Let's meet... Firescure!

This is an interview that will give us a very different slant on all things Etsy. Betsy, aka Firescure, is NOT an Etsy seller - she's a buyer, a red-hot treasury curator and a fellow member of Etteam.

Cats or dogs? Parrots!



Star Wars or Star Trek?

Star Wars, but Ewan McGregor has something to do with that.

Fruit or chocolate?

Fruit today, chocolate about 2/3 of the time.

Favourite colour?

An earthy or jewel-toned mix! I swear I'm not just being uncooperative here! :D



Favourite meal?

My husband's cast iron ribeye, and roasted asparagus and red potatoes from the farmer's market.

City break or weekend in the country?

Weekend in the country.

Soaps or documentaries?

Documentaries.

Bath or shower?

Shower, but only out of time constraints.



Now we’ve got you warmed up…

How did you find out about Etsy?

This is a seriously good question. I honestly cannot remember! Memory's going at 28.

As an Etsy buyer, is there any one way you prefer to shop?

I often search for specific items, lately it's been home stuff because I'm trying to decorate and furnish with handmade items little by little. The other thing I like to do is browse my favorite categories - Bath and Beauty, Ceramics and Pottery, Furniture, Geekery, Housewares, Needlecraft, Paper Goods, and Plants and Edibles.



Is there anything that really puts you off buying?

Too little information in a listing will always put me off. If the seller didn't care to write anything about their item, I generally don't care to buy it. It doesn't need to be Pride and Prejudice, but I'd like to know what's in your soap, or how tall your bird is. Just the basics will do. But if I get to know a little about the seller through their writing, bonus!



Is there anything that will make you put your hand in your virtual purse when you’re browsing?

A well-written or clever listing, an item that inspires me to create myself, or a listing that simply floweth over with love of the craft that they're selling. That's something that will always come through loud and clear.

What’s the favourite item you’ve bought so far?

A tea cup made by khphillips.etsy.com:



http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=13932393
Though that was a REALLY hard question to answer! I've only had fantastic luck with sellers on Etsy. Helps that I surround myself with the fabulous Etsy Treasury Team, I'm sure. :)

Do you think you will open a shop yourself one day?

Oh goodness, I think about it every single day now. I've recently taken up needle felting, and though even a single item can be very time consuming, I think I would really enjoy it. I also took a sewing class last week. Talk about fun! Being part of an Etsy team, and browsing shops all the time is very inspiring to me. Really, it was only a matter of time.

You must have already learnt so much - What has been the most useful lesson you’ve learnt (about Etsy) so far?

Take good photographs! Also, be on a team. The kind of support and companionship offered by a team of sellers (and buyers!) is unparalleled and unmatched. Nobody understands the crazy excitement and frustration of selling handmade like an Etsy team, and that support is going to help you and your shop grow.



I know you enjoy curating treasuries. What is your favourite type of treasury?

Oh goodness. I fall out of my chair for treasuries that are impossibly well-balanced in color, texture, and mix of shapes. I'm not sure I've ever made one like that, but in terms of treasuries I like to make, a collection of items that reflect nature soothe me, and a good geekery treasury thrills me.



What have you been doing today that I’ve interrupted?

Today is a writing day for me, so I've been working on some needle felting, coffee drinking, staring blankly at an empty screen, and catching up on some blog reading.

Talking about blogs: http://betsywrites.com/

and of course those 140 character sound bites at
http://twitter.com/betsywrites