It's Bedtime!

Are you feeling sleepy? Be sure to visit this "It's Bedtime" Treasury West created by Stockannette and featuring artists from the INCrowdteam. The treasury will be viewable through Wednesday, June 24 at 3:51 a.m. Enjoy!

Mint Chocolate Chip

Be sure to check out this fabulous Mint Chocolate Chip treasury created by Cowriegirl and featuring members of Indiana's Etsy Street Team....the INCrowdteam. The treasury is available for viewing through Monday, June 22 at 8:39 p.m. Enjoy!

INCrowdteam Interview 6/20/09 - Melissa Carter a.k.a. CASEmethod

Stockannette here! I'm busy as a bee, working on several upcoming INCrowdteam interviews - but first, please enjoy this interview Carolynn did with Melissa of CASEmethod:

Where were you born & raised? Greentown, Indiana.

Where are you now & what led you there? Indianapolis – close to family, but big enough to satisfy my cultural needs.

What's the origin of your shop's name? CASEmethod stands for copy and steal everything. A mentor gave me that advice many years ago. I take it to mean "find inspiration in everything," not "copy and steal outright," but FIIEmethod doesn't have that same ring to it.

What types of creations do you sell in for your Etsy shop? I primarily make wooden rings and ear plugs for stretched earlobes.

What's your educational background, as it relates to your work? My educational background is in advertising and I'm a graphic designer by trade, so it really doesn't relate to my work. Except that I love details and making pretty things.

Does creating stuff run in the family? Were you taught things on purpose or by osmosis from prior generations? My dad is a woodworker and my mom sews. I was always surrounded by creativity and encouraged to create. When I showed an interest in whatever they were doing, my parents would teach me.

How'd you get started creating? It's hard to say - I can't remember a time I wasn't creating. It's just an inherent need.

What's your muse, or what turns that little creative light inside you on? The light is always on. A beautiful finished project dims it enough to get the dishes done.

What's your favorite thing about selling on Etsy? It's incredibly rewarding to have someone want your creation.

Recommend your five favorite shops on Etsy.
1) monstergallery
2) soule
3) cookiechang
4) toybreaker
5) crescentwench

Show us three of your own favorite pieces, from your shop and work.

Padauk ear plugs – 4g: naturally finished jewelry for stretched ears.


















Wooden ring – olivewood: I just love the look of this wood.
















Wooden ring – cocobolo: a durable and beautiful wooden ring – my best seller!

















Do you sell on consignment? Not yet.

Anything else to brag on? I make darn good vegan cupcakes.

Thanks, CASEmethod! You can pass on that recipe any time...
Carolynn aka nilochlainn aka wolfgangzehen

INCrowdteam Interview 6/13/09 - Theresa Dhondup a.k.a. tibetanelements

As a relatively new member of the INCrowdteam, sometimes I just type our "incrowdteam" tag in the Etsy search box and try to familiarize myself with people on the team. That's how I stumbled upon tibetanelements, and it got me thinking, "What an exotic-sounding name for an Indiana shop - must find out more!"

Where were you born and raised? I was born and raised in Mason, Michigan. I’m a Hoosier by osmosis.

Where are you now, and what led you there? I live in Lawrence, Indiana and we moved up here from Bloomington so that my husband, Tsering, could find a higher paying job.

What's the origin of your shop's name? The origin comes from my husband’s family; they are from Tibet.

What types of creations do you sell in your Etsy shop? In my shop I sell hairpins, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and an occasional surprise.

What's your educational background, as it relates to your work? I have my B.A. in Interdisciplinary Humanities. I started off in art school, but took a detour. Now I’m studying Spanish and working on an M.A. My studies have greatly influenced my work. Without an interest in other cultures I never would have learned Chinese style knotting or known about Asian porcelain.

Does creating stuff run in the family? Were you taught things on purpose or by osmosis from prior generations? Creating things runs in my family. On my father’s side, my gran made quilts and did pieces on plastic canvas. On my mum’s side my great-gran was a tatter, my gran did crochet, and my mum did crewel, crochet, sewed our 70's Stretch and Sew garb, and now she just does scrap booking.

How'd you get started creating? I credit my Uncle Don with this. Around 1978 he gave me a craft kit that had a knitting mushroom, knitting needles, pot holder loom and mini hand looms. I haven’t looked back since. Another groovy thing he gave me was a Spirograph which I still have and still use.

What's your muse, or what turns that little creative light inside you on? I don’t have a specific muse. Many things scream at me, "We are a cool set of colours; make us into something!"

Do you belong to any Street Teams (other than the INCrowdteam)? If so, which ones and why? I only belong to the INCrowdteam, but I aspire to be in the Vegan team, too, as soon as I use up all of my bone, shell, etc.

What's your favorite thing about selling on Etsy? That people all over the world can sneak a peek at what I do and possibly be inspired to make something cool.

Recommend your five favorite shops on Etsy.
1) puterinoor
2) Windowbutterflies
3) TrilliumStudios
4) sullenmonarch
5) SabrinaCreations

Show us some of your own favorite pieces, from your shop and work.
Dragonfly Hairpin – Powder Blue and Sea Blue This hair pain is made with wire and various sizes of Japanese beads.











Beaded Memory Wire Bracelet This one took a bit to make. It's five beaded beads threaded on a piece of silver plated memory wire. The beads were made out of 26 gauge silver tone wire, size 11 purple Japanese seed beads, size 11 violet blue Japanese seed beads, and size 11 light blue Japanese seed beads. Between each of the beaded beads is a purple Czech star bead. Even though it took a while to make it was a piece I enjoyed making.

Do you sell on consignment? If so, where? I sell on consignment at The Indianapolis Art Center.

Anything else to brag on? I was featured in an Intake Magazine article in the summer of 2008 (thank you, Jenny Elig).

Cool; thank you, Theresa!

Wanna Make It With

Stockannette has created this Wanna Make It With treasury of great supplies for all you creative folks out there! All but one shop featured is a member of the INCrowdteam! Check it out through Sat., June 13 at 4:21 a.m.

Got the Bad Boy Blues!

By the By has created this bold, beautiful blue treasury featuring several members of the Indiana Etsy Street Team.......the INCrowdteam! Viewable through Friday, June 12 at 3:22 a.m., you will definitely want to see this one!

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

TwoSeasidesBabeToo has created this beautiful treasury featuring many members of the Indiana Etsy Street Team - the INCrowdteam! Chocolate Covered Strawberries will expire on Tuesday, June 9 at 10:23 a.m. Enjoy!!

INCrowdteam Interview, 6/6/09 - Amanda Mauer Taflinger of the INDIEana Handicraft Exchange, a.k.a. armauer

The INDIEana Handicraft Exchange summer show is near! On Saturday, June 13, 2009, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., the Harrison Center for the Arts, located at 1505 North Delaware Street in Indianapolis, will host over 70 vendors, including several INCrowdteam members. The event annually draws a crowd of over 5000 people. I recently asked Amanda Mauer Taflinger a few questions about the upcoming event; read on and enjoy the IHE.

What makes the INDIEana Handicraft Exchange different from other craft fairs? We prefer to concentrate on the similarities we share with other craft fairs like the Renegade Craft Fairs in Chicago, Brooklyn, San Francisco and Los Angeles, the Indie Craft Experience in Atlanta, Stitch Rock in Delray Beach, Florida, and Art vs. Craft in Milwaukee – fairs that consciously celebrate modern handmade goods, the relationship between creator and consumer, and local, alternative economies. We started the fair to highlight local crafters and artisans as well as expose Indianapolis to some of the best vendors on the national indie craft circuit, and the feedback we’ve gotten from show-goers and vendors tells us we are succeeding.

Most of the products our vendors sell serve the dual purpose of art and function and range from the beautiful to the irreverent, from the adorable to the slightly sinister, from the hysterical to the just plain bizarre. Vendors may use traditional crafting techniques but they express contemporary themes and design. The event is kid-friendly, but some artists’ work features the occasional dirty word or sexual image, so parents might want to take a gander before their little ones get an eye full.

I really like the way Alicia Steele of Public Broadcasting Atlanta put it, in reference to the Indie Craft Experience; “It’s punk rock played with needle and thread.”

Will vendors be indoors, outdoors, or both on June 13? All vendors for the INDIEana Handicraft Exchange will be indoors, in three different rooms. Our vendors will be in the gymnasium, the Underground, and Gallery No. 2. The vendors located outdoors have been selected by the Independent Music + Art Festival committee and are a part of the IMAF.

Where should people park, and is there a place for bicyclists to chain up their bikes? There is a parking lot behind the Harrison Center, parking on the streets around the building and another lot about a half block away at 16th and Alabama Streets. However, on Saturday, June 13, there are several events going on in the area at once, so be prepared to park several blocks away and walk to the venue. The Talbot Street Art Fair will be going on right across from our venue; our event will be inside the building and the IMAF will be outside in the courtyard. There are bike racks located outside the Harrison Center.

Can people bring their dogs? We love dogs (especially pugs!) but I wouldn’t recommend it for this particular event. There will be a lot of loud music outdoors for the IMAF, and the interior of the Harrison Center will be very crowded. The gymnasium will already have very thin aisles and a lot of vendors will have very delicate merchandise. Last year a few dogs came through, and we had a little trouble with one, and several vendors expressed concern with this.

Where will the bands be, in relation to vendors’ booths? There will be music outdoors all day on two stages for the IMAF. Inside, for our fair we will have two bands playing, Shirtless Biddles and Mandy Marie & the Cool-Hand Lukes. They will be in the main room, the gymnasium, set up on the bleachers. Their sets will be very informal. Low volume, mostly meant to be atmosphere music for the vendors and shoppers. The musicians will be playing in a kind of street busker style (accepting tips). After their main set in the gym, the Biddles will travel to the other two rooms and play short sets there, as well.

How much does it cost to get in? Can we win prizes? Admission is free to the public! Raffle tickets will be available; money made from raffle ticket sales is used to purchase arts and craft supplies for the Marion County Children's Guardian Home, as well as for select Indianapolis area public school art programs. Raffle tickets are sold for $2 each, three for $5 or 7 for $10. Patrons may obtain additional raffle tickets at no charge by bringing children's arts and craft supplies, or children's art books, for donation at the door the day of the event. Prizes for the raffle are donated by our vendors and local, independent business sponsors. We always have excellent prizes, such as gift certificates to small local businesses like The Best Chocolate in Town, Broad Ripple Vintage, Oishi Sushi and Metamorphosis Tattooing & Body Piercing, to name just a few. Vendors had the option to donate one of their products for a discount on their booth fee. So we have many amazing handmade goods to give away, as well, such as a Willie Nelson finger puppet, a copper chain mail bracelet, a screen-printed tea towel set, plush creatures, soap gift sets, a sterling silver hand-hammered necklace, a bacon bracelet, handmade teas, baked goods and so much more.

Who was on the selection jury for the summer show, and will the October IHE vendors be chosen by the same people? A local art educator and artist, a local writer, a local illustrator, a local jewelry designer and a local graphic designer were the jury for June. We rotate the panel a bit. For October there will probably be about the same number of people, but not all the same individuals.

What should INcrowdteam members do if they want to participate in the October event? Go to the website and download the application on the “vendors” page as either a PDF or a Microsoft Word document. Also, download the current F.A.Q. there and read it thoroughly. Get applications and images emailed to me by July 4. The sooner the better.

Represent yourself professionally and thoroughly when you apply. Make sure your application is complete and not missing pertinent information. For example, you are asked to submit 3-5 images; don’t submit two. Make sure the images of your work are in focus and uncluttered. Send images that show a variety of your work, not three shots of the same product.

Come to the June event! Look at the vendors, a.k.a. “your competition,” whom we have selected for the summer show and decide if your work fits in with the types of products you see sold there. Check out their displays, as well, and how they conduct their business with customers.

If you were accepted once but didn’t get in this year, don’t be offended, or afraid to apply again. We get way more applications than we have spaces available, and we like to accept new talent, to give vendors we’ve never seen before a chance. Also, we cater to a slightly different demographic for our summer show than for our fall show, so your products may be more appropriate for one event than the other.

Constantly reflect. Most people who are really good at what they do understand that the key to improving their art or their craft is to continually examine their work. Look at your approach, look at your technique, look at you habits. Ask yourself, ask friends, ask family for comments, critiques and praise. Be inventive, try new things. Don’t allow yourself to get stuck in a rut. Introduce new wares quarterly or yearly, keep your product line fresh.

Don’t be discouraged if you do not get accepted for the October event. We are growing steadily and hold two events a year now. We have recently been asked to add a third event, a “mini” to our calendar. So there are many opportunities for participation. While we would love to be able to accept everyone at each show, we just cannot do so. Our summer show, the largest we offer, maxes out at 60 booth spaces, and we managed to include over 70 vendors this year because many were willing to share space. Try applying with a friend, especially if this is your first show. We receive well over 100 applications for each show now, and we have to say no to some. It isn’t a popularity contest…most of the vendors applying our jury have never met. Criteria considered for acceptance are: the quality of work, the originality, the variety, the functionality and whether or not all elements are handmade or entirely repurposed.

How much will a booth for the October event cost? The booth space fee is $65. This gets vendors an indoor 9’ x 6’ space, a meal, and their name, image and link on our website. If a vendor cannot bring their own table, tables may be rented from the IHE for an additional $10. If a vendor would like to donate one of their handmade products to the raffle (which we highly encourage as we like to raise as much money for our charities as possible) they may deduct $10 from their total. So, the most any vendor would pay would be $75; the least would be $55.

What else does the INCrowdteam need to know about the IHE in October? The October event is a two-day fair. If you apply for the October show you must be able to be in attendance both days. The fair will be held in conjunction with IDADA’s First Friday gallery opening at the Harrison Center. The event will run from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. on Friday, October 2 and from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 3.

Thanks, Amanda! I can't wait to check out the IHE next Saturday and see these INCrowdteam members in action:

Cordial Kitten

crescentwench's Mythdeameanor!

Cult of Domesticity / Shot by Gwynneth

Dragoncat

EleanorMac

In a Lather

Spice of Life Designs

If you're an INCrowdteam member vending at the IHE and I haven't listed you, please forgive me, then post a comment with a link to your Etsy shop; I'll get you added to the list above as soon as possible.

Spooky scary stuff

In case you haven't seen it yet, Stockanette has created a Spooky scary stuff treasury of INCrowdteam selections. It will be viewable through Wed., June 3 at 4:59 p.m. (My apologies for not having posted the treasury earlier. I was out of town and had no computer access.)

INCrowdteam Interview, 5/30/09 - Christy Rose, a.k.a. KBShimmer

Hiya, Team! Stockannette here, with an interview (hopefully - you can see this, right? It's not just my imagination?). This is what happens when a newbie gets a key to the bloggy kingdom. I hope you enjoy it!

What’s your REAL name? Christy Rose.

Where were you born and raised? I was born in St. Paul, Minnesota. When I was in junior high we moved to Lino Lakes, Minnesota.

Where are you now, and what led you there? Terre Haute, Indiana is the city I now call home. I moved to Indiana with my now husband back in 2001 to be closer to his family.

What's the origin of your shop's name? KBShimmer is named for my daughter Katy. Since she was a baby, we called her Katy Bug, hence the KB. I thought that Shimmer sounded nice with KB, my husband agreed, and so KBShimmer was born!

What types of creations do you sell in your Etsy shop? I create cold process soaps, bath bombs, sugar scrubs, lip balms, and more. I don’t use any bases - each item is created from scratch, from the oils and butters, to the colors and scents; each product is a creation from my mind put into play.

Hey, Christy, to prepare for this interview, I was reading about various soap-making methods; can you tell us a little more about your "cold process"? In the cold process method, oils and lye are mixed until they are emulsified. Scents, colorants, and any wanted additives are added, and then the soap is poured into the mold. In my case, I then allow my soap to heat up and gel (the chemical reaction between the soap and lye creates heat, which almost cooks the soap in the mold). Soaps are cut, then allowed to cure and harden for 4-6 weeks. Since the soap is not cooked before putting it in the molds, and because it is worked with in a liquid state, this allows for smooth textured soap and delicate color swirls, though the trade off is the longer waiting time to be able to use.

What’s your favorite scent? Hmm, that is a hard one for me. I have a lot of loves, but if I narrowed it down to one group, it would have to be citrus smells. Tart limes, sweet oranges, lemons - I love them all. I love to mix my citrus scents to create interesting combinations, lemon lavender, cranberry lime, and basics like lemon lime really make me happy.

What's your educational background, as it relates to your work? I have a degree in adult computer training and education. That degree gave me a good working knowledge of many software programs. While it does not help me directly with soap making, I do use those skills to create all my own banners, labels, packaging, and ads, along with editing photographs. This allows me to use more of my money toward needed supplies instead of paying others to do design work.

What’s your real-world job? Right now I am a licensed real estate agent working for a busy real firm assisting the top agent and owner with every aspect of real estate transactions. Being a Realtor has really helped me develop my social and networking skills. Those skills have spilled over into my bath and body business, helping me to connect with my customers.

Does creating stuff run in the family? Were you taught things on purpose or by osmosis from prior generations? My mother is a really creative person. She is a true inspiration to me. From the fun paintings on my wall as a child to the beautiful sewing work she does, my mother can work in almost any medium and create wonderful things. I don’t think that I was taught anything on purpose, really; my creative side runs in different mediums than my mother's, but the support she has offered for my work - and seeing how she succeeds - is a true inspiration to me.

How did you get started creating? In high school, I tried many different crafts: ceramics, painting, collage work. I would also read tons of books on subjects that interested me. My mother came back from vacation with a gift for me. She brought back handmade soap. I was intrigued and in love. I found a book, read up on soap making, and made two batches. I loved it! But, being in high school and then going off to college, funds and time were limited and supplies were hard to find in my area, so I let soap making slide. It is such a joy to now be back to making soap.

What's your muse, or what turns that little creative light inside you on? For me, I find that smelling a scent gets my creative juices flowing. I start thinking of colors and designs. Swirls, layers, simple, complex, how do I want my products to look? For soaps, I start pulling out micas, clays, and colorants, planning my swirls colors to fully complement the scent I am working with.

Do you belong to any Street Teams other than the INCrowdteam? If so, which ones and why? I belong to two other teams: the SAFE (Soap Artisan Friends of Etsy) Team and the CIC (Crafting in Color) Team. The SAFE Team is a group of soapmakers committed to excellence and best manufacturing practices on Etsy. For me, this team offers me a chance to connect with and support other bath and body artisans on Etsy. The CIC Team features artisans working with bright & colorful handmade items. With my love of color, I felt this was a great fit for promoting my brighter products.

What's your favorite thing about selling on Etsy? I love the freedom selling at Etsy gives me. I can list as many or as few items as I want. One-of-a-kind products are not a problem, and Etsy is so easy to work with, not to mention the many loyal customers that Etsy has; it was not a hard choice to join Etsy to sell my products. When the flooding of June 2008 hit, I had to put a hold on plans to launch my business. If I had a brick and mortar store, I would have been out thousands of dollars in lost time. With Etsy, I had the freedom to list when I wanted to, and do it at my own pace. Though my plans to open in June got pushed back, come November when I was really ready, I was able to jump in full force. Only a site like Etsy allows that kind of freedom.

Recommend your five favorite shops on Etsy.
1) lochristine
2) inalather
3) Accessoire
4) ShopBub
5) TheBrassHussy

Show us three of your own favorite pieces, from your shop and work.

Kaleido-Soap Six-Color Shea and Cocoa Butter Cold Process Soap
Beautiful swirls are something that soapers strive for; the more colors you work with, the harder it is, especially because you want swirls throughout the bar, and not just on top. I received mica colors in rainbow colors, and I thought this was the perfect chance to challenge myself and swirl my soap with all 6 colors. With a fun tropical scent, this soap is my favorite!

Kaleido-Bomb Bath Bomb
With a six-color soap already flying off the curing racks, I knew I wanted to push myself again and create a matching bath bomb. Created with the same scent, this is the hardest and most time consuming bomb to make. 6 batches of mix are made, and then combined in a special way to get the desired effect (while not creating a gray mess from over-mixing!).

Margarita Lime Sugar Body Polish
My sugar scrubs are a part of my own daily routine, and with my love if citrus, I created this tart lime scrub for my personal use, and thought that I had to share. These scrubs are designed to not be greasy, but, with the addition of water, to form a lotion that moisturizes your skin, while sugar and jojoba beads exfoliate your skin. They are heaven in a jar.

Do you sell on consignment? If so, where? Not at this point, but I will be at the Brownsburg Festival of the Arts in July and the Valparaiso Popcorn Festival in September.

Do you blog? If so, where can we find your blog? My blog is kbshimmer.blogspot.com. I have high hopes to be a better blogger; I have been working so hard on new product, I don’t take the proper time to blog about it!

Do you Tweet? What’s your Twitter username so we can all follow you? KBShimmer.

Are you on Facebook? What’s your FB i.d. so we can all friend you? Christy Johnson Rose is my name on Facebook.

Anything else to brag on? I have recently been selected to be in Etsy's Best Father's Day Gifts voter contest, my Bad Boy soap is featured. (Voting ends June 1; the winners will be featured in gift guides and in an article.) I have also had my swirling tutorial featured in the Saponifier Magazine.

Last question… what’s the best piece of advice you’d give a new Etsy seller (like me)? My best advice for new sellers is to join a team. Through teams you meet people, share tips and information, get support, and develop relationships that will help you celebrate the good times, and pick you up during the bad times. Without the support of my teams, I would not have the 300+ sales I have today!

Thanks, Christy, for being a great first interview! Special thanks also to Carolynn, a.k.a. nilochlainn for her gentle and kind guidance as I attempt to make her and all of the INCrowdteam proud here.

INCrowdteam Interview, 5/23/09 - Annette Dutro aka Stockannette

This is a REAL treat for me...I am handing the INCrowdteam Interview series off to an Etsy and INCrowdteam newbie who has style, talent, and a great sense of humor. Annette is terrific, and our blog is lucky. Get to know her AND her work! Read below...

Where were you born & raised? Where are you now & what led you there?
I was born and raised in Apple Valley, CA. I lived there for 25 years and then made a brief stop-over in Minden, NV for a couple of months to spend some time working in a photo lab with a friend before heading east. In September I'll have been in Indiana for 15 years. I guess it's my brother-in-law's 'fault' that I've ended up here. He's from Boone County, and he met my sister when he was a Marine in 29 Palms, CA. When he got out, he went home, and my sister went with him. I used to come visit them in the summertime or fall when I was a kid, and I've always loved it here. When I finally wised up and said, "I've gotta get out of this desert!" my brother-in-law told me I had to come out in the dead of winter, so I could "find out what 'cold' really is." So I did! You all are going to think I'm crazy, but I love winter here even more than summer or fall! Who wouldn't want to live here? The people are so kind, and there are TREES! I stayed with my sister and brother-in-law in Pendleton for several months when I first got here. Since then, I've lived on Indy's west side (I thought the track noise was bees in my apartment wall!), in wonderful Woodruff Place, near the State Fairgrounds, and now my fiancé and I live downtown.

What's the origin of your shop's name?
I'm part of a knit graffiti crew called the Yarnburners. A crew member's husband (who also thought up the group's name) came up with it, and it ended up being my 'tag name.' There is a stitch in knitting called stockinette. Since my name is Annette and I knit every day, it made sense to me that my Etsy shop would be called Stockannette.

What types of creations do you sell in your Etsy shop?
My main focus is handknit scarves and hats, but since I wasn't sure if people would want to buy knit things until the weather gets cold, I've also listed a few random crafty items, like a vase that I gussied up with glass gems and mirror tiles, some gift tags and stamped notecards.

What's your educational background, as it relates to your work?
Uh oh... my education doesn't related to my work at all. I went to community college in CA, and I went to Marian College for a little while. I was an English major (mainly because that major required the fewest math classes).

What’s your real-world job (shudder)?
I'm a Manufacturing Assistant at Wiley (we publish the ... For Dummies books, Webster's Dictionary, Happy Healthy Pet series, technical bibles, and Teach Yourself Visually books, among others). It sounds like I work on an assembly line or something, but really I monitor the book manufacturing process and compile reports and statistics... and file - lots of filing.

Does creating stuff run in the family? Were you taught things on purpose or by osmosis from prior generations?
My mom is a very gifted knitter and crocheter. She can crochet or knit while sitting in a dark movie theater (and other places). If only I'd paid attention when she tried to teach me when I was little - I would be so rockin' now!

How'd you get started creating?
Regarding knitting: I learned from a coworker on Easter last year. I had no idea it would "stick," I just wanted to hang out with my favorite girls for an afternoon!

What's your muse, or what turns that little creative light inside you on
A ball of awesome yarn and an empty circular needle.

Do you belong to any Street Teams (other than the INCrowdteam)?
Nope; I go where the INCrowd goes.

What's your favorite thing about selling on Etsy?
I just had my first sale on Wednesday, so my favorite thing right now is the anticipation of positive feedback from a buyer. Secretly, I can imagine walking down the street here or in some far-off place and seeing someone wear a scarf or a hat that I made; I might start screaming and clapping!

Recommend your five favorite shops on Etsy.
1) PixieDustinc
2) timesandchimes
3) chinquapin
4) Vegancraftastic
5) FlyingPigFibers

Show us three of your own favorite pieces, from your shop and work.
Blue-and-Green Striped Hat: once I started knitting hats, it did not take me long at all to get sucked in by the magic that is self-striping sock yarn.















The Lemon-Lime Fuzzy Popcorn Scarf started out as a gauge swatch for a graffiti light switch cover, and I just kept on knitting! This scarf made it to Etsy's front page one day at around 4 a.m.!














Glass Vase with Blue Glass Gems and Mirror Tiles: this vase happened because my aforementioned fiancé is such a good flower-giver that we started to amass quite a collection of plain florist vases. I figured that a decorated vase could be decor on its own and not just get shoved into a high-up cupboard somewhere. Add to that the kind of glass gems used in centerpieces/floral arrangements that I seem to have a knack of "winning" at weddings, and let the sparkle-y goodness commence!

Do you sell on consignment? If so, where?
Not yet, but maybe someday. Baby steps, people!

Do you blog? If so, where can we find your blog?
Yes, I do: http://stockannette.blogspot.com/

Do you Tweet? What’s your Twitter username so we can all follow you?
I rock in the treetops all day long... ha ha. I mean, yes; my username is stockannette.

Are you on Facebook? What’s your FB id so we can all friend you?
Type in "Annette Dutro" on Facebook if you want to find me.

Anything else to brag on?
Last month the Yarnburners tagged the inside of the Harrison Center for the Arts as part of the First Friday event, and a photo I took of one of the pieces is on page 34 of the June 2009 issue of Indianapolis Monthly. Friday June 5 between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. the Yarnburners, in conjunction with the Indy Craft Mafia will be tagging the outside of the HCA with knit/crochet/woven graffiti in preparation for the upcoming Indieana Handicraft Exchange, and any fiber artists are welcome to join in (feel free to contact me for more info).

And now, the big question: why on earth would you want to take over the INCrowdteam Interview series? Are you nuts, or what?
I'm a newbie, and I think the only person on the Team that I've met in person is dragoncat, who referred me. I've been wondering to myself, "Who are the rest of the people on the INCrowdteam? How am I supposed to get to know them?" So I finally decided to volunteer to help, in the hope that I would be assigned the Interviews. I can't think of a better way to acquaint myself with you all than to ask you questions myself!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I dig it. Thanks so much, Annette. Good luck to your shop, the Yarnburners, and you as you become an editor for the INCrowdteam.

Thank you all for being loyal readers while this corner of the blog was my purview.

Carolynn
aka nilochlainn
aka wolfgangzehen
aka schwa

A little Blog news...

Hey all - long time no post! nilochlainn here under the guise of INCrowdteam.

Things have calmed down a bit in my non-Etsy life, and I have decided to stay on as Editor-in-Chief.

I will also be using the INCrowdteam account to resume the fun on Twitter...all admins, join me!

We WILL have a new INCrowdteam Interview editor, and you'll meet her for the first time this Saturday. Keep your eyes peeled...

I Don't Remember

Be sure to visit this Treasury West entitled, "I Don't Remember" created by BytheBy and featuring INCrowdteam members. It will be viewable through Friday, May 22, at 1:38 p.m.

INCrowdteam Super Sales May 2009, Week 3

Want your shop to appear here? Contact me with details of your upcoming sale!

May Day Sale/INCrowd Blog Special
bagsofblessing (Hand knit and felted purses and totes, recycled wool bags and key chains as well as scarves and shawls.
May 1 - May 31, 2009: All INCrowd team members will receive a 15% discount off my entire shop. In addition, with the purchase of any bag you will receive a free "Blessings" key chain. Buyers, you must put "INCrowdteam" in the notes to seller section to receive the discount, and then the savings will be refunded through Paypal.

Free Shipping Sale
daisydesignsfloral (Silk Floral Designs For Any Occasion)
May 6 - May 31, 2009: Free Shipping on selected Arrangements!




Schools Out/Summer's In Sale!
LoChristine (Handmade metal and beaded jewelry)
May 19 - June 3, 2009: Free Shipping!




Memorial Day Weekend Sale!
KBShimmer(Fresh, Fun Handmade Soap, Scrubs, Lip Balms, Bath Bombs) May 22 - May 25, 2009: Enjoy 15% off her entire shop, and all orders over $50 will ship free! Check back often as new items will be added through the weekend! No code needed, just shop and enjoy a discount! Paypal orders will have refunds sent, credit card, check/money order, or cash customers, please wait for revised invoices.

Father's Day Sales!

ByTheWayside (Vintage dishes, knick knacks and books)
May 21 - June 17, 2009: All items that are tagged 'father's day' are 15% off if you put "Dad's Day" in the notes to seller.

ByTheWay (Vintage and up cycled clothing and accessories)
May 21 - June 17, 2009: All items that are tagged 'father's day' are 15% off if you put "Dad's Day" in the notes to seller.

Great Deal Just In Time For Your Upcoming Special Event!
LifeofLeoDesigns (Custom graphic designs at affordable prices)
May 25 - June 8, 2009: Design fees for all custom stationary and invitations will be waived! You must put INCrowd in the buyers notes to seller.

It's Never Too Late!

It's Never Too Late! is a newly posted treasury for Indiana's Etsy Street Team -- the INCrowdteam! Curated by Bags and More by Pam, the treasury will be available for viewing through Wed., May 20, at 6:44 p.m. Alternates will be switched into this treasury on Tuesday evening.

Indiana, two ways!

Be sure to check out this bright, colorful treasury--Indiana, two ways!--created by Stockannette. It features a wonderful variety of creations from the INCrowdteam, Indiana's Etsy Street Team, plus a few items about Indiana from other artists. The treasury will be available for viewing through tuesday, May 12 at 12:29 p.m. Enjoy!

A Varied Palette...

A new Treasury West for the INCrowdteam. Viewable through Saturday, May 9, at 4:21 p.m. Alternates will be switched into the treasury on Friday evening. A Varied Palette was created by Bags and More by Pam.

INCrowdteam Super Sales May 2009, Week 2

Shop INCrowdteam!

Want your shop to be featured here? Contact me for details!

Free Shipping Sale!
BeadedDetails (handmade jewelry & accessories)
May 1 - May 10, 2009: Free Shipping to anywhere in the USA!







Free Shipping Sale
daisydesignsfloral (Silk Floral Designs For Any Occasion)
May 6 - May 31, 2009: Free Shipping on selected Arrangements!



May Day Sale/INCrowdteam Blog Special
bagsofblessing (Hand knit and felted purses and totes, recycled wool bags and key chains as well as scarves and shawls.
May 1 - May 31, 2009: All INCrowd team members will receive a 15% discount off my entire shop. In addition, with the purchase of any bag you will receive a free "Blessings" key chain.
Buyers, you must put "INCrowdteam" in the notes to seller section to receive the discount, and then the savings will be refunded through Paypal.

Mmmm....mmmmm....mmmmm!

New Treasury West for the InCrowd Team: Mmmm....mmmmm....mmmmm! Created by Bags and More by Pam, the treasury can be viewed through Mon., May 5, at 9:41 a.m.

INCrowdteam Super Sales May 2009, Week 1

Shop INCrowdteam!

Want your shop to be featured here? Contact me for details!

Free Shipping Sale!
BeadedDetails (handmade jewelry & accessories)
May 1 - May 10, 2009: Free Shipping to anywhere in the USA!

Mother's Day Sale
daisydesignsfloral (Silk Floral Designs For Any Occasion)
May 1 - May 5, 2009: Free Shipping on selected Mother's Day Arrangements!

We're Not in Little Pink Houses

Stockannette has created this wonderful treasury filled with a variety of items fashioned by members of the Indiana Etsy Street Team. We're Not in Little Pink Houses will be available for viewing through Sat., May 2 at 7:27 a.m. Enjoy!

New Editors Needed!

Dear Team members and loyal blog readers:

It is with regret that I must tell you all that I have become overwhelmed with my shops, my own blogs, and above all the paying workday. I must step down, both as editor of the INCrowdteam Interviews and the INCrowdteam Blog itself. The Team deserves an editorial staff that can serve the Team's needs. I fear that I cannot, at least for the foreseeable future.

Volunteers? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Convo me by clicking on the title!!

I will be happy to provide successors with all of my stocked-up interviews with INCrowdteam members, and I will also provide guidelines, directions & rules for the blog at the Team's proboards.

Thank you all, participants and readers alike, for making this year-long experiment an enjoyable one. I have had a great time!! And yes, I'll be back, albeit in a less visible way, some time in the next year or so.

Sincerely,

Carolynn McLaughlin
Editor-in-Chief, INCrowdteam Blog
Editor, INCrowdteam Interviews

Oh....So Pretty!

Check out this new INCrowdteam treasury, Oh.....So Pretty! created by Bags and More by Pam. The treasury can be viewed through Saturday, April 18, at 9:38 p.m. Enjoy! And watch for new items to be moved into the treasury about mid-day Saturday!

Bam!! KaPowwww!!!!

Popping colors! Popping items! You will love this treasury created by BytheWay! It will be available through Sunday, April 12, at 7:35 a.m. It is terrific! Enjoy the viewing of these talented artists!

INCrowdteam Super Sales April 2009, Week 2

Shop INCrowdteam!

Want your shop to be featured here? Contact me for details!

Two Great Offers!

CreativeBorders (Custom Handmade Photo Borders)
Now through?: Free shipping on all items. Purchase 2 or more items and get 20% off!



Prices Have Never Been This Low Sale!
BerryCreekCandles (Hand-poured Natural Soy & Palm Candles, Lead Free Wicks)
Until all items are gone!: Inventory reduction sale.


"New Sale Selection!"
totertot (Totes, Messenger Bags, Handbags, and so much more!)
Currently: New Sales Section.


"Celebrate Green!"
House of ní Lochlainn (Vintage Re-Purposed)
Now through 4/15/09: 10% off all green items (look for shamrock & claddagh avatar in listings). Purchase but don't pay & you'll receive a revised PayPal bill.


Spring/Easter Sale

daisydesignsfloral (Silk Floral Designs For Any Occasion)
April 1 - April 30th 10% off all items in the Spring/Easter Section.