Feature Tuesday!

This Week's Featured Seller is…

GoodWaterCollection

GoodWaterCollection is a fellow crocheter and knitter's shop!  So excited to feature GoodWaterCollection this week as a way to promote other yarn crafters works!

Make sure to read the interview and give her some love!  Enjoy :)

1.) Tell us a little bit about yourself? What are your other hobbies, what is day to day life like for you?
I'm currently going back to school to become an RN. I've been crocheting for about 15 years and love coming up with new ideas. I've been teaching myself how to knit and I also make jewelry. I've been thinking about trying out quilting but I'm not sure my sewing skills are up to it yet.

2.) What inspired you to begin creating and open your shop? 

I've been making different crafts for as long as I can remember. One of my friends actually discovered Etsy and suggested that I open a shop. I've been adding to it ever since.

3.) What is your best seller item in your shop? What is your favorite item in your shop?
Right now my best sellers are my Rose Bobby Pins. I think my favorite item right now is the Basketweave Purse. I've been playing around with different handles and different fabric linings to coordinate with the color of the yarn used to create the bag.

4.) What is your biggest struggle as a etsy seller?
I think the biggest struggle as an Etsy seller is staying motivated. I know that I haven't had the success on Etsy that I had hoped I would have. It gets discouraging when everyone tells you that they love what you've made but then it never sells. I've recently started doing shows and I've found that helps keeps me motivated to create new items.

5.) What's your favorite thing about being an artist?

I really like seeing what started as an idea in my head become something that can be used. There are times when I can hardly wait to get something finished so I can see if it looks as good as I thought it might. Sometimes it's even better than I had imagined.

6.) Do you have a crafting "routine"? Are there things in your day to day life (job, family, etc.) that make it difficult to stick to that routine

I guess the closest thing I have to a routine is I usually try to work on something while watching tv in the evenings. When school starts up for me again in the fall I know I'm not going to have the same kind of time to work on new items. 


7.) I talk a lot about certain fears of creativity, like the fear of failing and fearing that people won't like your creation, do you experience these fears and if so how do you get past them and keep creating?I know that not everyone is going to like everything that I make. My sister doesn't like half of the things that I make. I don't really worry about that since I know not everything is for everyone. Since I do make so many different things I know that somebody is bound to find something that they like. As long as I think it came out the way I wanted it to then I'm happy. When it doesn't I usually pull it all apart and try again.

8.) Tell us a little quirky fact about yourself.
I'm addicted to playing Cafe World on FB.

GoodWaterCollection is also offering readers a coupon in her shop!

Use code FEATURE for 15% off in her shop

BONUS Featured seller Friday :)

Today I was feeling a little like I needed to post, but not really sure that to tell you all, so I decided to share an extra shop with you all this week.  So, here is your..          

BONUS FEATURED SELLER!

originallyme!

1.) Tell us a little bit about yourself? What are your other hobbies, what is day to day life like for you?

I love traveling, being outdoors, and being artsy. I’d like to think I have a pretty exciting life. I’ve been blessed with a wonderful family and the best friends any girl could ask for. 

My day to day life… during the summer, I work for an architecture firm 3 days a week. On my 2 days off I do lots of crafting and other random projects (my to do list never ends) and then I’m traveling most weekends!

During the school year… I’m still a student… lucky me! I’m getting my graduate degree in architecture with takes lots of my time, but I still try to make time to be crafty, go for a run, and spend time with my friends. 

2.) What inspired you to begin creating and open your shop?

I’m slightly obsessed with jewelry and all things fashion! And when I say slightly, I mean you should see the amount of jewelry I have. My jewelry creations began with a Christmas gift for my little sister and who knew that I would eventually be selling my work. I just can’t stop making fun, eclectic, girly things and I happened to think that maybe someone else may like them as much as I do… who knows!

3.) What is your best selling item in your shop? What is your favorite item in your shop?

I wouldn’t say I really have a best selling item. Most of my items are one of a kind. Styles may be similar, but I can’t remember the last time I made two identical pieces. This happens because of the nature of the materials I use. There’s such a mix that I often don’t have enough of one thing to make identical pieces. 

Right now I think these turquoise leather earrings are my favorite thing in my shopwww.etsy.com/listing/75435098/feathered-turquoise-leather-earrings

4.) What is your biggest struggle as a etsy seller?

I would say the biggest struggle is standing out and being found. Etsy has gotten so huge that it’s easy to just get lost in the mix. I constantly try to make sure that I’m making something different than other sellers, I post new items frequently, and I promote my shop in other ways. 

5.) What's your favorite thing about being an artist? 

Everything! I absolutely love having the freedom to be creative, get my hands a little dirty and do what I love! I couldn’t ask for anything different except for maybe to make enough money to not have to have a real job… come to think of it, I’m an artist in my real job too though… lucky me!

6.) Do you have a crafting "routine"? Are there things in your day to day life (job, family, etc.) that make it difficult to stick to that routine?

I’d like to say that I do, but it just kind of happens when it happens. I’m more on a blogging routine than a crafting routine. I try to write a blog post every night and post it in the morning. As for crafting, I just have to be in the mood and then I can sit down for hours and hours and just create. School and work definitely come first for me, so that makes fitting crafting time in a little difficult but I love it so much, I couldn't imagine life without it! 

7.) I talk a lot about certain fears of creativity, like the fear of failing and fearing that people won't like your creation, do you experience these fears and if so how do you get past them and keep creating?

You know that’s a good point to bring up, but I honestly don’t have any fears about creating. I just feel like some people are going to like your work and some may not. That’s just life. You just have to create what you love and not worry about it. There’s no such thing as failure if you’re doing something you love. 

8.) Tell us a little quirky fact about yourself.

Hmm, something quirky… I’m a redhead … that’s pretty unique. 

I organize my closet in rainbow order, yet I don’t consider myself a neat freak … I’m weird. I know :)

Stop by and check out her blog
loveoriginallyme.blogspot.com/
or shop
www.etsy.com/shop/originallyme
or facebook
www.facebook.com/pages/Originally-Me-designs/105717738921

ALSO

oringallyme is offering a discount to all of you blog readers!  get 10% off with 

coupon code melissa10 in her shop!

Featured Seller Tuesday!

This Week's Featured Seller is…

PieceTherapy

Where you can find a wide range of the artists creations including quilts, wall hangings, 

wine bottle gift bags, coasters, trivets, pet blankies, and more! 

This is the perfect place to find gifts for hard-to-buy 

friends and family or something perfect for your own home. 

Make sure to read the review and check out this awesome shop!

1.) Tell us a little bit about yourself? What are your other hobbies, what is day to day life like for you?


I'm a big city girl who ended up in a small place and have a love for both ends of the spectrum. I actually have a day job working in IT for the government, but my office is only a five minute drive from my house. I would much prefer to spend my days in my home studio, but I think maybe someday that will become a reality. I have other hobbies that include playing the piano, swimming, golf and I'm a big wine buff.


2.) What inspired you to begin creating and open your shop? 


Actually, this is sort of an interesting story. When my Dad passed away, my family doctor advised me to get a new hobby. I told him I was the LAST person who needed a new hobby, but he told me to go and get one anyway. About that time, a friend gave me an old sewing machine sort of out of the blue. I used to love crafts and sewing when I was younger, so I started tinkering. I suddenly realized one day that I had started quilting without really being aware of it. By that time I was hooked and the rest is history. I opened the shop just to see what people would think of my work and now Etsy has become another aspect to the hobby that I enjoy so very much. 


3.) What is your best selling item in your shop? What is your favorite item in your shop? 
The baby and pet blankets are really the big seller, but I love the big quilts. I really love the Cityscape Quilt right now. 

4.) What is your biggest struggle as a etsy seller?

Setting shipping prices. The cost to ship has really gone up and I just know everyone wants cheap shipping, but it's really hard to do when you are just a little shop.


5.) What's your favorite thing about being an artist? 
That's a really tough question!! There are so many things. I love interacting with other artists and I love surprising myself by being able to meet my own challenges.


6.) Do you have a crafting "routine"? Are there things in your day to day life (job, family, etc.) that make it difficult to stick to that routine?



I devote my Fridays to my studio. I spend as much of the day as possible delving into my various projects and then make time throughout the rest of the week as much as possible. Every Monday I have lunch with other creative friends and we share projects, bounce ideas off one another, etc. 

7.) I talk a lot about certain fears of creativity, like the fear of failing and fearing that people won't like your creation, do you experience these fears and if so how do you get past them and keep creating?

My fear is one of rejection. I just set up at a festival last weekend for the first time and was terrified that I would actually hear strangers talking about my work in front of me. To my surprise, nobody laughed or made fun of my work, so that has given me a new strength to continue on and has even given me a new found confidence. 


8.) Tell us a little quirky fact about yourself.

My nickname is Gimbles. My Dad and his friends wanted to name me that before I was born. 

PieceTherapy is offering readers a discount in her shop!  

Use code BLOG4PT for a 15% discount!

Also check out PieceTherapy here:
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Her blog
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