Come and Meet Perfume House!

This Interview is with Michelle from Perfume House.


1) How did you come up with the name to your shop?
  I have changed my shop's name from TheLakeMaiden to PerfumeHouse so I may be able to focus and express my love for crafting bespoke and niche perfumes inspired by old-world and ancient recipes.

2) What was the first thing that you created & sold that made you think- Wow- I CAN do this?
- My Angel Face Cream with Sea Buckthorn Berry oil. At the time when I first sold the cream it was plainly called my "Anti-Aging, Anti-Acne" cream. I thought it fitting to give it a name since it seemed to have helped the skin of my customers as well as family and friends.

3) Who or What started you on this path?
- When my daughter was suffering with early childhood acne. This led me to further my research on ingredients, which when combined with my own personal love for all-natural skin care, started the mission to create skin care that would help my daughter, who is now 15 and the clearest she has ever been.

4) What is the Favorite tool of your trade and why?
- Time. When I have time, I use it to research, create, try the items, ask the opinions of my products on family and friends. Yes, it would definitely be time.

5) What is your best advice or tip to give another vendor?
- I created my shop due to the love of my daughter as well as the love for all-natural ingredients. When opening a shop, think of why you are opening a shop. If you are there to make money, then market research and a realistic business plan is key. When you are opening a shop at a hobby-pace, still have a business plan but be prepared if your business takes off and how you would expand.

6) Are you doing any craft shows this year? Where can others find you?
- Right now I am just on Etsy. I would love to branch out to craft shows and more, but the cost (at least for now) of acquiring a vendor's table at some of these events are little pricey at my business pace.

7) What is your favorite item in your shop and why?

- Well I have two. The Angel Face cream that I use as well as my daughter

 and my Maiden's Beauty Mix Grains that I blend with honey for scrubbing and then as a mask.

       

A Couple of my Favorite items are:

       Lavender Bud Soap - Lavender Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Olive Oil, Coconut Oil and Dried Lavender Buds - 2.5 oz

( I like the combo of the scents)


And this:

  
Whipped Body Butter - Lemon Olive and Honey with Seabuckthorn Berry Oil

(And this just looks wonderful to me!)

8) Please tell us your links (ie facebook/twitter/web site etc).
    http://twitter.com/PerfumeArtist

Hope this helps and thank you again!
Michelle
 (and Thank You Michelle... your shop looks great & I love the New Name!)

The Sign Post Interview

Heather at The Sign Post has agreed to an Interview...


1) How did you come up with the name to your shop?

  My partner came up with the name to my shop, she is such a creative for sure.

2) What was the first thing that you created & sold that made you think- Wow- I CAN do this?
  The first sign I sold was "Well behaved woman rarely make history". Although, it took a little while to sell my first sign it made my heart just fill with joy and I thought, maybe I can do this? I am still in the midst of working on different sayings so stay tuned, more will be following within the next few months.
3) Who or What started you on this path?
  My partner started me on this path. I previously was selling Adirondack coat racks, calender holders, picture frames made out of cedar wood, but unless I traveled to the Old Forge, Inlet area, sales were not good elsewhere. Guess everyone doesn't like the Adirondack taste as we do :) My partner saw a really neat sign that she liked and set me on my way. Quite a few other vendors rub the edges whereas I actually sand down the edges.

4)What is the Favorite tool of your trade and why?

  My stencil brush is my favorite tool of the trade. Although it is a very time consuming project as there are several layers of very thin paint on each letter, this is my passion for sure. Once you see the sign complete it's just an awesome feeling for sure.

5) What is your best advice or tip to give another vendor?

  The best advice I could give to another vendor is never give up, keep on trying and doing what you love. Keep on tweeking your pictures, policies, etc. Patience is definitely a virtue for sure. I'm sure that my shop could use an overhaul as well but I'm happy with how it looks and this is all that matters :)
6) Are you doing any craft shows this year? Where can others find you?

 I do quite a few craft shows throughout the summer/fall months, this is where most of my sales come from. I do shows in Old Forge, Inlet and Syracuse primarily.

7) What is your favorite item in your shop and why?
The favorite sign from my shop would be "Be Who You Are" by Dr. Seuss.

be-who-you-are-and-say-what-you-feel

This sign in particular has so much meaning to me. I am so happy when I sell this sign to a younger person, maybe they will look at this and remember just what it says "Be who you are". There are so many people in this world today that judge others as how they feel someone should be, how someone should live, etc. which I feel is absolutely shameful to say the least. If only everyone in this world was kind and respectful to other another what a wonderful world we would live in.

***Here are a couple things that I like in her shop:

 

 dogs-have-owners-cats-have-staff-funny
Basically because I have both and it is too true!!

wisdom-is-the-highest-form-of-kindness
Because I really believe it.

8) Please tell us your links (ie facebook/twitter/web site etc)

 I have a Facebook account and my username is Heather Freeland.

Thank You Heather... Good luck! (Please follow her!)

later, L

Cards by The Blue Rose Interview

Next in line with Interviews is Laura Pilieros and her shop  CardsbyTheBlueRose

1) How did you come up with the name to your shop?
 The Blue Rose symbolizes my husband and I. When we were dating he told me the story. He said it came from an old movie called, "The Thief of Baghdad." The hero, in order to save his beloved princess, must find the mythical Blue Rose. He goes through all types of trials and tribulations, finds the rose, but then it gets smashed. He gives the princess a white rose instead, and it turns blue because of his deep love for her. He gave me a blue rose when we were married 20 years ago.  Romantic, no?!

 2) What was the first thing that you created & sold that made you think- Wow- I CAN do this?

 I can't remember exactly the first thing I sold, but people kept commenting on how beautiful my cards were. My kids are teenagers now and I was looking for something to do , that would also earn me a little money, (I've always been crafty) so I thought, "why not?"

3) Who or What started you on this path?

 I started making cards because of a friend who is a Stampin' Up demonstrator. I had so much fun at one of her classes that I joined her monthly stamp club.
4)What is the Favorite tool of your trade and why?

 My favorite tool would probably be my Cuttlebug...I have used that machine probably a gazillion times, lol! I think my right arm is more muscular because of all the cranking I do.
5) What is your best advice or tip to give another vendor?

 My best advice to give to another vendor would be...don't give up! I haven't yet made sale on Etsy (I joined in June), but I remain positive that I will make sales eventually. I believe in what I do.
6) Are you doing any craft shows this year? Where can others find you?

I have done a few craft shows locally this year. My favorite small show was the Oxford Veterans Home Craft Show; my favorite larger show is Colorscape Chenango! To me, it's always about the people I meet at these events and the interesting types of crafts I encounter.
7) What is your favorite item in your shop and why?

 My favorite item in my shop is my "Woman of the World Card" (LP-219). I love the vibrant colors and contrasts, and that Art Deco woman that adorns the cover.

 

Woman of the World Notecard

 

** Here are a couple things that I like from her shop:

 

 

Pastel Assortment of Thank You Cards - 8 Pack

 

I like how pretty and simple these are. Everyone can use a gift pack of cards to have on hand!

 

 

christmas-card-red-or-green-with-birds

 

These are so pretty.

 

8) Please tell us your links (ie facebook/twitter/web site etc).
 My links: www.facebook.com/TheBlueRoseEarlvilleNY. Someday, I will have a website!

Thank You..Laura...Good Luck with your sales!

(make sure you follow her too!)

Later, L