Tanja D'Lyn on Etsy: July 2011 Featured EKTT Member

Tanja D'lyn's Design Studio

July's Featured EKTT Member is a curator who has been with the EtsyKids Treasury Team since we began in September 2010, Tanja of Tanja D'lyn on Etsy (also known as inspiring design studio tm).  We thank you, Tanja D'lyn, for curating many gorgeous treasuries to promote EtsyKids Team members.  It is the pleasure of the EtsyKids Treasury Team to curate treasuries honoring you throughout July!


Tanja of Tanja D'lyn on Etsy creates "fresh and savvy" designs for every aspect of your child's life--from bath to play, Tanja D'lyn's "dreamy soft children's bath robes, hooded towels, baby blankets, bibs, burps and specialty gifts" will make any day a luxurious spa vacation.  Indulge in the decadent opulence of Tanja D'lyn on Etsy or come feel the sumptuous quality for yourself at Gig Harbor Summer Art Festival on July 16 and 17 in Gig Harbor, WA where Tanja has you covered with "terries for tots!  From infant to big kid hooded towels and robes, make waves with these fun, colorful terries and let them get wet!"

Personalization Sold Separately - Child Robe (size 6 mos. to 7 kids) by Tanja D'lyn on Etsy

EKTT:  What is your favorite part of the creative process? 

Tanja D'lyn:  The dreaming and designing of the fabrics and patterns. For inspiration I like to go to a new beach port town, visit an open air soiree, art museum or garden. Just seeing something new, arty and fresh keeps me infused with ideas!


EKTT:  What is your least favorite part of the creative process?  
Tanja D'lyn:  Not having the time to do it all in a day! I am still learning the balance of family life, blogs, teams, Magazine Editing and Writing (www.mhcmag.com/), sewing, listing and creating the new items for next season.

Nautical Whales Baby Bib (Personalization Sold Separately) by Tanja D'lyn

EKTT:  What was the journey that brought you to opening Tanja D'lyn on Etsy?
Tanja D'lyn:  Learned to sew when I was 3.  Drawing paper dolls on a sweet summer day was my favorite childhood pastime. Discovered that I did not want to be a doctor in my junior year in college (SDSU) and finished my degree in Fashion Design (FCC of San Diego) in my early twenties. After designing several children’s lines for other designers, I found success with Fuzzy Wuzzy Bear Wear Ltd. as a wholesale designer and owner for about 15 years. (We were in about 1000 boutique stores nationally.) After three children and a not-so-fun divorce, I took a couple years off to direct children’s theatre and teach sewing to children. I found the simple life a joy! Watching a Martha Stewart Living show, I spotted etsy.com and in 2008 I created a few test items and started tanjadlyn.etsy.com. It was not until late 2010 I decided to “go all out” and focus on my site. After being featured on the front page of an Etsy Finds newsletter for kids (www.etsy.com/storque/spotlight/etsy-finds-the-gift-of-free-shipping-6202/ ) I began to test out “tag words” and created a business plan for my shop, which included listing often, joining a team, building up stock for about 50 plus items and writing for a children's Etsy magazine (www.mhcmag.com/p/mhc-team.html). What I love the most is that I found a place where people are just like me!  Being an artist and doing what you are passionate about is very rewarding! 

Love Birds Baby Burp Cloths by Tanja D'lyn on Etsy

EKTT:  What is your best advice for sellers of children’s items on Etsy?
Tanja D'lyn:  Join a team specific to children. Participate in treasuries, circles, and read all Etsy news feeds.  You will learn everything you need to know to be in business for yourself! Peek at the most recent Etsy Finds newsletter daily (look for tags that reflect the items you sell), tag your items you list that day with any of those.  (Hint:  newsletter goes to everyone and they all will look at those highlighted listings.) List daily in your area of expertise (check to see if your tags are all working and your photos look good).

Mermaid Children's Hooded Towel by Tanja D'lyn on Etsy

EKTT:  Apart from your Etsy shop and being an EKTT Curator, what are your favorite things to do?
Tanja D'lyn:  I love to sew, teach Middle School Theatre and sewing to children ages 8 to 16 years old.  Teach art to grades K through 6 in an afterschool program on Thursday nights! As a family we bike, play tennis, and beach it! 

Nautical (Personalization Available) Beach Baby Hooded Towel by Tanja D'lyn

EKTT:  Any favorite curating suggestions to offer EKTT teammates?  
Tanja D'lyn:  Read the merchandising report published on The Etsy Blog, participate in the EtsyKids Treasury Team Challenges. Add photos that look great, only pick items you would purchase. (Add items to your favorites and choose from those for your treasuries.)


EKTT:  What is the one handmade possession or craft tool you could not live without?
Tanja D'lyn:  A sewing machine. I cannot live without it! I sew every day for business or fun! It’s a passion thing! : )

Orange and Raspberry Pink Damask Bib by Tanja D'lyn on Etsy

EKTT:  Please share one really weird compulsion, habit, or fixation of yours--we know you've got one!
Tanja D'lyn:  I collect paper dolls, vintage and new. I own every issue of Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion just for the paper dolls.

***

Thank you, Tanja D'lyn, for granting us this interview and a peek into your own private world of paper dolls and fun fabrics!  I truly believe your playful designs are inspired by your inner child and all the children who grace your world today!

Stalk Tanja D'lyn online and at her upcoming show in Gig Harbor, WA:

Etsy Shop:  Tanja D'lyn  

Blog:  Savvy Baby Goodies

Art Festival:  Gig Harbor Summer Art Festival Facebook Page

When?  July 16 - 17

Where?  Gig Harbor, WA        

kangaroocuddles on Etsy Sings a Little Love Song

'Love you sooooooo much!' by kangaroocuddles

Valentines for my sweetest, most favorite, big and little friends

Valentine Heart Fel... dagmarsdesigns $6.00	upcycled play food/... feltedkitten $25.00	Black Hoodie - Star... CandyBandits $48.00	Valentine's Day... cakepopcastle $15.00
a photo card of the... photobistro $3.50	Red Hot Heart Mixed... LittleGreenRoo... $45.00	Handmade Hanging He... aunaturelle $14.95	Valentine Truck App... sugarbumpscrea... $9.00
Pair of Nora Bows i... MyLittlePixies $4.50	Something Sweet ...... SquishyBee $20.00	bright pink top wit... greensies $16.00	Quilted and Stripe ... GracieBonesBou... $18.00
Lavender Vanilla He... bigtranch $4.00	Felted slippers SUS... ing00te $75.00	Hearts and Flowers ... atthebrightspo... $145.00	Carved Wood Heart i... treewiz $60.00

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.

greensies on Etsy: January's EKTT Featured Member

Blue Paisley Toddler Top by greensies on Etsy

Congratulations to Heather of greensies on Etsy, winner of our December Treasury Challenge!  Heather's submission, "Mommy! Daddy!  Play with me! for Under $50" won the most votes for the treasury best representing our challenge theme, Perfect Presents to Celebrate the Family this Christmas. Heather of greensies' prize includes shop features by each January EKTT curator, kicking off 2011 in the happiest way!  Heather will also choose our treasury challenge theme this month, spectacular!


greensies on Etsy is a unique boutique featuring one of a kind children's clothing, appliqued and embellished onesies, and hair accessories designed and handmade by Heather.  It is obvious Heather's love of her own two beautiful girls has inspired a line of clothing that will not only be adored by children, but also prized by their mothers.  As a special bonus to you fashionistas, greensies on Etsy will work with you on a custom design that will make your child stand out from the crowd (*see greensies on Etsy for her customizable listing).    I know you are eager to learn more about the designer behind greensies--fortunately for you, Heather granted us an interview!

Ruffle Onesie with Amy Butler Fabric by greensies

EKTT: What is your favorite part of the creative process? Least favorite?


greensies:  There’s so much to love in the creative process, especially when it involves children’s clothes. The possibilities for embellishments and fun little details are endless. I love looking at the basic, say, dress I’m making and getting to decide how to schnazz it up. And as a goal-oriented person, I can’t get enough of the satisfaction that comes from finishing that last stitch, stepping back and seeing the end result. That’s, actually, probably my downfall and my least favorite part of creating—having to stop in the middle. I want to finish! My two little girls, however, are quickly helping me adjust my expectations by regularly adjusting their nap routines.

Owl Twirl Skirt by greensies

EKTT:  What was the journey that brought you to opening greensies on Etsy?


greensies:  This is a Christmas story. Two Christmases ago, I wanted to go out and buy a holiday onesie for my daughter. I figured that I would easily find something I liked. I hadn’t currently heard of Etsy, so I hit my usual haunts: Target, Kohl’s, etc. Nothing. So I thought, Well, how hard could it be? In hindsight, that onesie was, uh, less than awesome, but the whole process lit a fire. The next Christmas, my one big gift request was a sewing machine. I started making everything I could for my own girls, but I was making more than they could ever really wear, so I started thinking that maybe other people would want some homemade kiddo clothing. Ta-da! greensies is born!

Color Splash Dress by greensies

EKTT:  What is your best advice for seller's of children's items on Etsy?

greensies:  My granny used to say, “I’ve never taken any advice, and I’m not about to give any,” which is only half true. :) So I’ll try to follow in her footsteps and give it a go, even though I feel too much like a novice to really help! The one thing I’ve learned is that, from project to project, you need to love what you’re doing. If you’re in the process and are completely miserable, drop it. I think (and hope!) that people buying on Etsy know when an item has been invested in. They want to buy something that’s been made with joy and love, and I’m willing to bet they can tell when something has just been churned out. I want the joy I feel when making an item to transfer to the purchaser and wearer of it.

Pink Zebra 3 to 6 mos. Lap Tee by greensies

EKTT:  Any current favorite curating suggestions to offer EKTT members?

greensies:  I LOVE curating because I get to discover, again and again, all the amazing things there are to discover on Etsy. As for choosing a theme, pick something that really inspires you. Don’t force it. I’ve dropped a couple treasuries-in-process because it just wasn’t fun to complete. In fact, my favorite treasuries have been those that center around items that I’ve just found at random and fallen in love with.

Happy Girl Onesie by greensies

EKTT:  Please share one really weird compulsion, habit, or fixation of yours--we know you've got one!

greensies:  Now, you’ve put me in a tough place with the weird compulsion. I can’t share them all because I don’t know if there’s enough space on the blog for all of my, uh, endearing idiosyncrasies. Here are a couple for you, though: I pretty much only drink through a straw. My husband likes to joke that I may have lost the ability to drink from a cup like a normal human being, but I don’t really care to find out if that’s the case or not. The other thing is that I refuse to set alarm clocks, timers or things of that nature to numbers ending in 0 or 5. Why, you ask? I don’t know. It is what it is. Let’s just compromise a call it a cute little quirk. Please? ;)

***

Thank you so much for taking the time to share the wild and weird workings of your mind with us, Heather!  I love that you've lost the ability to drink from a cup AND added a bonus "quirk" for us to gawk at...er....*cough* admire!  

Get busy stalking Heather of greensies in the following locations:

Etsy Shop:  greensies

Facebook:  greensies

EtsyKids Treasury Team Hits FRONT PAGE of Etsy!

Overjoyed that an EKTT curation made the front page of Etsy today! Congratulations to the EtsyKids Team members and EKTT curators featured in this treasury.  


Click here to see the treasury:  Paul Bunyan Falls Hard for Lumberjack Lady - Fells No More Trees  

EKTT on Front Page of Etsy!

Take a Gander at ittybittybirdy on Etsy's Front Page!

Congratulations Chelsea Ann of ittybittybirdy on Etsy for curating the latest front page feature for the EtsyKids Treasury Team!  What a diverse, cohesive and fabulous treasury it is, "Take A Gander" at it yourself!  Hearty thanks to Chelsea Ann of ittybittybirdy for curating this treasury and highlighting the EtsyKids Team! How happy we are for all the EtsyKids Team members who were featured in this curation!  Big round of applause for everyone!

"Take A Gander" by ittybittybirdy on Etsy

The Green Goat: EKTT November's Featured Member

The Green Goat on Etsy

EKTT's November featured member is Mary of The Green Goat on Etsy!  Mary received the most votes on her treasury, "Nothing edible here, but yet all so delicious!" submitted for our October Challenge.  This month our treasury challenge theme will be picked by The Green Goat, and each of you EKTT members will feature Mary in one of your treasuries!  

The Green Goat on Etsy is filled with delicate illustrations of nature, animals, and whimsical fantasies screen printed using eco-friendly, non-toxic dyes and inks on cotton. You eco-conscious mothers will be overjoyed with the variety of organic cotton onesies offered by The Green Goat.  There's absolutely no denying that Mary is the maven of color combinations!  We had the privilege to interview the woman behind The Green Goat and were able to unearth some dark and strange facts for your reading pleasure!  

Organic Natural Onesie with Red Horse

EKTT:  What is your favorite part of the creative process?  Least favorite?

The Green Goat:    My favorite part of the creating process is pairing the different color combos. I am such a color junkie. Certain color combos can stop me in my tracks and make me stare sometimes. I love turquoise and reds together. And greys can pair up with darn near anything and look great. I could go on and on. I love how color can pop! Or be ever so subtle depending on what you pair it with. It's funny looking back on stuff that I made in the same night...the colors can have a completely different feeling from the night before. I never know what I am doing until I get up there to work. It all depends on my mood.

My least favorite thing about the creating process is how L-O-N-G the process can be sometimes. Not only do you have to make it, but you have to photo it, edit it, list it, and then market it and promote it! Sheesh! I stay at home with my kids and I never seem to have enough time in the day to do all that needs to be done. It is a constant battle trying to juggle everything. And I hate that I am such a perfectionist. I can't turn it off. I will spend hours tweaking a design (or treasury;) until I get it just right. My husband is learning that when I say 5 more minutes it really means at least an hour. 

The Green Goat

EKTT:  What was the journey that brought you to opening The Green Goat on Etsy?

The Green Goat:  Well, I have always been inclined to make things, so I went to college to learn art and graduated with a degree in graphic design. Shortly thereafter, I became a mommy and did nothing artistic (aside from making my son's halloween costumes and birthday invites) for like 4 years! The Green Goat came about after my second child was born and my pent up creative energy erupted into a childrens collection and then some. And I haven't stopped since.

The Green Goat

EKTT:  What is your best piece of advice for seller's of children's items on Etsy?

The Green Goat:  Take great photos! I am constantly trying to improve this. I still have a lot to learn. I actually have a photo shoot planned this weekend! I hope it turns out well. I am going to try some new things.

The Green Goat

EKTT:  Any current favorite curating suggestions you want to pass along to EKTT members?  

The Green Goat:  I  just recently got into pouncing!  I love finding the neat undiscovered shops. I think it's important to showcase something new that hasn't been seen before.

EKTT:  Please share one really weird compulsion, habit, or fixation of yours--we know you've got one!

The Green Goat:  One weird thing huh?  There are many. We bought a 125 year old house with no central air yet and I went without air in my workroom all summer, by choice. We had a window unit to put in there, but I didn't want it. And I loved it. 

Rosewood Play Dress with Slate Blue Microflora

So there you have it folks, directly from The Green Goat's mouth!  Thanks for granting us this interview, Mary!  Rush over to The Green Goat and grab some comfortable, eco-friendly, wearable art for yourself, your children, and as unique gifts for friends and family!  

Be sure to stalk The Green Goat in all these great locations:

Etsy Shop:  The Green Goat

Facebook:  The Green Goat

Twitter:  The Green Goat

Blog:  The Green Goat