What's better than shopping handmade? How about shopping in tax-free Delaware? Check out some great gift ideas from members of the Delaware Etsy Street Team.
Showing posts with label member shops. Show all posts
Showing posts with label member shops. Show all posts
November 18, 2013
June 10, 2013
In The Spotlight...Across Leather
Across Leather is a shop drool-worthy for any dad, for sure. Lawrence E.Carter, Jr. is the creative force behind this Etsy shop, featuring hand-tooled leather pieces. Here you'll find wallets, belts, dog collars, coasters, key fobs, and custom pieces, just like the one below.
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| Tooled Leather Harley Tank Panel |
"Leatherworking" for me started in the very early nineties. A hobby it was as compared to the welding career starting after high school and trade school "Wilmington Skill Center" 1980. Health problems forced me out of what I thought was going to be my lifelong career.
Tell us a little about your Etsy shop.
Fast forward to my actual selling on Etsy began in Apr of 2012, and a month later I decided I was converting my back porch into my new studio. Construction was done(95%) Nov. 2012 that's when I say I put it in high gear. At least the last 10 yrs I've wanted to open a shop. Fear of the unknown in a nutshell. (Isn't that the case with so many of us?)
However I know no failure and when I start something I go full in. Today, I live and breathe leatherwork. I cannot wait to start everyday and without a second thought I go directly to it. Leatherworking has so many facets, capabilities and one can get lost in the world of creativity.
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| Hand tooled leather keychain |
How many Etsy shops do you have?
I only have the one shop here on etsy. That's one fear I possess is there isn't gonna be enough of me to get the work done. But it's not work. It only becomes work when you rush or feel hurried. The Zen of Leatherwork is that nothing can be rushed and there's one thing that will happen. It will be ruined. Leatherwork, airbrushing, stitching and as of recent running a sewing machine has all been self taught and a rocky road it was. In my life there was no one to ask about anything. I guess everyone's an easy teach when they're interested in some subject.
Do you do any craft shows?
Craft shows.., no I never have but would like to. I've had my eye set on Brandywine Arts Festival for the last 10 years solid.
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| Hand tooled leather belt |
If I could relive my 1st months here I would have started my Wordpress.com blog first. Then my Google+ local business page which can be verified with your Wordpress blog. WP charges nothing and hosts you for free. Then all other social marketing can be added to your WP blog and do one post which will go everywhere you like it to.
Where else can we find you?
www.facebook.com/lawrence.e.carter
twitter.com/Acrossleather
pinterest.com/acrossleather/
acrossleather.wordpress.com/
www.facebook.com/AcrossLeather
www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/lawrenceecarter/likes
foursquare.com/acrossleather
www.tumblr.com/blog/acrossleather
plus.google.com/u/0/b/111653229739213013499/111653229739213013499/p...
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| Tooled leather dog collar |
I'm very appreciative there is an etsy. It has been my family and many a folk help brighten my day here... (The team leaders) put a ton of effort into organizing our teams and think there should be way more participation from us. They do this to help everybody get more views. So don't expect miracles when you're riding the bench. Get up make treasuries, use the color scheme, the aweteam tag. It makes it soooo much easier omg! Marsha ;)
When looking for a hand-crafted, gets-better-with-age, OOAK gift, look no further than Across Leather!
June 6, 2013
Spotlight on...Kes Carvings...Just in Time Father's Day
We are overdue for a shop feature, so with Father's Day quickly approaching, we'd like to shine the spotlight on one or our own shops here in the First State which does a pretty good job of focusing on the gents. (They do make items that the ladies will like, as well, but today it's all about the guys.)
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| Shave Set, Razor Handle, Brush and Stand, Ironwood |
We are Mike and Emily - a husband and wife team. The business was inspired and created by Mike. Mike has been interested in woodworking since he was a teenager but was finally able to start the business in 2010. He creates all of the hand turned items and cutting boards (which accounts for virtually everything in our shop.) Emily makes the cuff links and earrings. Emily also does most of the "behind the scenes" work like taking pictures, answering emails, updating the website, shipping packages, etc. Mike grew up in Delaware but moved away for college and subsequent jobs. He always wanted to come back and we were able to move here in 2007. We both have other full time jobs but work hard in our spare time to make this a success. Our business was named after our 3 dogs Kona, Ember, and Spring. You are sure to find at least one of them hanging out with Mike as he's working.
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| Bolt Action Bullet Pen, Hand Turned Marblewood |
Tell us a little about you Etsy shop.
We started on Etsy in 2010 and just have the one shop. We decided to open at Etsy shop because we had heard great things about the Etsy community and felt it was a great way to get our name out there. It has evolved in the range of products we offer. Mike began the business by just making pens. The business quickly expanded into a much wider variety of items but pens are still his specialty.
Do you do any craft fairs?
We do craft shows but mostly at the end of the year (Oct - Dec.) Last year we participated in 10 of them but will probably scale it back to about 5 this year.
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| Wood Pen, Redwood Burl, Vertex Style |
I would have 2 pieces of advice for myself if I could go back in time. The first would be learn how to take good pictures. That was a BIG learning curve! The second would be not to compare our shop to other shops. Every shop is different and the best thing to do is make what you love and hope others get as excited about your product as you are.
Where can we find you?
You can also find us on facebook atwww.facebook.com/kescarvings. We are not currently in any brick and mortar stores but that is one of our goals for 2013.
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| Gillette Mach 3 Razor Handle, African Olivewood |
April 16, 2013
Spotlight On...Bay Moon Design
Today we are please to feature another talented member's shop, BayMoonDesign, owned by Kathy Lindemer. Kathy, her husband, and both of their "children" are proud graduates of the University of Delaware. Her daughter is a Coastal Engineer and her son is in a Ph.D. program for Mechanical Engineering. After 38 years in a career in education, Kathy finally decided it was time to retire, and take her hobby to the next level. Kathy makes jewelry and cards, inspired by the water, Earth, and sky.
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| Yellow earrings |
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| Coffee Lover Card |
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| Green Flower Necklace with Hints of Peach |
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| Lavender Purple Necklace Crocheted |
A question for Kathy:
If you could go back in time to when you first opened your shop and give yourself one bit of advice about being an Etsy seller, what would it be?
My advice is to join an Etsy Team and read their forums. You need to pick up on the advice that is offered there. You pick up tips like you need to have a minimum of 100 items listed before you can even expect to do any business if you sell jewelry. Also, the ability to take good photos of your items in critical. Finding a way to get the correct lighting is key. There is access to that type of information. Learning to create and print shipping labels from Etsy is such a time saver. All of this, plus expose in treasuries is really useful.
My advice is to join an Etsy Team and read their forums. You need to pick up on the advice that is offered there. You pick up tips like you need to have a minimum of 100 items listed before you can even expect to do any business if you sell jewelry. Also, the ability to take good photos of your items in critical. Finding a way to get the correct lighting is key. There is access to that type of information. Learning to create and print shipping labels from Etsy is such a time saver. All of this, plus expose in treasuries is really useful.
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| Starfish Bracelet |
Love this shop and want to see more? You can find Kathy at the Delaware By Hand Members' Day Show on May 25th at Zwaanendael Park, in Lewes. In November and December, look for her at the DBH Holiday Show at Biggs Museum in Dover, Lewes Yacht Club Christmas Craft Fair, and the Baywood Holiday Craft Fair. Coming to Rehoboth Beach any time soon? Then you can find Kathy's jewelry at The Fabulous Dress and The Rehoboth Art League and in Newark at Postcards From Delaware in the Delaware Welcome Center Travel Plaza. (Way to get your work out there, Kathy!)
Online you can find Kathy and/or BayMoonDesign here:
April 5, 2013
Spring Break Team Treasury Challenge
Trying to get caught up on timing, so this vote will only last until the 11:59pm on Sunday the 8th. Please vote and share with your friends.
'Spring Break Means Beach to Me' by BayMoonDesign
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Treasury tool supported by the dog house
'Getting ready for Spring Break' by britpals
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Treasury tool supported by the dog house
'Spring Break - Warm sunshine and pretty flowers - DETeam' by ACrystalGarden
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Treasury tool supported by the dog house
'It must be Spring! I see a Robin.' by lindakrieck
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Treasury tool supported by the dog house
'Spring in Delaware' by czappit
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Treasury tool supported by the dog house
'Spring Means Getting Back to Nature!' by SeaForYourself
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Treasury tool supported by the dog house
'Spring Break-Sunny Happy Times. ' by littlebucksanddoes
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Treasury tool supported by the dog house
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