My name is Stephanie and I live in Southern Ontario, Canada with my husband Daniel and our cat, Yuki. Though I work full time for a full service hotel in Niagara Falls, I am currently studying to be a professional makeup artist and have completed formal training in SFX (Special Effects) and VFX (Visual Effects) artistry.

• What is the name of your Shop?

Bubbles N Suds Soap Company

• Please describe your creative process.

It takes a lot of time from something to go from just an idea to a product on the site, even if it seems as simple as a bar of soap. I’ve needed to educate myself on products that are beneficial to the skin, what is best for people with certain skin conditions and of course how everything is going to come together. I love doing custom work, because it makes me feel like I can connect with my customer a little better by being able to put together something that will be uniquely them, or something given as a gift.

• Where do your ideas come from?

Some of my ideas tend to formulate from other ideas friends and coworkers have. I like to get their input and try things out to see how I like it before offering anything up for sale. People tell me what they want to see and I make what I will enjoy using, and I just go from there. For Valentine’s Day, a coworker suggested something that mimicked the cinnamon heart candies; I used cinnamon leaf essential oil, some glycerin soap and red dyes with heart molds and voila! It was a great seller at a craft show!

• How did you get into your craft?

I have very sensitive skin, and suffered frequently from acne breakouts; my skin was either too oily or too dry. Products like Proactive had too many chemicals in them so after a lot of reading and research, I decided to create my own bar of soap. I crafted the Acne Bar, its active ingredients being tea tree essential oil and French green clay. My skin cleared up in days and friends started to ask what I used and they all wanted to buy some. I guess it all went from there!

• Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I work full time, and I am currently studying to become a licensed makeup artist for HD television, film, fashion and photography. Its a lot of work but I am a makeup fanatic, and I’ve wanted to do this since I was twelve. I am also working on getting a beauty blog started, in which people will be able to find informative articles on skin care, makeup and reviews of products, including many handmade products from fellow sellers on Etsy.

• How do you promote your work?

I have my own website which is printed on all my business cards. I attend a lot of craft shows both as a vendor and buyer, and bring my cards with me. Sometimes I have a soap sample attached to the back. I’ve also begun using Twitter as a main gate for some exposure as well.

The Friday, April 24th, 2009, was declared Etsy Day and will be the big day to promote Etsy everywhere.

Here are some ideas from the Etsy Admin:

• If you get people to sign up for Etsy on Friday make sure they mention your Etsy username in the Referrer Username box at sign up! If we see a user who really rocks this, we’ll automatically include you in our Etsy Day follow up post. So if you print out flyers, get on the news, or get Ashton Kutcher to tweet about Etsy, make sure you get your username in there, too!
• Tweet your endeavors via Twitter and make sure to add the hash tag EtsyDay. (And send it to @aplusk. Let’s get Ashton Kutcher’s attention on Etsy Day. Ha! Mr. Most Twitter Followers.)
• Support a new seller on Etsy Day! Buy an item from someone with no sales (you can find them on Pounce Undiscovered), and wish them a “Happy Etsy Day” in the Message to Seller field when you check out.
• Print out schugirl’s Etsy sign to stick in your car window or download and print out the design Anda made for Etsy Day!
• Get an Etsy tattoo!
• Dress your family in all orange. When you get weird looks, whisper “Etsy”.
• Decorate your Etsy banner announcing the Etsy Day.

For more information please read the Storque article.

On My Etsy Book you create your free catalog only with your Etsy username. Next you can edit it, choosing between our various templates or uploading your own images for background pages. Also, elements position and style can be fully customized.

After the book is saved it gets a unique address at myetsybook.com/etsyusername
where the published book is. This can be embedded into blog post, websites, etc. using its Widget, or reduced version of the appi. This widget has a list with all the photos of the products on sale. Each photo takes you to the page of the catalog that belongs to.

Other benefit is a pair of pages that contains, one, your Twitter account, the other one,
your blog RSS. Both link with their respective sites.

My Esty Book is an excellent promotion tool in which we are still working to give you a better service.

I am a former critical care nurse who now enjoys staying at home with my creative active kids. Thank fully I have a wonderful husband who supports all my ideas with a smile.

• What is the name of your Shop?

Warm And Fuzzy Baby. Love the name because it makes you feel welcomed.

• Please describe your creative process

Creative process starts with the vision and motivation. I have to actually, mentally invision it before I can wrap by brain around the project. The actual making of the items, followed by creating the pattern or item.

• Where do your ideas come from?

I am inspired by seasons, colors, children, so many many factors I could literally give you a different reason every day. My ideas come from from many areas, specially what I do not see out there.

• How did you get into your craft?

I have been crafting since age four when my mother taught me to sew yo yos. “Motitas” like she would call them.

• How do you promote your work?

I enjoy the company of my family and friends. There is nothing more valuable.

My name is Shawn. I’m a 26 year old guy from Watertown, South Dakota. I’m a homebody for the most part. I like to stay up late and sleep-in, but who doesn’t.

• What is the name of your Shop?

Wall Stickz
Decorate your walls the fun & easy way. Peel, Stick, & Enjoy!

• Please describe your creative process

I use self-adhesive vinyl for my creations. Blank walls are my canvas and vinyl is my paint. I’m usually up into the wee hours of the night creating new stuff or finishing orders. I do my best thinking after midnight.

• Where do your ideas come from?

I get ideas from all over the place including tv, t-shirts, artwork, internet, friends & family. I like to take notes, otherwise I forget stuff.

• How did you get into your craft?

One of my good friends makes decals for vehicles. If it wasn’t for him I would never have even thought about making vinyl wall decals.

• Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I work 50 hours a week as an Assistant Manager for an auto parts company. That takes up alot of my time, but I’m always thinking about making things while I’m at work.

• How do you promote your work?

Twitter – Facebook – Etsy – Shophandmade.

• Tell me a bit about yourself

Hi, I’m Catherine Gibb and I live in the suburbs of Detroit. I am a member of the Photographers of Etsy (POE) Street Team and the POE Michigan/Detroit Street Team here on Etsy.

• What is the name of your Shop?

My username is racergirl1313 and my shop name is “Gibb Photo”. I signed up for Etsy as a buyer first and didn’t realize that my username would end up as my shop name if I decided to sell.

• Please describe your creative process

I spend as much time as I can out and about with my camera, leanses and gear. In the spring and summer I go to the local car shows, and to Woodward Avenue on Friday and Saturday nights to shoot the classic cars. My husband and I go to the local parks for hikes and to events around town and I bring my camera along. I also take my camera on all of our vacations.

• Where do your ideas come from?

I am inspired by most of what I see around me. I love the lines of classic cars with their graceful curves and artful applications of chrome. I love the twists and turns to tree branches, the way the spring blossoms cover the trees and as quickly as they appear they disappear.

• How did you get into your craft?

I have loved photography since I picked up my first camera. When I was a kid I used to go to the park in my neighbourhood and take photos of everything. I was always taking pictures of my friends and family and the world around me. In high school I took formal photography classes and further honed my skills. Since then I have rarely been without a camera and have enjoyed photographing the world around me.

• Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I work full time for a business services company. I also am a voracious reader and enjoy sewing and crafting. I love baking and love trying out new recipes.

• How do you promote your work?

Sadly, I don’t do nearly enough! I have my own website at GibbPhoto and a blog at gibbphoto.blogspot.com. I also have a Flickr account and I am part of POE, the Photographers of Etsy Street Team. I am also the lone member of the POE Michigan/Detroit group, hopefully we can find more POE members in Michigan to join me!

My name is Eniko, I am recently married and live in the seacoast region of NH, I am a freshman (almost a junior lol) photography major in college. I like to go to antique stores, make jewelry, ride horses, go hiking.

• What is the name of your Shop?

Lilly Eve Designs.

• Please describe your creative process

I only recently last year started to make jewelry and it is very very fun and I love it! I use stones, semi precious stones, glass, pearls, charms, metal and antique materials.

• Where do your ideas come from?

I love nature and animals, so I always try to incorporate birds and trees etc into my work, I usually pick out the colors I want to use, then I place them out to see which way would look best and I finalize it all and put them together.

• How did you get into your craft?

I have always loved jewelry and decided that I would try to create some pieces and see how I like it.

• Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I go to school part time and help around the apartment while my husband works, I also take photos as much as I can and I maintain my photo art shop also here on Etsy.

• How do you promote your work?

I post on the Etsy forums, chatroom, update my blog and twitter.

• Tell me a bit about yourself

My name is Audrey. I live in Manitoba Canada, have a wonderful hubby and 2 great teenage boys.

• What is the name of your Shop?

The name of my shop is “Audrey’s Country Crafts”. My imagination isn’t that great, so I thought I’d use my name and basically describe what I did all in a title. After starting on Etsy – I see a lot of shops with wonderfully imaginative names, so mine looks pretty boring. But I was looking for something that is self explanatory.

• Please describe your creative process

I’ll paint anything that sits still long enough. I love to work with wood, and old jeans. The jean blankets was a nice way to paint on something new, and also sew, for a change from the wood shop. My days are pretty full, but usually on the weekend I’ll manage to find a little time to craft.

• Where do your ideas come from?

Most of my ideas come from books, magazines, craft shows, internet or just some cool surface I find to paint. Sometimes while at a craft show or looking on the internet, I’ll see something that can be adapted to wood, cloth or canvas and try it out.

• How did you get into your craft?

I was a stay-at-home mom and when our youngest son was about 2 years old I saw an ad in the local paper for beginner folkart painting classes. My husband was very supportive, thought it was a good way to get out of the house one evening a week and talk to adults. He didn’t know it would become an addiction. I think he’s sorry now. (LOL)

• Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I guess you could say my “day job” is driving a school bus. I started driving about 13 years ago, when the oldest started school. It’s a great job!! Days off when the boys had days off, summer holidays, 2 weeks at Christmas etc. The perfect job for a mom.

• How do you promote your work?

I have 2 blogs where I post about my crafts, but also do 2 features/wk on Esty shops and giveaways, plus Etsy. The forums on Etsy have been a great way to promote my shop. The blogs are fun too, it’s a blast doing features on other shops, “meeting” new people and seeing their shops and blogs.