the Art category is hidden on Etsy...sign this petition if you agree

This petition will hopefully help the Art category from getting hidden on the front page of etsy. Please take a look and if you agree, sign it.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/artonetsy/index.html

An Interview with Dutchfeltart...

This artist makes everything from handbags to shawls and she makes them so well and with a distinctive touch that is all her own. Felting is a process that I don't know much about and so how she creates these pieces is fascinating to me. I hope you'll check out her shop to see the full range of what she is capable of.


1) How long have you been selling on etsy?
I have been selling on Etsy since April 2009

2) Do you have advice for etsy newbies?
I think you have to be original, both in your creations as well as your photo's and titles.

3) What are your fave etsy shops and why?
I have a few favorite shops and especially the shops where i can buy exclusive fibers, mostly wool with other materials carded in a unique bat. Furthermore, when I am looking for something special for my daughter or myself I look on Etsy.

4) What are your fave pieces in your shop and why?
I had a seamless felted fairy coat, it was not on Etsy (on flicr it is showed) which was my absolute favorite because of the colors and the model. This has been sold yesterday in a fair. My favorite in my shop now is the "Hole in one" 3D felted boa. This is in my opinion very unique.

5) What plans do you have for your shop?
I will link the etsy shop to my website. At first my website www.dutchfeltart.com was just a gallery but a lot of people ask for a shop.

6) How long have you been creating art?
Since I can remember I have been busy with fabrics and fibers approx 8 years ago I started with woolspinning and I suggested the group to do something else with the fibers and I started small workshops at home.

7) Who are your art heroes?
Brigitte Krag Hansen

8) Where do your ideas come from?
Ideas come when I am playing with my daughter or when I read a bedtime story (most of the times it is about elves, pixies and fairies) , walking in the nature, or when I am sitting on my attic with all the fantastic fibers around me.

9) What do you do when you have a creative block?
Nothing. A few years ago I just kept on with felting projects but when I finished them I just was not satisfied about the creations. Nowadays I accept not to play with fibers for a short time and I noticed inspirations comes much quicker in that way.

10) What other interests do you have that feed into your art?
Fantasy world, walking in the nature, or just sitting on a terrace and observing everyone and everything.

11) How did you get interested in your medium?
Wanted to do something with the wool from our sheep and then I got fascinated the way felt was made.

Here is her contact info:
Share Your Website Address:
http://www.dutchfeltart.com

Visit My Shop @
http://dutchfeltart.etsy.com

See More of My Crafts @
http://dutchfeltart.blogspot.com/

My Twitter:
http://twitter.com/dutchfeltart

The wonderful work of Tanya Pshenychny or razorberries

I just met this accomplished artist the other day in chat and knew that you all would want to know more about her.

1) How long have you been selling on etsy?
Since June 2006, a little over 3 years.

2) Do you have advice for etsy newbies?
I've learned tons of stuff.. let's see.
- Your customers are #1, so always reply your convos asap and don't forget to thank them. Send a handwritten note with their order, it might make their day.
- Don't list everything you've got all in one day, list a couple things a day so your things don't get buried in the search.
- Talk with people on Etsy -- participate in the forums, go chat, but be friendly -- it all reflects on your shop.
- You might not have a sale for a while, but don't let that discourage you, just keep going, research, ask questions, and try to have fun. It takes time and luck. When the right person sees something you've made and falls in love with it, they'll buy it.

3) What are your fave etsy shops and why?
This is hard. I let my favorites list get out of control and now it's 63 pages long! Here's a few at random:

http://skunkboycreatures.etsy.com - caution: these little stuffed animals are so cute, your head might explode.

http://DirtyAssSoaps.etsy.com - who knew soap could be so fun? And I love the name.

http://ozknits.etsy.com - gorgeous yarn. I don't knit but Helen's shop makes me wish I could. She is a sweet person, too.


4) What are your fave pieces in your shop and why?
Weathered 11x14 Archival Print - I created the image while going through a rough time in my life and it exists a reminder that there are storms everywhere, can be unpredictable, some are worse and last longer than others, and eventually they have come to and end. And if you make it to the other side, you're stronger.
Pink Freud 8x10 Archival Print - Because striped pink giraffes are awesome. Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it's not there. But now you see it, right?

5) What plans do you have for your shop?
Well, I'm working on creating some ACEO (Art Cards, Editions and Originals) -- originals only. And I want to do portraits with my spin on them, so I will be trying to emphasize that in my shop.

6) How long have you been creating art?
Drawing probably almost as long as I've been breathing, really. Being an artist seriously, as a career, since graduating high school in 2003.

7) Who are your art heroes?
Again, there's a ton.. but the most famous are:
James Jean - http://www.jamesjean.com
Salvador Dali
Tim Burton

8) Where do your ideas come from?
Connections of random things, people, animals, observations/conversations/experiences, colors, textures, music, weather, media, metaphors, stories.. Actually, my head is pretty empty except for a tiny mouse who sits in my skull and does crossword puzzles all day.

9) What do you do when you have a creative block?
I look at pretty pictures, roam around, go on walks, drive to random towns, wasting gas. If that doesn't work, I tell the mouse that if he doesn't get back to work, I'll feed him to my neighbor's cat.

10) What other interests do you have that feed into your art?
My second love is photography, don't know how it feeds my art -- it just does. It's the peanut butter to my raspberry jelly sandwich. Yes, it has to be raspberry, says so in the mouse's contract.

Here's her lovely shop on etsy! Razorberries

Looking at pictures of older sculptures..