Today we Chat with Eve from Eve's Originals.

Eve we would love to know more about you. Where do you come from?
"I was originally born & raised in Germany, but I spent 33 yrs. in the United States and moved to Tasmania 6 years ago. I now live and create in Gordon, Tasmania."

What are your passions and interests?
"Taking walks in the bush and along the coast, gardening and of course creating."

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your art or product
"I have been creating since my early childhood. My family background has many artists and musicians, so I reckon they rubbed off on me early on as they have always supported my creative mind. Most of my inspiration now comes from nature."

How long have you been an Etsy seller?
"I opened my shop in 2009, but needed to close in 2011 to move here to Tassie. However life got a bit busy and I just recently re-opened my Etsy shop again to bring my new creations back to the world at large."

What inspired you to begin creating?
"My family at a very young age. Someone was always creating something. We have glass blowers, miniature train makers, seamstresses and more in my family and so I always got to try something new. I love using my hands and colours."

What do you like about being an Etsy seller?
"That I can bring my creations to the furthest corner of the world no matter where in the world I'm living."

Where do you work on your pieces?
"I have a revamped over-sized 2 car garage that I turned into a workshop/studio, art class area and display area in Gordon where I live. When the sun shines I can also be found on the patio creating, depending on what I am working on."

Thanks so much for chatting with us. Where can you be found?
On Etsy
On Facebook 
On Pinterest 
On Flickr
On Twitter
On Instagram

Today we chat with Denise from StitchedByMe.

Welcome Denise!

Where do you live?
"I come from Hobart but live in Kingston"

How did you come up with the name for your business?
"I wanted something that reflected what I do, and apart from ready to wear garments I also make up garments that the customer can smock themselves (Ready to Smock). The name Stitched by Me therefore reflects my total creative input but if I have made up a dress for someone else to smock, they can proudly say it was Stitched by Me (them!)"

Denise what are your passions and interests?
Gardening and cooking mainly with what little time I have after stitching! I also love travel. My career for the last 47 years has been Nursing, mostly midwifery."
 
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your art 
"I (like most creative people) have been doing what I do from an early age. Always some kind of sewing project and I have tried every thing from cross stitch, patchwork, making leavers dresses etc, but my main passions are Smocking and Heirloom Sewing. I also teach smocking at my home studio. Most people associate smocking with girls dresses (think princess Charlotte!) or baby suits which I do a lot of but I am also trying to introduce some contemporary garments with wider appeal.
I am also a terrible hoarder of fabrics and laces, which I will organise one day!!!"

How long have you been an Etsy seller?
" 2 years now"
 
What inspired you to begin creating?
 "I just love sewing and creating beautiful garments. I did a course at TAFE many years ago which introduced me to Smocking and I was hooked. Friends and family would ask me to make something and it grew from there."
 
Can you give us a brief idea of your creative or curating process?
"If I am working on an order, the customer provides the guidelines which I work within; garment type, colour etc. Sometimes I see a fabric which lends itself to a particular style of garment and the creative juices flow. I used to design garments for Australian Smocking and Embroidery magazine (no longer published) that was always exciting to come up with unique smocking patterns for them to publish."

Where do you want to see your business in the future?
"I am hoping to have more time to increase my listing and to develop other ranges for my Etsy shop. eg a range of Christening wear."

What do you like about being an Etsy seller?
"It is always a thrill  to receive an order, and create a garment specifically for them. I also appreciate the opportunity  to list items without s having the overheads of a physical shop."
 
Where do you work on your pieces?
" I am fortunate to have a large, dedicated studio to hold all my sewing paraphernalia. Also a piece of smocking is very portable and can be taken on holidays, and any place I may have a few minutes spare."

Thank you for talking with us today Denise. Where can we find you? 
"You can find me on Etsy, Facebook, Instagram etc and also local markets.
my Etsy store is   StitchedbyMeTas
Facebook    stitchedbyme
Each year I exhibit at the Tasmanian Craft fair in Deloraine, at the Taste of the Huon, and have been at the Kingston Beach handmade Market."

Today we speak with Emma from LilifloraPretty

Emma tell us, where are you from?
"Originally country Tasmania, and now living in Hobart"

How did you come up with the name of your business?
"Liliflora is the Latin name for one of my favourite species of Magnolia, and Pretty is because I design beautiful, feminine illustrations and repeat patterns which then can be made into or printed on pretty useful objects."

What are your passions and interests?
"I love drawing, painting, papercraft, sewing, jewellery making, embroidery, nature, flowers, shabby chic styling."

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your art or product?
"I'm excited by florals, Art Nouveau, Baroque and romantic cottage chic. I create art in these styles, either by drawing, painting or working digitally, and then have them printed on fabric or paper to turn into lovely objects my customers can use and enjoy everyday."

So how long have you been an Etsy seller?
"I've been on Etsy for 10 years, however there have been gaps between active periods as I developed and refined my style. I am almost where I want to be and I'm looking forward to making my shop more enjoyable for customers in 2018."

What inspired you to begin creating or collecting?
"I've always loved making art and creating lovely things, I've never met an art or craft I didn't like!"

Can you give us a brief idea of your creative or curating process?
"A collection will either start with an image, theme or even a colour palette and grow from there. Seeing the patterns and coordinates coming together then inspires ideas about how to use the fabrics and designs in product development."

Emma where do you want to see your business in the future?
"Growing! I'm working towards having both a thriving hand-made business as well as being able to license my pattern designs to manufacturers."

What is it that you like about being an Etsy seller?
"Being the biggest handmade market in the world means that people who shop on Etsy know to expect high quality from artisans. It helps to maintain a high standard and motivates sellers to produce unique and special items."

Where do you work on your pieces?
"In my extremely cluttered office, on my extremely cluttered kitchen table and occasionally on a nice clear table in a coffee shop with a tall latte!"

Where can you be found?
"I'm on Instagram and Facebook @liliflorapretty. You can also find me in my Spoonflower shop, where customers can purchase my patterns on their fabrics, wallpapers and giftwrap. I can also be found at various markets"

"Today we talk with Sue from HandmadebySue4U

Sue where are you from and where do you live?

"I am New Zealand born but Tasmanian by choice. I live in Primrose Sands"

How did you come up with the name for your business?

"A friend gave me the name suggestion."

What are your passions and interests?

"Husband, family and mates who are family, furry best mate Loui, walking, quiet time, beach fossicking, cooking for people who love to eat, wine, chocolate. Giving back to the community without recognition - I like to fly under the radar."

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your art or product

"I LOVE re-purposing old items into new things - think denim jeans into bags / quilts, old curtains into bags / blankets, tea towels into aprons, beautiful doilies added to fabric to make bags / aprons or in the shed rusty things added to old fence pailings to make bird feeders / bird houses, pebbles / wood / leaves to make pebble art and more recently moving into wooden bird/dog creation."

How long have you been an Etsy seller?

"Since April 2016 but then I had about 8 months on holiday mode"

What inspired you to begin creating?

"Friends for whom I made gifts started asking me to make things for their friends and encouraged me to start doing markets, then selling online, then entering into an associateship in a bricks and mortar building."

Can you give us a brief idea of your creative or curating process

"I look at the fabric / wood / metal and start. It's that simple for me. When things go wrong (my unpicker is my best tool) I sometimes walk away and come back, or it goes into the 'later' pile and could end up as something else."

Where do you want to see your business in the future?

"As a successful online business with an opportunity to be part of the community in a bricks and mortar environment. Still creating!"

What do you like about being an Etsy seller?

"Freedom to put the shop on holiday mode when life gets hectic."

Where do you work on your pieces?

"In my home - a small space in the dining room - and in my husband's shed. I like to say that I use tools of mass construction...and have the mess to prove it!

Inside is the sewing space. I am a vintage girl and use two treadles and a 1950 singer plus my new overlocker.

In the shed I have newer tools but really old wood and 'stuff'. Hubby calls it junk, but to me it is treasure. I will take product pics as I make them this week. "

Today we chat with Zefi from Junk4Joy.

Zefi can you tell us a bit about yourself?

"I live in Magra, Tasmania, on a property which I share with my partner and our dogs, horses, chickens, ducks and geese. Our home is a real country home with an overgrown garden, many sheds and a lot of rusty old stuff because rust is our favourite colour.
 
I’ve always loved recycling and repurposing and for many years I’ve restored broken pieces of furniture and made useful objects out of things I’ve found at tip shops, on the side of the road or dug up in the paddock. I love to make things for our home, then get bored and make something else, so things are always changing around here.
 
My partner loves my creative streak but isn’t so thrilled with my constant home renovations/improvements... Every time he goes away for a few days I knock down a wall or pull up carpet. Its gotten so he’s afraid to leave!
 
I have what I call The “I Can Do That” Syndrome... (and probably ADHD). What that means is that I want to do/make/try everything. That’s all very well, until you realise there’s not enough time in one lifetime to do it all. As a result my office (craft room?) often overflows into the rest of the house and my partner says it looks like an op shop exploded in here.
 
I say it looks like the inside of my head!
 

I have a dedicated room in the house where I work on my dolls and sewing projects which is a plus as I can just shut the door and pretend its tidy in there. I have boxes of dolls and accessories, enough fabric to cause serious concern, a floor you can barely see, a vintage sewing machine and a huge collection of STUFF WHICH IS USEFUL.
 

Can you tell us about your process?

"I always work with used/second hand dolls which I find online or at tip or op shops.
 
The first thing I do when I get a new doll is to give it a good wash, especially the hair. Most of the time, by the time I get a doll, the hair is a frizzed matted mess. As you can see in the photo, this Barbie doll was no exception.

I covered the hair with glad wrap to protect it and then painted the new face on using a combination of pastels, watercolour pencils and acrylic paint, working slowly and building it up to get the right look. Once her face was finished, I sealed it and covered it for protection and began on her tattoos.
 

Today we speak to Rebekah from RebekahFrancisArt on Etsy.

Rebekah it's lovely to catch up with you today.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself ... Where are you from and where do you live now?

"I'm originally from Sydney, but moved to Tasmania aged 5. I currently live in greater Hobart ."

How did you come up with the name for your business?

"It's my name."

Tell us about your passions and interests

"Making art, studying, travel, friends and family connections, the world · "

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your art or product

"I'm a returning artist - always thought this is what I would do but got diverted. I have a career in social work, but art every day. I do printmaking and illustration. The illustrations happened because it was difficult to access the press during late pregnancy and then with very young babies. I select the best for giclee prints. "

How long have you been an Etsy seller?

"About 2 years · "

What inspired you to begin creating?

"I grew up with it, but had a long hiatus. So my answer is really what made me begin creating again. It was reading the book "real artist" by George Callahan. The book is a satire but it made me think that artists can operate outside the traditional box and maybe it is possible even after my different choice. · "

Give us a brief idea of your creative or curating process

"My printmaking approach is different so I will talk about my illustrations. I usually designate a month and select a topic, then create a piece of art daily within this time frame and theme. I upload it on social media to keep myself honest. After that I select the best pieces for giclee print runs. I sell the originals because otherwise I would be overrun with art · "


Where do you want to see your business in the future?

"I think I would like to do more wholesale and also get into stationary more fully - so design invitations etc. Ultimately I would love to do book illustration · "

What do you like about being an Etsy seller?

"It's a known platform, I love looking through other people's shops and it's interesting how you can form communities."

Where do you work on your pieces?

"Usually in my studio. It's a small cluttered room with a desk and lots of materials littered around in zones according to usage. "

Where can we find you?
Etsy
Website
Facebook
Instagram

Today we speak with Jane from Acreativelifestyle who is one of our vendors at the Etsy Made Local Hobart Market on 25th & 26th November, at the Hobart Showgrounds.

Jane how did you come up with the name for your business?
I tried to find a name that reflects what I am trying to do and how I live my life.

What are your passions and interests?
All things vintage, all things old and making the discarded beautiful and useful again.

How long have you been an Etsy seller?
I have been an Etsy seller since 2010

What inspired you to begin collecting?
I have always been interested in restoring and saving the vintage items and making them beautiful again.

What do you like about being an Etsy seller?
I love the large community and love finding like minded people that live on the other side of the world.

Where do you work on your pieces?
At my house

Jane can be found on
https://www.facebook.com/jane.gott.9
https://www.instagram.com/acreativelifestyle

You can meet Jane and buy some of her vintage treasures at the Etsy Made Local Hobart Market on 25th& 26th November, 10am-4pm, Grandstand Pavilion, Hobart Showgrounds. You can shop from Acreativelifestyle on Etsy every day of the year.

If you want a successful stall you need to start preparation as soon as you have been accepted for the event.

1. STOCK UP. Start building your inventory. Make as much as you think you will likely sell and then double it. There's nothing worse than running out of stock before the event has finished. Buyers want to see a well planned but full table.
2. VARIETY. Have a selection of colours and sizes. Have a range of price points to suit all budgets.
3. HAVE A THEME. Make sure that your stall makes sense. A jumble of unrelated articles won't be as interesting to buyers as articles that make sense together. Items that make sense together offer scope for up-selling. If you sell scarves, selling hats or gloves that match will offer more opportunities for a sale. Selling cute children's clothes? Match them with matching hair bows or bow ties.
4. TAGS TAGS TAGS! Make sure everything has a price on it. You will sell more if the customer doesn't have to ask what the price is. Make sure that all items either have a tag with your details on it or you include your contact details in the packaging. Customers will be able to contact you later for more or they may be giving it as a gift and the recipient will know how to find you.
5. BUSINESS CARDS. These are a must. Have them available for customers to take, hand them out and make sure that every purchase has one included. That way people can find you later when they need to buy more, or they might give it to someone who will buy from you later.
6. BANNER. Make sure your customer can see who you are from a distance. They may be looking for you as they saw something they wanted in the promotions leading up to the event. Or they may take note of who you are and search for you later. make it easy for them to find you!
7. ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS. Give customers payment options. Have plenty of cash on hand but it's also a good idea to be able to accept credit cards as well. You will sell more! If you accept credit cards make sure you let them know. Create a sign so they can see at a distance.
8. CUSTOM ORDERS. If you enjoy custom orders have a sign saying you welcome custom orders. Have examples or a look book available.
   
9. SOMETHING FOR FREE. You can draw customers in with something free. Samples if appropriate or offer a chance to win something for signing up to your newsletter or promoting you on social media. Have a raffle or giveaway.
   
10. MAILING LIST. Have a sign up sheet for your mailing list
    
11. PRACTICE . Plan your set up ahead of time and practice setting it up. That way you will have a faster set up on the day and will know that you have everything.
    
12. AWESOME DISPLAY. Think about how you can add height to your display so that customers can see things from a distance. Have things to catch their eye and draw them in.
    
13. DON'T SIT. Get up and interact with the customers. Smile and be welcoming. Enjoy yourself!
    

Look at the great set up above from Hello Harriet using all the tips we have discussed.

On Saturday 25th November an artisan market known as Etsy Made Local will be coming to Hobart, Tasmania for the very first time. Just in time for Christmas gift giving.

There will be space for 52 local handmade and vintage businesses to sell their products. Applications for vendors will be opening soon.

To be eligible to apply you must have an active shop on Etsy.com

We will also have food vendors that have been carefully selected to provide the highest quality, yummy food. If you are a food vendor with all the necessary permits please contact us to see if you qualify for a place at our market.

Make sure you save the date to come along either as a vendor or a customer. You won't want to miss out!