Interview of the Week: Jacqueline Ettinger

This week we meet Jacqueline Ettinger, of glorybeherbals.etsy.com An experienced herbalist, Jaqueline is just getting started selling her homemade concoctions online on Etsy. In addition to her offerings of herbal remedies and body products in her shop, she can also make a custom remedy to cure what ails you. So read on to learn more about this talent of the week:

Corinne: Where do you get your inspiration?
Jacqueline: A new herb or essential oil inspires me.

Corinne: What sets you apart from your competition?
Jacqueline: I love to make customized treatments for a client.

Corinne: What is your title, I know it takes a bit more knowledge than the average bear to do what you do?
Jacqueline: I'm an herbalist and aromatherapist.

Corinne: It looks like you grow all your herbs. I'm so jealous! I can't grow a dandelion! Do you have a large garden?
Jacqueline: I try to grow as many of my own herbs as possible. It's nice to be able to grab something out of the yard when I'm feeling inspired. I also wildcraft from places that I know to be safe and buy some herbs dried. I do have a big garden but to grow the kind of garden I dream of would require buying a ton of land-maybe someday.

Corinne: I love the idea of your spirit spray! I have "cleansed" my homes for years with sage! What made you come up with that?
Jacqueline: I got the idea of the spirit spray so I could use it at work. You can't even burn a candle so I knew smudging was out of the question. So I decided to extract the sage and make a spray. The spray is wonderful and the infused oil is HEAVENLY!

Corinne: What product in your shop is your favorite right now?
Jacqueline: Sleep Balm-it smells SOOO good and is really relaxing.

Corinne: Your comfrey stick intrigues me. Tell me what you use it for.
Jacqueline: I carry my little comfrey stick with me at all times in my purse. I have tendonitis and the comfrey is the only thing that helps. It also helps with bumps and bruises and sore muscles. Plus it smells really good.

Corinne: Who is the artist who inspires you the most?
Jacqueline: Herbalists- Jeanne Rose, Rosemary Gladstar, Demetria Clark.

Corinne: Tell me about this Heart of Herbs program. You really know your stuff!
Jacqueline: I actually found the Heart of Herbs program through one of herbal suppliers. Mountain Rose Herbs (I highly recommend them) has a web page listing all of the programs that receive a student discount. Many of them offer correspondence courses. After I checked them all out I chose Demetria Clark's program. We also have a yahoo group where we stay connected with each other. It's a great way to learn from other herbalists around the world. Demetria will be putting out a book in June.

Corinne: Where in Kentucky are you?
Jacqueline: Lexington.

Corinne: Tell us about your family. Do they use your stuff too?
Jacqueline: My husband and I have been together for almost 19 years. We have a beautiful, smart, and very talented daughter who is 12. Plus we have a 4 year old toy poodle. Yes, they all use my remedies.

Corinne: What do you do to get over creative block or to take a break from creating?
Jacqueline: A walk in the park or some knitting/crochet.

Corinne: Do you have a website or blog in addition to your etsy shop?
Jacqueline: Not yet.

Corinne: If you could give just one tip to a newbie to selling their craft online, what would it be?
Jacqueline: I'm a newbie myself!

If you want to help Jaqueline, she loves to get insight on her Etsy shop from more experienced sellers. If there is one thing she DOES know, though, its about her wonderful and natural products!! Visit her shop at glorybeherbals.etsy.com to get your herbal treatments today!! Made with love in Kentucky!!

Interview with Tina Mackin

Tina Mackin
www.smackinart.etsy.com
This week I talked with Tina Mackin, of smackinart.etsy.com Her work is bold and vivid, and makes a statement wherever it is. Read on to learn more about our conversation with this artist about her fun works.

CORINNE: Where do you get your inspiration?
TINA: Watercolors - nature, music; editorial cartoons - pop culture and the news; illustrations - people, music and issues.

CORINNE: When getting ready to start a new watercolor, how do you select what to paint?
TINA: It’s usually the color or form. When I was painting daffodils, I was drawn to their form. When I painted this large piece on hibiscus, it was the flower’s bold orange color. Once a form or color has caught my attention, the item seems to appear everywhere saying, “paint me, paint me.”

CORINNE: What sets you apart from your competition?
TINA: Each art piece is original. I do not photograph things and, then, trace them as a surprising number of artists do. I do not make giclee's of my work. Each piece is the only and the original.

CORINNE: What medium do you work in the most?
TINA: Currently, ink and pencil.

CORINNE: Do you show your work in any galleries?
TINA: Prior to Hurricane Katrina, I was very active in gallery hops and shows. After the hurricane, the main gallery were I sold my work closed and the other stopped dealing with original art. I gave my paintings a break. Currently, I have paintings at Anabel’s Oriental Rug Gallery in St. Matthews and Widdershins in Louisville.

CORINNE: What about craft shows?
TINA: Not anymore. I wasn't make enough money for the time and effort it demanded. Which do you do better at, etsy or craft shows? Etsy is easier on the art that's for sure.

CORINNE: What product in your shop is your favorite right now?
TINA: Hmmm. Derby Anticipation.

CORINNE: I love your Pomegranate painting, can you tell me more about it?

TINA: Pom drinks, capsules and this-n-that were in the mainstream grocery stores. I was intrigued. I was drawn to the red color. I thought the fruit was beautiful on the outside, but had no idea what it looked like on the inside. So, I decided to buy 2, cut one open and paint.

CORINNE: Who is the artist who inspires you the most?
TINA: I love the creative work of Vadis Turner. I am listening to Sara Bareilles right now. I can't go wrong with The Dixie Chicks have a song for my every mood.

CORINNE: I can tell pop art really inspires you. If Warhol and Rauschenberg were in a boxing match, who would win?
TINA: Yes, I am a big fan of Pop Art. Warhol wouldn’t fight with fists only with words. I’d guess Rauschenberg. His work seems like he’d be a frenetic person.

CORINNE: Where in Kentucky are you?
TINA: Louisville

CORINNE: Tell me a little about your family.
TINA: I am married with two children (almost 12 year old daughter and almost 10 year old son – they have summer birthdays). I have three dogs that are like children, a bunny, guinea pig and a fish.

CORINNE: How do your kids like mom being an artist? I know it’s a big deal to my daughter.
TINA: The children love me being an artist. And, they respect when I’m working on a piece. It’s also educational as my kids hear me say when I love a piece and when I think I’ve missed the mark. I know my kids loved seeing my work out in the community. When I belonged to the Kentucky Watercolor Society, I participated in many member exhibits, one of which was the local library.

CORINNE: What do you do to get over creative block or to take a break from creating?
TINA: Spend time in nature, work in my journals, go for a walk, take anap or meditate.

CORINNE: Your Etsy shop (smackinart.etsy.com) has some fabulous paintings in there. Do you have a website or blog in addition to your etsy shop?
TINA: My website is www.smackinart.com

CORINNE: If you could give just one tip to a newbie to selling their craft online,what would it be?
TINA: Take good photographs of your work.

Be sure to check out Tina’s website for a much more extensive collection of her paintings. Her variety is impressive. You can purchase her original watercolors on smackinart.etsy.com

Next week's interview: Jacqueline Ettinger

Visions and Dreams

I have a little bit of drawing talent. Just enough to get frustrated when the image in my mind doesn't quite match up to what I draw. The colors and shapes seem more vivid in my head than they ever do on paper.

These Etsyans don't seem to have that problem, though. :-)

Mother's Day is just around the corner! Wouldn't you like to get Mom something as unique as she is? Something handmade, something just for her? The members of the Bluegrass Etsy Street Team have got you covered! Check out the mini below (or the links in the sidebar) to get started browsing our member's shops for that perfect gift!