Introducing: StephiesCameraStraps

I'd like to extend a curtsey to our newest team member - Steph Temesy of StephiesCameraStraps. I found Steph using the BUY LOCAL feature on Etsy and requested she join the team. So glad to have you here, Steph!

Name: Steph Temesy
Shop Name: StephiesCameraStraps
Location: Chatham, Ontario


What is your favourite material to work with? cotton, flannel

What's the most exciting thing that has ever happened to you on Etsy? My first sale and the excellent feedback i received, felt great!

Tell us about your craft and/or the items in your shop.
I sell covers that are padded and fit over camera straps so the standard strap doesn't rub on your neck.

What is your one wish for your Etsy shop/creative business?
That i can expand to new items that were suggested to me, such as seatbelt strap covers, lanyards and keychain holders.

What is your favourite Etsy shop? Don't have one yet, still new and exploring

Favourite colour? Yellow

You could make your own dream ice cream... what would be in it? Caramel, almonds and chocolate swirled throughout

Favourite place to be in Chatham-Kent?
My neighbourhood (otherwise known as "Pleasantville") great neighbours and lots of friends close by, always someone around.

Baking up a storm; pottery-style!

Baking in the non-literal sense, that is. I did not run the kiln, but I did shape and decorate these pottery pieces, and that was just as much fun as working with the heat!

(Mini Sushi Set for the Birds - 10$ US)

I recently finished a six week pottery course taught by local potter Andrea Vuletin, offered through the Thames Art Gallery. I had previously completed a one week beginner's pottery class with Beth Turnbull-Moorish through the Thames Institute for the Arts, and in that course we learned to use the pottery wheel. In this most recent pottery class, I thought I'd be using the wheel again, but when I arrived one week late (oh Paris!) I learned that we would be hand-throwing the pieces.



We started with pinch pots, of course, and quickly progressed to rolling the clay and draping over forms. The piece above is a pinch pot to which I added feet.


This piece was made by draping a thin layer of clay over a styrofoam tray, then decorated with underglaze. I like the way the posies turned out, and I'm not sure if I will keep it for myself, or post it in my shop.

The rest of these pieces are soon to be posted in my Etsy shop, so I invite you to pop by. The next pottery class at TAG has not yet been announced, but I plan to take it if I'm still kicking around town. I'd like to try making some little clay necklaces.

Jen

Painting with Wine, with Christy DeKoning

Christy DeKoning is an active member of the Chatham-Kent Etsy Team, and in February she will be teaching a class at the Thames Art Gallery. Read below for more information.

 

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Painting with Wine, with Christy DeKoning - Use wine as your medium and
your muse!
Wednesday evening, 6:30 - 9:30 pm; Feb 3.
$25 +gst (membership discounts available)

 To sign up or for more information, please contact:

 

Thames Art Gallery
75 William Street N
Chatham, ON  N7M 4L4
T: 519.360.1998
E: CKCCC@chatham-kent.ca
www.chatham-kent.ca/tag
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Chatham-Kent Etsy Team Holiday Trunk Shows

The Chatham-Kent Etsy Team would like to extend a huge thank you to a few local shops for their support in hosting the first ever series of CK Etsy Team Holiday Trunk shows!

November 17/09 - William Street Cafe

I (Jen Merritt of Persephone's Awakening) wasn't able to attend the Trunk Show at the Cafe, but here's some feedback from participants and photos from the evening.

"I thought it was a great venue and atmosphere for the Etsy group and the place was fairly busy all evening. I'm glad I was able to meet my fellow CK Etsians and show some of my work. Although I didn't sell any of my photography I did hand out some business cards so that was good. I would definately do one there again (and hope next time to have a little more photography/art and maybe some other items on hand and be a bit more prepared). Unfortunately I wasn't able to come to check out the other two but look forward to hearing about them at the meeting."
Jess Wyma - Sunny Day Rain

According to Ann K. of It's Mine and Ann's...

"I think the Cafe event was a success. There was a great turnout. Sales were good. Because of the relaxed atmosphere it was easy to greet and talk with people whether they were just looking or buying. My only suggestion is to watch the temperature. My goodness it was boiling in there!!! Shoppers were making the same comment, but I don't think the heat chased anybody away."

November 26/09 - Eve Chocolatier

From Jen Merritt: "I was lucky to be involved in the Holiday Trunk Show, held at Eve Chocolatier and organized by Jenny O. of TwentySix7. Brenda supplied an excellent poster design, and the evening was filled with chocolate, a bustling boutique, and yule festiveness. Participants included: TwentySix7 (Jenny Oriet), PurplePeony (Brenda Braun), ChristyDekoning, TwistedByShannon (Shannon McDowell), JewellerybyEldon (Eldon Austin), and JenMerritt (aka Persephone's Awakening).

Shows aren't typically the best venue for my products, but I was excited to get together with other team members and meet those that I had only communicated with by email. Eve's was a perfect venue for our small group of artisans. We had a steady flow of visitors and each vendor sold something, including me (yay)! Pauline (of Eve's) was incredible and her shop set the personal, beautiful ambiance that I feel represents the Etsy ideology. I look forward to our next trunk show and team event."

December 17/09 - The Paper Pickle Co.

Hosted in the stamp and paper shop, this event consisted of team members: PurplePeony (Brenda Braun), ChristyDekoning, TwistedByShannon (Shannon McDowell), JewellerybyEldon (Eldon Austin), and JenMerritt (aka Persephone's Awakening), and ItsMineandAnns (Ann Kirkham).


Eldon states: "It was good exposure and I hope for much better in the future as the local people get to know me and my work. I do believe that there was a good time had by all." (Photo: Jewellery by Eldon)

Introducing: London . Art . Girl

We welcome our first Chathamite in the London direction. Laura spent a great deal of time in CK growing up, but has since migrated down the 401 to London. She's still involved in Chatham-Kent and writes for the Arts & Culture section of the Chatham-Kent Daily Post (online newspaper). Read on to get to know Laura.

Name: Laura Tetrault
Shop Name: London . Art . Girl
Location: http://www.etsy.com/shop/londonartgirl

Do you have a blog or other website you'd like to share?

• I have a portfolio site: www.ltart.ca
• And a blog: www.londonartgirl.wordpress.com
• And a Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Laura-Tetrault/30343017605
  

What is your favourite material to work with?
Acrylic paint!

What is your favourite Etsy shop? 
I don’t think I have an overall fav shop but there are I definitely have some favs in different categories.
I like Paintallnight Studios for art: http://www.etsy.com/shop/paintallnightstudios
Roia Obrien jewellery design : http://www.etsy.com/shop/roiaobrien
Unique objects at Cyber Moon : http://www.etsy.com/shop/CyberMoon
And the flower scarves at Persephone’s Awakening : http://www.etsy.com/shop/jenmerritt [editor's note: gee whiz! Thankee!]

What's the most exciting thing that has ever happened to you on Etsy? 

I was thrilled with my first sale – I received it the same month I began uploading work to my shop (Nov) I had started to prep my shop in Sept but no work was up. I sold 6 of my small paintings in November and everytime I got a notice I was got a little jolt of energy!

Tell us about your craft and/or the items in your shop.
I’m a painter primarily, although sometimes I do collage/mixed media work. As a personal challenge, I decided to create 30 small works of art on paper, one each day for the month of November. I opened my Etsy shop as a venue to help those paintings find homes. Then gradually I added some of my smaller works on canvas. I think it is important that art be reasonably priced and accessible to everyday people – so that is the mission of my shop: to help everyday people create their own personal oasis areas through art.

What is your one wish for your Etsy shop/creative business? 

Besides being so wildly successful that I can’t keep anything in stock... That it would successfully help people connect with art.

Favourite colour? 
That is a mean question to ask a painter! If it came down to it red would have to be my favourite but I really do love them all. Even brown = )

You could make your own dream ice cream... what would be in it? 

Reeses peanut butter cups, pie pieces and milk chocolate chunks! Yum!

Favourite place to be in Chatham-Kent?
Legion Park, or in Williams Street Cafe. 

Have a Handmade Holiday! The Paper Pickle Trunk Show

On December 17th, 2009 from 7-10 pm, take advantage of extended hours at The Paper Pickle and come Get Your Craft On!

Not only will you be able to browse through the vast array of DIY paper art kits and supplies but Crafters & Artisans from across Chatham-Kent have gathered together to present their handmade wares, ranging from jewellery and accessories, artwork, buttons, bookmarks, knitted and felted wearables, gifts for all ages!

Have a Handmade Holiday!

Oops, made another scarf!

Tra la la... an update from Jen of Persephone's Awakening (that's me). I have been slacking in the crochet department, but I did complete this scarf last week, and am quite pleased with the results.



This scarf was created in mind of Rewind, a shop in Calgary that carries my products. She requested something in fall colours and I pulled various shades from my massive stash of yarn. I rescue it, you see - I can't stand when good yarn is throw away!

You  may recognize this scarf if you attended the CK Etsy Team Trunk Show at Eve Chocolatier. I had some of it assembled and was working on flowers as people wandered amongst the chocolate and handmade delights. If you'd like to see it up close and personal, drop by The Paper Pickle (44 Fourth Street, Chatham, Ontario) from 7 - 10 pm on December 17 (2009). The CK Etsy Team is having another Trunk Show and would love to see you there!

Etsy Treasury including CKTeam Members!

Hello everyone!

I was lucky enough to be online this morning and snag a treasury, which I then proceeded to fill with some of my favourite colourful pieces, including some by team members (although not all, since I was going for an Alice in Wonderland theme).

The treasury, I think, has a very whimsical, Wonderland feel, with lots of colours! Take a look and click on a few listings, or comment and maybe this treasury could make the front page!

Thanks all!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=98788