Featured Artist: UniqueGarden, uniqueXpression, UniqueTreatDogBones

1. Tell me a bit about yourself (name, location, affiliations, personal stuff).

My name is Tammy. I have been crafting and selling for over 35yrs. I love to make so many things, that I have ended up selling an eclectic assortment. In addition to my Etsy shops, I sell in some local shops and at craft shows. I make ornaments, wreaths, floral arrangements, jewelry, soaps, and scrap book pages to mention a few. Visiting my craft show booth is always an interesting prospect!

When I set up my Etsy shops, I felt that I needed to open three that would encompass the bulk of what I make, so that I could sell on line, what I normally take to shows or sell in shops.

I have been making my own bath and body products under the name Unique Garden Essences for the past 10 yrs. I use all natural and nearly natural ingredients. Any herbs or flowers that I use are grown by me or my personal friends. I mainly use cold pressed, food grade essential oils, so that all of my recipes are high in quality and therapeutic properties. (My etsy shop is UniqueGarden).

While I have been selling my jewelry and crafts for about 35 yrs., I have been doing so under the label of UniqueXpression for about 10 yrs. I mainly use gemstones, sterling silver, and Zwarovski crystals, although I have added a value corner to this shop so that I can offer affordable pieces in different medians..

Aside from being a crafter, I am a Mom to two young men and three four-legged boys. Last year I began making my own dog treats, and, as with so many other things, one thing led to another, and I began making and selling those treats to the public. I now have an Etsy shop, UniqueTreatDogBones for all natural treats. Before the end of this month I will be adding an all natural dog soap to this shop and also some aromatherapy items.

2. What inspires you? Where do your ideas come from?

I am really into nature and just about anything can inspire me! As I indicated before, one thing usually leads to about 10 in my life! It just seems like everything has its own, natural progression and I always seem to follow it.

3. What is your favorite thing in your shop and why?

I know that this will sound self-serving, but I don't really have A favorite. I love everything I make and I make what I love. That's how I have ended up with 3 shops and boo coo items that still aren't listed!

4. What is the best thing about your products?

I love the fact that almost everything I make is natural, or as natural as can be. I don't use chemical preservatives in http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifmy bath & body recipes or my dog treat recipes. To me, this brings my recipes to a higher level than most

5. What is the best homemade item you have ever bought?

I'd have to say that it was a gorgeous angel made from a basket and wood. She is unique and something that I have never made or even attempted, which makes her even more special.

Etsy Shops: http://uniquegarden.etsy.com
http://uniquexpression.etsy.com
http://uniquetreatdogbones.etsy.com
Etsy Teams: EFA, Dog Mafia and Great Circle Ohio
Blog: http://uniquegardenessences.blogspot.com

Featured Artist: Mooretaste

Hi, I'm Toni Moore (also known as Toni Geary), I have always loved jewellery so making it really satisfies a passion that I've had for many years.

I am a work at home mum of 2 small children so my days are very full.

My aim is to create unique and beautiful jewellery items that you will love for many years.

I love learning new techniques and I constantly strive to create something that's just that little bit different. My items combine silver, copper, crystals, semi precious gemstones and my own handmade Dichroic pendants.

Anyway, enough from me. Suffice it to say that if you enjoy wearing my jewellery half as much as I enjoyed making it, you'll be one satisfied customer.

If you find that something isn't quite what you're after, please contact me as I love creating custom items.

Etsy Shop: http://Mooretaste.etsy.com
Blog: http://Mooretaste.blogspot.com
Website: http://mooretaste.com

Featured Artist: A Passion For Fashion

1. Tell me a bit about yourself (name, location, affiliations, personal stuff).

Jennifer Meyers..Phoenix Arizona..Jewish

I am a stay at home Mom and I take care of my 2 kids..Both Under 6 years old. I started making jewelry about 7 years ago after my Dad bought me some books on the subject. I have always been creative and and I started calling myself an artist at age 5. I got my degree in Art from ASU where I did more painting and photography. My career includes more than 15 years as a professional artist, designer and consultant.

I have been on two local television morning shows, channel 3 and 12. My work has also been featured in the Arizona Republic Newspaper (in Arizona, USA). I have also been in many juried art shows, and high end retail shops. And now I am addicted to Etsy.

My Husband wrote two great stories for me in the Storque..one of those on Etsy addiction... http://www.etsy.com/storque/author/aPassionForFashion/

2. What inspires you? Where do your ideas come from?

I am inspired by everything... I look at everything and try and think how I could use that. I tease my kids that I will turn their toys into jewelry and sell it on Etsy if they don't clean their rooms. Most of my idea come to me when I am working on a project... or hunting for something different on the Internet... I am always looking for that next big thing.

3. What is your favourite thing in your shop and why?

This is my favorite right now [Field of Flowers...Glass and Japanese Chiyogami Paper Pendant Necklace]... It is my newest design and very classy with my unique stamp on it. Plus I had a great time shopping for the supplies for this... It took 5 different venues to put this piece together... 2 brick and mortar stores and 3 online stores.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8838095

4. What is the best thing you have ever created?

The best thing I ever created first I'd have to say the relationship with my Mom... My Marriage... and My children... but I had help in those...

My best creation with my hand was when I built a 30 ft redwood trellis across our pool area in our former house. I had more time on my hands before kids and I love to construct things. I even designed and planned it all myself... Jewelry wise I am really tickled by a wholesale order I had... 33 pieces that went to Saudi Arabia.

5. What is the best homemade item you have ever bought?

I love my Cheetos Change Purse... I love Cheetos... I always have... so when I saw it I had to own it! Made by MoJo on Etsy. I also love aBreathofFrenchair shop on Etsy... I bought some grape-seed lotion with the smell of carnations... I bought some for my Mom as well... I just love it! I won't buy store lotion again...

Etsy Shop: http://apassionforfashion.etsy.com
Blog: http://jewelsbyjennifer.blogspot.com

Featured Artist: Katrin Lerman Jewelry

I come from a family of makers and have been doing jewelry since I was a little girl (if making friendship bracelets is considered jewelry ; ) Originally from Germany, I settled in Massachusetts, US almost ten years ago. I can’t believe it has been such a long time already! Nonetheless, I draw inspiration from my German childhood as well as from the time spent here and from every little moment I can remember happening in between. Sometimes, photographs of finished jewelry pop into my mind and I have to quickly run to jot them down before they are gone. Other times, I have an idea in mind and it takes a lot of drawings until I have figured out how to best do what I was thinking about. Of course, those sketches are not written in stone and I often change a design while I am making the piece to arrive at the best end result possible.

All of my pieces are entirely hand made by me using sterling silver wire and high quality genuine gemstones. First, I create the desired shape/shell for a piece out of thick sterling silver wire. Then I string on the gemstones and wrap the entire piece with feet upon feet of thin sterling silver wire to give it a finished look. I add tiny sterling silver beads to the frame during wrapping to give it more dimension.

Every piece is different so if you see something and you like it you better grab it fast!

I also LOVE to work on custom designs. So if you have a certain gemstone or color in mind, please contact me. I can also incorporate keepsakes, such as beads, shells or charms into a beautiful pendant.

I graduated from the New England School of Art and Design at Suffolk University in Boston with a Degree of Fine Arts in Interior Design. Interior Design is all about color, form, and texture – and that’s what I’m integrating in my jewelry designs.

Now that I have a beautiful baby girl, I try to spend every free minute (and those of you who have a baby know that there are few) creating jewelry. Naturally, I have lots more time thinking than creating and so my sketch book is filling up with ideas for years to come. I can’t wait to get working on all those ideas and designs!!!

Etsy Shop: http://KatrinLermanJewelry.etsy.com
Blog: http://katrinlermanjewelry.blogspot.com/

Featured Artist: MyFairLadyvt4

My name is Ann, I'm a stay at home Mom in Vermont. I am married and have 2 children a boy and a girl. My favorite hobbies are reading and beading.

I get inspired from nature, photos, books, friends, colors, I love putting different colors that you would not think to put together. Then see the colors together and think wow, that actually looks good, at least to me. Currently, my favorite item in my shop is my new Red Brick Road freeform Brick stitch bracelet. I created it for the Etsy Beadweavers January Challenge. The theme is "RED".

Wow, I think my dream buyer may be Sarah Jessica Parker because she seems to appreciate different things. In 5 years I hope I am still doing what I am doing now, but I hope I have learned a lot of new things and incorporated them into my creations.

Etsy Shop: http://myfairladyvt4.etsy.com
Blog: http://myfairladyvt4.blogspot.com