Feature Friday - Gooseberry Press

Another Friday and another awesome interview!

Not only is her shop filled with excitement and curiosity; her life is as well! You'll love this interview with Nina from Gooseberry Press. With such an interesting background, it's no wonder her maps are so intricate yet whimsical.

Of course, it was terribly difficult trying to find a shining gem among jewels, but my favorite item has to be Washington DC card. What a cute idea! Being an East Coast gal, had almost nothing to do with my choice! ;)

Enjoy!

1. What is your shop name and URL?
http://gbpress.etsy.com

2. To which Etsy Teams do you belong?
Sfetsy + CCCOE (California Crafter's Club of Etsy)

3. Please tell us about the items in your Etsy shop. What do you make? How did you learn your craft? What is involved in your creative process?
Whimsical maps and paper goods with an eco-friendly twist.

4. Tell us two (or more) other interesting things about you. (Hobbies, achievements, favorite something-or-other, family situation, jobs, etc…)I started off as a neuroscientist - a sleep researcher to be precise. I worked for several years in the scientific field and one day I mustered the courage to start my own arts based business. Life has a funny way of evolving :) My passion has always been creating things with paper. I am also an animal lover. My husband, daughter and I are the happy guardians of 3 cats, 1 dog and 1 bird - it is a menagerie!

5. What inspires your creations?
Travel and photography are great inspirations for me. I have traveled a lot over the years. My parents would take my brother and I to India every year to visit my extended family and we would often stop over in a different city on each trip. I have some great memories!

6. How did you get involved with Etsy?
After talking to some friends I thought I would give it a shot.

7. What is your biggest challenge related to your Etsy shop?
Getting more traffic! I'm still relatively new to Etsy so I am trying different ways to boost visibility.

8. What is your favorite item in your shop (currently for sale or previously sold)? Why is it your favorite? (Please provide a link)
My favorite item is the San Francisco 3 color letterpress postcard. I love that it is a little piece of art. I love the tactile quality of letterpress has always made me happy. Postcards are great because you can send keep it as a souvenir from a fun trip, write a quick note to a friend or even use it as an invitation or save the date. It is pretty versatile that way. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=40858844

9. What advice do you have for other folks selling or buying on Etsy?
Join a team and participate in craft shows if you are a seller and look for well made products if you are a buyer.

10. If you had a gift certificate to Etsy for any one item you wanted, what would you buy? (Please provide a link.)
Catherine Reece of Village Clayworks has some beautiful ceramic pieces. I first saw her work at a craft fair in Davis. She's a local Bay Area crafter as well! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38903823

11. What crafting skill(s) do you wish you had or hope to learn someday?
I've always wanted to learn how to knit. I think it would be great to learn and I hope to be able to some day - maybe by the time my 4 year old is grown up and has her own babies :)

12. What has been your biggest success and/or proudest moment since opening your Etsy shop?
My favorite moment was when I created custom city map tote bags for a bride that wanted to make welcome bags for her out of town guests. She had an idea in mind and we were able to work together to create what she was dreaming of. It was wonderful to hear the joy in her voice when she talked about how much her guests loved the bags. It made my day!

13. Where else can we find out more about you and/or your creations?
Blog: http://gbpress.wordpress.com/
Website: http://www.gooseberrypress.com/
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gooseberrypress/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/San-Francisco-CA/Gooseberry-Press/169010064937?ref=nf
Twitter: http://twitter.com/GooseberryPress

14. Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about your shop or your work?
As much as possible I try to source eco-friendly materials - whether it is organic, recycled, water based, or wind powered; I try to use only natural ingredients in my creations.

Congratulations! Your weekend has already gotten better! Have a great one!