This is the fifth in my interview series with talented Etsy and other independent artists. Recently I had the privilege of interviewing Nancy (nancygamon ) Her artistic apparel and home decor are colorful, vibrant and unique. If you are looking for something truly special, take a look at nancygamon’s shop!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m an earthy sort of gal – I have a reel mower and a compost pile, and I eat lots of vegetables. I go to the library every Friday, I don’t watch any television, and I have fun giggling with my teenage son. My favorite food is potato chips.

2. Tell us about your current work and anything else you have in the works.

Right now, my main focus is on one-of-a-kind fabric accessories for men, women and the home. I have a super huge wall hanging in progress that I’m having a lot of fun with. I’d like to continue along that path – experimenting with fabric art.

3. What prompted you to open an Etsy shop?

A couple of years ago, “Ready Made” magazine published an article about Etsy.com. Around that time, friends were starting to encourage me to sell my work. The idea of starting my own web site from scratch gave me the heebie-jeebies. Etsy was the perfect solution.

4. How long have you had your Etsy Shop?

I’m right at my two-year anniversary on Etsy. I opened http://nancygamon.etsy.com/ in June 2006. It turned out that one Etsy shop just wasn’t enough, so in September 2007, I opened up http://supergirlstickers.etsy.com/ and moved my paper creations (stickers, greeting cards) there.

5. Tell us about your Etsy shop. What do you offer there?

I offer whatever happens to fall out of my brain. I get into kicks – a necktie kick, a pillow kick, a hat kick – so new items get created in spurts that follow my whims. Almost everything I make falls into the Accessories category… curling iron travel cases, purses, market totes, hairbands, things like that.

6. Do you have any suggested uses for your products?

I suggest you put them on and dance around with wild abandon. If dancing’s not your thing, then, well, women may enjoy wearing the men’s hats and neckties as alternative fashion statements. Also, I make a line of market totes that are roomy as all get out – they’re the same size as paper grocery bags, so they’re great for eco-friendly shopping.

7. Was there a major influence in your life? 

I think the major influence was actually in my parents’ and grandparents’ lives (the Great Depression) and it trickled down to me. I hoard old clothes and can’t resist free fabric. Knowing my fondness for reinvention, wonderful people often surprise me with gifts of old neckties, curtains, granny’s dresses, and whatever other fabric items they would normally take to the thrift shop. I love finding new uses for vintage fabrics, and many of my creations have unique personal histories that can’t be exactly duplicated.

8. What inspires you?

I take time to very purposefully get out of the house and go live. We are absolutely immersed in shapes, colors, designs, sounds and smells – information we tend to tune out. About once a week, I just practice paying attention to what’s around me. For example, I might go for a walk and not come back until I have 3 new ideas. It forces me to see that little architectural detail I’ve passed 100 times, or to notice the shape of a flower, or the way a tree branch curves. I think everything we need for inspiration is right in front of us, if we can quiet our minds enough to see it.

9. Where do you create?

I’m lucky to work out of my house. I have one room devoted to sewing, but I have noticed that often while I am asleep, little gnomes sneak in and move piles of fabric pretty much all over everywhere.

10. How did you learn your craft?  

Most of my early sewing instruction came from 4-H (a youth group devoted to farm life skills like cooking and raising livestock). For years, I sewed projects exactly as instructed, using commercial patterns. Then I started altering the construction methods and modifying the designs. Now I create my own designs from scratch, but I also keep learning. I check out a lot of books from the library, I read sewing magazines, and I still work through commercial patterns occasionally to learn new techniques.

11. What are your favorite materials?

Lots and lots of vintage fabric.

12. Are there any materials you consider a MUST-HAVE?

If you sew and you do not have a rotary cutter, go treat yourself to one this instant. Other must-haves are the biggest cutting mat you can afford, a metal ruler with a cork backing, and a sketchbook.

13. How do you promote your goods?

I do rely heavily on my flickr page and enjoy the artists I’ve bumped into through that site. I also assume that every item in my shop is being purchased as a gift. That means that I make sure my site name is on (or attached to) every product, so recipients will know where to find me.

14. What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned since you started selling your own creations?

I enjoy more success (and happiness) making Things I Want To, than I do making Things I Think Might Sell.

15. What advice would you give to others who are thinking about or have just opened an Etsy shop?

There’s really no reason not to open a shop on Etsy – it’s so affordable and user friendly. You have the option to do it just for fun, with very low financial investment. However, I think it’s important to understand that Etsy is not a get rich quick scheme. It’s more like the online equivalent of an artsy-fartsy shopping mall. If you are hoping to make a living off your creativity, keep in mind that being a small business owner is a fat lot of work.

16. Do you have any favorite Etsy artists?

Like most people who frequent Etsy, I have oodles of favorites! I’ve also had the good fortune of getting to know several of those wonderful artists in person.

I’m a big fan of http://procyonidae.etsy.com/ (Nathan Cannon), who I met through the local Etsy Street Team. My favorite thing about him is that you can be messing about with construction paper and crayons, and he’ll have an idea for how to turn your project into a voice-activated adjustable lamp fueled entirely by dandelion goo. His ability to see 14 levels beyond what you’re currently doing absolutely astounds me. I’ve received amazing pep talks from procyonidae and appreciate his insight and fresh point of view.

I’ll put in a quick plug for http://gemmafactrix.etsy.com/ (Brooke Medlin), who I also met through the Etsy Street Team. I literally wouldn’t have my SupergirlStickers shop without her. She was the one who introduced me both to the gocco press and to the sticker machine. My favorite thing about her is that it never seems to occur to her that she might not succeed. She wants to do something, she does it. Simple as that.

For lovely designs in artistic apparel and home decor, visit nancygamon’s Etsy shop. Nancy’s handmade items are gorgeous!

Many thanks to Nancy aka nancygamon for granting this interview and for sharing her designs and inspiration!

This is the fourth in my interview series with talented Etsy and other independent artists. Recently I had the privilege of interviewing Joan (Six Sisters ) Her artwork is spectacular. If you are looking for a something unique with a bit of whimsy and magic, take a look at Six Sisters’ shop!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I was born and raised in Philly. I attended the Univ of the Arts and got my BFA in Art Education. I married a few years later and moved out west. I started raising a family and art took a backseat. I moved back east after a divorce and I love being back in the city.

2. Tell us about your current work and anything else you have in the works.

I do a lot of watercolor and drawing. At present my shop has many fantasy centered works. I am startingto get into polymer clay. I want to make some fantasy pieces in a new medium. I sell at a shop in Philly called VIX Emporium.

3. What prompted you to open an Etsy shop?

I saw an article in the local paper about a artist who was selling at Etsy. So that day I decided I wanted to try it. I had tried another online shop but wasn’t happy with the experience. This fit perfectly.

4. How long have you had your Etsy shop?

It will be a year on July 28th. It is hard to believe.

5. Tell us about your Etsy shop. What is the name of your shop and what do you offer there?

The name of my shop is Sixsisters. I am one of six girls so the name seemed to fit. It is easy to say and remember. I sell paintings, collages, cards, aceo’s and drawings. I hope to have more candles and some items to support breast cancer awareness. My niece died of breast cancer at the age of 26. So I want to be able to raise some money for that.

6. Do you have a favorite medium? If so, what and why?

My favorite is pen and ink. I love the way the ink flows onto the paper It is so immediate. No erasures there! I do have some skill that I have developed in that area. I guess that is why I enjoy it so much.

7. Was there a Major influence in your life?

I loved the work of Kathe Kollwitz. She brought so much emotion to her prints. They were very political because of the times but they are so relevant for today too. Themes of women and children and war.

Learn more about Kathe Kollwitz. 

8. What inspires you?

I get inspiration from music and reading. Everyday life and the people around me. I am an observer and like to watch people’s gestures and the way they stand or move their arms.

9. What are your favorite materials?

Paper and pencil. Everything I do begins with drawing. I would be lost if I could not draw. I have learned so much from that.

10. Are there any materials you consider a MUST-HAVE for your art?

Good paper is a must have. It has to be of good quality or I don’t think the work looks good.

11. How do you promote your goods?

This is one area I really need to improve on. I am afraid I am at a loss as to what to do to promote myself. I have tried several things. I need to be more aggressive about it.

12. What is the most important lesson you’ve learned since you started selling you own creations?

That the journey is the best part. Be present and enjoy everything and everyone you meet. You never know what will happen or where it will take you.

13. What advice would you give to others who are thinking about or have just opened an Etsy shop?

I don’t like giving advice. One thing I would say is that you need to be honest with yourself and try to enjoy the people. There is more to life than money.

14. Do you have a favorite Etsy artist?

That is too hard to answer. I have many favorites and I wouldn’t want to hurt anyone.There is so much talent and creativity at Etsy.

For stunning aceos, watercolors and collages, visit Six Sisters Etsy shop. Joan’s handmade items are so special! 

Many thanks to Joan aka sixsisters for granting this interview and for sharing her designs and inspiration!

This is the third in my interview series with talented Etsy and other independent artists. Recently I had the privilege of interviewing Nora (Design By Nora ) Her polymer clay and paper creations are stunning. If you are looking for a special gift or a treat for yourself, take a look at Nora’s shop!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hello Everyone! How are you guys? My name is Nora and I live in a suburb of Los Angeles, CA. I just graduated from California State University Northridge with a Bachelor of Arts in Art, with a concentration in Graphic Design.

2. Tell us about your current work and anything else you have in the works.

I just graduated college so I don’t have a job right now so I’m taking this as an opportunity to work on my Etsy shop until I on my trip in late June. After that I am going to start looking for Graphic Design jobs while doing the Etsy thing.

3. What prompted you to open an Etsy shop?

I actually heard of Etsy about a year ago from Craft magazine and I set up shop. But I guess I wasn’t feeling inspired or I wanted to concentrate on school so that I can get out of there as soon as possible, as a result I closed the shop. Now a year later I came back and started again from scratch. I had been making greeting cards before that and had a bunch or jewelry supply so I thought to myself, “Why not?”  

4. How long have you had your Etsy Shop?

I opened up at the end of January of this year.

5. Tell us about your Etsy shop. What is its name and what do you offer there?

The name of my shop is Design by Nora and it can be found at http://www.designbynora.etsy.com/. I named it that because I didn’t want to restrict myself to only one type of item. I mainly offer greeting cards, polymer clay jewelry, some destash, and in the future non polymer clay jewelry i.e. jewelry made with beads.

6. Was there a major influence in your life?

My parents were a great influence, in that they let me major in art. They let me do my art thing for which I am very grateful. But artistic influence really didn’t come to me so I had to go and find it. I went to high school at a private Armenian school so there wasn’t much allowance for artistic freedom. At home I would always draw in my lined notebooks scenes that I would daydream at school, like a comic strip. When I graduated high school, I found a whole other world in college, especially when I started taking drawing classes.

7. What inspires you?

That’s really a hard thing to narrow down in just a few sentences. I think any artist would agree. But when I’m seeking inspiration or I don’t feel the creative flow (which has been rare nowadays) I always go outside and just look around. Other inspirations are other artists: painters, other Etsyians. I love to listen to music and I also get some inspiration from movies, mostly indie.

8. Where do you create?

Mainly in my room in my new ‘craft corner’. I have all my supplies at hand so it’s the most convenient.

9. How did you learn your craft/crafts?

The internet, books, magazines, television. I just collect the basic how-to’s and try to make it my own design or style.

10. I see you have been listing a lot of your polymer clay jewelry in your shop. How did you get interested in polymer clay?

I think I saw it at a craft store and decided to see what it was. I was also interested in doing ceramics and pottery and I though polymer clay is slightly cheaper than taking a ceramics class.

11. What are your favorite materials?

Paper and Polymer Clay.

12. Are there any materials you consider a MUST-HAVE?

Paper and Polymer Clay! They are both so versatile!

13. How do you promote your goods?

I try not to be to pushy with my goods and just have fun because that will keep more interested than making promoting feel like work. I just go with the flow. I peruse the Etsy forums, the EtsyBloggers forums and other peoples blogs. That’s it! And it’s so much fun!

14. What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned since you started selling your own creations?

Patience. I’m a regularly patient person but I taught myself to be even more patient! Also I learned to make this a fun experience because if it’s not than I won’t be doing it for long and I want to do it for a long long time!

15. What advice would you give to others who are thinking about or have just opened an Etsy shop?

Same thing that I’ve learned. Be patient, be very very patient and have fun! Don’t worry, your time will come. Don’t copy other people exactly have a niche that’s uniquely your own. Show you care about your items through the pictures, people can tell!

16. Is there another website or blog you would like to promote? (if so, just give us the name, url and a short description)

I love visitng Blaze Danielle’s blog http://blazedanielle.wordpress.com). She is such an inspiration and a super nice person! She sells her beautiful illustrations on Etsy.

17. Do you have any favorite Etsy artists?

My favorite Etsy Artists are Blazedanielle (Blazedanielle.etsy.com), valentinesattic (valentinesattic.etsy.com), modestambition (modestambition.etsy.com), and FancifulFlair (FancifulFlair.etsy.com) to name just a few!

For stunning jewelry and lovely handmade cards, visit DesignByNora Etsy shop. Nora’s handmade items are so special!

Many thanks to Nora aka DesignByNora for granting this interview and for sharing her designs and inspiration!