Thursday, May 19, 2011

Friday Spotlight: Edesigns

Our ongoing Friday Spotlight features our members of TeamBPAL. Let's meet Erin of Edesigns!



Tell us a little about the items in your shop. What do you make?
The items in my shop are all pieces of handmade baby clothing. I'm using all reclaimed or re-purposed fabric to try and create clothing for kids that not only looks great on them, but keeps perfectly good fabric, that would otherwise wind up unused or in the dump, in circulation, and as something people want.


What is your creative process?
Well, honestly, having my own little one, my creative process is kind of along the lines of "obsess about what I want to make all day long until the boy goes down for a nap and then hurryhurryhurry to try and bang out as much of it as humanly possible before he wakes up! A lot of my inspiration comes directly from the fabrics as I assess what the best use of the available fabrics is (dish towels don't give you a lot of fabric to work with, so you really have to figure out how you want to arrange the pattern before you even THINK about cutting anything)


Which Etsy Teams do you belong to?
The BPAL team (of course), being an utter addict, this was my very first team! I've recently added a few others, including the "Lets Go Vintage" team and the "Do not Disturb" team...which I find somewhat concerningly apt, in that it is for people who "have tolerance for no make up, beds not made and no getting dressed until 5 minutes before your family gets home, because you were to busy creating to do any of the above any earlier in the day." ...they're not mentioning my bad habit of "forgetting" to sleep to finish up what I'm working on, but I'm going to go ahead and assume it fits into what they're talking about.



Green Owl Swing Dress


When you are not creating things, what do you do?
When I'm not creating I'm a stay at home mom and am chasing my little guy all over the place. I try to squeeze creativity in where ever I can, as well as sewing baby clothes I make a lot of my own clothing, knit, crochet, occasionally make jewelry, garden, sometimes paint and every once in a while do woodworking. I pretty much have creative OCD.


Tell us two random, interesting things about you.
Edesigns actually started out as a bridal wear company. I made, from the ground up, my own wedding dress and dresses for several other women (including my best friend). When my son (who g.c.b. is named for) was born, it occurred to me that baby+sticky, gooey fin'ners+white silk satin might just equal me tearing my hair out and crying in a corner. Aside from being addicted to creating, I also have a "problem" with reading. If I could figure out a way to sew/knit/crochet WHILE reading, I would be in seventh heaven. It's so bad that I've learned how to do a ridiculous number of things with my nose stuck in a book....including hula hooping.

What has been your proudest moment since opening your Etsy shop?
I've recently been featured on etsyLush, which is really exciting if for no other reason that it makes me feel a little more justified in running around in my yard hanging my clothes on random backdrops to get the "artsy" shot. I've absolutely loved the positive feedback I've gotten from people who have received my pieces too. It's a wonderful feeling to know I've made something that another parent can enjoy sharing with their child!



Blue Floral Cotton Baby Pants


What advice would you give to artists who are new to Etsy?
I'm not sure actually. I started my shop way back when Etsy was just starting out, but I let it lay fallow for a very, very long time because I could only make dresses for brides who were close enough for me to do fittings on...so in experience, I'm very new myself!


What handmade possession do you cherish?
My mom knit me a beautiful cabled scarf in shades of red and I love wearing it all winter long.

If you could have any item on Etsy regardless of price, what would it be?
This fabulous, beat up looking briefcase/computer bag. I bet I could fit my purse stuff, baby G's necessaries AND a few books in that bad boy...and not have to worry about any of it getting roughed up when I have to drop it to make a mad dash after the kiddo.


What other skill or talent do you wish you could possess, if you had not taken this creative path?
Perhaps something more marketable? Michigan is a hard place to be creative!



Where else can we find you on the web?
Facebook: facebook.com/gcbkids.
Twitter: twitter.com/gcbkids.

That's all for this time! See you in two weeks. :)

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Friday Spotlight: Joystreet

Our ongoing Friday Spotlight features our members of TeamBPAL. Let's meet Marilyn of Joystreet!



Tell us a little about the items in your shop. What do you make?
I became "addicted" to glass close to a decade ago, beginning with what is known as lampwork or flameworked glass beads. After a few years, I also became addicted to kilnworked and fused glass. My shop contains both flameworked glass bead pendants and earrings, as well as kilnformed glass. Eventually, I would like to put some of the larger kilnworked home accessories (plates and bowls) in my Etsy shop.

I also use my stash of gemstones, metals, pearls and vintage items in my jewelry, and enjoy making bright, colorful items with a quirky sense of humor. I also have a stash of vintage findings and charms, which I am gradually letting go onto Etsy (such as my vintage rotary dial phone charms that have become earrings)


What is your creative process?
I get to play with both propane and oxygen at the same time! Sometimes this involves a bit of swearing when a little bit of glass attaches itself to my skin or shirt. I must admit that working with glass can be a dirty business, but someone has to do it! My work involves mutliple kilns, multiple firings, and temperatures up to 1500 degrees farenheit!


Which Etsy Teams do you belong to?
When I joined Etsy as a seller, I went a bit TEAM mad! Obviously, I am a proud member of TEAM BPAL, and smell wonderful with my many bottles of BPAL to choose from.
One of the more interesting teams I belong to is the Etsy Expats team. No, am not currently an expat, since I was born and currently reside in the U.S., however feel I have a bit of expat mentality as I was in graduate school in the UK during the mid 1980's!, and I return to the UK to visit friends whenever possible! They should know they just can't get rid of some roomies! The Expats team has a wide variety of people from all different countries and it's interesting to find out about where they're living now, wanting to travel, and their situations!



Tribal Flames Dichroic Glass Arrow Pendant


When you are not creating things, what do you do?
Drink endless cups of decaf coffee, peruse the BPAL forum, contemplate when the next switch witch will be, watch Top Gear on BBC America, contemplate road trips, and think up new things I could be doing!


Tell us two random, interesting things about you.
I smell pretty smoky, or sweet, depending on the day , and the BPAL! Currently contemplating getting a tattoo(my first) not related to glass.


What has been your proudest moment since opening your Etsy shop?
Each and every order makes me squee out loud, and the really kind words of feedback I've received from forum people makes me go all squishy! Overall, the support from the BPALER's has been fantastic, and I really enjoy knowing that one of my items gets to be adopted by far flung BPALers round the globe! My shop is switch witch friendly (and I have a switch witch discount) so it's lots of fun to see what gets picked out and where it goes! Of course, I'm also all in favor of treating yourself and others even during non switch witch days!


Tardis Cobalt Blue Silver Splash Glass Pendant


What advice would you give to artists who are new to Etsy?
Introduce yourself around, and join a team or two or three. Try not to compare your sales to those of other shops. Everyone's circumstances are different, as are their shops. And enjoy yourself!


What handmade possession do you cherish?
As a child I was really influenced by the book Fifth Chinese Daughter, by the artist (potter and enamelist) Jade Snow Wong, and (thanks to ebay) I have been luckhy enough to have several of her enamel bowls, and they really mean a lot to me. She struggled with being a "good girl" and "making it as an artist, at a difficult time. She died a few years ago, well into her 80's, and it gives me pleasure to hold something she created.

If you could have any item on Etsy regardless of price, what would it be?
This Blue Vertigo Plate. Of course, if I allow myself to really look at the moment, there's always lots of favorites!


What other skill or talent do you wish you could possess, if you had not taken this creative path?
I would like to have studied subjects in the sciences, and have a more scientific background; and of course, would like to have studied music. However, there's still time!



Where else can we find you on the web?
On Facebook, I have a fan page under the name Joystreet.
And I recently started on Twitter.

That's all for this time! See you in two weeks. :)

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