Who's New Monday: Bright At Home

Time to introduce another new member of the WEST team! Please welcome Dierdre!

Photos by Heartstrings Photography in Winnipeg

Where are you from?
I was born in Brandon, lived in Western Manitoba most of my life, and in Winnipeg for the past 8 years.

What is your Etsy shop name?
Bright at Home

When did you start your Etsy shop?
I started out about 7 months ago, in June of 2013

Why did you decide to start a shop on Etsy?
I have loved Etsy for years, but never thought I was talented enough to sell on Etsy.  But I love to make things and try new little projects all the time.  My sister has had an Etsy shop (theWRAPstar) for the past 2 years, and she encouraged me to open my shop.  Even though I still don't think I'm very talented, I have enjoyed setting up my shop, and other people apparently think I'm talented enough for Etsy.  My shop has done better than I expected, which has encouraged me to keep working on it.

What do you sell?
Anything for your home, but with some added brightness.  Right now I mostly sell cushion covers, light switch covers, and kitchen utensils.  But I'm sure I'll be coming up with more 'bright' ideas soon (haha...).

What is your favorite item to make?
hmmm...I think it depends on the day.  Today, I would most like to sew a cushion cover.

What are your long-term Etsy goals?
1 - Have consistent sales.  I don't want anymore of those weeks with no sales.
2 - Make my shop more consistent and fun.  I want people to recognize my shop as soon as they see a photo in a search page.

Make sure you follow along all things Bright at Home by checking out their Facebook page!

Who's New Monday: Oui Bijoux

Another Monday has rolled around again, let's get to know a bit more about Angela Wells!

Where are you from?
Winnipeg, Manitoba...and a 5 year stint in Montreal early 2000 (while I earned my fashion degree)

What is your Etsy shop name?
OuiBijoux

When did you start your Etsy shop?
January 2014, after being fortunate enough to escape the winter and chase the sun to Mexico. Which is actually what fueled this line; I was very inspired here.

Why did you decided to start a shop on Etsy?
I have worked in the arts for years, from fashion renderings for a women's knitwear company to costuming for film/theater/tv. While in Puerto Vallarta (just this month), I was so inspired by the galleries, tapestries and handcrafted jewelry. It might have been the surge of vitamin D as well, I don't know, but the second I got home I started.

What do you sell?
Jewelry, crafted from semi-precious stones and silver.

What is your favorite item to make?
Anything using Terra Rosa Jasper, I am in love with the swirls and crackles of the colors in that stone.  I prefer to use the matte stone versus the polished.

What are your long-term Etsy goals?
Well you could say the sky is the limit, but for now, to sell enough to buy a little villa in Puerto Vallarta...so that I can live in the center of my inspriation.  xo

Make sure to follow Oui Bijoux on Facebook!

Who's New Monday: DigiPlus Etsy Exclusives

Happy Monday everyone!! Today let's welcome another new WEST member, Nicholas Danzinger

Where are you from?
Winnipeg, Manitoba

What is your Etsy shop name?

DigiPlus Etsy Exclusives

When did you start your Etsy shop?

Right at the beginning of January this year!

Why did you decide to start a shop on Etsy?

In my primary business I make custom phone cases for businesses and other organizations, but I've always enjoyed coming up with creative designs for myself and my friends.  After making a meme-inspired phone case for my friend, he remarked that a lot of other people might be interested in getting the same design.  We posted a photo of the case to twitter and got a fantastic response, so at that point it was a no-brainer.

What do you sell?

I sell custom phone cases for iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and a few other models.  I use a laser engraver to etch designs into colored aluminum, wood, and leather.  My designs are usually based on memes, pop culture or anything else I think is cool.

I recently started doing custom business card holders in my primary business (digiplus.ca) but I think I will be sticking with phone cases for my Etsy shop.

What is your favorite item to make?

Probably the bamboo/wooden phone cases.  They are always eye-catching and provide a nice change from the usual plastic cases you will find everywhere else.

What are your long-term Etsy goals?

I hope to add at least one new product a month and get some good reviews on my items.  Every design in my Etsy store is something I made for myself or for a friend, so it's fun seeing what the rest of the world thinks.  It's been a blast so far :)

Make sure to follow along with DigiPlus Etsy Exclusives on their Twitter account and Facebook!

Who's New Monday: Drakestail Jewellery

So hard to believe we're almost at the end of January already!!! Today we're sharing some more new members, Roxanne Lebeau and Robyn Pacey.

Where are you from?
Roxanne is from Ottawa originally, Robyn from Vancouver.

What is your Etsy shop name?
Drakestail Jewellery

When did you start your Etsy shop?
January, 2009

Why did you decide to start a shop on Etsy?
We wanted to broaden our market.

What do you sell?
We sell unique handmade jewelry and also have a line of hair accessories as well as a line of vintage inspired swarovski pearl jewelry.

What is your favorite item to make?
I love making earrings most of all, specifically working with pearls.

What are your long-term Etsy goals? 
We are hoping to have our jewelry in 5 retail stores by June 2014.  We are currently in two.  We would also like to increase our fan base online and collaborate with other Etsy store owners.

Make sure you follow Drakestail on:
Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Official Website

Who's New Monday: Silver Moose Arts

Happy Monday everyone!! Let's welcome a new face to the WEST team, Amanda

Where are you from? 
I was born and raised, and still live in the small town of Landmark, MB.

What is your Etsy shop name?
My shop name is Silver Moose Arts.  

It was named after my addiction to sterling silver and my pup Moose.  We named him after my favourite animal--you guessed it--a moose!

When did you start your Etsy shop?
My shop opened on October 2nd of 2013.

What do you sell?
I sell jewelry made and designed by me!  I have a fondness for timeless things, so I try and use quality material that will last.

What is your favourite item to make?
My favourite items to make are the necklaces; They are my weakness.

What are your long-term Etsy goals? 
My goal for Silver Moose Arts is to have it sustain my jewelry making habits in the beginning, and then eventually give me the ability to "Quit My Day Job."

Make sure to follow along with Silver Moose Arts on their Facebook page

Who's New Monday: StereOtypes

It's our first Who's New of 2014! Let's welcome Roselle (Rosie) Turenne to the team!

Where are you from? 
Saint Boniface

What is your shop name?
StereOtypes

When did you start your Etsy shop?
My Etsy shop has been open since October 2013--I'm still a newbie!

Why did you decide to start an Etsy shop?
I started selling at the local Makers Market, the Wolseley Farmer's market and the odd craft sale. I quickly became jealous of all the wonderful work and excellent sales that WEST was doing. I also got a big push (ok, a shove) from fellow WEST members, notably Kat from Aelios Designs who spoke very highly of their Etsy experience. I figured I had nothing to lose, but much to gain! I enjoy the sense of 'family' that exists between Winnipeg's artisans and am pleased to be part of such an awesome team.

What do you sell?
I craft stereos by upcycling speakers and vintage luggage with new electronics, transforming these into unique pieces of functional art. I've been also known to transform vintage lunch boxes, shoeshine boxes and various other fun finds like old Coleman coolers into one-of-a-kind stereo systems. Each piece is able to play anything that is equipped with an earphone jack, be it your iPod or your 80's Walkman!

What is your favorite item to make?
I can't say that I have a single favorite item. But I do have a penchant for transforming the small Train Cases; I love the stories that they could tell! My favourite part of the process is deciphering the history of a vintage suitcase by clues left behind...be it a customs sticker from a trip to Bermuda or an old newspaper lining the case, and of course naming every single one of my stereOtypes after a song or a performer.

What are your long-term Etsy goals?
I sold my first stereOtype a year ago today. I had set a lofty goal of selling an average of one per week. I have now sold 60! It's hard to know what the future holds...I feel blessed and grateful to have found a pastime that I love and that makes both myself and my customers very happy! What more could I ask for except maybe selling an average of 2 per week?!

I will also be spending the month of July as 'Artiste en residence' in the Loire Valley. I will have the privilege of living on a vineyard and creating stereOtypes for the wonderful owners of La Grande Maison d'Arthenay - Vive la France! Perhaps Etsy has a place in the European market?! 

Make sure to follow all things stereOtypes here:
Etsy
Official Website
Facebook

Who's New Monday: Netties Expressions

We'd like to introduce you to another new member to the WEST team: meet Jenette Wiebe!

Where are you from?
Roblin, MB

What is your Etsy shop name?
Netties Expressions

When did you start your Etsy shop?
January 2010

Why did you decide to start a shop on Etsy?
I heart that Etsy was a good place to sell your handmade products and decided to give it a try. I had been selling products at our local craft show and local custom orders and thought it would be fun to try selling my stuff online. I was nervous about it and my biggest mistake was not doing anything to advertise my wares.

What do you sell?
I sell a variety of products: greeting cards, journals, tote bags, frames, art prints, pallet wall hangings, wood wall hangings and calendars.

What is your favorite item to make?
Right now my favorite items to make are wood wall hangings/signs

What are your long-term Etsy goals?
My Etsy shop will always be a sideline hobby so I really need to cut back on the different types of crafts I make and just do a few instead. I just don't know for sure which to cut out. I'm working on keeping more up to date with my products and listing new items more often.

Make sure you follow along with all Nettie's Expressions here:
Blog, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter

Who's New Monday: Mommy MC Sheppard

Hello! I hope you all had a great weekend! Let's say hello to another new member to the WEST team, Michelle Sheppard.

Where a you from?
I'm from Narol which is about 15 minutes outside of Winnipeg and 15 minute outside of Lockport. I lived in Winnipeg for a year in 2001-2012 and am really missing it there.

What is your Etsy shop name?
My shop name is Mommy MC Sheppard.

Although I love the name, because I am of course Mommy Michelle C Sheppard, I have had some thoughts of changing it to something more descriptive of my shop. I have no plans of changing it any time soon though, because I do find that it shows I'm confident enough in my items to put my actual name on them!

When did you start your Etsy shop?
I started my Etsy shop in January 2012

Why did you decide to start a shop on Etsy?
At first I didn't sell the items I do now. I only had 2 items at the time that I had made for myself but was not going to use and really needed to sell. Soon after Etsy sucked me with its beauty! I became obsessed with making accessories for my daughter and later for my son. After a while it became so much that I had to either stop or find people to making things for! I of course chose the second option!

What do you sell?
I now sell different styles and sizes of bows made out of ribbon (and very soon felt and fabric bows which can be hair clips or headbands); tutus, headbands made with tulle and sateen ribbon, (flowers soon made with ribbon and felt), bow ties made with ribbon (and soon fabric) and hopefully soon I'll be branching out into handmade and hand painted leggings and hand painted shirts!

What is your favorite item to make?
Currently my favorite item to make is the tutu. Once I start planning them out and putting together I can barely make myself stop.

What are your long-term Etsy goals?
I'd love to be able to become a well known Etsy shop through not only my online shop but through networking and social media as well. I want to be able to do well enough from my sales that I can put enough money back into my business to be able to buy more supplies and still have enough money left over to help my husband support our family. I want to participate in as many craft sales as I can so customers can really see the quality of my items! I want to be able to post items to my Etsy shop and have them actually sell rather than just sitting in my shop getting very minimal views. I want to be able to make custom orders and make people's dreams of what they want a reality!

Follow Mommy MC Sheppard here:
Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Who's New Monday: Time Crafted Jewellery

Happy Monday everyone!  Say hello to a new WEST member, Zachary Dueck.

Where are you from?
I am from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and except for three years in Toronto, I have lived here for my whole life.

What is your Etsy shop name?
Time Crafted Jewellery

When did you start your Etsy shop?
I started my shop in early October this year.

Why did you decide to start a shop on Etsy?
I started making jewellery out of old time pieces about a year ago, and up until recently had been very content with craft sales and farmers markets. A few months ago some close friends suggested I sell online. Etsy seemed like the best option for the kind of jewellery I sell, and ever since has been one of my favourite methods of getting my jewellery to a larger audience.

What do you sell?
I sell necklaces and earrings made out of vintage pocket watch mechanisms or old wrist watches. Soon I will be making bracelets as well. The jewellery I make is much more unique in nature than much of the jewellery out there; each piece is made individually and there is nothing exactly like it.

What is your favourite item to make?
My favourite items to make are the necklaces made out of the pocket watches. The process of taking them apart, reassembling parts and forming them into necklaces is one of my favourite things to do in my work. Pocket watches have a lot more character than modern watches and so crafting them into jewellery where that character can be seen is wonderful to do.

Make sure to follow along with Time Crafted Jewellery on their Facebook page

Who's New Monday: Five Sand Summit

Happy Monday everyone!! We hope your weekend was awesome! Today we want to introduce to you Serina Pottinger!

Where are you from?
I'm from Winnipeg.

What is your Etsy Shop Name?
Five Sand Summit

Why did you decide to open an Etsy shop?
At the beginning of this year I set a goal to create something every day and as a result I have a lot of creations to share. This year has been wonderfully wild creating with no goal or purpose.

When did you open your shop?
I opened an Etsy shop on the 1st of November.

What is your favorite thing to make?
I love functional and wearable art, I am inspired by raw materials I can mold into whatever I can imagine. Not all of my prototypes will make it into my Etsy shop though!

What are your long-term goals?
My indulgent creating of this year has been fertile ground for inspiration and mastering new materials. Next year's goal for Etsy and my work is to showcase and share with the world!

If you want to follow along with Five Sand Summit, you can do so on Twitter and Facebook

Who's New Monday: Mosaic Pendants Plus

It's Monday, so let's meet another new WEST member, Yolanda Hogeveen and Roberta Debiuk!

Where are you from?
We have both lived in Winnipeg most of our lives.

What is your Etsy shop name?
Mosaic Pendants Plus

What made you decide to start an Etsy shop?
Largely because we have run out of family and friends to give our pendants to, but still had lots of ideas for designs.

What do you sell?
We have created a variety of shapes and sizes of pendants, and more recently have created brooches. We plan to start creating earrings soon.

What is your favorite item to make?
I have been 'fooling' around with mosaics for years, starting with frames and mirrors. I recently discovered that I really liked the combination of mosaics and resin for jewelry, as using the traditional grout made the jewelry very heavy. I have collected a huge variety of stained glass, broken dishes and beads, so incorporating these into unique designs has been great fun. I am especially excited that they are large pieces, as I have been disappointed in the past at the small size of pendants ordered online. We have, however, included some smaller pieces for those who prefer daintier jewelry.

What are your long-term Etsy goals?
Etsy was a natural fit as I have loved shopping on it for years and have introduced a variety of people to it. It was very easy to set up a shop. We have been up and running for less than a month and we have received lots of views, which we hope translates into more sales soon!

Who's New Monday: Of Course You Can!

It's Monday, time to welcome some more WESTie's to the team!  Say hello to Celeste Cote and Dandy Denial

Where are you from?
Alberta and Nova Scotia, respectively. However we both currently live in Ochre River, MB

What is your shop name?
Of Course You Can!

When did you start your Etsy shop?
In the Spring of 2010

Why did you decide to start an Etsy shop?
We were already obsessed crafters and recyclers, and sold most of these things at festivals and on consignment in stores. We had heard of Etsy, and it seemed like a corner of the internet that we would be well suited to, and thrilled to be a part of!

What do you sell?
All kinds of things! Recycled designer clothing, hand bound books, jewelry, print art (patches, posters, postcards, etc.), photographs, one inch buttons, zines, the list goes on. The common denominator is that we try and use recycled or repurposed materials as much as possible, and many of our items are entirely made from previously used materials.

What is your favorite item to make?
Celeste is really into crinolines these days. Dandy loves to stitch together blank journals.

What are your long-term Etsy goals?
Currently our store provides enough to gently supplement our income from other sources. We'd love to see it play a bigger role in supporting us financially in the future. But more importantly, we just want to see it continue to help us spread the things we make far and wide!

Here's a few ways you can follow Celeste and Dandy:
Etsy Blog
Celeste's Comic Blog
Dandy's Photo Blog

Who's New Monday: Stitch Kitten Designs

It's Monday and you know what that means!  Please welcome new WESTie, Laura Wiebe

Where are you from?
Winnipeg, MB

What is your Etsy shop name?
Stitch Kitten Designs

When did you start your Etsy shop?
I opened the beginning of March, 2013, although I've been working on my inventory since mid-February.

Why did you decide to start an Etsy shop?
I have always followed creative pursuits. I was thinking for a long time now about selling my work; I would get a lot of compliments and just sell to friends. I think the only reason it took me this long to open a shop is because I do a lot of diverse things. So I looked to another love of mine--fashion--to define my shop. I love vintage items--the ones I sell and use for handmade projects are mostly from my own collection that I might not be able to keep because of space, and some are from thrift stores or estate sales.

What do you sell?
Right now my store has my scarves and vintage jewelry, handmade jewelry and other handmade accessories. I'm just putting the finishing touches on my first handbag.

What is your favorite item to make?
Although I'm really having fun with making jewelry, I think my first love are yarn-based projects. I really love doing lacy crochet accessories such as dress gloves and wraps.

What are your long-term Etsy goals?
I like running my own business. I started with a $15 investment and have turned that into nearly $300 of inventory supplies. Really, I would just love if I could continue creating things for people but if it could be a moderate monetary success I wouldn't complain about that either.

Want to follow Stitch Kitten Designs?  Here's how:
Twitter
Facebook
Blog
Instagram

Who's New Tuesday: Colour Addiction

Let's meet another new WEST member today, Cindy Klassen

Where are you from?
I am from Altona, Manitoba

What is your Etsy shop called?
Colour Addiction

When did you start your shop?
I started my shop on April 1, 2013

What made you decide to create an Etsy shop?
I joined Etsy to see what would happen, kind of on a whim.  My daughters and I had started sewing play tents the summer of 2012 and selling them at markets and with Etsy we had no idea what would happen but we wanted to see who else could enjoy the tents.  I'm so glad we took the chance.

What do you sell?
We sell play tents made from mostly reclaimed fabrics and some new fabrics.  The tents can be hung from a tree for outside or a hook for indoors or set up with a center pole.

What is your favorite item to make?
My favorite tent to make is the Sari tent.  When I find an amazing sari fabric at the thrift shop I feel like I've found treasure.

What is your long-term goal?
I am so full of ideas right now, I have tent ideas and tent accessory ideas and the girls have ideas, so our goal for now is to make more items available in our shop and of course fill more peoples lives with beauty and colour.

Make sure to follow Colour Addiction on Facebook

HEADS UP-Who's New is going to be moving to Mondays, and we are going to be starting 'Tutorial Tuesdays!' watch for this change next week!

Who's New Tuesday: Mya Bijoux

Here to share another WEST introduction is MiA!

What is your Etsy shop name?

MyaBijoux

When did you start your Etsy shop?

April 4, 2013

Why did you decide to start a shop on Etsy?

I used to make some jewelry for myself, and decided to sell the rest of them to the world. Making jewelry on my own is much less expensive than buying it!

What do you sell?

Necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

What is your favorite item to make?

I love to make earrings since they are the very ones I mostly wear, and I like other simple pieces as well. Most of my items are so simple that they can be worn anywhere in many different situations.

What are your long-term Etsy goals?

I hope my Etsy shop can supplement my income someday!