Etsy Twitter Team: Shop of the Week - anapinatelier

Etsy Twitter Team: 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 develop 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."

~I love the earthy feel to her designs and choice of materials.


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

Interview by Judy of WellspringCreations

Wonderland Weddings

Etsy Twitter Team Celebrates Weddings!

*WHO: Etsy Twitter Team

*WHAT: WONDERLAND WEDDINGS - A NINE DAY EVENT

*WHEN: OCTOBER 1 – OCTOBER 9

*WHERE: http://etsytwitter.blogspot.com/

*WHY: Because there’s love in the air! Great deals and offers on unique,
handcrafted finds that will make your fall or winter wedding memorable.

The Etsy Twitter Team (the authority on Twitter for all things handmade)
invites you to the wedding. Starting October 1 and running thru October 9,
team members will be offering a dazzling display of items that will make
your special day memorable.

Planning a wedding can make you crazy with all the activity that surrounds
it. It’s hard enough to find a dress and a caterer and a band, never mind
thinking about the little extras that make the event fun and memorable. The
Etsy Twitter Team is creating this event for the bride-to-be so she can find
unique items in one place. Our wedding gift to the bride will be great
specials and discounts that will make it easier on her wedding budget.

From October 1 thru October 4, Fall weddings will be featured. A splendid
display of all the Autumn colors will make for a beautiful wedding. Items
for themed weddings - Halloween, Victorian, Goth, and Southern Bell will add
to the fun.

From October 5 thru October 9, Winter weddings are in season - snow white,
sparkling blue ice, warm reds, Christmas and New Year’s. Come and see how
the Etsy Twitter Team can help you have a magical celebration.

Visit the Team’s page at
http://delicious.com/EtsyTwitterTeam

Etsy Twitter Team: Shop Of The Week: Scrap With Style

Etsy Twitter Team: Shop Of The Week: Scrap With Style

Shop Of The Week: Scrap With Style

If you're always on the lookout for unique papers and embellishments, Scrap With Style is a dream come true.


As owner Janelle Jones says, "I have papers, ribbons, rub-ons, embellishments, cardstock, scrapbook albums, fun things that can bring family photographs to life! I also make some premade scrapbook albums (paper-bag, recycled CD style and others) and put together page kits and cut paper packs too."


A stay-at-home/work-at-home mom with two little girls, Janelle finds inspiration " in the tons of pictures I take of my two girls. Those pictures are what got me into scrapbooking and making photo projects! I really love displaying family photos."


She also loves the fact that the business allows her to work at home alongside her girls, ages 2 and 4. "My 4 year old particularly likes to help with packing the orders and ribbons!"

From a business perspective, Janelle finds Twitter great for connecting with fellow crafters. "I love to meet people and I really enjoy the social aspect of twitter. It's fun to meet other crafty people and share tricks and tips about papercrafting!"

The shop happily ships both across the country and internationally.

For more information about ScrapWithStyle:

http://www.twitter.com/scrapwithstyle
http://facebook.com/scrapwithstyle
http://janellescraps.com/
http://scrapwithstyle.com/
For this week, Janelle is offering the following great discounts:

10% off orders of $5 or more, 15% off orders of $10 or more, and 20% off orders of $20 or more just put "SOTW" in msg to seller @ checkout. Refunds made via paypal or you can request an updated invoice before payment.

Etsy Twitter Team: Shop Of The Week: Cape Cod Jewels and Things

Etsy Twitter Team: Shop Of The Week: Cape Cod Jewels and Things

Cape Cod Jewels and Things overflows with shiny, glittery, happy creations.

Vintage and new jewels wink back at you from rings, funky puzzle piece earrings, spooky Halloweeen-ready amber chandelier pendants and more. Owner Linda Stranger embraces both her inner magpie, and her sense of fun in her one-of-a kind designs.

"My best inspiration comes when I sit at my work desk and play with my beads and wire and findings... I love it when a piece of jewelry just seems to make itself while I'm playing!"

A perfectionist, Linda takes great care over each piece she creates,

and admits that some pieces never make it to the shop. "It takes me a long time to pick out components and assemble my jewelry. I want everything to be just perfect, and sometimes I have to just let something be, 'cause I'm never going to be happy with it. You should see all the stuff I DON'T list. ;)."

In addition to her jewelry, Linda recently debuted a line of adorable handcrafted paper products in her shop and loves giving customers a little something extra with each order. Jewelry purchases come in a box ready for gifting, and she strives to be as "green" as possible by reusing packaging.

As a member of the Etsy Twitter Team as well as Unique Women in Business, Linda shares new creations on Twitter, as well as satisfying her window shopping urge following the links of others.

"I just tweet my stuff, re-tweet or reply to interesting tweets... I have fun with it. :) I've gotten to know more about my fellow etsytwitter'ers, and I think they're getting to know more about me... and I LOVE to follow their links and check out their newest creations and finds. I'm a professional window shopper and twitter has been a great outlet for that!"

Visit Cape Cod Jewels and Things at http://capecodjewel.etsy.com/ or follow Linda on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/capecodjewel

All Halloween Items at Cape Cod Jewel

Are Marked Down to $6.66 This Week!

Etsy Twitter Team: Etsy Twitter Team Shop of the Week: MindyG Jewelry Boutique

Etsy Twitter Team: Etsy Twitter Team Shop of the Week: MindyG Jewelry Boutique

Visiting MindyG's Jewelry Boutique is like getting a glimpse into Aladdin's treasure cave! Glowing freshwater pearls, colorful gemstones, gold, and sterling silver are all hallmarks of this shop's exquisitely designed jewelry.

Owner Mindy Greenville finds inspiration for her work in nature, fashion, music, and traveling with her family. "Its a great outlet for my creative side," she says." In addition to her online boutique, Mindy also designs custom bridal/bridesmaids jewelry locally in the San Diego area.

Introduced to Twitter when she joined the Etsy Twitter Team, she discovered a whole new way to connect. "I started using Twitter as a way to help promote my business and other artists that have amazing products to offer to the public. The power of online networking is a huge tool and a great way to meet others of like mind, those in the same trade who can offer advice, or just find some neat art!"

The shop happily offers flat rate domestic and international shipping as well as custom designs. "I offer something for just about everyone-birthdays, anniversarys, for moms, sisters, and teacher gifts. "

You can discover Mindy's many treasures in her etsy shop: http://mindyg.etsy.com/ or on her blog. On Twitter, www.twitter.com/mindyg.

Etsy Twitter Team: Shop of the Week: Joslin Jewels

Etsy Twitter Team: Shop of the Week: Joslin Jewels

Sheridan Joslin, of JoslinJewels.etsy.com, creates, in her words, “fine wire wrapped and gemstone jewelry”. But if you take one look at her shop you can see that it involves so much more than that. Just saying “fine wire wrapped and gemstone jewelry” about her shop is like saying the sculpture David was just sculpted out of plain old marble and is no big deal! Her work is intricate. Her work is simple. Her work is the kind of art that the artist makes the infinitely complex look like it took no effort at all to make and that, my friend, is the hallmark of a great artist.

“Whether simple or intricate, I meticulously craft each piece of jewelry I create. I use only fine metals and carefully selected gemstones. Each piece is original and most are one of a kind. I love gemstones as much as I love a good puzzle. Making intricate wire jewelry is like a challenging puzzle. It involves shaping and forging straight wire into intricate designs with no soldering -- only wrapped connections. It's an art that dates back thousands of years, and many of the techniques used today are the same as those used in ancient times. With only a few simple tools and careful manipulation, a skilled jewelry artist can sculpt wire into beautiful works of wearable art.”

And that is exactly what Sheridan does with her work. Check out her shop and be amazed!

Follow her on Twitter @joslinjewels
Blog: joslinjewels.blogspot.com
Become her Fan on Facebook: facebook.com/JoslinJewels
Second Etsy Shop: BijouxRomantique.etsy.com
Second Facebook Fan Page: facebook.com/BijouxRomantique

Etsy Twitter Team: Shop of the Week: LM Creation

I've blogged about LM Creation before, since buying one of her business card holders that I love so much. But here's a little more info from the artist herself, Lisa:

Lisa's aim is to make "the best quality piece that I can in my own style and with fabrics that really appeal to me. I also aim to provide the best customer service that I can, the same kind of service that I would like to receive as a customer." Inspired by the beautiful variety of fabrics available, Lisa, like many textile artists, often feels that the fabric "tells me what to do, so when I see the right fabric I just know that it will make a special bag or wristlet or whatever." Her tip for using Twitter? "Get involved with other people on Twitter, respond to their tweets, re-tweet something that is interesting or good for a new twitter member who might need some help. I might tell people what I'm working on, but I only post links to items in my shop once or twice a day, no more than that. People get to know me and the things that I make and I've had sales and custom orders from twitter contacts, as well as being featured in blogs and treasuries."

Special Deal Offered : 10% discount offered to Twitter customers until July 12. Use code "EtsyTwitter" in the Message to Seller and 10% of purchase price will be refunded.

Check out all of Lisa's lovely card holders, wristlets, iPod cases, and more at http://lmcreation.etsy.com

Etsy Twitter Team: Shop of the Week: A Cagey Bee

Etsy Twitter Team: Shop of the Week: A Cagey Bee

I like the creative name for this Etsy shop. The artist is Kris G. Brownlee – or KGB = A Cagey Bee! Very clever!

“I'm a painter, so my first love is creating the actual paintings - from sketching to swirling the paint around my canvas. But because I know a lot of us can't afford to buy original work, I try to offer a variety of lower cost reproductions: prints, notecards, and even little pendants with my characters!

I want my customers to know how much heart and soul and pure joy is poured into my work. I think most of my customers *do* know this, but it's not always easy to get a sense of who someone is via the internet. I was a very quiet, shy child and spent years creating elaborate stories for my imaginary friends. It's really no wonder that I've started to bring some of them to life in my paintings. The idea that I get to share that with my customers? That new friends from all over the world look at my girls and smile? I couldn't have dreamed up a better possibility for my life. :)”

Read her blog at www.acageybee.com
Follow her at Twitter: twitter.com/acageybee

As a special thank you to her Twitter pals, all prints in her shop are 2 for the price of 1 this week. Buy one print and simply enter the name of the second print you'd like in the notes to seller box. Double the cuteness!

Sidewalk Sale!

The Etsy Twitter Team is having a Sidewalk Sale this week!! The sale will run from Sunday, May 17th to Saturday, May 23rd.
During this time, all orders at Soap Rehab (http://soaprehab.com) will receive FREE SHIPPING! Any order, anywhere.
Make sure to check out all the other participating shops and sales as well at http://etsytwitter.blogspot.com/2009/05/sidewalk-sale.html

Etsy Twitter Team: Shop of the Week: Tamara Garvey

Etsy Twitter Team: Shop of the Week: Tamara Garvey

Tamara Garvey, of TamaraGarvey.etsy.com, has some really cute and beautiful illustrations. Her style is quirky and fun!

“I draw fun, whimsical, pen-and-ink scenes, usually involving at least one animal and/or tree, as these are my favorite things to study and draw! I sell them as prints in different sizes, including ACEOs, as well as note card sets.

I'm really inspired by the classic pen-and-ink artists Edward Gorey and Aubrey Beardsley. My drawings are made with care in my cute home studio, usually with my dog snoozing on the floor nearby. I'm saving up for a large-format printer of my own so that I can have complete control over my prints (that sounds diabolical! mua ha ha), but in the meantime I have them done at a print shop nearby that does an awesome job. My prints have great color and are printed on nice quality card stock.

My drawings are inspired by my walk to work through Savannah, Georgia's squares, magazines, other artists/crafters on Etsy, color combinations of a stranger's outfit, tattoos, particularly cute dogs at the dog park...anything really!”
Tamara has a degree in Illustration from Savannah College of Art and Design and a B.S. in Biology from Mary Washington College. Her biology background comes through in her piece titled “Enchantment under the Sea” – it’s like looking into a microscope and seeing all sorts of neat little creatures swimming around in the pond water.

She ships everywhere and all her illustrations are shipped wrapped in a waterproof cellophane sleeve, sandwiched between pieces of thick, non-bending cardboard.

Special for the Week: Put “EtsyTwitter” into the “Messages for the Seller” box and await a revised invoice with a 15% discount off any of her items! (If you forget, just send her a convo.)