Etsy Craft Party

Since 2010, every year there's an Etsy Craft Party, a global celebration of meeting and making. This year’s Craft Party is happening on June 6 in homes and event spaces all around the world. You can find the DIY instructions for this year's craft (Kaleidoscope: Paper Taking Shape) here. This year, T.E.S.T.'s own Michelle Maynard from SimonesRoseBoutique is teaming up with Sew Be It Studio who is sponsoring the space, to host their Etsy Craft Party! Sign up to join the party at the

Sew Be It - ETSY Kaleidoscope Craft Party page

Here's a link to the Etsy craft party page as well if you want to find a party that is in your area - or if you want to host one!

www.etsy.com/craftparty/

T.E.S.T. Interview: Whistle + Work

We hope to introduce you to all the great Etsy sellers to be found right here in Toronto. Here at the T.E.S.T. blog, we plan to interview them all. This is the 64^th in our series with Una of WhistleandWork.

Can you tell us about yourselves?

Whistle + Work is a father-daughter team. I’m Una - a freelance art director, artist and travel blogger. Because I work on a wide variety of projects I love the fact that no two days are ever the same. This is great kick-start for the creative process.

My father Aleks has spent his career working in architecture, design, urban analysis and illustration — also wearing many hats throughout his working life (sometimes even a beret).

We came together to form Whistle + Work in order to collaboratively create affordable art. Because who doesn’t need a little more art in their lives?


How did you get the idea to form a father-daughter team?


We’ve definitely always looked at each other’s work and offered help and advice, so it was the natural next step to collaborate. I get this question a lot: “What’s it like to work with your dad?” It’s a rewarding experience with lots of mutual respect and trust. I constantly learn new things, but there is room for role-reversal too!

What types of things can we expect to find when looking at your shop?

We are focused on hand-cut 3D illustrations and paper gift boxes. Each starts out as an original ink drawing that is printed and hand cut. The prints are then framed in shadowboxes allowing the layers to play with light and shadow. The gift boxes are assembled into various shapes and some can double as ornaments.

What does Etsy add to your lives?

Etsy is an amazing avenue to reach people globally and in a more personal way. We love the idea of participating in a new type of economy that values sustainability and social good. It’s also a constant source of inspiration and support from fellow artists and the Etsy team.

When did you start Whistle + Work?

We are very new! We started Whistle + Work in November of this year, though it’s something we’ve talked about for ages.


What's the story behind your shop name?

Whistle + Work is basically how we’d define our working philosophy: Working hard at what you love = happiness. We also like the fact that it’s a two-part name representing a two-person collaboration.


Do you sell your work outside of Etsy? If so, where?

In a week or so, you will find Whistle + Work products at the beautifully curated Likely General store on Roncesvalles.


What's next for Whistle + Work?

We just collaborated with Yen Magazine, a cool-kid Aussie publication on a DIY gift box project with an custom illustration. Look for it on their website in the coming days.
In the New Year we will be adding more prints to the shop and looking to participate in local markets.

Check out the other items available from Una and Aleks in their Etsy shop! You can find more of their work on their website and Twitter.

Interviewed by Michelle of DarlingAdornment in December 2013 in Toronto.

T.E.S.T. Interview: Light & Paper

We hope to introduce you to all the great Etsy sellers to be found right here in Toronto. Here at the T.E.S.T. blog, we plan to interview them all. This is the 48^th in our series with Ali of Light&Paper.

What is your background/what do you do for a day job?

For the past two years I’ve worked full time at the University of Toronto – I currently work in Admissions/Operations of one of the student residences. I also work part-time for the Ryerson University International Midwifery Program and for my father’s consulting firm. I like to keep busy and have always had at least two jobs. I love being able to have an Etsy shop on top of my other work as it really gives me an outlet to do something different and creative.

When & how did you get started with paper cutting?

It was pretty much out of nowhere. I decided to try one day to create a gift for a friend using a box cutter and a piece of printer paper. I was immediately mesmerized! I’m usually not a very patient person – but I found papercutting so calming, even though it required so much attention. I began creating more and more items and sharing them with friends and family, and after receiving so much positive feedback I decided to try selling on Etsy.

Where do you get all of your design inspirations from?

I like to just play around with quotes or designs that stand out to me. I really like the phrase that I came up with - “up the happy” - so I’ll often try to create an interesting design around that quote – or sometimes a song lyric that catches my ear. I also like creating patterns within particular shapes – such as my heart or anchor design. Lately I’ve been trying to come up with ideas for designs that people would want to give as gifts – such as my papercut of a fingerprint or city maps. I create all my designs on the computer – so sometimes I’ll just start playing around and then come up with something.

Do you enjoy doing other crafts as well?

I really love making mason jar lights – which is why I list those on my shop in addition to the papercuttings. I’ve never enjoyed a craft as much as papercutting though – which is maybe why I haven’t had the patience to finish some projects I've attempted in the past. I have about a dozen half-knitted scarves in a bag somewhere.

Where do you want to take your business in the next 3 years?

I really want to get more involved with craft markets and shows around the GTA – my first one is the Made By Hand Show coming up on April 20th. I think that while online shopping is very convenient and gives access to lots of options that aren’t available in shops or markets it’s important for a lot of people to actually see and touch handmade items before they want to spend money on them. I’m hoping to boost sales and awareness of my products at local events. I also hope to improve certain skills that are crucial to running a successful Etsy shop – like photography and social networking.

What Etsy feature do you like the best as a seller?

I love the shop stats – it’s so great to be able to see where your traffic comes from. It’s especially rewarding when you post a link to your shop on another webpage and you get to see exactly how many views that brought you. It’s really helped me to realize what kind of strategies to develop to get the word out about my products.

What are your favourite items to find on Etsy as a buyer?

Gifts! I usually don’t let myself buy items for myself (I would get carried away!) but I love finding the perfect gift on Etsy – it’s always something so unique and personalized.

Ali will be at the Made By Hand Show in Mississauga on April 20, 2013 - come see her beautiful work in person!

Check out the other items available from Ali in her Etsy shop! You can find more of her work on tumblr and Instagram.

Interviewed by Wei of HoneyThistle in February 2013 in Toronto.

Craft News: The Paper Place Giveaway

The Paper Place (across Queen St W from Trinity-Bellwoods Park) is having the 2nd annual chiyogami giveaway.. They are giving away 700 beautiful sheets of 8.5 x 11 chiyogami! If you would like to enter, just check out their blog for more details.

T.E.S.T. Interview: MadeByJacqueline

We hope to introduce you to all the great etsy sellers to be found right here in Toronto. Here at the T.E.S.T. blog, we plan to interview them all. This is the 16^th in our series, an interview with Jacqueline of MadeByJacqueline.

What got you started in this art-form of card-making?

I got a scrap-booking kit as a gift and took a crop class; soon after I began making handmade cards for family and friends. With the compliments I received I started making more and participating in local craft sales.

How long have you been doing this?

It all started in 2007; however it was not until 2008 that it became a real hobby. Just last month I decided to open my etsy shop to share my handmade creations.

Do you do customized cards?

Yes of course. I actually just completed two custom cards for a fellow TEST member. She wanted a 40th card for someone that likes wine; and a 60th card for someone who enjoys reading.

Beside Etsy how do you sell and advertise your business?

I have my blog which I add to daily with new creations, card challenges and fun giveaways. Recently I have joined twitter (@madebyjacquelin); I participate in local forums and provide updates to my mailing list. I participate in regular craft shows (usually in the spring and fall).

What do you do as a day job?

LOL ... I am in engineering ... far stretch from art; but I love that my crafting is a great escape.


I'd also like to add that besides handmade cards I make a lot of unique paper crafts such as my tile art (see photo), post it holders (see photo) and friendship seeds (see photo).

Find more by Jacqueline in her etsy store, on her blog, or by following her on Twitter. If you check out her blog you can find a code for limited time free shipping sale (til Sunday)! You can also find her at the upcoming Huttonville Spring Craft & Antique Show.

Interviewed by Lady Dylana of dylanadesigns in March, 2011.

OCAD Book Arts Fair

OCAD U presents
the 26th annual Book Arts Fair!

SATURDAY DECEMBER 4th
10am – 5pm

On Saturday, December 4, 2010, OCAD U holds its 26th annual Book Arts Fair, where, in time for the holiday season, visitors can browse and purchase hand-printed and bound books, prints, artist multiples, handmade paper and cards, buttons, totes, letterpress posters and much more.

Fifty to sixty book artists, printmakers, very small publishers, ‘zine’ makers, OCAD U students, professional artists, letterpress printers, papermaking and printmaking suppliers, and cooperative print shops will all be on hand offering unique gifts, collectors items and other treasures. The OCAD U Book Arts Fair is a long-running annual venue for showcasing book arts, a passionate, underground form of visual arts that has been growing in popularity.

This year, the OCAD U Book Arts Fair is pleased to welcome musical guests Lemon Bucket Orkestra, who will be playing live throughout the day.

Proceeds from mounting the Fair, and from donations and the sale of raffle tickets support student book artists and printmakers in OCAD U’s Printmaking program.

Participants include T.E.S.T. member missquitecontrary.

Any other T.E.S.T.y people going to be there? Let us know!