Featured Trade-A-Holic Shop: Stone Thicket

Our featured Trade-a-Holic seller this week is Kim from Stone Thicket. I had a chance to interview her the other night to find out why she does what she does. This is what she said:

Q: Why did you chose your shop name?

A:  I chose the name because I love the idea of things that are hidden in nature. Color, textures, smells.

 Q: You've been open less than a year now, why did you decide to start selling on Etsy?

A: Someone told me about Etsy and I took a look at the site and decided that I would sell....jewelry. At the same time I was making a sweater for a friend's grandson and realized how much that crocheting means to me. I LOVE it. So, I decided to change my view of the shop.

Q: Your crochet work is beautiful, what piece are you most proud of and why?

A:  The item that I love the most is the Spider Edge Christening Gown. I love all of the gowns I make, but this one has an incredible texture and I love the way that it lays. Every time I make one for a customer, I think about the baby that will wear it and all of those that will wear it in the future. I also ask that the Lord protect that child and bless it's parents before I mail it out. It can't hurt, right?



Q:What goals, visions or predictions do you have for your Etsy shop in the future?

A:  I think that this winter will be a great start for my shop. My facebook page is also beginning to grow. My vision...it changes. Hahah. I hate that it does, but it does. I am constantly trying to think ahead. Like...Spring. I'm already there in my mind and I know for a fact that heavy cowls and hats are not going to be big sellers, so I'll revamp my shop and begin making items for brides and babies. Someone is ALWAYS getting married and having babies. I'll probably build upon that all spring and into the summer. The Christening gowns usually are in demand in the early spring and they usually take me 5 weeks to make. I have made on in 2 weeks...it was a killer 2 weeks.

My future...I don't know. I'm an artist, too and enjoy painting. I could do that for all I know down the road. I have A.D.D. Anything can happen with this shop!

Featured Trade-a-Holic Seller: BySamantha

 Our featured Trade-a-Holic seller this week is Samantha from BySamantha. I had a chance to interview her the other night to find out why she does what she does. This is what she said:

Q: It's pretty obvious what your shop name means but why did you choose to use that particular name?

A.  I first opened a shop selling elastic hair ties and had writer's block on the name. And my friend said "why not just By Samantha"? and it just kind of stuck!

Q: Your shop has been open for only a year, were you doing this kind of thing before you opened your shop? and if so for how long?

A: I've never designed anything before I opened Etsy. My first designs were actually created on Microsoft Paint! So I've come a long way since then and have learned more about design than I ever thought I would.

Q: How did you go from hair ties to digital art?

A. I remember I first got the idea when I saw tons of prints with state silhouettes on Etsy and I remember thinking "Hey! I can do that!" So I started experimenting with design and came up with a few simple designs. I enjoyed it so much that I just took off with it.



Q: Do you have any formal training in design?

A: I have zero training whatsoever. But I'm hoping to change that :) My goal for the next couple of years is to take some classes on graphic design and typography so I can hopefully learn some new tricks!

Q: How do you come up with ideas for your designs?

A:  A lot of my designs are inspired by nature. One of my personal favorites is the Butterfly Specimen Poster, which I really designed for myself to hang in my home... I was just so happy with the result that I wanted to share. Some of my other designs are inspired by my love of silhouettes and simplicity.




Q: Where do you see yourself (and your shop) 5 years from now? 10 years?

A:  I would love to think that 5 years from now I'll have Etsy still going strong and hard but you never know... If you asked me a year ago what I thought I'd be doing in 5 years, I would have never ever guessed anything along this path. I'm expecting the unexpected.


Thank you Samantha and here's wishing you lots of sales and good luck with your future plans!

Visit Samantha at BySamantha on Etsy and don't forget, if you also sell on Etsy come join us at the Trade-a-Holics team.

We've all had someone ask, how does a trade work? 

Most of us old timers have been around for so long we don't even think twice that not everyone knows how it works. I honestly didn't understand what I was don't until I was on my oh, 10th trade and insulted someone. (I won't go into specifics ) I wasn't that rude and it was totally by accident. 

My blunder was all about how the trading works and how the "money total" adds up. So, here is a brief description. :) 

Basically, you check out a shop or they check you out, you convo each other to see if you or they have anything the other wants. 

Ok, example. I sell mostly vintage, but I also sell vintage supplies, patterns and fabric. 

I think your fingerless gloves are awesome, I send you a convo to see if you would possibly be interested in a trade. You check my shop to see if there's anything you like. You see my awesomely (is that a word?) fabulous paper doll print fabric. Since the price and shipping costs are very close, you convo me back and say "Heck yeah! I want your fabric". 

We both make our purchases using the money order or "other" payment method. We ship each other our items and the trade has been made. 

We do encourage each trading partner to leave positive feedback as it helps your public profile. 

Now, sayin' you don't find anything in my shop that you like or need. A simple convo back saying, "I'm sorry, not seeing anything I need this time around. Maybe next time." 

You may also convo back with something you're looking for. Most of us have tons of cra...... *cough* wonderful items (destash) we don't have time to list. 

*whew*

Does that make sense? Please tell me that makes sense. My fingers are tired. My brain too.

(Both of these are being copied and pasted from 2 posts I made on the monthly chat)

Ok, the money part. 

Gloves $20
plus shipping 5.00

Fabric 17.00
Shipping 8.00

When you add the numbers, it makes an even trade. Usually if it's within a $ or 2, most of us old timers will just forgive that amount. :)

(All punctuation or spelling errors have been fixed if I saw them this time)

Thank you. 

Your Fearless Captain. 

*takes a bow*

Updating

Hello all! Doing some updating to the blog and such. Will be adding some new things to the team pretty soon, so keep up with us!