Feature Friday: Ella Parry

Today's Feature Friday is an illustrator! That's something new! Take it, Ella Parry!

{Adorableness}

Tell us about yourself, name, location, what have you!
My name is Ella Parry; I now live in the London with my lovely musician husband and my cat - Summer. I have been here in London for more than10 years. I am a freelance illustrator and graphic designer and have been mainly focusing on creating my own products, such as greetings cards, bookmarks, tote bag… etc and have my first online shop at etsy.

What inspires you?
The main inspiration for my work is the hope and happiness of life. I truly believe we all are searching for happiness for our life everyday; my work is an expression of my feeling and my view on life and others.

How did you get into illustration?
I studied Graphic Design in Hong Kong and worked as a graphic designer but I have always had a strong passion for art ever since I was able to pick up my first pencil as a child. After ten years working for bills and did not living the life I always dreamed of, I finally decided to leave my full time job to be a full time freelance illustrator and try to make my dream come true for myself – have my own merchandise from my own illustrations.

{I got to hold an orange kitten this week. That's why I love this card.}

Would you rather have a peg leg or a hook hand?
What a funny question! I draw and craft with my hand, I don’t mind to have a peg leg!

I'm a very funny person like that.

What are the last five songs played in your itunes?
The last five songs played in my itune is:
- Funky people by ROXY5000
- Hey kid by ROXY5000
- I cried for you by Katie Melua
- No place to fall by The little Willies
- Sexy by ROXY5000

{I don't know why, but that little tush just cracks me up.}

Could you describe your process on some of the products you make?
All my cards, prints and bookmarks are made in-house on a 6-color Epson Stylus Photo printer.
My drawings are first photographed, scanned and edited in Photoshop to make sure the color is as close as possible to my original drawings before the printing process begins. I ensure that everything that is produced is of high standard and checked by hand.

So that's Ella Parry. Check out her Etsy shop,  or fan her on Facebook. I really just feel warm and fuzzy now. And I want a cat, but I always want a cat.

Feature Saturday: Catchall Jewelry

Well, it's just as I suspected: with everything going on in my life right now, I've fallen a little behind with the features. Fortunately, I got interviews with people before November even began. Unfortunately, I didn't make drafts of the posts, so in the end still behind. So let's call this one a feature Saturday. Sure, there's no alliteration, but my sanity is still intact.


Today's Feature is Catchall Jewelry. She's a youngin' so be nice!


Tell us about yourself, name, location, what have you! 
My name is Sonia, I live in New Jersey and I'm a junior in highschool.

{Maya Earrings} 

What inspires you? 
Anything Indian or South American. I love all the bright fun colors and beautiful patterns. I try my best to infuse my jewelry with these cultures.


How did you get into jewelry making? 
I started making jewelry about 6 years ago; I first started making earrings with paper clips.

{These are neat} 

Where do you do your crafting? 
In the living room, infront of the tv... 

Would you rather have a peg leg or a hook hand? 
I'd rather have a peg leg; it would be very hard to make jewelry with a hook hand!


I'm starting to think this questions is a little biased for crafters. Perhaps I should start interviewing someone who works with their feet. Nominations?

What are the last five songs played in your itunes?
Wires - Coconut Records , Paper Boats - Nada Surf , take me to the river - talking heads , a man me then jim - rilo kiley , work for food - dramarama

{Cherry Blossom Hair Pin} 

If you could do any other sort of craft, what would it be? 
I would paint/draw, or take photos.. or maybe make plushies... I'm very indecisive, there are so many cool things to do! 


Trust me, I understand!


So that was Catchall Jewelry. You can visit her Etsy shop here .

Feature Friday: ParamiPanda

In case you hadn't heard, tomorrow is Halloween. Sadly, this year, I won't get to do much celebrating, or enjoy handing out candy, because I have friends getting married on Saturday, and Friday is the rehearsal. (Though, I will get to dress up. That's right, their wedding rehearsal is a costume rehearsal.)

So, in celebration of Halloween, I've got some cute Halloweeness coming at you! Today's feature is Parami Panda.

{Awww...It's a Mummy Bunny!}

Tell us about yourself, name, location, what have you:
My name is Alix, I am 22 and I am currently based right outside of San Francisco.

What inspires you?
My work has a lot of Japanese influences - it is Amigurumi which is a Japanese art in itself, but beyond that I really believe in the Japanese ideal that nothing has to be boring or merely functional - everything can be kawaii and unique.

How did you get into crafting?
I have been crafty all my life, making clothes and painting/drawing, but I always got bored, because what I was creating didn't have it's own personality. I would make one hat, and then be over making hats, but when I discovered amigurumi about a year ago my world changed. I couldn't get enough of it, the creatures I was creating were so much more than just yarn and stuffing, they had expressions and feelings, and I just kept making them and making them, and haven't slowed down yet.

{Bah haha. This one just cracks me up}

 What do you do for your full time job?
I graduated from college in June, spent some time in Japan, and then some time at a Buddhist retreat center in Colorado, and now I am back where I grew up in California madly applying to internships in social justice and environmental responsibility nonprofits, and gearing up to be a substitute teacher.

Would you rather have a peg leg or a hook hand?
hmmm...well I was going to say a peg leg, because I need my hands to make my plushies, buuuut if it was a crochet-hook hand, I suppose that wouldn't be a problem.


I'll allow this answer, just because the idea of a crochet hook hand is pretty much the funniest thing I've thought of all day.

What are the last five songs played in your itunes?
"Last Night on Earth" -Green Day
"Soda Shop" -Jay Brennan
"Brand New Day" -Ryan Star
"Hey Jude" -Across the Universe Soundtrack
"Boston" -Guster

How do you come up ideas for all the wonderful plushies you make?
I just sort of let them come to me. When I get some new fabric or a new yarn, I wait, and sooner or later I just know exactly what I have to make with it. And then I of course make that same critter in fifty different color combinations

That's Parami Panda! You can also check out her blog at: Paramipanda.blogspot.com. Have a fun and safe Halloween, everyone!

Feature Friday: J2Jewelry

Okay, I know my last feature was jewelry. But...today's feature is just that cool, I promise you won't be disappointed. (Also, on that note: I had a ton of people who do jewelry want a feature. Which is cool, but I want a little more variety. If you know anyone, or yourself want to be featured, email me or leave a comment. Seriously!)

So, today's feature is J2Jewelry. Be prepared. This is unlike any jewelry I've ever seen:

{Honeycomb}

Tell us about yourself, name, location, what have you!
My name Is Jenna Rice and I live in Kalamazoo Michigan- yes, really- with my husband and two repurposed hounds (SPCA all the way!). I work in a bead shop, which was probably a poor choice as a significant portion of my check goes to feed my addiction to all things shiny.

What inspires you?
That moment before you close your eyes and, all of a sudden, you figure out the answer to that question that's been bugging you all day. -Also- bugs, trees, kind gestures, cups of tea, wonder, good stories, deceptive simplicity and joy.

How did you get into crafting?
My mom had this drawer next to her sewing machine that was home to things that needed repair- mostly jewelry and toys. I used to sit on the floor and spend hours trying to fix puppets or broken watches and re-imagine the things that were too far gone to ever be whole again. Armed with a spool of dental floss, a pair of tweezers and scissors I created some pretty awful necklaces and a few decent ones.

{I love mustaches. Seriously, last year I had a mustache party for my birthday.}

Where do you do your jewelry making?
I hate to admit this as I have a room upstairs alloted just for my materials, but I work on my couch. It's a terrible habit, but I keep my computer next to me so I can listen to music on headphones and completely immerse myself in designing (a good day) or flip obsessively between my Etsy shop and Facebook (on a slow day). My coffee table is always flooded with beads, containers of silver clay and tools.

Would you rather have a peg leg or a hook hand?
I'm a bit of a klutz, so someday my answer to this might actually be vital. Peg leg. Totally. I need two hands to load and unload my kiln. Plus, they are making some amazingly beautiful prosthetics these days...

Peg Leg. Again, nice choice.

{Okay, now Pea Pods are adorable}

What are the last five songs played in your itunes?
Ooooh! *Love* this question!
"Silver Lining" Rilo Kiley, "Sabotage" Beastie Boys, "When Will I Be Loved" The Everly Brothers, "Shake it to the Ground" DJ Blaqstarr, and "I Think I Need a New Heart" The Magnetic Fields.

Oh, I love the range and variety!

I love how you have some very atypical jewelry in your store, how do you think of different things to do?
I play. Seriously. I keep an old coffee can that is full of not-quites and pull something from it from time to time and rework it until I like it. My silver pieces almost always begin when I'm musing, "I wonder if I could...". Just like my seven year old self, I imagine and take apart and rebuild all of the time.

Well, that was J2Jewelry! Be sure to check the shop out! And feel free to buy me a mustache necklace. I won't stop you.

Feature Friday: Wire Girl

My best friend, Christine, is visiting me this weekend. We went to college together, were roommates a few times, we both got degrees in graphic design, we were both RA's. Anyway, I love her lots.

Christine is also very fashionable with her jewelry. I love jewelry, but I never wear any. But Christine always seems to have some cute earrings or a lovely necklace around.

So today's Feature Friday is WireGirl, who's stuff reminds me a lot of the sort of stuff that Christine would love. I love how intricate everything is! Just look how much detail there is...

Tell us about yourself, name, location, what have you!  
Hollis Tarr, Pottstown, PA single divorced mom of two great kids (don't all us moms say that).  I love garlic bagle chips - probably why I am still single!  Involved with the youth group at my church.

What inspires you?
Nature inspires me.  There is such an organic beauty in trees and animals.  Each is unique, like us.

{Tree Pendants}

How did you get into jewelry making?

I got into it accidentally. A good friend, who is also very crafty, had a pair of earrings on one time and she told me she made them.  I loved the look and went out and bought a starter kit. I then found my local bead store and the creative possibilites opened up.  After several months and viewing some of my creations, they told me I should open an Etsy store.  I never heard of Etsy before then. Since that time I have gone from simple wire wrapping to precious metal clay (PMC) and metal work.

Where do you do your jewelry making?  

That is an excellent question!  I actually have a few places.  My kitchen table, my kitchen stove (for when I fire items), my work desk upstairs, and sometimes in bed if I am working on wire wrapping at 1am in the morning.

{Wow. Just wow. I love Rubies now too.}

Would you rather have a peg leg or a hook hand? 

A peg leg for sure!  But, I would  have to get a really fancy carved one from another Etsy seller.  No plain peg legs for me, no sir!

What are the last five songs played in your itunes?  

Dive, Steven Curtis Chapman; Where were you, Todd Agnew; When did you fall in love with me, Chris Rice; In the light, DC Talk; Earthquake, Family Force 5.

Oh, Family Force 5, nice choice.

{Mmm..Lampwork Earrings}

I know the jewelry market on Etsy is fairly competitive. How has that impacted your sales strategies?

It has impacted my sales strategy in the fact that I learned to go outside of Etsy, and Etsy related sites, to advertise. In addition, you have to have a quality product that is unique at a good price.  And last, but certainly not least, wonderful customer service.

If you could create something other than jewelry, what would that be? 

I love pottery and clay.  That would be something I would love to learn!

So, basically everyone should checkout WireGirl. Oh, and she also has free shipping to a whole slew of places! Nice.

Feature Friday: Beth Bee

For this Feature Friday, we're hopping on over to Beth Bee. This is also the first shop I've featured that I've actually made a purchase from.

A few months ago, I was attempting to keep better track of my address, phone numbers, etc, instead of always having to call my parents for them, or just keeping everything in my cell phone (because that can end, really, really badly.)

And I stumbled upong this:

{Mine doesn't have cool planes on it, but it does have something else. I just forget what.}

Beth Bee, out of Oregon, does all sorts of printing on board books.

{Veggie friends, I have something for you!}

Her tag line is "A little press with little books" which I think is quite accurate. Besides being really nice, and cute, I love how functional things are. The address book is easy to order, and rearrange. I can keep peoples info in there, I can tape in business cards. If things get full, I can add more paper, and buy larger rings to expand it.

You can check out Beth Bee here on Etsy, or check out her website for more.

Feature Friday: Sweet Body

Today's a late one; I've been trying to figure out what-n-the-heck is going on with comments. For a temporary solution, I've got the pop-up comments turned on. Not my ideal solution, but it will do for  the time being. Moving on!

Today's Feature is SweetBody! I'm trying to have a theme, or reason for choosing whom I choose each time (we'll see if this actually happens!) Anyway, here's a little fact about me that, well, most of you probably don't care to know: I hate to shower. And I rarely wash my hair. Now mind you, I'm a clean person, but frizzy hair like mine just doesn't need a wash everyday...although, this week I think I'm pushing it a bit. I blame my aversion to showering on lots of camping. But I think if I had lovely soaps like these, I might consider it more often.

{Oh, you had me at "lime"}

Tell us about yourself, name, location, what have you!
My name is Amber. I'm 22 and I'm located on the coast of Maine, USA.

Oooh! Maine, I love Maine. Not that I've ever been there, but it is in my top five "States I get excited about when I meet people from there" list. Really.

What inspires you?
I'm inspired by everything. I could never just pinpoint one, or two, or ten things.

How did you get into soap making? 
I started when I was young, like, 15 or 16 by making lotion and bath bombs from a Christmas Gift DIY I read in a teen magazine. Then it evolved and soap is just...amazing. I love it.

{So..I have a thing for Vanilla}

Where do you do your soap making? 
I make all my soap in my apartment...I have a separate room for my supplies and stock and use the kitchen stove when I need to.

That's really impressive. I could barely manage to sew in my apartment last year. I can't imagine making soap.

{Ugh. It's so lovely. Vanilla}

Would you rather have a peg leg or a hook hand?
I'm a dancer outside of Etsy, so I can' imagine that choosing peg leg would be wise...Though, a hook hand is creepy. Can I choose an eye patch? Elle Driver had an eye patch in Kill Bill and it was oddly sexy... 

Do you look like Daryl Hannah? Because,  yes, then I'll allow an eye patch.

What are the last five songs played in your itunes?
Videotape by Radiohead
Flightless Bird by Iron & Wine
Never Think by Rob Pattinson
Jigsaw Falling into Place by Radiohead
House of Cards by Radiohead 

If you could create something other than soaps, what would that be? 
I'd either be a fashion designer or a graphic designer. 

Thanks Sweet Body! I really do love your stuff.You can find her shop here, or read her blog here.

Want to Be Featured?

Hey Etsy folks! Here's a post for you!

I'm looking to start a recurring post on my blog featuring Etsy sellers I like. And while I like plenty, and I have some in mind, I'll run out eventually.

Basically, my only requirement is that I have to like what you make (sorry, I'm not going to create posts about stuff I would never buy) and you MUST have good photography. If I want to do a post on your shop, I'll send you a short message with a few questions, and that will be that.

Anyway, leave a comment with your shop address if you are interested and I'll take a look!

Feature Friday: KT Jean Designs

Just a quick Feature Friday here today. I'm home in the Quad Cities for the day for a friends wedding, then after brunch tomorrow I head back to Des Moines for another friends wedding.

In honor of everyone's nuptuals, I'm featuring KT Jean Designs. I've never boughten from her, and likely never will. But I favorited this shop a long time ago, because her items are unique and beautiful. Just look at this wedding dress:

Feature Friday: Gypsy Eye

Hey, it's Friday! And it should have been an easy week, seeing as if you are in the US (and Canada?) you got a short weekly, likely. I'm also excited, because I get a short week next week too, because I'm taking Friday off for my dear friend Rachel's wedding back home.

But back to it being Friday of this week. This is the first of something I'd like to do once a week (on Friday's!) inspired by Follow Friday on Twitter. Instead of me suggesting people to "follow" I'll feature someone who crafts/handmakes stuff that I like. Maybe I'll interview them. Maybe I'll actually have bought their stuff. Maybe I'll just put up photos and talk how I like stuff. Who knows, I'm a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants sort of gal.

This weeks feature is Gypsy Eye Studio. Kristy happens to be on Etsy Owls Street Team so that's how I found this shop. The team has started work on Halloween items, and I absolutely loved Kristy's:

It's a wreath for Halloween! Isn't that so cool? I thought it was a painting at first, because of the cropping. Unfortunately, (well, except for Gypsy Eye + whomever bought it) this was already sold, so all we can do is look at the pictures. Too bad, because I have a creepy old house that is going to be a blast come Halloween.


Okay, now for some "interview" type things:

Tell us about yourself, name, location, what have you!
My name is Kristy Kroth-Hoops, I currently live in Lebanon, OH (which is kind of between Cincinnati and Dayton). I am married to the front man of My Latex Brain, and am at risk of becoming the weird cat lady with the four the I have right now. 

Oh, a potential cat lady-friend. I don't even have any cats and I think I'm running the risk too, oddly enough. But don't worry, I'm pretty sure having a husband negates the cat-ladyness.


What inspires you?
I find a ton of inspiration from black and white horror films. I grew up watching them and between costuming and atmosphere I have been able to incorporate a lot of the classic styling within my work. Art Deco and Art Nouveau design and advertising have had a lot of influence on my work as well. 

Oh, this is pretty. Gypsy Eye has all sorts of beautiful flower hair pieces. If I was the sort of girl who could wear these, I would. In retrospect, with my bangs down, I think I could. Crum, now there is another item to add to my wish list.

How did you get into crafting?
Ever since my early teens I have been crafting. I was always on the search for weird and unusual. I realized that I was able to have the most unique items, that I really was in to if I just created them myself.


What do you do for your full time job?
I am a kitchen manager of a restaurant.

And now for my favorite question, and clearly the most important: Would you rather have a peg leg or a hook hand? 
Peg Leg all the way. As long as I still had my hands to create I would be perfectly content .

Nice answer (and not just because you chose a peg leg.)*

I've been really into yellow recently, and this is beautiful.


And lastly, what are the last five songs played in your itunes?
Bela Lugosi's Dead- Bauhaus
Marion- Sisters of Mercy
Ziggy Stardust- David Bowie
Love will Tear us Apart- Joy Division
Dissolve- Switchblade Symphony


Just kidding, one more! You have a wide variety of products in your shop, is there something you like to do more than the other?
It comes in phases with me. But right now I have been really into making the collage pins.

So that is Kristy from Gypsy Eye Studio! You can follow her on Twitter or find her blog here. A big round of applause to my first victim feature!

Question on format: Interview questions--yea or neigh?

*I have a theory that peg leg is always a better option. It rarely fails me.