Etsy Around the World: Elysium Beads

I'm ready to start Christmas shopping. From now until Christmas I will be featuring Etsy shops that have unique items for Christmas gifts and decorations. This week we begin in Australia to see what a lampworker does. I was very amazed at Rebecca's work. This is one of those shops where it was almost impossible to pick just 3 photos. everything she has is gorgeous. I'm hoping my husband took my hint about how much I looooove these beads.

Who are you?
My name is Rebecca Cordingley and my business’s name is Elysium Beads.

Where are you located?
Adelaide, South Australia.

What do you create?
I’m a lampworker. I primarily make glass beads but occasionally make small glass vessels (perfume bottles). I also use some of my glass beads to make jewellery.

Have you ever visited North Carolina?
No, I haven’t but I’ve spent a couple of weeks in the US and loved it!

What is your favorite place to visit in your hometown?
I enjoy driving through the Adelaide Hills. It’s a beautiful area with lots of small towns. The official website is at http://www.visitadelaidehills.com.au/

Where do you create?
I have a lampwork studio in my home with a Mini CC dual-fuel (propane and oxygen) torch. (how awesome would it be to have a cool crafting tool like that!) When I’m making jewellery, I usually sit on either the bedroom or living room floor, surrounded by boxes of my glass beads and other supplies.

What is you most popular item that you create?
Pandora/Troll/Biagi-style beads. The bracelets are hugely popular at the moment and people seem to like buying one-of-a-kind lampwork beads to go on them. I also sell quite a few focal beads and sets but Pandora-style beads are currently the most popular.

What is your favorite place to sell your items?
I sell both online and in person but prefer to sell online as you can easily reach a huge market and the people who look at my shop seem to be looking specifically for lampwork beads.

What online activities have brought you the most noticeable success?
I’ve recently started using social networking sites such as Twitter and Flickr and they’re a great way to advertise for little or no cost. As a seller on Etsy, I think joining Teams is a big help. I’m a member of the Lampwork Etc Street Team (LEST) and Down Under Street Team (DUST). LEST in particular is a great community and all the members help to advertise each other.

When did you start creating?
I started making lampwork beads in August 2006 but then had a long break in 2007 when I moved interstate to study for a year and wasn’t able to take my equipment with me. Before getting involved in lampworking, I had been doing a lot of photography and did a couple of Black and White darkroom courses. I’ve also been knitting for several years so even before becoming starting lampworking, I’d been involved with arts and crafts for a long time.

Find out more about Elysium Beads at elysiumbeads.etsy.com and elysiumbeads.com

Etsy Around the World: Early Bird Creations

This week we're lucky enough to host another artist from Australia who shows off her jewelry and was kind enough to share a couple pictures of her favorite place to visit in her hometown...

Who are you?

My name is Kylie and my shop is Early Bird Creations

Why did you choose your shop/company name?
About a year ago I decided that I really wanted to make my business work. I wanted it to be a business rather than a hobby. I was working full time and the only time I could devote to my business was early in the morning. Like...really early! A typical day for me is to be rudly awakened by the alarm clock at 5am. I hit the snooze button but not for long. I then have 3 hours straight where the house is quiet, there is nothing else to do but create...or check the Etsy forums...lol! So that's how the name 'Early Bird' came about.

Where are you located?

I live in Forster, NSW, Australia. It is a coastal town, about 4 hours north of Sydney. Beautiful beaches and gorgeous lakes (I should work for the tourism association! lol!)

If you have you ever visited North Carolina, what do you remember about your trip?

I'm so sorry but I've never been to the US. It's on my To-Do list!

What do you create?

I make funky necklaces and other accessories using resin beads. My beads are very special as they are made by cottage industry in Java, Indonesia. I get a lot of satisfaction knowing that the families making the beads can work from home rather than in some big horrible factory.

What is your favorite place to visit in your hometown?

My most favourite place to visit is the Green Cathedral. Its an open air church in a rainforest about 10 minutes drive from home. My husband and I were married there about 4 years ago but it's also a gorgeous place to come and experience a lot of calm.

How do you envision your creations being used by your customers?

I have had lots of lovely reports back from customers about how their necklaces and accessories have been received whenever they wear them. And I know when I where one of my resin necklaces I always get lovely comments from people. My necklaces are slightly unusual and so not everyone is going to like them. But there is something about those resin beads that just makes people smile. They are just so much fun!

What is your favorite place to sell your items?

Etsy is my number one favourite place to sell but I also have a couple of local boutique shops that have taken them on as well. Etsy is a lot more fun because I feel like I am at the coal-face with my shop. Any compliments or orders are received by me personally, not through a shop owner of a boutique I am selling through.

What types of things do you do to turn first time buyers into repeat clients?

Customer service is just so important and so one of the first things I do is to send an email or Etsy convo thanking them for their purchase (I use their first name in this email - so important!). I then take a lot of care when packaging my items. I use acid-free tissue paper and a gorgeous white box. I try to envisage myself as the customer opening this package for the first time and what would just knock my socks off. I don't believe in giving free gifts to every buyer and I don't think it's expected of buyers either. For repeat customers, however, I often through in a gift voucher for 20%. This has had 100% success rate in making repeat buyers come back once again! My general rule with customer service is to treat others how you would wish to be treated. Actually this is pretty much a life rule isn't it!

--If you also enjoy making jewelry, be sure to check out her supply store also!

Etsy Around the World: Sammyb

This week's featured Etsy seller is from another corner of the world! I hope that you enjoy the creations from this bright and cheery shop located in Australia....

Who are you?

My name is Samantha Balls and my shop name is Sammyb.

Why did you choose your shop name?

My fiancé decided upon the shop name for me, he calls me Sammy all the time and with my surname beginning with a B it kind of stuck!

Where are you located?

I am living on the Gold Coast in Brisbane, Australia but I’m originally from England. I have been residing in Australia for about 6 years now.
What do you create?

I create soft toys, Dolls, Taggy Cats, Elephants, Giraffe’s and hopefully soon hanging mobiles. And anything to do with sewing!

What do you do when you are not creating?

Humm, well I have a 11 month old baby boy so its more of when I’m not looking after him I’m creating! And when I’m not doing either of those I love to get into the kitchen and cook.

What is your favorite place to visit in your hometown?
Well I have 2 home towns now (1 in England and the other Australia) so my favorite in England would be Colchester Castle Park, I just love the history surrounding the castle and the beauty of the gardens and parkland. It’s the perfect place in summer for a lazy Sunday!

And my favorite place on the Gold Coast Australia would have to be Greenmount beach! In fact all beaches in Australia, they are so beautiful.

How do you find the time to create and still take care of your other responsibilites?

I have a ‘to do list’ which is never ending it helps me to keep organized and know what needs to be done and by when. I am also very lucky that my little boy is a big sleeper, at the moment he is still having 2 naps a day, so when he sleeps I get the house work done, dinner ready and then sit down and create until he wakes!

When did you start creating?

I have been creating since I was a little girl, I remember when I was about 5 making a “time machine’ from a cardboard box the washing machine came in, it had a door, windows and I even made curtains!

Where do you create?

The dining room table seems to be the space I have taken over at the moment. I also like to sit out in the garden to stuff and sew up the toys!

What is your favorite place to sell your items?

I love to sell in person, I find it much more rewarding to see people getting excited about what I have made.

--If you'd like to read more about Samantha's life and work, check out her blog. In addition to Etsy, she also sells on MadeIt.