Wearable art to keep close to your art, Isabel’s Rose is the line of handmade glass jewelry from artist Lori Flanders.

**Sponsored post**

I’m starting a new feature today on Indie Fixx called Fresh Etsy Pixx. Periodically, I will be choosing new Etsy sellers who I think are on the rise, or who should be on the rise, to share with you. There’s a world of talent on Etsy, but sometimes it can be very overwhelming for new sellers and shoppers to find each find each other, so it’s my job to help you find the hidden new gems.

For today’s post, which is also doubling as this week’s TGIF: Thank God for Illustration Friday post, I am highlighting the artist Lauren Minco. Lauren opened her Etsy shop in February of this year, but has been working as an artist since she graduated from The Rhode Island School of Design in 2006. Her illustration work has been featured in Bitch Magazine and Venuszine and she sells prints and originals in her Etsy Shop. You can see more of her work on her website as well.

Learn more about this new Etsy seller in my interview below.

1. What’s the name of your shop and what do you create?

My shop is basically my name, Lauren Minco, but the whole banner reads “The Art of Lauren Minco”. I sell original art and prints for right now. They usually involve awkward, but cute little characters and animals.

2. How long have you been in business and how long have you been selling on Etsy?

I started working as an artist full-time January 2007 doing freelance illustration and selling my art as well as other products from like T-shirts and pocket mirrors. I joined Etsy the last week of February in 2008.

3. What made you take the plunge?

After graduating from The Rhode Island School of Design, I knew this was what I had been preparing for, so it was pretty much sink or swim (not to pull a pun over the “plunge” part). I had very supportive parents who told me to do what I love and “the money would follow”. As for Etsy, I think I just got distracted many times before I sat down and finally signed up! I had a couple of friends in late 2007 remind me about it and I started devoting more time to researching supplies and Etsy in general. I already do well at Art Sales so I figured making my work available 24/7 online would work out even if it took time to get established.

4. What inspires you?

I have many favorite illustrators and artists that are alive and working right now, and their passion and work really help to make me productive. However, you alway have to make sure your favorite artists don’t sway you from doing your own thing! I’ve always loved animation, and anything doing with light-hearted characters is great (as a kid I was a big fan of Sanrio). Comics, graffiti, street art, and Japanese culture (both old an new) have always been a big inspiration. Actually, I’ve been to Japan twice now and come back with so much fun imagery. Some of my favorite souvenirs from my last trip include Dr. Pepper cans with galactic space babes on them! I was a little shocked when I got them from the vending machine.

5. Any goals you’d like to share?

This Fall, I begin teaching Editorial Illustration at Montserrat College of Art and am very excited about it. My goal is to become a great, inspiring teacher, and I recently told my parents that by 35 I will be Illustration Department Head at an art college somewhere in the future (I know, high ambitions!). I think teaching is just in my blood. Other than that, I would love for my characters to find their way on bags, T-shirts, and other products around the world. Meeting Hugh Jackman would be cool, too, but let’s not go overboard.

6. List some of your favorites…books, music, films, magazines & blogs.

Books: Mostly kid’s books, like The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish or The Pigeon Wants a Puppy. Real mature, right?
Music: Boards of Canada, Stone Temple Pilots, 80’s
Films: The Darjeeling Limited, A Fish Called Wanda, and Pixar, Pixar, Pixar!
Magazines: Esquire (I steal my boyfriend’s), cooking magazines
Blogs: My friends Kelly Murphy and Alison Blackwell who are also illustrators.

Each month I donate a portion of the proceeds from Indie Fixx and the Indie Fixx Shop to a different charitable organization. The organizations I choose vary from those that provide humanitarian support, focus on the arts, provide for environmental stewardship, are concerned with animal welfare and other issues and causes that are near and dear to me.

This month I chose to donate to my local public broadcasting radio station, WHYY. I listen to NPR every day, for the better part of the day, in my office and in the car. I’ve been a long-time listener and supporter and this month is was time for me to renew my support for public broadcasting. WHYY is a great station and produces two of my favorite programs, Fresh Air with Terry Gross and Radio Times with Marty Moss-Coane. I also enjoy these other NPR programs: Talk of the Nation, All Things Considered and This American Life. Public broadcasting, and NPR specifically, helps make my life more enjoyable, informed and richer.

Learn more about WHYY.

Don’t forget that the Art Star Craft Bazaar is this weekend in Philly at Penn’s Landing and that I’m going to be there with the Indie Fixx Shop. If you live in the Philly area (meaning MD, PA, DE, NJ) and read this blog, then you must be a hermit or have some other really good reason if you don’t attend. It’s going to be awesome!

What: The Art Star Craft Bazaar - Affordable, unique, and high quality art and crafts. Free and open to the public and with over 150 indie vendors, music, food and even beer!

When: Saturday, May 31st from 11-7 pm & Sunday, June 1st from 11-5 pm.

Where: Penn’s Landing Great Plaza in Philadelphia - on Columbus Boulevard between Walnut Street and Market Street (click here for directions).

Stop by and say “hiya!” —the Indie Fixx Shop will be in booth #52. You can get a hand-dandy map here (click on vendor map and keys up at the top of the page).

Here’s a small sampling of the participating vendors.

Little Flower Designs :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Yasha Butler Ceramics

Mandymade :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Anne Holman Jewelry Design

Claire McDermott :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Curiousbird

Flederhaus ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Giantdwarf

Jena Carey :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Bird and Banner

by guest contributor Fina Tejada

Based in Madrid, Lola Garcia is a great example of someone who decided to follow her passion for design and still keep her professional career. In less than a year, she has not only started Lusitania, her felt accessories shop, but she also started Entropia, an ethnic inspired jewelry line. Lola is a one talented woman on a mission! Learn more in my interview with her below.

1. Can you give me a brief description of your business?

Eight months ago I discovered some websites where you could sell crafts and I decided to try it with my felt accessories. I design, make and sell felt accessories using two very different wool techniques: wet felting and needle felting. In my Etsy store, Lusitania, I sell bags, purse, necklaces, brooches, cases, covers and I also sell some handmade supplies, in felt, of course.

2. What did you do before you started your business or did you keep you day job?

Before starting my business, I worked in a big chemical company as an engineer and was always traveling, especially in South America. Now, I’m working part-time and crafting felt accessories. Every day I discover new things I want to do!

3. Where do you sell your products? Such as Etsy, Ebay, Big Cartel.

I sell my products on Etsy and Dawanda and sometimes in local stores. Most of my sales are from Etsy and it’s my favorite website, because more people visit and more so I have more potential customers. It’s a very good website!

4. What can you tell me about your international customers?

I love customers anywhere in the world and think they appreciate handmade work. Obviously most of my clients are from USA, but I also have clients in Australia, Canada, UK, Brazil, Italy, France…When I travel I’m always hoping to run in to one of my customers. Maybe… who knows…

5. What do you consider is the best way you’ve attracted customers?

Really, I don’t know! Sometimes I think it’s a matter of luck, and sometimes I think my products are original and different, colorful and detailed. They are made with care and I think it shows in the product. Also, good pictures on the website are essential.

6. How do you stay motivated?

I’m fortunate, because I have a family that encourages me to continue my business. Especially my child, who is my biggest critic. Also, living in a country like Spain is very motivating. It’s a sunny country with a lot of life and that is inspiring.

About the contributor: Fina Tejada owns Miss Fruitfly, an indie lifestyle company featuring artwork and home accessories. She is also a blogger who loves to cook, is a closeted reality show junkie and supports independent designers. She will be posting on the Indie Fixx Guest Blog featuring international indie crafters & bloggers to find out what motivates them creatively, how they started their businesses and how they approach the U.S. market. Fina will be posting periodically on Thursdays.

This week’s cute & adorable Reader Fixx Pixx were submitted by Fluffels designer and maker Mariska Vos-Bolman. You can see some of Mariska’s creations above and see why she chose her pixx.

Dogbone Art

Cuddly Rigor Mortis

Hansigurumi

Cotton Bird Designs

Paper Cuts Studio