Featured Artist: Hop Skip Jump

It must be because I've been reading on so many of my favorite blogs lately about babies. Or the fact that I know a handful of friends who have had babies in the past few months. Or maybe it's the excitement of the arrival of a baby in my own family. I've got babies on my mind. And by that I mean baby gifts, friends. (For other people's babies, just to be certain that we're clear here.) I love making/buying/finding gifts for babies, and toddlers, and children in general. There's so much to choose from, so much they need, and I love giving gifts. So as I was perusing for gift ideas earlier this week I came across Hop Skip Jump, and instantly fell in love.

I'm not just talking about falling in love with the logo (though being a designer, I kind of squealed a bit at its cuteness too!) I fell in love with the cuteness of the original designs and DIY patterns of Fiona, Hop Skip Jump's owner. Fiona is from Adelaide, Australia, has a husband (Matt) and two children (Audrey and Henry) and works as a part time graphic designer and a part time soft toy maker. Get ready to drop your jaw:

What child wouldn't need a Gerald Giraffe soft toy? I'm in love with his tie. Such a professional guy, that Gerald.

And then there's Rufus Dog. You can tell this guy's got style- a scarf around the neck and patterned ears? I particularly like his asymmetrical eyes.

The great thing about Fiona's printable patterns is that you can customize them to your liking. Download Jack Rabbit's pattern and you can decide whether you want a boy or girl- there's overalls, a vest, and a skirt pattern included!

And really, would the collection be complete without a doll named Poppy? I truly think that every kid should have some sort of softie like the ones from Hop Skip Jump. This is the kind of gift that somehow finds it's way into the box marked "college" instead of "attic" if you know what I mean.

Please, do me (and all the little guys in your life) a favor and head over to Hop Skip Jump's shop to check out the oh-so-affordable printable soft toy patterns. You can also find Fiona at her blog, and on Flickr.

Which pattern is your fave?

Featured Artist: Moxidoll

Today's featured artist is one of those whose shop I start to peruse and I Just. Can't. Decide. It's like she knows my taste and made every last product specifically for me. Mandy, of Moxiedoll, had a very successful career as a librarian in the Chicago area, but recently took on her embroidery craft business full-time. If that's not inspiring enough as it is, check out how lovely her work is:

Yeah that's a Lost reference. Which obviously makes Mandy my new favorite person.

Man I miss viewfinders. I seem to remember a restaurant from my childhood that had their dessert menu displayed through one of these things too... anyone remember that place? Update: It's Zio's in KC. Thanks, Dad!

I want need this little set for my kitchen. When I have a kitchen with the wall space to hang it.

Sean and I like to ride bikes. Why not show that off in our home decor?

I don't know what it is about owls exactly. But they're pretty awesome in my book. I love the retro feel this one has with the darker fabric.

Dirty Dancing, anyone?

I like type!

Mandy has and entire shop full of embroidered goodies over at Moxiedoll, so go check out her shop too see more. You can also find her on twitter, or facebook, and if you join her facebook page you can get free shipping by mentioning the offer at check out. She runs a vintage shop too, which I'm going to this very moment.

Featured Artists: Gerren and Morgana

Earlier this week I was trolling the internet for goodies to pin, and I came across Gerren Lamson's website. I mean with an image like this, how could I resist asking him for an interview?

Gerren's Venn by Pen series is what sucked me in, but once I chatted with him a bit, I was thrilled to find out that his wife Morgana is also an artist! You know I melt over anything related to couples, and this just happens to be turning into Valentine's week on the ol' blog, so I may have squealed a little when I heard back from them. Check it out!

calendar by Morgana

What inspires your work? What kind of background do you have (education, self-taught, etc.)?
I'd have to say that all kinds of design work, illustration, interiors, crafted goods, and more inspire us. Anything that communicates a colorful aesthetic mixed with a human touch always strikes a chord with both of us. I've got a B.F.A. in design, and Morgana is a self-taught illustrator, crafter, and pattern designer. We've both taken print-making and mixed media classes in the past, and draw together on a weekly/daily basis.

printable Valentines by Morgana

Do you have any advice for artists who are just getting started?
I would say it's important to find the specific types of design and fine art that really inspire you, and invest a good amount of time honing your craft and style (i.e. ability to execute fine details in a beautiful and unique way). Explore different ways in which you can create meaningful work that communicates something about the human experience, goodness of life, unconditional love, and other universal themes.

Bird Cup by Gerren

What is the best part of what you do/make?
I'd have to say it's the process in which the things are designed/made. There's therapeutic value in taking your time crafting, drawing, or designing something, and that's really enjoyable. It really helps us make sense of our personal life experiences. The other great part is to see people enjoying the work, creating dialogue around it, and wanting to have a piece of it for themselves.

Felt ornament templates by Gerren and Morgana

Is this your full time job?
My design job is full-time. I work as an Senior Designer at Springbox. Morgana and I both spend part of time in the evenings and weekends creating illustration work, patterns, crafts, prints, and more. *Ed. Note, we're kind of in the presence of a design expert, friends. You may have seen some of his work here, ... among many other places.

felt ornaments by Morgana and friends

Do you work out of your home, or do you have a separate studio?
We produce art at home, usually on our kitchen table and in our office. The other day I was tea dying paper and the kitchen table was overflowing with bowls of tea and paper, it made the house smell of mint and chai. So right now the designated studio space is often the entire house.

Venn By Pen by Gerren

What challenges and triumphs do you face as a couple with your art, shop/studio and full-time jobs?
I don't really think we've experienced many challenges yet with producing our art because we both have full-time jobs, but I'd say that finding enough time to get work out the door (i.e. photographed and put up online) is an issue sometimes. There's a freedom to producing art for fun and not as a fiscal living that we enjoy.

I love finding great designers/artists who create outside of their day jobs for the fun of it.... especially those who are couples! Nothin' screams cute like a duo who can craft together.

You can find out more about Gerren on his blog, on tumblr, or at his website. Morgana will keep you updated via Fellow Creatives.

And as a special treat, don't forget to visit their joint Etsy shop, Satchel and Sage, where you can buy the above Forever Valentine print. Seriously, check it out... the price is unbeatable and they're flying off the shelves. They've got it in red as well! Mine's already on it's way in the mail :)

Share the love! What do you think about Gerren and Morgana's art?

Flanders Field Photography

If there's ever a "go to" seller for answering every last one of your Etsy related questions, it's definitely Jenny of Flanders Field Photography. Jenny specializes in flower and nature closeups, that are available in color, black and white, sepia and varying sizes. She's about to celebrate her shop's third birthday- so check it out!

Innocence

Jenny is a full-time mom to two boys, but when she has time off she spends it with photography. "I wander out my door to take photos in my yard or my neighborhood, then head back inside and spend time on the computer deciding if any of them pass muster.  I'm lucky to live in Seattle, where there are many varieties of plants to choose from."

Touch ACEO

"I am inspired by nature, patterns and details, and by the possibility of helping people see things in a different way. I have an engineering background, and a friend once commented about the 'geometry' of my photos. I wasn't even aware of it at the time, but I think that's a big aspect of my work as well."" Jenny is a self-taught photographer. "I started taking pictures for the purpose of decorating our home, and I got good feedback from friends and family. When a friend told me about Etsy, I decided to see if others might like my work as well!" Turns out, they do!

Wound Up

Jenny's helpful nature in the Etsy forums made her an obvious choice to feature on You Had Me At Handmade. For any newbie who is thinking about going the Etsy route, Jenny suggests "that they do a lot reading and exploring of the site so they can understand how to best present their work.  The Help page is an obvious place to start, but they should also be sure to click around on the Buy page and become familiar with the different ways to shop on Etsy and how the search function works.  They should also spend some time in their category to get a sense of what works and what doesn't work when it comes to listing items, then develop their own style."

Hello Dolly Pink

"What I like most about photography is the way it has helped me to see through different eyes.  I notice more details and have a better appreciation of the world around me.  And it's really rewarding when someone else enjoys my view as well!" I certainly notice the detail and work that Jenny puts into her photos! You can check out her shop here, or find her on Facebook.

Wonder ACEO

I've got one jam packed weekend coming up! Tonight, my parents are coming to town to have a pre-birthday dinner with Sean and I, plus his parents are coming too! I'm thinking Mexican sounds good... AND to top it all off, my Lily dog is moving in for a month long vacation from my parents' house. Tomorrow, there's cupcakes, bowling, beer, pizza and lots of friends involved to celebrate the big 2-4. And finally, Sunday... the LOST finale is going to rock my world. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Ethereal

all images courtesy of Flanders Field Photography

Amy Cantini

If there's ever a name that can get stuck in your head simply for having the perfect ring to it, it's Amy Cantini. I found Amy in the forums a while back, chatting about Etsy success, and I continue to see her there on a regular basis asking questions and helping other sellers with theirs.

Amy's shop, Things I Like, has been full of unique and handmade ornaments, jewelry and paper goods since mid 2008. "Raising my boys and maintaining our household is my fulltime job. Though it doesn't pay well in money, it has many benefits and is very rewarding." For being a part time seller, Amy obviously puts a lot of hard work into making her shop a fun place to visit.

split personality necklace

"It's difficult to pin down what exactly inspires me. The world around me I expect, and all the beauty in it. I have been surrounded by vintage items and antiques nestled amongst modern day treasures my whole life. I've watched old movies and buried my nose in the pages of old books. I have a love of times past and far away places, I'm sure it's all very romanticized in my head. I love angels and crosses and old iron works, and the beauty of nature and the peacefulness of a cemetery. I believe you can find beauty all around you everyday...sometimes though, you have to really want to see it."

 angels and iron vellum ornaments

In all the items for sale on Etsy, I find Amy's to be quite a refreshing change. There are few sellers who can find the beauty that she does in a cemetery. Her vellum ornaments, pictured above, showcase her skilled photography in a format that is reminiscent of the past. (Does anyone remember when you had to submit slides of your work, instead of digital images, to enter art contests? See, I'm not as young as you think!)

 blank notecard with envelope

When asked what she advice she would give new Etsy sellers Amy says, "I think definitely to love what you're doing, it's going to be a lot of work. That has to be reward enough sometimes. Knowing you did your best. People will come eventually and you need to be prepared for it to take a while. Don't ever invest more than you can afford to lose, and only you know what that is. Never undervalue your work...but don't price yourself out of the market either. It's a fine line to walk. Just leave yourself room to have a profit after a sale. Never sell anything that you would not purchase or use for yourself. It's a piece of you, people will get to know you buy your craftmanship and your customer service." All good things come with time.

 white blossom bookmark

Amy says the best part of what she does is that "I made it...that's the best part. It's so much fun to take a pile of beads and findings and turn it into something it wasn't before. Same goes for wood and paint and fabric and paper. I always have my hand in something and nothing is ever finished. Things can be worked and reworked a dozen times before they're right. All of it is worth it when someone loves it as much as you do."

And finally, some words of wisdom that make me smile: "Creativity is a gift. The ability to utilize it a blessing...you never know what you'll find." Thanks for the great advice, Amy! Be sure to visit Things I Like on Etsy. Amy would be also be ecstatic if you would add her on facebook.

Happy Friday, everyone! I'm off to celebrate Maifest in Hermann, MO tomorrow, to take a break from the sewing frenzy I've been in for the Green With Indie Craft Show.

Tissage

I'm on an accessory kick lately. Hats, bags, belts, shoes... jewelry. You name it. So perhaps that's why today's Found in the Forums seller stood out this time around, as Tory of Tissage has the kind of shop that accessory lovers will drool over.

 Handmade Cloche Hat

 Packed full of accessories with "vintage style and modern romance," Tory's shop has offered a variety of unique handmade goods since July of 2008. She has managed to make it her full-time job (which I envy) in that time while also working on her doctorate in Medieval Literature.

 Silver Leaves and Blue Glass Earrings

Tory says that working out of her own home gives her "the flexibility of being able to make my own schedule. In reality I work all the time; I rarely take a full day off. But I love what I’m doing so it doesn’t feel like work."

 Gold Chain Green and Blue Glass Bracelet

I can relate to the process Tory described she goes through when designing new pieces for the Tissage shop. "I’m often inspired by the materials themselves. If I find a fabulous vintage rhinestone brooch I start thinking of designs and I can’t wait to use it in a new piece. I often design pieces in my head as I’m falling asleep at night. I’m also inspired by the aesthetics of the late 19th and early 20th century, from the Belle Époque to Art Nouveau to Art Deco. Most of my hats are inspired by the fashion of the 1920s and 30s." I've often been told to keep a sketchbook on my nightstand for this very same reason, Tory! I find t's those times that you take a break from the rest of it all that you come up with your best ideas.

Spring Green and Pale Blue Necklace

Tory has developed an ecclectic mixture of skills through instruction and self-discovery. "I decided to major in Literature in college because I knew I would always create art and I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to read and talk about great books and poetry. As I child I made all sorts of things, from salt water taffy to paper mache creatures. I studied painting in France for a year and then went on to study glass blowing and metal sculpture in college. I taught myself how to knit from a book and learned how to make soap and candles the same way. Most recently I’ve learned how to make hats from a fabulous teacher and picked up embroidery on my own. So I’m a combination of self taught and formally educated."

 Pale Blue and Gold Soft Ruffle Scarf

It's quite obvious that Tory has done her research when it comes to photography. Every photo in the Tissage shop is impeccable! She advises other Etsy sellers to "work on your photos. Photos are really key to selling online and I knew nothing about product photography when I started. I got a ton of help in the forums; that’s part of why I like to help people in the forums now." She also mentions that having realistic expectations is very important. "Selling on Etsy is a lot of work and it doesn’t happen overnight."

I hope you'll go visit Tissage to see the hundreds of accessories Tory has to offer! Especially keep her in mind if you're looking for custom work: "I love doing custom jewelry for weddings and other special events because I get to work directly with the buyer." Thanks for being a part of Found in the Forums Friday, Tory!


Happy Friday, everyone!

Egg A Go Go

For the last Found in the Forums of April I'd like to introduce you to Sarah of Egg A Go Go- an Etsy shop filled to the brim with handmade pillows, screen prints, cat toys, silk screened stationery, embroidery and original paintings. It seems that Sarah and I must have the same schedule when it comes to visiting the forums, as I see her posts before and after mine quite frequently- always with good advice and an upbeat attitude.

Milkweed Rabbit Print

"I think my work is mainly inspired by the natural world (animals, plants, weather) and a love of flat, simple color and lines. My designs are usually based on things I love. I draw and make what makes me happy," Sarah says when asked about what inspires her work. "Both of my parents are artists so they started teaching me while I was growing up and then I went to college for illustration here in Boston. I started doing craft fairs in 2003 with some friends of mine who had also graduated from art school but didn't immediately find art-related jobs. Eventually I built up a good network of local crafty friends and people farther away (online) and I got wind of Etsy. I saw it as a 24 hour a day craft fair so I thought, why not!" Sarah has been selling on Etsy since 2005.

Silkscreened Onesie

When asked what the best part about what she does Sarah said, "Seeing a big pile of finished pillows or paintings or cards. Even better than selling them is looking at that work and thinking "Hey, I made this!" But when I do sell something, it delights me that things that come out of nowhere, out of my imagination, things that I bring into the real world for the first time EVER - other people can relate to them and want to take them home... AMAZING."

I'm glad to hear that feeling doesn't wear off even after being on Etsy for nearly five years!

 Egg A Go Go Headquarters

Though this isn't Sarah's full-time job, (she designs medical forms for a non-profit cancer research organization by day) she offers quite the amount of Etsy experience and some sound advice to new sellers: "Do what you love. Even if you feel like there's no time, no money, no energy - try to do it anyway. Sometimes I come home from my day job totally spent and still need to pack an order or do some drawings. I dread it until I get started then I remember why we all do this - it's wonderful. Keep in touch with people. Read design blogs and art-related websites but take breaks so your brain can work on its own stuff too. Don't ever stop. If the economy is bad or you think you can't think of anything new, try not to get discouraged. Art has survived for thousands of years! Plagues, the dark ages, wars, you name it. Someone has to keep it going."  

Clearly, I'm quite inspired by Sarah's positive attitude and great advice! I'm also a bit jealous of her studio, pictured above.

The Button Collector

The variety of products on Etsy never ceases to amaze me. I'm quite impressed by how seamlessly Sarah has arranged her shop full of original goodies; there's something for everyone! Make sure you check out the Egg A Go Go Shoppe! You can also find Sarah on Twitter, Flickr, and at Egg A Go Go's website. Thanks, Sarah, for being a part of Found in the Forums Friday!

Catnip Eggs

Happy Friday, and last day of April, everyone! (that brings the birthday countdown to exactly 22 days from now... :)

Octavia and Brown

Today's Found in the Forums was a no-brainer for me. I don't spend a ton of time in the Etsy forums, but when I do, I almost always see a post or a comment from Liz of Octavia and Brown. Since January 2010, she's been offering shop critiques once a week. She's critiqued over 300 shops already and wants to continue this as a way to check out new shops and help where she can.

Vintage Abingdon Horsehead Bookends

"I have always had a fascination with vintage stuff." Liz says. "I used to go to estate sales and markets with my mother when I was in high school. My first vintage purchase was a huge black steamer trunk with brass nail heads. I used it as a coffee table and night stand after college. I think it's still in my mom's house in PA. My desk in college was a thrift store find that I painted bright blue. Flash forward, I lived in San Francisco for six years following college and when to thrift stores around the city and Alameda Antiques by the Bay on a regular basis. From there it was a natural transition to start my own business. "

Liz currently sells these vintage finds as her full-time job.

Vintage Black Lowball Glasses

"I used to work in marketing and advertising and I definitely liked it,  however finding vintage items didn't feel like work and it was something I really enjoyed doing. I decided to make a big life change to move back to the East Coast after 6 years in SF and when I moved, I decided that it was also a good time to take a leap and start my shop. I figured I was young and now was the time to try something I'd always had a passion for. If it worked, fantastic and if not, I could go back to marketing/ advertising."

Liz advises that moving across the country (especially to a new city) and starting a business at the same time is quite the handful.

Vintage Brass Owl

Set of 4 Vintage Yellow Canisters

It's common in the forums to call each other by shop names- and Liz often gets asked whether Octavia is her actual name. "Octavia is a street in San Francisco where my last apartment was and where I thought of taking the leap and actually doing this shop. Brown is where I went to school and I liked how they sounded together." Her shop name is kind of a collection of times past- just like the items she stocks it with.

As you can see, Liz has a real knack for collecting excellent vintage finds for the home. You can visit Octavia and Brown on Etsy, Liz' blog, Twitter and finally, on Facebook. Thanks for being a part of Found in the Forums, Liz!

Happy Friday!

Brainstorming

I've had a chance to brainstorm some ideas lately for new bag designs and ways to get CB out there. This has made me decide that I need to be more organized about this whole blog thing. I've started scheduling posts, but I want to add more interesting content. (Turns out I do actually get sick of talking about myself sometimes :)

Remember my issues with the Etsy forums that I mentioned here? Well, I'd like to turn that into a positive thing. The thing is, I have a hard time staying away from the forums, even after such an event. And while it's not exactly helping me gain customers, I do really enjoy helping other sellers figure out the site and come up with business solutions. It's nice to have a community of people that are doing the same thing I am- regardless of whether some of the are total meanies or not.

So here's the solution, folks. Every Friday, I'm going to feature an Etsy seller that I've met in the forums.  It's Found in the Forums Friday!

Today, things are a bit different with our first seller. She actually found me in the forums after I posted on a seller's question about sending graphic design files to customers. Turns out, she's also from St. Louis, and after clicking on my shop, she sent me a kind note to say hello and point out our common interests and careers. It's crazy how you can run into someone in such a huge place (the internet) and find out that they're much closer than you had ever imagined! Without further ado, I'd like to introduce you all to Jess from Magpie Paperworks.

The first thing I noticed about Jess's shop was her logo. I melted. It's gorgeous! It's one of those give-me-more-right-now kind of logos. (this might not make sense if you're not a designer...but just trust me. It's good.)

Jess says, "it was a team effort between myself & a lovely, uber-talented illustrator in Southern California, Brigette Barrager. Brigette brought the sweet magpie to life & I created the flourished border and set the off-register type. I spent months designing and tweaking the logo -- working for yourself is truly the hardest thing! It was important to me to have a logo that really expressed the Magpie Paper Works brand - a little bit vintage with a whimsical, modern twist."

So onto Jess' work. She has a little bit of a background as a photographer, which obviously shows in her Etsy shop. In the photo above, you can see the Faux Bois Orchard invitation suite.  

"I created all of my suites for brides who may be dreaming about bespoke invitations but feel that custom work is out of their budget. Each pre-designed set features original concepts & illustrations as well as unusual high-end papers that I source directly from the manufacturer. The invites can be personalized with the bride and groom's details but because they are pre-designed, there are no custom fees involved. Cute and affordable!" Below is the Fiesta invitation suite.

 I really love every aspect of Jess' work- the typography is phenomenal, her color choices make sense and the presentation is to die for. She's even inventive with the copy! I'd definitely recommend her to any bride who is in the planning process right now. Not only does she do amazing work, but she's quite personable; our Etsy convos have become something that I look forward to seeing in my inbox.

But the good news doesn't stop there. Jess also sells a number of giclee art prints. Her clever sense of humor shines through in these lovely 8x10 works of art.

shacking up in sin

craft magic

I hope you'll visit her shop to see the rest of what Magpie Paperworks offers. You can also follow her blog for Magpie updates (another very sexy design if you ask me!) Thanks, Jess, for being the very first seller featured in Found in the Forums Friday!

Check back during the next week for two more new columns, and a surprise for the shop!

all images via the Magpie Paperworks shop and blog