Friday Finds: ElizabethMD

Meet Elizabeth Duquette from ElizabethMD in Sarnia Ontario. She has an eclectic personality and a lot of various interests, and creates fun and funky jewelry.

She enjoys art, history and fashion, and loves historically inspired costuming and reenactment garb. Elizabeth loves to shop, daydream, write, create, research and explore, and loves Japanese things as well. She has a big heart for animals and nature and tries to do her part in helping to preserve its beauty.

Come sit down and enjoy the answers she gave to my questions:

How did you get your start on Etsy?
Well, first I started on Artfire, with no clue what I was doing in the way of business. I got started on twitter and met a friend there that recommended I try Etsy that it would be a better experince for me. So I took a look and decided to try it out! That was about 2 years ago now!

How did you choose your shop name?
My shop name was pretty easy I just named it after myself. So when I finally have the option of expanding in other areas it's easier for customers and potential customers to remember all of my shops.

What does a typical day look like for you?
My "typical day" is actually at night. I sleep during the day and choose to work at night for the quiet ambience. Usually I wake up do my "morning" chores, check my email over a nice glass of milk or hot cup of tea. I pull up my daily to do folder start working through those tabs, then once that is done I check the mail for any supplies I have ordered that might have come in that day. Any orders I have received I set up to package. Then once the business side is done, I get to create. My favourite part of my day.

Name one thing that not many people know about you.
I own my own jewelry shop and every artist that sells their work knows how much effort and the amount of hours you have to put in. What people don't know is that I suffer from severe depression and anxiety/panic attacks. I work very hard to be able to go out and meet people to make potential conections.

Most people have something or someone they look to for inspiration - what or who is yours?
I look to nature alot for inspiration, as well as vintage 40's and 50's fashions. I also listen to my boyfriend's ideas. He's one of those rare finds that actually gets womens fashion.

What is the one thing you would want to be remembered for?
I want to be remembered for my perseverence and determination in my work. Starting from absolutely nothing, and working my way up.

Do you have any family traditions that you hope are carried through to future generations?
We don't have any traditions, but I hope that starting our own family we will be able to create traditions that will stem to many generations.

If you could be anywhere in the world for one day, where would it be?
I would LOVE to be in Japan, specifically so I could help JEARS (Japans Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support) get food and services to animals who need it, after such a horrible disaster.

You can also find Elizabeth on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and her blog.

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Friday Finds: AncientOils

Meet Lilly DelValle from AncientOils located in Cincinnati.

All her products are handmade with pure therapeutic grade essential oils, all natural botanicals and from the purest sea salts available. Also referred to as aromatherapy, essential oils are often referred to as "Mankind's First Medicine".

How did you get your start on Etsy?
My daughter introduced me to Etsy.

How did you choose your shop name?
Ancient Oils seemed fitting considering essential oils has been about since antiquity.

What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day starts with a cup of coffee as I check emails. Then shower and change before hitting workshop.

This is my ideal schedule when I don't have any client appointment, classes or workshops:
Monday: update website, photos, printing, blogs etc. (anything electronic)
Tuesday: blending oils, and mixing products
Wednesday: volunteer work then back to web journals, social networking and blending
Thursday: blending oils, and mixing products
Friday: anything that needs to be done

You can also find Lilly on Facebook, her blog, Twitter, and her website.

A Mother's Day Legacy: I Believe in You

What was your home like growing up? How often did you hear affirming words from your family and friends? How often do you say them now?

I started to think about the legacy of my family this week - both what I experienced as a child and what I am doing for my children. My parents were very loving and gracious, and continually showed us kids that they believed in us and cared about us. I hope I am doing the same for my kids.

What kinds of legacy are you leaving for your kids?

Friday Finds: headpinwear

Meet Cathy Tuggle, from headpinwear in Benicia, California.

I was able to ask her a few questions about herself. Come sit down and enjoy reading and learning more about Cathy.

How did you choose your shop name?
It was really hard to come up with a name for my shop, and even now I am still not happy with it. After thinking about a shop name for a few days, mine seemed to be similar to one shop or another. And as much as I like my personal name, I really didn't want to use that.

I came up with the name HeadpinWear because, "Headpin" is one of the many components that you can use to make earrings, and "Wear", well because you wear them! Well most time, as for me, I just look at all of those I made :)

Some people becasue of my name think I make stuff to wear on your head, like tiara's, bows, and headbands. I actually think it throws people off, but really I make earrings and other jewelry!
And anyways, I don't think I would be good at making things for other to wear on their heads! Believe me, there are plenty of people on Etsy that make gorgeous pieces to wear in your hair, and so I will leave that up to them :)

What does a typical day look like for you?
I tend to wake up early, very early 3:45am in fact! I find that I like spending that time alone, the house is quiet, and outside noises can be heard. I love to hear the birds chirping, the woodpecker, the fog horn on very foggy days, and the train.

The first place I go to on the internet is facebook. I respond to "likes", "fan" more pages, and occasionally throw in a comment or two, no not really, many comments! I actually have about 5 windows open! I also enjoy listening to KLOVE, a Christian music station.

Once I catch up with my computer stuff, I pick up the house, do laundry, hang it out to dry on sunny days, and wash dishes if any. Sometime in between all of this I wake up my son and my husband, and take him to work. We live less then 2 miles from work, and we both are employed by the same company.

During the late morning (because 9 and 10 am is late for me) and early afternoon, I run errands and look at bead sites for ideas, and view my sales.

About 5 I start cooking dinner. I usually BBQ during this time of year through November. After dinner, I clean up, go on the computer again, and read the Bible with my husband. At about 7pm, I bead, and I bead until when ever I feel like it if I don't have to work the next day. I can turn around and look at the clock and it's 11pm or later! During this time, I also spend time with my son, maybe watch a movie, and clean up again. I don't like clutter, although my beading table is almost too cluttered to think right now.

I try and go to bed at 10pm - ideally that's a good time for me and enough hours to sleep - but rarely do I ever do that. Even if the next day is work I find myself still beading or on facebook at 11pm, which is so bad for me because I tend to get cranky when I am tired and nobody here likes me cranky! Lately, since I have been laid off, I have been sleeping in until 5 or 6 am. On those days, I feel like my morning is gone and I am running behind!

When I work, it totally throws a big stick in my spokes. I still do everything I missed while I was at work :)

What's your favorite season of the year and why?
My favorite season is fall. I love the colors of the leaves on and off the trees. The bright bold colors of red orange, and gold, really just make me smile. And it's more appropriate to wear the colors which I like the most on me, though I still wear "fall" colors year round. I think it even reflects in my shop, what I create, the colors that I like the most are "fall" colors. Although, I have been trying to "go outside the box", I think it may show a bit what colors I tend to like the most. So, if anyone is looking for "fall" fashion jewelry in spring and planning ahead, they may find a piece they like in my shop!

What's your birthstone? Do you wish you had a different one?
My birthstone is Ruby. I love my birthstone and would not want to replace it with another gem.
To me, the Ruby is so bright and outstanding, its a very noticeable stone.

Other birthstones of my immediate family are Opal, Amethyst and Sapphire. I am very fond of these gemstones also.

You can also find Cathy on Facebook and her blog as well.