Look mum - the Meerkat's got new clothes!

Unlike the Emperor though, these clothes are real.

My meerkats have been lounging around nekkid for far too long. Ok, the trekies are "sort of" clothed - but they never go off duty and can't take their uniforms off.

*trumpet fanfare*

May I introduce to you - meerkats who can get dressed! (No, not without help, that would be magic)



*puts on Miss World commentator voice* Our model is wearing an haute couture frock in two tones of purple which fastens with heart shaped beads.




She is accessorised with a toning shoulder bag in which she keeps the daily requisites of a meerkat gal about town. Her escort, Luke SkyMeerkat has his light sabre at the ready to defend her honour.

Let's meet...Kitschycoo!

Amanda, owner of Kitschycoo, designs and makes the most amazing children's clothes and writes one of the funniest blogs I've come across. It's enough to make me hunger for grandchildren!

Cats or dogs?

Dogs a million times over. My parents used to breed Himalayan cats when I was growing up and they were more or less evil. Especially in comparison to our lovely dopey golden retriever.

Star Wars or Star Trek?

Neither. I am dorky in many, many ways but not in a Star Wars or Star Trek way. I like sci-fi books though!

Fruit or chocolate?

Fruit during the day, chocolate at night. Fruit during the summer, chocolate during the winter.



Favourite colour?

Hmmm, it changes all the time! If I had to put them in order, I like bright jewel tones the most, then earth tones, and pastels the least. I'm quite into orange at the moment.

Favourite meal?

I could quite happily eat pizza every single day.



City break or weekend in the country?

I grew up in the woods (well, in a house in the woods, not wild!) so I really like city breaks now that I'm older. I'm also an American living in Europe, so your cities are unlike anything we have back home!

Soaps or documentaries?

Definitely documentaries, I can get engrossed in programmes on almost any subject. I just need to know.

Bath or shower?

Having two toddlers, I'll take what I can get! Which means very quick showers with a lot of interruptions...



Now we’ve got you warmed up…

What brought you to Etsy? Tell us about your shop (or shops) Do you sell anywhere else?

I think it was my sister in law that told me about Etsy and encouraged me to open www.kitschycookids.etsy.com. I was initially overwhelmed by the size and scale of it but I bit the bullet and started listing some of my clothes in Aug 2008. Sales started trickling in so I increased my shop size, but it didn't really take off until Jan 2009 when I started selling the patterns I had designed to make the clothes. I've been a bit shocked by how well my patterns are selling and definitely see this as the direction my business might take.

Etsy works the best for me, but I also have my own website www.kitschycoo.co.uk and a shop on Folksy www.kitschycoo.folksy.com

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

Probably the orange bird print double breasted coat. It was the first one that I was ridiculously proud of!



What has been the most useful lesson you’ve learnt (about Etsy) so far?

Find a niche. Because Etsy is so big, the only way to set yourself apart and get sales is to have a differentiator. I knew from posting my coats on forums than people liked them and by researching listings on Etsy that there weren't any other independant (non-vintage) patterns available for toddler coats. So my first coat pattern filled a gap in the market and sold well, and now I have a considerable base of repeat customers buying my other patterns!

If you could start again, is there anything you’d do differently?

I don't think so. I think it was good for me personally and as a businesswoman to learn the hard / long way rather than get it 'right' from the start. All the information and knowledge I've picked up along the way will stand me in better stead going forward. I hope.

How do you see your store developing?

I'm definitely considering moving predominantly into pattern making. I need the clothes a little bit though to support my obsession for fabric!

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

Breaking up fisticuffs between my kids *sigh*.



What’s your top marketing tip for today?

Post in forums, blog, twitter, facebook, myspace...
get yourself out there!

Oh so very true Amanda - thank you for sharing your stunning clothes and even more gorgeous models with us!

Let's have another look at those all important links:

kitschycoo.blogspot.com
www.kitschycoo.co.uk
www.kitschycoo.folksy.com
www.kitschycookids.etsy.com

Let's meet...GocksFrocks

GocksFrocks, owned by Kristen, sells handmade clothing & accessories for kids, women, and the home.



But what about the woman herself? Let's find out...

Cats or dogs?

Dogs - cats too if I were not allergic

Star Wars or Star Trek?

star wars

Fruit or chocolate?

fruit!

Favourite colour?

purple



Favourite meal?

breakfast

City break or weekend in the country?

both please!

Soaps or documentaries?

documentaries

Bath or shower?

shower - only because our tub is too tiny




Now we’ve got you warmed up…

What brought you to Etsy? Tell us about your shop. Do you sell anywhere else?

A friend first told me about etsy & when I checked it out I was smitten - love the creativity here as well as the ease of listing my items. I sell on ebay from time to time and also do a couple of local art shows.

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

hard to pick just one...I think whatever my current project is tends to be my favorite - but I do LOVE working with felted wool anytime



What has been the most useful lesson you’ve learnt so far?

keep listing & adding to your shop
try to capture your items in an original and eye catching manner - my clothesline shots became my signature photos last winter when it was too cold for my daughter to model outside!

If you could start again, is there anything you’d do differently?

be more organized with the business side of it all - receipts, paperwork etc....
also...win the lottery so I could build an amazing studio space full of natural light over our garage!

How do you see your store developing?

branching out with my offerings - I recently added a bit of home dec (log cabin pillow slipcovers) as well as skirts for women.



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

drinking coffee and catching up on my blog reading

What’s your top marketing tip for today?

try some social networking(twitter, facebook, blog) - spread the love you have for your art to all that you know

Wow! I don't know about you, but I'm staggered by the array of bright colours and patterns - absolutely gorgeous! for more, check out GocksFrocks and Kristen's other store BettysCloset.etsy.com where she sells some of the amazing fabrics she uses in her designs. You can also read more on her blog