SOTW - PunkyJane

Our Wedding Day Mark Your Calendar Necklace

Happy October, folks! Our Etsy Twitter Team Shop of the Week comes to us from Sandy out in California - PunkyJane Jewelry. 

If you're in need of something personalized - PunkyJane's collection of hand stamped and personalized jewelry and accessories is the first place you should look. Names, dates, quotes, silly sayings - The possibilities are only limited by your imagination. There is a little something for everybody! Moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, brothers, sisters, friends, dogs, cats... Hamster? (Coming soon, perhaps.) Sandy's attention to detail, superior customer service and quirky/clever sense of style set her work apart. She is often inspired by her two favorite artists - her daughters, Hannah and Ella. "They have a way of looking at things that inspires me every day," says Sandy. "We could all use more of that child-like vision!"

Through online and print research and some good ol' fashioned trail and error, Sandy has honed her metal stamping over time. Her background as a graphic designer has helped her tremendously, "I love playing with letters! Now I just play with a hammer and steel stamps instead of the latest software from Adobe." 

Sandy is certainly a Twitter pro - Here's what she has to say for those just dipping their toes in the Twitter pool - "Have fun with it, but don’t expect too much. It takes a good mix of social media to help drive business, so don’t put your eggs in one gorgeous handmade basket (purchased on Etsy, of course!). I love the simplicity of the connections you make. Also, don't automatically follow everybody that follows you. Only follow the folks that interest you."

Here's another fun bit from Sandy - Not only does she collect erasers, but if stuck on a deserted island, she'd be eager to continue her Words with Friends games, "Do I have WiFi? Or 3G? Please? If so, my iPad so I could play Words with Friends! Okay, seriously...a raft, matches for a fire, and sunscreen. I burn easily."

Personalized Periodic Table Element

Now that you know a bit more about the mind behind PunkyJane Jewelry, be sure to take advantage of the Shop of the Week sale going on - 

Use the code PJSOTW for 15% off anything 

in my Etsy Shop, October 3-9, 2011.



Etsy Shop: PunkyJane.etsy.com
Twitter: twitter.com/PunkyJane
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PunkyJaneJewelry
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/punkyjane
Pinterest: pinterest.com/punkyjane

Shop of the Week - imwithsully

The Etsy Twitter Team member featured this week as Shop of the Week is Kimberly Coles and her Etsy shop imwithsully. Kimberly makes Original art, illustrations, prints, and graphic jewelry in her own unique style. Read on--here is our interview in her own words:

What is the one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
I'm an award-winning Creative Director, Designer and Illustrator with more than 20 years of advertising and marketing experience. I have lead multi-disciplinary teams at large and small ad agencies and have developed many big name brands across a variety of digital and traditional mediums. In 2009, I was named one of the “50 Best Female Web Designers Around the World”. I was also recently featured on PBS.org as top woman web designer. My branding work, web design and product illustrations for Hello World Clothing were featured as “the most adorable pajamas ever” in the 2009 Holiday Gift Guide as on Dooce.com, the leading personal blog ranked 7th on Forbes’ list of the most influential women in media. My custom handmade mother's jewelry was showcased by the Clothes for a Cause - Pink Ribbon Collection through the Home Shopping Network.

What do you want your customers to know most about your products?
My wish is to transport viewers into dream-like worlds where mythical characters, whimsical fairytale princesses, precocious pixies, and vintage kitsch cuties tell tales of enchantment and merriment. I experiment with all different types of media: graphite, paper collage, color pencils, acrylics, oils, pen and ink, crayons, copic markers, pastels, digital, clays, metals... just to name a few. I have studiously avoided “signature” motifs and prefer to evolve my illustration work with fresh concepts, techniques, and materials. Many artworks start with the potential of being my favorite, but like children, I just can’t choose one over the other.

How do you use Twitter? Do you have a business goal with Twitter?
Because I am influenced by all sorts of creativity and creative people, I recently created an inspiration showcase blog at www.websitebakery.com. Now that I’ve made the leap to being an independent Creative Director with my own design studio, the inspiration site and social media on Twitter is the most relevant way to become to inspire other creative people and drive traffic at the same time.

What is the single most important way you bring traffic/sales to your shop?
My personal portfolio and blog is devoted to illustration, design, and interactive design. As an Interactive Creative Director by day, this is my chance to get back to the art of drawing by hand and promote my work online.



Links to Kimberly Cole and her work:
Etsy Shop:
www.etsy.com/shop/imwithsully
Twitter: @kimberlycoles
Blog: www.imwithsully.com/blog
Portfolio: www.kimberlycoles.com
Inspiration Showcase site: www.websitebakery.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlycoles

imwithsully ships internationally.

Written by Judy of WellspringCreations