Happy Earth Day - SFEtsy Makers Use a Variety of Eco Friendly Materials to Produce Amazing Things

It's Earth Day! Our SFEtsy team is proud to have many wonderful makers that are creating responsibly using reclaimed, recycled and earth-freindly materials in some or all of their handmade goods.

Join me as we celebrate the SFEtsy Earth Conscious Makers of 2015!

Kyla O'Neill of Impressed by Nature
Beautiful Natural Botanical Jewelry

Dorothy Reinhardt of Dorothy Designs
Using Upcycled Materials and Buttons to Create Beautiful Floral Accessories

Bronwen Mauch Tireless Hearts Studio
Upcycled Jewelry and Accessories Made from Bike Inner Tubes

Yin Yin Wu Of LoveGem Studio 
Featuring Recycled Silver Jewelry

Heather Simoni of Heathered
Eco-Friendly Wallets and Accessories

Kati Jackson of Crow Woodcraft
Reclaimed Wood Jewelry and Buttons

Cheyenne Barr of Deconstruction Crafts
Sustainable Goods 

Ayse Kozaci Jewelry
Recycled Paintbrush Jewelry 

IOGoods
Sustainable Clothing for Women & Children

Basmati Bags
Bags Made from Upcycled Materials

Lisa Spinella of Tickle and Smash
Totes and Handbags Made from Upcycled Materials

Tawny Reynolds of Sundrop Jewelry
Jewelry Created from Recycled Glass with the Power of the Sun

Creek Van Houten of Compass Rose Design
Steampunk Upcycled and Found Object Jewelry & Accessories

Rebecca Saylor of OodleBaDoodle
Reclaimed Material Pillows that Make the World More Huggable

Jacob of .retool
Bags, Wallets and Accessories Made from Seatbelts

Trish Peach of PoppyPeach
Fashion Accessories Created from Repurposed Materials

Lizette De Arkos of LDay Shop
Upcycled Clothing and Home Decor

Laura and Julien Sheilds of Yes&Yes Designs
Jewelry and Accessories Made from Books

Jeannine Komush of Tangleweeds
Using Reclaimed Leather in Her "Leaf-Petal" Lariats and Earrings

Sarah Montes Friedman of BirdBags
Using Reclaimed Textiles to Make Stylish Bags and Accessory Cases

Lisa Jones of Miss Match 
Found Material Jewelry

Fleurette Sevin of Fleurette Artglass
Jewelry Made from Upcycled Glass and Bullet Casings

Alissa Anderson of Mitten Maker 
Upcycled Accessories

Marja Germans Gard of Lemonade Handmade

Recycled gold & silver jewelry making

Dana Trousil of Boii Studio
Reclaimed clay ceramics

Emily Oinen of Clever Hands
Reclaimed Rubber Journal Bandoliers 

Kathryn Hedges of Splendid Colors
Reclaimed Cardboard Holiday Steampunk Ornaments

Candice of Candid Art & Accessories
Upcycled and Found Object Jewelry

Tarabud Design
Repurposed leather Accessories

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If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, visit Our Team Page about joining SFEtsy!

Feature Friday - SinceSass

Happy Friday, everyone!

This gorgeous weather calls for a picnic in the park! Grab a blanket, a picnic basket filled with goodies, and hide your bottle of wine in this sassy reusable wine tote.

What a better way to passively relish in your before-5pm outdoor drinking escapade! I love the irony! and the pink!

The beautiful clear photos in the SinceSass etsy shop showcase her super-cute products wonderfully! She's got plenty of trinkets that could be fun whimsical hostess gifts, or just something special for yourself!

Enjoy this interview with one of our newest members, Stephanie!

1. What is your shop name and URL?

SinceSass Shop, http://sincesass.etsy.com

2. To which Etsy Teams do you belong?

SF Etsy and Etsy Trade-a-holics

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?

I make accessories with a little sass. This includes totes, wine bags,
pouches, and wallets. All items are made for daily use, but made with a
little something extra. I want the item to last and be fun. If you have to
use an item everyday, it should make you smile or make you want to show it

off!

I learned to sew when I was 11. My mom thought it was important that my
sister and I learned the basics of sewing and how to use a sewing machine,
and that's what I got on my 11th birthday. I've always had a sewing machine,
but it wasn't until a few years ago when I got into making items. I usually
made gifts for my friends or remixed thrift store clothing. I think the
combination of crafts becoming "popular" again and my mom always sewing as a
hobby influenced me to make more items. It's also great that I had the
basics of sewing already down so I could start creating my own designs right
away. My mom was right about it coming in handy one day! Props to her.

I really don't have a set creative process. Usually when an idea pops into
my head or I see something around me that inspries me, I quickly write it
down so I don't forget. Either I already have an idea when I start to make
something and find the materials to do so, or I don't have an idea and look
at what I have for inspiration. I try to make something new everyday so I'm
always experimenting with new techiques or materials.

4. Tell us two (or more) other interesting things about you.

I have one blue eye and one green eye. Most people can't tell unless they
are looking at me directly and in natural sunlight. I don't think my body
could decide on an eye color so it picked both.

I was born and raised in Las Vegas (Wayne Newton lived around the corner
from me) and moved to San Francisco to go to college. I've been here ever
since.

My favorite kitchen item is the crock pot. I use it at least once a week to
make delicous meals and I'm kind of obsessed with it. If you have a good
recipe, send it my way!

My dad's name is Michael Bolton but he is not THE Michael Bolton. Yes, it's
just like movie Office Space and just as painful.

5. How did you get involved with Etsy?

My coworker had an Etsy shop for a while and I was encouraged by my friends
to start one. She helped me with the details and I finally got going on it.
I actually started the process in 2008, but it wasn't until November 2010
that I actually started listing items. Now I'm on it everyday, all day.

6. What is your biggest challenge related to your Etsy shop?

I'm still new and learning, but the first big challenge I had was making
enough inventory. Gathering materials, cutting, putting everything together
then sewing it can be time consuming and I think I underestimated that.
After a few days without sleep and nutrishment, I had to be more realistic
about what I could make in a set timeframe (and with a full time job). My
goal is to have 50 items in my shop by the end of January and I think I can
do it!

7. What advice do you have for other folks selling or buying on Etsy?

Research, research, research! The forums and community on Etsy are amazing.
I was a little naive about the process and everything that's involve. I wish
I took more time to setup the details before I dove in, but I learned fast
thanks to the forums and chats. It really is the best resource and there is
amazing support from other sellers.

8. What has been your biggest success and/or proudest moment since opening your
Etsy shop?

Selling my first item! That was the best feeling and my shop had only been
open about two weeks. It was my most expensive item too!

9. What is the craziest gift you have ever received?

A life-sized glass head from my mom on my 12th birthday. She saw it and
thought of me. At the time, I wasn't sure what to make of it, but I still
have it and it's displayed on my bookcase.

10. Where else can we find out more about you and/or your creations?

My Facebook page is http www.facebook.com/SinceSass and my twitter link is
www.twitter.com/SinceSass

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If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!