Etsy Seller of the Week: Aquariann

This week's featured Etsy seller is the talented artist, Aquariann! Read all about her here and then check out more of her work, because she is offering 10% off to any buyers who mention "Rainy's Blog" in the notes to seller at checkout (wait to pay, she'll email an invoice) - offer ends next Monday, Aug. 18th.

How did you find Etsy?
My mom and I were sharing a table at a small, local strawberry festival. Another vendor was impressed with my work, and thought I would be a hit on etsy. She (Aimee of Jewelstreet.etsy.com) had such amazing jewelry and was so enthusiastic about the site that I just had to check it out. It only took a few days of listing items and fluttering around the forums to make my first sale. It was a huge boost of confidence, as I had just started to try to sell my artwork and hadn't had much luck.

What do you love about Etsy?
The incredible amount of talent and support! I still do a happy dance every time I make a sale ... and every time I buy from a fellow Etsyian! I've gotten so many fantastic presents for my friends, family, and myself, of course.

What is your favorite dinner?
Pasta! I devour it all - spaghetti with meatballs, fettucini alfredo, stuffed shells, lasagna, you name it.

What would you like us to know about your craft/shop?
Where the name comes from. My birthday is February 8th, which makes me an Aquarian completely and utterly. My middle name is Ann, so Aquariann works wonderously.

If you could take an all-expenses paid trip anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Definitely Japan. Its culture just fascinates me. Anime has been a big inspiration to my work, too.

What do you love about what you make/sell?
I get to share my imagination - if it weren't for drawing, I would probably go mad not being able to let my visions escape. My drawings are flickers into the fantastical world that dances within my mind.

What is your favorite way to relax or unwind?
Just hanging out with my boyfriend, especially when there's massage involved. A pomegranate pear martini helps, too. Yum.

What do you like to shop for on Etsy, even if it is just browsing, not buying?
Other fantasy-inspired items. I'm a member of the Fantasy Artists of Etsy team, so I just type the tag word "FAEteam" into the search and stare captivated at all the beautiful creations.

Where can people find your work?
Besides http://aquariann.etsy.com, my personal website is http://aquariann.com and my blog is http://aquariann.livejournal.com. I'm part of many networks, including flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/aquariann/, myspace http://myspace.com/aquariann, facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/aquariann/29929765133, deviantArt http://aquariann.deviantart.com/, ArtWanted http://www.artwanted.com/aquariann and Ning http://faeetsy.ning.com/profile/aquariann .

Etsy Seller of the Week: Niftyknits

Please welcome this week's featured Etsy seller, Niftyknits! I am a knitter myself, and it is so inspiring to see the amazing variety of items Nifty has come up with in her shop! Contact her via Etsy before buying, mentioning you read her interview on this blog, and she will give you 10% off your order!

How did you find Etsy?
My son’s girlfriend told me about Etsy. I’d started selling my knits on ebay but when I looked at Etsy I was in awe at the talent. I didn’t think my work was good enough, but she encouraged me to go for it…the rest is history.(Thanks LennyPenny!)

What do you love about Etsy?
I love the variety, I never know what I’m going to find next. I love curating treasuries, putting together beautiful quirky unique items.

What is your favorite dinner?
Traditional roast for me please! The pork from the farmshop near my house is gorgeous, with crackling and apple sauce and veg and gravy and roast potatoes. My husband makes the best roast potatoes in the world, all crunchy yet soft inside. Mmmmmm.

What would you like us to know about your craft/shop?
Tricky question, this one! I suppose my answer is that the knitted and crocheted items you see in the store are not everything. You name it, I’ll knit (or crochet) it! I love puzzling out new ideas … at the moment I’m knitting morris dancers, because I want to have a stall at a folk festival.

If you could take an all-expenses paid trip anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I always wanted to take my family to see Steve Irwin at Australia Zoo, but sadly that’s not to be :-(
My holidays are in different parts of the UK, we have so much beautiful countryside to wander in. I would like to retrace Steve’s adventures across Australia, but someone would have to turn down the temperature and remove all the biting things first, please.

What do you love about what you make/sell?
I enjoy that moment when I see it’s all coming together., but I LOVE the journey to that point. My favourite piece is still the fuschia flowers I designed and knitted. When I started I had no idea I would be using headpins and seedbeads…indeed I’m not sure I knew what they were at that point! I knew what I wanted it to look like, and had to find ways to make it happen. That’s the best bit.

What is your favorite way to relax or unwind?
Hot bubble bath and a book, preferably with a glass of red wine :-)

What do you like to shop for on Etsy, even if it is just browsing, not buying?
Steampunk! Again, I had no idea steampunk existed until I found MadArtJewelry on Etsy. I read a lot of Science Fiction so when I discovered her jewelry and asked her what it was about I was instantly hooked. My first piece is called Tempus Fugit (time flies) and was so appropriate at that time in my life.

Where in the world are you?
In the real world I live in the south east of the UK, in Kent (the county with the white cliffs of Dover). This area is known as the Garden of England because it is so beautiful – come and visit!
On the web I am at niftyknits.etsy.com and naughtyknits.etsy.com
I have also just helped my son set up a shop to sell his band's CD at AScandalinBohemia.etsy.com
Then there's my blog http://niftyknits-somuchyarnsolittletime.blogspot.com/
and last but not least my website
http://members.lycos.co.uk/heatherml/Up%20the%20Lone%20Piners/
(Actually that will change shortly as my son has shamed me into realizing what a truly atrocious URL that is!)

Etsy Seller of the Week: MerkabaJewelry

Feast your eyes on this week's Etsy Seller of the Week, MerkabaJewelry! Her beautiful designs and great eye for color combine to create gift-worthy pieces - even if the gift is for yourself! :)

Plus, she is offering 10% off to all blog readers! Just put "Rainy's Blog" in the notes to seller at checkout and she'll send you an adjusted invoice.


How did you find Etsy?
I found Etsy through other online crafters who were fed up with eBay and looking for another venue to sell their handcrafted goods.

What do you love about Etsy?
I love the community and all the people I've met through forums, groups, and treasuries. I attended two local craft shows this past weekend in Asheville where the majority of vendors were Etsy sellers. It was great meeting the folks behind the shop name :)

What is your favorite dinner?
I love pineapple pizza and wish my metabolism allowed me to eat it every day!

What would you like us to know about your craft/shop?
I am getting ready to introduce a line of gourd jewelry. Gourds grown in my garden, dried and cured, then cut up into large beads and pendants. I enjoy expanding my craft and trying new things.

If you could take an all-expenses paid trip anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Italy. I've always dreamed of going there to experience the culture, art, food, etc.

What do you love about what you make/sell?
I love that each piece is unique and my customers enjoy knowing that they are the only person that has it.

What is your favorite way to relax or unwind?
Actually making jewelry is my zen time. With an active toddler, I am always on the go. I like being able to spend time totally focused on each piece. It also allows me to be uninterrupted and spend time with just me! Seems a lot of my personality comes out in each design.

What do you like to shop for on Etsy, even if it is just browsing, not buying?
I love all things handmade. Soaps, handbags, cards, jewelry, etc.

What is the best thing about your business?
The greatest thing about my business is how it allows me to stay at home with my son, Camden. I thoroughly enjoy spending my days with him. As much as I teach him things, I constantly feel like I'm the one who is learning. It's an amazing journey. The icing on the cake is the freedom to be with him and also work on my craft.

Etsy Seller of the Week: JazziesJunque

Welcome to this week's featured seller: JazziesJunque! She sells all sorts of great supplies, plus a selection of her own hand-crafted goodies. And through Sunday, June 15, she is offering 30% off one item if you put "Rain's Blog" in the notes to seller at checkout (she'll send a revised invoice). What a great time to try her out! :)

How did you find Etsy? I found out about Etsy from my good friend Kate from KrazyKateDesigns. She has been wonderful in helping me to get started and answering my many questions, such as "Does this look good and do you think it will sell on Etsy?". She has been great.

What do you love about Etsy? The best thing about Etsy is the people. I have met so many wonderful people here and consider them as good friends. And I love being able to provide that item that someone has been searchng for but not able to find.

What is your favorite dinner? This one is a toughy - Favorite dinner would be chicken enchiladas with green chile, spanish rice, and a sprite. For dessert white chocolate Reeses Peanut Butter Cups. Notice the plural?

What would you like us to know about your craft/shop? I try to provide unique items that can be used to make really cool altered art, mixed media or assemblage. And also I like to make things that has (as far as I know) never been made by anyone else.

If you could take an all-expenses paid trip anywhere in the world, where would you go? I would love to go to Australia or to Africa on a safari.

What do you love about what you make/sell? I like the originality of what I make and the ability to find something that would have been thrown away and sold to someone that can bring new life to it through Art.

What is your favorite way to relax or unwind? Sitting on the sofa with my dogs is the best way to relax.

What do you like to shop for on Etsy, even if it is just browsing, not buying?
I buy way too many beads, just ask Kate. I don't know what it is but I have the hardest time finding a bead I don't like.

Anything else you'd like to add?
Why didn't I think of the Etsy concept first?