Tea With Christine~

Tea with Christine from www.TEENER1416.Etsy.com  by Vanessa www. whisperingoak.Etsy.com

Just in time for Easter, we are presenting Teener1416.  I have been admiring this store featured in the Etsy Discover Pages for Easter.  And now produly invited to be in the Martha Stewart Show.  Read more:

I am a 25 year old graduate of Duquesne Law School. I took the bar exam a month ago and am waiting for the results. Crafts have always been a part of my life. I love trying everything from knitting, to baking, crosstitch, and so on. The most involved craft I fell in love with was egg etching. Ten years ago I really got into egg etching. It is an Eastern European technique. I am Lithuanian, and my family and I try to bring traditions from Lithuania into Modern times.

My mom and sister make straw ornaments while I do the eggs. Every year we sell at a Lithuanian Festival in Frackville Pennsylvania. Also we try to keep traditions in addition to the crafts alive such as Lithuanian food, Christmas and New Year’s traditions and games. At Easter we boil eggs and dye them. Each person picks an egg and take turns hitting each person's egg. The last person standing with an uncracked egg wins. My dad always seems to win.

I started etching eggs and could not stop! It was a stress relief aid while in school. Now I hope to make this into a business more than a side hobby.

 The eggs are hollowed out. We try to eat the insides of all the eggs to not waste them. I don't want to know ho high my cholesterol is. Then the eggs are cleaned and dyed. Once dried I draw some guide lines on the egg and start etching. I use a box cutter to glide along the top of the shell, taking off only a small layer of shell.

One time I was studying abroad in Italy and was worried about not having a job that summer. My mom emails me while I'm in Rome to tell me the wonderful news that I was asked to do a wedding order of 175-200 eggs for wedding favors. I was ecstatic! Then I found out I would have a 2 mnoths to complete the order... I think a little less even. I got home and started dying and etching eggs on the spot. With a little help from my mom we got the order done.. and I couldnt feel my hand for a few weeks. 

I am currently preparing to be on the Martha Stewart Show March 29 10am and 2pm Hallmark channel to show how to etch my eggs. I hope everyone can tune in!

Statteam has opened the land of treasuries to me more and more! I used to be in a couple treasuries a week, but now I am in them daily and I love seeing how people's creativity translates into treasuries. The colors and themes are lovely and imaginative. I feel that exposure has helped my shop and I hope to continue with the team from a long time!

We are so excited for you and wish you lots of luck
 

OUR BLOG AT A GLANCE

We have a revamped page and are in the process of adding the names of every
member on the Team to the page... We have individual pages for each subject...
Here they are in brief, but you can explore them just by clicking on the one
you are interested in...

~HOME PAGE Takes you back the home page

~MEET YOUR TEAM!! Gives you a little info on each Leader and the Captain

~BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS Each birthday for the week is featured

~STATTEAM SPOTLIGHT A compliment to Becky's spotlight, this is hosted by Di of Sassyspark

~NEW MEMBER HELP This has some informative info... a lot of what I will be sending to you...

~STATTEAM WEEKLY CHALLENGE Our weekly Challenge is here each week where you can post your entry...

~OUR STATTEAM WEEKLY CHALLENGE WINNER Each week we feature the Winner of our Challenge... A lot of the Challenges are Joint Challenges between STATTEAM and EtsyTreasuryLovers Team....

~ON FIRE /STATTEAM CHALLENGE The Challenge between STATTEAM and On Fire for Handmade is featured here....

~INTERESTING TIDBITS Interesting things you might want to know about....

~TREASURIES, BNR'S AND BNS'S and Shmetsy A grouping of information about how to make a
treasury, host Bnr's or Bns's and all about Shmetsy

If you have any questions or suggestions PLEASE contact any of the Leaders or Myself and we will be happy to help....

Come Meet Our Team Member ~LooneyJoonTees ~

What fun to interview Caroline from www.LooneyJoonTees.Etsy.com  Caroline is as full energy and dynamic as her shop on Etsy.

Tells a little about yourself and how you started in this field?

-Hi! I'm Caroline, and I'm from upstate NY.  As a teacher, I've always looked to my students for inspiration. They aid my creativity in every way.  I started making products for teachers and kids based on my own teaching experience, and what I wanted to introduce to my classroom.  I also love to look at the things I have around the house; you can recycle/upcycle and make so much from what you already have!

When did you first discover your creative talents?

-I've always been crafty, and have been making art my whole life. I never really looked at what I did as having "talent" until other people started coming up to me saying, "You made that? That's really good!"

Could you tell us about some of your work?

-Years ago I received a book with over 100 projects on how to reuse your old t-shirts, and this really inspired me to start sewing & creating with cotton tees. From there, I started looking around the house for other things to "recycle" and incorporate into t-shirt creations. As I came across more stuff I'd been hoarding, more sections opened up in my shop. Like they say, one woman's garbage.. ;)

What inspires you to keep going and how do you keep yourself motivated?

The people around me always keep me going... my students, family, and friends... not to mention my 8-month-old kitten whom I named the shop after, Joon. Even on a bad day I try to stay motivated by telling myself positive things. When I'm stuck for ideas all I have to do is look at the world around me, and something always pops into my head.

How will you describe your style?

-I don't think I have one set style; I love to do a lot of things and explore other things I've never worked with before! Most of the time I refer to my work as 'funky' and 'fun' and I love throwing lots of colors into the mix. I've also been called 'hippie' & 'boho.' I'm just really a huge kid at heart!

 What is your approach to design?

-I create all ideas in my head, and then transfer them over to a sketchbook or notepad. When I'm ready to create, I lay out all of my materials and start working. As a project moves along, I'll often make changes or let it "evolve" into whatever it becomes!

Describe your workshop/studio for us: I imagine is really fun since your Avatar is so fun

-I have a small studio apartment perfect for Joon & I. One section we have is referred to as our "laboratory." It's basically set up the way a mad scientist would have it, except instead of beakers and chemicals we have sewing machines & art supplies. It's a very fun, organized mess!

How do you bridge the gap of the business side of designing?

-When you have a business, there really is no "off" button. It's a lot like my day job; I teach all day, but when I come home my work is never done. Everything I do during the day affects my business, because I am my business. You do have to know when to censor your emotions and not let them interfere with work though. I don't think I'd be as successful if i voiced my disdain for certain life events!

Describe yourself in 5 words:

Fun.. passionate.. a bit different.. ;)

How has your experience been selling online?

-It's been a blast! Every person you meet and get to know through Etsy is an incredible experience! A simple convo from a customer (or even a team member) can completely make my day. When I opened my shop I never thought I'd be able to say "I have almost 50 sales!" or "People want me to custom make them something!" It's very uplifting to see how far you've come.

What has been your most exciting moment as an artist?

-Being able to share creations with people, and have them be inspired by something *I* made is an incredible feeling! I love when something I do or make can make others happy and influence their life in a positive way.

Do you have any advice for new artists?

-When starting out on Etsy, or any journey in life, you are always going to come across those people who try to discourage you, or talk you out of something you love. My advice: don't listen to any of them. Do what makes you happy, and prove them all wrong!

Written by Vanessa from WhisperingOaks

                                                                                                                                                                 http://www.etsy.com/shop/WhisperingOak

I had the pleasure of interviewing Elizabeth Urquhart from PureNaturePhotos. I am so excited to share this interview and to invite you to visit her beautiful shop.

It is great to share this afternoon with you. Please tell us a little about yourself.
I am from Toronto Canada. I moved to Seattle almost 8 years ago when my husband got a job here. I love everything about the NW: the mountains, the lakes, and the ocean. I even love the weather here especially in the winter when I talk to my family back in Canada and it is -20. During the day I work for a near by school district facilitating the development of special education curriculum and coaching teachers. In the evening I love spending time with my 4 month old daughter and husband.

I love your nature photography. When did you first discover you had this great eye for nature's beauty?
I have been taking photos of nature for years to remember all the beautiful places I have visited. I really began honing my photography skills two summers ago at my grandmother’s cottage. While there on a two week vacation I decided to capture the sun setting in a different way each night. I was so pleased with the results of this challenge that I was motivated to continue shooting. Many of the lake sunset photos in my store are from this project.

Could you tell us about some of your work?
I love nature, I love photography, and I love home decor. I try to capture the shapes and colors of nature in my photos to complement the interior design of homes. Lately, I have begun adding textures and I love the extra dimension they give to my photographs.

You live in a cold climate, do you travel for your photos?
Right now most of the photography in my shops was either taken around Seattle or at my grandmother's cottage just north of Toronto. In fact, I had to travel the farthest for my winter photos. They were taken on ski vacations. My family and I are planning a trip to Napa Valley this summer and I am really looking forward to getting some great shots on that trip.

What inspires you to keep going and how do you keep yourself motivated?
My biggest inspiration is nature; so I just have to go outside to get inspired. I love being outside so photography is an excuse to get out and explore a new park or visit the beach. I also love interior design so sometimes I get inspired by a certain room. For example, right now I am working on a series of still life photos for kitchen decor. Selling on Etsy is also a great motivator. Seeing all the great work that other photographers produce challenges me to keep developing my art.

Describe yourself in 5 words:
Creative, Funny, Smart, Determined, and Adventurous

How has your experience been selling online?
Selling online is challenging, but so rewarding. Every time I sell a photo I am thrilled that someone has chosen to decorate their home with my art. I also like selling online because I can fit it in when I have the time. I work full time and have a 4 month old so I really only have time in the evening to work on the shop.

What has been your most exciting moment as an artist?
I would have to say making my first sale was the most exciting moment for me. It made me feel like a real artist. I also get really excited every time I get a new set of photos printed. I love looking at my work in a print rather then on my computer screen.

Do you have any advice for new artists?
If you are just beginning to sell on Etsy I would advise you to slow down and concentrate on one thing at a time. The most important thing is to build up inventory in your store. In fact, I still need to work on this. When I first started many helpful Etsy sellers gave me advice; but it was too much to follow all at once. I decided to leave social networking for later and focus on my shop and treasury making to begin with. Now that my shop has been open for just over 6 months I have started to use Twitter and Facebook.

Ttalking about Twitter and Facebook, where else can we find you online?
Shop www.etsy.com/shop/PureNaturePhotos
Facebook www.facebook.com/purenaturephotos
Twitter twitter.com/#!/purenaturephoto
And of course: www.PureNaturePhotos.Etsy.com

And how has the Statteam motivated/helped/promoted you and your art?
Statteam was one of the first treasury team that I was accepted to and I was really excited to become a member. Now I am on a number of other treasury teams because I love to make treasuries. However, my Statteam treasuries are still the treasuries that get the most view.


Anything else outside your photography you would like share?
In addition to selling on Etsy I love to buy from all the wonderful artists. Right now I am much more successful at buying than selling. I can't wait for the day when I earn more on Etsy then I spend :)

Don’t we all?
                                                                                  Created by Vanessa of WhisperingOak