Golden oldies!

My stash of vintage knitting and crochet patterns overfloweth, and to be honest I don't look at them often. I certainly don't knit from them, my patterns come from my head (which explains a lot!)

MrNifty has started to list them in his Etsy shop MrNiftyVintage so feel free to check him out. They're great on so many levels, not just as knitting patterns. They're social history - just look at that advert above! The pictures are just wonderful, they'd be great in scrapbooking projects or card making, and in fact some of them may well end up as decoupage on a sidetable if I get time.

Christmas sherry, anyone?

I spotted this vintage cocktail cabinet (60s?) in a charity shop for £45 and brought it home. We are sadly lacking in cupboard space in this house, and I just fancied the idea of MrNifty serving Christmas beverages from a cocktail cabinet!

If you're wondering why I didn't clean the mirror....well, I did. But then I spilt some sherry!

I really like that the original lemon squeezer and cocktail sticks are still there. 

Don't think I fancy using them though, I'd never be sure they were clean!

The opening "flaps" are hinged together which is clever, although disconcerting if like me you're prone to dumping stuff on any available surface...because as you pull the flap down, the top moves too!

 I like the weathered appearance of the knobs, but in an ideal world I think I'd rather like something a bit more steampunky... like these from LumberJackLad on Etsy

I had already bought some glass straws from VortexGlassWorks, also on Etsy

So we're all set! Sherry, anyone?

Sassy's mum!

(and dad!)


Yesterday I introduced you to Sassy - today I'd like you to meet her mum...

Lorin, but most people call me Doody now! Which I love. Is that odd?

Favourite colour?

a yellowy green, or of course black! I am Libra and I love color so don't ask me to choose just one!



Favourite smell?

A warm clean (!) doggies tummy first thing in the morning. Or mossy oaky scents

Favourite place?

Right now, home. Or a low mountain region, Newfoundland!

Favourite sound?

Silence



Favourite way to spend your time?

Thinking

Favourite item in your shop of all time?

The item that started it all as a joke then became a Christmas ornament- the original Doodypops, now called 'Doody on a stick'.



Why?

Because everything is better when you add "on a stick"

Favourite shop that isn’t yours?

It has to be 2 though I could pick 5... Unfinishedbusiness, PetitPoulailler , BackThennishVintage and ferdworthi.

nifty: She did say TWO, didn't she? ;-) Anyone else count four? Just me?

Why?

All good solid friends with amazing stuff

What has been the most useful lesson you’ve learnt so far that you’d like to pass on to our readers?

Well, renewing items on etsy is more valuable than I first realized. I have gotten quite a few sales in the shop and my other lorinmark, just by renewing!!



woodland Moss Treasure box from lorinmark

And the question Nifty didn't ask?

Star Trek, not Star Wars!:-P

This is ... Nora of

norakaren.etsy.com and HerenciaVintage.etsy.com



Favourite colour?

I'm torn between black,my faithful partner in clothing and shoes and the two other good friends: green (in all the color palette) and hot pink,a true loyal pal for a blonde gal.



Favourite smell?

Another difficult question because there are too many but I'm going to stick with Vera Wang for Women,the bakery smell and the gas station smell.

Favourite place?

The Beach. Being close to the ocean makes me feel closer to God.



Favourite sound?

Music,in many shapes and forms. I guess 80's music is my favorite because I'm an 80's girl.

Favourite way to spend your time?

Painting and designing. Even in dreams I get ideas and my night sleep comes filled with creations. Followed by spending time with my hubby,kids and friends.

Favourite item in your shop of all time?

My peacock painting in any form or outfit. I'm in love with that gorgeous peacock.



Why?

Because the Peacock is the King of Birds. I love birds.In the spanish language we call it Pavo Real( something like Royal Turkey). We really call it royalty. It is so powerful,so glamorous,the colors of royalty and the way it displays its wings,tells you that you can't avoid looking or stop staring at it.
It is an object on inspiration and see it in so many possibilities makes me happy and proud.(In a good way)



Favourite shop that isn't yours?
My favorite shops are very different but all related through Fashion
www.DaintycrochetbyAly.etsy.com Incredible crocheted pieces
www.eclettica.etsy.com Haute Glamour in Jewelry
www.attiladesign.etsy.com Out of this world!

Why?

Pretty much I added a description of the 3 of them. But basically they are proffesionals in the way they work with detail,excelence and glamour.
They have very different styles but they are the best in their kind (in my point of view)

What has been the most useful lesson you've learnt so far that you'd like to pass on to our readers?

I could say with total honesty that selling online like in many other phases of life requires time,patience,devotion,sacrifice,being constant and working with excellence, from answering a convo,to shipping and compromising with your job.



Thanks Nora!
norakaren.etsy.com
HerenciaVintage.etsy.com
Norakaren on facebook
http://twitter.com/norakaren
nora-handpainted.blogspot.com

Let's meet...MOLLIMOO

I met Tina from Mollimoo through her folksy shop, but she can be found all over the place - as we shall see!

Quickies for starters:

Cats or dogs?
Dogs

Star Wars or Star Trek?
Star Wars

*boo* says nifty ;-)

Fruit or chocolate?
ooh, Chocolate!



Favourite colour?
turquoise

Favourite meal?
Ginger chicken curry....mmmm

City break or weekend in the country?
weekend in the country

Soaps or documentaries?
Documentaries



Bath or shower?
Shower

Now we’ve got you warmed up…

What brought you to Folksy? Tell us about your shop (or shops) Do you sell anywhere else?
I discovered Folksy last October whilst browsing other people's blogs. I love making fabric buttons & thought what a great place to sell them! What I especially like about making buttons is hunting for unique, vintage fabric from thrift shops & giving it a new little life. The thought that some of my buttons will then go on to embellish someone else's project or even just end up in someone's treasured button collection is wonderful. I'm working on adding brooches & knitted items to my shop as my first love is knitting. I also sell on Coriandr.

What’s the favourite item you’ve made so far?
My favourite buttons are the vintage yellow rose buttons. Someone had made this fabric into a side board cover with lace around & it had ended up in a thrift shop. It is so dainty & pretty!




What has been the most useful lesson you’ve learnt (about online selling) so far?
The most useful lesson I've learnt is that you have to constantly produce new items to list & sell....obvious, I know! I've also learnt that you have to put yourself out there to get noticed by joining different groups, forums & blogging.

If you could start again, is there anything you’d do differently?
I would not spend so much time browsing at everyone else's beautiful products all the time. I did it so much at the beginning that it, quite literally, frightened me! I felt so intimidated at the great quality & originality that it made me have a mental block. Now, I just get on with it.




How do you see your store developing?
Well, I plan to broaden the range of what I sell. I am working on brooches, knitted items, pin cushions, drawstring bags & plushies. I just need to find more hours in the day to make them all!

What have you been doing today that I’ve interrupted?
The school run. I have 2 children, 5 & 2. It's not easy making items when you are cooking, dressing, bathing, feeding, playing & organising....I do love it though.

What’s your top marketing tip for today?
Professional looking photos are important. Blog regularly, dress up your shop & blog in a distinctive, pretty way. Put yourself out there & don't be shy. Network as much as you can. Always believe you are good enough.


Great advice Tina, thank you. Here are the links again:
Folksy shop
http://mollimoo.blogspot.com/
info@mollimoo.co.uk
http://www.coriandr.com/shop?seller_id=499

Let's meet...ByTheWay!

Are you ready? GO!

Cats or dogs?
I'd have a hundred cats if my DH's motto wasn't 'moderation in all things'

Star Wars or Star Trek?
I'd Trek to the ends of the final frontier!


Fruit or chocolate?
Dove Dark, yummmm, which reminds me, I'll be right back!


I had to google this, I don't think it's a brand we know in the UK...unless it's just me?

Favourite colour?
I always say yellow, my quilt guild would say purple and turquoise, but like your children, how can you have a fave? I DO not like brown, though (except if it is a Dove Dark!).


Favourite meal?
Hmm, does chocolate count? Actually, I have passed on my chocolate obsession to my daughter and she made a chicken dish with chocolate and homemade ravioli pasta with chocolate.


City break or weekend in the country?
I'm a country girl, (not the music), so give me a horse to bury my nose in and a barn of newly baled hay! I love sunshine and flowers and growing things, so country it is!



Soaps or documentaries?
Soaps! I watched them until I found Etsy, then gave them up cold turkey after 25 years!


Bath or shower?
Shower - long, hot and steamy!


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 first heard about Etsy on Martha Stewart's show. Rob was on with one of the top sellers, I don't remember who it was. I lurked a LONG time before joining. The treasuries were a favorite place to hang out, but I also spent a lot of time in the forums and reading the Newbie Guide. This is my only venue right now, and that's fine with me. I schlepped stuff around a few times several years ago and don't care to do that again!


What’s the favourite item you’ve made so far?
Well, I have 3 shops. Only one is handmade, although I do have a few handmade in my wearable vintage shop.
In ByTheBy I have girl's jumpers/sundresses and I just love the ones with the cute little shoes on them. It's a Daisy Kingdom print. ByTheBy is temporarily closed until the CPSIA situation gets resolved, but here's the lovely little dress for you to admire:.


http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16165863

In ByTheWay, my first shop, which is wearable, mostly vintage, I also have a few handmade and a few upcycled items. My fave in there is a cute little black velvet swing dress.


http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13426871


In ByTheWayside, which is nonwearable vintage, I guess it would have to be the hammered aluminum ice bucket. We had one as I was growing up, and I think it was used primarily as a cookie tin!


http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19141280
I think ByTheWayside is my favorite shop. I love finding goodies to list, but then again, I love finding stuff for ByTheWay, too! There's that favorite thing - I can't decide!


What has been the most useful lesson you’ve learnt (about Etsy) so far?
Write everything down (that's my life lesson, not just Etsy!). If you have a question, there are a ton of people who will help you in the forums. But please, check if your question has been asked before, or some of them will get upset.


If you could start again, is there anything you’d do differently?
Work on my photos more. There is a lot of good info out there, but mostly for jewelry and small items, and my photos of real models are still a work in progress!



I think you've got it sorted now! This is one of my favourite product photos. I was quite convinced it was a trendy leather bra at first!

How do you see your store developing? I have already changed focus. I originally had my ByTheBy girls' things in with the vintage at ByTheWay, and that just didn't seem to work, so I split those items off. I like what each shop is now. I would like to add some altered clothing to ByTheWay, there are so many beautiful items you can pick up dirt cheap, and I hate seeing anything go to waste. I also have a collection of vintage fabric that I plan on making into garments with vintage patterns. Mostly 1970's double-knit polyester - fun bright colors!


What have you been doing today that I’ve interrupted?
Well, actually, I put this interview on hold to go to the gym and grocery shopping. I dislike both, but if I sit in front of the computer all day, I gotta move sometime! Then I am also in the middle of redoing all my tags and rechecking sizes of my vintage clothing in ByTheWay. I have most of it done, but with 12 pages of items, it takes a little time!

What’s your top marketing tip for today?
Marketing tip? Well, I guess it would have to be join the best team on Etsy - the Treasury Team! I have met so many nice people there! There is so much competition on Etsy, but ETTEAM is a very sharing and supportive group. The team exists to support each other and we do, not just in treasuries, but in lots of other ways. I am impressed that members that are selling the same type of items help others on our team who are selling the same type of items improve their shops and also promote the others's items in various venues!

Heather, thank you so much for featuring me in your blog! I really do love the sense of community, helpfulness and acceptance we have on our team :)


My pleasure - thanks for taking the time to answer so many nosy questions! I can only agree with your comments above about Etteam - our team rocks!

ByTheWay
ByTheWayside
ByTheBy
ETTEAM