D is for DoatyLeather

I'm so excited about today's etsy shop feature. While I was searching around etsy I came upon Dennis Doaty's etsy shop DoatyLeather.  What intrigued me wasn't just his gorgeous leather items it was his background story.

Dennis began his leather crafting back in the 1970s  while serving in the U.S. Navy on a small Destroyer in the South Pacific. So I just want to personally say thank you to Dennis for your time and service you put in to serving our country. Sometimes we are so focused on thanking those that currently serve that we forget about those who came before.


What's your favorite item in your shop?

The favorite item in my shop is the two styles of barrettes but I am just getting started. I have lots of other things I hope to make and add as time permits.
 

Do you have any tips for people looking to learning to work with leather?
For anyone looking to learn to work with leather, the important thing is practice. I am self taught and most of my original knowledge of the art came from books.
 
Where do you draw your inspiration from when you work on a piece?
Inspiration is drawn from many places depending on what I am working on at the time.

Do you have future plans for your shop?
I hope to enlarge the shop and include large hand tooled purses, key holders, and dozens of other items as I can.

C is for CountryBee

Ok so I had some problems posting this yesterday so even though today is D here is my C day etsy feature. Better late then never!






Alice Stover owner of CountryBee etsy shop has been around etsy for a few years now. Full of candles and supplies there is sure to be something perfect for your home or a gift for a friend/love one.



How long have you been making candles?
I have been making candles and candle tarts 12 years.
 
What is your favorite scent to use?
There are so many scents that I love,it is hard to pick just one but butter brickle and funky monkey is among my most favorite fragrances.

What is your favorite item in your shop?
My favorite item in my shop would have to be my pastry candle tarts and the candle tarts that look like strawberries,I'll be adding mini apples and pumpkins soon .They smell so good and look as good as they smell.I love making them and sell a lot at the farmers market where I have a booth.

 


What are your future plans for your shop? 

.I would like to expand on my candle tarts but it is hard to sell candle tarts on the net cause people like to smell them in person which I can understand that.I do make candles and sell candles at the farmers market but I love to change the scent of my home often and candle tarts are the way to do that.I make my candle tarts as strong as possible and to last.

B is for BridgesPottery

So I'm still lining up my etsy shop features but I knew that I definitely wanted to get someone that works with ceramics/pottery. So I was delighted when Patricia Bridges agreed to let me interview her and feature her shop BridgesPottery. Please check out her Etsy shop and maybe buy an item or two that you fancy





Here are some my favorite items I found in her shop and the interview she so kindly agreed to do.

You have been working in ceramics for a long time now. What tips do you have for newbies to your craft?
I have been working in clay for over 3 decades. I am a professional potter - teaching and making. Many of my students are beginners or new to the craft. My best guidance I give to those who want to grow their knowledge and develop their craft in clay is to practice, practice, practice and ask LOTS of questions. There is a lot of technical skill that goes into making pots on the potter's wheel and great potters demonstrate that in their work.

With the abundance of you tube videos and other available online instruction - people need to keep in check with the fact that there is no substitute for face to face learning with a craft like ceramics. The days of people apprenticing to learn a craft are fewer. I learned through apprenticeships and feel strongly that if you want to learn a craft - learn it from a master - learn by doing and start with the smallest details of the craft.
 
What is your favorite item in your shop?
My favorite item in my shop right now are my colanders. They are practical yet beautiful in a fun and decorative way. Lots of work goes into them, as making the holes and the patterns is very labor intensive. More to be added in the coming days.

 
How long does it take you to craft your shop items?
Making pottery by hand is a long process. Each piece gets made on the wheel or by hand. It then takes days and sometimes weeks to air dry. Fired once in a hot kiln (takes 8hrs +12 to cool), then glazed (painted) and refired. My custom work generally is a 3-4 week delivery.

 
What are your future plans for your shop?As my Etsy shop grows - I will develop other channels in parallel online and offline to sell my work. Selling online is just one place buyers can find my work. I sell in a few retail shops and in the summer at our local farmers market.

I produce a few instructional videos every year. They are a great way to connect with some of the ceramic community. Quick Clicks for Bridges Pottery .....

www.bridgespottery.com
www.blog.bridgespottery.com
www.facebook.com/bridgespottery
www.bridgespottery.etsy.com
www.instagram.com/bridgespottery
www.twitter.com/bridgespottery
www.pinterest.com/bridgespottery

A is for AmberGlamourLand

Here it is day one of the A-Z blogging challenge. I decided today would be a great day to start off with Amber Johnson's Etsy Shop AmberGlamourLand. When I saw the cute items she had in her shop I knew I had to ask her right away if I could feature her. Please stop by her shop and look around. She has so many more cute items than the ones I've posted!! She is a mommy to 3 little boys and is based out of Riverside, California.







Here is a little bit about Amber and her shop. BTW She has the most beautiful eyes! Just look at the photo below and you'll see what I mean.

What made you decide to open your shop on Etsy?
I decided to open my shop because I've always loved making my own handmade accessories, so when i found out about Etsy, I thought it was a great platform to showcase my items. Being a busy mother of 3 boys, it is also a great way to make some extra money on the little spare time I have.



 
What is your favorite item in your shop?
My favorite Item in my shop right now are the leopard print bows. I love any and all things animal print and bows are just so darn cute to me!


What inspires you?
I'm inspired by current fashion trends and I tend to lean more towards bold statement pieces that take the whole look up a notch.

What are your future plans for your shop?
In the future, I would like to definitely like to expand my store and add a larger variety of accessories.Maybe even clothing one day!

 You can Also check her out here
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmberGlamourLand
Pinterest: pinterest.com/msamberglamour/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/MsAmberGlamour?feature=mhee

Etsy Shop Feature 12/19/2012- Random Shops

I am a huge fan of Etsy. I could spend hours there looking at everything I want to buy. I have made so many treasuries on there and once had one of my treasuries make it to the front page (most exciting Etsy moment for me ever!). Well with my old blog I always did features on Etsy shops and loved that I could help give more exposure for them. So today I'm featuring some random shops I found while wandering through all of Etsy's goodies.

Pea Pickle Farm's shop owner Leslie Allen lives in Michigan. She makes ornaments, candles and lip balm from natural beeswax. You can check out her journal at www.peapicklefarm.com or her youtube channel at www.youtube.com/user/lesliejeanallenII You can also find her on Twitter @PeaPickleFarm Here are some of my favorites from her shop!

 

Creation Unique is a brand new store still awaiting on its first sale! Based out of Memphis, Tennessee These darling little bows are sure to make any little girl happy.