Featured Artist - Rebecca from Happiknits

Who are you? Rebecca Sohoni

What is your Etsy Shop Name/link? www.happiknits.etsy.com

What tag categories do you specialize in? knitting, women's accessories

Do you create for children or adults, women or men? adult women

What do you like about Etsy? Etsy is a great opportunity to start a small business. It's a wonderful place to grow and blossom in a supportive atmosphere. Oh, and did I mention I love to shop on Etsy!!

Where do you find inspiration for your products? Mostly through my life experiences. But I also am inspired by nature, yoga, music and I read all the fashion magazines!!

What do you love about your business? Knitting has always been a stress reliever for me. I am a full time pharmacist and my day job is very stressful. My craft allows me to be creative in a "zen" like manner. Knitting is very meditative. Plus I love the joy my craft brings to other people!

What is your favorite product right now? Hmm, tough to pick one... I would have to say the Sweet Caroline shrug and the tranquility capelet~~ I'm so knitting myself one for the fall!



What makes you unique at Etsy? I love color!! I use all different colors, textures, vintage buttons, vintage lace and brooches in my work.



What other street teams are you a member of? I am a member and shop administrator for Fashion Design and Lifestyle team, and I am a member of MSOE (mad scientists of etsy)

What are some other sites to find out more about you and what you love to create?
www.happiknits.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/happiknits

I was cruising through Rebecca's shop, and its true! She really does love color! He's a few of her really colorful items:

Blue Belle shrug:

Fairy Tale Ending scarf:

The Cinnabar Cowl:

Featured Artist - AJKArtistry

Who are you? I’m Alison Kooney, wife, mom, full-time graphic artist/designer, part-time Etsian, and oh yeah, I own my own business, AJKArtistry.

What is your Etsy Shop Name/link? I’m currently operating two shops on Etsy, http://www.ajkartistry.etsy.com for my paper goods and crafts, and http://www.ajkstudio.etsy.com for my watercolor artwork.

What tag categories do you specialize in? The bulk of my business is in paper goods: handmade greeting cards, note cards, bookmarks and invitations. The rest of my work: magnets, watercolor art and art note cards are more for fun and creative release, but people seem to like most of what I do!

Do you create for children or adults, women or men? My products apply to everyone! I’ve got handmade greeting cards for just about every occasion, life event, holiday and even a new gay and lesbian collection that’s been getting a lot of attention lately.


What do you like about Etsy? I love that no matter what time of day I take to add items to my shop, there’s always someone looking. The whole “open 24 hours” thing really proves true online. I can list something at 2 in the morning and I’ll check again at 7 and it’s got a bunch of views! I’m also addicted to making/viewing treasuries. I’m constantly trying to come up with fun ideas that I haven’t seen before.

Where do you find inspiration for your products? I started my business soon after my daughter was born to bring in some extra money. So initially, she was my inspiration. My mom had always been a crafter (still is) and I can remember going to shows with her and helping out stamping and cutting her product tags… it was all fun for me.


What do you love about your business? I guess what everybody says… I’m my own boss. I have no one to report to, I make up my own hours and I work when I feel like it. I also love that it keeps me home and gives me my “quiet time” I need after a long day of working, mothering, wife-ing, etc… Creating is what I do for myself, and I’m fortunate to have the support of my family and friends that encourage me to do it!

What is your favorite product right now? Right now I’d have to say my greeting cards are a constant favorite. My ideas are endless… I’m always thinking of new cards to make. I even do custom cards (adding names to baby and wedding cards) and custom invites that people have been liking lately.


What makes you unique at Etsy? I think because I do a lot of different things, I have a lot to offer between the two shops. I’ve seen a few sellers with products similar to mine, but when I look closely at the pics, the detail that I have is just not there, so I feel good knowing that my products are some of the best out there for the price.



What other street teams are you a member of? In addition to the NJ Street Team, I’m also a member of EtsyGreetings, though I haven’t been that active. TeamNJ keeps me busy, and I love it!

What are some other sites to find out more about you and what you love to create?
Here goes the laundry list…
My official website: http://www.ajkartistry.com
My Paper Shop: http://www.ajkartistry.etsy.com
My Art Shop: http://www.ajkstudio.etsy.com
My Blog: http://www.ajk-artistry.blogspot.com

Although Allison talked mostly about her paper shop, one of my favorites by her comes from her other shop, she makes gorgeous long gemstone necklaces, this one is my ultimate favorite:


I also chuckle every time I see her PB&J card and her gnome cards!

.tomate d'épingles. blog features Copabananas

Copacabanas is featured as the latest Etsy find by .tomate d'epingles!
.tomate d'épingles. blog: Etsy eco find: Copabananas

Featured Artist - 315Thomas

Who are you? My name is Lesley A. Sico, and I am a jewelry maker/gocco enthusiast/artist extrordinaire! I currently live in Riverton, NJ with my parents as my husband and I search for our first home together.

What is your Etsy Shop Name/link? My main Etsy shop is 315thomas, http://www.315thomas.etsy.com. I also have supplies at 315stash, http://www.315stash.etsy.com

What tag categories do you specialize in? Jewelry, Paper Goods, and Art

Do you create for children or adults, women or men? Right now I create mostly for women and teenage girls, but I would love to add more artwork and stationery to appeal to a broader range of people in the future.



What do you like about Etsy? I love how interactive the Etsy community is. Having so many talented and business savvy artists as a resource in the forums and the blog is invaluable for people like me who are just starting out. The fact that it is so easy to join a local street team and meet up with other artists in your area is also fantastic.

Where do you find inspiration for your products? For my jewelry, my main inspiration tends to come from the vintage beads and baubles I find at yard sales and thrift shops. I love finding treasures in unexpected places, and most of my designs are kept simple to show off my finds. For my stationery and artwork, a lot of my inspiration comes from vintage ephemera, especially Victorian images. I also love to go to museums and galleries and just soak it all in… whenever I come home from an art exhibit I always feel the urge to create.


What do you love about your business?
I love the freedom it gives me to explore all of my different interests! I have always been very creative, and I love playing with new media and techniques. With Etsy, it is really easy to try out a new product or design and see how people respond to it.

What is your favorite product right now?
My favorite product at the moment would have to be my garden party earrings. They are so my style… part vintage, part modern, girly and fun. And they are so fun to make… I love playing with the different color combinations for each pair.


What makes you unique at Etsy? I think 315thomas is unique because it has a wide variety of offerings that all fit within a particular style. It is extremely difficult for me to limit myself to one art form, and I love coming up with different products and designs that fit into my shop’s overall aesthetic. I think it makes it easy for shoppers to mix and match different types of products for gifts or for themselves!

What other street teams are you a member of? Currently I am a member of EtsyNJ and JET – the Jewelry on Etsy Street Team.

What are some other sites to find out more about you and what you love to create?
http://www.315thomas.blogspot.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/315thomas
http://www.indiepublic.com/profile/315thomas

I simply love Lesley's cameo rings - they are whimsical and vintage and femine. This one is my favorite:


This hand painted squirrel shirt is adorable as well: