Europe brown black leaf leaves pattern 1990s forma
$6.30
ON SALE Sunflowers Wedding Bouquet Bridesmaid Bouquets Yellow Brown Burlap Ribbon Artificial Flowers Bridal Country Rustic Wedding Accessori
$22.50
White women linen tunic, women travel shirt, womens clothing, hip length tunic, large long sleeve shirt
Sold
ON SALE Linen Cotton Pouch Owl Purse Eagle-owl Coin Fabric Wallet Small Zipper Pouch 4" - 5.7" Green Natural Linen Color Kids Childrens Funn
$19.80
ON SALE 42 Colorful Artificial Silk Tulips Flowers Bouquet Wedding Bouquets Decoration Decor Red Yellow White Purple Pink Accessories Arrang
$35.10
Men's bow tie pre tied black dark grey shabby chic necktie informal handmade gift for him Original wool bow tie with textured surface
$38.00
Couple owls brooch / owl pin / felt owl jewelry / love birds jewelry / wood birds brooch / woodland jewelry / cute animals brooch / wool pin
$28.00
Vintage Book Owl Figurine, Pewter, Librarian's Friend, Owl and Book
$7.95
Magenta Leather Tote, Lined Zipper Shopper, Gold Geometric Hobo Bag, Everyday Tote Bag, Laptop Purse, Back to School
$189.99
Barn Owl Bird Original Watercolor Painting, Bird Painting Art, Watercolour Art
$76.00
Unisex Knit Hat, Ear Flap Hat, Pompom Hat, Brown Hat, Fleece Lined Ear Flap Hat,Knit Beanie
$30.00
Stuffed toy Stuffed animal White striped small fish Stuffed toy Toys for children Hanging toy Doll Soft animal Cloth toy Fabric fish
$12.00
Lampwork.Glass bead handmade. Beads brown, green, marsh, bronze, pistachio.
$23.00
Girl Interrupted Steampunk Watch Movement Bronze Filigree Bracelet Earrings Gift
$27.00
Sunflower Hair Comb, Sunflower Wedding, Large Sunflower Hair Comb, Bridesmaids Gift, Yellow Wedding, Woodland Wedding, Daisies Jewelry
₪190.00

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 I hope you have enjoyed this edition of Friday Finds. Next week’s treasury theme is “Free Spirit Girl”. 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

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Artist Showcase - Felt Art by Mariana

Welcome to this week's edition of Artist Showcase. Our artist this week is Mariana from Felt Art by Mariana.


Tell us a little about yourself and your creative business.

I live and work in Sofia, Bulgaria. All of my life I have been a full-time artist. I have never worked in an office with a fixed work day. I work at home far way from the crazy city life. Ten years ago I started making needle felt dolls and some wet felt projects. I think felting is my true love.


How did you get your start?

I was at a  craft festival and one of the artists used a needle for felting knitted hats. I asked to try and made one sheep. That was the first doll. Since felting was not popular at the time, it was hard to find needles. Finding clean and nice wool was also a problem, but I did it. I learned to dye and gradually I had everything necessary.  I started to sell in my family's gallery and a few small shops in Sofia. The financial crisis had made the art market too small in Bulgaria and at the same time I found Etsy and tried it out. Soon I started to sell totally online.


Where do you get your inspiration and what has been your biggest successful moment so far?

My inspiration comes from nature.

First I must say that I love my job because my customers send me back so much love and positive emotion and that gives me more inspiration and happiness. Some time ago I had a custom order to make a portrait of the Bulgarian Ombudsman with his favorite dog. They sent me a photo of when they gave the doll and the emotion was caught on the picture.


What challenges do you face selling online?

First was culture shock because buying and selling online is not popular in Bulgaria. Second is that because each of my dolls is handmade and have its own mode and character and it takes time to make the dolls and to photograph each doll.


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

To make their own products. Some of the younger sellers search and see "Oh, this seller sell 200 yellow pillows, I'm going to make yellow pillows too."  But of the market is full of yellow pillows, maybe it's better if they make purple pillows!

Thank you Mariana for sharing your story and you lovely dolls with us.  Of you'd like to see more of Mariana, check out her Facebook page and Blog.

Each week we select a new Etsy artist to feature.  If you would like to be considered, just send Zoica or me a note via Etsy convo.

Thanks for stopping by...

Until next time,






Saturday, July 18, 2015

Weekend Finds Christmas in July on Etsy

Welcome to this Weekend Finds! This week’s treasury theme was “Christmas in July”. We selected a treasury named " CIJ SALE ~ My Fairy Picks" curated by Bella from BelladonasJoy. Bella creates gemstone, pearl and crystal jewelry.

All her items are in sale now.
Here is one of her beautiful creations:





~ CIJ SALE ~ My Fairy Picks

Butterfly Fairy Art .Original Oil painting of butterfly Fairies on canvas ready to hang.
£90.00
Unique Handmade Copper Earrings-Copper Blue Patina Bouquets Earrings-Long Dangle Earrings-Contemporary Boho Earrings
€35.00
Light and dark blue bells lampwork earrings, dangle earrings, glass earrings, light blue earrings, dark blue earrings, transparent earrings
$26.00
1-2 years old cotton dress-Girls' dress-Cotton baby dress-Babies clothing-Children's clothing-Flower dress-Godfather's gift-Godmother's gift
$32.00
Love sculpture ~ Red heart sculpture ~ Love statue ~ I love you ~ Valentine day. Free shipping
$12.70
Cloth art doll-Art doll- Cloth doll-OOAK doll-Textile dolls-Collecting doll-Stuffed doll- Fabric doll-Soft doll-Doll-Rag doll-Cotton doll
$85.00
Hermes for kids!18 COLOURS available,Leather winged sandals, for kids. Baby shower gift! Greek Sandals, for kids birthday  gift, kids shoes
€35.00
Cornflower watercolor - Blue Watercolor Flower Print - Watercolor Flower Painting - Flower Wall Decor - Cornflower Poster Giclee wall print
$8.00
CIJ SALE Felt blue flower brooch beaded wool, peony rose, navy cobalt
$17.91
Fairy tale castle with towers, flags in different colours - cross stitch pattern - children's room baby birthday magic dreams nursery decor
$4.00
Felted bag felt bag felt handbag wool bag blue red floral flower flowers boho winter art bag OOAK
$79.00
Ceramic apple,3,9x3,9in, gift idea,home decor,kitchen decor,office decor,unique gift,one of a kind
$85.00
Russian Nesting Dolls,Russian Doll Matryoshka,Wooden Russian Nesting Dolls,Collectibles Nesting Dolls,Nesting Doll Matryoshka,Folk Dolls
$26.00
Murano Blue Earrings, Venetian Earrings, Artisan, Dangle Earrings, Blue, Bali Sterling Silver, Lampwork Earrings
$27.00
Mini Red Hearts Washi Tape - Scrapbooking - Paper Decor - Party Decor - Christmas Supplies - 1 pcs- 10 mt - Ready to Ship.
€2.40
STATEMENT NECKLACE, Long Sculptured Lampwork Tendrils, Red, Gold, Specialty Biwa Pearls, Red Coral, 14k Gold Filled Luxe Necklace, OOAK Gift
$109.00

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I hope you have enjoyed this edition of Friday Finds. Next week’s treasury theme is “Back to School”. 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

Monday, July 13, 2015

Artist Showcase - Ann Accessories Studio

Welcome to this week's Artist Showcase. This week our featured artist is Ann Netiagova from Ann Accessories Studio. Ann's beautiful accessories include diadems, tiaras, headbands, combs, hairpins, bracelets, earrings, and ring pillows.


Tell us a little about yourself and your creative business.

Since childhood I loved to draw, to make different bracelets and necklaces, sew clothes for my dolls. After university I worked as a manager in a large company and could not think that my hobby is possible to earn a living. But all this time I wanted to be creative, and I went to take make-up courses. I started working in the fashion industry and developed an image I created for the bride: it is not only a pretty face, It is also tiaras, headbands, wedding pillows and various accessories.


How did you get your start?

One day I realized that I can leave the company, because I can do what I like; my husband and my family supported me in this. So I decided to open a store on Etsy and share my works with the world. Now I make jewelry in two directions - bridal accessories for special occasions and accessories for every day.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Nature brings me the inspiration, its beauty and the variety of colors and shapes, a combination of both I think the most ideal. I try to follow the fashion trends, so that my accessories were modern and bring joy to people. Often new ornaments ideas come to me in a dream, and then I make their sketches. I get inspired by meeting interesting people and of course, the materials for making jewelry.

What has been your biggest successful moment so far?

I believe that I am still at the beginning of my way, I am always learning new and now I have so many ideas for the future. The most important thing for me - reviews of my clients, I am very happy when they like my work.


What challenges do you face selling online?

When selling on the Internet is very difficult to convey the beauty of the product and, therefore, have to work a lot of good pictures. And also a lot of time dedicated to the promotion of goods, work in social networks, it is very important to stand out among other stores.


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

My advice - you need to be patient and always develop creatively, do not stop there, try your hand in different techniques, keep abreast of new trends. You have to believe in your dream and then success will come for sure.

Thank you Ann for sharing your story with us. Each week we feature a different Etsy artist. Interested in being featured in an upcoming blog? Just drop me or Zoica a note via Etsy convo.

Thanks for stopping by...

Until next time,