SOTW HATT STREET

BIG sorry! I have been incredibly busy here lately and slacked off in my bloging! Here is the newest shop of the week! Make sure to visit their shop!!!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/HattStreet



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I was born and raised on the West Coast of Canada, dropped out of preschool and decided to learn piano instead. Went back to formal education for K-12, then even went to university in Toronto, Ontario, for a degree in psychology. Didn't do me much good on the crafting circuit, but it did land me a job working with autistic adults, which was fantastic. And then I met a boy, and followed him across the country, winding up in Dundas, Ontario, where I am now. We got married last year, after he proposed at the top of Blackcomb Mountain (that's part of Whistler Resort) and I said something along the lines of "Of course you idiot!". I miss my family, the ocean, and REAL mountains, but this works fine too. I've lived in Japan and Europe, have visited 15 or so countries, and am planning a trip to New Zealand within the next couple years. When I'm not working or crafting, I'm snowboarding or mountain biking, or dreaming about snowboarding and mountain biking. People get sick of hearing me talk about snowboarding and mountain biking. I think I have a problem.

I've always been creative, and I'm pretty sure I never had a choice in that creativity... Something about that nature/nurture debate.

1. Where do you get your inspiration from? My deranged mind?? Really, it all stems from boredom. I'll be working on one thing and thinking "I wonder if I could do this with it..." and give it a shot, and usually it works out! Lately I've been crocheting a lot of flowers, because it's spring and I love colour. I do occasionally browse around through Etsy to see what the other crocheters are up to, and sometimes I'll see something I really like, and try it out for myself. I don't work off patterns though, so sometimes conceptualizing something and having it actually work in real life are two very different things!

2. What is your age: 26

3. What is your shop(S) name: Hatt Street (www.HattStreet.etsy.com)

4. Do you only sell on etsy or do you go to craft shows as well? So far, only on Etsy, but I plan to try out the craft circuit this fall.

5. Is there an item you have made that has significant meaning to you and why? Not super significant, but since April is cancer awareness month in Canada, I've been making a lot of daffodils. The Canadian Cancer Society sells daffodils throughout April to raise funds and awareness, and the daffodil is their logo. I am donating $1 from every sale through the month of April to cancer research, and any daffodil items sold double the donation. I don't know anyone that hasn't been affected by cancer in some way, so I feel like it's something we can all relate to. So, my daffodil pieces are the most significant things in my shop.

6. How did you first get the idea to make what you are now? I think it had something to do with snowboarding... It was a long time ago! I needed some toques to keep my head warm in the snow, and since I already knew how to crochet, I figured I'd save myself some money and make my own (plus the ones in the stores way back when were boring!). My dad taught me the basics, and I took it from there. My mum knits, so she had lots of wool to supply me with. One thing led to another, and here I am.

7. Do you ever change your “craft style”? Example jewelry to ceramics? I went from toques to jewelry, cloths, oven mitts, and cases, but I've stuck with crocheting for my Etsy shop. In my non-Etsy time though, I decorate cakes for fun, and occasionally sew. I've done a lot of beadwork in the past, and pottery, and even did a bit of basketry way back when. My whole family is pretty crafty, so I've grown up with the DIY mentality. I've tried visual art, but I'm pathetic with pen and paper, so photography is the end of the road in that medium for me! When I was living in Japan, I tried ikebana, which is their traditional flower arranging. It was a lot of fun, but I was nowhere near as good as the rest of the class!

8. How do you feel about buying and selling handmade items? Love it. I get such a sense of accomplishment when I create something that other people like too... I know how much work goes into handmade stuff, and I'll buy handmade whenever I can. I could go on about mass produced cookie cutter big box chains, but it's nothing new. Handmade gets you originality and quality, and that's always a good thing!

9. What is your favorite material to work with? Acrylic wool. It comes in such beautiful colours and it's really easy to work with.

10. How long have you been in your craft? Oh geez, at least ten years... Though I know my mum taught me to knit as soon as I could hold a needle in each hand! Unfortunately for her, knitting just never clicked with me, and I think she's had to teach me about 20 times. It still hasn't stuck! My dad and gramma taught me how to crochet, and I never looked back. Sorry mum!

11. What is one message you would like to get out to the world about what you do? Have fun with your accessories, and don't be afraid of colour! Handmade to me means everything is completely unique and made with care. I enjoy what I do, and want to share that with everyone.

12. Do you have a “day job” and if you do… what is it? Yep, I'm a personaly support worker for adults with physical disabilities. It's an extremely rewarding career path, and I've met some amazing individuals.

13. How has your work developed throughout the years? My work has gotten more diverse, and I'm not afraid to take risks with colour, texture, or form.

14. Did you ever feel like giving up before you got to where you are today? Heh I think I did give up a bit after Christmas! I had a tonne of custom orders and I was just exhausted. Etsy fell by the wayside, and I flat out refused to crochet for almost a month! But no, didn't want to give up, just take a break. I think as long as I can keep challenging myself by attempting new items, I'll be just fine.

15. How do you feel when people interpret your work differently than you? I'm not sure how differently people can interpret a toque, but I do sometimes get concerned when people insist on wearing my toques backwards! Then again, I'm probably the only one who knows it's backwards... I started attaching tags at the back both to show that they're Hatt Street toques, and to show the back of the toque!

16. What advice do you have for aspiring artists? Do what you love, love what you do. Realize that not everyone sees the world the same way you do, so not everyone will love your work as much as you do. If it makes you happy, that's all that matters. Of course, it helps when people love your work so much they'll pay for it, but it's not the end of the world if they don't!

17. Who first inspired you to begin crafting? Really, my whole family has played a part in my crafting... My parents are both fibre crafters: my mum knits and my dad crochets. My sister is an amazing artist, and I've always been a bit (ok, a lot) jealous of her talent... The things she can do with a couple acrylics and some canvas... I have a whole wall of my place dedicated to her art! Two of my mum's sisters are artists too, and the other sisters don't get off the hook either, everyone in the family crafts in some shape or form! My grandma's a writer, and my grandpa can make anything out of scraps of wood. I still remember when my aunt would come visit, she would bring a new craft for all of us to try. I'm pretty sure I had no choice in becoming a crafter...

18. Do you have a space for your work area or do you craft anywhere? I have wool everywhere... It probably really annoys my husband, but he's good enough not to say anything! I mostly create in the living room while I'm watching TV... At that point it's basically just background noise and it makes commercials so much more bearable! Plus, it's the biggest room in the place, so I have lots of area to spread out in. I also take my wool bag to work so that I can get some stuff made if I have any down time.

19. What are your favorite childhood memory involving arts? Whoops, I guess I kind of answered this already! My aunt coming to visit with a new craft every time! I also remember her teaching me how to make zippered pillow shams.

20. Do you feel accomplished when you finish creating? Absolutely. When I can sit back and look at the finished product, I always feel like I've gotten something done. I have a tough time sitting still, so if I can get something done I'm happy.

21. Does your personal style (living space clothing ect…) reflect anything you make?Definitely. I love snowboarding, and I couldn't be happier that snowboard style is all about bright colours these days! I love wearing hats, and I love colour, so put two and two together, and you get my toques.

22. Do you use your own products for things? Of course. I was trying out a new style of toque last month, and liked the end product so much that I kept it for myself to use!

23. Do you like custom orders? Love them. I love taking someone else's ideas, and putting them together into something that expresses their style in my own medium. I'd say probably 80% of my business is custom orders, and I'm completely happy with that!

24. Do you have any sales coming up? I have one going on right now, actually. I'm offering $10 off all my winter stock, which works out to about 40% off! Plus, I'm donating $1 from every sale through the month of April (including winter sale merchandise) to cancer research.

25. What are your favorite shops on Etsy?
www.harosef.etsy.com
www.tanybug.etsy.com
www.teaman.etsy.com
www.littletoad.etsy.com
and so many more! Etsy is such a fantastic community, and full of so many talented artists.

SOTW Winner Arts Of Amy

I would love for you all to meet Arts of amy :




1.Where do you get your inspiration from?
Imagination and Nonsense!
I adore Fairytales and imagination echo’s in most things I create!
Alice in Wonderland is my all time Favorite story; I love the curious characters and share madness of the whole thing!

2. What is your shop(S) name:
www.artofamy.etsy.com

3. Do you only sell on etsy or do you go to craft shows as well?
I would love to get into craft shows but at the moment I’m concentrating on promoting my Etsy store and trying to get that up and running, it seems like a full time job at the moment!!!

4. Is there an item you have made that has significant meaning to you and why?
All my items are formed from my Original Artwork which is created with Love and Whimsy so in a way they are all significant to me.

5. How do you feel about buying and selling handmade items?
I love it! Handmade items tend to have more originality and they are more likely to be made from the heart!

6. What is your favorite material to work with?
I am a Painter first and foremost, I work mainly with Acrylics but I love to work with mixed media every now and then, it’s a fun change!

7. How long have you been in your craft?
I am quite new to crafting! I started creating bits and pieces using my artwork last year as gifts and such and quite enjoyed it so thought I would branch out and give Etsy ago after seeing all the wonderful items others had created!

8. Do you have a “day job” and if you do… what is it?
I am currently studying full time for a Diploma in Arts and Creativity. I paint and create when ever I get the time and have had, and currently have, many pieces in exhibitions all across the country.
I hope to one day make Art/Painting my career.

9. Did you ever feel like giving up before you got to where you are today?
Always. It’s a VERY hard market to be in and I often have doubts in myself but I have a wonderfully supportive partner who always reminds me how far I have come and gives me motivation when I need it the most.
Art is what I love and I think there is nothing better than doing what you love to do, I’m just lucky enough to have a partner who keeps me going!

10. Do you feel accomplished when you finish creating?
Always… when it turns out right!

11. Do you use your own products for things?
All my paper goods are hand-made, each piece is my own design and features my Original Artworks!

12. Do you have any sales coming up?
YES!
Become a Blog Follower and receive FREE SHIPPING on ANY item in my store throughout April! Just go to www.artofamy.blogspot.com.

Thanks for taking the time to read about me!

SOTW Dallied!

We look on etsy shops all the time but while looking at their items have you ever wondered “what is this person’s life like?” Well I did thus creating SHOP OF THE WEEK! We all see the wonderful work this person has created but behind the work is a wonderful person with a story and lots of things to share with you.

I would love for you all to meet Dallied our shop of the week winner for last week! She owns a very darling little shop on etsy. ( Dallied.etsy.com )

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dallied

Blog: http://www.dallied.blogspot.com

“"I opened my jewelry shop in August 2009. At the time I was tackling learning the technicalities of selling online and Etsy alongside of my full-time job, zoo-like house and the new semester coming up in a new school. I got too ahead of myself and had to close the shop after a mere week of opening, I was working at too fast of a pace and the stress was overwhelming. A month ago, after working out the rest of the kinks to Etsy over the semester I re-opened with a better head on my shoulders and things are looking up!”"

The following is a little interview with Dallied

1. Where do you get your inspiration from?

Everywhere! Movies, books, characters, food, color combinations, emotions, the weather and much more. I'm lucky that I find inspiration easily; I think that's what has helped me to develop my work so much more over the past couple years.

2. What is your age:

19

3. What is your shop(S) name:

Dallied

4. Do you only sell on etsy or do you go to craft shows as well:

Right now it's just Etsy. I'd like to get a little more involved locally this summer, so we'll see how that goes.

5. Is there an item you have made that has significant meaning to you and why:

The items I make that hold significant meanings to myself don't tend to wind up in my shop because I find it too hard to let them go. Usually, the significance isn't very deep though, it's just little things that I find hard to let go. Two pieces that I've been unable to let go are a jellybean inspired necklace make with tons of small, colorful assorted gemstones and an explorer locket simply because of my love for baking/sweets and traveling.

6. How did you first get the idea to make what you are now:

When I first started making jewelry I loved that I was creating and I felt pleased with the results. I understood that they were pieces that people would, and did, like and buy, but it was never quite my style. I never had the struggle like I often do now when I make a piece and think “can I justify keeping this?!” After so long of this I had to suck it up and realize that if I wanted to make and try the things that I really wanted to I had to bite my lip, cross my fingers and buy all the supplies needed to do so and hope it worked out. And voila, it did!

7. Do you ever change your “craft style”? Example jewelry to ceramics?

I've been expanding my knowledge and skills within jewelry but no, I haven't left that area. There's so many crafts I would love to try but time and money aren't so kind. In a perfect world, I'd love to learn more about soap making, designing/stenciling china and sewing. I'd also love to learn how to make tea and wine! Oh, life.

8. How do you feel about buying and selling handmade items:

Love it. I love the feeling of buying homemade, how you know that someone else made it and put their time into this one thing and it wasn't just mass produced or made by a machine. I've always treated handmade items of mine with more care and I think that most other people do too. This is also the same reason why I love selling it, along with the feeling that someone else appreciates my work enough to buy it.

9. What is your favorite material to work with?

This is answer definitely changes all the time but right now I'm really loving crystal, silver and lots and lots of wire wraps. Next week it'll probably be cabochons and brass.

10. How long have you been in your craft?

I know this sounds weird but I'm actually not 100% sure. When I was young in elementary school and my friends and I were learning how to make hemp jewelry I became totally obsessed. Somewhere along the way, later in junior high I'm pretty sure, I ultimately ditched the ball of hemp for some earwires and pins.

12. Do you have a “day job” and if you do… what is it?

I'm currently attending the local university here in St.John's full-time, working part-time at Tim Hortons and babysitting a couple nights a week for my cousin. I also live in a complete zoo of a house. Most of my crafting, promoting and other shop work is done in the evenings and the early hours of the morning. The bags under my eyes are getting a little ridiculous!

13. How has your work developed throughout the years?

When I first started making jewelry it was very basic for a long time. I only made very simple wired wrapped or headpin earrings and that was it. Somewhere in the past couple years I've really managed to step up my game by a) sucking it up and spending the money needed on supplies for things I wanted to learn and b) sitting down and trying over and over again until I learned the things I wanted to learn. It's really come a long ways!

14. Did you ever feel like giving up before you got to where you are today?

No way! I love making jewelry! In terms of etsy I'm only starting off but it seems to be going okay so I don't know why I would want to.

15. How do you feel when people interpret your work differently than you?

I don't mind at all, everyone sees things differently, and a lot of the time their interpretations shines new light on the piece and makes me realize more ways to look at it.

16. What advice do you have for aspiring artists?

Believe in your product, pour your heart into but most importantly don't over do it, nothing happens overnight. When I first opened my shop in August I overdid it and was working at a pace I couldn't keep up with as I was still in a full-time job and about to attend another new university. One week after opening the shop I had to close it down and didn't re-open until a month ago. I'm more prepared this time around and a little more sane and things are running much more smoothly.

17. Who first inspired you to begin crafting?

Everyone who gave me all the positive feedback when I made those first few god awful pairs of earrings years ago. I realize that they were so ugly that they wouldn't have even sold in a dollar store and that my parents probably had to bite their tounges really hard to say they were beautiful.

18. Do you have a space for your work area or do you craft anywhere?

I recently took over my fathers “office” ... a.k.a room filled with 30 years of mess that my parents didn't know what to do with. I organized it and packed it all up a moved in a couple months ago and it's perfect!

19. What are your favorite childhood memory involving arts? Making hemp jewelry! I really loved it!

20. Do you feel accomplished when you finish creating?

I get wayyy too excited when I finish making something. When I'm sitting down, halfway through a piece, I'll say, “Alright, when I'm done this necklace I'll stop for the night,” but I never follow through because once I finish I'm usually riding this childish high that moves me onto the next piece.

21. What does your personal style (living space clothing ect…) Reflect anything you make?

It does to a certain extent. I would categorize a lot of my jewelry as “stuff I would wear if I weren't so freaking casual.” It works out though because then I'm not giving in to keep everything! My only problems are the loops I've been creating lately, I've had to make two pairs of most of the ones in my shop because I couldn't help myself.

23. Do you like custom orders?

I've never had one but I would love to do custom orders!

24. Do you have any sales coming up?

Not any coming up that I know of, no, but I did have one a couple days ago and it seems like I'm having around 2 a week now so I've got my fingers crossed for the next couple days.

25. What are your favorite shops on Etsy?

Most of my favorites are supply shops! Bead shopping kills me. Aside from that though I'm really loving ForStrangeWomen's shop - http://www.etsy.com/shop/ForStrangeWomen Her shop has such a natural cozy feel to it, I'm in love! When the day comes that I'm no longer poor I'm going to buy the new Kings of Convenience CD and a little something from her shop.



Thank you all fore reading! PLEASE take time to comment :D

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