Interview: spidercamp.etsy.com

When I joined Etsy I was overwhelmed by the amount of people who had blogs associated with their shop. I was also impressed by the idea some people did by interviewing fellow Etsy members. I enjoyed learning about other people's views, perspectives on creativity and just liked to learn about they had to say. I decided to do the same. There are SO many awesome shops and awesome people that I had a desire to get to know them.

I wanted my first interview to be with the owner of spidercamp.etsy.com. As I looked at one of her bunnies I wanted to look at all of them. I couldn't stop laughing and sent the link to her store to everyone in my family. The owner of these fabulous bunnies is Jessica Pierce. It turns out we both like NPR and gangsta rap! Please check out her store. Jessica has a great reputation. She has been an Etsy member since December 2005. As of today she has sold 693 items and has 479 feedback of 100%!! Here bunnies are just awesome.

>Who are you and where can we find your Etsy store?

I am Jessica Pierce and my shop is: www.spidercamp.etsy.com

> What items do you sell on Etsy?

Mostly plush rabbits with swears sewn on their bellies. Also some cat
toys, but they don't swear.

> Do you have a blog to go along with your Etsy Shop? If so what is it?

www.spidercamp.com


> The soundtrack of your craft. Do you listen to music when you are working on your Etsy items? If so, what albums and artists motivate you?

Mostly NPR and gangsta rap. I used to say this to be funny, but then
it was true.


> What do you want people to know about yourself and/or your products?

I think this comes across in my work, but I'd like people to know how much I dig making this crazy crap. I'm grateful that anybody else out there in the world responds to it too. This makes me happy just about every day.

> How and/or where do you get ideas for your products?

People send me a lot of terrific ideas for words to use. "Twatwaffle" is my favorite one right now. And "poopsnack." Also I just like to make stuff up.

> How do you promote your Etsy store?

I don't. Please don't hate on me for saying that. I have a weird product which encourages positive and enthusiastic word-of-mouth, my shop name is unusual enough that it sticks in people's minds, and my business cards kick ass (they're hand-drawn). I do get VERY liberal
with the business cards, which I know helps.

> What do you do when you are not slaving away making your products? Hobbies?Work?

I make cakes for a restaurant. I play video games. I hang out with my awesome brother.


> Are you apart of any Etsy groups?

I think I joined some street teams but I never do anything about it.


> Any advice for other Etsy sellers? What makes a good seller on Etsy?

Customer service is tremendously important. A buyer recently told me that she had bought things from five sellers one night, and I was the only one who acknowledged the sale. It was no big deal, I just sent her a generic "thanks, your stuff will ship out Tuesday," but it meant
something to her. It really impressed upon me the importance of creating little positive connections between sellers and buyers. When I buy things on etsy, I know I like to have communication with the seller. It's what makes the difference between feeling like you bought
something on Amazon, and like you bought something from a real human being. It's what I try to give my customers. Even when I'm crazy busy, a "hi, thanks!" is important. It builds goodwill.

Thank you Jessica! I tell everyone about your store and visit often!

Devil's Dictionary

I get a lot of my rubberstamps from an ebay seller called sass*box. The stamps are very unique and something you won't find in your average hobby store. I love them however some are so odd that I don't know what to do with them.

I love "The Devil's Dictionary" by Ambrose Bierce. I take it off the shelf when I need a good laugh. While looking through it I notice it has the word 'lettuce.'

click
click
click through the mind

I just happen to have a rubber stamp of a head of lettuce! I could incorporate dictionary definitions to many of these odd stamps. I would, of course, credit the book. Sometimes I stop and say, "Wow Danine. You so rock. How did you learn how to rock so hard?!" I don't know but I love being creative with sources I already have.

Anyway, I am thinking I will create a line of cards with the Dictionary theme.

That Professional Look

I got cello bags for my cards for a more professional look. This also will let me package them better when I take them to local stores to try to offer my cards for them to sell. I really have everything I need to make cards. The only thing I struggle with is time. I'm sure most people have this issue. I maybe a stay at home mother but like every mother I have to entertain, feed and care for my young. Mostly entertain.

A Most Fabulous Introduction

Yet another journal/blog in my life. This one is dedicated to my craft and shop. Everyone on Etsy has one so in efforts to be popular too I am creating a blog to accompany my shop. I will be featuring and promoting other artists with Etsy shops. There are soooo many awesome shops with unique and creative goods I want everyone to know about them. I love Etsy and am finding myself drawn to Etsy to buy most of my gifts, supplies and whatever else I need.

My specialty is making cards with wit, humor, dark humor and maybe a touch of sarcasm. I love pics of Edwardian woman and I love rubber stamping so I would like to combine the two. I never really ever thought about selling my cards. Friends and family have encouraged me to so here I am at Etsy. I will eventually sell on Ebay and I am in the process of getting an additional website set up.

Getting my shop up has been a long process it seems. I am a stay at home mother with a 4 month old and I am always perfecting the art of fitting everything I want to do into my life. I'm an avid reader and writer. I try to read 1-2 books a week. I write poetry and journal like a mad woman. I clean the house, bake, cook and look after my child and whatever needs to be done around the house. I am lift and separate. See, that happy mother with her bubbling child and Golden Retriever? Yep. That's me. I am finding I can do all that I want but it just takes a little longer with a child.

At the moment my shop is not selling that much. I must admit I haven't been promoting it. Networking takes time and dedication. I have to manage this time and dedication in small amounts. I am just selling cards right now but in the near future I will feature:

*Pre-made themed scrapbook kits
*handmade envelopes of all sizes
*Pre-made card kits
*Journal and journal prompt sets
*Tea for two sets-Includes card, tea, tea cups and handmade votives
*Tags-Mabye. Everyone does tags.

I've gotten my business cards up at a few public places. Again, it takes time for me to get out of the house and get them posted. I've just ordered some nice cello bag sleeves for my cards for that oh so professional look. I've also decided to go with dark and sarcastic themes. They seem to sell well. I will make nice light hearted cards but I think I might leave that theme to other card sellers. I'm always debating on card prices. I might lower my sewn card prices a bit. I have some awesome ideas. I love using the sewing machine my darling husband got for me.

My Etsy Groups:
We Love Etsy
Colorado Artisians
EtsyBling
Etsy Card Makers
Etsy Bloggers
Vintage Treasures