FEATURED SELLER Drag0nflyDesigns

What is your etsy user name? Drag0nflyDesigns

Tell us a bit about yourself name, location, affiliations, personal stuff. My name is Katy, I live in Newark (obviously DE since I'm part of DelEtsy...) I have a wonderful boyfriend named Rick, and a great puppy named Maggie (a Jack Russell). I've lived in Delaware all my life- Raised in Townsend, moved to Newark when I was 20. And here I am still : )


Apart from creating things, what do you do? I work for a great company - Nixon Uniform Service and Medical Wear.. we supply patient apparel, sheets, towels, scrubs and labcoats for medical companies in NJ, PA, DE, and VA. I work in the call center taking calls from the customers when they have problems or need invoices, etc. It's a pretty easy job, but I love it (it is SOO much better than retail!! ... I worked at FYE for 4 years prior to this job..). Other than that- I play with my puppy, hang out with my boyfriend and friends... you know-the usual stuff.


What first made you want to become an artist? I have been creating things for as long as I can remember. My dad is a mechanic who owns his own business (Delaware Chassis Works) and he builds (and races) race cars. He has a bucket in his shop of spare screws, nuts, bolts, and lots of other strange pieces that I could not even tell you what they are actually called... anyway, I used to play in that bucket when I was a kid.. making what ever I could from those scraps. Plus I would rubberstamp, sew, crochet, draw, paint and actually do every craft thing I could get my hands on. My mom was very creative and she always influenced me to express myself in creative ways. The reason I started SELLING the stuff I make, is because of a bracelet that I made with an urn pendant (click here)That bracelet has some of my mom's ashes in it (well not the one in the picture.. the one I originally made..that I wear everyday..lol). I made it using a necklace pendant from Madelyn Company, I sent a picture of it to the woman who founded the Memorial Gallery website, and she got me into contact with Madelyn Co. Now I make those bracelet pieces for them. That was when I realized that I have potential to make money doing something I love.... so I started making jewelry and selling it on Etsy :o)

Please describe your creative process how, when, materials, etc. Well... I work my full time job M-F till 5... so my jewelry making usually begins after that during the week....or on the weekends. It all depends on my mood. Sometimes I'll be half asleep sitting on the couch at night and I'll have an idea-and I'll go to work. If the piece I have an idea for is a wire design (those are my favorite right now..) I always make a test one in copper or craft wire... (it's cheaper than messing up with silver or gold filled!!) If I come up with something I like.. I'll usually wear it and see if I get any compliments. Then I'll photograph (I usually do my photographing on a Saturday or Sunday) and list!

What handmade possession do you most cherish? My urn bracelet :)

Name your top five books, movies, songs/musical groups, and web sites besides Etsy. Books- Anything Chuck Palahniuk... Movies-The Departed, Lucky Number Slevin, Iron Man, Love Actually, Home for the Holidays (That was tough...I have too many favorites..) Musical Artists-Sara Bareilles, Jamie Cullum, Nizlopi, David Ford, Fiona Apple (Also have to many favorites there...) Websites- Rarebirdfinds.typepad.com, Cuteoverload.com, Google.com, Myspace.com (because I'm an addict..lol), and Cafepress.com

What advice would you give to artists who are new to Etsy? Pictures are really important.. make sure the pictures of your art are clear. I built a lightbox which helped me a LOT. These are the instructions I used.. only I used fabric for the background instead of poster board (but fabric collects a lot of debris so you have to use a lint roller before each photographing session - See here. The light box is really important, but so is having a tripod. Clear pictures depend on a steady camera. Other than that.. get involved in the community on Etsy.. forums, chats, groups, etc.

Share any ideas you have for our street team.. or plans, hopes.. I hope to be ready for a craft show soon! I think it would be really cool to be able to get everyone together for something like that. I hope to make new friends that share my passion for crafting! An idea I have- We should make up small flyers that we each can print and put in with any items that someone purchases from our shops.. that way it will get the group some more exposure and let people know that Delaware IS filled with artists!

How do you promote your work? Word of mouth, myspace.com, myjambi.com, the forums/chats on Etsy. Ecrater.com, shophandmade.com, wearing my pieces/business cards, craigslist.org, flickr.com, facebook.com, that's all I can think of right now...lol


In ten years I'd like to be... Living in a house with my boyfriend (hopefully husband by then) and dog and possibly child? (10 years is a long time from now....) I also hope to be a graphic designer/jewelry designer with my own business. (Not necessarily my own store...but just business- a lot can be done through the internet this day in age). And of course I hope by then I will have paid of my student loans, etc. :0)


{Featured seller's shop is temporarily deactivated due to her moving. She will have it back up soon and shop mini will go here - Samantha}