Kawaii Halloween!

Some super cute kawaii + halloween items from Etsy Tea Party members!

LIMITED EDITION Candy Corn Cuties Earrings - princesschibi

Halloween 12pk Bottle Caps Only - sassygraceboutique

PRE-ORDER gameboy dress - SewOe

franky stein brooch duo - aselfportrait

Kawaii Halloween Candy Corn - Felt Plush Pin - berrysweettreats

Meet Sabrina of Berry Sweet Treats!

Name: Sabrina

Birthdate: 24 yr old Capricorn : )
Location: Toronto, Canada
Shop Name: Berry Sweet Treats

When and why did you first join Etsy?
I joined Etsy December 26, 2009 under my other shop name glamazon08, and then I came up with my name Berry Sweet Treats later. I started out on Deviant Art first, and got positive feedback about my work, so I thought Etsy would be a great community to start selling.

Did you open your shop right away?
No, I waited a few months before jumping into it. I did my research and looked up a lot of the awesome Etsy blog articles and tips of how to set up a shop. I still use the tips to this day! A lot of great articles are always posted.

Why are you a member of EtsyTeaParty?
I love that this group of sellers all specialize in kawaii, hime, lolita, etc. of Japanese cultures and trends, and they all put their own spin on things. It’s a great way to showcase our work individually and as a team to show new styles, and to encourage handmade goods at the same time.

Easy one, what is your favorite color(s)?
I love black! I also like pink, aqua, and teal – a lot of my accessories are these colors. I love earth tones and gold and silver (mostly jewelry). I wear at least earrings and a bangle or ring everyday.

How did you choose your shop's name?
I liked the “sweet” element of these Japanese styles, and a lot of my stuff I make are sweets and cakes, so I figured treats should be in there too. I also love strawberries, so I ended up with Berry Sweet Treats.

What is your favorite item that you have listed in your shop and why (add URL)?
My favourite item listed currently in my shop is “The Sweet Life” Macaron Print Postcard. It shows my interpretation of kawaii – the print is of clay macarons I made!

Do you have any other hobbies besides crafting/creating gorgeous handmade things for Etsy?
I do, but not really crafting related! I love learning, and that goes for shop-related stuff too! I finished my degree in Business Management, and certificate in Emergency/Disaster Management last year, and I’m planning on doing my Masters soon. I’m continuing on learning in these fields, as well as languages, and there are about six I’ve had exposure to. I really want to get back into Pilates and I want to get into boxing.

Do you have any pets?
Nope.

What is your most cherished possession and why?
Life :)

What is/are your favorite item(s) that you bought from Etsy?
Some of my favourite handmade items I bought on Etsy was peanut butter cups from ATouchOfSimplicity (she has the most yummiest chocolate) and chocolate cheese fudge from SakuraCandyBakeShop. I also love all the super kawaii supplies from fabrics to cabochons, and packaging goods!

Tell us about your family members.
All I can say is I have a lot! haha :)

If you were stranded on an island and could only bring three things, what would they be?
I would bring some suntan lotion and a bathing suit to enjoy the island first, but also have a communications device to call back when I wanted to leave!

What things inspire you to craft/create?
A lot of things inspire me from Alice in Wonderland, sweets/cakes, nature, funky cute, and shabby chic!

What advice do you have for fledgling Etsy sellers?

Be yourself!! Express your own style of what you make, how you take your pictures, and how you promote yourself. It’s all about you. Here’s a blog post I wrote about advice that was given to me, awesome posts I found, and my own experiences along the way.

Lollipop Brooch Tutorial

Here is another awesome super kawaii tutorial brought to you from Etsy Tea Party Team member Twinkie Chan! This tutorial is how to DIY your own crochet lollipop into a brooch, applique, or whatever you'd like. Check it out here how to make your own from http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/

Etsy Finds Feature - FrostedCrossbones

Congratulations to our team member FrostedCrossbones for an Etsy Finds feature - Macaroni n' Cheese Soap (April Fool's Day)!

Q: How did you find out you were featured in Etsy Finds?
A: I actually had no idea that I was featured until I entered the Etsy chat room and started receiving congratulations.

Q: Had you heard of Etsy Finds before you were featured?
A: No, frankly I was trying to figure out what people were talking about.

Q: How do you feel about the item Etsy chose to be featured?
A: I thought it was an interesting choice since it's one of my newer, more offbeat items.

Q: How has being featured changed changed your shop traffic?
A: I've gotten quite a bit more traffic. I've actually been featured on the front page a few times and enjoyed a great deal of traffic but I feel that being featured in Etsy Finds has given people a chance to spread the publicity instead of it being a quick burst.

Q: Why do you think Etsy chose your product to be a part of their finds?
A:I think the photography probably helps. I've also come to find that it really doesn't matter if you use your iPhone or a DSLR to take the picture. What matters is the angle and background. The less quality your camera is, the closer you need to be and more simple your background needs to be. This helps focus the photo without leaving it up to the camera itself.

Kawaii Alligator Hair Clip Tutorial

Hi dolls! This post is one I have on my blog of how to DIY your own hair clips! In the Kawaii Alligator Hair Clip Tutorial, I listed how to find the materials, and if you have any questions you can comment here or where the tutorial is posted! I hope you have fun making them, and feel free to check out what I have online, Berry Sweet Treats, or hair clips from our team members if you're not able to make them or you want to buy them. Stay tuned for more tutorials and new stuff from the Etsy Tea Party members! xoxo

Meet Candice of The Candy Shop!

Name: Candice Ware
Birthdate: May 14 1987
Location: Toronto Ont. Canada
Shop Name: The Candy Shop

When and why did you first join Etsy? I joined etsy in aug. 2008, I joined becuase I had just started making miniature food jewelry and a friend had told me that it would be a good place for me to sell my work.

Did you open your shop right away? Yes I did.

Why are you a member of EtsyTeaParty?
I have a love of lolita, I really feel at home in the chats with everyone, I feel that my work really fits with team well. I'm just happy to be here.

Easy one, what is your favorite color(s)? Blue :D

How did you choose your shop's name? My brother helps me hehe I'm soo bad with names and he thought it works well for me because of my name.

What is your favorite item that you have listed in your shop and why?
My Tea and Sugar Bowl Ring, I am in love with tea and anything sweet hehe

Do you have any other hobbies besides crafting/creating gorgeous handmade things for Etsy? Yes I do I love to draw and paint I went to school for animation so I think it all fits together.

Do you have any pets? Yes I do! I have a cat named Snowflake, a bearded dragon Leonides, and 2 guppies I have always loved pets.

What is your most cherished possession and why? My kitty. 

What is/are your favorite item(s) that you bought from Etsy? 
This popsicle top from my friends :)  and this swing style dress I love all her dresses.

Tell us about your family members. 
I have a mom and a dad that are both into art my dad used to draw and my mom used to do pottery art and now helps out with caribana every year. I also have a twin brother that is in to music and can play the guitar bass and keyboard.

If you were stranded on an island and could only bring three things, what would they be? My boyfriend, a good book and my stitched book.


What things inspire you to craft/create? 
My love of sweets and desserts, also cookbooks.

What advice do you have for fledgling Etsy sellers? To never give up and that things take time and that if you love it to just keep with it :)

Meet Annais of FrostedCrossbones!

Name: Annais
Birthdate: Dec. 28th 1988
Location: North Lake Tahoe, Ca
Shop Name: Frosted Crossbones

When and why did you first join Etsy?
I started in November of 2008 under a different name. I originally heard about it on an episode of Martha Stewart's Weddings.

Did you open your shop right away?
No at first. I started by just poking around and then realized it had to be done.

Why are you a member of EtsyTeaParty?
Because cute and fun is right up my alley, plus many of the people in the group have shops that I stalk.

Easy one, what is your favorite color(s)? 
Rainbow. Pink and black are close runners up. I've always really loved all things rainbow including organizing things into rainbow order.

How did you choose your shop's name?
It took some soul searching to figure it out. My husband calls me a hardcore cupcake and at some point I started saying that Every Hardcore cupcake has a pair of Frosted Crossbones.

What is your favorite item that you have listed in your shop and why?
At the moment it is my Piece of my Heart Floap or floating soap. They smell so good and are fun in the tub. Plus I love anything heart shaped!

Do you have any other hobbies besides crafting/creating gorgeous handmade things for Etsy?
I'm actually a stand-up comedian in my spare time. I picked up doing comedy when I was 18 after bumping into a local booking agent and he said that he would try me out. Now I do comedy for random local functions.

Do you have any pets?
I have one super cutie rescue pup named Sox. He is a random mutt mixture of collie, Shepard and Corgi. My husband an I picked him up from a family that had to get rid of him due to his loud bark. When we first got him we were afraid that he wouldn't be able to hold up to the cold and snow. It turns out he loves it. Not to mention he actually let me make him a hoodie and I used him as a doggie mannequin. He is so well behaved.

What is your most cherished possession and why?
Probably my baby blanket (yes, I still sleep with it. It has the cast of Sesame Street on it). I actually stole it from my brother when I was 5 but I never loved anything quite like it.

What is/are your favorite item(s) that you bought from Etsy?
In no particular order: My custom stamp By sjane. Isn't it cute? I got it to use on receipts - I'm a bit of a stamp freak. My Neapolitan Rocket Pop Scarf BY TwinkieChan. I've always been a bit obsessed with Twinkie and the stuff she makes, it's food themed so why not? And last but not least This great underbust corset BY SugarKittyCorsets. She custom fitted it with pink fabric - LOVE IT!

Tell us about your family members. 
I'm actually not super close with my family. However, I do have a great group of friends that I consider my family. I am married to a great man who is a recording engineer. My best friend Lisa is like a sister to me, she makes feather earrings and is a fantastic cartoonist. I wish I could talk her into joining etsy. We'll see! And then there is Van. He's a chainsaw carver who specializes in carving bears. He also paints abstract paintings. He's kind of like the group father, prankster and wise ass.

If you were stranded on an island and could only bring three things, what would they be?
Sox for scaring off the oogy boogies. My leatherman for hunting and carving and whatnot. And a magnesium flint bar to start fires.

What things inspire you to craft/create?
FOOD! I'm so utterly obsessed with food that it consumes my life. I can never get enough. Some times I'll just cook so that I can have something to replicate out of soap!

What advice do you have for fledgling Etsy sellers?
Create! Create! Create! - The more items you have in your shop the more views you can get and the more feedback you can receive. It's hard to keep going when you first start because you may not have any sales but you've got to stick with it. Join the chat rooms for inspiration if you need it. People in the etsy community are a wealth of help and knowledge.

Clay Rainbow Cake Tutorial

I hope you enjoy this tutorial :) and like always let me know if there is something that you would like me to make a tutorial on. The Candy Shoppe

youtube DIY

so I came across this awesome video on a homemade acne mask & toner. I was super curious how it would work so I figured why not, I already own all this stuff, I might as well try it!



so basically the recipe calls for:

1 teaspoon apple cidar vinegar

2 teaspoons cooled green tea

5 teaspoons sugar

1 teaspoon honey


It actually doesn't smell as bad as she says. I don't mind it at all, the honey pretty much masks any smell. The first time I made it a few days ago, I didn't like how runny it was, so today I added more sugar.. I haven't tried the toner because honestly it scares me a bit. but who knows what the future will bring!

I've also been having this crazy weird dry spot above my elbow in the back... never had it before, but I think its pregnancy hormones. so I decided to scrub my elbows with it in the shower and HOLY COW! my arms are soooo soft. I'm in love. I totally recommend this to any chick. Let me know if you give this a shot! its super yummy :)


xoxo Amber

Meet Krista of JiltedCoquette!

Name: Krista
Birthdate: January 23
Location: Anderson Island, Washington State
Shop Name: Jilted Coquette

When and why did you first join Etsy?
I began creating hair adornments before I even had anywhere to sell them! My friends and family recommended checking out Etsy and it seemed like a good venue to get my small business started. I joined Etsy on May 25, 2010 with the sole purpose of setting up my own shop.

Did you open your shop right away?
Yes, I began listing items the same day I joined.

Why are you a member of EtsyTeaParty?
I'm always searching for new Lolita communities to make connections in and Etsy Tea Party caught my eye as a welcoming team of like minded individuals.

Easy one, what is your favorite color(s)?
At the moment I'm stuck on deep rich hues of red and purple accented with gold.

How did you choose your shop's name?
Choosing my shop name was an agonizing process that took the better half of a week to finalize! I wanted a name that would establish a relation to Lolita fashion without using the term 'Lolita' in the title. The name also had to be broad enough to encompass a variety of Lolita styles. A college professor once described a performance art piece of mine as 'coquettish' and that term always stuck with me so I combined it with 'jilted' to create what I find to be an amusing name that tells a little story =)  I like to think it conveys a sense of edgy elegance!

What is your favorite item that you have listed in your shop and why?

Ruby

I really love this Gothic cameo fascinator and I plan on making a replica of it for myself with some reject lace that is too damaged to use on another piece. I love the delicacy of the embroidery, the textured softness of the faux fur and the intricate detail in the resin cameo.

Do you have any other hobbies besides crafting/creating gorgeous handmade things for Etsy?
I don't consider my Etsy shop to be a hobby, but rather a full time job. I've dedicated the last 8 months entirely to the establishment, promotion and growth of my business, which leaves little time for much else!  But if I had an Etsy hobby, it would be creating treasuries. I love making collections of beautiful handmade Lolita items and there's nothing more satisfying than seeing them on the treasury front page!

Emeril

Do you have any pets?
I have two rabbits, Ruby and Emeril, who are both rescues. Ruby is a one and a half year old female English spot mix with an attitude problem and Emeril is a grey lop mix of unknown age with a liver problem. I love them both dearly.

What is your most cherished possession and why?
I would say my rabbits, but it seems a bit degrading to think of them as possessions because they are unique individuals with distinct personalities. So instead I'll say my iPhone, because I feel completely lost, out of touch and crazy without it!

What is/are your favorite item(s) that you bought from Etsy?
Because I found out about Etsy as a seller, I haven't made many purchases, but I have found some great shops for findings and cameos that I use in my creations.

Tell us about your family members.
My family is a bit scattered, so at home it's just me and my rabbits!

If you were stranded on an island and could only bring three things, what would they be?
I live on a remote island and have to catch a ferry to reach civilization, so between 8pm and 6:30am I AM stranded! No supermarkets, no pizza delivery and no hospitals, which, combined with frequent and prolonged power outages, means I'm in a constant state of emergency preparedness. I always have to make sure I have stockpiles of firewood, matches, flashlights, candles, canned food and rabbit supplies. I know thats more than three, but survival's rough!! When it comes to luxury items I treasure my transistor radio; it keeps me in touch with humanity and I can use the 9 volt battery in conjunction with steel wool to start a fire if I need to!

What things inspire you to craft/create?
More than anything I'm inspired by materials. It's rare that I sit down with a preconceived idea of what I'm about to create. I like to look at what I have in front of me and then become inspired by all the different potential combinations of the materials. It's a very free form process and I never know what I'm going to end up with.

What advice do you have for fledgling Etsy sellers?
Using all of your photo and tag slots is always important. Try to find as many ways to promote yourself as possible. The more items you have listed are more opportunities that people will find your shop! If you don't have new items to add everyday, renew old ones. Try building up local recognition in your own community by leaving business cards at coffee shops and approaching local small business' (shops where you can see your items being sold) about wholesale or consignment work. Get a business license! This will make you more official and allow you access to tax free supplies, and maybe even some discounts. But remember to keep good track of your sales and expenses so when tax time comes around you are prepared!

Meet Luna of Dellamore!

Name: Emily Luna Meza
Birthdate: July 28th :D (Leo)
Location: 818 California Valley Girl
Shop Name: Dellamore

When and why did you first join Etsy? 
Late 2009, I signed up to buy supplies and fell in love!

Did you open your shop right away?
As soon as my supplies arrived, YES! :D

Why are you a member of EtsyTeaParty? 
It's like asking why a unicorn is so magical. I am a huge fan of the teams sellers, and thought it was so neat that they all supported one another. Networking, new friendships and the sisterhood of it all made me want to be a part of the team. It's truly amazing to be apart of a group of lovely talented people with the same interests as myself. :)

Easy one, what is your favorite color(s)? 
ooh any and every shade of blushing pink, soft lilac and barely-there peach. I love pastel colors!

How did you choose your shop's name? 
My favorite movie (Dellamorte Dellamore). My nickname/sn almost everywhere is Luna Dellamore. Luna... of Love, how sweet is that! ;) lol.

What is your favorite item that you have listed in your shop and why? 
I would have to say my St. Francis of Assisi prayer necklace. I take pride in my faith, It is a big part of who I am and have become. St. Francis is the patron saint of animals. As a child I took in every stray animal I found and fed every critter who followed me home. I have donated my time and love to a few animal shelters, non-profit animal organizations and opened my home to many homeless animals. I believe it's one of those things in life that I was meant to do.

Do you have any other hobbies besides crafting/creating gorgeous handmade things for Etsy? 
Yes, I love to ride my bike, read, cook/bake, draw cute stuff for my boyfriend, spend time with my family & friends and shop on etsy. :D

Do you have any pets? 
A tank full of cute little fish and he doesn't really count as a pet but I have a sidekick named Otis. He's a very rare intelligent breed of applehead chihuahua and human.

What is your most cherished possession and why?
I really couldn't choose anything materialistic, so I would have to say my life. :) Because it has everything and everyone I love in it! (bonus points for cheesy-ness, lol)

What is/are your favorite item(s) that you bought from Etsy? 
I buy a ton of organic and natural facial cleaners/toners, lotions, lip balms from Herbolution. I really couldn't decide but I will say all their stuff is AWESOME! :D

Tell us about your family members. 
I have a rather small immediate family. My older sister Rosie aka Cookie is the hip sassy one of the bunch, then there's me I'm the free-spirit artsy one (Yes, I am the middle child) and lastly Little Chella-nella-wella-bella my very eclectic and fashionable little sister Danielle (whom will be helping me design some new clothes in our new shop opening soon!).

If you were stranded on an island and could only bring three things, what would they be? 
My boyfriend for sure! He's a natural woodsman (very outdoorsy) so I wouldn't really have to worry about food or shelter, Otis and my bike. :D

What things inspire you to craft/create? 
I think most anything pink and fluffy inspires me. Like so many things/people/styles can inspire me to create certain items but ultimately it's just in my heart, the need to assemble jewelry or pull out my sewing machine... it's a very natural feeling.

What advice do you have for fledgling Etsy sellers? 
Be yourself. Have your own style and just go with it! :) Have fun.

xo: Luna / Dellamore.etsy.com

Team Birthdays!!!

January
Jan 8 princesschibi.etsy.com
Jan 13 coleydinosaur.etsy.com & Melodydoll.etsy.com
Jan 23 jiltedcoquette.etsy.com 
Jan 28 DestinationDesign.etsy.com

February
Feb 15 emandsprout.etsy.com
Feb 17 TangerineDog.etsy.com

March
Mar 2 dollhouseonline.etsy.com
Mar 4 SophieToffeeCo.etsy.com
Mar 6 SugarpopClothing.etsy.com
Mar 15 zebracakes.etsy.com
Mar 27 aselfportrait.etsy.com

April
Apr 3 SewOeno.etsy.com
Apr 26 KelseyGenna.etsy.com
Apr 30 candyparadeshop.etsy.com

May
May 7 sassygraceboutique.etsy.com
May 14 CandyChick.etsy.com

June
Jun 6 Cuddlebugeeshi.etsy.com
Jun 9 gwyllion.etsy.com
Jun 14 CrimsonEtClover.etsy.com
Jun 21 samandrodger.etsy.com
Jun 25 folksylove.etsy.com

July
Jul 11 RusticRainbow.etsy.com
Jul 13 aPeacockPicnic.etsy.com
Jul 28 dellamore.etsy.com

August
Aug 6 TwinkieChan.etsy.com
Aug 19 Ladykonnyaku.etsy.com
Aug 21 mousseauchocolat.etsy.com

September
Sept 12 KittyDearest.etsy.com
Sept 20 stardustsupply.etsy.com
Sept 21 3LittleBowsBoutique.etsy.com

October
Oct 12 kumacrafts.etsy.com
Oct 27 exousia.etsy.com

November
Nov 7 sugarfreecreazioni.etsy.com
Nov 22 SilverLeica.etsy.com
Nov 24 ToxicLove.etsy.com
Nov 30 Laceybabydoll.etsy.com

December
Dec 4 carrotcake.etsy.com
Dec 28 FrostedCrossbones.etsy.com
Dec 30 berrysweettreats.etsy.com

Meet Liz of KittyDearest!

Liz

Name: Liz Sindler
Birthdate: Sept 12 (a girl never tells her age *blushes*)
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Shop Name: Kitty Dearest

When and why did you first join Etsy?
i can't remember exactly when i joined because i deactivated my first account. but i joined spring 2008.  i joined to buy my boyfriend a hand crocheted pillow shaped like boobs as a funny gift *blushes*.

Liz & Kent, Halloween

Did you open your shop right away?
not right away. for a long time i just looked at things and admired other sellers. i kept talking about how i wanted to open a shop, and my boyfriend kept encouraging me to. he kept saying he would be so proud and excited if i opened a shop! so a great deal of the credit goes to him. (he is the sweetest and most thoughtful boy, i love him dearly!)

Why are you a member of EtsyTeaParty? 
the biggest reason is how sweet and supportive every member is. no one is stuck up, and everyone really just enjoys being part of etsy and part of a wonderful, great team! really, i am so impressed by how wonderful everyone is! it's just so much fun! i love all our sweet girls!

Easy one, what is your favorite color(s)?
actually... that's not really an easy one. it changes constantly and depends on what it is in regards to! but i think a failsafe is pale green - it is calming and comforting. i'm obsessed with mustard right now, but unfortunately it looks terrible on me.

Azlan

How did you choose your shop's name?
i wanted a sweet name, and i wanted it to have to do with my life which my kitty azlan was a big part of. he passed away, but i have two new wonderful kitties!

Saffron Mesh & Lace Tunic

What is your favorite item that you have listed in your shop and why?
my saffron mesh and lace tunic. i love the color and i'm obsessed with ultra fine mesh right now. the inset is the shape of a bustier. i thought it would be an interesting visual to have the representation of a tight fitting, structured item of clothing floating on the outside of a diaphanous, free fitting piece of clothing. it's really sexy in a different sort of way, and i'm really happy with how it turned out. it's great for layering, and has so many possibilities! belts, leggings, contrasting tanks underneath, slouchy sweaters.... and the list goes on! i'm going to make one for myself!

Do you have any other hobbies besides crafting/creating gorgeous handmade things for Etsy?
i love indie, foreign, and offbeat comedy films, and music - although i couldn't tell you what they're playing on the radio these days. also i am part of a bike coop where you build your own bicycle, and then help others and volunteer time! i loooove horseback riding, but rarely get to. i learned english style as a kid.

Sebastian, Liz, & Max

Do you have any pets? 
yessss! my two wonderful kitties max and violet, and my puppy sebastian!!!! i got violet first, from a shelter. she is a cross-eyed siamese who is very clumsy. then i have max who is still a bit of a kitten who i recently rescued from a bad home. he is a flame point siamese, and really really rambunctious, but very slowly recovering from a bad illness! (their alter egos are violent and mad max). two weeks after i got max i found sebastian (a little chocolate brown mix terrier) as a stray wandering around downtown through traffic! i followed him all around town for about 45 min. trying to coax him over. finally i had a friend meet me with some food and a blanket, and we carried him home. it was love at first sight! i also found a baby squirrel about a year ago and nursed him to health until he was better to go back out into the wild! her name was equinox b/c i found her the day of the fall equinox.

Baby Equinox

What is your most cherished possession and why? 
my pets of course. and then probably my pink blanky that i've had since i was a baby which is now just in shreds from being loved so much. although, if there was a fire i'd probably also grab this gorgeous vintage wire and wood birdcage that a dear friend from college found in a dumpster. i also love my hand-built bike from vintage parts!

Violet

What is/are your favorite item(s) that you bought from Etsy? that is realllllly tough. there are things that my boyfriend and family have bought me that are awesome! and tons of vintage and handmade i've bought myself. ok, actually that question is impossible! so, here are two things among many many wonderful things! these earrings were a trade with lovely seller windup girl. they are perfect statement earrings! and these handlebar wraps b/c i love my bike (it's my only mode of transportation and handbuilt by me) and they were part handmade by me too because you get to sew them on!

Tell us about your family members. they are so great!
we are really close, have a great time hanging out, and have a goofy sense of humor. we like to get together and have great food and wine, and watch good movies. i don't know what i'd do without them.

If you were stranded on an island and could only bring three things, what would they be?
my boyfriend Kent. laphroaig scotch. first aid kit because i am accident prone.

What things inspire you to craft/create? 
nature, and the love of beautiful things. also work from countless other artists!

What advice do you have for fledgling Etsy sellers?
plug away and don't get discouraged. enjoying what you are doing and staying true to your own inspiration is the most important! the presentation and titles of your items are really crucial too. photography is a challenge, but i think the best thing you can do is use tons of natural light if you don't have professional lighting. light bulbs just don't cut it. also, i'm really bad at social networking, but i think that is majorly important in today's environment, so joining a team can be a big huge help! also, use your etsy resources! there are tons of awesome tutorials and advice from admin and other sellers! organization is key. keep inspiration handy. i like to take magazine clippings, fabric swatches, photos and more on a design board with a theme to keep me inspired and my collection cohesive.

Meet Felicia of SilverLeica!

Name: Felicia
Birthdate: 22 November
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

Shop Name: SilverLeica


When and why did you first join Etsy?
I joined on April 2010. It's in my dream plan for joining Etsy since I've found out about Etsy in some magazine while they interviewed some "fashion-queen" blogger.. she used to shop in Etsy, so I browsed it & I found it very interesting. But at that time, I've not yet have any plan to do handmade business. Then after SilverLeica was born, I joined right away.

Did you open your shop right away?
Not yet..I planned on opening the Etsy store after my official web-store has completely launched. That's why my store open on August but not yet have any listings until last December, because my site got a bit delayed in the progress.

Why are you a member of EtsyTeaParty?
I'm very excited when I first discovered this team. I want to share my creations to Etsians all over the world & to a community which also have the same style & taste in some sweet things for life. I also know that EtsyTeaParty also can accommodate & promoted us to other Etsians that are not yet familiar with this cute, lovely style. So, it will be a great start to me as a newbie!


Easy one, what is your favorite color(s)?
Red, gold & brown


How did you choose your shop's name?
It's one of my all-time-favorite composer's song. It's a children lullaby song in Japanese language, sounds cute & suitable to my concept & creations.

What is your favorite item that you have listed in your shop and why?
I loooveee all macaroons stuffs! Their shapes are too cute to be missed & always inspired me to do many things! And how lucky I was to accidentally found the Princess ribbon! They’re cute & suit to each other well! I love how this jewelry turns out as I expected from my sketch.

Do you have any other hobbies besides crafting/creating gorgeous handmade things for Etsy?
Drawing, photography, graphic & fashion design have always been my other passions :) I’m not good at sewing, but I love to design clothes.

Do you have any pets?
Goldfishes in our living room! hee-hee

What is your most cherished possession and why?
All my body parts & of course, health. I love to hear good music, seeing beautiful & pretty things that catch my eyes, creating things from my hands, & I love to travel to new places. And all of them will not be good if not supported by a good health, too!

What is/are your favorite item(s) that you bought from Etsy?
Honestly, I've not yet shopped much in Etsy. Up until now, most of my purchased goods were combination of supplies for my hobby & my crafts that are hardly found in my country, so I can't tell much about it LOL sorry..


Tell us about your family members.
Mom, Dad, 2 lil' bros & Grandma

If you were stranded on an island and could only bring three things, what would they be?
My BF, my Blackberry & a luxurious medium boat! So if we're already bored, we can get out of the island :P It's like an escape getaway, hee hee!

What things inspire you to craft/create?
Pretty, shabby things (Zakka-things) & other Japanese sweet-artists & their creations do inspired me a lot as well.

What advice do you have for fledgling Etsy sellers?

I'm still a newbie myself hee-hee! But here's some tips from my past experience before joining Etsy. A good photography will always do the magic. Also, be a responsive & nice seller even if the buyer don't act nice while answering the conversation. Personalized your items with business cards, or your logo stamp in each packaging, so buyers can remember you easily & not impossible if the buyers promote your stuffs to people they know. Hope it helps & nice to meet you all !

Meet Joyce of Zebracakes!

Vanilla Cherry Cupcake Necklace

Name: Joyce

Birthdate: March 15th

Location: Washington, DC

Shop Name: zebracakes.etsy.com

When and why did you first join Etsy?

I joined in November of 2007. I was looking for a site to buy handmade goods and boy did I ever find a goldmine! 

Did you open your shop right away?

No, not right away. I didn't think I could make it work, to be honest.

Why are you a member of EtsyTeaParty?

I started the team with Amber of Laceybabydoll.etsy.com because I wanted to be a part of a group where we could share our love for all things girly, sweet, kawaii, hime, lolita, dolly, and fun. It was my hope that we could come together to support each other, especially since Etsy is very popular and can be overwhelming at times.

Medium Vanilla Frosting Barrette

Easy one, what is your favorite color(s)?

I love black, gray, pink, and sometimes brown. 

How did you choose your shop's name?

My shop is named after my cat.

What is your favorite item that you have listed in your shop and why?

I love my frosting barrettes (in sizes small, medium, and large) because you can dress them up or dress them down. Since they are not too over the top, I think they can be worn by females of all ages. I wear my medium frosting barrette pretty much every other day.

Do you have any other hobbies besides crafting/creating gorgeous handmade things for Etsy?

I don't really have any other hobbies, per se, but am currently working on my Ph.D. That's a little bit more than a hobby though. It's a whole other life. I like to keep it fresh by moving back and forth between my two lifestyles.

Do you have any pets?

Yep. One cat and one husband.

Marie Antoinette Palace Party Kitten Heels

What is your most cherished possession and why?

Health. If you don't have your health, all the beauty, youth, or money in the world is absolutely worthless. 

What is/are your favorite item(s) that you bought from Etsy?

I have purchased so many things on Etsy that it would be impossible for me to name just one, but I'm going to anyway: it's this awesome shabby chic kitty bed. The seller, lovenostalgicwhimsy.etsy.com, was kind enough to swap out the pillow case for a girly floral pink one.

Tell us about your family members.

I live with my husband, my cat Zebracakes, and our Roomba, Geno (named after Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins--the Roomba looks like a hockey puck).

If you were stranded on an island and could only bring three things, what would they be?

My husband, my cat, and a case of Islay Scotch. Hopefully my husband would choose to bring useful tools so we could feed ourselves. The cat would probably bring cat nip, cat nip, and cat nip.

Lolita Purse-Sold

What things inspire you to craft/create? 
Fancy clothes, furnishings, jewelry, and people.

What advice do you have for fledgling Etsy sellers?

I struggle with photography and I think that others have difficulty with it as well. Always aim to take good quality pictures with ample lighting. Make sure your listings are easy to read and double-checked for spelling and grammar errors. Be on top of your customer service and don't leave your customers hanging for convo or email responses. How well you treat your customers will greatly impact your business. 

Meet Meghan of TangerineDog!

Name: Meghan
Birthdate: 2-17-1985
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Shop Name: TangerineDog

When and why did you first join Etsy?

I first started listing items in June of 2008. My boyfriend at the time was a tattoo artist, and I would accompany him when he went to work at conventions. Watching people get tattooed is interesting for about 5 minutes...after that, the buzzing of the tattoo gun is enough to drive you crazy! I noticed that other girlfriends of artists brought along crafty things to sell to keep them busy, so I figured I would too. I wanted to be able to have my stuff for sale 24/7 as well, so I joined Etsy.

Did you open your shop right away?

Yeah, pretty much :) I got a sale the very first day I started listing things. I was so excited I could barely focus on the paper I was supposed to be writing! After that it was just a lot of trial and error, of course.

Why are you a member of EtsyTeaParty?

I've admired and even purchased from some of the members, and it's great to have a place to network with people who make and sell things similar to your own. I've vended at craft markets before, and it gets discouraging sometimes when people walk by and go, "Oh! Jewelry for little kids!" It's nice to have a group that understands you don't have to be a little kid to love cute things!

Easy one, what is your favorite color(s)?

I like bright, dark magentas and fuchsias. I love color combos too: turquoise/red, pink/gray, orange/purple...the list goes on.

How did you choose your shop's name?

I wanted to name the shop after my dog, as so many of us do, and she's a little orange Pomeranian. I played around with variations of "orange dog," and settled on TangerineDog. It's cute and catchy, and suits my shop well, I think. When I adopted my second dog, he has the same sort of coloring, so it's worked out so far :)

What is your favorite item that you have listed in your shop and why?

Right now, it's this deer necklace. I love things with a deer motif, and I like the way the colors came together on this one. After I purchased those blue beads, I was worried they wouldn't really go with anything -- glad I proved myself wrong! Plus, my camera was nice enough to get a decent photo of it ;) I had to put it away out of my sight so I wouldn't get attached and want to keep it! I wish there was a way to get a whole bunch of those deer so I could make tons of them with all kinds of colors! I also really like the HK apple earrings in my avatar. I'm not sure if I'm as in love with the actual earrings, but for some reason I just love the way the photo turned out.

Do you have any other hobbies besides crafting/creating gorgeous handmade things for Etsy?

I wouldn't say I have many other *hobbies*, but there are lots of things I enjoy doing, of course! I love decorating, cleaning, and relaxing in my apartment (hey, it's my biggest monthly expense, gotta enjoy it!), going to happy hour, spending time with my dogs, and when I can swing it -- seeing shows at the LA Opera or going out to a nice dinner. I also love tattoos, and while I'm not sure I'll be getting any more, I love showing off the ones I've got!

Do you have any pets?

Yup, my two dogs -- Mimi the Pomeranian, Leo, a rescue Pekingese, and two black/white/gray long-haired Guinea Pigs named Snoop and Dre who eat like horses!

What is your most cherished possession and why?

I've had two "blankies" since I was born. They are identical, except one is yellow and one is white. I am not embarrassed to admit that I still sleep with them every night, and I know I always will. Besides my dogs, the blankies are it!

What is/are your favorite item(s) that you bought from Etsy?

I bought these tiny flat silver stud earrings for my second earlobe piercings. I never really had anything to wear in them before, and now I wear these almost every day. I also got these tiny silver charms -- a Pom and a Peke, that put on some ball chains and wear often. I also have a great lightswitch plate cover that looks awesome in my bathroom, fun colored Pekingese magnets for my fridge...I could go on and on...

Tell us about your family members.

In a nutshell -- they're all really great, and I really miss them (I'm in California, they're in Michigan).

If you were stranded on an island and could only bring three things, what would they be?

Assuming pets don't count...I'd bring one of my blankies, a bottle of Frank's red hot, and a big oversized sweater (it probably gets cold at night).

What things inspire you to craft/create?

The HK charms I get...the figurines I turn into pendants...color schemes...at first I was very inspired by Tarina Tarantino designs. It's a great feeling to come into your own as a designer, and to be able to put your own twist on things that inspire you.

What advice do you have for fledgling Etsy sellers?

I guess just stick with it, and eventually you will figure out what works and who your customers are. Everyone always says to have great pictures. My advice on that: make friends with a photographer (or at least someone with a really great camera) and buy them lunch or a case of beer or something in exchange for nice photos. I've done that three different times so far and it's worked out!