Expat Excellence – SewSouk

It’s been a while since I did an interview for one of my ‘Little Chats’ so today I decided to have a natter with one of the talented members of the EtsyExpats group I have recently joined and show you some of her gorgeous items.

 This is what Sewsouk had to say,

 I am from England, married to a Moroccan with two teenage children. We moved to Morocco almost two years ago. I used to work in the City in London so the move here was a dramatic change. From a small child I have always loved making things. My mother was skilled at sewing, embroidery, knitting and crochet and passed on what she knew to me.

I love the vibrancy and colours of Morocco and the skill and craftsmanship of the artisans takes my breath away. I have been learning Moroccan traditional sewing and stitching techniques and stumbled across Etsy and the two have come together.

If you would like to adorn yourself with silk textile jewellery in beautiful colours or buy beautiful beads and embellishments with which to make your own, why not pay a visit to this gorgeous shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/sewsouk.

and thank you for making my blog look like an exotic North African souk !

If you are an expat and you have an Etsy shop, why not come and join our friendly team here http://www.etsyexpats.blogspot.com/

Lillalotta Giveaway!

( The giveaway is now closed – congratulations to Helen)

This month’s, rather belated,  Little Chat is with Anna who is also known as Lillalotta, creator of beautiful illustrated cotton tapes and other delights, whilst bringing up five children in a foreign land.  Anna has kindly offered 3 metres of her beautiful tape as a giveaway to one lucky reader of this blog.  Just have a look at her shop at http://www.lillalotta.etsy.com and leave a comment below saying which tape you would like to win and how you think you might use it.(**Anna’s shop is actually closed at the moment but if you look through her sold items you can see the tapes available**)  The winner will be picked by Anna on Sunday, 25th July.   

 

When I opened my first shop on Etsy, back in Spring 2009, I came across Anna’s shop and realised that she was also  in France.  I contacted her and we realised we were only within a 15 minute drive of eachother.  She was a great encouragement to me in those early days and gave me lots of tips and suggestions and, especially considering that she is so busy with her own work and her large family she was, and still is, very generous with her time and advice.  I love Anna’s work and it is a pleasure to feature a small part of what she does here.

 

Tell us a little about your shop.  How long have you been open? What do you sell?

I started my little shop on Etsy back in 2007. I created prints and original paintings back then. But as time went by I moved from doing one thing to doing another. Most people who know me, know that I am all over the place, and tend to use lots of different media to still this compulsion to be creative. I had to open another shop 2008, which was left empty for a while, as I sorted my muddled brain. I did lots of handmade items, and by chance started a selection of handmade illustrated cotton tapes, which I needed for some projects myself. I sold my very first cotton tape in March of 2009, and my life has changed totally since then.

 Can you describe your shop in three words?

Lillalotta. Handmade. Goodness.

 How did you discover Etsy?

Back in 2007 I was mostly into mixmedia, and lots of my friends started opening up Etsy shops. I was a buyer initially, and one day I decided to join in.

 Where do you find your inspiration?

 I might be a bit of a cliche, but my children inspire me the most. And the world around me. I am lucky to live in a very rural area that seems to be untouched and unspoiled by this era. Less is always more. I enjoy the simplicity.

Can you describe your creative process?

I don’t think I have a creative process. I would be a fibber if I was to make you believe I was this organized being, who had it all in order. ‘Things’ seem to happen. On a whim. When I feel moved. I am totally compulsive though. I ‘must’ do something creative each day, otherwise the day seems to be a waste.

 How much time do you spend on your shop each week?

I try to not spend much time online. I fulfill orders, and keep up with my blog. Anything else is too much, sadly. Being a mother of 5 children my entire life is like a race. A rush.

If you could offer one piece of advice to Etsy newbies, what would it be? 

Any one can open an Etsy shop. That is the beauty of Etsy. Just be yourself. And it will show in your ‘product’ that you have loved creating it. 

Who do you think is your typical customer? Who are you marketing to?

Erm, I have no idea who would be my typical customer. The cotton tapes are so versatile, they can be used for many different things. They can be used on clothing, mix media, quilting, any sewing project…. the sky is the limit I suppose. 

Where else can we find your items? Where else can we find you (Twitter, Facebook, blog, etc.)?

For now I am concentrating on my Shop and my Blog. I kind of hang out there the most. http://lillalotta-blog.blogspot.com/ 

 What do you do when you’re not creating or Etsy-ing?

I am always creating. Although not always for Etsy. I have many ‘loves’, including typography, photography, baking, cooking, sewing, quilting, drawing, painting, house decoration…. My biggest problem is that the days are too short, and my to-do-lists are too long

Humblebea

 

Something Blue Handbag by Humblebea

This month’s little chat is with the talented Natalie of Humblebea.  I first noticed Natalie’s shop when one of her little gnomes was featured in a treasury and then, at Easter, she made some gorgeous, bright yellow chicks and Easter bunnies which flew out of her shop so fast I didn’t get around to buying one before they had all gone.  The same thing happened with herLlittle Red Riding Hood series – I loved the Wolf but, again, left it too late!  So, bereft (so far) of one of her little figures, I will indulge myself with putting lots of photos of her lovely items on here and be quicker next time.

What is your shop’s name & url? What do you sell there?
My shop name is humbleBea’s and my site is:
humblebea.etsy.com
HumbleBea is like my own little gift shop. I sell clay figurines, baby shoes and clothing, home decor, jewelry, you name it. I love to create from many different materials and do not limit myself in any way.

Journey to the Land of Oz by Humblebea

How did you get your shop’s name?
I love bees and started collecting them when I got married because our last name is Kibbe. I chose the name humbleBea because it rhymes with bumblebee and also because it tied in nicely with my first Etsy shop, missbeahaven. I eventually combined both shops to make my life easier. Some of my first Etsy friends still call me Miss Bea and I really like that.

Recently, my husband opened a fabric shop, fittingly called humbleboy http://www.etsy.com/shop/humbleboy.  My Mom also sells on Etsy under the name twolefthands http://www.etsy.com/shop/twolefthands.  We are a true Etsy family!  At this point I hope Natalie won’t mind if I slip in a photo from her mum’s shop as I also love her things!

White Queen by twolefthands

 

What inspired you to create what you make on Etsy?
I find inspiration in everything! I am a girl with many ideas that I jot down or sketch in a little book as soon as I can. My latest obsession is my Bea’s Wees, a collection of miniature gnomes, birds, homes, and holiday collectibles. I started making little Love Shacks on a whim a couple of years ago and fell in love with polymer clay. One night, I was sculpting houses at the dining room table so that I could chat with my daughter while she was baking. I was playing around with my clay and created a little gnome quite by accident. I painted him and listed him a few days later and haven’t looked back. My head is filled with new ideas for my little figurines, I just need more time to bring them to life.

How many hours a day/week do you put into your shop?
A lot! I am very fortunate to be a stay-at-home-Mom and Etsy has become my full-time job. My kids are teenagers now and my husband works outside of the house all day, so I am able to work on my shop throughout the day until the kids are home from school. I have cut back on working at night, although I sometimes create treasuries in my Poster Sketch after my family has gone to bed.

Felt Mary Janes by Humblebea

What do you find most challenging about selling?
Balance. You cannot join Etsy and just sit back and create. You also have to
promote yourself, be a photographer, pack and ship, and be a business person. And because Etsy never closes, it is sometimes difficult to step away take a break.

How do you promote your shop? Do you promote off the internet too, such as craft fairs, etc.?
I promote mainly though the treasuries. I try not to spread myself too thin, but rather to concentrate on finding what works for me and doing it well. Also, I try to list new items as often as possible. That, to me, is the best form of promotion. Keeping your shop fresh makes it interesting for those who like what you do.

What is the most helpful piece of advice/tool/tip that you have discovered while selling on Etsy?
Be original. Do what you love and not what you think others will love. If you are passionate about what you do, it will show in your work.

Three Blocks and a Wee Bird by Humblebea

If you could give any advice to newbie sellers, what would it be?
1. Believe in what you do and keep at it!
2. Be kind and quick to respond to convos.
3. Take good pictures.
4. Remember that there is always room for improvement, even after you have been around for awhile.
5. Do what works best for you. For example, I decided to stop taking custom orders after a very busy holiday season. It was a decision I did not come to lightly because I am a people-pleaser and have a hard time saying no. But, I was spending everyday making things to order and had no time leftover to be creative. It was really hard at first because I knew I was disappointing many of my dear customers, but I think it was the best decision I have made.

What shop goals do you wish to accomplish this year?
I am going to narrow down my product line and concentrate mainly on my Bea’s Wees. I hope to have a large selection of ready-made gnomes that can be personalized very soon and I plan to go into the holiday season more prepared than I was last year.

What else do you do for fun?
I am a bit of a homebody and little things make me happy. I love to sit and listen to high school gossip with my daughter. I play Super Mario Bros. with my son, although I spend much of my playing time in a bubble, which basically means dead. I love chatting with my husband and playing with our dogs. I talk with my Mom on the phone. I listen to audio books. I like to go to the movies and am looking forward to Eclipse and the seventh Harry Potter film. Most of all, I love having dinner with my family. It’s my favorite part of my day.

Wee Gnome Knitting Queen by Humblebea

Thanks so much Natalie and I wish you and your family continued success with your lovely shops.

Chatting with Lola at WeeSparrow

There are so many beautiful and exciting shops on Etsy and sometimes, whilst nosing about in the forums,  you get to meet really talented,  interesting people so I decided that, once a month, I would feature one of these people to make a change from talking about myself,  ranting about life in general or worrying about my cockerel’s legs (you’ll have to read the relevant post for that one!)

For this first ‘little chat’, I would like to introduce you to Lola from the United Kingdom.   Lola  makes beautiful jewllery which  looks very special but is still affordable.  Lovely to buy as a gift – remember that Easter and Mothers’ Day approach! – or for yourself.  Some of the pieces would make beautiful bridal jewellery. 

Silver Bird Necklace

I asked Lola about her work, her shop and what inspires her.

What is your shop’s name  and  what do you sell there?
My shop is Wee Sparrow http://www.etsy.com/shop/WeeSparrow. I sell handmade earrings and necklaces. I use vintage beads, Czech glass, and/or semiprecious gemstones. Most of my designs are one-of-a-kind, though I’ll occasionally do a very limited run of 5 if a piece is particularly popular. I do quite a bit of custom work as well, mostly for bridal parties.

Where does the name ‘Wee Sparrow’ come from?
My husband and I moved house this past summer and our new house has huge windows. I was sitting by one and watching about a dozen little birds take turns at our bird-feeder when “wee sparrow” popped into my head. I thought it was such a cheerful name and captures the light-hearted approach I try to take toward my designs, so I thought it was a perfect fit.

What inspired you to create what you make?
Honestly, I just flat-out love buying beads, so it feeds that habit! I also love the idea of creating something that’s going to be worn by a woman I’ve never met. I think it’s so mind-blowing to think that there are all of these lovely girls and women around the world wearing a pair of earrings or a necklace I’ve made! I love wrapping up new orders because it truly feels like I’m sending a little gift to a new friend.

How many hours  do you put into your shop?
I’m probably logged into Etsy two hours a day – mostly renewing listings, replying to convos, or peeking around in the forums. In terms of actually creating new things, that probably takes about one full day each week and then photographing and listing takes another half day or so. I tend to create in batches, so I always have 5-10 new things to list each week. Unfortunately I’m too impatient to list them one-at-a-time, so they all go up on the same day – usually a Saturday.

Pink Pearl Flower Earrings

What do you find most challenging about selling?
Photographing!!! I’ll never be 100% happy with my photos, so I’m constantly reshooting my jewellery. I keep a running list of the items that I need to photograph (again). Still, it’s helped me learn to use my new camera, so I suppose that’s a positive side-effect!

How do you promote your shop? Do you promote off the internet too, such as craft fairs, etc.?
Promotion is mainly by word-of-mouth for me. My mom has a stack of my business cards and gives them out whenever she can. She also wears my jewellery, as do I. My friends also wear my designs and talk up Wee Sparrow whenever possible, which is fantastic!

What is the most helpful piece of advice/tool/tip that you have discovered while selling on Etsy?
I think that switching up the photos on a listing does wonders. It keeps the shop looking fresh even when I haven’t had time to list new items for a few days. It also keeps buyers from skipping over your listings because they’re already seen that particular shot before.  (I hadn’t thought of that Lola, thanks for passing on that tip! L)

If you could give any advice to newbie sellers, what would it be?
Be prepared to work for your success. Promote your shop. Work hard on your pictures – make sure they’re bright and sharp before worrying about props or funky angles. Don’t expect sales to come flooding in immediately, especially if you haven’t done any promotion. Perhaps most importantly – tend to your own shop! Resist the temptation to compare your shops with your competitors’ as that will do nothing other than stress you out.

Bubble Borealis Earrings

What shop goals do you wish to accomplish this year?
At the beginning of the year, I set my goal for 200 sales by the end of 2010. I’m well on my way, so I hope to maintain that momentum.

Can we follow your blog, are you on Twitter, Facebook?
Yes – I try to update my blog regularly (www.weesparrow.blogspot.com) and I try to Twitter daily (www.twitter.com/weesparrow). I have a Facebook page as well, but it’s woefully neglected!

What else do you do for fun?
Well, I genuinely enjoy my day job, which is nice! I also love going to the cinema with my husband and I love to cook (though I HATE washing dishes). We’re still settling into our house, so weekends are usually spent shopping for vintage furniture or reupholstering something! I also adore spending time with Millie, our two-year-old lurcher.

Thanks so much Lola.  Good luck with achieving your aim to reach 200 sales by the end of 2010, although with such lovely pieces I don’t think you will have any problem at all!