After much ado, I’ve finally gotten around to my much-anticipated seller features! If I get my wish, I’ll be continuing on more regularly from this point. Just in case you’ve forgotten what in the world I’m taking about:

• Here’s my introduction post.
• You can view my list of Etsy sellers who are blogging about other sellers here.
• Lastly, check out my series of features by viewing the “spotlight” category of this blog.

Now, on to blockpartypress!

blockpartypress.etsy.com

So, my first seller to feature is blockpartypress, and what a great way to start off! I selected her for her aesthetic, gorgeous colors, and well set-up shop. We could probably all learn something about how to run a store by observation of blockpartypress: Simple but thorough, and clearly the result of lots of care.

I picked a few of my favorite items from this shop in the four pictures above. The colors bear a resemblance to those I use in my own work, so I suppose my choices aren’t surprising!

Secretly, once I get a real home, I’m hoping to commission her to make extra-large pendants that I can hang on my walls. Ironically, I don’t often wear jewelry, but I’m all about home decor. The serene, organic, and classic themes in her designs really appeal to me.

Okay, on to the interview! It’s my fault that this is so long–I was supposed to pick a few responses to put here! But I liked them all, so here you go:

1. Introduce yourself
My name is Tamara, I live in Elkridge, MD, just outside of Baltimore.

2. When did you start doing your craft?
I have been working with polymer clay for over 10 years. I started working with carving blocks and printing just this past year, and I started combing the two over this past summer (2006)

3. How did you come up with your shop’s name/concept?
The shop name came from me trying to come up with a clever name centered around the block part of my art. I came up with Block Party because of the block reference, and when I am working, I feel like I’m partying. The press part I added because Block Party just seemed like it was missing something. It is probably a little confusing since I make mostly pendants, but originally I had planned to include paper products as well. This may still happen, but I am happy working with the carving blocks and clay right now.

4. What makes your work unique?
I think the fact that I carve my own stamps, and that the texture is in relief, whereas when you use a store bought stamp, you are pressing the image into the clay creating an indentation. I also think the distressing I do is another unique aspect of my work.

5. What’s your favorite item in your shop?
I really love my photo holders, but they have note received the kind of interest of my pendants. They are very popular with my family and friends, but I have only sold one so far through etsy. I think they are fun little functional pieces of art!

6. Suggestions for Etsy?
I love etsy and probably the only thing I would suggest is that they let us be able to rearrange/merchandise our items in our shop instead of having them listed by date listed. I do love the categories, but I would still like to have more control of the items on the front page of our shops since that is the first thing a perspective customer sees.

7. A little-know fact about you?
I am a huge clutz and unfortunately I have passed this on to my first son!

8. What do you wish you could tell your buyers that you don’t normally get to say?
That these pendants are a lot of work. Each piece goes through several steps before completion. The distressing is a key process, and I am very deliberate with it. Although there is always a random element to distressing (which adds to the fun) I go about it in a deliberate way to bring movement to the piece. I would also tell customers that I love to do custom work, so be open to ask for what you want!

9. What inspires you?
It seems like everything inspires me. I love shapes and texture and contrast, so I have trained my eye to see everyday things through those elements. I am very inspired by mother nature, leaves, plants, trees and flowers.

10. What are your goals for the next year? To increase my sales, introduce new products, set up a website, promote, promote, promote and of course continue to grow and stretch creatively.

11. How do you imagine your customers wearing your items? I love them on a simple chain or leather necklace, but I have seen some beautiful beaded necklaces that included my pendants. I leave it up to the buyer to continue the creativity by using the pendant as they wish!

12. What’s the best thing about what you do?
It is so fun to do what you love and be able to share it with the world!

13. What’s one of your greatest challenges?
Probably balancing being creative with being a mother. Sometimes I get wrapped up in what I am creating (or thinking about creating), instead of doing something with my kids. I try to engage them as much as I can in what I’m doing. My 4 year is quite an artist already which makes me very proud!

14. Anything else you’d like to say?
I am a proud member of the new Polymer Clay Artist Guild of Etsy! To see more outstanding polymer clay art, search PCAGOE on etsy and check out our blog at http://etsypca.blogspot.com.

blockpartypress.etsy.com

Thanks so much to Tamara for participating!  Feel free to leave a comment if you enjoyed this review.  Or, please contact me and nominate yourself for a future feature.

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 18th, 2007 at 1:18 am and is filed under Etsy, Spotlight. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.