Interview With Kit and Caboodle

1. How long have you been crafting?

My grandmother started me crafting when I was very young, 4-5 years old. So, I've been crafting about 40 years. Both of my grandmothers were very artistic and crafty. I
 would attend craft shows with one grandmother and sell my things along
 with her. In junior high, I made small pom-pom animals that I would 
sell to my friends at school. I was always making something.



2. What is your favorite thing to make?

I love painting with watercolor. It will always be my first love in the arts. Next would 
have to be jewelry making. Right now, I'm experimenting on combining
 watercolor and jewelry making.

3. How did you start working with beads?

When my grandmother passed away, she had bought memory wire so she could make all the great
granddaughters bracelets. She passed away before she had the chance
 to accomplish the task. Being known as an avid crafter, I inherited
 her craft supplies. I then took apart some of grandma's old beaded 
jewelry and used the beads on the memory wire for the great
granddaughters so that they could all have a part of grandma's jewelry 
as well as her final gift to them that she had planned before her 
death.




4. What are your best Etsy tips?

I'm still working on good photos for my shop. I think good attractive and interesting photos will pull
 people into your shop. A good first impression is the most important 
thing. I promote my shop online as well as offline. Selling at craft
shows and galleries helps to get the word out that you have a shop 
on line. Of course having a blog and being able to talk about your 
projects helps others to see and feel your passion about what you do.



5. Where do you get inspiration?

I am very inspired by scripture. The Bible is full of imagery and many of my paintings and jewelry
 pieces are inspired by God's word.



6. Do you do any other crafting?

I do scrap booking, card making, and altered books. I have a whole room of craft supplies that I've
 collected over the years. My daughters love to go into my studio and 
pull out supplies to make something themselves.



7. What are you reading right now?

I'm reading "The New Rebellion Handbook" for my devotional time, and I'm reading "Mixed Mania" by
Debbie Crane and Cheryl Prater for new craft techniques.



8. How long have you homeschooled and what method do you use?

I've been homeschooling my two teen daughters for five years now. We use
 some curriculum. We love doing hands-on learning. Our Etsy shop was
 a way to learn not only a craft, but to learn about business, taxes, 
profit, photography, and missions. We use the money we make to help
 support orphans in Africa.



9. What have you found most surprising about Etsy?

The most surprising thing would be the helpfulness of the people who buy and sell on Etsy.
Whenever I have a question, I know I can go to the forums to find the
 answer from someone who has been there before. It's a great place to 
do business.

10. What is the most interesting thing about you?

I am a member of the Osage Indian tribe.

You can see her lovely things in her shop. Be sure to check out her blog too.


Thank you to Lizzie from A Dusty Frame for providing this great interview.

Our First SHE team Interview

Thanks to Lizzie from A Dusty Frame we have our very first SHEteam interview featuring Donna with CellChic and Huebsch Designs

1. How long have you been crafting?

For as long as I can remember – seriously! I’ve knitted, crocheted, decoupaged, latch-hooked, done decorative painting, cross-stitched, decorated T-shirts and sweatshirts…well, you get the picture.



2. What is your favorite thing to make?

I like working with beaded projects right now, particularly cell phone charms.



3. How did you start working with beads?

One of my DD’s friends had her birthday party at a bead store 5 years ago. That was my introduction. DD and I made a number of trips after that. For a while, everything I made went in a straight line – all I could do was string beads on a wire and I had to ask the store owner to crimp it off. Then I took a couple of classes on beading basics and wire wrapping, which really opened up a lot of design ideas.


4. Do you really decorate your own cell phone? ;)

Of course!! I’m on a campaign to wipe out bare cell phones – there’s just no reason for a cell phone to look homely!


5. Where do you get inspiration?

Lots of places – fabric, nature, magazines 



6. Do you do any other crafting?

I’m always looking for a good crafting opportunity! I sew clothes, and recently made a mosaic table to go in our garden. We got on a knitting kick a few months ago; making dog sweaters…DH’s was actually very good, while mine looked pretty odd!



7. What are you reading right now?

I’m reading Midnight, a collection of short story mysteries by John M. Floyd



8. How long have you homeschooled and what method do you use?

We started a little over 2 years ago, when DD reached 6th grade. We use a combination of approaches to best suit our needs:

1) Unschooling is unstructured and lets children learn naturally, following their curiosity and interests. Parents act as facilitators to help provide a rich learning environment. Formal teaching is pursued as the need arises.

2) Learning Lifestyle, where the lines are blurred between "school" and "home". Daily living provides many opportunities for practical learning, e.g., meal planning, tax preparation, political elections, etc.



9.What have you found most surprising about Etsy?

I am amazed at the friendly community among Etsyians. The SHE Team has been so warm and supportive!

10. What are you addicted to right now?

Hershey's Kisses with Almonds, making treasuries, playing computer games with DD (right now, Chocolatier I & II are my favorites - of course, they relate to chocolate!)




Check Donna’s items for a special interview sale. Look for “sale” in the item title.

Spring is in the Air

I know that this is true by looking around in the SHE team stores.

How about a flower to welcome in spring?

Here is a beautiful photo for sale by Tredlightphotographs.

While in her shop be sure to check out the other photos and if you click on profile you can see her other shops.


I would love to have a fresh set of napkins on my table to welcome in spring. These are wonderful spring colors and Weabeaks has a great selection of napkins and bibs along with some other beautiful items.


Check out these love birds by Vusova. This is a wonderful little ACEO.

ACEO stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals. ACEOs are collectible little pieces of art. An ACEO is always two and one-half inches by three and one-half inches.


And I couldn't resist these little rag easter eggs by PrairieCottageRose's shop. These are adorable and the price is awesome.