Sandra of Pepperberry and Co. Wallets, Passport Covers and More!

What kind of items do you sell in your shop?
Pepperberry & Co. is my boutique textiles store specialising in earthy, natural products. My products are handmade from cotton & cotton/linen blends, use unbleached fabrics where possible & are 100% Vegan and Cruelty Free. My three main items are Notebook Covers, Passport Covers and Wallets, but there are so many more on the way my head could explode just thinking about it!

How did you get started?
Funnily enough, I only learnt how to sew in March of this year, so it's been a crazy start! I've always been super-crafty, and I always knew I wanted to run my own business. Last year, I got quite sick and had to leave work, and after a while away from the world I attended a craft show in my home town of Melbourne. It was there that I discovered the independent craft scene, the blogosphere, and sewing- all at once! Within a week i had my own blog and was sewing up a storm, and it all just went from there. Now I can't stop!

Tell us why you choose to use cruelty free materials in your work?
I'm a vegan, so the choice was natural. I knew from the beginning that through my work, I wanted to be able to promote the idea that you can have cute, funky, useful items that don't harm any animals or people in their production. It's such a simple choice to make, and it makes such a big difference!

Do you sell your items outside of etsy (if so, where)?
I can often be spotted around at Melbourne-based markets, such as the Made 'N Thornbury Market, the Yarraville Market, and the Sunny & Coco market. And up-to-date list is always on my blog!


Do you have any future plans for your shop?
Oh, the expansion is coming! My head is simply brimming with ideas, and I work full time on making them a reality. By the end of this year, I will have a full baby range, travel range, and bag range; PDF versions of my patterns so everyone can get crafty at home; and a range of gorgeous fabrics to create goodies from. I'm so excited!

Do you maintain any other sites besides your shop (such flickr, MySpace, blog, etc.)?
My blog is where it all started, and it's my baby! I post a lot of tutorials, giveaways, interviews with fellow artists, and musings on running my own handmade business. I'm also on Facebook, Twitter and Flickr.

What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have?
I'm all about the Cs: Crafting and Computers! I can't get enough of either and spend a ridiculous amount of time on both. I'm also a volunteer at a variety of animal hospitals and shelters, so I squeeze in a lot of cuddle time with gorgeous furry monsters.

What inspires you?
I'm inspired when I see other crafters who run handmade businesses and create beautiful works of art. I love hearing their stories, following their journeys, and supporting their craft. I also find that lovely heart-warming movies always give me a great boost- flicks like Life Is Beautiful, Life As A House and American Beauty.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thank you so much for welcoming me to the team! I can't wait to get to know everyone and to explore all your gorgeous creations. xx

Cavebaby Knits and Crochets!

Now, here's someone with a story to tell; cavebaby! :)

What kind of items do you sell in your shop?

I mostly have crocheted and knitted scarves right now and hope to expand to beanies, mittens, and toys.

How did you get started?

One of my Grandmothers taught me to knit with needles when I was 5 years old and my other Grandmother showed me how to crochet when I was 12. Both my Grandmothers had passed away now, but their lessons of knitting art live within me and in the things I create with their knowledge.

Tell us why you choose to use cruelty free materials in your work?

I am allergic to wool and know several people with animal allergies. Also I am an aspiring (although still struggling, must admit) vegetarian. One day I hope to be vegan. I think it's only fair that if I'm not going to eat animals, I shouldn't use the skin or fur that's been stripped off them. I use only acrylic, nylon, polyester and, occasionally, cotton yarn.

Do you sell your items outside of etsy (if so, where)?



No.

Do you have any future plans for your shop?

I definitely wish for more time so I could fill my shop with more items. I just bought a whole bunch of new yarn online, which I haven't used before and I'm really excited to put up the things I'm going to make!

Do you maintain any other sites besides your shop (such flickr, MySpace, blog, etc.)?

Not yet, but hoping to make a Facebook and MySpace pages for my shop soon.

What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have?

Other than crafts, obviously, I really like traveling, reading, trying new foods, spending time with friends, and watching movies.

What inspires you?

I was born and raised in Siberia, on the shores of Onon River--the alleged birthplace of Genghis Khan. I have a rare bone disorder called Osteogenis Imperfecta, which causes my bones to break easily. Following my dream of independent life and education, I took all the money and courage my family and friends could give me to come to the United States years ago. The blend of two of my cultures (Native Siberian and Northwest American) provides me with a lot of ideas for color combinations and patterns. My family, friends, and all the people who have helped me along the way are my inspiration to create and try to make the world a brighter and more colorful place.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I look forward to interacting with fellow cruelty-free Etsy crafters! :)

Hello, Connie of Merely the Moon!

What kind of items do you sell in your shop?
Vintage fabric and illustrations given a second chance at life.
1" buttons, children's clothing, unique accessories, fun.

How did you get started?
My mother was a self-proclaimed "not good with my hands" mom, so that lead my sister and I to having to learn to make everything ourselves. We both have etsy shops now.


Tell us why you choose to use cruelty free materials in your work?
I live a 100% veg livestyle. I wouldn't have it any other way.


Do you sell your items outside of etsy (if so, where)?
Not yet!

Do you have any future plans for your shop?
I'm currently looking into making my items available outside of etsy. Also, womens apparel is in the near future!

Do you maintain any other sites besides your shop (such flickr, MySpace, blog, etc.)?
I have a regularly updated:

blog
Flickr
facebook

What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have?
I have two music projects.
1.) An all-girl indie pop band called The Bossettes (http://www.myspace.com/thebossettes)
2.) A minimalist ukulele solo project called Coney Island (http://www.myspace.com/coneyislandx3)


What inspires you?
Thrifting, Annette Funicello surf movies

White Dragon Essentials Vegan Bath & Body!

Our newest member is Crystal McKinney of White Dragon Essentials, offering vegan soaps, scrubs and more! Let's learn more about her and her cruelty free business:

What kind of items do you sell in your shop?
All natural, eco-friendly, vegan home and personal care items such as soaps, lotions, body butters, spa products, household cleaners, etc.

How did you get started?
When I became vegan it was hard for me to find items that were both vegan (cruelty free) and truly eco-friendly. I decided to start making my own products and giving away excess products to friends and family for special occasions. They kept requesting that I make additional items (as I started out only making soaps) and then they urged me to begin selling to the public, which I did beginning in 2008.

Tell us why you choose to use cruelty free materials in your work?
Because cruelty free is really the only way to be. It is the best for us, for the Earth, and especially for the animals. We can get all of the nutritious essentials that we need for our bodies and our skin without exploiting anyone or anything to get them.

Do you sell your items outside of etsy (if so, where)?
Yes, I have an online store http://www.whitedragonessentials.com as well as a bunch of farmers markets in the South East Michigan area. I am currently working on getting some small health food stores to carry my items as well.

Do you have any future plans for your shop?
I hope that by the time I am ready to start my graduate degree (maybe in 3 years, Environmental Science) my company will be self sustaining and I can quit my regular day job to do this full time. I want to try to have a full product line store that offers healthy, eco-friendly, cruelty free choices at affordable prices.

Do you maintain any other sites besides your shop (such flickr, MySpace, blog, etc.)?
Yes I am on Facebook and MySpace (rarely)

What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have?
Anything outdoors and volunteering in the community.

What inspires you?
Life inspires me. I love mother nature and revere her so I have decided to live a conscious life and all of my decisions reflect that, especially where my products are concerned. All of my supplies and ingredients are sourced as locally as possible to reduce my carbon footprint and all of the ingredients are all natural and naturally eco-friendly (no chemicals, etc.) as well as having a large amount of eco-packaging for the products as well. So, living a holistic and eco/animal friendly lifestyle that is in tune with nature and Mother Earth inspires me.

The Awesomest Possum Jewelry!

Sam of The Awesomest Possum treats us to a meet 'n' greet! :)

What kind of items do you sell in your shop?
I sell the kind of jewelry I like to buy: unique and affordable. I combine colors, textures, and shapes in ways that I find interesting. Lots of black and silver, lots of natural blues, greens and browns. And of course no shells, pearls, bone, or other animal materials!

How did you get started?
I'm a bellydancer, and part of joining my troupe was making myself a costume. I’ve always liked clothing and jewelry, and as I gathered materials and put the costume together, I realized how much I enjoyed creating jewelry and working with beads and chain. My first jewelry projects were just for myself, but as I got more confident I began making more and more gifts for others, including jewelry for the rest of the bellydance troupe and, for my husband and sister, custom pieces based on ideas they thought would be cool to have. Now I’m getting to the point where I just love designing jewelry in general, and I want to make my hobby somewhat self-supporting so I can try new things without feeling guilty for spending all our money!

Tell us why you choose to use cruelty free materials in your work?
I’m vegan, and I don’t buy or wear animal products. To me, veganism is about loving and respecting all life, minimizing suffering, and living sustainably on our planet.

Do you sell your items outside of etsy (if so, where)?
I don’t. I’ve actually just started selling on Etsy, since my hobby started outgrowing itself.

Do you have any future plans for your shop?
Pretty much everything is a future plan at this point! :) But if it goes well, I’d like to branch out a bit from my super-affordable materials and try using more sterling silver and one-of-a-kind beads from artists in my local and Etsy communities.

Do you maintain any other sites besides your shop (such flickr, MySpace, blog, etc.)?
I’m on facebook way more often than I probably should be. I’ve been obnoxiously promoting my new shop to all my friends, but they’ve been really supportive. :)

What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have?
My big ones aside from jewelry making are bellydance and vegan baking. I’m part of a tribal fusion bellydance troupe, and I make vegan cookies and scones at my local food coop once a week. I also like gardening, reading, playing way too many video games, and hanging out with my husband, cat, and birds. As my “day job,” I’m a PhD student and a teacher of college writing, and I absolutely love teaching.

What inspires you?
I’m inspired by how happy people are when I make things for them, and by how much fun it can be to move our bodies and revel in our senses. I like my jewelry to have movement and texture and to leave the wearer with no doubt that they look good. Everyone deserves to show off a little. :)

Is there anything else you would like to add?
Not for now! Excited to talk more with the team!