In Love with Etsy

Love for any Personality!

2011-01-15T22:01:00.000-08:00

Hello Etsy Lovers!

Valentine's Day is fast approaching and everyone has gone in search of that perfect gift. We've created a treasury full of gifts for all the personalities in your life!

Of course for the ladies the first thing that comes to mind is jewelry! Our treasury features a Taylor Swift inspired "Love Story Necklace" from Fire weed Impress ions.

For the tech guy in your life, we've included a Computer Key Cufflinks from C apitolagirl.

Need some decor for your home or apartment? We've added glassware, pillow covers, fine art photography and more. We loved this LOVE 3D letters sign by Little White Dog .

So if you're in the market for some unique and thoughtful Valentine's gifts, Etsy is your one stop marketplace. Be sure to shop early if you plan to purchase personalized gifts. Many shop owners need a few extra days to fulfill special requests.

Happy hunting and Happy Heart Day!

New Year's Eve Treasuries for Every Style

2010-12-27T21:55:00.000-08:00

Hello fellow Etsians!

We hope everyone had a sparkling Christmas! In just a few days we'll be ringing in 2011...if you can believe that!

We've been hard at work rifling through all the great Etsy treasuries for fantastic finds you'll want to get caught in at midnight!

If you plan on dressing up in preparation for a red hot night, these treasuries are your golden ticket! With everything you'll need from sexy thigh highs and romantic hair combs, to vintage jewelry and the perfect clutch, you'll be ready to ring in the new year!

In addition to the great finds above, we absolutely fell in love with the 2011 Party Wear Smart Casual treasury which features chic and fashionable items you'll want to wear all year!

The 4 Looks + One Night treasury also caught our eye with four different style pairings for one fancy night!

With all these great finds, we can't wait to see what see what Valentine's Day brings!
We wish you all the Happiest New Year!

Interview with Etsy shop Bellamina

2010-11-25T14:48:00.000-08:00

We are so excited to share our interview with Karen, the design guru and owner of Etsy shop Bella mina! Enjoy, and stop by her store to get great gifts for all the children in your life this Christmas!

In Love with Etsy: Tell us a little bit about yourself!
Karen: My name is Karen and I am a mom to a beautiful one and a half year old baby girl named Mina. Since I can remember I always loved arts and crafts and when Mina came along and I wanted to decorate her room I realized that I had lots of ideas to make it a friendly, warm and, in short, an experience that would prompt her to be active and alert. I also love owls (and birds and animals in general) and I enjoy creating them, and giving them different forms and colors. I finally decided to set up my Etsy store and have been working and creating new designs and selling them online ever since.

In Love with Etsy: What inspired you to open an Etsy store of your own?
Karen: When I was pregnant with my daughter I had to stay in almost complete bed rest for four months. I had lots of ideas for decorating her room but could not do much, so I started to sketch them and with time the sketch pile grew and grew. After I had my daughter I actually started making those items and realized that Etsy would be a great place to set up a store and so it has!

In Love with Etsy: How did you come up with your shop name?
Karen: "Bella" means beautiful in Italian and my daughter's name is Mina. My mother is of Italian origin and she is one of my biggest fans, and also has taught me so much of what I know about arts and craft work.

In Love with Etsy: How and when did you start making your items?
Karen: I have been painting, sculpting and in general involved with art since I can remember. Growing up in my mother's house, art was a very big part of my life. I am also an interior designer and have an associate degree in architecture. But only with these items, have I felt that I finally started to make things that I really love and that I have very strong feelings for. I only make items that I would put in my own daughter's room.

In Love with Etsy: What inspires you to create your items?
Karen: My main source of inspiration is my daughter and she was, in fact, the reason I started my store. I started to make items for her bedroom and I realized that those items would fit in with Etsy when I saw other sellers' wonderful stores.

In Love with Etsy: Do you have any new creations in the works?
Karen: I constantly add items to my catalog, whether its older items that I make with new colors and patterns, or completely new items that I come up with. I try new designs, new fabrics, colors and patterns. Throughout the process of building up my store I continue to develop more products and I try to improve and learn and keep on creating.

In Love with Etsy: What is your most popular item? Why do you think that is?
Karen: My most popular item is the owl pillow. I think people relate to it mostly because its cute, warm and creates a kind of a homey feeling. I really think that it would brighten up any room especially any children's room. It is colorful and "friendly", warm and plush and I think that is why people like it.

In Love with Etsy: Who is your biggest fan?
Karen: Both my mother and my husband are my biggest fans and supporters. They have been there for me throughout my career. I learned so much from my mother who had brought the love of art into my life. My husband has been my partner and is always there for me.

In Love with Etsy: What is the most meaningful feedback you've recieved?
This is a good opportunity to thank all of the buyers and Etsy users who have left me feedback or featured me in their treasuries. The feedback from buyers and fellow Etsy artists is so meaningful and really boosts my confidence and motivates me to keep working and creating. Other than that the most meaningful feedbacks I receive are from parents who tell me that their children like my items. A child's response is always the best (and most straight forward) and when they like my items it makes it all the more meaningful!

Interview with Etsy shop Historically Bound

2010-11-14T19:34:00.000-08:00

This week we sat down (via keyboard) with Etsy shop owner Catherine Dean to get the scoop on her stores Historically Inspired Designs.

In Love with Etsy: Tell us a little about yourself.
Catherine: I live in Richmond, VA with my brand new husband. I've been here since 2003 but I'm originally from the Midwest so moving to the former Confederate Capitol has been a bit of a culture shock but, I love it. My 9-5 job is as a museum curator so I've been interested in and inspired by the past. I started Historically Inspired Designs in 2006 when I bought my first house...a charming 1930's bungalow in North Richmond. I needed extra income to supplement my meager non-profit salary and a friend who knew I was crafty suggested that I make a few items for a local museum shop. From there my business grew to include a large variety of handmade objects, all connected by my love of history.

In Love with Etsy: When and how did you find Etsy and what inspired you to open a store of your own?
Catherine: A friend told me about Etsy in 2007 when I was looking for an easy way to put some of my products online. One of his friends sold yarn and loved it here. I opened a buyer account in January and set up my first shop selling jewelry and hair accessories in the spring. From there I quickly realized how Etsy would revolutionize my business. I had done a few craft shows but, I liked that Etsy was open all the time and didn't require giving up every saturday! I opened a second handmade s hop with ephemera and decoupage art and a destash shop by the end of the year, a vintage shop early in 2008 (now closed) and a vintage sewing pattern shop in mid-2008. Then I took a hiatus from my shop opening addiction to plan my wedding! This year the itch struck again and I opened my third handmade shop, Historically Bound. I had started making spiral bound notebooks from old stuff (unloved books, game boards, antique photographs, ephemera, etc.) awhile back and finally decided that they needed to be showcased in their own shop. I believe that Etsy shops do best if they have a clear focus, so whe I develop a new product line I prefer to make a new shop for it, always using the "Historically Inspired" brand to connect it to my other shops. I think that focused shops are more appealing to buyers and are also easier to shop in.

In Love with Etsy: How did you come up with your shop name(s)?
Catherine: Historically Bound is a play on my business name "Historically Inspired Designs". Bound comes, of course, from the fact that all of the items in this shop are hand bound notebooks and journals. Historically Inspired Designs came from a brainstorming session where I realized that while I may be eclectic in what I make, I'm consistently inspired by historical materials, patterns, colorways and other tidbits from the past.

In Love with Etsy: Do you have any new creations in the works?
Catherine: My favorite new product that I've developed for 2010 are my Reader's Digest Condensed Book Journals. I've always loved the beautiful designs on Reader's Digest book covers, which are usually hidden away behind dust jackets. As far as what's next, I'm not sure! My inspiration usually comes during the holiday shopping season, so I'm sure I'll have something new cooked up in January and ready to debut in the spring!

In Love with Etsy: What piece that you've created is your favorite? Why?
Catherine: I love my Antique Photograph Journals which I call "Instant Ancestor Notebooks". There is something about looking at photos from 100 years ago and trying to imagine what the people's names were, what they were doing the day the photograph was taken, and where their life went from there, that appeals to the historian in me.

In Love with Etsy: What is your most popular item? Why do you think that is?
Catherine: My game board journals are universally popular. I think everyone loves board games, or at least has fond memories of playing them as a child but, we're so busy that we don't have time anymore. I think the journals let us relive a bit of our past!

In Love with Etsy: Who is your biggest fan?
Catherine: My husband, for sure! Whenever I'm feeling depressed because I've not been accepted into a craft show, or because I've accidentally mixed up an order, or any other business setback, he reminds me that I'm an incredible entrepreneur, business owner, and artist...and one of the strongest people he knows. Having someone show that level of confidence in me always helps lift me up.

In Love with Etsy: What is the best or most meaningful feedback you've recieved?
Catherine: Repeat customers! Knowing that they are happy enough with their purchase to come back for more tells me all that I need to know without saying a word!

In Love with Etsy: Besides your store(s), what are some of your other favorite Etsy stores?
Catherine: Oh my gosh, I can't really pick specific stores! I always seem to find something fantastic on Etsy every time I look...it's my go-to place for just about every gift giving occassion...from spices, teas, and candies to screen-printed housewares, to zombie gifts and geekery!

In Love with Etsy: Where can readers/shoppers go to get more information about you and your store(s)?
Catherine: I have a website at http://www.historicallyinspired.com/, a facebook page where I post upcoming shows, special sales and other updates. Of course shoppers can always check out my three handmade shops on Etsy at Historically Inspired, Historically Too and Historically Bound!

Interview with Etsy shop Honeysuckle and Peach Designs

2010-11-06T22:31:00.000-07:00

We interviewed Etsy shopowner Dawn Browne about her store Honeysuckle and Peach Designs.

In Love with Etsy: Tell me a little bit about yourself.

Dawn: My name is Dawn Browne. I currently live in Houston, Texas but I'm originally from Detroit, Michigan. After high school I attended my local community college where I recieved my Associate of Arts Degree. I've had some immensely wonderful opportunities that, luckily, I was smart enough to take. I did two internships at Walt Disney World, which were, of course, were fun and inspiring even to this day. I served in the United States Navy as a Nuclear Machinist Mate onboard the USS George Washington. I met my husband on shore duty and shortly after being discharged, we moved from Virginia Beach to Houston. I'm currently pursuing my love of photography at The Art Institute in Houston.

In Love with Etsy: When and how did you originally find Etsy?

Dawn: In 2008 my cousin bought her wedding invitations from an Etsy seller and she loved them. She sent me the link and the rest is history!

In Love with Etsy: What made you decide to open an Etsy store?

Dawn: I love Etsy. I love how you can find anything you can imagine there...and if you can't find it, you can find someone who can make it. I love the positive atmosphere and it's a really inspiring place to hang out. I really wanted to be apart of it.

In Love with Etsy: How did you come up with your shop name?

Dawn: Honeysuckle and Peach is a true testament to the inspiration of sentiment and travel. I knew that I wanted my shop to be full of all kinds of jewelry and momentos from shiny silver to faux antique and vintage and from fun to fancy. I was frantically searching for a name that would be able to encompass all these details, my mind wandered to the streets of Charleston, South Carolina. I was stationed there for 10 months when I was in the Navy and I fell in love with it immediately. It was always a place that felt calm, serene, mysterious, romantic and enchanting to me. The next thing that jumped into my head was the scent of honeysuckle flowing out from the hidden courtyards and the beautifully colored, juicy peaches at the markets. I knew right away that my store would be Honeysuckle and Peach Designs. Thank you Charleston, for all your inspiration!

In Love with Etsy: When did you start making jewelry?

Dawn: I used to make jewelry when I was a teenager and for some reason I stopped. After I got married, I saw a ring in a magazine and I wanted to make one. After I made the ring, I couldn't stop. The ideas were coming so fast I couldn't keep up. Pretty soon my mom had a list of items she wanted and she was sending me new ideas in a weekly basis. I started an "idea sketchbook" where I draw out my ideas and then I go in search of the materials I need. I LOVE it. I love creating and I don't ever want to stop!

In Love with Etsy: What inspires you to create your items?
Dawn: Where do I begin?! If I had to use specific words I'd say simplicity, travel, sentiment, friendship and Walt Disney! Every piece in my store is a tangible inspiration from something around me. I never know when an idea will spark. Sometimes it's when I listen to a song, hear a movie quote, or have a special moment with someone I love or admire. You never know when inspiration will happen...that's why it's so overwhelming when it hits you!

In Love with Etsy: Do you have any new creations in the works?
Dawn: I'm actually tinkering with a necklace idea right now. One of my favorite songs is Dream by Priscilla Ahn. She is an absolutely beautiful singer and that particular song moves me very much. I've been working on a design that parallels the song, which will include an affirmation ring with the word "dream" on it, as well as leaf connectors, Swarovski crystal stars and an angel wing.

In Love with Etsy: What piece that you've created is your favorite? Why?

Dawn: Well I'm quite in love with my La Vie en Rose Necklace in Antique Bronze. I have mine with fuchsia AB crystals. I wear it everywhere and I love it! It's so Paris and I love the vintage look right now. I'm also a huge fan of my Sparkler Rings. Those babies are real conversation starters!

In Love with Etsy: What is your most popular item? Why do you think that is?

Dawn: My most popular items are the key necklaces in the "inspired by friendship" and "limited edition" sections of my shop. I think these are so popular because they are meaningful. Everyone needs a friend and especially now with the economy and world in chambles, it makes people feel better when they know someone out there is rooting for them. I truly love these necklaces because for being so simple, they can say so much.

In Love with Etsy: Who is your biggest fan?

Dawn: Hands down it's my Mom and my Aunt! My mom is always sending me ideas and having me make stuff for her. She's always telling me what great taste I have. I know she has to say that! My Aunt has been very gracious and supportive of my HD Jewelry with a Cause line. She is very active with the Huntington's Disease Society of America and she has been an integral part of creating that line of jewelry.

In Love with Etsy: What is the most meaningful feedback you've recieved?

Dawn: Oh my gosh! I got an email from a woman that bought one of my Mickeyfetti Necklaces. She was giving it to her six year old daughter as a birthday gift and to surprise her with a trip to Disneyland! I was so moved, I got teary-eyed.

In Love with Etsy: Beside your own store ;) what are some of your other favority Etsy shops? Why?
Dawn: Well I love "It's Written on the Wall". They do vinyl lettering for your walls. I purchased a tinkerbell quote from them for my friend's daughter and it was a huge hit. I also LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Stephanie Corfee's shop. Her artwork is phenominally beautiful and unique. Gypsy Rose Handbags is another favorite. I purchased a custom made camera bag from them it is fabulous. I couldn't have asked for better service and the bag is amazing. I'm also very impressed with The Buzz. They did my banner and avatar when I was in a design rut and I love the result.

In Love with Etsy: Where can readers/shoppers go to get more info about you?

Dawn: I have a blog called Honeysuckle and Peach Inspirations, a facebook page and a twitter account.

In Love with Etsy: Any closing thoughts?

Dawn: Thank you so much for doing this interview! I had a really great time walking down memory lane. I'm so proud of my shop. I hope that other Etsians will find meaning and warmth in my items.