Featured Etsy Seller: Kreativlink

My name is Renate Ikinger. I'm female. Born (1966) and raised in Austria, Europe. Well, I'm still here but often I'm dreaming about migrating, living in a little house by the sea ...

I completed business college but at 20 my son was born and I was mostly mother until I was 30. Then I started as a self employed webdesigner/programmer. I loved it, but when the big 40 came, I was more or less finished with it. Yes, the decades seem to play a role in my life ...

Since then, I became more and more a self employed full time crafter. I love making my journals. Books always played a big part in my life, and when I realised I could make them by myself, it was like a miracle! Yes, call me stupid, but that's how it was.
At first I made them in the traditional way, but soon I realised that what really fascinates me are journals that look like they are old. Like things from ancient times, when there where still many secrets to discover and a lot of mysterious things going on ...

Yep, that's me. Oh, and about the decades - I plan to spend the time between 50 and 60 with shopping for supplies all around the world after I win the lottery (One can always hope). And after 60 I will be a crazy girl with purple hair and a lot of fun! :)

Featured Etsy Seller: AdirondackMetals

Adirondack Metal Designs is a family owned business. We operate out of our shop near the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains in beautiful upstate New York. My name is Brenda. My husband Ed and I began this business as a way for him to leave the construction industry and work for himself. I am in charge of the website, programming and business end of things while he makes the products. I also work full time as a Speech Pathologist with my own private practice. I wish I could work on the metal business all of the time and retire from my real job. We specialize in silhouette metal art. Our products are made with a combination of plasma cutting and welding. We currently have table top sculptures, wall art, yard stakes, key racks, welcome signs, bookends, napkin holders, and wall hooks. Our themes include wildlife, farm animals, western, marine life, sports, and more. If you don't see your favorite theme in our shop, contact us. We can also customize many of our items for you. The pieces come standard with a black hammered finish. Any special paint requests are also welcome. We can work together to meet your specific needs.We can use any of our silhouettes for a custom welcome sign, address sign or name signs.

Featured Etsy Seller: LazyTcrochet

Tricia, of LazyTcrochet, has been knitting and crocheting in her spare time as a stay-at-home Mom for many years. Running her shop on Etsy for almost two years has given her the opportunity to create unique and one-of-a-kind designs as well as classic styles and custom orders. She most enjoys making shawls and hats of all kinds. Stop by and visit LazyTcrochet.Etsy.com or contact her for a style to call your own.

Contest

I have entered this photo into The Etsy Challenge. It has been selected to be in the challenge for the week of 9/15. Please come and vote for my photo here: http://etsychallenge.blogspot.com/

Thanks so much to all of you who vote for my cute panda! :-)

Sold

I made my very first sale from my Etsy store! I sold a copy of my "Brilliant Buddha" photograph. I'm so excited and so happy! Now that I have a sale I'm hoping that I will get some more. I have heard from talking to other Etsy sellers in the Etsy forums that shops that already have a sale are more likely to get more than shops that have no sales. I'll have to keep you all posted! :-)

Featured Etsy Seller: vsilcoxdesigns

This is my second feature of one of my favorite Etsy sellers. All of the artists that I personally select have wonderful shops filled with awesome handmade pieces that I'm very excited to share with you all.

vsilcoxdesigns

Here's my take on it......
Glass painting explores a unique and profound paradox in art. By painting glass, I want the viewer to look at the shadow of the art as well as the art itself. Glass art is unique in that the shadow contains and expresses the composition and color of the art, a reflection, if you will, as well as a shadow. Trying to find where the shadow begins and where the reflection ends leads to the wonderfully infinite paradox that is glass art.

About Me....
Back in 2001, and right after September 11th, I made a life changing decision. On that day, I was sitting in a high rise building in downtown Los Angeles when the news came. Of course we evacuated, and on the long drive home I had plenty of time to think, specifically about how valuable my family was to me, how sad I was for those who were lost, and what choices I had made for my life.

I gave up my 20 plus year career in construction, to persue my passion for art. All my life I had toyed with pen and ink...and I suppose charcoal as well, but I had always envisioned painting glass, wine glasses specifically, so I figured....why not go with the fantasy. And here I am.

I usually average about 35 to 40 art and high craft shows per year, so I'm on the road constantly...from here in Southern California...to the San Francisco Bay Area...to Arizona.

What inspires me?
Light refraction....sounds weird...but it's the absolute truth.

Featured Etsy Seller: NativeJewelry

I have decided to start featuring one of my favorite Etsy sellers each month with you. These are truly talented people who I think make great products; products that I feel people would be interested in buying; products that I think are so wonderful that I just cannot keep my knowledge of them to myself.

NativeJewelry

BIO: My name is Elaine and I am from the Pima tribe. I was brough up fully immersed in my culture. I started beading and making jewelry for myslef as a child. The first item I made as a child (a beaded necklace and bracelet) I sold to someone who was watching me dance and "had to have it". I guess that was the start of my entrepreneur as a jewelry maker!!I also do Native American performances (singing/dancing) from Ca to NY and often sell my crafts at these events. I also host a Native American television show called American Indian Cable network and have had my own Native American radio show. I have also done various television/film roles and can be seen in dancing in the movie Flicka, in acting in programs on the history channel such as Wild West Tech, Conquest of America, Andrew Jackson and Jedadiah Smith and in the IFC comedy series the Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman.I am proud to offer you my handmade one of a kind items made from top quality natural materials like turquoise, leather, bone and porcupine quills!

Treasury West

I got the chance to make my own treasury on Treasury West today on Etsy. Treasury West is a group of listings where people can make a post featuring all of their favorite items from Etsy. It's a promotional tool that seems to work very well. I have never made one before so it was a pretty big deal to be able to make one; there has to be less than 222 posts in order for you to be able to make a new one, so I had to wait until some expired in order for me to post a new one. Once you make your treasury it will last for 3 days before it expires. So here's a link to my new treasury, please take a look before it expires in only 3 days! http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=20662

Asian Inspired Artists Etsy Team

I've started a new Etsy team called Asian Inspired Artists. I'm beginning to learn that starting an Etsy team is hard work. I've already gotten some members and I've already started a Google group so we are able to have our own forum for chatting, planning, and supporting eachother. It's the getting the members to participate that's hard. I wish there was a way for there to be a group of people who are responsible for the team instead of just one person, because I'm starting to feel the pressure. If this team doesn't make it or isn't very successful I will feel solely responsible and I'll feel as though I've let the everyone down. I hope I have not gotten myself in over my head.

Lucky's Luxury Art's and Craft's

I'm currently selling some of my photos on Etsy.com. The photos can be printed as: 4x6 for $5, 5x7 for $8, or 8x10 for $11. They can also be printed in glossy or matte. I will also sign the photos if requested. Please let me know your preferences when you purchase the item/s.














This is a magnificent picture of the Great Wall of China. While I was visiting there in 2004 I saw a bunch of people dressed in yellow and red. I asked a local who they were and was told that those people were filming a movie so I took the opportunity to take a shot of them all on the wall.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_1&listing_id=13059285















This is a photo of an adorable Giant Panda that I saw at the Panda Breeding and Research Center in Chengdu, China. That is one very photogenic panda and he seemed to be smiling just for my photo!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=13060085















This is a beautiful picture of Pearl Shoal in Juizaigou, China. Truly a magnificent waterfall.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=13152726



















This is an exquisite picture of a stone carved Chinese dragon. This picture would look great on any wall.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13243591















The majestic mountains of Juizaigou, China make a wonderful picture. Taken by myself in 2004.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13022837



















This is a brilliant Buddha statue that I saw while visiting China. I just had to take a picture of it because it literally took my breath away.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13243689