Meet Etsy Card Artist: steliedesigns

Stephanie Giesen-Kath is the fresh talent behind Stelie Designs and I was lucky enough to stumble upon her recently while perusing Etsy. I saw her Asian engagement card and fell in love with the classy, contemporary design that still captures a fascinating culture. Aside from her art, she is also a busy stay at home mom to three year old fraternal twins (I'm an identical twin, myself). "There is never a dull moment in our home and it’s only quiet when the kids are sleeping," she says. Not surprisingly, she finds a lot of inspiration in them. Currently she specializes in custom invitations and announcements for all occasions, including weddings and baby showers. "It's important to me to bring simple delights to everyone who receives a handmade card or invitation," she explains. She started making her cards 12 years ago for family and friends and turned her hobby into her job. "I left the corporate retail design world a year ago to spend more time with my kids. Now I have the best of both worlds, kids during the day and creating during the night." She recommends her fellow artists "find a product you love making and believe in, then know it takes time and perseverance." Please check out her shop: http://steliedesigns.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com

Meet Etsy Card Maker: QuirkynBerkeley

QuirkynBerkeley is a freelance writer by day - and an eclectic card maker by night. "Rosie the WonderDog" and "Twink the Monster Kitten" keep her company in her Berkeley, CA studio, which is brimming with colorful paper and supplies. "I am fascinated by the juxtaposition of color and space, and inspired by the human ability to take disparate elements and put them together in wholly unique and original ways." She enjoys experimenting with new techniques and admits the only constants in her designs are the materials. "I love rubber stamps," she confesses. She's also interested in origami and would like to try her hand at kurigami. Then there's the new gocco machine - "I can't wait to use, but I've got a lot of other projects I'm working on first." She began making cards as a little girl in Texas out of pressed mimosa blossoms. In the last three years she has created over 800 unique cards, but jokes "this a hobby according to the IRS." She hopes become a constructive member of the Etsy community and continually learn from her fellow artists, whom she admires. Every day she features a new Etsy shop on her blog. She advises her fellow sellers to "help as many people as you can, give other people the benefit of the doubt, learn as much as you can, work as hard as you can at your own craft and at making this a community that you're proud to be a part of. Treat your customers like gold, give the best customer service you can imagine, and then keep your mind open for new techniques to improve on that." Please check out her shop: http://quirkynberkeley.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://quirkynberkeley.etsy.com/