Getting to know you

This is from an interview by a wonderful Etsy blogger AnEclecticSpirit. I will hunt down the blog link sooner or later!

1.Can you start by giving us a run down of what you offer in your Etsy shop?

Prdy Little Things is all about just having a good time (and looking good while doing it!). It's a repository for all of the creations that I dream up from jewelry in earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and rings to accessories in cell phone charms, zipper pulls, and bobby pins (my personal favorite) to even the occasional paper craft. I decided early on that I wouldn't limit the shop to one certain kind of item but would stick instead to a certain theme...pretty!

2. In your shop you work with many different beads and materials. What is your favorite to work with, and why?

In even just the last few months working with this shop I've discovered so many awesome new materials to experiment with. Some of them I very much love and some of them drive me just a little bit mad. I have always been attracted to an old world, antique sort of feel and to me nothing suggests a rich, evocative history more than a beautiful matte finish, antique brass. I may have gone just a little bit brass crazy!

3.What are your hopes/dreams/aspirations with your Etsy shop?

I think every artist has dreams of achieving rock star status on Etsy. There are some shops that it seems like everyone knows. But that has never been the plan or the ultimate goal. Etsy is wonderful way for me share my creations, explore new ideas, and be a part of a community of brilliant creators. The only hope I have for Prdy Little Things is that it continues to expand and that I continue to grow as an artist.

4. Can you tell us a bit about your life apart from Etsy and Jewelry?

Life, oh life! Life for me is a busy, crazy, wonderful thing. At 24 I am smack in the middle of running a home with two very lively little boys, Skylar and Phoenix, who take every opportunity to get into mischief as well as my chronically messy, but darling, husband. One and three years old means my boys absolutely the center of the universe here at home. It also means that I'm outnumbered three to one! Even though some days are a struggle to fit in all the things that "need" to be done I can't ever imagine being too busy to put aside the dishes or skip that gym time to build a blanket fort or spend the afternoon doing some serious finger painting. Life is meant to be enjoyed and we are all about that!

5. Have you ever had an experience on Etsy, good or bad, that sticks out to you? Would you share it with us?

Etsy is a very interesting place. Where else can you buy, sell, chat, trade, learn, and create the world's longest Christmas list for yourself all from the comfort of your own home? Yes, there have been times when people have not been as pleased as I would hope about my products. There have been times when I was not as pleased as I would like to be about something I have bought. There have been times when I was so under whelmed by a person's attitude and behavior that I had to get up and walk away. But I also realize and acknowledge that though we are sellers and should be as professional as possible, we are also just people. I can only do my very best to please a buyer. Another seller can only do their very best to please me as a customer. And everyone has days when they're just feeling off. As a whole Etsy has been a wonderful experience for me. I would recommend it without hesitation to anyone as a great place both to buy and to sell. And I plan on sticking around for a long time to come!

6. Oh my gosh! A group of us from Etsy are coming down to your town and want to see the very best sites! Where do you take us? Is there a place only the locals know about?

Down home Kentucky IS a place that only the locals know about! Southern hospitality, country cooking, and great opportunities for shopping, exploring historical sites, AND some of the best lake areas to spend the day lounging make for a great way to spend some free time. Etsy road trip! Goodness, I sound a little like a Kentucky tourism commercial.

All I can say is that, "Yes!", we would do some heavy exploring around Land Between the Lakes, some serious antiquing in historic downtown, and some good old fashion catnapping in the sun (margaritas optional).

7. What do you see yourself doing in the future with regards to your jewelry? Do you hope to still be an Etsian, or do you see something lesser/greater?

I certainly hope to still be a part of the Etsy community in the future! Prdy Little Things is a shop that was set up and is operated solely on a love of creating. I do this because I love it with no great expectations or requirements. So long as I love digging through beads I will keep at it! I would like to broaden my horizons, certainly. I think craft shows and possibly consignment are in Prdy's near future but I'll definitely be an Etsy fixture for a good long while!

8. You speak a lot about exploring new ideas with regards to your crafting. Can you tell us a bit about the paths you hope to traverse next?

Oh! Oh! Fun ideas abound! There is always a notebook being scribbled in and supply pages being scoured. The next project that is being perfected is an exploration into upcycling! Keep an eye on Prdy Little Things and you might see some great recycled vinyl jewelry popping up soon! Abused, scratched, and unloved records get a second chance as bangles, earrings, pendants and more! I am so excited about this project, but I don't want to say too much and ruin the surprise!

9. Have you had any training or are you completely self taught?

I am one of those people who learns best by doing, I think. My mother is an amazing artist. She paints, she weaves, she builds, she decorates cakes; a one woman creative machine she is! And she was never stingy with the supplies she'd hand over to her kids. I watched and I learned then I experimented and found out just what things would work for me. Free learning isn't a very impressive technical qualification but there is so much to be said for the creative process that I find it absolutely as acceptable as any sort of training!

10. Do you have any advice for other Etsy artists either starting out or trying to make their way in the internet world?

My personal motto just happens to be, "You cannot defeat me!" And I try very hard to stay true to that. Etsy and the internet world are tough places to compete! There is so much going and so much that makes it a far less personal experience than buying from an artist directly at a show or in a shop. It's daunting to first realize that to have a chance at a successful online shop you need not only to be a good crafter, but also a photographer, an advertiser, and a spokesperson for you product. But I truly believe that if you love what you're doing, if you have a passion for creating then there is no end to the improvements that you can make to the way you market yourself. Practice, experiment, and see what it is that works for you! Take the advice of others with a grain of salt. And most of all...Don't. Give. Up!