Talk to Me: Wilde Style

Hi! It has been a bit since I had the privilege to interview and feature an Indie shop and it was an honor to meet, Beth, a geeky Texan. She is a multi-talented wife and Mother. I love her Big Bang Theory and Twilight products! 

Welcome Beth! Thank you so much for talking with me. 

Tell us a bit about you!

My name is Beth Howard. I'm a geeky graphic designer from Texas with a husband, a son (he's three) and three puppies. I work as a designer full time, then I own a small business and do freelance graphic design in what I laughingly call my "free" time.

Please, tell us about your shop. 

My main shop is Wilde Designs. I do art, prints and handmade/up-cycled jewelry, most with a weird or geeky vibe. I've honestly been making random jewelry and other things since I was a little kid, and in 2007, when I was in college, I finally started doing it "for real" and selling online. Now my shop is a real, honest-to-god business. I have to file taxes and everything.

What is your Favorite thing to make?

 I love making domino pendants with pictures on them, mostly because it's a really good excuse to go through a bunch of dorky pictures and select my favorites. I'm also a designer because I really do love the work, so doing prints and selecting fonts and colors and making things pretty is a good time to me.

What is the hardest part about owning an online business?

Finding "extra" time with a full time job and a child is difficult. It's also flat out hard to get the word out. There are a lot of people selling a lot of things, and finding YOUR spot in the marketplace can be a rough road - but so rewarding when it happens. Every little sale is a big, big deal, and that's kind of beautiful. 

Do you have any advice to share with the rest of us indie online shop owners? 

Always have a back up. Selling places like Etsy, Storenvy and Artfire is amazing, but I really do recommend having all your product descriptions, pricing, etc. saved at the very least in a spreadsheet. Ideally, having your own stand alone domain is also fabulous. Shops can get shut down, things happen, and it's always, always, always best to be prepared.

That is so true! You never know when your computer may crash(lol happened to me) or when a site crashes, loosing all your data. It was so wonderful to meet you and learn more about your shop and craft. I am so glad you helped expand my craft community. Thank you so much for coming and talking to us today. You can find and follow Beth and her Husband at their SHOP |TackyFabShop | FACEBOOK  |INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | PINTEREST    |BLOG|

Make sure to visit her and tell her a crafty 'Hi!' 

♥Kelly

Talk to Me Tuesday: Ella's Enchanted Photos style

Hi! I was privileged to discover a brand new shop on Storenvy: Ella's Enchanted Photos. I was amazed by the beauty in her photographs and reached out to her to for an interview. She agreed! I am so totally excited to introduce you to a young lady, Ella, and her passion for life and photography.

Welcome Ella! 

Tell us about you!

Hi, I am Ella of Ella's Enchanted Photography

I am a 13 year old homeschool student. I love taking pictures, and reading. Not sure which one I like more!

Photography has been an interest of mine for many years. Less than a year ago my grandma sent me one of her old cameras and I started taking pictures with it. I was able to take a few classes, but I really wanted to share my pictures with others, and I have always wanted to have my own business. I bought a new camera with some savings I had, and now take pictures everywhere I go.

Currently I am very active in the community and am volunteering at a farm that does Hippo-Therapy. Hippo-Therapy is occupational therapy on horseback with special needs children. (I have some horse pictures to share soon!)

I am the oldest of 6 children, and would like to use the money I make from photography along with scholarships to pay for college in a few years.

Tell us about your shop!

Ella's Enchanted Photos

Since I was little I wanted to own my own business. My mom had the idea to try to sell some of my photography. We had shared some of my photos with the people we knew and they all loved them. Also we loved them! I didn't just want to take pictures and never have anyone see them. What a waste that would be. So we opened up an online store. I am very excited to be able to do something that I love, and also have a business too. I get to do 2 things I love at once! 

What is your favorite thing to capture?

My favorite pictures to take are pictures of nature. I love macro photography. There is nothing better than getting up close to a flower and get to see all the beautiful details you normally do not get to see.

What is the hardest part about owning an online business? 

The hardest part so far of having an online shop is not having a personal way of relating to people. I do a great job talking with people face to face but online I don't get to see and visit with the people visiting my store.

Do you have any advice to share?

Sorry I have no advice on running an online business to share. Other than you will only get out of it what you put in. (My mom told me that.) I am still very new at this and still figuring a lot out.

Your Mom is on the right track, I agree completely. You are an inspiration, encouragement, and a wonderful photographer. And it will be exciting to see the positive impact you have in the future on the world around you. It was so wonderful to meet you and learn more about your shop and craft. I am so glad you helped expand my craft community. Thank you so much for coming and talking to us today. You can find and follow Ella at her SHOP | ETSY | FACEBOOK  | TWITTER | PINTEREST
 
Make sure to visit her and tell her a crafty 'Hi!' 

♥Kelly

Talk to Me Tuesday: Caitlin's Amazing Pottery style

Welcome to Talk to Me Tuesday!! It has been a bit since I was able to interview a talented indie maker but when I was given the opportunity to interview my next guest, I jumped at the chance. Today we are meeting the very talented Caitlin, of Caitlin's Amazing Pottery. She makes the cutest little clay figurines, decorations, and art pieces. 

Welcome Caitlin! It is a great honor to meet you! 

Tell us about you! 

 My name is Caitlin, and I like making pottery! I also enjoy cooking, watching BBC shows (Doctor Who and Sherlock are my favorites) and I am cocaptain of my Special Olympics swim team. The Dolphins rule the pool! I also have two cats, Oreo and Jackson, both are rescue cats.

Tell us about your shop!

My shop's name is Caitlin's Amazing Pottery. It all started when I was in high school. I tried pottery a few times and it was really fun! Then I found Essence of Art, a local studio and work space for people with different intellectual disabilities. Eventually I became the head potter there!
I no longer work at EoA, but I do now have my own studio at my home, a kiln, and a ton of mud to make into fun things.

I made clay houses, figurines of different cute animals, jewelry trays, dishes, ornaments, insence burners, air planters, all out of high quality stoneware, and the list of things I make is ever growing. 

 What is your Favorite thing to make?

 It's a tie between my little round houses and my fox figurines.

What is the hardest part or owning your own online business?

Sometimes it's hard finding your target audience, and also balancing making new things while keeping up with the internet side of the business. 

Do you have any advice to share?



Sometimes sales are slow, but it's best to go with the flow and use it as a time to improve your shop and do what you love, create!  

I agree there, create what you love! It was so wonderful to meet you and learn more about your shop and craft. I am so glad you helped expand my craft community. Thank you so much for coming and talking to us today. You can find and follow Caitlin at her SHOP | FACEBOOK  | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM
 
Make sure to visit her and tell her a crafty 'Hi!' 

♥Kelly

Talk to me Tuesday: Rustic Romance Crafts style

Welcome to Talk to Me Tuesday!! Today we are meeting the very talented Kristen, of Rustic Romance Crafts, who just recently was added as a sponsor to my blog. I am so excited to have her part of my krafty-kraziness. She makes beautiful wreaths, banners, wedding decor, summer decor, patriotic decor and more. 

Welcome Kristen! 

Tell us about you!

My name is Kristen and I am the owner of Rustic Romance Crafts. I am a stay at home mom of two boys, 4 and 2. My husband and I have been married for 4 years and together for 9. When I am not busy crafting, I love to go camping with my family, go to the beach, and hang out with my friends. I am addicted to coffee and handmade goods.

Tell us about your shop! 

In January of 2013, I made a New Year's resolution to be more creative. I headed to craft store to see if I could find some inspiration when I found burlap. I had seen burlap banners before and loved the idea of making one. I made a Valentine's Day banner for myself and decided that I would make a few more with the left over material and sell them on my local Facebook garage sale sites. They were a big hit and I started my Facebook page, Rustic Romance Crafts. I continued making banners and eventually branched out into other burlap decor such as wreaths and wedding items. One year after I started my Facebook page, I made my business "official" by opening my shop on Storenvy.  

What is your Favorite thing to make?

My favorite item to make would be burlap banners. There is so much you can do with them! I love getting custom orders and making them personal. I feel like it is something they can keep and remember a special occasion in their lives. 

What is the hardest part or owning your own online business? 

Time management! Being business owner, you wear many hats : designer, creator, marketer, promoter, and accountant. Add mom, wife, house keeper to that list and it can be tough to find time to do it all. I make to-do lists daily and cross things off as I go. Lists keep me sane. LOL

 

  
Do you have any advice to share? 
I would say the hardest lesson I have learned is that your success is not necessarily the same as someone else's. Everyone's definition of success is different and everyone has different goals. Work hard, don't get discouraged, and network with other businesses like yours. I have found amazing communities who have encouraged me, giving me advice and constructive criticism which has really helped me grow.

That is great advice, Kristen! I am so glad you are part of my craft community and your darling shop inspires me all the time. Thank you so much for coming and talking to us today! You can find and follow Kristen at her SHOP | FACEBOOK  | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM  

Make sure to visit her and tell her a crafty 'Hi!' 

♥Kelly

Talk to Me Tuesday: Dazzling & Dapper style

Welcome to Talk to Me Tuesday!! Today we are meeting the very talented Katy of Dazzling and Dapper. She is really gifted with bow ties, suspenders, skirts, and embroidered items. I love her shop because she has cute things for boys!

Welcome Katy! 


Tell us about You!

 My name is Katy and I am a wife, mommy and crazy mind behind Dazzling and Dapper. My son is a crazy 2 year old redhead and as a family we love playing outside. Besides sewing, I am a geeky gamers. My current game love being Skylanders!

Tell us about your shop!

I run Dazzling and Dapper and I make clothing and accessories. I started by only making girl items, mostly bows and flower clips. Then I realized that I couldn't find what I wanted for my son and my boy's line was born. It has ties, bow ties, and suspenders. I recently added an embroidery machine and can do the whole outfit!

What is your favorite thing to make?

I love making the boy items and the birthday shirts. I think that both really embody a child's personality! 

What is the hardest part of owning your own online shop?

Time management, some days I seem to spend all day on the computer and the next I just want to sew all day. 

Do you have any advice to share?

Set realistic goals and keep at it! It takes time but hard work will pay off! 

I completely agree, Katy! Goal setting is very important but to keep them where they are attainable. It takes time to grow. Thank you so much for coming and talking to us today! I learned more about you and am so thankful you are part of my crafting, indie shop community. You can find and follow Katy at her SHOP | FACEBOOK  | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM
 
Make sure to visit her and tell her a crafty 'Hi!' 

♥Kelly