Interview with Etsy Artisan Jenoc13

One of the things I love most about the Etsy community is getting to know artisans from all around the world. I have recently joined the Etsy Twitter Team, and have met a whole new set of inspired and inspiring craftspeople. I got the chance to chat with Jen from Jenco13 about her shop and love of her craft and all things crocheted:

What inspires you to make your items/craft?

My mom and colors. My mom is a painter and has always brought crafts into my life.

Do you have a special place in your home that you work in??

My craft is movable so I normally work in front of the TV or outside on our porch. When putting my blankets together I use my kitchen table (card table). If I'm going away its one of the first things I pack.

What else do you do besides the crafts??

I teach during the school year. during the summers I love to watch baseball with my husband and spend time with my family.


If you could go any place in the world where would you go??

Rome!! I have always wanted to travel there for a honeymoon. when I got married my husband could only get 24 hours leave from the military so I never got a honeymoon. He then deployed overseas in our first year of marriage. Hopefully I will get a teaching job this year and go next summer!!


What is your favorite item to make in your shop? and why??

I love to everything. I couldn't pick one item!! The scarves are fun to make along with the cup cozies (the flowers are tricky and I love to be challenged!!)


Well, I love her cozies, too - what a fabulous way to make your morning coffee green! And cute, to boot! In addition to her crocheted creations, she also custom paints beautiful wedding champagne flutes. Check Jenoc13 out on Etsy, Twitter, and her blog

The Whole is Greater than the Sum of Its Parts

Some people live disjointed lives, little bits here, little bits there, nothing really bringing everything together.


Not Kathryn Short. A photographer and all-around artist, she attended the Maryland Institute College of Art as a photography major. Kathryn now teaches art and photography at the high school level (bless her heart!), but also enjoys bookmaking and knitting.





So now Kathryn loves to knit and crochet, take photographs while walking outdoors, craft small books for collecting thoughts, and anything else that keeps her hands busy. And she has pulled it all together in a single Etsy shop, Purple Snowpeas. You can follow along with her on her hikes, as she captures hauntingly beautiful images, keep your head and hands warm on your own hikes, and journal along the way.







How balanced is that?

Learn more about Purple Snowpeas on her blog, too.

Where "Nerd" is not a Four Letter Word

uhhhhhh, that would be the ultra-fun "Liz Staley's Realm of Nerdiness"! An Etsy shop that revolves around the themes of gaming and the nerd lifestyle rather than a single craft, Liz Staley from North Carolina provides creations that bring art and nerdiness into one convenient location.


Her imagination takes a variety of materials and upcycles them into items to adorn or use and proclaim in which realm of reality you operate. From keyboard keys and computer circuit boards, to recycled plush toys, her visions open up a whole new perspective on the concept of nerdiness. I for one had no idea that the Tribbles have come to Earth as KAFMAs, did you?


A crochet queen, her delicate fishnet gloves bring a bit of drama to any outfit.










And her pin collections? Some of the wittiest ever - I love these Pirates of the Caribbean quotes!


A self-proclaimed gaming goddess, she claims to bite only when her role-playing dice are stolen - so drop on by Liz Staley's Realm of Nerdiness, either her shop or her blog, and get your own nerd on!

Here Kitty Kitty Kitty

One of the best things about this 90/90 blog challenge (90 blogs in 90 days!!) is the opportunity to meet a lot of Etsy artists previously unknown to me. Some are new to Etsy, some are just new to me, but they've all been fun to investigate and find the things I like best about them. One shop that's new to me is Lazy Cat Gifts, and one would think I would have come across them sooner given their name and their fabulous work, but no, they were lost in the crowd for me. No more.

Named in honor of their kitty friends (although I know a few people who would claim the name of their shop is highly redundant - what cat isn't lazy?!! - lol!), their pictures appear above, snagged from their very clever blog. Nemo is little and orange, Mittens is a polydactyl tuxedo, Zorro is the princess who likes to sleep on yarn, and Emma is Mittens' sister who loves to snuggle. (Zorro and Emma look like my Stella!) Lazy Cat Gifts was created by three friends in Ann Arbor, MI. Two of them were in medical school at the University of Michigan and the third worked in a laboratory there (yea laboratorians!!). They were all inspired by their grandmothers who crocheted, and have applied that inspiration to both jewelry and accessories for their shop.



They began their enterprise at local craft shows, and then began on Etsy in January 2007. They have really enjoyed the community on Etsy, as I have, and it has the added bonus for them in allowing them to continue in their business even though one of the partners moved to Philadelphia.





They enjoy using the skills from their grandmothers to create wonderfully hip and modern pieces. They crochet in both yarn and wire, creating artisan bead crochet jewelry, scarves, hats, etc., and are constantly looking for ways to expand crochet.

As I mentioned above that they have a blog, I want to point out their very clever "match-up" features. What a helpful thing to provide for shoppers! Click on the image below to get to the post where they show how to complete a look starting with this fabulous crocheted necklace. Maybe they should consider a personal shopping career - they sure can pull a look together!

So take a trip over to Lazy Cat Gifts, check out their blog for great features on other Etsy artists as well as their fun match ups, and get shopping!

Oooooh, sparkles.......

I don't know why sparkly things are so attractive to many of us, well, many of us of the female persuasion, but there it is. That little bit of light that catches our eye, and when we spy the object that cast the spark, we pick it up, we smile, and then we say, "Ooooh, sparkles."

I think fellow Texan SparklyStrandz knows exactly what I'm talking about. In fact, here's what she says in her own words:

"I've had a love for crafts, especially crochet for over 25 years ever since my grandmother taught me at age 5. It was probably the best thing she could have done for my parents because it would keep me busy for hours. During college, i developed a love for beads--not just because they're sparkly, but because beads have such a rich history to them from around the world, and can be made from almost anything imaginable. Also, as an occupational therapist, I am able to use a variety of crafts and activities in my therapy to make it more fun!

I combined my love for crochet and beads and began making jewelry, baby onesies, hats, and all sorts of gift items about 10 years ago. "Sparkly Strandz" is an online store that you can visit and create your own jewelry by choosing the right color bead, wire, and length you want for that perfect piece!!"

But not only does she understand sparkly, she definitely has a handle on cute! What Texas baby should not have these? So much the better to start learning the two-step as soon as they're walking, don't you think?









And despite recent performances which will not be mentioned here, nor will comments be allowed that disparage my alma mater in any way.....Hook 'em!

Do check out all the fun and sparkly things at SparklyStrandz and find out about her views on the world at her blog. I know you'll be glad you did.