Bound Staff Press

Today we have Justin Miller of La Junta, CO from Bound Staff Press. I noticed him and his work in a forum on Etsy one day and jumped right on the chance to have him featured here. I would like to point out that I love how he includes pictures of his process, tools and packaging in his listing- I included on of those photos here. Go to his Etsy store and see more of his lovely work.




Describe what you sell.
I am a purveyor of fine art printmaking in many forms. My shop has small, affordable relief prints and etchings that are available on a variety of papers. Many of my prints include images of birds, figures or ladders.

What is your real life like?
My wife and I are raising three amazing children. The girls are 5 and 3, and my son is 1. We enjoy biking and traveling in the mountians. My wife and I have goals when we travel. We are always on the lookout for a great wood-fired pizza place or a coffee house with good artwork.
I have a day job teaching art to high school students, and a night job teaching drawing for a local college. I also dabble in woodworking, metalwork and jewelry, bicycling, classic chevys, and collecting stuff.

What is your process?
I have formal training in stone lithography, intaglio, monotype, and relief printing, but I spend most of my time creating relief work. I especially like the ease of cutting linoleum blocks. Like most printmakers, I have a growing collection of presses. I am currently scouting letterpress equipment.

Business Goals and Vision...
Short: Enter more national print shows. I would also like to explore the possiblities of printing letterpress stationary and invitations.
Long: I would like to find a small gallery to carry my prints. Followed by a one-man show.

How do you market your business?
I use a blog to post major progress I also post pics on flickr, and use that space to connect with others doing similar work I also am a member of our local Fine Arts League, a group called Artistic Expressions.

Do you subscribe to any business related blogs, zines or magazines?
I currently subscribe to several letterpress blogs including Dolce Press, G Johanson Printer, and others
Magazines: Juxtapoz, Drawing, American Craft, Ceramics monthly

What inspires you?
I am in search of a metaphor that explains my life and journey. As a Christian, I explore the mysteries of my faith with a visual vocabulary. Some ideas take me years to work out.
I love the smell and feel of ink, in all of its forms. Ink and solvents make me happy, and remind me of visiting my Dad in his print shop when I was growing up.

Who is your favorite musical artist?
Just one? I can't narrow it down. Elliott Smith, The Shins, Radiohead

What are two of your favorite things from your shop?
Tower Swirls at Midnight
(first picture shown)
Swing by the House
(second picture shown)

Am a fan of these places...
Briarpress
Wetcanvas
Flickr - Printmaking
Flickr - Letterpress

Find seller at...
Blog
Flickr
Etsy

Deciduous Soul & Bustle

Name
Ellene McClay

Location
Omaha, Nebraska

Business Name
Deciduous Soul & Bustle

Describe what you sell.
I make a sell a variety of clothing, accessories and jewelry. I have a hard time narrowing myself down to making just one thing.

What is your real life like?
My real life is centered around my family. My daughter is 15 and has participated in several sports activities her whole life. I’m starting to get to that point where I’m getting excited for her to get her license so I can officially take the ‘chaffeur’ hat off. I do love supporting her and it’s kept her on the right track. She is the light of my life. I was a single mom for 12 years, and have been happily married for the last 3. I am very blessed.My hobbies are sewing, sewing and sewing, crafts, etsy, photography, walking, running, rummaging through antique stores, interior design, watching Project Runway and HGTV.
I’m an art teacher at an elementary school (full time for the last 9 years, part time this year, zero time next year).

What is your process?
My process for sewing starts with being completely inspired by fabric. As soon as I see a certain pattern or color, I usually know right away if it would make a great dress or purse, etc.
I love adding embellishments to things, and sometimes people call my style ‘old world romance’. I like old things, especially vintage lace and sewing notions.
My process for jewelry is to take new things (because old things are beautiful but very expensive) and distress them a bit, to give them some character. I like things to be beautiful. I’m a bit of a paper hound too, but I like to add 3-d objects to alter things so they aren’t flat. I can’t live without my sewing machine or my dremmel.

Business Goals and Vision...
My goals for my business are to become more well known as a designer, and to earn the respect of my customers and my peers. I hope to make enough money to stop teaching elementary school, and would love to teach more adult crafty workshops. Long term goals would be to live in the country, wake up in the morning and create all day, with short breaks in between for nature walks.

How do you market your business?
I have promoted my business on the Poppytalk Handmade site:
http://poppytalkhandmade.com
my blog, http://deciduous-soul.blogspot.com
and http://flickr.com

What inspires you?
I am inspired by fabric of course, but also nature. I could stare at trees and leaves forever, and silence. It sounds strange, but there is something so nice when everything is still and quiet. I can’t think straight when there is a lot of noise. I like to drive out to the middle of nowhere and look at abandoned buildings, and wonder what they are like on the inside. Flowers are inspiring, and textures like velvet and leather. Also, anything that sparkles, like rhinestones, Czech glass beads, and fine glitter.

What are two of your favorite things from your shop?
~the historically inspired mademoiselle dress:
and I might have to make one of these purses for myself!


Am a fan of these places...
Websites I visit http://heatherbailey.typepad.com/
http://www.purlbee.com/
http://decor8blog.com/
and of course the ultimate:
http://etsy.com

Find seller at...
http://DeciduousSoul.etsy.com
http://bustle.etsy.com

Metalicious

Name
Stephanie Maslow-Blackman

Location
New York City

Business Name
Metalicious

Describe what you sell.
I sell sterling silver and genuine gemstone jewelry made by me. I hope to bring joy and fun to my customer's lives through wearable fashion jewelry.

What is your real life like?
I'm a stay-at-home mom 3 days a week. My son is 3 1/2 and absolutely hilarious. The other two days I end up packing in consulting work for large jewelry manufacturers, making my own work for metalicious, running family errands, running (I'm training for a 5k in October), taking more jewelry classes and just continuing to learn and grow. I'm married to a guy who produces commercials for Comedy Central, we live in New York City and have two loving little felines. Well, one is skinny and the other is a big, fat lady.

What is your process?
Most of my ideas come when I'm daydreaming, or right before I fall asleep. I like to build the piece in my head first and then hit the bench to actually make it. I love working with sterling silver and gold, and gemstones-- buying gemstones is like going to the candy store! I use traditional metalsmithing techniques. Soldering, wax carving, wire work. I've been doing this for over 10 years and I'm still learning new things.

Business Goals and Vision...
I'd like to get into more retail stores and develop a more secure flow of income. Long term I'd like to grow my business into a bigger small business, something big enough to provide for my family but small enough to still be enjoyable so it doesn't kill my love for the craft.

How do you market your business?
I do co-op ads in local newspapers and magazines.

Do you subscribe to any business related blogs, zines or magazines?
Yes, all of them, as many as I can.

What inspires you?
I am inspired by texture and form. I love moving metal, learning new techniques and applying them to my work.

What are two of your favorite things from your shop?
So hard to choose, I love all my babies equally!! But I do have a special connection to my St. Valentine necklace (in pink gold) and my bubble studs are just sweet everyday earrings.

Am a fan of these places...
www.onegarnetgirl.etsy.com
www.glassfiction.blogspot.com
www.artezn.com
www.starsandinfinitedarkness.com
www.asianicandystore.com/icandystore

Find seller at...
www.metalicious.com
www.metalicious.etsy.com
www.trunkt.org/metalicious

MissEvilKitty- How to Pick up Those Sluggish Sales

From what I understand a lot of people have hopes and dreams of making money on Etsy. People are asking ‘why am I not selling”? Well, you have to factor in that the sales / season is slow. Are you doing your part ?
Are you sending business cards in swaps?
Are you doing craft shows on the side?
Are you advertising out side of Etsy like Myspace, indie public, face book, message boards, etc?
How many items are you adding daily or weekly?

Whether you’re a newbie or have been on Etsy for awhile, remember this :
1. Great pictures are a must.
2. Spell check every thing -M-WORD or WORD PERFECT are great for this.
3. Post in the forums on Etsy or at one of the places listed above.
4. Add an item every day, or renew an item.
5. Get a mentor- you can find advice about doing this on the Etsy forums.
6. Explore blogs- you can also find people promoting their blogs in the "Promotions" section of the Etsy forums.
7. Explore new crafts or branch out in different ways within your own craft.
8. If you need banners, etc find some one to help.
9. Get out of your comfort zone .. think out side of the box ex. visit local shops that sell local indie designer items and pitch your stuff!
10. Give great customer service!

Hope those are helpful tips for you to jumpstart you sales! Good Luck!

Cats Paw Artifacts

Name
Judy Richards

Location
Portland, OR
Business Name
Cats Paw Artifacts

Describe what you sell.
I sell lampwork beads, precious metal clay charms and pendants, jewelry using semi precious stones and my lampwork and the fine silver.
What is your real life like?
I work at home, love MadMen, Sex and the City, am married. I love Portland, it is a beautiful city. I have 2 cats hence the name Cats's Paw.
What is your process?
My favorite lampwork is organic with a very earthy feeling. I like combining glass with pmc (fine silver) I also do some sculptural lampwork, cats, flowers.
Business Goals and Vision...
My goal is to have a thriving on line business. Right now my main income is through local shows - I also hope in the future to do some national shows and get to travel.

What inspires you?
I'm inspired by the colors of the seasons and nature mainly.
Am a fan of these places...
One of my favorite suppliers is Arrow Springs for glass.
Find seller at...
Ebay
Etsy
Blog