So I’ve been spending a lot of time on Etsy recently, and have found so many cool and interesting artists. I’ve been spending time on the boards at work too (shh), reading about promoting your shop and things like that. And I have this blog, and, well, 17 subscribers in bloglines (I feel like that has gone down…). Between 200-400 individual hits per month. I felt like giving back to Etsy, helping out some newbies like myself, in the hope that good things come back.

And, let me tell you, I think it is working, I made my first 3 sales in the past 2 days!

So all that is a long and rambly way of saying that I want to feature other Etsy sellers on this blog. I don’t know how often, maybe weekly, maybe less frequent, but I will work out some sort of schedule for myself.

Today’s Etsy Interviewee is Clear Pink.

ClearPink makes these gorgeous cards (I love this bubble print!). What I love about them is the attention to detail. The inter-office envelope style closure is just so cute. I know I’ve seen too many of those plain, worn-out, manila envelopes with the fraying red string, yet there is something so fun about opening and closing them. These cards have all the fun of winding up the string, and none of the worry about what you’ll find inside.

I came up with a few questions to ask people when I do this. Let me know if there’s another question you want added to the roster.

When did you start crafting?

My first memory of doing something “crafty” was when I was about 6. My grandmother came to visit for the summer and taught me how to knit. I worked on the knit and purl stitches for a few weeks. She left before I learned how to bind off, so for years I had my long multi blue scarf in my dresser. Right after college my boyfriend’s (now husband) mother was going through a knitting spurt. I asked her to re-show me how to knit. I have been knitting avidly since then.

In high school I took some art classes at the local college and decided to go to art school for my undergraduate. After college I worked for a graphic design firm. One of my favorite parts of the design process was working with paper and color.

Right before my first son was born my sister-in-law and I started a small business. We sold handmade baby/children’s items. We did that for several years. Her children were getting older so she decided to go back to work and I did not want to continue the business on my own.

I have always loved making cards. I remember making them for my husband when we were in high school. I made all of our children’s birth announcements and have made our Christmas cards for the past 3 years. After the first Christmas card I made for us, I began to make them for friends. The notecards just recently evolved. It seems like a natural thing for me. A love of good aper has always been a contant for me. Selling the cards is a great way for me to support my paper habit.

Why do you craft?

I craft because I like to be visually stimulated and to keep busy. Also, I spend most of my day caring for my four young children, which even on good days is draining. Working on the cards is a great break from the kids. It is something that I can just sit and do by myself after I put the kids to bed.

Whether it is with yarn, paper, fabric, food or in the garden, I always like to be doing something creative.

Anything you want people to know about your work?

I would like people to enjoy the cards. Paper is a great form of self expression.

What is your favourite dessert?

My favorite dessert is chocolate chip ice cream with rainbow sprinkles.