Friday, January 28, 2011

December Team Challenge (No. 9, Part 4)

The grand finale is here! Time to post the last of our December HHU Team Challenge entries. Remember that our themes for the month were Love Makes the World Go Round and Presidents Day.





First up are these adorable earrings made with vintage buttons from Woman with Tools. These are definitely one of a kind!













Our final item is a very pretty and feminine necklace from Jewels by Trish!












I'll be back next week with the first of our entries from our January challenge http://heartsandhandsunited.blogspot.com/2011/01/january-2011-challenge-from-hhu-team.html. No pressure, but there are just 3 days left until the deadline!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Team Spotlight! Seven Oak Farm!

This week we would like to introduce you to Nancy from Seven Oak Farm! Take a look at these beautiful luminaries from her shop (oh yeah, she can also make you an awesome banner for your shop)!

1. Your name, nickname and a little about who you are

Hello! I am Nancy, just a farm girl now living in a small town but still love the farm life. I have several nicknames but Bossy Boots is used the most. Not sure why though! Just kidding, I am my Mother!

2. Surprise us with something about you that you think will shock us!

My life is not very shocking! I once played piano and sang with a Gospel group that traveled Ohio, WV, VA, KY and Indiana.

3. What is your main craft/art/collectible?

I have struggled to find my niche. The problem is that I love so many things. I have settled in my desire to design unique items that are woodsy, nature themed, rustic with a Farmhouse feel. Luminaries and branch coasters have settled into what I will be designing.

4. How did you start with Etsy?

I started with Etsy selling vintage, prim dolls and comics. I then added a graphics shop then a soap shop. I was looking for a place to have my own store without all the hoopla of my own website and found Etsy. I will be phasing out my vintage shop soon to work on my other two shops more.

5. Any secrets to share for success? or What tool do you use to track your success?

I haven’t reached a point that I feel I have been successful. Always learning and always improving.

6. Hobbies or pastime when you are not doing Etsy.

I love doing graphic designs, it really is mind soothing to me. Spending time with my parents, Mike, friends and family.

7. Where would your dream vacation be? and why?

Springtime in Vermont or Upstate NY because it is sooooooo beautiful there

8. What do you hope to contribute and gain from Hearts and HandsUnited?

Hopefully I will contribute ideas and offer friendship.

9.Your shop address

www.sevenoakfarm.etsy.com

www.thebannerloft.etsy.com

Facebook address

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=666411154

Twitter

@sevenoakfarm

10. Where do you draw your inspiration from? Your strength?

Nature is so inspiring to me and history of things past. When I see an acorn my thought is what can I do to keep this going. I believe something can be made from anything with imagination.

11. Free writing anything you want to say

One of the best decisions was joining HHU. I was here almost from the beginning. I have learned so much and come to know some pretty terrific people.

Friday, January 21, 2011

December Team Challenge (No. 9, Part 3)

Happy Friday! Time, once again, to spotlight an entry to our December challenge. Our challenge was to make something that either incorporates Presidents Day or Valentines Day (Love Makes the World go Round). This week we have an unusual and very pretty piece of jewelry from Anika's Art. Check out the very cool heart pendant!

Next week, I will be back with the grand finale for December. In the meantime, you have 10 days left to submit an entry for the January challenge!
http://heartsandhandsunited.blogspot.com/2011/01/january-2011-challenge-from-hhu-team.html

See you next week!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Team Spotlight! lterrill9 - Terrill's Tiles!

Today we want to introduce you to Terrill's Tiles! Wouldn't these Scrabble tile coasters be perfect for Valentines Day?



1. Your name, nickname and a little about who you are

Hello all! My name is Leann Terrill, a lot of my friends call me tiles! My friends started the nickname when I began making tile coasters obviously And it spread from there. I started by just making myself a set of English Bulldog coasters, then friends had requests, neighbors, and then came craft shows. They are so fun, I love them! Meeting so many wonderful people!


2. Surprise us with something about you that you think will shock us!

I don’t know how shocking this is, but I have been trying to save money to go skydiving! That is my dream, to one day skydive and be so free! I hope to do it in the near future!


3. What is your main craft/art/collectible?

Tile Coasters, games, gifts and more! I love working with tile, it is so beautiful and relaxing. You can do so much with it and it is fun to invent and try new things!


4. How did you start with Etsy?

I actually began on Artfire, a friend told me about it. I stumbled across Etsy when I was looking at someone’s shop. Checked it out and have been hooked on the Etsy community ever since.


5. Any secrets to share for success? or What tool do you use to track your success?

I don’t really have any success secrets other than customer service should always be number one. A happy customer is a returning customer!

I use Google Analytics to help track the different views, keywords and times that are most popular for my shop. Also, the forums! There is so much to learn there, only problem is once you start hours can pass and it feels like minutes!


6. Hobbies or pastime when you are not doing Etsy.

I am totally an outdoors girl. Camping, fishing, hiking, boating or just sitting in the sun! My happiest times are always in the sunshine!


7. Where would your dream vacation be? and why

Anywhere tropical, or where the sun shines! Oooh I would love to go on an African safari sometime!


8. What do you hope to contribute and gain from Hearts and Hands United?

I love our HHU team! I hope to contribute good ideas, promote sales and most of all be a good friend to those friends in need! Who doesn’t need an uplifting word, an act of kindness and a virtual hug every now and then?

9. Where can we find you?

Etsy - http://www.etsy.com/shop/lterrill9


10. Where do you draw your inspiration from? Your strength?

My inspiration usually comes to me…..when I’m sleeping! I dream up so many fun things that I want to create and try building! My strength? It comes from being a single mom to two wonderful girls! It’s amazing how strong you can be when you have people depending on you for every aspect of their lives! I grow more every day just being a mom, loving and being loved!


11. Free writing anything you want to say

Everyday is a new day, a clean slate, a new chance to make yourself proud! Use it wisely!

I just want to say a special thank you to my team for inviting me into their hearts and the team! This is a great group of people that I can learn and grow so much with! Mistakes or triumphs, we will get through them together! Thank you to those who started it and who add heart to it every single day. Much love, muah!