Focus Feature and Giveaway: SandTCreations

Happy Thursday and welcome to another focus feature and giveaway! First, let me announce the winner of the UniqueDesignsByMsP giveaway. Using a random number generator from Random.org, the winner is… (drumroll please…) #5, Jasmine1485!!! Congrats and I’ll put you in touch with Paula to collect your prize!

Let me introduce you to a creative duo from Indiana. These beading gals bring amazing talent to their Etsy shop, http://www.sandtcreations.etsy.com/! You'll find a wide range of color and jewelry types in this shop, with reasonable prices too! You could even start your Christmas shopping, or simply enter to win this great bracelet to wear year round!

Here’s what S and T had to say:

What’s your favorite item from your shop and what makes it your favorite?

I think that changes each time we list new items, but right now it's Cherries Jubilee: http://www.etsy.com/listing/50666338/cherries-jubilee-in-free-shipping

How did you get into your line of crafting?

We were invited to a "beading party" and a small bracelet and earrings cost us over $40. Yes we did use nice stones, but it seemed alot. Saundra said to herself that she could do what they did to make our pieces and bought a small set of tools, beads and findings. She began teaching herself, and then, while I was recovering from surgery, she gave me my birthday present early: a set of beading tools, findings and some basic beads! We beaded together 2 or 3 times while I was off work and then it grew and grew as we learned about stones and components, found sources and, eventually, set up a business.

Do you belong to any groups on Etsy?

Yes, right now these 3: AWETeam (Art Walk on Etsy) that promotes the First Friday Art Walk every month, BESTeam (Boosting Etsy Shops Team) and INCrowdteam (Indiana team)

If you had one super power what would it be?

To read minds. I'm the most lousy office politician you have ever seen and would love to be able to tell if what they said was really what they meant.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Ice cream

What's your favorite thing about summer?

I HATE cold, so summer is always better. And I love long summer days of sunlight.

Do you have a personal favorite Etsy shop that you would like to share with readers?

I have 3: Beadin Babe, Recycled, and Youniquely, Inc.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what 3 things would you take with you?

Oh my. One of our dogs, my air mattress, and a journal

From my own personal crafting I’ve been through frustrating moments with new projects. What have you learned from your own crafting frustrations?

Well, unfortunately, if I'm trying to work on something new: wire-wrapping or silversmithing, once I mess up a time or two, I quit for a long time, so I never get that practice time in so I could do well. But if I'm frustrated with a design, I put it aside and find I can go back in a day or two and finish it up. It's as if, just thinking about it works through whatever problem I was stuck on.

What advice would you give to new Etsy sellers?

List plenty of items, people can't stay and shop if you only have 3 things to look at. And promote your store and work outside Etsy, draw in customers from facebook, twitter, myspace, a blog, videos, podcasts, stumbleupon, flickr, your own customer email list and whatever else you can think of. Have that website on every printed material you have, not just your business card.

Blog, twitter, facebook links:

Blog: http://sandtcreations.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://companies.to/sandtcreations

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Teri_B

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Anyone can post and accumulate up to 15 entries for the giveaway! Please be sure to include your email address so that you can be contacted if you win, and don’t forget to post each entry as a separate comment!

There is only one MANDATORY ENTRY, necessary to collect your email address for contact if you win:

Visit sandtcreations’ Etsy shop and post your favorite item here. (1 entry)

BONUS ENTRIES!!!

Follow Clever’s Corner Blog and post to let me know you follow. (1 entry)

Tell me your guilty pleasure. (1 entry)

Follow sandtcreations’ Blog. (1 entry)

Tweet about this giveaway and post the link here. (1 entry)

Make a purchase from sandtcreations’ Etsy shop and post the transaction here. (5 entries)

Make a purchase from The Clever Crafter’s Etsy shop and post the transaction here. (5 entries)

The giveaway will end on Wednesday, August 25 at midnight (Eastern Standard Time). Winner will be contacted Thursday morning when the next giveaway is posted and prize details will be arranged with sandtcreations. Thanks for your interest and entries!