Describe what you sell?
This has always been a difficult task. My interests change so often, and what I sell at any given moment is directly related to whatever craft or technique I am into at that time. For a while it was ceramics, and then paper-crafts, and then knitting, and then sewing on my machine, and then cross-stitch, and then embroidery. I've adopted the term "handcrafted miscellany" to describe what I do. Currently, I am mostly focused on textiles and needlework.
What is your "real" life like?
Well, in January, I had an opportunity to buy a huge old fixer-upper house in the 
Once the house was in "livable" condition, I switched my energy over to chez-sucre-chez; getting my studio in order, creating new products, working on my etsy store, doing some marketing, and doing all I could do with chez-sucre-chez to keep me from needing to get a full-time normal job. It is constant work, but I'm happy that I am giving myself this time and putting this effort into what I want to be doing. Now I spend my days working in my studio with my cat, Emil, by my side. I wake up early, go for a walk around town, and get to work. When I need a break, I make myself coffee or tend to the garden or mow the lawn or work on some other house project. It's pretty great. I'm fortunate, though, to still have a lot of friends and connections in NYC. I definitely feel the need, at least once a month, to get back to the city to see my friends, go out to eat at good restaurants, drink fancy cocktails, do a little dancin', and keep up with what is happening in the city as far as fashion and culture. It's a nice balance I have here.
What is your process?
With the current work that I am doing, it is mostly just needle and thread and embroidery hoops. I am fortunate to have two great shops near me where I can buy all of my supplies (neither of which has a website, though). The Crewel World is an embroidery and needlecraft store in my town that is owned and run by a very sweet woman named Shirley whom I look forward to seeing everytime I need supplies. Also in town is a mennonite-run shop called Wooden Bridge Dry Goods. They have great fabric and lots of the notions that I need for my work. It really makes me happy to be able to ride my bicycle to these shops and to have a rapport with the shop-keepers. I also have a number of wonderful thrift/antique/flea markets around me where I can find unique trimmings and supplies.
What are your goals and vision for your business?
For the short-term, I've filled my calendar with lots of craft fairs between now and December. I also plan to continue marketing my etsy shop. After that, I just don't know.
How and where do you market your business?
Currently, I am doing all of my sales through etsy: www.chezsucrechez.etsy.com. Someday in the not-too-distant future, though, I would like to move that business to a regular website. I gotta learn how to do that first, though. My goods are also being sold at Sprout Home, in their Brooklyn and 
Do you subscribe to any business related blogs, zines or magazines?
This is definitely something I need to learn about! The Etsy Storque site is a great resource that I check in on often. I've also just signed myself up to the Modish Marketing newsletter where Jena of Modish compiles and send out tips on how to be a crafty marketer.
What inspires you?
People inspire me a lot. This whole notion of attempting to make a living off of what I love doing was really inspired by my friends Simon and Estelle in
Who is your favorite musical artist?
This changes almost daily! Some days, all I want to listen to is the Amelie soundtrack. Other days it's Bob Dylan, or T-Rex, or Beyonce, or Muddy Waters or Joy Division or Ride or the Sonics or the Zombies or the Association or Nina Simone or Herman Dune or the same New Order song over and over and over. Yeah, I like to change it up. Currently, I am really loving the music of Willie Breeding
What are two of your favorite things from your shop?
my piggy goes to market tote: i take mine with me everywhere.
my silver-lined cloud cross-stitch pieces: i just really, really love them.
I'm a fan of...
tastespotting
decor8
shelteriffic
day19
whipup
Find me...
www.chezsucrechez.blogspot.com
www.chezsucrechez.etsy.com
www.flickr.com/photos/chezsucrechez
www.threadandbutter.blogspot.com
I’m a stay-at home-mom. That’s my #1 duty. After feeding kids & reading stories & playing games, I make stuff. And in-between putting off loads of laundry, I make stuff. After the days errands are complete, dishes are done & littles ones are sleeping, I make stuff. I LOVE making stuff! I also love thrifting, taking pictures, spontaneity, the color pink, laughing, eating peanut butter, cuddling with my hunky hubby & anything cupcake-y.
Short term I’d like to make it through the holidays in a successful crafty whirlwind. I’m doing my first show this December! Long-term, I’d like to help bring home the bacon.
I’ve found that how much or how little I put into my business equals how much or how little I’ll get out of it. And being a mom of two kidlets, that’s a little tricky. I do simple things like handing out my biz card wherever I can, updating my blog on a regular basis, networking with other artists online & selling/consigning my items to other online shops. And I just joined Twitter. Eventually I also plan on approaching local boutiques about selling WhiMSy love goodies.
My 2 girls inspire me A LOT! Kids see things in a very different & very cool way, & so a lot of times I steal their ideas. HAHA! They sometimes say the most silly things…that make complete sense. I wonder what I’ll do when they grow up & move out? I guess I’ll have to borrow someone else’s kids. I also find that an occasional break is very inspirational---anything from a nice relaxing candlelit
I love music. I listen to all styles of music. I’m on a Damien Rice fix right now. But I could listen to this version of ‘Rain King’ by the
I love the vintage button rings! I wear a different one almost every day.
And I also really like my book art, “Writing on the Wall”. I have them hanging in my own home & they‘re just funky pieces of artwork! (pictured below)
Besides checking my email & blog a bazillion times a day, I’ve also been known to visit these sites:
http://projectplaylist.com
http://oneprettything.com
Flickr--http://www.flickr.com/photos/whimsy_girl/
http://allrecipes.com
I just recently joined Twitter & it’s so much fun! http://twitter.com/whimsylove
Come visit my Etsy shop
See the goofy girl (that’s me!)
Oh, & this is totally random, but I was super psyched that one of my tutorials was recently featured on the CRAFTzine.com blog
AND
What is your "real" life like?
I live in a great building in 
What is your process?
Most of our items are ceramic so we use special paints that are later fired to create permanent art. The tote bags offered are all organic cotton canvas and we use all natural pigments made for fabric painting, again creating a permanent bond. Just browsing through our shop, you can see that we paint on just about everything and use all different types of materials. Right now, our favorite decoration is glitter! Just in time for the holiday season!
What are your goals and vision for your business?
Short term goals are to sell as many products as our little hands can keep up with! Long term we would love to grow our business by obtaining more wholesale accounts and having more availability of the Paris Chic Boutique line.
How and where do you market your business?
Mainly on Etsy but there are so many wonderful blogs that have so graciously featured some of our products:
www.organic4baby.com
http://onthedotcreations.typepad.com/onthedotcreations/
http://trendytots.typepad.com/trendytots/
Do you subscribe to any business related blogs, zines or magazines?
Martha Stewart Living, (lots of entrepreneurial advice & creative ideas)
What inspires you?
So many inspirations...just love
Who is your favorite musical artist?
Neko Case but love such a broad range...classical music while painting, classic rock while emailing.
I am a fan of...
www.daisycakessoap.etsy.com: best soaps I ever bought!
www.TRUEGODDESSFRAGRANCE.etsy.com: quality incense in hundreds of scents!
www.pacokeco.etsy.com: creative paper products that will amaze you!
For book lovers:
www.paperbackswap.com : you can recycle your books and get great new ones for free!
Find Seller.....
The Paris Chic Boutique line can be found in many boutiques across the 
Flourish Boutique & Gallery
www.flourishboutique.com
www.allisonluciart.blogspot.com
LolasCraftShop makes the cutest cards. I was on her blog awhile back and left a comment - she contacted me and asked for my address so she could send me the card that I commented about. It was an owl card- not the one above. When I got it in the mail I was taken back by the workmanship she puts into these cards. I left it on my counter so I could admire it for a few days before tucking it away into my card box. I am waiting for the perfect opportunity to send it to someone- or give it to someone that I like alot. I just feel like sending a card like that out of the blue is such a great approach to marketing yourself- I have to figure out how I can incorporate that into my business.
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