Read the rest of the article in our digital edition – lead story from the homepage.

Fabulous interview and photos from our Etsy Seller of The Month, Tree & Kimball. Read it here! And visit their store.

Dalena Vintage provide us with our Etsy Seller of The Month interview – view it in our digital edition from the homepage or why not buy a copy of the magazine from Lulu?

Meet our Etsy Seller Of The Month – Sweetruin run by Kathe Knitch. See more images and read the full interview in our digital edition over there in the right sidebar.

Welcome to Enchanticals – our Etsy Seller Of The Month March 2010.

We love the miniature items that Marsha Enchanticals makes so much and the little “eat me, drink me” bottles that we sent some questions her way which she very kindly answered in great detail! Show her some love and visit her store!

1.Who are you?
A. Marsha J. West – I am a miniaturist, artist in many different mediums, poet, and writer. I am writing a series of children’s books and a field guide on mushrooms. My poetry includes haikus. Shortly, I will be starting lessons in the art of Chinese brush painting. In addition, I am an avid gardener; do Tai Chi; design and make human and doll jewelry; treasure animals and work for their rights (completely non violent); and I create fashion doll dioramas and accessories for them.

B.I am the creator of Enchanticals. (www.Enchanticals.etsy.com) Enchanticals is where enchantment resides…along with fantasy, imagination, creativity, magic, mystery, and lore. Enchantment is always afoot at Enchanticals because enchantment cannot be harnessed, has no rules, and is everywhere. To enter this place of enchantment, simply suspend your realities, drift through the myste and fog, and allow your mind to open the door to your imagination. At Enchanticals you will find…All kinds of enchanted handmade one-of-a kind creations such as miniature wizard/witch/faerie hutches and other furniture; wizard, witch, and faerie miniature bottles of potients and elixirs; miniature crystal balls; enchanted magic orb wands; elementals’ bottles; enchanted wands; miniatures; fashion doll vanities and jewelry; and much more… My handmade creations are made one at a time. The majority of items on or in my creations are made with found objects. Plus, I keep no written recipes for paint colors or directions on how I made a certain item. That is why they are truly unique and one-of-a-kind. All of my enchanted creations are designed and handmade by me with a dollop of enchantment, a pound or two of imagination, and a touch of magic.

C. I love enchantment; found objects; fantasy; magic; runes; imagination; creativity; elementals; ancient texts and languages; Sacred Geometry; relics; books; pens; paper; ink; seals and wax; silver; Art Deco; relativity of time; crystals; philosophy; symbols and their meanings; comparative religion; jewelry; Paris and all things French; mushrooms (not to eat); make believe; wizards; fairies; fairytales; lore; legends; mysteries; secrets; hidden places and things; glitter; fog, rain and myste; birds; butterflies (my Sacred Animal); art; ballet; literature; music; the sea; worms; tea; blueberries; and all things vintage… just to name a few…

2.Where are you located?
A. Currently, I live in San Antonio, Texas (USA), but am a native of Connecticut (New England).

B. Enchanticals, my shop, is located at Etsy. (www.Enchanticals.etsy.com)

You can also find Enchanticals at:
*Flickr: Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/enchanticals/
*Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Marsha-West/100000100121487 *
Enchanticals also has a FAN page at Facebook
*PBworks/minitreasures.pbworks.com: http://minitreasures.pbworks.com/Enchanticals
I was the featured miniaturist on December 16, 2009 in the popular Advent Calendar. Here is the URL so you can go take a look. Please do. URL: www.minitreasures.pbworks.com/ac091216
*My Small Obessions.com: http://www.mysmallobsession.com/unusualoriginalminis.html
Under Construction:
*Mixed Media Art ~ www.Enchantica574@mixedmediaart.ning.com
*Indiepublic ~ http://www.indiepublic.com/profile¬/MarshaJWest
*Twitter ~ http://twitter.com/Enchanticals
*Slide.com * and
*My blog and several other sites.

3. Is Etsy your full-time business?
Yes. I also sell from every so often on eBay. I sold on eBay for over 5 years before opening my shop on Etsy. As I mentioned, I am also a writer and a poet (unpublished). I am working on a series of children’s books, a field guide on mushrooms, and continue to write short stories and poetry. In the listings for my miniatures and other enchanted creations, in almost all cases, I begin with a little story. These original stories are from my enchanted imagination.

4. How did you get into your current line of work?
My family has always been highly creative and artistic. (Sadly, they are all deceased with the exception of my beloved sister, my best friend.) They are/were writers, artists, painters, musicians, whittlers, singers, dancers, interior decorators, and the like. So, I must carry the gene for creativity within me. In addition, I have a full and rich imagination…always have. However, both my parents, especially my late Mother, and my sister are/were highly talented in all areas of creativity and possess/possessed many many talents. Since both are my idols, I always thought I fell short or didn’t measure up to their abilities even though we were always encouraged to be ourselves and to share our ideas, thoughts, and creations. Consequently, even though I wrote stories and poetry and drew as a child, I kept all of those things secret. It wasn’t until years later that I gained confidence in myself and my creations. So, instead of pursuing my desire to be a fashion designer or writer, I went into the corporate world of business…Corporate America. I was highly successful, but felt unhappy; as if I was pretending. I was playing the role of someone else. I am a very imaginative, creative, and, as I call it, an unconventional person who thinks out of the box, thinks intuitively, and needs to use her imagination and creativity. That does not fit well in the corporate world of business. I despised being told what to wear and the overall rigidity and conformity; everyone thought the same, acted the same, believed the same things, and never thought out of the box. I did not fit in at all nor did I want to. As time went on, I became more miserable and decided I had to make a change. I had to be me. I always wanted a brick and mortar store, but with the Internet and online shopping taking off, that was not feasible. So, I started selling on eBay and then decided to open a store, my Enchanticals, at Etsy. You can imagine how very hard that was for me to do. I had to “come out of secret” with “my” creations and, not only show the world, but actually sell them and expect people to buy them. I have expanded Enchanticals to other places including Flickr, Facebook (Fan Page), and other online places. Flickr really helped me build my confidence up to a higher level because, not only are photos of my creations on Flickr for other to see, but other Flickr members can comment on them.

5. What and who are your inspirations and influences?
My creations are infused and shaped by everything in life, my experiences and memories both past and present, and all which surrounds me: nature, music, art, what I love and my areas of study, books, quotes, fashion, symbols, religions, fairytales, my own imagination, colors, ancient text and languages, my late Mother, my sister, my five kitty babies, and the babies (Cairns, Silky Terrier, and Kitty) who are deceased, my beliefs, and inner dreams. Also, when I was a little girl, at bedtime, my Mother would tell me such imaginative stories which she created as she was telling them to me. They were wonderful, unique, creative, and filled with so many details, enchantment, magic, wonderment, and her imagination. Plus, she had painted lavish fantasy murals on our bedroom walls to encourage us to dream and imagine.

6. Favorite sites on the Internet and sources for your work either offline or online?
Online I love to visit art and photography sites, cruise Etsy, Flickr, and Mixed Media Art, fashion designer sites, fashion doll and miniature artists and sites, as well as sites that sell craft items and “stash”. Offline, my sources for inspiration come from everywhere… nature; music; lyrics; quotes; my sister; vintage photos and ephemera; my five kitties; found objects from everywhere; hardware stores; jewelry and fashion designers; fashion and art shows and galleries; art; ballet; concerts; colors; smells; the sea/ocean; gardening; just observing animals, butterflies, birds, and nature; photography galleries; plus, as I mentioned above, everything in life; my experiences and memories both past and present; and all which surrounds me; what I love and my areas of study; books; and my beliefs and inner dreams; just to name a few. I am like a sponge. I cannot get enough inside of me. (Please note these are not in any order of importance or priority.)

7. Goals and aspirations for the future of your business/hobby?
I am going to expand Enchanticals to 3-4 other online selling venues, plus join several miniature organizations, and create my blog. As an artist, I will be taking Chinese brush painting classes and will continue to expand my abilities and knowledge of my craft/art. I also want to learn how to do woodworking and etching on glass and plan to rekindle my love of photography. I also want to incorporate more mixed media techniques into my miniatures and fashion doll items. I am finally going to replace the miniature dollhouse I lost three years ago, plus I want to create a permanent diorama stage that will allow me to more easily change the dioramas for my fashion dolls. And, I will continue marketing my Enchanticals into many other online venues, finish up my newsletter, and do my blog.

8. Advice for others?
Don’t wait to share your creations with everyone whether they are miniatures, art, and photography or in any other medium. Don’t let the feeling of “not measuring up” to others stop you or the thought that your creations differ from those of others. Do not compare yourself or your creations to others. Have confidence in your gift, your creativity, your creations, and yourself. We are all given certain gifts and talents…each of us have our own unique and special gifts/talents. Those gifts/talents are infused with our experiences, knowledge, and our own personalities. Creativity takes many forms and our creations should not be hidden. If we hide them, then, they are wasted. By sharing them with others and bringing them to the light, we inspire and encourage others to share their gifts/talents and ideas and to, hopefully, positively influence them to use their imagination to create and try new things, if they have not done so in the past. Also, by sharing, we have a chance to learn new ideas and concepts from others, as well as seek their advice.
What you create is an extension of yourself. It, like you, is special, unique, and beautiful. Let others see and enjoy the fruits of your imagination and creativity and through them… See you.

* If you would like to be featured as our Etsy Seller Of  The Month  please send us a url to your shop – info@alicemagazine.co.uk. We also have an Etsy page: Alice Magazine On Etsy *

Not the case here as you can see. We’ve chosen three of our favourite pieces from Swallowfield’s current collection in keeping with our red theme for February and threw a few questions and answers across for good measure.

1.Who are you?

Jennifer Judd-McGee

2.Where are you located?

Portland, Maine, US

3.Is etsy your full-time business?

Making art is my full time business. Etsy makes up about 50% of that. I also show in galleries, do some freelance editorial work, and do art/craft shows a few times a year.

4. How did you get into your current line of work?

I left my old job about three years ago and decided to try selling stuff I’d been making for fun. It was a good time to make the move, as Etsy was just taking off then.

5. What and who are your inspirations and influences?

I love mid-century modern design and vintage fabrics.

6. Favourite sites on the internet and sources for your work either online or off?

Flickr is my favorite site, by far. Lately I’ve been having fun on Twitter, too.

7. Goals and aspirations for the future of your business/hobby?

I’d like to learn to make repeating patterns and think about doing some surface design stuff. And I’d love to figure out how to work smarter, and step away from my computer more often.

8. Advice for others?

Love what you’re making, list often on Etsy, be polite, and ship promptly.

Introducing our Etsy Seller Of The Month: Painted By Renee

This seller is a regular in Alice Magazine treasuries on Etsy and produces some amazing hand-painted designs on a variety of media.

Her brand new Alice In Wonderland themed collection is available now in her etsy shop.

1.Who are you?

Renee Levey

2.Where are you located?

Southern California

3.Is etsy your full-time business?

No – but it’s a wonderful outlet for my creativity.  I also teach an adult literacy conversation class once a week.  That is very fulfilling knowing you are helping others to improve their lives.

4. How did you get into your current line of work?

I have been an artist in one medium or another for over 25 years.  I fell in love with anything and everything French which is reflected in my current work.  My daughter had been on Etsy for awhile and told me how easy it was to get started – and sure enough she was right.  It’s the most fun I’ve had in years..

5. What and who are your inspirations and influences?

I think what I am doing now is what I was meant to do.  I used to be influenced solely by Asian Art.  I would paint enormous canvases with Asian men and the most fun for me was designing their costumes.  I used faux finishes, copper and gold leafing and imagination and just had the best time.  And then everything changed for me when I discovered the French influence.  That’s something that for now makes me very happy.  It’s a romantic and elegant look and I have a lot of fun making my creations.

6. Favourite sites on the internet and sources for your work either online or off?

One of my favorite sites is my daughter’s blog – aGardenToRemember.blogspot.com – it’s so full of information and sharing. As for sources for my work, I can get ideas from anywhere or anything.  It might be seeing a particular color or reading an article that gives me a spark.  It’s always so exciting coming up with new ideas. I do a lot of Custom Work on my site – for weddings, showers, etc., and there’s always that feeling when you’re starting a new project.  You feel like you’re on a high wire without a net below. And when the project is done, and you get such tremendously positive feedback and you know how pleased they are, it’s just a fabulous feeling.  I’m so very proud of my positive feedback from customers.

7. Do you have any advice for others?

I come across a lot of people who say – Wow I wish I could do that. I can’t even draw a straight line. And the truth is, until you try, you don’t know.  I believe that everyone has some type of artistic creativity and they just need to free themselves up to give it a try. I used to teach art to children and they would get so upset when they “made a mistake”.  I would tell them – there are no mistakes in art.  There are only “Happy Accidents”. I have a lot of those and most of the time, I find that they are the pieces that I like the best.  The unplanned things that come about.

We are always on the lookout for new Etsy Sellers Of The Month! If you would like to feature please send us your shop name in an email to: editor@alicemagazine.co.uk and if we like it we will feature it!