Saturday, June 27, 2009

Etsy Shop of the Week: 1ofmykind

This week's shop is based in Galena, Illinois. The shop owner, Jody McGill, crafts the most stunning jewelry I have ever seen. She uses old vintage pieces and reworks them, giving them life again. Browse her etsy shop, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5003513 and you'll see why she's received such recognition for her work; it is simply breathtaking. She's had over 3,000 sales on Etsy and decorates many celebrities with her beautiful creations. You don't have to be a rock star to enjoy these pieces, either - or have the budget of one. Check out what she has to say:

How did the idea for your business come about?
I opened my first antique store whilst a single mom and going to college where I was studying vocal music and art. I had always been a dumpster diver and curb picker so it was a natural progression to turn my 'skills' into summer cash so I could spend days with my baby boy (Who is now 21!) That led to finding hoards of broken vintage and antique jewelry which I began re-crafting into my own designs. It was just a matter of days before I was selling it off my neck and in a local upscale boutique.

What inspires you and what keeps you going?
My children and continuing to provide them with food, shelter and a safe loving home. As a single mom they will always be priority. Designing to me is pretty much like breathing so I would certainly perish if I stopped. I truly know I am blessed to make a living with my hands doing what I love!

It must be exciting to adorn celebrities with your wonderful creations – how did this come about?
I am very passionate about my work so eventually I guess that translated to the drama in Hollywood. Strangely I always felt it would get there and with a little luck, internet presence and connection voila, it happened! So now I adorn celebs and such and I own a bunch of one-liners like..."Anyone ever kissed Anne Heche?" and "Have you ever been a lone in a room with Justin Timberlake?" Yes and YES! It's been a wild ride andf I love it all.

To what do you attribute your success?
Positivity and surrounding my self with others who are happy, creative, and loving to all of humanity. I am very particular about my work and my friendships. I believe this consistency follows through in my work. Aesthetic is heartfelt and handmade.

Three pieces of advice you can share with fellow Etsians aspiring for success in our marketplace?
Be unique, be your self, and love what you do! Don't let your success or lack there of on etsy be a deterrent to your creativity! It ain't an easy game.

How do you go about marketing your business?
Mostly word of mouth. I figure if the work is strong people talk and not much beats that. So I commit to loving what I do and creating the best I can and the rest follows suit.

Please add anything else you’d like to share.
My utmost passion is hoping that others can tap into their own passion! Be it jewelry, painting, food, homemaking, law, sales or whatever makes their heart skip a beat. Find it!!!! It will be worth every sacrifice you make ;)

Friday, June 26, 2009

Vintage Floral Fantasy


Thursday, June 25, 2009

Vintage Peasant Dress: Chiffon Rose Garden

Here is a wonderful vintage dress by Leslie Fay. Union made in U.S.A., (has a neat little union tag). It's in excellent condition. Made of sheer chiffon with jersey lining. Click the photo for more information!


Light and airy like a fresh summer breeze...

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

~Meet Betty~

Betty is my new friend. She'll be modeling some great vintage dresses for my Etsy shop. I've got a few up there now; check them out by clicking on her photograph.

What a gal. A great model without the attitude.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Shop of the Week: CricketsCreations


This week I’m featuring another great success story, an Etsy shop called CricketsCreations, which is run by a very cool girl named Celeste (friends can call her Crickets!). She runs her business from Kanab, Utah which is near the majestic Grand Canyon. What a place to live for creative inspiration! Her work has been featured in Better Homes and Gardens and Vegetarian Times, she’s had over 900 sales on Etsy, and she rocks the coolest Cateye Glasses! What’s not to like?

How did the idea for your business come about?
My muse, inspiration & support is my husband, Nicky. I made my very first scarf for him. He loved it so much that he said, "You could sell these and people would love 'em!" Since that time in August 2007 this has become my full-time career. I guess he was right!

What inspired you to begin making Fringies yarn photo props?
It's kind of funny how it all went down. I love to "get a little crazy" with the fringe for the scarves I design and create. To me, the fringe is the playful part of the scarf that dances when we move and I like to go all out with the fringe. So, one day Bonnie Grist Johnson of Still Time Photography contacts me and asks me to make a scarf that's ALL fringe to use as a photo prop with women and girls; I was delighted! I made her my very first and shortly thereafter another pro asked for one and I was on a roll!

What motivated you to move in the direction of fiber experimentation?
I love to play with texture and color, and will use up to 50 different yarns in a single scarf or Fringie. I often start with a special request to match a backdrop, outfit or some other purpose and then just start pulling out yarns and pulling out yarns that I think will add dynamic depth and texture and interest and contrast and....all of the sudden I've got a new piece that I’m proud of!

To what do you attribute your success?
Taking better pictures was one of the biggest steps I made toward a successful shop on Etsy. I am also very prolific; I now offer 200+ designs in my shop…and there are a lot more in my head that are waiting to be given life! In addition to creating new designs at least weekly, I typically make 2-3 scarves a night and 2-5 Fringies per day to restock my inventory. I supply many retailers and I do craft fairs in addition to my online boutique.

Advice you can share with fellow Etsians aspiring for success in our marketplace?
The ways that I’ve been able to "go pro" and be so successful are to have fun, create a quality product, and cherish the customers I work for and with. It’s been a blast and I appreciate the opportunity! I so enjoy the chance to interact with my customers and get to know them as people or even friends.

How do you promote & find so many customers who love your work?
My Etsy shop is how most of my customers find me. I also keep a blog and a Flickr account.

Check out CricketsCreations on Etsy today http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5425532
What Etsian couldn’t use one of these cool fringies for a photo prop? I am loving the Anne Geddes-style display photos in her shop. One of my favorites is pictured above.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Rise and Shine!

Cockle Doodle Doo!

Wonderful Rooster pin, perfect for a collector of all things Rooster or of Vintage costume jewelry. Features diamond rhinestones on the body of the rooster. Appears to be missing a rhinestone for the rooster's eye.


Available in my Etsy shop:


How to Be a Good Housewife

Whether this really is an article from a home economics textbook teaching girls how to prepare for married life or a Good Housekeeping article or neither, it's still a fun read!

1. Have dinner ready: Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him, and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospects of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed.

2. Prepare yourself: Take 15 minutes to rest so you will be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has just been with a lot of work- weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift.

3. Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives, gathering up school books, toys, paper, etc. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift, too.

4. Prepare the children: Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces if they are small, comb their hair, and if necessary, change their clothes.They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.

5. Minimize the noise: At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of washer, dryer, dishwasher or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet. Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad to see him.

6. Things to avoid: Don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain if he's late for dinner. Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day.

7. Make him comfortable: Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind.

8. Listen to him: You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first.

9. Make the evening his: Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment; instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to be home and relax.

10. The goal: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can relax.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Shop of the Week: DearGoldenVintage


Kicking off my series of shops that have inspired me is DearGoldenVintage, an Etsy shop that is run by a lovely lady named Lauren from Ann Arbor, Michigan. This shop is only as old as my daughter, (just 6 months) but has already made well over 800 sales! I'd call that a success, wouldn't you? Her presentation is beautiful, photographs are crisp and the items are to die for! ♥

How did the idea for your business come about? I have always collected vintage clothing and pretty much all things vintage, whatever did not fit or I did not want anymore I passed on to friends. My husband was the one who saw me looking at vintage on Etsy and made an off-hand remark about how I could “totally do that” (meaning, have a shop), and it was as if I never considered it before then. Two days later, I had a shop stocked from items right out of my closet!

What inspires you, what keeps you going? Everything, all the time! Movies, music memories. Currently I am personally looking for wiggle dresses and skirts, I saw Revolutionary Road and just gushed over the clothing and although I have many full skirted 1950s dresses I don’t have a lot of tight ones and I am looking for those now!

To what do you attribute your success? So many factors, I think to be a success you have to work very hard, I work hard to find great items and I love all the things I sell in the shop. I have a serious passion for clothes which helps it seem NOT like work and thereby allowing me TO work so hard.

Advice you can share with fellow Etsians aspiring for success in our marketplace? Hmmm, I am fairly new as a seller so I am no expert, but a few things I find crucial are posting new items regularly, keep your store fresh. Take great photos that are very clear, don’t make people guess what you are selling, crisp & clear photos are key. And also, have fun, meet other sellers and just enjoy it. I work as hard on my shop as I do at my day job, but I love every minute of the Etsy work because I am really passionate about fashion and vintage fashion specifically!

How do you go about marketing your business? I have some ads on a couple of blogs/sites, I keep a blog myself and I use Twitter.

Check out the DearGoldenVintage shop on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6553810

Friday, June 12, 2009

New Blog Features


Soon, I'll be featuring some of the Etsy and Artfire shops that have inspired me and I'll be sharing the shop owner stories with you all. Stay tuned!

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Blue Flower Petal Vintage Earrings


I've never seen a pair of earrings like this before. This is what I love about vintage; you'll be amazed at how many new things you'll discover. Being unique and different is what makes the world go 'round.

These earrings are in good and wearable vintage condition. One of the petals on one of the earrings is cracked. The clipbacks are in great condition. A great pair of unique vintage earrings at a low price!

Marked GES.GESCH 126, an abbreviation for Gesetzlich Geschutzt, which roughly translates to Copyrighted or Patented in German.

Check out the listing on Etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26077904

And my Etsy store for more great finds!
http://www.oldbagvintage.etsy.com/