Thursday, May 26, 2011

Featuring 5 Amazing Artists - About Each, My Fave Items, Interview Questions and Coupon Codes!

I have a very special blog today – I am featuring 5 WONDERFUL artists from a supportive, creative and dedicated team through Etsy (STATTEAM).   These artists all have very different art forms; however share passion and dedication to their art and to helping others. 
Please enjoy reading a little about each artist/crafter, my favorite item,  a coupon code for their store and interview questions at the end (5 different perspective – great advice for newbies)!  J  Two things you will get out of my blog today – Statteam is ga-ga over Johnny Depp (I mean, come on, look at him…....................... oh sorry, FOCUS Ashley) and these are some amazingly talented artists!

Artist:  Hippiechicjewelz – “A self taught polymer clay, glass lamp work and jewelry designer”.  Her items are beautifully designed, cleanly photographed and full of charisma!  She has amazing creations with focus on detail/quality and super fun item titles such as “Oh my stars and butterflies” gift tags J
My Favorite Item:  100% Cowgirl (see image below) - I mean, come on?  How cute is this?  I could see this necklace on women and girls alike and it just says SASSY. :)  I could see this on my sassy cousin who had the DJ blast "Cowboy" by Kid Rock at my wedding reception with her adroable cowgirl hat!  Click on her name above to check out her shop - trust me, you won't be disappointed. 
Coupon Code on Etsy: HCJfan for 25% off!! 



Artist:  mojo3777creations - Yes, she has some serious "mojo" :)  She is a self-taught artist/crafter and has a can-do-attitude and a love for trying new things!  Her items are trendy, innovative and hippieliscous (its a word, trust me)!  With the hippie trend in full force right now her items NEED to be added to your "must-have" list!  Click on her name to check out her shop!
My Favorite Item: Hemp Barefoot Sandal (see image below) - I just think these are so creative and everyone should own at least one pair!  Being a "free-spirited" woman I appreciate these and the ability to look beautiful even when barefoot.  Seriously, we don't even need shoes anymore... what is better than that???  Also, please check out her feather hair clips - super cute and also being seen everywhere! 
Coupon Code on Etsy: TFMLUV20 for 20% off!!


Artist:  Jessicabstract - A completely self taught abstract artist (click on her name to visit shop).  She loves abstract art because sometimes "it's the imperfections that make a painting beautiful".  Well, her imperfections are definitely perfection to me!  She creates beautiful art with hues of reds, blues, purples, golds and more! 
My Favorite Item: Symmetry... Large Two-Piece Original Abstract Painting - Look at those beautiful bluish/turquoise colors with goldish brown.  This would look ammmuuurrrzzzing in your living room, master bedroom or kitchen!  Beautiful (please see below)!
Coupon Code on Etsy: art373 for 10% any painting :)

Artist:  oddballartco (click on name to view shop)- A Freelance Artist and cancer survivor!  She creates one of a kind acrylic paintings, has soulful art and is a fighter by nature!  I seriously love her art as it reminds me of a great Tim Burton movie (think James and the Giant Peach, Corpse Bride and Alice In Wonderland) - so creative and unique.
My Favorite Item: Little Miss Muffet - Original Acrylic Painting OOAK - dark, yet sweet and innocent.  Moody yet colorful.  This is just one of her diverse paintings.  I had a very hard time deciding which would be the best to showcase her talent so please check out her store! 
Coupon Code on Etsy: MYTREAT15 for 15% off!
  
Artist:  BreatheCouture (click on name to visit shop) - She creates clothing, jewelry and accessories. "Creations are made primarily from recycled and vintage materials."  She has beautiful corset style lace up tops, versatile and wonderfully textured accessories and men's cowls (Father's Day is coming up!).  I adore her photography as most are in very natural setting and capture her items perfectly.
My Favorite Item:  - Vintage Silk Cream Headband with Aurora Borealis Rhinestones - I heart this turban style headband.  I think this would be beautiful alone in the hair for a casual or formal event or look stunning on a blushing bride!  And again, look at that photography!! 
Coupon Code on Etsy: breathe11 for 10% off :)
Interview Questions -
1)      What was your biggest struggle when opening your Etsy store?
Hippiechicjewelz – My biggest struggle when opening my Etsy shop was that there was no one that had any information to help me. I had no idea what a treasury was, that you could join teams and what teams can do for your success on Etsy. That is the main reason I started STATTEAM, to help others who are just opening their Etsy shops.
Mojo3777creations – Deciding what I was going to sell... I started out with cookie baskets, as you can see I am a long ways from that now!
Jessicabstract – I'd say my biggest struggle with opening my store was finding the confidence to put myself out there. I was new to painting and self-taught. With so many amazing artists out there, I was hoping that people would appreciate my art.
Oddballartco – I would have to say being seen was and still is the hardest obstacle to overcome, Etsy is a very big place with hundreds of thousands of shops so getting noticed can be a challenge but being a member of STAT Team I think helps overcome this.
BreatheCouture - I'd sold on Ebay a few years ago so it wasn't too hard to get used to setting up a shop on Etsy. However every online shop/site has their differences and I prefer Etsy because it's focused on handmade, unique, small businesses. The challenge is patience to learn what sells and what doesn't. I am still learning that to some degree. So many things can be a factor.
2)       What do you find to be your best marketing and advertising tools (what drives in the sales?)?
Hippiechicjewelz – FACEBOOK! I totally rely on FaceBook for my advertising, it works because 80% of my sales come from my FB fans! I also hand out small items of my work like earrings along with a business card whenever I can, at the grocery store, restaurants, my bank or anywhere else I frequent.
Mojo3777creations – I think most of my sales come from google search, they are mostly from new members who have joined Etsy the day of my sale...The statteam and BNR's also help tremendously.
Jessicabstract – I've tried all kinds of marketing such as Facebook, posting on forums, etc. I'm always looking for new ways to put myself out there. I have found that renewing listings often has helped get views and put into treasuries the most.
Oddballartco – I cant say that there is any one thing that really drives in the sales for me, but I have been using Facebook, Blogger, Flickr, Picasa, Kijiji and CraigsList and I have found that it really just takes the right person to come along at the right time!
BreatheCouture - So far my best marketing tools have been word of mouth by customers, and Twitter. This has been more successful with sales than the coverage I've had in national fashion magazines (http://www.toromagazine.com/sex/toro-woman/d17488d7-dcd1-65e4-fdea-3f5e92ac1424/Rebecca-Marshall/index.html?pageIndex=11 – see necklace (one of her pieces)

3)      What are your biggest inspirations?

Hippiechicjewelz – My biggest inspiration comes from my senses. I interpret all my senses, how I feel, the music I hear and above all the images and experiences of my daily life.
I then process them and create something that conveys that idea, whether it's a jewelry sculpture or writing an article for STATTEAM or my blog.
Mojo3777creations – My love for the 60's 70's and hippie era, my children, my husband and my mom.
Jessicabstract – My inspiration comes from my son, Zane. I began painting after he was born as a creative outlet. I get a lot of inspiration from places I've lived and visited. I also draw a lot of inspiration from nature. I always find myself drawn to water and the sky.
Oddballartco – I am inspired by all of the beautiful, bright and vibrant colors in nature all around me, I live in the country and have a studio in my home and therefore get to enjoy the beauty that is all around me out here in the country and pull inspiration from all of it and everyday life.
BreatheCouture - I really can't limit into a few things where my inspiration comes from. It comes from other designers, movies, music, fairy tales, a lot from nature (my garden).
4)      If you could go back and be in charge of design for ANY movie (backdrop/background designs, costumes/fashion, accessories, hair) and why?
Hippiechicjewelz  It would totally have to be Pirates of the Caribbean! I LOVE the style and fashion, with my eclectic tendencies I think I would rock the boat! Oh, you cant forget the main reason.... JohnnyDepp! :)                                                                                                                                           

Mojo3777creations – That is tough for me, I don't really watch a lot of movies, but I think it would be fun to be involved with the Alice In Wonderland movie, I dressed up as the Queen of Hearts for my son's Fairytale Ball and I loved making my costume...I would love to have the opportunity to work next to Johnny Depp, who wouldn't! LOL I feel like the mad hatter when I am working on my hats! :) I also love the White Queen!
Jessicabstract – Edward Scissorhands!! My favorite movie ever! A lot of my personality can be compared to that movie. The overall backdrop is quite dark, but the root of it all is quite beautiful and bright. Plus, a little Johnny Depp never hurts!
OddballartcoI have always loved the movie The Lost Boys and I would love to remake that movies in todays day and age with all the special effects and stuff that we can do today and put my own style to it I think it would be a modern day masterpiece!!!!!
BreatheCouture - There are so many, but Alice in Wonderland would be a lot of fun!

*LOVE the answers to the last question!  Just shows you that Johnny Depp really chooses memorable roles and that we would love to work on him - er, I mean his movies.  :) 
Only seems fitting to finish up with a picture...
of Johnny Depp :)

Please show some love to the Statteam by visiting the blog (
http://statteam.blogspot.com/) and checking out their shops (and using their generous coupon codes :)

If you have any questions please let me know :)  I have a lot of new products being listed this week (bridal, hippie headbands, and children's flower hair clips). 


Please come visit me at http://tootyfruitymonkeyluv.etsy.com/ :)

7 comments:

  1. WOW!!! This is FANTASTIC!!! You have outdone yourself, what a wonderful and very interesting blog feature! I am so honored to be featured in this marvelous blog article!!! Thank you so much!!! :-)

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  2. Reading this today also made my Birthday morning a fantastic and memorable one!!! Thank you!!!

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  3. This is fabulous, thank you so much for the feature and I really enjoyed reading about the other artists you featured as they are some of my favs here on Etsy!!! Such a well put together blog post, very well done! Bravo everyone!!!!! :)

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  4. Wow, really love this piece. You did a fantastic job the the interviews. I so look forward to seeing more of these from you1

    Sharing the STATTEAM LOVE

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  5. Great set of interviews, informative and a really good read. Excellent piece - Thank you!

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  6. I adore it!! Thank you so much for the feature! I love how we all adore Johnny Depp too!! It was as if we were sitting in the same room discussing him! :) beautiful! Thank you!

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  7. This is great and ...um, there's Johnny Depp! Can't get much better than that :)

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