Meet Etsy Artist: paisleybleu

Shelley is the mother of 4 year old fraternal twins, who works nights full time as an RN2. Her children have been an excellent test market for her baby inspired creations, which evolved from wanting something hipper than the typical pink, yellow, and blue designs. "I work all night, come home, play with the kids, throw on pj's and sew," she says of her hobby turned second job. Eventually she'd love to turn her Etsy endeavor into her sole income and work at home, so she could spend more time with her kids. She recommends her fellow artists never give up. "Even when it seems like there are new laws and regulations staring us in the face, together we can make a difference." Please check out her shop: http://paisleybleu.etsy.com/ and website: http://paisleybleu.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Artist: reflectionsoflight

"I've been creating as long as I can remember," Sharilyn admits. "I've always got my fingers into something." Creativity has always been a "need" for her, not just a passion. "Photography is one of my first loves," she explains. "In planning an upcoming trip I am very excited about the photo opportunities I am going to encounter." Although she has worked for years in education, she recently shifted focus to her art, which she aims to make functional as well as aesthetic. Painting ceramics has been the perfect combination for her. An avid hiker and lover of the outdoors, nature often inspires her - as with the beautiful bamboo sushi set. "A country girl at heart, anything in nature is beautiful and appealing and I love to represent a small part of that in what I create." In fact - that is why she named her shop Reflections of Light. "Perhaps I can take a small piece of the beauty of nature and reflect it in something I make." Please check out her shop: http://reflectionsoflight.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Soap Maker & Artist: DirtyAssSoaps

This sushi looks good enough to eat, but it's actually soap...
Hip 29 year old artist Alison Kowalsky is a New York native, who recently transplanted to Boston. She fell in love with soap making at 18 when her friend Amber got her a kit as a gift. "It included some glycerin melt & pour soap, soap fragrances, colors, and molds," she explains. "She invited me to make some soaps with her and I was immediately hooked!" Soon, she was making soap with her Mom and her passion grew from there as she experimented and learned the ropes of her craft. She no longer purchases the supplies from a craft store. Instead, she focuses on organic handmade materials - and an amazing sense of humor and fun - to create her whimsical designs, which often look like junk food or toys. "When I want to make soap, I usually start out in a restaurant or grocery store," she says of her creative process. "I look at food and how it's displayed. Even if it's someone else's food, I will probably stare at it and make some mental notes." She brainstorms with her boyfriend, too. "The best thing we've done for the business is to cover the dining room table with trace paper. We draw, doodle, sketch and write notes, jot numbers and math equations. After trying different ways to solve the problem of making the soap at hand, we pick the best one. We make it, photograph it, and put it online." She started with prefab molds, but progressed to making a lot of her own. "Trial and error is my friend," she jokes, "and if I didn't make the mistakes, I don't think I would have gotten as far as I have." All of her soaps are vegan - free of animal fats, milks, honeys, and insect dyes - even the fried bacon design. She started her Etsy shop two years, unsure whether they would be a big hit on-line since a big draw to her soaps is the scent. Eventually she listed her Cupcake and Cheeseburger soaps - and the rest is history. "There's a lot of Etsy love going on, and I love doing trades with people for awesome stuff," she admits. Please check out her shop: http://dirtyasssoaps.etsy.com/ and website: http://dirtyasssoaps.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com

Meet Etsy Artist: tHeENDpeace

Jennifer has many hobbies - from jewelry making, crocheting, cooking, baking, and even heirloom & organic gardening. "Tying in with my love to grow things, I also save seeds (for conservation purposes) and either sell them, keep them for the next year, or trade them with other gardeners," she explains. Her Sushi Dragon bracelet is not only gorgeous and fun, but captures all of her passions in one soulful piece. Another passion of hers is collecting. "I collect from yard sales, thrift stores, and antique stores," she admits. "I love to 're-create,' such as altered art charms." Like me, she also enjoys experiencing other cultures and has a deep appreciation for nature, as is evident in her gardening and repurposing of items. "I dislike waste and always try to think of a way to get another use out of an item." Aside from her art, she is also working on becoming a Special Education teacher. "Personally, I want to see the look of pride and accomplishment on a student's face when they learn something by thinking outside the box and being creative." Inspiration can come from anywhere - and usually pops up at inopportune moments. "Most of the time I get my best ideas when I should be paying attention in class or when I am trying to go to sleep," she jokes. Please check out her shop: http://tHeENDpeace.etsy.com
-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs
http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Glass Artist: panyizsuzsi

Zsuzsi is a Hungarian architect and a talented glass artist. "It is all started in my preschool years," she explains. "My father was a glass industry engineer...he invented and patented a technology for researching glass ingredients." If you gave him a sample he could recreate it for you. She was fascinated with his viscosity tests, where the glass was melted. "It ended up with little amorf glass 'creations.' I used to play with that when I went to his office." She is influenced by her love of modern mid-century era and contemporary art - and her eclectic pieces showcase her unique retro-modern style. "Bold colors and simple, geometric shapes are the trademark for my unique and quality glass pieces." Although she's been interested in glass her whole life, she's only been creating her glass jewelry and pieces for a year and a half. Please check out her shop: http://panyizsuzsi.etsy.com

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Potter & Artist: sumiko

Sumiko has "had a love affair with all art forms since (she) was a teenager." Born in Kumamoto, Japan, she began studying fine arts while in High School. In 1958 she traveled to Italy and studied under local artists. She got married while in Naples and "put (her) artistic endeavors on hold while (she) raised (her) family." She eventually made her way to the US and lived in Washington, D.C. and Honolulu before settling in San Diego, CA. "I became serious with art as a student at Miramar College where I received an AA degree in Fine Art," she explains. Later she attended a class at Mesa College and "found (her) calling." She studied ceramics, sculpting, and glaze technology under Dr. John Conrad, a world famous author and a Master Potter. Please check out her shop: http://
sumiko.etsy.com

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com

Meet Etsy Artists: OtterandtheBee

Ryan Lemar and Erica Vess are the talented - and soon to be married - couple known as the Otter and the Bee. "He's the otter, I'm the bee," Erica says. "I am so dull," she jokes, "really, mind-numbingly, 1950's dull." They enjoy watching old, bad movies, making fun of their cats, and "poking lumps of felt into weird creations - that is our idea of an exciting Friday night." Ryan is a huge inspiration to Erica. "He's waaay more creative than me, it just happens to manifest itself in different ways, like cooking a fantastic meal or making a really weird felt creature that I could have never thought of in a million years." The Richmond Craft Mafia is another source of inspiration for her ( http://richmondcraftmafia.com/). "These ladies are my sisters in craft and they are all so good at what they do. Man, it really makes me want to be a better seamstress, that's for sure." She is also a fan of fellow Etsian Kit Lane. ( http://kitlane.etsy.com/). "Her stuff is so cool! She can hardly keep it in her shop it sells so well!" Like many of us, she is an Etsy addict and has nothing but praises for the handcrafted site. "I can't say enough how much I enjoy being part of Etsy and seeing all the amazing things that other people create. It keeps me on my toes," she admits. While she and her fiance share the Etsy shop as a side business, she also has her own website for her paintings, which is her main focus ( http://beeskneesstudio.etsy.com/). Her modern yet self-described whimsical style is showcased beautifully in her pieces, whether it be felted sushi or a painting. "I hate the word 'whimsical,'" she admits. "How about wacky. I am modern and wacky." Originally "Otter and the Bee evolved as a way for Ryan and I to pay for our felting habit and also to insure that we didn't have a house crammed full of weird felt animals we had made," she explains. Although they have been crafting and creating their whole lives, they've only been felting since December of 2007. "Have fun," she recommends. "Don't expect to make a lot of money right off the bat. Put some character in your listings and profile. Did I mention have fun?" Please check out their shop: http://otterandthebee.etsy.com/
-Wendy Baylis
Dharma Designs
http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Artist: printmakerjenn

Jenn is a busy Mom to a 13-year-old daughter and 10 week old baby boy. She earned a degree in Art with a minor in Art History and then "promptly returned to school for a degree in Computer Science." Like me, she's been working in the high-tech industry - as a Software Developer and Linux System Administrator. "This week I officially quit my job," she declared, "(when my maternity leave ended) so that I could stay home full time with little baby Oscar!" Her teenage daughter was also a big part of her decision. "She is thrilled to have more time with me." Her graphic, modern creations are often inspired by Vintage and mid-century images. "As the saying goes, 'everything old is new again,'" she explains. Etsy is now her full time job, and she feels blessed to be able to create her art while being involved in her children's lives. "I'm looking forward to becoming a better participant of the indie community," she says. Please check out her shop: http://printmakerjenn.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Artist: SankyBlue

I stumbled across this beautiful print of an original oil painting the other day while searching for "sushi." It's absolutely stunning, so I checked out the shop - SankyBlue. To my surprise Nancy Hyer just joined Etsy a few days ago on April first. Her inspiration comes from nature, which is beautifully showcased in her floral works. "William James says it best for me," she explains, "'I am done with great things and big plans, great institutions and big success. I am for those tiny, invisible, loving, human forces that work from individual to individual, creeping through the crannies of the world like so many rootlets, or like the capillary oozing of water, which, if given time, will rend the hardest monuments of pride.'" Eloquent, just like her art. "This quote speaks well to wonderfully inspiring networks such as Etsy, which offer opportunities to share the basic human experience of creativity and possibility." Please check out her shop: http://sankyblue.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Artist: PlushBot

When I was a kid my favorite toy in the whole world was a sock monkey I named Gungadina. While perusing Etsy one day I stumbled upon an artist who sells fun prints of my childhood toy in all sorts of wonderful locations...

"Years ago I used to work as a production artist for a magazine, but soon discovered I hated working in an office," admits the quirky talent behind PlushBot. "I quit that job have been making a living as an independent artist ever since. Now I can do whatever I want, whenever I want!" She is often inspired by her surroundings. "Living near Santa Cruz, CA that can anything from the ocean and surfers to the Boardwalk and all the crazy tourists," she explains. "Being an ex-graphic designer I tend towards bold, clean, and colorful imagery," she says of her whimsical prints. Please check out her shop: http://plushbot.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Needle Felter: woolbywillow

Willow admits that, like me, she has "always been a craft geek." She began knitting in elementary school and it has been an all-consuming passion ever since. "Blame it on my hippie parents, but I'm a snob when it comes to fibers," she jokes. No synthetics - only all natural organic materials. She picked up needle felting while attending a class with her son at the Nelson Waldorf School. "Together we made our funny little dragon and I was immediately hooked." Ever since that day she has been obsessively felting, creating her fun sushi pieces. Please check out her shop: http://woolbywillow.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Artist: 22Joanna

Joanna Daneman is an exceptional watercolor artist, who began at the tender age of 5. Travelling abroad and experiencing new cultures has inspired her beyond measure. "India, by far, is the most astounding country I've ever visited. My first visit, a 48 hour trip to Mumbai for business, yielded about 20 paintings from a single tour we took in the car around the city. It was like landing on a new planet, a most profound artistic and personal experience." Like her personality, her artistic style expresses "realism with a bit of sarcasm." Each painting captures not just a scene, but a moment - like a window through time. You can almost smell the cardamom ginger tea hawked by the chai wallahs and hear their shouts as the colorful buses rumble by. Her dream is "to retire to France and paint (but not in Montmartre, too cold and chilly up on that hill)." She describes the art of her fellow Etsians as "a feast for the eyes, and I think Etsy will become the premier site for anything by hand." Please check out her shop: http://22joanna.etsy.com/

-Wendy Baylis

Dharma Designs

http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/

Meet Etsy Baby Boutique Artist: jkalea

I found the most unique baby gift on Etsy the other day - totally by accident while searching for "sushi." I'm not a big fan of diaper cakes (mostly because I've never seen them done quite like this), but I'm a sucker for anything Asian and JKalea's sushi gift pack is right up my alley. I don't even have kids, but her presentation is so clever and fun I'm in awe. It's everything you need for baby including diapers, blankets, clothing, and toys wrapped up like sushi. Wow. Almost makes me want to have one of my own...

JKalea is a busy Mom, who admits Etsy helped unlock her creative side - and saved her sanity. Not surprisingly she finds inspiration in her "spirited, focused, hilarious toddler Sophie and my talented cousin Heather (who introduced me to Etsy)." She describes her craft as "intricate gift wrapping," but it's so much more - designing original ways of presenting a myriad of presents in one cohesive package. I have never seen something so practical look so fun. "I find Etsy to be the most creative and inspiring concentration of artistic talent I've ever come across. I love seeing the variety of ways and things that people create," she says. I was surprised to find out that she has only been creating her wonderful treasures for just under a year as a "hobby to support my horrendous addiction to buying gorgeous ribbons and all things handmade (my feedback rating is 75% from purchases, 25% from sales)." In fact, she hopes one day her Etsy sales will exceed her purchases. "Love what you create," she advises. "The rest flows from there." Please check out her shop: http://jkalea.etsy.com/
-Wendy Baylis
http://dharmadesigns.etsy.com/