Featured Etsy Blogger -- Tulip's Treasure Box

When most people think of B&B, they think bed and breakfast. When Lily, of Tulip's Treasure Box, thinks of those letters, I would bet that she thinks beading and blogging! I recently had the pleasure of working with Lily on an apron project that I made for her, and have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her.

I'm always interested in knowing how artists get their start in their chosen craft. Lily started her beading journey only a year and a half ago when she stumbled into a beginner's bead class. It was not quite the beading experience that she had hoped for, but took more classes, practiced, learned from mistakes, joined a beader's guild, and you can see in her shop that it all paid off.

I asked her the typical "what inspires you" question, and Lily is inspired by the usual: other artists, nature, books. But, in her own words, "I am also inspired by the hunt for my supplies. Starting a new project is like a blank painter's canvas, and you get to be the one to conceive." She enjoys seeing her work in progress in photographs, and often blogs about the process from start to finish, both in words and pictures. Reading her blog, Tulip's Talking, is educational and inspirational, both.

Finally, I wanted to find out what she likes to do besides beading, and she admitted that she is "deeply addicted" to beading! But she also LOVES to be out on the water, and living near the coast of Florida gives her that opportunity. You can see the influences that the water and sea life have on her art.

So, stop in Tulip's Treasure Box and see what's new, and you will thoroughly enjoy reading her blog!

Get to Know... MonkeyBuns

I’m starting a new feature, “Get to Know an Etsy Artist”, a fun way to know a bit more about who is selling on and creating for etsy, and for other venues. It’s a way to see the person behind the art.

Today, I’m introducing Krystal, the owner of the shop MonkeyBuns, who joined etsy in March of 2007. She has been making jewelry for about 15 years, since she was about 10 years old. She has been bead weaving for a year now, and most of the pieces in her shop are woven. She is completely self-taught. Two of her most popular pieces are Stain Glass, which she designed and copyrighted:

And Oil Spill:

Krystal is from Iowa, born in Clear Lake, and now living about 10 minutes from there in Mason City. She has a son, who is the inspiration for the name of her shop. When he was born she started calling him Monkeybuns. She finds bead weaving to be very relaxing after a day of chasing a toddler around. She also loves the satisfaction of seeing the completed piece. When she isn’t making jewelry, she loves playing with her son.

But that’s not all she does. Besides her etsy shop, she owns a drop shipping business.

If you ever find yourself in Mason City, Iowa (about halfway between Minneapolis, Minnesota and Des Moines, Iowa, just off of I-35), check out the MacNider Art Museum, where you will also find Krystal’s jewelry in the museum’s shop.

In the meantime, here is one of Krystal’s favorites:

And take a look at the Emerald Shimmer Bracelet that she just added today. I love it!

Update: A message from MonkeyBuns to my readers... if you buy one of the items featured here today, she will give you a 10% discount. Leave a comment for confirmation and tell her you saw it here... I'll convo her to let her know. What are you waiting for?!