Craft Cafe Artisan Chat - Debora Mauser Designs

Craft Cafe Artisan Interview - Debora Mauser Designs

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Meet Debora Mauser from Debora Mauser Designs

♥ Please tell us about yourself:
All my life I have created things, starting with woven potholders as a child and then numerous handcrafts, like sewing and knitting and crossstitch, ended up becoming a hairdresser.  When parenthood took over, I started down different paths but found my true calling when I started creating jewelry.  From creating, I have moved onto teaching. I teach nationally at venues like Bead and Button, Bead Fest, William Holland School of Lapidary Arts and many other places.  I am just starting my journey into online shopping and hope to have a successful partnership with Craft Café.

♥ How long have you been in business?
12 Years

♥ Please describe your business:
Lately my focus has been on teaching, but have sold my jewelry at small shows and even at house parties.  I need a presence online and Craft Café has made that easy to attain.  I create one of a kind jewelry that reflects my love of texture, form and color.

♥ Tell us what inspires you:
Like many others, the nature around me is a true inspiration, the shape of a tree trunk, the colors of flowers and the movement of those elements all bring ideas to me.

♥ Please share with others, your best marketing techniques:
Always wear your creations, take business cards with you at all times.

♥ What do you love most about your business?
I love taking flat wire and metal and turning into a three dimension creation.  When I teach the part that I love most is seeing my students eyes light up when they ‘get it’.

♥ Please tell us why have chosen Craft Café as a venue for your business?
I have thought about an online store for several years, and even reserved a place on another site, but never opened it.  I chose Craft Café because of their price structure, there seeming less endless energy and commitment to their sellers.

♥ What advice can you give for crafters/artisans just starting out?
Practice, practice, practice.  It takes years to develop your craft/art to the point that most are satisfied enough to offer their products for sale.  Learn, learn, learn… take classes, read, network. All invaluable to the creative process.

♥ Where do you see your business in 5 years?
I hope to be teaching at larger venues and in some local galleries as well as advancing my online store.  My work is evolving continuously, now using more metal and color than ever. The road is always twisting and turning.

♥ Lastly, would you like to offer our readers a special or coupon code for your Craft Cafe shop?
Yes, I would like to offer10% off til 12/15, simply use code: xmas when checking out at my  Craft Cafe Shop.

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We would like to send out a big THANK YOU to Debora for all her love and support.

Be sure to visit Debora Mauser Designs soon ♥ ♥ Craft Cafe Shop / Facebook

Cyber Monday Deals are HERE!

AMAZING CYBER MONDAY DEALS ARE UNDERWAY AT THE CAFE!

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Gift Certificate Giveaway - KSMonkeys

KSMonkeys
$30 Gift Certificate Giveaway

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FABULOUS BLACK FRIDAY DEALS ARE UNDERWAY AT THE CAFE!

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Craft Cafe Artisan Chat - The Dip Lady

Craft Cafe Artisan Interview - The Dip Lady

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Meet Carla McPhee from The Dip Lady

♥ Please tell us about yourself:
I am a mother of 3 with a wonderful husband who helps me out when he can in between his full time job and coaching youth football. I'm originally from Massachusetts and I have been living in Arizona since 2001. I love the abundance of blue skies, tall palm trees and amazing sunsets. I have a weakness for anything blingy and shiny...I'm very creative and I love to make things...I love muscle cars and old vintage signs!

♥ How long have you been in business?
Since 2002

♥ Please describe your business:
I have 21 gourmet flavored dip mixes that come prepackaged. I offer delicious fruit dips, spicy dips, bread dipping mixes, bagel and cracker spreads, no-bake style cheesecakes, and bean dips. I also hand craft my ceramic dip chillers. These are 2 part bowls where the top bowl that holds your dips sits inside another bowl that holds the ice and water, so that you always keep your dips chilled and fresh. I also hand craft french style butter bells and these keep your butter soft and spreadable. Among other fun items I make are, kitchen magnets on tiles, wine cork necklaces and key chains and my most recent project are soldered glass charm necklaces.

♥ Tell us what inspires you:
I am inspired by my customers. When I'm at a show and I hear things like...."Oh thank goodness you are here!" or "Oh, I finally found you!"...that inspires me because what I have is something they need and you feel appreciated by their words.... that inspires me!!

♥ Please share with others, your best marketing techniques:
My best marketing technique is .... "Try before you buy!" ~ It works everytime. When I sample at my booth at a craft show, they simply cannot resist and they end up taking home several of my mixes.

♥ What do you love most about your business?
I love that I am able to see my children off to school and that I'm here when they get home...I feel blessed that I have so much time with them while running my business.

♥ Please tell us why have chosen Craft Café as a venue for your business?
I have chosen Craft Cafe because it allows me to list as many items as I want, no limits...so user friendly!

♥ What advice can you give for crafters/artisans just starting out?
My best advice to anyone starting out is...."Don't be afraid of hard work!"

♥ Where do you see your business in 5 years?
I would like to see more wholesale accounts and my items in more locally owned shops in the valley.

♥ Lastly, would you like to offer our readers a special or coupon code for your Craft Cafe shop?
Yes, please enter code "diplady" when checking out at my  Craft Cafe Shop to receive 10% off your entire purchase!


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We would like to send out a big THANK YOU to Carla for all her love and support.

Be sure to visit The Dip Lady soon ♥ ♥ Craft Cafe Shop / Facebook / Pinterest 

Gift Certificate Giveaway - Aphrodite's Attique

Aphrodite's Attique
$30 Gift Certificate Giveaway

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Craft Cafe Artisan Chat - In Your Face Beauty Works

Craft Cafe Artisan Interview - In Your Face Beauty Works

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Meet Suzy Molen from In Your Face Beauty Works

♥ Please tell us about yourself:
I am a mom to 3 boys.  They keep me busy along with homeschooling them, and being very involved at my church.  I have always been a creative soul and at a young age wanted to own my own creative business.


♥ How long have you been in business?
 I have owned my own business for almost 10 years though In Your Face Beauty Works was started in February of 2012.


♥ Please describe your business:
In Your Face Beauty Works is an all natural mineral makeup company.  I have a wide variety of products including foundation, eyeshadow, blush and more.  All the ingredients in our products are natural and great for your skin!  I am also a one woman show!  All formulas and everything are made by me.

♥ Tell us what inspires you:
 I love color so the world around me is so inspiring.  Making healthy choices is another thing that inspires me.  I love that I know each ingredient that I am putting on my skin and how it helps to care for my skin and not harm it with harsh chemicals.

♥ Please share with others, your best marketing techniques:
I could tell you but then I'd have to kill you. :)  Just kidding.  Word of mouth is definitely the best marketing out there.  Happy customers are the best!  Giving out some samples to people to test doesn't cost a ton and they usually end up buying more later on.  Knowing and loving the product you sell will really show to your customers also.  I LOVE what I do and it shows.

♥ What do you love most about your business?
 I love that it's so fulfilling. I make items from scratch and I love it. I also love that I even as a single mom, I can stay home with my kids.

♥ Please tell us why have chosen Craft Café as a venue for your business?
I chose Craft Cafe because I knew the owners took a lot of time in considering what is important to sellers in a venue.

♥ What advice can you give for crafters/artisans just starting out?
Owning a business is A LOT of work.  Research research research your product before you even start.  Owning your business is not an "if you build it, they will come" type of thing.   The more you put in, the more you'll get out of it.  Patience is a virtue!  Successful businesses don't happen over night.  Take time to make your business grow and your products top notch.

♥ Where do you see your business in 5 years?
 Rich and famous. lol.  I wish! Well at least the rich part. :) I have written down some goals and I hope have met and exceeded those goals within 5 years.  I have many ideas for expanding as well.  I would like to add an entire line of skincare products along with the mineral makeup.

♥ Lastly, would you like to offer our readers a special or coupon code for your Craft Cafe shop?
Yes, please use code "Blog15" during checkout at my Craft Cafe Shop for 15% off your entire purchase!

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We would like to send out a big THANK YOU to Suzy for all her love and support.

Be sure to visit In Your Face Beauty Works soon ♥ ♥ Craft Cafe Shop / Facebook

Craft Cafe Artisan Chat - Georgia Marbles

Craft Cafe Artisan Interview - Georgia Marbles

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Meet Georgia Groves w/ Grandson Jackson from Georgia Marbles

♥ Please tell us about yourself:
My name is Georgia and I live in Ohio ..not Georgia. I  love to sew! I have been sewing since I was about 12 years old. I remember watching my Grandma make doll clothes without a pattern. I have been married to "SANTA" for 40 years. We raised 4 children and have 6 grandchildren. I started making tutus  for my daughter's dance studio and listed some online...happened to make an apron and they took off selling better than the tutus so I started making more! I started making the  the Vintage Inspired Cloth Paper Dolls about  a year ago. I really enjoy creating fun different items for that special person who wants unique things.

♥ How long have you been in business?
I have been selling online since 2008.

♥ Please describe your business:
I believe my Craft Cafe shop reflects my  joy of sewing . Most of my aprons are OOAK (one of a kind) and have been made using my own original pattern using both vintage and vintage inspired fabrics. My dolls all take on  a personality of their own.. I love adding the little extra vintage buttons, ribbons,and pearls to them. Also I had great fun naming them all! I named the dolls after my 3 daughters, my 2 grandaughters, my aunts and close friends.

♥ Tell us what inspires you:
I love to go to  garage sales and flea markets and  find  fabric, buttons, and sewing  supplies.  My mind goes crazy imagining  the  special projects I can make! I have a roomful(literally) of fabric...but i  never seem to have enough!. : )

♥ Please share with others, your best marketing techniques:
 I  have found  that using facebook , twitter, and pinterest has helped promote my business. I also hand out  business cards at  craftshows and add a few extra to my sales.

♥ What do you love most about your business?
I love being able to stay at home and make money  while doing something that I love ...SEWING!

♥ Please tell us why have chosen Craft Café as a venue for your business?
I chose to open  a shop on Crafe Cafe because it is a new venue to  attract attention to my  items. Also, several of my  online  friends were promoting  Craft Cafe so I thought "why not give it a try?"

♥ What advice can you give for crafters/artisans just starting out?
The main advice I have for any one starting out is to get a feel for  what the public wants... will they appreciate  the time and effort that goes into a  handmade item? make sure you  know the  upfront costs of  your products before  pricing them to sell ( and do not  forget to get paid for your time!)

♥ Where do you see your business in 5 years?
MMMMMMM....in 5 years  I would LOVE for "georgiamarbles" to be a household name !!LOL Hey! I can dream can't I! : )

♥ Lastly, would you like to offer our readers a special or coupon code for your Craft Cafe shop?
I would love to offer a coupon for 15% off in my Craft Cafe shop!!  Please use coupon code BLOG15 during checkout.

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We would like to send out a big THANK YOU to Georgia for all her love and support.

Be sure to visit Georgia Marbles soon ♥ ♥ Craft Cafe Shop / Facebook / Twitter / Blog

Craft Cafe Artisan Chat - A Penny for Your Thoughts

Craft Cafe Artisan Interview - A Penny for Your Thoughts

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Meet Parrie L. Brooks from A Penny for Your Thoughts (A Penny 4 Ur Thoughts)

♥ Please tell us about yourself:
A Penny for Your Thoughts is the realization of a lifetime love of crafting. As a former Teacher and Trainer with the nickname Penny, I honed my crafting skills creating exemplary classroom decorations and learning tools.  Soon I realized a passion for all types of paper and the wealth of possibilities in its use . Our goal is to create a miniature work of art that serves as a communications vehicle for savvy consumers.

♥ How long have you been in business?
We have been a formal business for five years. Prior to that we provided cards and gift-wrap to close family and friends.

♥ Please describe your business:
A Penny for Your Thoughts is your source for quality handcrafted Greeting Cards and Gift Accessories. We are honored to provide our customers with a variety of Greeting Cards, Note Card Sets, Gift Tags, Gift Bags and Gift Boxes.
Our mission is to remain faithful to artisanal traditions in the digital age.

♥ Tell us what inspires you:
Our style is constantly evolving based on inspirational influences in both nature and fabric.

♥ Please share with others, your best marketing techniques:
Our online presence continues to grow as our primary marketing tool through participation in  Facebook,  Pinterest,  Wanelo and  Twitter. We also participate in the Sampler Village. This gives us an opportunity to provide samples of our products to individuals. Quality online  photos of our products is critical, the opportunity to get actual products in the hands of potential customers serves as a bridge from the virtual marketplace to the physical. I also feel a sense of Karma when distributing my card samples. The sharing of my talents is a way to pay homage to a swiftly diminishing tradition, the hand written note.

♥ What do you love most about your business?
As a life long learner, the opportunity to explore new techniques and skills is exciting and rewarding. Also, interacting with fellow artisans online provides critical feedback and support.

♥ Please tell us why have chosen Craft Café as a venue for your business?
 Craft Café aligns with both our professional and personal philosophies. As an online marketplace, the values of a “brick and mortar” location are evident. Community: Craft Café provides pages for Sellers and Fans as well. Ongoing interaction is invited and encouraged. Swift and courteous Seller support: The Admin Team is “always at the ready” to assist Sellers no matter how comprehensive or minute the concern.

♥ What advice can you give for crafters/artisans just starting out?
Believe in yourself and your product. Join a collaborative to receive feedback from fellow artisans. Be patient, take the time to learn more about your craft and how to promote your product. In essence you are everything…help desk, marketing, packaging and design department!

♥ Where do you see your business in 5 years?
As Craft Café continues to grow, I see our shop as an integral part of that community. Our partnership with local artisans is inspirational as well. In five years, I see this collaborative as an opportunity to continue to learn from these individuals.

♥ Lastly, would you like to offer our readers a special or coupon code for your Craft Cafe shop?
Yes! Please use Coupon Code: CCFan15 in my Craft Cafe Shop which will give you 15% off your total order!
Effective Date: November 12, 2012 through February  12, 2013

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We would like to send out a big THANK YOU to Parrie for all her love and support.

Be sure to visit A Penny for Your Thoughts soon ♥ ♥ Craft Cafe Shop / Facebook / Twitter / Wanelo / Pinterest

Gift Certificate Giveaway - A Penny For Your Thoughts

A Penny For Your Thoughts
$25 Gift Certificate Giveaway

Facebook / Craft Cafe Shop
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Craft Cafe Artisan Chat - Rhea's Renderings

Craft Cafe Artisan Interview - Rhea's Renderings

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Meet LeAnne Ritter from Rhea's Renderings

♥ Please tell us about yourself:
I am a single mom to two beautiful black cats and one sweet little three-legged crazy ginger cat, all are rescues.  I have been making jewelry for myself since I was a teenager.  About 10 years ago I finally decided I needed a source of money for my serious bead habit, so I started selling my jewelry to friends and relatives.  A few years ago I started selling online and I’m happy that I am still doing what I love.  Unfortunately, I do have a full time job to pay the bills, but I still have time to make jewelry when I want.  Other interests include going to the Monterey Jazz Festival every year for the past 15 years or so.  I do some sewing as well, but jewelry is my first love.

♥ How long have you been in business?
I guess if you consider that the first earrings I made were for myself when I was a teenager, we’re looking at about 40 years now.  (Yikes!)  But I really didn’t start selling jewelry until about 15 years ago.

♥ Please describe your business:
I handcraft jewelry of all types.  Creating special custom orders for my client is my favorite thing to do.  I usually make my jewelry out of semiprecious gemstones and sterling silver, using wire wrapping when I can, and adding lots of Swarovski crystal for the bling factor.  I also have branched out into some non-precious metal pieces to try to keep prices down so I can have a variety of pieces that fit every budget.

♥ Tell us what inspires you:
I am inspired by beautiful colors of nature and try to follow what’s trending, although I’m not always able to make myself do pieces that I don’t think are particularly lovely or would be something that you would want to wear after the season is over.  What inspires me most is to find a unique focal bead or pendant and start from that point, designing something specific to that focal point.

♥ Please share with others, your best marketing techniques:
What has been most successful for me in the past is “up selling”, by offering matching bracelets or earrings with a necklace, or suggesting something that might look great with a particular piece.

♥ What do you love most about your business?
I love creating something new and fresh, I’m not very interested in copying another artist’s design but I do get inspiration for my own pieces from something that’s already been created sometimes.  Taking an old or broken piece of jewelry that a customer wants to be re-created into something new is one of my favorite things to do.

♥ Please tell us why have chosen Craft Café as a venue for your business?
I’ve been so impressed by the Facebook group for Craft Café, all the artisans are so willing to help each other out and the Craft Café staff are always available and respond immediately to problems or questions.  You don’t find that at all online sites these days.  Plus I like that it’s new and fresh and has unlimited possibilities for success.

♥ What advice can you give for crafters/artisans just starting out?
Stay focused on your vision of your business.  It usually starts out slow for most people, depending on how unique and in demand your product is.  I have long periods of time in between sales, but it’s better when I take the time to really market myself and get online and get active in blogs and such to get your name and your shop name out there.

♥ Where do you see your business in 5 years?
As long as I am working my full time job, it’s hard for me to spend the necessary marketing time to really amp up my online sales, but I’d like to think that at some point I could do that and really have regular sales from my shop.  I would like to continue to do some trunk showings as well, which helps to move inventory in between shop sales.

♥ Lastly, would you like to offer our readers a special or coupon code for your Craft Cafe shop?
Yes, I have added a coupon for 15% off all items in my Craft Cafe Shop that is good through the end of January 2013.  Please use code 15percentoff

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We would like to send out a big THANK YOU to LeAnne for all her love and support.

Be sure to visit Rhea's Renderings soon ♥ ♥ Craft Cafe Shop / Facebook / Twitter

Craft Cafe Artisan Chat - Botanicals for Beauty

Craft Cafe Artisan Interview - Botanicals for Beauty

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Meet Laura Simmons From Botanicals for Beauty

♥ Please tell us about yourself:
Like many other of the newer artisans, I have problems with unemployment.  After 7 years of look and not finding any work with the exception of temporary agencies I decided to finally take the plunge and paid for a 3 level aromatherapy home study course.  This course had lots of information in it about nature's butters and oils plus herbs and included some sample recipes as well.  So that was when I started thinking about selling skin care products and essential oils perfumes, bath salts and bath oils on the web.

♥ How long have you been in business?
Since 2/27/2012

♥ Please describe your business:
My shop contains items most of which have essential oils added to them either for pleasure or skin care.  I started this business after taking an aromatherapy home course which discussed skin care issues a great deal and also talked about the advantages of various butters and oils.  The second part of the course talked more about blends and essential that are helpful for a specific mood.

♥ Tell us what inspires you:
What inspires me to keep going are the people who have told me that they have tried everything else they could find and nothing helped them with their dry skin until they tried my products.  Also I have had feedback from people who have said that they see noticeable results on the 3rd day of using my product.  Unfortunately if not used every day you will not see the same results.

♥ Please share with others, your best marketing techniques:
For now it is making friends with my fellow artisans.  I am also working on some research to learn how to be more effective using social networks.

♥ What do you love most about your business?
Actually it's hard to give just one thing that I love the most.  There are two things and they are that I give real value in my creations because everything I sell is concentrated,  nothing is watered down (except the apple cider vinegar toners due to acidity) and because of that my items not only give better results they also last for a longer period of time.  Plus the success stories of people who have been relieved of a skin care problem after trying so many other things.

♥ Please tell us why have chosen Craft Café as a venue for your business?
Because the price was so reasonable and I have heard that it is a great advantage if you are among the first to open up a shop in a new venue.

♥ What advice can you give for crafters/artisans just starting out?
The first thing is to find other artisans that enjoy networking and network with them.  I started a FB share and like group and so now all of us have our items shared by at least 5 other artisans on their social networking sites.  The group is new so it is still small, but I also don't want anyone to have to spend too much time doing the like and shares plus I don't want my members to be thought of as spammers.  If the group gets too big I will end dividing it into two groups.  So can you imagine, the reach we each have now?

♥ Where do you see your business in 5 years?
I hope that I will have 100 items by then and be so busy that I will need to hire some part time help.


♥ Lastly, would you like to offer our readers a special or coupon code for your Craft Cafe shop?
Yes, I am offering FREE SHIPPING with the purchase of 3 or more items from my Craft Cafe Shop, please see my shop message for more information.

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We would like to send out a big THANK YOU to Laura for all her love and support.

Be sure to visit Botanicals for Beauty soon ♥ ♥ Craft Cafe Shop / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

Gift Certificate Giveaway - Lisa Boland Jewelry Designs

Lisa Boland Jewelry Designs
$25 Gift Certificate Giveaway

Facebook / Craft Cafe Shop
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