Share the Love Wednesdays: Indelible Impressions

This weeks interview is with Donna MacDonald from Indelible Impressions

Q. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
A. I have always enjoyed making things. I dabbled in sewing, cross-stitching, and wreath making. I have been paper crafting for about 10 years. It started when I went to a friend’s home rubber stamping party. I was immediately hooked! I demonstrated products at other people’s homes and taught classes occasionally. I also work full time as a Disability Management Coordinator for a large steel company.

Q. Tell us more about your shop and the kinds of things that you sell?
A. The products in my shop include vintage-inspired gift tags, greeting cards and invitations and a few more modern/contemporary items. I love creating personalized items for people.

Q. What is your inspiration?
A. I love vintage wedding dresses and estate homes-a strange combination, I know. I love rich colours but also an aged look.

Q. What made you first start selling on Etsy?
A. An acquaintance introduced me to Etsy about 6 months before I opened a shop. I hadn’t heard of Etsy before that. I figured that any money I made would help pay for my hobby. There are always new products coming to the market that I want to buy!

Q. What was the first thing that you sold?
A. A Father’s Day card just over a month from the date I opened my shop.

 Q. You have some really beautiful tags! Which one is your favourite to create?
A. That’s a tough one! I would have to say that I love the Gingerbread Man tag – his face gets me every time.

Q. Do you have any advice for new sellers to Etsy?
A. I would suggest taking the best photos you can, use two or more words in your tag descriptions, Pin, Tweet, Post and Instagram as much as possible to get your items noticed and be patient. Additionally, it’s important to research your target market and look to see what your competition is doing and make your items as unique as possible.

Q. Do you have a favourite time of day that you prefer to do your creative work?
A. Because I work full time during the day, my creative time is after supper and on weekends. Ideally, I will be working my Etsy store full time by the end of this year.

Q. Where else can people find you? i.e. facebook, twitter, pinterest etc.
A.
Website: www.etsy.com/ca/shop/IndelibleImpressions
Twitter: twitter.com/IndelibleImp
Instagram: instagram.com/indelible_impressions
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Indelible-Impressions/167207063367123

Q. Is there anything else that you want people to know about you or your shop?
A. I love creating custom products based on my customer’s needs. I really enjoy the creative process and making things where people say, “Oh, that is SO pretty!”

Share the Love Wednesdays: Creative Wedding Invitations

This week I had the pleasure to interview Cathy Brooks from Creative Wedding Invitations!  

Q. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
A. I am a designer and artist. I make hand made wedding invitations made to order to the couple's specifications. I also work as an educational assistant and own a health and wellness business.
I have been married for 34 years and have 2 grown daughters.

How long have you been making wedding invitations? 
A. I have been making wedding invitations for about a year. I have been making greeting cards for years but I decided to make a business out of my hobby.

What is your inspiration?
A. The couple sends me examples of what they like and I try to use their ideas to make something unique to them. I also look at other sites like Pinterest and Etsy for creative ideas.


Which invitation is your favourite and why?
A. I really enjoy making same-sex wedding invitations because there aren't many for gay couples to choose from so I can really be creative. 
Q. What time of day do you do most of your creating?
A. I work at a high school during the day and work on my invitations in my studio on weekends and evenings. I am fortunate to have summers off so I work then too.

Q. What made you start selling on Etsy?
A. I didn't know where to start selling my greeting cards so a friend suggested Etsy. I love the social part of Etsy and opened up a vintage shop too.

Q. Do you have a work space that you do your work at?
A. I have a large studio in the basement of my house. My husband put some shelving, a long table and good lighting for me.

Q. Where else can people find you? i.e. facebook, twitter, pinterest etc.
Website: www.creativeweddinginvitationsbycathybrooks.com/
Blog: creativeweddinginvitationsbycb.wordpress.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CreativeWeddingInvitationsbyCathyBrooks
Twitter: www.twitter.com/cathy_brooks
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/cathybrooks11

Q. Is there anything else that you want people to know about you or your shop?
A. Couples appreciate that each invitation is laser printed and hand-stamped one at a time by me. They also like that although the process takes a couple of months, my deadlines are much more flexible than some larger companies. 

Thank you Cathy for telling us a little bit more about your shop!  It was a pleasure to interview you and we wish you all the luck in the future!

Share the Love Wednesdays: Pirate Kat's Booty

This week I had the opportunity to interview Donna Day from Pirate Kat's Booty.  She has a great selection of jewelry for yourself or your pets! 

Siren Song

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hmm ok... let’s see... I grew up in California but married a Canadian, so I packed up my two cats and now live in Ontario. I've done everything from running a comic book shop to working in TV and radio, both on air and off. I have worked in senior care, child care, and pet care. I'm a gamer girl and a proud geek. I am now the owner of Pirate Kat's Booty, my jewelry shop. I make hand crafted jewelry for men, women, kids and pets. I am also branching out into key chains, book marks, zipper pulls, and charms for cellphones, tablets, and readers.

How long have you been making jewelry?

Pretty much all my life. I started stringing beads when I was a kid, then made macramé style jewelry when I was in Girl Scouts. I did some wire work in art classes in high school. Now I'm doing beadwork jewelry and branching into other styles.

Icy Brilliance

Pacific Passion

I love the Icy Brilliance! Which design is your favourite?

Wow, tough one. I'd say this week it is Pacific Passion. If you ask me again next week it will probably be something else. The jewelry I make reflects my mood, so every day something else is going to be my “favourite.”

What time of day do you do most of your creating?

Most of my creating is done in the evenings, when I can relax and just enjoy what I do.

What made you start selling on Etsy?

I started making things as gifts for friends and family. After about the 20th person said “You need to open an Etsy shop! Your work is beautiful!” I finally checked it out and opened my shop. Good thing too... I hadn't realized just how much jewelry I had made just in my spare time.

What was the first item that you sold?

First item I sold was a Southwest style charm bracelet made with polished stone beads and silver stars with western themed charms.

Do you have a work space that you do your work at?
I used to say I did a little beading in my Home office. Now when I look around my “office” and see more beads than office supplies. 

Where else can people find you? i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest etc.
Twitter:
twitter.com/PirateKatsBooty?refsrc=email
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/PirateKatsBooty?ref=hl
Etsy:
www.etsy.com/ca/shop/PirateKatsBooty?ref=si_shop
Pintrest:
www.pinterest.com/piratekatt/
Instagram:
instagram.com/piratekatsbooty

Is there anything else that you want people to know about you or your shop?

Everything in the shop is hand made by myself or a member of the shop extended family. It is then thoroughly inspected by the Pirate Kats, Solo and Shadow. We take commissions, so if there is a custom piece you need just hit me up. I've even done matching bracelets for bridesmaids and kids birthday parties. I am a firm supporter of small business and buying hand made. I love supporting artisans and really encourage everyone to find something they enjoy and do it!  Major thank you to Wicked, Doni, David, Erna and Marie!

                                            Grey Galleons of Grandure

Thank you Donna Day for taking the time to do this interview!  I had a great time looking at all of the items in your shop.