SOTW - PunkyJane

Our Wedding Day Mark Your Calendar Necklace

Happy October, folks! Our Etsy Twitter Team Shop of the Week comes to us from Sandy out in California - PunkyJane Jewelry. 

If you're in need of something personalized - PunkyJane's collection of hand stamped and personalized jewelry and accessories is the first place you should look. Names, dates, quotes, silly sayings - The possibilities are only limited by your imagination. There is a little something for everybody! Moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, brothers, sisters, friends, dogs, cats... Hamster? (Coming soon, perhaps.) Sandy's attention to detail, superior customer service and quirky/clever sense of style set her work apart. She is often inspired by her two favorite artists - her daughters, Hannah and Ella. "They have a way of looking at things that inspires me every day," says Sandy. "We could all use more of that child-like vision!"

Through online and print research and some good ol' fashioned trail and error, Sandy has honed her metal stamping over time. Her background as a graphic designer has helped her tremendously, "I love playing with letters! Now I just play with a hammer and steel stamps instead of the latest software from Adobe." 

Sandy is certainly a Twitter pro - Here's what she has to say for those just dipping their toes in the Twitter pool - "Have fun with it, but don’t expect too much. It takes a good mix of social media to help drive business, so don’t put your eggs in one gorgeous handmade basket (purchased on Etsy, of course!). I love the simplicity of the connections you make. Also, don't automatically follow everybody that follows you. Only follow the folks that interest you."

Here's another fun bit from Sandy - Not only does she collect erasers, but if stuck on a deserted island, she'd be eager to continue her Words with Friends games, "Do I have WiFi? Or 3G? Please? If so, my iPad so I could play Words with Friends! Okay, seriously...a raft, matches for a fire, and sunscreen. I burn easily."

Personalized Periodic Table Element

Now that you know a bit more about the mind behind PunkyJane Jewelry, be sure to take advantage of the Shop of the Week sale going on - 

Use the code PJSOTW for 15% off anything 

in my Etsy Shop, October 3-9, 2011.



Etsy Shop: PunkyJane.etsy.com
Twitter: twitter.com/PunkyJane
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PunkyJaneJewelry
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/punkyjane
Pinterest: pinterest.com/punkyjane

SHOP OF THE WEEK - Crochet Gal

This week the Etsy Twitter Team would like to showcase the Crochet Gal as the Shop of the Week.  Now, you will expect to see some super crocheted items in her shop, and you will, but she doesn't stop there.  She offers her special yarns for you to create some of your favorite items as well.  She also has something that is quite unique--wooden soap dishes.  Yes, wooden soap dishes that she hand cuts herself in a collaboration with her partner who uses the Etsy account UnclJohn.

Wooden Soap Deck/Dish

Aren't these just the greatest??  Think about stocking stuffers for the upcoming holidays.  They come in a three pack and you will need several.  Cute little gifts with a handmade bar of soap all wrapped up in cellophane with a pretty ribbon.

Her favorite artist is Jill Walterbach, aka The Wooden Wizard, www.thewoodenwizard.com
"Her work has always inspired me to push beyond my limits. I’m amazed at what Jill can do with a scroll saw. "

Her love of crocheting is evident in her work.  In her own words, "Currently, I am a crochet professional working in the industry. I love to work with any type of materials. If it can be stranded, it can be crocheted. Many of my items are of my own design, some of which have been featured in major publications. Most of my wearables are one of a kind pieces. I'm always looking for fresh, new ideas so if there is something that you would like me to make, please get in touch. I enjoy a challenge and as long as I have a picture to go by, I can usually make the item."  

Crocheted Lace Shawl

Val has created many lovely items, the one pictured here is Alpaca and Silk in sapphire blue; doesn't it just scream soft and comfy??  Wrap up in one of these for a night on the town with that little black dress and you will turn heads.

She also carries a wide array of yarns and other threads so be sure to browse her shop.

She is a member of the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA). 

Now for her sales for the Shop of the Week:

15% off select yarns

 

Enter Coupon Code: Twitter15 during checkout 

SOTW -- Vintageday

The Etsy Twitter Team would like to introduce Wendy Kelly of Vintageday, our Shop of the Week! Wendy's shop is stocked with over 400 items of beautiful vintage jewelry! People are drawn to Wendy's vintage pieces because of the lovely craftsmanship and their uniqueness. An added plus: vintage is the ultimate in recycling and being green!

Wendy is very knowledgeable about her pieces. While she has had an appreciation for vintage jewelry and collected it for some time, she has discovered a great resource in JewelRing, a yahoo group specializing in vintage jewelry. All the men and women that belong to it have been very helpful about sharing important facets of costume jewelry. Besides, as Wendy puts it, "I am vintage, so i know what I sell!" And she packages like it's special, too; every piece in a gift box and bubble wrap. She happily ships internationally, too!

Wendy credits Auction Sellers Motivators mentors for "teaching me the ins and outs about selling on line". Their website states they are "a cooperative community of online sellers working to improve their businesses. Whether you sell on eBay, Amazon, Etsy, your own web site or any number of other venues, we're your source for top quality advice! We welcome everyone from those just starting out to seasoned, online professionals." ~ http://www.auctionsellersmotivators.com

To help with her Twitter use, Wendy recommends Hootsuite or TweetDeck software because they make scheduling tweets easy. This can help maintain your Twitter presence throughout the day (and night) and space out your shop links. Wendy also likes to post tweets to her Tumblr account.

Wendy has a musical side...AND a sense of humor: her favorite artist? "Bruce Springsteen. {Wendy is a Jersey girl} I grew up on Bruce. Didn't he write Born to Run for me"?

That could also explain her dream migration habits: "I would love to be able to divide my time between Florida during the cold {New Jersey} winters, Spring and Fall in New Jersey. I would love to have a beach house in Cape Cod for the Summer...I would get the best" of all the seasons!


This week Wendy is offering
15% off using coupon code
SOTW11
on everything in the Vintageday inventory
~~~~~~~~~
Wendy's Internet presence:
Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Vintageday
Twitter: Vintageday
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Vintageday
Blog: blog.vintageday.com
Tumblr: http://freaksandfollowers.tumblr.com/

Written by Judy of WellspringCreations

SOTW - RobinPedrero

Meet Robin Maria Pedrero, a fine art painter, and this week's Etsy Twitter shop of the week. Robin paints portraits, and both realistic and dreamy landscapes in a variety of media. She wants her art to be enjoyed by all, so she offers prints of her original in many forms: coffee mugs, tote bags, notecards and displayable prints. Her use of color, style and originality are unique, yet varied, to appeal to a broad range of tastes.

Robin has collectors, both individual and corporate, all over the world and in most of the 50 United States. Her work is also displayed in several museum gift shops and art galleries. If you have your own theme in mind, Robin is quite happy to discuss a commission. She makes the process a pleasure!

From a very young age, Robin was an artist, but when she was 13, Dori K. Mandel was the first artist to take her under her wing giving root to Brackman, Cezanne and the impressionists. This is where Robin learned to work in oil, capturing light and color.

As to a favorite artist, Robin says "If you read another interview with me you’ll see different answers, as my favorites often change. Today I will select Yoko Ono, at 78 she continues to create, interact and share the message of peace and art even in tweets. I was on the National Women’s Caucus for Art board when she was honored with a lifetime achievement award."

I asked Robin how her environment influences her work. Her response: "Sunny Florida gives me wonderful light, and vast natural inspiration. I can work outside many months during the year. I can photograph my work in natural light as well. Being in central Florida gives me quick access to several cities with art events and venues. The arts community here is embracing and diverse." In fact, she'd prefer to live where she is rather than anywhere else!

Robin approaches Twitter in a personable way. Her advice to new users: "Enjoy meeting and following new people, be positive, build relationships, tweet and retweet what interests you and helps others." Her approach has attracted over 11,000 followers!

We all have our own visions of what an artist might like to do for entertainment, but you might be surprised to learn that one of Robin's favorite pasttimes is ziplining!

Robin has a soft spot for human suffering. If she had $1million to donate, she says "I would provide education, shelter, and clothing for those in need. I would give safety and new life to those who are enslaved in human trafficking. I would donate to help find a cure for cancer, in honor of my father."

In honor of being featured as the Etsytwitter team SOTW
Robin has created a coupon code for 20 % off,
with this code
SOTW20PERCENTOFF
Collectors of Robin's art learn of
Etsy coupons and specials via
Robin's blog or mailings.
~~~~~~~~~
Etsy Shop: RobinMariaPedrero.etsy.com
Twitter: twitter.com/robinpedrero
Facebook: artist.to/robinmariapedrero/
Blog: www.pocketfullofcolors.blogspot.com/

Written by Judy of WellspringCreations

Shop of the Week -- Jenco13

Our Etsy Twitter Shop of the Week is none other than Jenco13, aka Jen Kuebrich. Jen works tirelessly as the Captain of the Etsy Twitter Team and maintains an Etsy shop stocked full of delightful crocheted goodies. I asked Jen about the most influential people in teaching her to crochet. "My Great Grandmother, great aunt, and my mom: My great grandmother introduced me to crocheting at a young age. Even though she was blind, she taught me how to hold a hook and start a project. I feel that I am always surrounded by her love when I'm crocheting. My Great Aunt also helped to teach me how to crochet. After my Great Grandmother passed on I ran to her with questions about crocheting. My mom inspired me at a young age to do the things I like. She, too, is an artist and taught me about colors."

Her products include cup cozies--great gifts for those who love coffee, tea or hot chocolate. Perfect for college students, teachers, bus drivers, stocking stuffers, secret Santa’s--anyone on the go! Jen's cup cozies can be used year 'round--they work equally well on that iced tea/coffee during the summer as on that welcome hot beverage on a day like today! Jen also does custom orders for the sports fan, just "Request Custom Item"! Rumor has it she also does a really hot chili pepper cozy! [Pun intended.]

Jen has expanded her shop offerings to include seasonal crocheted scarves that are as stylish as they are cozy. She loves custom orders and is happy to accommodate any recipient from a petite child to that hard-to-buy-for person! Soon to be added: hats and baby items! This expansion may have been brought on by her recent move from New York to Arizona!

Offering variety and uniqueness is important to Jen, "each item is handmade making it unique. I use my own patterns and I'm very particular to making sure they look perfect. Many of my patterns have come from just "trying a new idea in my head". I work hard to make sure every customer in my shop gets exactly what they want. If they see an item in my shop and want it slightly different I work my hardest to get it to their standards."

And, just for fun, I asked Jen: If you were stranded alone on a dessert island, what 5 things would you want with you? Why? Her response:

"1- my husband
2- my family

I love these people the most in my world-plus it's always nice to have someone around for good conversation.

3- food/water [Ed. note: Jen is always practical!]

4- my crocheting
5- a good book

I am not good with sitting still. I need to dream big and always keep crocheting. If I'm not on the computer I am normally crocheting or reading."


Buy any cup cozy get the second one FREE!!
-ENDS ON SUNDAY 12/19
All cup cozies listed in Jenco13 are ready to ship after payment.
No coupon code necessary-
Will refund the money of second item* within 24 hrs.
Buyer is responsible for shipping price of second cup cozy

*Qualifying item must be equal or lesser price on Free cup cozy sale

Jenco13 products are shipped internationally. If your country isn't specifically listed, please convo Jen for details.

~~~~~~~
Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Jenco13
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jenco13
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jenco13/116522301149
Blog: http://jenco13.blogspot.com/

Jen is also the Captain of the Etsy Twitter Team and writes frequently on the team blog: http://etsytwitter.blogspot.com/

Written by Judy of WellspringCreations

Shop of the Week - AquarianBath

Natural soaps including vegan, sea salt, and shampoo bar soaps, herbal salves, roll-on and solid perfumes, lip balm, tooth powder (a natural non-abrasive tooth past alternative), seeds, herbal extracts, herbal neck pillows: That's what you can find at AquarianBath, this week's Etsy Twitter Team's Shop of the Week!

AquarianBath is the brainchild of Cory Trusty, who manages all these products with no artificial chemical fragrances or dyes and all of her cold process soaps are either unscented or lightly scented with pure essential oils.

Cory describes herself in her Etsy bio as "an herbalist, mother of 2 wonderful girls, homeschooler, organic gardener, and soap maker. I live in Daytona Beach, Central Florida where I enjoy organic growing, wild harvesting herbs, making soaps, salves and extracts." What she didn't mention is that she had a baby in May and has found it very challenging to maintain my inventory while continuing to add new products. (That's probably an understatement!) She says "Right now I'm just focused on getting back up to speed. In the long term I would like to focus on creating herbal webinars and offering more herbal classes locally." She has managed to plan a new holiday assortment available for pre-order: appropriately scented soap-on-a-rope Christmas tree, gingerbread men and Santa Ornaments.

Her inspiration comes from a variety of places: foods and drinks, the herbs in her garden, nature, the beach...and her family! She has "brainstorming sessions with my husband who is an inventor and creative genius. The exciting thing is that my six year old...had the idea of making soap cookies and from there I tweaked her idea into of making the gingerbread men soap on a rope ornaments"

Since the new baby arrived, she's had to cut back on her tweeting, but still likes to check in with herbal and soap experts, friends and customers who use Twitter. She is interested in, and likes to retweet science, environmental, herbal, public health, and cosmetic industry links. "I also like to help promote other Etsy sellers and herbalists in my network."

Cory says, "The most important way that I bring sales to my shop is offering a high quality product that people will come back for and spread the word about. It's a really good feeling to sell a shampoo bar or soap to a new customer, and then find them back to order it in bulk a few months later. A high percentage of my customers are returning shoppers. Shop feedback really keeps me motivated."


AquarianBath has this special SOTW offer: Visit the seeds section of AquarianBath and choose a free seed pack with any purchase.
Mention "Etsy Twitter Team SOTW Offer" in checkout comments.
~~~~~~~
Etsy Shop: http://www.aquarianbath.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/aquarianbath
Facebook: http://facebook.dj/aquarianbath
Blog: http://aquarianbath.blogspot.com

AquarianBath ships international orders within four business days.

Written by Judy of WellspringCreations

Shop of the Week - anapinatelier

This week, the Etsy Twitter Team has gone far afield to interview our shop of the week: Meet Ana Pina, the creative mind behind anapinatelier. She handcrafts jewelry which she is happy to ship all over the world.

Ana lives in live in Porto, the second largest city of Portugal, which is a small European country facing the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Ana describes it as "a diverse country, with sunny beaches, a beautiful countryside and mild weather." In fact, Ana is so eloquent, I will let you in on our conversation:

What do you want your customers to know most about your products?
"I create an original, unique and feminine jewelry line using mostly gemstones and metal, but also mixing different materials such as glass, wood or plastic with a vintage touch. I developp distinct collections to match different kind of personalities: some pieces are modern and rich, some are colorful with an ethnic style and some are more simple and light."

What inspires you to create?
"I couldn’t live without art – it makes me feel alive and constantly inspired. When I create jewelry I feel inspired by the versatility of combining different kind of elements, by textures and colors of natural materials such as gemstones. I also feel inspired by art itself and I love to learn watching other artists work – it makes me look at things in a new way and experimenting is a fundamental part of creation."

How does your location inspire/affect your work?:
"...I like the diversity and the small scale of the city, that allows me to walk from my home to the historic center, where I can easily visit exhibitions and craft fairs.I also live relatively near the sea and I can't live long without pay it a visit - it inspires me and makes me feel renewed!"

What is your favorite thing about your craft?
"I love to improvise as I create and my pieces often reflect states of mind – I love this intuitive side of crafting, which is an ally of technique. When I started about two years ago I was so inexperienced and I evolved a lot! It’s great the feeling of creating something unique with my own hands and to realize that other people appreciate it – I feel rewarded."

What is one of your current business goals?
"I have opened my etsy shop a few months ago, but the sales are few… I’d love to see it grow and I’ve been working on it. In my dreams I’d love to make a living with my art or at least to dedicate to it the most of my daily time, so I could evolve even more. I’ve been thinking about the possibility to take a jewelry class and invest more time in painting, which was my first and biggest passion."

What special events or plans do you have planned for Fall/Winter?
"I recently launched a new Collection line that I wish to develop during this season. It’s the Pendant Collection and it’s designed thinking about the colder days, with long and medium necklaces to use over your clothes and some hot colors. I also intend to have a promotion thinking about Christmas shopping, so stay tuned!"

How do you use Twitter? Do you have a business goal with Twitter?"I use twitter to promote my shop and spread my blog posts, which are about my work and my life. I also like to connect with other artists that share some common interests."

What is the single most important way you bring traffic/sales to your shop?"Since I created a blog...writing regularly became part of the whole creative process and this as been a great divulgation tool, but also a way to share my life and connect with others. Lately I've been also receiving a lot of feedback through facebook."

Ana is as gifted with her words as she is with her artistic jewelry!


anapinatelier is offering
Free Worldwide Shipping
if you buy two or more products!
Use the code “etsy twitter team” at check out and
the shipping cost will be refunded through Paypal after your purchase.
~~~~~~~
Etsy Shop: http://anapinatelier.etsy.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/anapinatelier
Facebook: http://facebook.com/anapinatelier
Flickr: http://flickr.com/photos/kuartzo
Blog: http://anapina-blog.blogspot.com
Website: http://anapina.com

Written by Judy of WellspringCreations

Shop of the Week -- talinaann

Our Etsy Twitter Team shop of the week is talinaann. The crocheted wearable art and original photographic prints available in this shop are both the work of the talented Talina Ann Zsido.

Talina Ann loves working with natural fibers in her crochet--obtained either from fellow Etsians or her local alpaca farm (how convenient is that!) Her crocheted creations are all original and made without patterns. Talina Ann finds crochet to be "creative therapy" and does the work as much for the relaxation it brings as for the unique finished product.

In addition, she is a gifted photographer and her black and white prints would make a stunning addition to any home or office. Whatever you might choose from her shop would be a unique handmade gift!

As a businesswoman, Talina Ann says she is happy to "sell enough to support my love of yarn". She loves to crochet for fundraisers and even participated in the Relay of Life last year, which she hopes to do again. One of her business secrets is "Paying it forward." She takes "the time to get to know fellow Etsians" and shares with others what she likes in their shops using Twitter, Facebook, and the Etsy forums.


This week at talinaann:
Free shipping on orders over $50!
Note: Shipping will be charged on checkout, but
will be refunded via PayPal
within 24 hours of purchase.
~~~~~~~
Check out Talina Ann at:
Etsy Shop: http://talinaann.etsy.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/talinaann

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/talinaann

Blog: http://talinaann.blogspot.com


Written by Judy of WellspringCreations

Shop of the Week -- FirebirdHouse

Introducing FirebirdHouse, the Etsy shop of Kristen Evans, and our Etsy Twitter Shop of the Week. FirebirdHouse offers books, jewelry, and home accessories. The common theme? Kristen loves using reclaimed and recycled materials as well as new. She says "I really love old things, especially books, and I am passionate about not losing a piece of history to the trash can or the landfill if I can help it." Her ultimate goal is to make everything that comes out of her studio a true work of art that is also useful and unique. It is not surprising that she is inspired by beautiful vintage items, everything from "furniture to an Art Nouveau book", she says.

Browsing FirebirdHouse, it is evident that her work is, by its very nature, unique and one of a kind. Kristen thrives on this variety: "When you work with vintage, you get used to the fact that every piece will be different. I am constantly challenged and inspired by what I do."

While Kristen is talented with updating vintage jewelry, her true love is vintage books. She is looking to move more into bookbinding and has just signed a gallery contract to do just that. How exciting to be able to do what you love most...and be recognized for your work! Congratulations, Kristen! She plans to migrate her FirebirdHouse inventory over to journals and other bookbinding efforts to reflect her changing focus.

Kristen is an accomplished Twitter user. Her only secret? "to interact as much as I can. My twitter-hood is a fantastic group of people, and I find them encouraging and inspiring." Conversely, to bring traffic to her shop, Kristen lists consistently (usually several times a week) and she uses posterous.com to post links to her new work in multiple places at the same time. "These are the best ways I have found for bringing people...to my shop."


FirebirdHouse is offering these SOTW discounts:
10% off all journals
20% off on all jewelry
No code necessary;
Prices will already be marked down!
effective October 11-17, 2010
~~~~~~~
Etsy Shop: http://firebirdhouse.etsy.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/firebirdhouse
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/firebirdhousedesigns
Blog: http://firebirdhouse.posterous.com

Written by Judy of WellspringCreations

Shop of the Week - starbabyonline

Meet Debby Carter of starbabyonline, this week's Etsy Twitter shop of the week. Debby makes jewelry with an ethnic/organic feel and loves working with glass, semi-precious gemstones, and sterling silver. No newbie to jewelry design, Debby has been intermittently designing since 1973, discovering a love of beads early in life. In fact, she admits "working in a bead shop was the first job I ever landed! The owner was smart; she knew she'd get my salary back in my bead purchases."

Her creations are one of a kind because "I want everyone to have their own unique piece." Luckily, Debby finds inspiration everywhere: a bead, a fashion, a movie. As she puts it "Seriously, it could be just about anything... how the weather feels that day..."!

And she loves a lot about her craft-

* Her materials, "There are *always* new beads coming out";

* the social side of beading: "I've met so many friends starting with a conversation at a bead or craft store"; and

* even sharing her skills: "I'm paying forward everything I've learned from others."

Debby is making a big change this season: "I'm moving my 21 years worth of possessions from my three BR house into a house-share that's already furnished. Not coming at the best time of the year for me, because I can't devote as much time to Etsy as I'd like. After my move is complete in November, I'm going to list as much as I can on Etsy as possible. There'll be some great promotions going on with that too!" Something to look forward to!

As for Twitter and promoting her Etsy Shop, Debby feels it is important to promote others as much as she promotes herself, but it is also critical to speak up and let people know she has an Etsy shop!


It's the tenth month,
so Debby is having a special
starbabyonline deal this week:

10% off your total jewelry order
before shipping
with the code SOTW
No limit to how many items!
~~~~~~~
Etsy Shop: http://www.starbabyonline.etsy.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/starbabyonline
Facebook: starbabygems and starbabyreadings
Blog: http://starbabyslittleuniverse.blogspot.com


Written by Judy of WellspringCreations

Shop of the Week - dizzlePOP

Introducing Gigi Thorsen, the creative mind behind dizzlePOP, the Etsy Twitter Team's Shop of the Week. Gigi makes coffee cozies in a wide assortment of fabrics from bold to subtle, from flowers to skulls. It's no wonder she finds inspiration from these wonderful fabrics she's collected. In just over three years, her Etsy shop has seen 870+ sales, so news of her quality and attention to detail has certainly spread. Gigi says "I love making items functional and lasting!"

Some of dizzlePOP's popularity stems from Gigi's great customer service and fast shipping. Not one to rest on her laurels, her goal this year has been to make sure she has enough inventory to be able to turn her orders around quickly, but that's not her motivating force. She says, "For me it's not the numbers but the joy of creating and sharing!"

Gigi feels that Twitter is the best tool that brings business to dizzlePOP. Her secret? "Have relationships with your followers and those you follow." It's not just about the marketing, but the relationships you build through the medium of Twitter than can cause someone to check out your shop and stumble upon that 'just right' purchase. However, she does have a secret Twitter pleasure: Gigi loves to "watch views after a tweet and...to watch the number rise!"


Gigi is planning a holiday special starting sometime after Thanksgiving, but this week she's offering a shop of the week special!

Buy one, get one half off.
If you order 3 or more, shipping is free!
~~~~~~~
Find dizzlePOP on
Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/dizzlepop
Twitter: http://twitter.com/dizzlepop
Written by Judy of WellspringCreations

Shop of the Week - jusshar

The Etsy Twitter Team shop of the week is jusshar, featuring the sewn, knit, and crocheted accessories created by Beth Newbern-Hallam. Beth just doesn't run down to the store to buy material for every project. She loves to recyle yarns and fabrics. As she puts it, "I'm really dedicated to using what I have, and repurposing materials into something new." She does buy new materials for use in custom projects, unless the customer is like-minded and requests the repurposed materials!

As for ideas, Beth doesn't just get inspired; she is driven! "I just have an internal need to create. I knit and/or crochet every single day. I can't imagine NOT creating." Another thing Beth loves about her work is its mobility. She'll take it along on trips, car rides...even to her kids' school events! And if she's not getting the result she wants? "I can just unravel it and start over."

On the business front, Beth is planning to revamp her blog and website. She also plans to change the direction of her work from trying to hit trends to creating the items that come from her own imagination. This will be a challenge as she is a full time student in graphics and web design and planning a move to North Carolina where she plans to continue her college education. She wont' be alone though, as her youngest son will be attending the same college!

As for Twitter, Beth does tweet, but considers herself a "dabbler". As a business tool, she approaches social media carefully as she is concerned about being spammy. "That's such a turn off for me personally." Bringing business to her shop has been a struggle, although she has concluded that her sales are cyclical, with increased activity over the holidays. With her busy college schedule and planned relocation, Beth is planning to put her Etsy shop on an indefinate break on November 30th. "I'd like to sell out my Etsy shop(s) by then."


This week, jusshar is offering
25% off to anyone who adds
"SOTW" in the message to the seller!
~~~~~~~
Other links to jusshar:
Etsy Shop: http://jusshar.etsy.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jusshar
Facebook: http://facebook.com/jusshardesigns
Blog: http://jusshardesigns.blogspot.com

Written by Judy of Wellspring Creations

Shop of the Week - bellabeadjewelry

Our Etsy Shop of the Week is bellabeadjewelry, where you can find handcrafted beads, findings, and even completed jewelry made from them! They are created by proprietor, Linda Lawrence. Her art and the the Etsy shop in which she sells it, are only one of the creative sides to her life. During the day, Linda is an art teacher in a local elementary school and, as she puts it, she "plays with fire by night!"

Linda has been making glass beads and jewelry for several years. She finds it interesting and challenging because there is always something to learn and improve upon when working with glass beadmaking. Many things inspire Linda in her creations; in fact, anything that catches her eye could possibly spark an idea for a bead or jewelry design. Linda adds, "the students I teach are a huge influence on me. I adore children. They are not complicated and are so free and open generally". Linda has a very personal feel about her work and says "the love that I have for making my glass baubles comes through each piece. I want my customers to enjoy it as much as I did creating it!"

Linda's main goals for her Etsy shop are to work smarter, try new things, and keep bellabeadjewelry stocked. Her take on it? "Its hard juggling it all but I believe good planning is key!" Tweeting must be hard for Linda to work into her busy schedule, but she uses Twitter to entice her followers into "popping over to my shop, blog or visit our shop of the week". Linda feels her greatest tools are her blog (to direct people to my etsy shop) and her newsletter.


bellabeadjewelry is offering a
15% discount
for the week of July 26, 2010
~~~~~~~
Please visit bellabeadjewelry!
Shop: http://www.bellabeadjewelry.etsy.com
Blog: http://www.bellabeadjewelrybylinda.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/BellaBellaBeads

Written by Judy of Wellspring Creations

Shop of the week: Glitzy Events

With the wedding season coming up, the Etsy Twitter Team’s Shop of the Week GlitzyEvents has the invitations and the customer service attitude to make the experience perfect for the bride-to-be! The shop proprietor says, “I just want brides to be able to get exactly what they want. Often times with mass production companies there is no personal interaction, so you can’t just say I love this part about this invite, but can you change this. I want my clients to be 100% happy with the product that they receive, so almost all requests can be accommodated.” Since she ships internationally to Canada, UK, Australia, and Ireland, that’s a lot of happy brides!

Kimberley Williams is the talent behind GlitzyEvents. She specializes in custom invitations; the process from start to finish is entirely for the client. They choose all paper colors, fonts, & text, and can also mix and match invitation styles. Coordinating pieces to complete the look and feel of the wedding are also available, i.e. menus, programs, placecards, unity candles, seating charts, & more!

Kimberley’s is inspired by her dedication to quality goods and customer service. And she loves all the options available for paper goods. “There are always tons of new papers in production so I can continually evolve my line.” And with her high quality paper goods, hardware, and machinery, “everything from samples to full invitation orders come beautifully professionally packaged, and with useful freebies for the modern bride.”

Facebook and Twitter are key tools for Kimberley’s business, but most importantly, she enjoys them as a means of building relationships. In addition, she says she has ‘met’ and been able to cross promote with many great wedding professionals. When tweeting about a new product or promo, “the retweets from these ‘tweeps’ have been really priceless.”



Her 2010 New Year’s resolutions is to “reach a larger audience. The start of 2010 has been fantastic. I have literally tripled my business from this time one year ago. It really has been an awesome start to the year.”



From February 8-14, GlitzyEvents is offer
Free shipping on all invitation samples
Just mention EtsyTwitter @ check-out for a refund on shipping,
or convo me ahead of time for an updated listing.

To learn more about Kim and her amazing shop please use these links:

twitter is http://twitter.com/glitzyevents

blog is http://blog.glitzyevents.com/

facebook: http://facebook.com/glitzyevents

Written by Judy.

WellspringCreations.etsy.com

Shop of the Week: Sweetwater Inspirations

In Sweetwater Inspirations , owner and designer Wendy Hamilton offers her customers distinctive hand-crafted jewelry of exceptional quality and value. Within her shop you can find gifts for men, women, brides, and teens. You can see that in every piece that Wendy makes she takes pride and is very meticulous with her workmanship to ensure a special pieces for each of her customers. Please see her shop for international shipping details and convo her if you need more information.


Wendy admits that "I love to work with metal wire (sterling, copper, brass) and love the sparkle and unique qualities found in glass, stone, and semi-precious beads. I choose materials of quality and pride myself on representing my materials and jewelry with integrity. I purchase my materials in small quantities, so I sell limited production or one of a kind pieces."

She explained to me that her inspirations really are not much of inspiration as it is an "Addiction. Really, my inspiration is as uncontrived as seeing something new to 'play' with, the interplay of color, or the hypnotic affect of sparkly things. Although my husband groans at stepping into a bead or craft store, he has learned to bring his Blackberry for company and is really very patient when my head starts spinning with possibilities."

Although Wendy is new to Twitter and Etsy (opened on 1/5/09: Happy One Year!!) she would like to share what she has learned on Twitter: "I’ve tried to develop a following for my business by tweeting new items in my shop; but I also like the camaraderie of tweeting with other business owners. I think that Twitter and especially the Etsy Twitter Team offer a great way for business owners to connect and help support each other. It’s amazing how a kind tweet or re-tweet has the ability to open each business to a whole new network of people."

Since her store just celebrated its first anniversary on Etsy, Wendy has taken on the following resolution for 2010: "Last year I put a lot of time into learning about e-commerce and developing the software I needed to make my business end run efficiently. This year I am taking courses to hone and expand my metalworking skills and will put more of my time into design development and building my portfolio."

Good luck Wendy! We look forward to seeing your new metal work and designs in 2010!

From January 18th-24th Wendy is offering the following discount in her shop:

FREE US SHIPPING on all items in her Etsy shop
- PLUS a 10% discount on purchases totaling $50 or more* ·
Discount will be refunded to PayPal after payment or you may convo her before payment for a revised invoice. Texas residents - applicable purchase of $50 is calculated before sales tax. International shipping is not included in applicable minimum purchase and discount does not apply to shipping.


Wow! What a great idea to tell our DH and family members to do while we shop for the things we love the most! Thanks for the amazing tips Wendy about your shop and about your how you work on Twitter.

To learn more about Sweetwater Inspirations please visit Wendy's shop at:
http://sweetwatergifts.etsy.com/

Use the links below to follow Sweetwater's latest information:

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/SweetwaterGifts
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sweetwater-Inspirations/115542896770

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade SweetwaterGifts.etsy.com

Written by Jen K. of http://jenco13.etsy.com

Shop of the Week: Lost Mitten

When stepping into this week's Shop of the Week, LostMitten.etsy.com, you can feel Lauren Y.'s love for all things that come from video games. Lauren's shop includes handmade crafts, Perler Bead goods for your office and home, needlepoint creations, Nintendo DS cases, and more. In addition to video games, she loves to knit and crochet! You have to check out these amazing fingerless gloves and awesome hats! A perfect gift for this chilly season (and I do mean chilly)! Lost Mitten is also known for a variety of pinback buttons.

Lauren's shop ships internationally and is located in Brantford, Ontario, Canada (near Hamilton, Toronto, London). Lauren would like all of her customers to know that "Each item in the Lost Mitten Etsy Shop is lovingly handmade by me. The designs and concepts for the creations are a collaboration between myself and my fiancé, Paul. My shop has been open since September 2006."

Here at the Etsy Twitter Team we love to share our tricks and favorite ways to use Twitter. Lauren has told me that she just "loves to tweet about my handmade creations and anything else that happens in day-to-day life. I have met some awesome people through my tweets, so I feel that it is important to make these connections and friendships for an improved Twitter experience. I think it is important to establish a balance between tweeting for your business and tweeting about yourself because people don't want to feel like they are being advertised to all of the time. They want to hear about your interests and other interesting things, too!"

So true Lauren and we love to read your tweets about what’s going on in your Etsy store and your day-to-day life!

Lauren's favorite part of her craft is when she finds out that one of her items have made a wonderful gift for anyone or themselves. Her favorite items to make are the Perler Bead items that she started to make in 2006 when her shop opened on Etsy. Lauren also enjoys taking on new challenges in her craft. (Please convo her for custom made items.)

Since it is the beginning of 2010, we have challenged all of our members to take on a New Year’s Resolution. Lauren admits (like most of us here at ETT) that Etsy becomes addicting. She hopes to spend more time creating this year as a part-time job. We wish you tons of luck, Lauren, in this new resolution and want to say congratulations to you and Paul on planning your wedding.

Follow her on Twitter: @lostmitten
Fan her Facebook Pages: http://www.facebook.com/lostmittenetsy
http://www.facebook.com/lostmitten
Read her blog: http://lostmittenblog.blogspot.com

This week ONLY (ends January 17, 2010):
10% off all items for anyone who mentions this article! Mention "Etsy Twitter Team" in comments at checkout and after payment is received via PayPal she will refund you for the amount of the discount.

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade lostmitten.etsy.com

Article by Jen K.
www.jenco13.etsy.com

Shop Of The Week: JusShar Designs

Brr! Winter's chill is in the air even here in Atlanta, and that means getting out the warm toasty goodness of my fav pair of fingerless gloves. It also means its time to pay a visit to Jusshar Designs. This snuggly Etsy shop is brimful of hats, scarves, fingerless gloves, shrugs and more, all designed with enough flair to keep winter's worst at bay in style.

Owner Beth Newbern-Hallam loves the satisfaction of taking a "skein or two of yarn and creating something from it. I'm also really beginning to appreciate the process of making yarn. I've been slowly starting to take raw fleece and spin it into yarn. I haven't done enough to actually make something with it because there is so much involved. I have a new respect for spinners!"

Beth gathers inspiration from everywhere. "Every time I see a show, movie, or commercial with fiber creations in it, I think to myself...."bookmark that idea for later". Sometimes I can't sit back and enjoy the movie for all the fiber seeking I'm doing.
Mainly, though, I knit and crochet because I absolutely love to do it. It's almost like I HAVE to do it to feel right with the world."

A growing fondness for the warm beauty of Icelandic wool is fueling Beth's newest interest in working with raw fleece.

"Icelandic sheep are gorgeous animals, and their wool is so incredibly soft. I haven't dyed any of it yet, because I really like the earthy tones ...reds, browns, and blacks are my favorites."

Jusshar Designs is happy to ship internationally as well as create custom items. "I absolutely adore making the sweater shrugs that I have listed as a custom item in my shop! I was surprised at how popular they are with brides."

Beautiful handknits and crocheted pieces make fabulous gifts, so now's the time to take advantage of the discount below:

10% off For Fans of Jusshar on Facebook, With

Free Shipping in the US and Discounted Rates for Those Outside

The US.

Visit JusShar Designs: http://jusshar.etsy.com/

Follow Jusshar on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jusShar

Fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jusshardesigns

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade jusshar.etsy.com

Shop of the Week: Journey of Love Designs

Denise Kung, of JourneyofLoveDesigns.etsy.com, is a woman after my own heart. Most of her work is made with fascinating papers, many of them Japanese papers. I absolutely love paper! I want to buy everything in her shop!

She specializes in stationary, paper gifts, magnets, and even related products like invitations, escort cards, and table numbers.

Denise also has a second Etsy shop called SeashellBaby.etsy.com. She lists products made by her mother. Her mother had to retire early due to her poor health. Now she knits and crochets to pass the time. She loves to come up with new products to make. What a nice mother-daughter story!

Denise is currently working with Japanese chiyogami paper (chiyogami is a type of Japanese paper decorated with brightly colored, woodblock-printed patterns) for her products. “I recently returned from a trip to Japan. I bought a few sheets of chiyogami paper and will be using them for my new products. I would love to buy the whole store of paper! The colors and textures are so beautiful and delicate. I am inspired by the colors and patterns of the papers I work with and find. I am a visual person so my eyes get tickled when I see certain papers,” says Denise about her adoration of paper. Her work reflects an interest in Asian design like in this Chinese New Year Paper Orb Ornament.

“I have always loved creating things. My craft allows me to come up with ideas and carry them out to put together materials and create something new from them. Also, when I get an event related order, I enlist the help of my mother and we bond over our work.”

Follow her on Twitter: @journeyoflove
Read her blog: http://journeyoflovedesigns.blogspot.com
Fan her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Journey-of-Love-Designs

Special for This Week Only:

Free set of 6 gift tags with any order
from Journey of Love Designs.

Free set of 2 scrubbies/coasters with any order
from Seashell Baby.

Use code: "Etsytwitterteam"

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade journeyoflovedesigns.etsy.com

Shop Of The Week: Jenco13

Visiting Jenco13 is a sure way to feel a serious need for something warm. Multi-colored shawls, scarves (with pockets!), cup cozies, cuddly baby blankets and more fill this Etsy store.

Jen freely admits that most of her items narrowly miss being kept. "I love each item I make and sometimes find them very hard to part with! I spend anywhere between 6-8 hours on a scarf to make sure my stitches are even and consistent. If it's not up to my standards, I rip out the stitches until I'm satisfied. I only sell things that I would use myself. When I'm done making things, my husband, Joe, normally has to remind me I already have a million scarves and cup cozies of my own!"

Jen credits her mom, a graphic designer and artist herself, with inspiring her. "She is amazing with colors! We try to get together at least once every 6 months to do an art day for the girls."

Husband Joe is also supportive. "He is an amazing supporter of my art work and never says to me, 'You're crocheting again?' He helps me pick out what my next projects are going to be."

Jen ships her work internationally and is happy to do custom items. "I love to take custom orders from people when they see something new that I have not thought about making before."

As head of the Etsy Twitter Team's PR Committee, Jen is an avid user of Twitter and has a few tricks of the trade to share.

"Each month I go on to friendorfollow.com to see who has been following me, who are my friends, and who is not following me. I first figure out who is no longer using their accounts and get rid of those friends, so that I have room to add those who are following me. I only spend about 30 minutes or so, because you can really get caught up doing things on Twitter!"

She also makes it a point to respond. "I ALWAYS respond to those who RT my information, recommend me for #followfridays or DM me. I feel its important to make those connections on Twitter."

Jen credits persistence and determination for helping her get her store going. "I am the little engine that could! I never give up on things. When times are tough, I stick to my goal and keep on trucking."

Become a fan of Jen on Facebook : http://tinyurl.com/ygnf96e or Follow her on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jenco13

Jenco13 is offering a two deals this week:

CUP COZIES ARE BUY ONE GET ONE FREE!
SCARVES ARE BUY ONE GET ONE 1/2 PRICED!
USE THE COUPON CODE -ETTROCKS!

Please note these deals are for the the lesser or equal amount of the second item chosen. Custom orders are welcome. It will be refunded through paypal within 24 hours of purchase. Buyer is responsible for shipping and handling of all items purchased (please see special rates for second items). Priority mail rates are available for US customers only.

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade Jenco13.etsy.com

Shop of the Week: Pretty Whimsical

This Shop of the Week is a really cool one! Stacey Gaar, of PrettyWhimsical.etsy.com, is an exceedingly talented artist. She makes the most delightful Scrabble tile pendants!! You can find something for everyone on your list this holiday season in Stacey’s shop. She has Halloween covered, too! Her selection encompasses many styles and includes everything from birds, quotes, holidays, vintage to steampunk and modern. These affordable, handmade charms are perfect for teachers, co-workers, friends and family. She can also turn any pendant she has listed in her shop into a ring or magnet, upon request.

“I have always loved art and crafts. I'm inspired by colors, textures and designs. No matter how busy I am with my family and their activities I have to find time to create. It relaxes me after a hectic day and I enjoy working on my pendants to unwind. I have so much fun looking for designs. I'm always hunting for something new that I think will work on the tile and my customers will be excited about.”

Stacey gets the word out about her work though Twitter. She says, “I enjoy using Twitter to keep everyone up-to-date on what's happening in my Etsy shop. I tweet about new pendants and specials in my shop. Twitter helps to boost my store traffic. I appreciate the team [Etsy Twitter Team] and all the support we offer to each other. It's always nice to find that someone from the team has taken the time to retweet or give a word of encouragement about a new item.”

She is having a month long sale, too! All Halloween pendants are only $5 this month.

This week's special: Buy two pendants and get one free. (Note: Do not add free pendant to your cart. Simply add the name of the pendant you would like free in the “Message to Seller” section of your checkout form.) Don’t forget to add your chain onto your order if you need one!

Follow her on Twitter @prettywhimsical
Read her blog: prettywhimsical.blogspot.com

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade prettywhimsical.etsy.com