 Modern Organic Throw Pillows Introduce Yourself: My name is Debbi Sawatzky and I live in St. Louis, SK. I opened ThreadEthic Organic Sewing Boutique on Etsy in June of this year. I was completely terrified as Etsy is kind of a big deal, but I am so thrilled to be apart of this worldwide network!  Organic Baby Gifts: Charcoal Bandana Bib and Burpcloth and Teether How long have you been doing your craft? I have been an Interior Decorator since 2009 which introduced me to the amazing textile world. However sewing is fairly new to me, which some people find hard to believe! Last year I made a random comment to my Mother in Law about thinking I might like to learn how to sew. She offered to lend me her machine, got me started and well, the rest is history! I was instantly captivated by the process and fell in love with creating whatever I thought up! After many classes and countless hours of sewing the idea of ThreadEthic started to form. How did you get started? I began to research sustainable, ethical cotton and at first found nothing. It was pretty discouraging but I just kept going and ended up with an amazing range from some fantastic cloth companies! I love being able to make modern pieces knowing the materials I use are helping other people too:-) Right now Organic cotton is in the place organic food was 20 years ago. It has been so rewarding to both learn and share about the benefits of organic, ethical cotton.
What brought you to Etsy? I came to Etsy because I shop on Etsy and have enjoyed the experience for years! Being a seller gives me a whole new appreciation for our global community. Also I am not tech savvy so having this simple to use platform has been amazing. I know it takes time, effort and passion to grow a successful business and I am loving the journey so far!
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How long have you been doing your craft? Since 1985.  Geraniums - Study: Hooked Wall Hanging How did you get started? My eldest child was 10 months old and colicky. My sister-in-law suggested I needed to get out of the house a bit. Her mother taught rug hooking classes. No one would take care of my daughter, so we took her with us...along with a baby swing. As long as the baby swing was going she was quiet. As soon as it stopped she'd start to cry. It was a long day or two, learning to hook. But it was fun because my sister-in-law and her mother had a great attitude about the whole thing. And I was captivated by the potential for the craft right from the start.
What do you like about selling on Etsy? I can reach a wide diversity of people from all over the place. It's easy to list and manage your items for sale. There's support and help if you need it.  Blue Green Wool & Silk Bundle
 Dead of Winter Wall Hanging Is there anything else you would like to share with us about your shop or yourself? The work in my shop is all original designs, most of them worked directly on backing without a pattern, and therefore not reproducible. I am a juried member of the Saskatchewan Craft Council. I exhibit across North America. I have work in private collections in South Korea, the United States, and in Canada. I am pleased to have my shop featured by Etsy. Thank you for all the opportunities Etsy!  Because I did this whole project as a linear thing - one set at a time - I kept finding great pieces for a previous selection. So we have another fashion "look" I could totally go with. I'd start with this great top by 26Lentils and add a fun pair of earrings from PlayingItByEar. My poor phone would get a little spoiling with a cozy from lilyNSparrow.
As a part of a May project to give Etsy Saskatchewan teamies a little promotion, I've put together a series of picks from a variety of team shops. Team leaders will share these on the team Facebook and Instagram accounts and we'd love if you share them, too! Have some cute picks you think would make a great post? Pass them along to etsysaskteam@gmail.com  Sometimes you just need something a little silly. A little fun. A lot odd. Etsy is a pretty good place to find all of that. The wine cork bag by sewnbylindsay appeals to my slightly warped Wine Mom sense of humour. The poutine ring by ThoughtFormsCreative is a charming nod to that Canadian treat and while I'm not a treasure hunter, this paint dipped shed antler (by BDazzledScraps) is a fun take on the idea.
As a part of a May project to give Etsy Saskatchewan teamies a little promotion, I've put together a series of picks from a variety of team shops. Team leaders will share these on the team Facebook and Instagram accounts and we'd love if you share them, too! Have some cute picks you think would make a great post? Pass them along to etsysaskteam@gmail.com  Some days we just want comfy and cozy. Add an extra touch to a great, warm bath with bath salts by SpaStuff. Keep yourself a little toastier with this neck warmer from KnitNaturalFibreArts. And, enjoy that great DSLR - in all it's heavy glory - a little more with a padded strap cover from AliceandVictor. As a part of a May project to give Etsy Saskatchewan teamies a little promotion, I've put together a series of picks from a variety of team shops. Team leaders will share these on the team Facebook and Instagram accounts and we'd love if you share them, too! Have some cute picks you think would make a great post? Pass them along to etsysaskteam@gmail.com  I did have a bit of a fashion pick in mind when I started this combo but it became more about what I liked the look of. That suits me just fine. A coffee cozy by FernSparrow to keep me spilling it all onto the cute skirt from RaspberryApparel. And as a book lover, I'd be thrilled to match utility and whimsy with a purse from retrograndma.
As a part of a May project to give Etsy Saskatchewan teamies a little promotion, I've put together a series of picks from a variety of team shops. Team leaders will share these on the team Facebook and Instagram accounts and we'd love if you share them, too! Have some cute picks you think would make a great post? Pass them along to etsysaskteam@gmail.com  Custom Set of Fabric Family Members Introduce Yourself: My name is Erika Folnovic. I am a UofR graduate with a degree in Arts Education and Visual Art. Fibre art and watercolour/ink illustrating are my main two areas of expertise. In fibre I make custom/monster fabric portraits, soft sculpture (puppets, stuffed animals, etc), and others as I find time to explore. In 2014, I illustrated my first children's book called "Jamie and the Monster Bookroom" by Kerry Simpson. Find more info about it here on our publisher's website: http://www.driverworks.ca/Jamie-and-the-Monster-Bookroom.php Before that I have had illustrations published in: "The Too Tall Boy" by Kay Niedermayer, "Letters to Jennifer From Maudie and Oliver" by Sharon Gray, "Every Bite Affects the World" by Catherine Verrall and Friends, and "Is it Easy Being Green?: Eco Art Initiatives for You and Your Classroom" an article I authored for Canadian Art Teacher. My work is mainly geared towards the young and young at heart and my designs are playful and cute. What's Your Shop's Name? ErikaFolnovic
What do you make/sell? How do you make it? In my shop, at the moment, I only have my fibre work available in four main areas: Fabric Banners (pennant/bunting banners), Erika's Little Monsters (embroidery hoop portraits), Puppets, and Custom Products (of Fabric Banners and Little Monsters). All my products are handmade by me and use recycled materials where possible. How long has your Etsy shop been open? I started my shop in October 2014, but didn't post any items until December 2014.  Fabric Bunting How long have you been doing your craft? I had a brief stint making jewellery and doing the festival circuit in Regina for 3 years before I went back to my first love, fibre art, and did that for another 2 years before deciding to only sell my work on Etsy and in shops (I have work available at Paper Umbrella and the Mackenzie Art Gallery shop in Regina). How did you get started? I have been making fibre work since my mom taught me to use a sewing machine as a young kid. From making small purses to hand sewing embroidered designs on pillows to applique work, I have always loved the tactile nature of fibre work. I didn't really think about it as an art form until I was in university and started looking at and researching artists working in soft sculpture and other textiles. What do you like about selling on Etsy? I really love connecting with customers that wouldn't be a usual part of the old festival circuit model I was running. What brought you to Etsy? I was becoming increasingly exhausted from the festival circuit after 5 years of travelling, setting-up tents, displaying products, tearing down, and starting all over again. Etsy gives me the freedom to work and sell from home and reach a really wide audience. What's been your best Etsy experience? All the custom orders I've made have been wonderful experiences. I love the process of bringing a family to life in fabric. I take a lot of time and consideration to replicate the people or animals with the small details that make them unique. Before selling on Etsy, I never really promoted custom work but I am really enjoying it! It's a fun challenge for me. Is there anything else you would like to share with us about your shop or yourself? I am an educator, as well as, an artist. I work with programs at the Mackenzie Art Gallery, Regina Public School Board, Conservatory of Performing Arts, and others throughout Regina. I am starting an initiative in Regina called the Art Supply Exchange and we are seeking second hand art supplies until our shop launch on September 25th. If you know anyone who is getting rid of any old art supplies please send them our way: https://www.facebook.com/artsupplyexchange OR http://artsupplyexchange.blogspot.ca/  Custom Family Portrait |
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