SOTW - MommaGoddess

Introducing Trudy J. Miller of Momma Goddess Treasures, the Etsy Twitter Team's Shop of the Week!

Trudy creates jewelry for anyone who wants to "look great and feel like a goddess"! She designs for a variety of clients that surely includes you! Many of her items are wedding inspired and she even covers the tween and teen aged girl: "I do love creating for my daughters, Shilo and Tara." Her pieces reflect her wild imagination and her love of 'unique...bling...and FUN!" She is further inspired by Mother Nature, who sets her 'creative juices flowing"! With over 200 sales in her shop, she has struct a fashion chord with many!

Her Twitter advice emphasizes the personal touch: "Get to know your fellow tweeters and develop a rapport with them. Try to have some interesting things to tweet about, something that would draw more people to your link."

She has been influenced by some skilled and talented artisans. "I have gleaned much information from many people. I love Sharilyn Miller and her techniques; I strive to be more artistic like Christi Friesen and her whimsy; and I will continue to try to learn new tips and techniques from everyone that is willing to teach. Kathy Kaberline of KK Originals has taught me many wire techniques and opens my mind to new ideas daily." She has great respect for those who "finish [their work] with love and pride".

You might be surprised to know that Trudy has an avid love of CHL hockey! "I try to never miss a game and have been known to follow them on the road." Trudy is even the Colorado Eagles sports writer for the Examiner!

If she had $1 million to spend on others, she would build homeless shelters for people and no-kill shelters for animals. "Marry them [homeless pets] up with the homeless people and everyone would have someone to love. Okay, I guess I better plan to build them next to each other for convenience." Generous and practical, too! Hopefully some civic planner is reading this!


15% ALL orders this week
Use coupon oode ‘SOTW15’ when you check out!.
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Keep in contact with MommaGoddess via
Etsy Shop: http://www.mommagoddess.etsy.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tjmbrdlady
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MommaGoddessTreasures
Blog: http://www.mommagoddesstreasures.blogspot.com/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/trudy-j-miller-cap/13/9ab/b5

MommaGoddess ships internationally. "I love to ship anywhere!"

Written by Judy of WellspringCreations

SOTW - whimsyfish

Meet Max (aka Maxine Forward) of whimsyfish, this week's Etsy Twitter Team's Shop of the Week!

Max says "I like the season changes. They remind me to mix things up a bit." And so inventory shows! She creates beautiful jewelry and knitted goods. Her jewelry, both beaded and strung, often from repurposed/recycled objects". "I love to use found objects and am constantly lurking around flea markets and antique shops. " As she lives in New England, that provides her ample opportunity for antiquing!

Her interests extend beyond recycling. I asked her what she would do if she won $1 million and had to give it away; her response, "I would give every penny...to the Nature Conservancy"

She's adept with knitting needles, too, offering a variety of scarves made from the highest quality yarns. She also is very talented with teeny knitting needles, making tiny sweaters and mittens for Christmas tree ornaments!

She says, "My most influential teacher was the immensely talented John Grillo who I had as a painting instructor at UMass all those years ago. He was a sharp critic, but always kind and very generous with his time. I love geometric designs and he helped me develop in the direction. I also want to give a big shout out to the wonderful ladies at my local knitting group. They have really helped me to become a better knitter." She also may be influenced by some of her favorite artists: Botticelli and VanGogh. "I love lots of color!," she says.

Another influence might be travel. Max once took a trip to the Soviet Union for three weeks. "Best thing I saw there - the fantastic Saint Basil's Cathedral in Red Square. You know - the one with the onion domes! It was a pure delight."


Hair and Scarf Sticks on sale!
Currently 1/3 off the normal price.
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Keep in contact with whimsyfish via
Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/whimsyfish
Blog: www.whimsyfish.com
Twitter: @whimsy_fish

Whimsyfish ships internationally. "Some of my jewelry is in the UK right now!"

Written by Judy of WellspringCreations

Shop of the Week - HuayruroPeru

We've got far afield to interview this week's Shop of the Week. HuayruroPeru hails from ... Peru, South America! Jenny Lorena Toulier Asenjo, called Lorena, makes jewelry items with Huayruro Seeds: Red and Black Good Luck seeds used to protect from evil eye and bring good luck.

Lorena explains the tradition "We, Peruvians, consider Huayruros good luck charms, and even give them to newborn babies to wish them happiness throughout their lives and protect them from 'Evil Eye'. The gesture of giving huayruro seed jewelry is one of good will, friendship and love. If you get a Huayruro as a gift its better because you can’t 'buy Good Luck' you have to receive it from someone else."

Lorena offers a full line of these lovely and useful seeds: from daintily crocheted or hand-knotted necklaces, memory wire bracelets, earrings, and even keychains. Want to do it yourself? Lorena even has a listing for drilled seeds!

Lorena is Peruvian; her family, from the northern Peruvian coast, land of Chamanes and Curanderas. While Lorena has never traveled outside Peru, the world is at her fingertips through the Internet and Twitter. "I Tweet everyday and connect to other Tweeterers" and "I love to sell online," she says. Conversely, the Internet and Twitter allow us to meet Lorena and her unique culture and art.


HuayruroPeru is offering
Free Shipping this week!
Mention "ETSYTWITTER SOTW" on the
Notes to the Seller--
Refund via Paypal
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Etsy Shop: http://www.HuayruroPeru.etsy.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Huayruro
Blog: http://huayruroperu.blogspot.com


HuayruroPeru ships worldwide from Peru, South America; transit time is usually 7 to 10 business days.

Written by Judy of WellspringCreations

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 developp 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."

Ana is as gifted with her words as she is with her artistic jewelry!


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.
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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

Written by Judy of WellspringCreations

Shop of the Week - starbabyonline

Meet Debby Carter of starbabyonline, this week's Etsy Twitter shop of the week. Debby makes jewelry with an ethnic/organic feel and loves working with glass, semi-precious gemstones, and sterling silver. No newbie to jewelry design, Debby has been intermittently designing since 1973, discovering a love of beads early in life. In fact, she admits "working in a bead shop was the first job I ever landed! The owner was smart; she knew she'd get my salary back in my bead purchases."

Her creations are one of a kind because "I want everyone to have their own unique piece." Luckily, Debby finds inspiration everywhere: a bead, a fashion, a movie. As she puts it "Seriously, it could be just about anything... how the weather feels that day..."!

And she loves a lot about her craft-

* Her materials, "There are *always* new beads coming out";

* the social side of beading: "I've met so many friends starting with a conversation at a bead or craft store"; and

* even sharing her skills: "I'm paying forward everything I've learned from others."

Debby is making a big change this season: "I'm moving my 21 years worth of possessions from my three BR house into a house-share that's already furnished. Not coming at the best time of the year for me, because I can't devote as much time to Etsy as I'd like. After my move is complete in November, I'm going to list as much as I can on Etsy as possible. There'll be some great promotions going on with that too!" Something to look forward to!

As for Twitter and promoting her Etsy Shop, Debby feels it is important to promote others as much as she promotes herself, but it is also critical to speak up and let people know she has an Etsy shop!


It's the tenth month,
so Debby is having a special
starbabyonline deal this week:

10% off your total jewelry order
before shipping
with the code SOTW
No limit to how many items!
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Etsy Shop: http://www.starbabyonline.etsy.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/starbabyonline
Facebook: starbabygems and starbabyreadings
Blog: http://starbabyslittleuniverse.blogspot.com


Written by Judy of WellspringCreations

Shop of the Week - FrostedTreats

The Etsy Twitter Shop of the Week is FrostedTreats, featuring the creations of Jessica Mount. Since 2008, she's used polymer clay to make delicious looking cupcakes, cakes, cookies, pea pods, roses...and the occasional pig in an ice cream cone! While most of the tiny sculptures are wearable charms, Jessica has expanded her product line to include general accessories: bookmarks, push pins, magnets, etc.

For inspiration, Jessica collects photos, mostly from the Internet, of a variety of items: flowers, cakes, owls, fortune cookies, teapots, butterflies (and a few of her brother's pick up truck, though she's not quite sure how they got in there!) Always open to new ideas, when someone says "Oh! You should make..." she adds it to her list!

About her work, Jessica says "Since clay is my medium, the possibilities of what I can create are only limited by my own imagination. That is why I LOVE custom orders. I love having someone ask for something abstract and being able to say, "Yup! I can do that!" The only greater feeling is when they receive the finished product."

Jessica's goal this year is to continue expanding her product line. She says "Even though I love the idea of wearing a little cupcake around my neck or strawberries dangling from my ears, not everyone is into that sort of fashion statement. I've been working on creating more gift-able items...that way everyone can enjoy a little extra treat without worrying if the color of their frosting matches the rest of their outfit!"

In addition to her Etsy shop, Jessica will be showing her creations at a few craft fairs and market tables through the fall in preparation for the holiday season. She's been sketching out some holiday ornaments and...listening to her customers who are looking for gifts to give, that has defined her holiday focus. Look forward to all these new creations in FrostedTreats over the coming weeks!

Jessica has found that Twitter is her main form of bringing traffic to her Etsy shop "Since I started tweeting about my handmade crafts (as well as cross-promoting for things that catch my eye!) my sales and traffic have been phenomenal!" Her advice: "Tweet others the way you would like to be tweeted! If you see something that catches your eye, tweet about it! Having someone else gush over your work is so much more rewarding than gushing over your own projects. Make connections. Build friendships and networks with crafters like yourself and with people whose talents amaze you!"

Jessica's creativity is matched only by her enthusiasm!


FREE shipping to US/Canada
No coupon needed :)
Free gift to buyers who mention
"Etsy Twitter Team"
in the message to the seller
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Visit FrostedTreats in all these places:
Etsy Shop: http://frostedtreats.etsy.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/frostedtreats
Facebook: http://facebook.com/frostedtreats
Blog: http://frostedtreats.blogspot.com
Written by Judy of WellspringCreations

Shop of the Week – smutopia

Our EtsyTwitter Team Shop of the Week is smutopia (smoo-topia), which offers jewelry and accessories by Jessica Smutek. Jessica uses primarily stone, glass and metal beads and components in her work. There is such a variety of materials and techniques, she told me, that it is impossible for her to get bored! She says she “has always been inspired by the diversity of nature--so much so that when looking at my collection as a whole nearly every design falls into one of three categories: Sea, Earth, or Sky.” Her inspiration is very personal and so her art is very personal. As she puts it “Each piece I create is a reflection of the beauty I see in the world around me. I love the thought that my designs are bringing the beauty of nature to my customers’ as they are worn.”

On the business side, Jessica has some modest sales goals in mind for the year, but her artistic goal is to use more of her own lampwork glass beads in the designs she sells on Etsy. “I began making my own lampwork beads in April of this year and am completely hooked! I hope to introduce smutopia Jewelry made with ‘beads by Smu’ sometime in the next few months.

This summer, she’ll not only be working on improving her lampwork skills with the torch, but plans to get out and do some up close and personal collecting of materials. “Think beachcombing”, she says. Later, in the fall, she plans to set up the “smutopia traveling road show” at the Designers Downtown Market in Raleigh in September and November of 2010.

In the meantime, she’ll keep tweeting. Her Twitter philosophy? “Interact with people! Promote others, or offer advice and feedback. You’ll attract followers in greater numbers if you’re more than just a self-promotion machine.” Jessica feels that listing new items is the best way to bring sales to her shop “I find that keeping my inventory fresh keeps the gears turning by bringing in new customers from the Etsy homepage/categories, giving returning customers a reason to check in, and by giving me something new to promote through my social media connections.”


smutopia is offering a Shop of the Week
special from July 12-18:
a free zipper-pull charm with every purchase!
PLUS, through the end of July:
FREE Domestic AND International Shipping
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Etsy Shop: http://smutopia.etsy.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/smutopiaJewelry
Facebook: http://facebook.com/smutopia
Blog: http://smutopia.blogspot.com

Written by Judy of WellspringCreations