Artist Showcase - Papacho Creations

Welcome to another Artist Showcase, where we select an Etsy artist to feature.  This week's artist is Gwenaël Petiot and his shop is Papacho Creations.  Petiot is a macramé artist from Paris, France. Macramé is an antic art using only knots. Macramé can be made with different kind of cords, cotton, hemp, and polyester and be mixed with beads, gemstones or even leather.

Azurite Macramé Bracelet

Here is Petiot's story...

In 2007, I decided to quit my job in the television industry and travel around South America for three months. The first time I saw someone doing macramé was in Caracas, Venezuela. The man made me a simple bracelet, I was really impressed he did it only by making knots. I stayed in this part of the world more than 4 years and to make some money while traveling, some local friends from Peru and Argentina taught me how to work with cords and I started selling my creations in the streets of Chile, Bolivia, and Colombia.

Multicolored Flower Macrame Necklace

When I returned to Paris in 2011 to sell my creations at the summer street market, the partner of Anne Valérie Hash, a French haute couture designer, bought me several creations. Hash loved them and with three weeks until her runway show for the Paris Fashion Week, she asked me to collaborate on a number of pieces. The collection debuted at Le Jeu de Paume, in front of the Champs-Elysées. Six months prior I was selling my bracelets for a few dollars a piece in a little village in the mountains of Cuzco, Peru, in order to pay for my next train ticket.

Multicolored Flowers Macrame Earrings

Being able to explore the world while working on my craft is what makes keeping my business small and handmade imperative. Thanks to the online selling, I can be free because I can work from every place I travel to. I just need a few stones, threads, a camera, and a portable computer. Life might be easier, money-wise, if I keep working in the fashion world, but I really think that liberty has no cost.

Multicolored Friendship Bracelets

To get this liberty and enough sales on Etsy, you have to fill your shop with new and originals creations that cannot be found in other shops. You have to be different or at least have your own touch and be very careful about your work details and finish.

Macramé Multicolor Wristband Bracelet

 

Ammonite Macramé Bracelet

Thank you Gwenaël for sharing your story with us.  If you would like to see more of Gwenaël , check out his Facebook page.

Next week we'll select another Etsy artist to feature.  If you would like to be considered, just drop Zoica or myself a note via Etsy convo and we'll take a look.

Thanks for stopping by...

Until next time,

Artist Showcase - Barbara Hobling of Kreative Produkte

Welcome to another edition of Artist Showcase.  This week's artist is Barbara Hobling of Kreativprodukte.  Barbara designs handmade friendship bracelets, kumihimo bracelets, macrame jewelry, seed bead ornaments as well as original artwork. Here is one of Barbara's beautiful items:

Macramé Flower Earrings

 

Tell us a little about yourself and your creative business.

My name is Barbara and I am 27 years old. In my day job I work as a chemist and in my free time I´m a creative mind. I love painting, knotting and my garden and this is what I spend most of my free time with.

Red Macramé Friendship Bracelet

How did you get your start?

I started my shop almost 2 years ago (August 2012) when I was still studying at university because the products of my creativity took up more and more space in my home and there is no way I can use all of them.

Multicolor Friendship Bracelet

Where do you get your inspiration?

Everywhere I´d say, from tutorials on the internet (Pinterest is such a great thing), from everyday situations, from other artists (I do not copy of course but change what I see to make something new from it) and many other sources. There are always tons of ideas spinning in my head.

What has been your biggest successful moment so far?

When I sold 10 bracelets to one person ;-) but right after this great moment came something like "oh my God, my shop is empty now, I need to make new ones fast."

Macramé Necklace and Earring Set

What challenges do you face selling online?

The biggest challenge I think is to show your customer how awesome your product is; good descriptions are just about as important as great photos. Right after that comes good customer service.

Macrame Flower Cell Phone Charm - Keyring - Pendant

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

Prepare well!!! Stock up about 30 - 40 items prior to opening your shop (customers love choice) and read up on everything you can on marketing and SEO.

Infinity Knot Kumihimo Rope Bracelet

 

Thank you Barbara for sharing your lovely items with us.  If you would like to be featured in an upcoming article on our blog, please contact me or Zoica via Etsy convo.

 

Thanks for stopping by...

 

Until next time,