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Snowflake Ornament

Joyce is hosting a giveaway.  The winner of Joyce's giveaway will receive a snowflake ornament, pictured.  To be entered to win, visit Joyce's shop (Butler Pottery) and then come back HERE and leave a comment with your favorite item in her shop.  Please include your email so we can contact you if you are the winner. The winner will be announced on next Wednesday's Featured Artist post.

Green and Blue Mug

How did you get started on Etsy?
In January 2009 I was visiting a friend and she showed me the Etsy site. Our house had been up for sale for several months with nothing happening so I decided in March 2009 to open my Etsy shop. In September 2009 our house sold. I slowed down with my Etsy until August 2010 when I felt I was settled enough to devote more time to my Etsy store.

How did you choose your shop name?
I like mysteries and in the old ones they blamed it on the butler. Since that is my last name I thought it would be interesting to call my business The Butler’s Pottery. For Etsy I decided just to use my name with my craft, simple and to the point.


Iris Vase

What does a typical day look like for you?
I don’t have a set routine but typically I start the day by checking my email. I then have breakfast, make a cup of tea and I have some quiet time with God. I then exercise. Around 10 am it is time to work on my pottery. Depending what stage my pottery is in could be turning on the potter’s wheel, rolling out slabs, trimming existing cups and adding handles, glazing a load for the kiln or loading the kiln. I do take a lunch break. Around 5 p.m. I start supper for my husband and I. I find it easier to allocate one day a week I run errands, do house work, laundry, instead of breaking up my pottery days. When I have a sale it get packaged and sent to the post office in the morning before I start into the pottery. After supper I do some bookwork which also includes my husbands business. Often while watching T.V. and relaxing I am painting details of a piece of pottery such as a vase or sculpture. I make sure to take time off and have a cup of tea with a friend once in awhile. Sunday mornings I go to church and take it easy in the afternoon.



Match Box Holder

 Where would you like to be for a day?
I would like to visit my two daughters, their husband and the grandchildren at the same time either out west Canada where one daughter lives or in northern Ontario where my other daughter lives.



Where can we find you on the Internet?
Blog-http://butlerpottery.blogspot.com/
Etsy-http://www.etsy.com/shop/ButlerPottery?ref=seller_info
Facebook-http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Butler-Pottery/148022595249451?v=wall

by Joy Maloney of JoyfulHandKnits




Give away item:

A simple 1/2" sterling silver disk is handstamped with a 1/4" initial of your choice. Only one initial will fit on this charm. Please let me know if you'd like a heart (as shown) or another shape added to this charm.

Please specify the initial and chain that you'd like in the comments to seller section. I have box or rollo chains in 16 or 18" lengths.


To be entered to win this GIVEAWAY:

Visit Amy's shop. Then come back and COMMENT on this Blog about your favorite item in her shop.

The winner will be announced in next Wednesday's CAST Team blog posting.

Introduction

Hi, my name is Amy! I have been married for 8.5 years to a wonderful man and we have two beautiful children aged 4.5 and almost 2.


I’ve been making jewelry since late 2003, making beaded jewelry and it’s evolved in the past few years to stamped jewelry. Since I’ve started doing the stamped jewelry the business has really taken off. I was recently on a local daily television show called IndyStyle and you can see the video on my website here (http://www.amycornwell.com/store/cart.php?m=content&page=11)

How did you get your start on Etsy?

I don’t even remember how I found Etsy, but when I saw it I knew it couldn’t hurt to try. The fees were so low that I figured if I didn’t sell a thing I wouldn’t be out much. Thankfully I didn’t have to worry about that!

What does a typical day look like for you?

A typical day consists of getting up at 6am, getting myself and my kids ready. Then I take them to the babysitter while I go to work at our church as the Sr. Pastor’s Assistant. I get off at 5pm (M-Th), pick up the kids and do dinner/bath/bedtime. After bedtime I work on orders until they are done which is usually by 10:30 or 11:00 pm. I don’t do orders every day, but usually every other day.

If you could be anywhere in the world for one day, where would it be?

Oh wow, that’s a hard one. If it were just one day and anywhere, I’d probably say a day in Fiji or somewhere equally as beautiful by the beach.

What is your favorite Bible verse?

My favorite verse since I was in High School is:


What is your favorite Etsy item listing to feature?










I have two favorite items from my shop right now and both are pretty new to the shop. The first is the Family Tree: Circle of Love necklace which comes with an extra long 30" chain.

The second favorite is my Momma Bird necklace that is super cute and unique. I love it because birds are so popular right now.

URLs to where else we can find you on the internet (Facebook fan page, Twitter, your own dot.com, your blog, etc)

• http://www.amycornwell.com

• http://www.facebook.com/AmyCornwellDesigns

• http://twitter.com/amycornwell



Using random.org........The winner of the aleshakay Giveaway is (............drum roll please............): ZudaGay!! Congratulations! Please coordinate with Alesha to receive your prize. I'll convo you both.

by Joy Maloney of JoyfulHandKnits

Introducing: Alesha Conklin
(aka aleshakay AND a GIVEAWAY!)


Please take a moment to visit Alesha's shop and give her some love!

Alesha is hosting a GIVEAWAY!



Introduction

I guess I am many things to different people, but most importantly, I am a daughter of the King! I was raised in a Christian home by two wonderful parents, and I came to know the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour at the age of 5. I have been married to Doug for almost 22 years, and we are the (adoptive) parents to a great little boy named Isaac, who has multiple special needs. So, these days, my main title is that of stay-at-home mommy to my son. In my spare moments I love to sing, keep up with my friends and family on Facebook, and make jewelry.

How did you get your start on Etsy?

I had put together a few pieces of jewelry for myself and my mom, simply because we couldn’t find what we were looking for in the stores. A few friends saw the pieces, and suggested I put some on Etsy. I did lots of research, poured over tons of Etsy sites, deliberated for days about a name, and finally opened Alesha Kay’s Shop on Etsy.

What does a typical day look like for you?

My day technically starts at midnight. I usually stay up quite late to keep an eye on my son who tends to be a “night owl”. I head to bed shortly before my hubby gets up to head to work. Then I sleep in, usually until around 9 a.m. My first goal each morning is to get a cup of coffee (a subject about which I am very passionate!), then I check my site, convos and emails from my shop to see if I need to follow up on anything right away. I have my Bible study, and then check in on Facebook and my personal email accounts. I also try to blog at least once a week.

The majority of my day is spent caring for my son. I take care of all of his daily physical needs, from brushing his teeth to changing his clothes, trying to keep up with his laundry and bedding. I keep him occupied with videos, toys, music and personal interaction. We have a good time together, and enjoy seeing Daddy when he comes home during the day to check on us. My usual activities would also include feeding and administering meds to Isaac, too; but as I have been having back problems this past year, my husband has taken over those responsibilities for now.

I do not make jewelry on a regular basis through the week, although I do sometimes take photos on weekdays. Most Saturdays, though, you can find me hard at work all day, while my husband is here to care for Isaac. I work on one project after another from the time I get up until it is time to go to bed. It makes for a grueling Saturday, but I am usually so pleased at the end of the day when I look over all that I accomplished.

If you could be anywhere in the world for one day, where would it be?

I’d love to be on a deserted island (resort, of course!), with all my family.

What is your favorite Bible verse?

My favorite verses vary…I can never pick just one. It’s usually a verse that the Lord is using to deal with me about an area of my life. Right now, I am meditating on Isaiah 33:5-6:

“The Lord is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness. And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is his treasure.”


What is your favorite Etsy item listing to feature?


These earrings were something new I tried, and I really love them! I think they are so cool. I mean, how incredible is a 12 mm Swarovski crystal?!!

URLs to where else we can find you on the internet (Facebook fan page, Twitter, your own dot.com, your blog, etc)

Here is my Facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/aleshakaysshop

My personal blog: http://obtainingmercy.typepad.com

My devotional blog: http://obtainingmercy.typepad.com/adoorofhope/

Thank you so much for this opportunity. I am really grateful for this chance to greet the other CAST members. I look forward to getting to know more of you through the blog. J



And the winner of the Apronsbyjeek Giveaway is (............drum roll please............): Emily Cavazos!! Congratulations Emily! Please coordinate with Apronsbyjeek to collect your prize.