Today I interviewed Heather of "A Scrappy Design." Her shop drew me in by the great photographs and the bold colors that she uses to create her pieces. Read the interview below!

Kittycrossbones: Tell us a bit about yourself:
My name is Heather and I love being crafty, especially if it involves paper. I have a dog and a wonderful husband who is also artsy (he's a painter). I work full-time as a project coordinator for a financial company but hope to one day be able to stay home and create paper goodies full time.



Kittycrossbones: Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I love to spend time with my family & friends, watch reality shows and college football.

Kittycrossbones: What first made you want to become an artist?
I have always been crafty. I remember as a little girl, making stuff with my sister and my Mom finding craft malls for us to sell our creations. I got into paper crafting years later when my best friend introduced me to scrapbooking. I was instantly hooked. I have been paper crafting and scrapbooking ever since.

Kittycrossbones: What advice would you give to artists who are new to selling their handmade products?
Be patient and do lots of marketing. I think the crafting part is pretty easy, it's the marketing that's the tough part. Don't be afraid to get yourself out there.

Kittycrossbones: How do you promote your work?
I promote my work in many ways. I have a blog, http://myblog.ascrappydesign.com/, I post pictures of my work on flickr & myspace and am a member of many web/blog rings. I am also a member of OKEtsy, Etsy Greetings, Etsy Scrap, and Etsy Paper. I also have my cards in a local boutique. Ultimately, word of mouth has been my best advertisement.

Kittycrossbones: Anything else you would like to add?
Thank you so much for choosing me as one of your featured sellers! Anyone who mentions your blog in the Notes to seller will get 10% off their purchase.

Enjoy!
-AmyLynn
Kittycrossbones

Etsy Interview: AardvArt

Here is my interview with AardvArt, who makes real four leaf clover jewelry, fused glass accessories and creations in resin.

Kittycrossbones: Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Lynda and I am a fuser of glass, mixer of resin and married to an incredible four leaf clover hunter. My educational background is in the science field so the safety precautions needed prior to melting glass at 1475 degrees or mixing resin and surviving the fumes are right up my alley.


Kittycrossbones: Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I have a masters degree in speech language pathology and worked in the field for 13 years. I am now working part time as an office manager and part time as a creator of things that make my heart sing. I have two children, three dogs and a wonderful husband.

Kittycrossbones: What first made you want to become an artist?
When the time came to apply to college, I wanted to learn how to be a glass blower. I ended up a physics major. Not peer pressure, but parent pressure. In the end, although I loved what I majored in, creating has always been a part of my life. As I raise my children, I found that I am able to feed the creative part of my self after so many years.



Kittycrossbones: What advice would you give to artists who are new to selling their handmade products?
Put your heart and soul into what you sell. Stand behind your product. Create what makes your heart sing and the buyer will feel it in the end.

Kittycrossbones: How do you promote your work?
Word of mouth, my blog http://www.aardvart.blogspot.com/ as well as other online presences. I love to create. I do not like to list things. I do not really like the marketing part much at all! If you are in my area, feel free to stop by my house and take a look through the pile of things waiting to get into my Etsy shop.

Kittycrossbones: Anything else you would like to add?
Thank you so much for the interview! If anyone is interested in making a purchase from my shop, mention kittycrossbones in the notes to seller and get 20% off your order.

What are you waiting for, go visit AardvArt today!

-AmyLynn

Kittycrossbones