Mildy Late Members Monday: DelightedHands3113

The alliteration remains and we welcome Kendra from DelightedHands3113!

     

Tell us a bit about yourself and your shop. 
I live out in the country north of Cedar Springs, where the bears and coyotes roam. I have a physics degree, work in a law office, and love to play with yarn. I recently added a pattern section to my shop. I have half a dozen patterns listed now, and plan to write more this spring and summer.

What are you currently working on? 
I just finished a sweet, fuzzy little pair of pink baby booties for my hubby's coworker. Now I am designing a knit version of my modular drawer organizer pattern. There is also a left mitten with an awesome cabled pattern waiting for its mate, but since our snow recently exited the scene, it may have a long wait.

What do you like to do in your free time outside of your business?
My family is very close; we love to work on projects, play games, garden, and be silly together. I also play classical guitar in my church's worship team, and love to read.

Where would you like to see your shop and business in a year? 
I plan to focus on developing and adding new patterns, and perhaps make some of my reclaimed yarn available in my shop.

Where can we find you online and/or locally? 
In addition to my Etsy shop,www.DelightedHands3113.etsy.com, you can find me on Ravelry as ThirtyOneThirteen. Come visit!

Thanks, Kendra! You can also read more about Kendra here (scroll down) and have a chance to win one of her unique patterns.

Members Monday: BellaJoy

Time to welcome a new featured seller - Heidi from Bella Joy Pottery!

     

Tell us a bit about yourself and your shop.

I'm a full time clay artist and can actually buy my own health insurance. :) I also teach ceramics part time at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. I live in Plainwell, MI and have two cats and a dog. I like reading, swimming, being outside, tomatoes, gardening, taking naps, and going fishing with my boyfriend Joe.

What are you currently working on?

I currently working on expanding my lace line. I knit lace and dip in porcelain slip to create vases, teapots, and cups. I'm trying to teach myself how to crochet because people keep telling me it's faster and easier than knitting.

What do you like to do in your free time outside of your business?

What's free time? I like to go out to eat, watch movies, run, and take Hunter (my dog) for walks.

Where would you like to see your shop and business in a year?

I would like to see enough sales on my shop so that I can cut out some more retails shows in the summer. I also hope to do more wholesale. I don't like working weekends in the summer.

Where can we find you online and/or locally?
Oh man. I have a website http://www.bellajoypottery.com. I have a Facebook Fan page - http://www.facebook.com/HeidiMCF. I have a Twitter account - http://twitter.com/HeidiMCF.
I have a blog - http://www.heidifahrenbacherbellajoy.blogspot.com.

My work can be found at:

• Ann Arbor Art Center - Ann Arbor, MI
• Art Center of Battle Creek - Battle Creek, MI
• Brandy's Boutique - Plainwell, MI
• Gallery on Main - Bay Harbor, MI
• Kalamazoo Institute of Arts - Kalamazoo, MI
• Khnemu Gallery - Fennville, MI
• Pewabic Pottery - Detroit, MI
• Craft and Folk Art Museum - Los Angeles, CA
• Water Street Coffee Joint - Kalamazoo, MI

For art fairs this summer I'll be in the East Lansing show, the KIA Bronson Park Show, Highland Park Fine Craft Fair (suburb of Chicago), Krasl Art Fair on the Bluffs, the State Street Art Fair in Ann Arbor, and Bay Harbor Art Fair.

Wow! Thanks so much, Heidi. This girl is everywhere so be sure to check out her work in person and in this weeks Featured Seller sidebar.

          

Introducing another batch of new EtsyWMI team members - ThePursery, jesseelin, and ChellasCollection.

Members Monday: VivianLaneJewelry

It's Monday and this week we're getting to know our new featured seller, Laine from Vivian Lane Jewelry!

     

Tell us a bit about yourself and your shop.
I'm a stay-at-home-mom who worked full time outside of the home before my son was born. After he was born (and life started to finally settle down a little bit) I realized that I desperately needed a hobby - something I did specifically for myself. I love jewelry, and I love creating things that I think are beautiful, but, as I say in my shop announcement, I only have so many fingers/wrists/ears/etc.

What are you currently working on?
The items that sell the most in my store are the "mom" necklaces (customized stamped metal) and the wire-wrapped trees that I also customize based on the customer's preference of stones. I have a couple of ideas of items to add in the coming months, but nothing firm yet.

What do you like to do in your free time outside of your business?
Play with my kid. Sleep! :) I love to read, and I'm also a huge television fan.

Where would you to see your shop and business in a year?
Honestly, I love where my shop is at right now. I have just enough business that it supports me adding new items when I want to learn something new, but not so much that I'm overwhelmed. I'd love to try a craft show or two, though.

Where can we find you online and/or locally?
http://VivianLaneJewelry.etsy.com
http://www.twitter.com/VLJewelry
http://www.facebook.com/VivianLaneJewelry

Laine also is hosting a giveaway on this blog where you can win a $15 gift certificate and free shipping! I'm thinking a custom Mother's Day gift would be great for the winner!

Now to introduce a few more of our newest members! Here's SpinDriftGlassWorks, BarbarasQuilts, and AlteredIron.

Members Monday: ineedclosure

Welcome back for another (slightly early) week of Members Monday. This week random.org picked one of our newest EtsyWMI team members to be featured. Introducing...

Autumn from I Need Closure is our new EtsyWMI shop of the week!

Tell us a bit about yourself and your shop.

I'm from Hesperia, MI. I graduated from Central Michigan University in 2006 with a Bachelor's of Fine Art in printmaking. After I graduated I spent about two and a half years working at a ceramics studio/local artist's gallery in Rochester, MI, Firebrick Gallery and Pottery Studio. I moved back to the area recently to try and make a go of selling my art for a living, and my Etsy shop, I Need Closure, is one of the ways I am trying to accomplish that. I also make functional wheel thrown pottery, which may soon warrant it's own shop.

What are you currently working on?

Currently, I am working on about a million different things. Buttons, most immediately, but also making and finding places to sell my functional pottery. Very slowly figuring out how to work this dang'ol' etsy contraption. Teaching pottery classes at the Newaygo County Council for the Arts, in Fremont, MI. Applying for graduate schools, summer jobs, galleries and such. Planning a baby shower, trying to keep my house clean, and trying to decide what I'm having for dinner tonight.

What do you like to do in your free time outside of your business?
I found that my problem with running your own "business" is that you're never really off the clock. I am constantly thinking about what I should or could be doing in regards to buttons or pottery. Which is good and bad. It makes it hard to stop and relax, but then you also get those really great ideas at 3 a.m. When I actually do get myself out of the studio or off the computer, I really enjoy cooking and then eating what I've/we've cooked with my family. I do a massive amount of reading and I spend a bit of time knitting, too - which is where I got the button idea from. And when I sell enough buttons I treat myself to a night out in Grand Rapids with friends, which usually involves tasty micro-brews followed by coney dogs.

Where would you to see your shop and business in a year?
In a year's time... I haven't the foggiest. This has been a big change for me too! My life is a little topsy turvy at the moment, and I can't decide if I like not knowing where I'll be in year. Best case scenario, I'll be enrolled at some wonderful graduate school, making pottery and buttons and mailing my buttons all over the country. But who knows what other opportunities will arise?

Where can we find you online and/or locally?
I am really just starting out, here. I am starting to get a hang of this Etsy thing, but I'm afraid I'm a little out of the loop when it come to having a presence on the web. But I have my own personal IT guy (thanks, little brother), so the website and facebook page are coming. In real life, I Need Closure Buttons can be found at:

• The Attic Window Quilt Shop - Comstock Park, MI
• Quilt Something - Fremont, MI
• Fanna's Mercantile - Hesperia, MI
• Six Degrees Retail Store - Benton Harbor, MI

Thanks so much, Autumn! I loved learning more about you and getting a peek at your great personality.  Be sure to check out a few items from I Need Closer this week in the sidebar.

           

Let's welcome some of our newest EtsyWMI members to round out this Members Monday. Welcome to marcellas3monkeys, antlerpens, and TheHealingCupboard!

First Members Monday!

Hi everyone - BySaraLynn here. To start off March with a bang, I'm going to be writing a new weekly feature here on the EtsyWMI team blog!  For the past couple of months every Monday our featured shop of the week has been changing in the sidebar.  Members Monday is going to give us a little peak into that shop every week and the person behind it along with introducing a few new members.  So here goes!

   

Mary Beth from Island Girl Bags is our new EtsyWMI shop of the week.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your shop

I'm a stay at home mom of two boys who are very busy with school activities and sports. I've been married to the most supportive man for 12 years now. My shop consists of mostly handbags and tons of accessories that fit right into your bag!

What are you currently working on? 

I'm always working on my inventory. I've got a bunch of outdoor shows coming up this Spring and Summer so I'm working on having a lot of choices for my customers.

What do you like to do in your free time outside of your business? 

Both of my boys are in hockey, soccer and baseball so that keeps me super busy. I love watching them play their sports.

Where would you to see your shop and business in a year?

I would love to get my name out a little more locally. I've started doing home shows and really enjoy them, so it's getting there.

Where can we find you online and/or locally?

http://www.islandgirlbags.com and on Etsy. Locally I do home parties and different events throughout the summer.

Thanks so much for being our first interview, Mary Beth! Be sure to check out some of her items this week in the sidebar.

And now to welcome a few new EtsyWMI members. A warm welcome to AugustMoonArtistree, bellajoy, and TheElegantElle.

          

Team Get Together!

Saturday, February 27, a few of us meet up to chat, show off our latest projects, and share some of our best seller tips! It was a lot of fun! I always enjoy these get-togethers! Visit the forum or watch for group posts for the next gathering.

From left, standing: Ginny (NewLeafDesigns) LaShelle (La01Shelle) Barbara (BarbarasQuilts) Jesse (Jesseelin) Cathy (JustJaynes) Holly (Inthemaking01)

From left, sitting: Harriet (ThatIsSoCute) Amy (PerennialPiecer) Julie (CelebrateToday)