For the feature Fresh Etsy Pixx I choose a new rising star on Etsy to highlight. I either pick a shop that is well on its way to being a rising star or choose a shop that I think has great stuff, but just needs an extra little bit of exposure. Today, I’ve chosen a shop that fits that latter category and it’s called OctopedalArts. OctopedalArts is made up of the husband and wife team, Peter and Jenn, and they just opened their shop about a month ago. Peter and Jenn create their original designs and hand screenprint everything themselves—they also model their work.

My favorite designs include: “Tell Your Mama to Vote for Obama” and “Octopus”. Both are available in both men’s and women’s sizes, styles and colors.

Read more about Peter, Jenn and OctopedalArts in my interview with them below.

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

The name of our shop is OctopedalArts. We create original handmade silkscreen designs on cool, comfortable, fashionable clothes. Our prints are inspired by our passions and adventures – many from the Greek island of Sifnos where we lived for a time after we got married. Each creation has a story behind it, which you can read about in the Behind the Design feature at our blog.

We also have a Barack Obama print because he inspires us and we believe he is capable of bringing about the change this country desperately needs. Several new designs are in the works that reflect our intense love and dedication to New Mexico.

We have had our hands in everything from start to finish: photography, design, making screens, choosing clothes, the printing, the finishing, the packaging, everything. It’s a holistic enterprise in the truest sense of the word.

Right now at our Etsy shop, you’ll find t-shirts and some one-offs on funky shirts that we found around town, but there is more to come. We want to sell kids clothes, baby clothes, hoodies, skirts, yoga pants and bags, as well as different styles of shirts. We have so many ideas, we can’t keep up.

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

We have been in business officially since June, although there was a great deal of preparation, anxiety and excitement beforehand. We listed our first shirts on Etsy on June 27th.

3. What made you take the plunge?

Besides the obvious desire to create and play in the studio, there is the ever-driving force to escape from behind the desk and be our own bosses. We love creating designs we are proud of, we love working together and we love hanging out with our pets all day. OctopedalArts was conceived during the summer we spent on Sifnos in Greece. There was a complete lack on the island of something we would want to buy and wear that could remind us of our time there. We knew we could fill the void by making cool designs on comfy shirts that make people look good.

4. What inspires you?

Travel, adventure, things that grow, mysteries of the deep, animals, dreams, forests, the sea, friends, octopi, family, Greece, New Mexico, color, pottery, John Reeve (potter), magic, springtime and each other.

5. Any goals you’d like to share?

We would love to sell our shirts on Sifnos as so many of our designs are inspired by that incredible island. Plus, of course it would give us the opportunity to go back regularly and swim at our favorite place on earth. In general, we would love for OctopedalArts to be our bread and butter, giving us the time to travel. For us, life is about adventure and our designs come from the discoveries we make along the way. This is our vision for OctopedalArts.

We are also potters, another craft inspired by our summer on Sifnos – also known as “The Potter’s Island”. If we can find the time, we will expand OctopedalArts to include pottery later in the year.

6. Share something totally frivolous that you’d love to do if time & money weren’t a factor.

Simon Leach, a well-known potter and grandson of the famous Bernard Leach lives in the south of Spain and gives pottery classes in his studio. He has amazing instructional videos on Youtube! We would love to go and study with him for a few weeks, maybe months.

We also fantasize about living in two hemispheres so that we could skip winter all together.Here’s the plan: stay in Santa Fe from Spring to early Fall and then head to New Zealand. Spring, Summer, Fall… then right back to Spring! Of course, we would also have to work in a month or so in Greece.

Some pics from the OctopedalArts Studio of Jenn and Peter goofing around and creating.

Occasionally, I will share a new Etsy seller with you for the feature called Fresh Etsy Pixx. I choose a new Etsy seller who is well on their way to being a star over at Etsy, or choose a new Estian who is just starting out making some cute stuff and needs a little attention to let the world know about ‘em. Today, I’ve chosen a seller that fits the latter category and she is Rhena Tantisunthorn of Lars and Addie. Only in business on Etsy since early May, Rhena caught my eye with her cute wool and appliqué bags. Visit Lars and Addie and see for yourself just how cute they are. You can also visit Rhena’s blog to see more of her work and read for yourself, that in addition to being crafty, Rhena is pretty funny too!

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

Lars and Addie. My tag line is “Bags and such. But mostly bags” and that just about says it all. I have both felted wool bags and fabric bags. My main line right now are small handbags that are made with a wool or wool blend with a cute cotton lining. The colorful appliqué on the outside of the bag matches or is inspired by the lining fabric. I’m also in the process of developing a line of larger tote bags called “Annie Totes.” These totes also have an appliqué on the outside, but are larger and the body of the bag is made from corduroy. I’m also working on adding more bags that are felted and then decorated with needle felting. For my “and such” section I’m expanding into a few coasters and other items for the home.

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

Over the past few years, I’ve been making bags for friends and family members. My sister and her family suggested that I start selling them at a local market here in Minneapolis. I had always been aware of Etsy, but the quality of work seemed so high that it was intimidating to think about selling there. I slowly started to stockpile some of my work to sell at the market. Then this spring, it just struck me that rather than trying to stockpile, I should at least give it a try on Etsy and at least see the response to my bags there. So, I opened shop on May 7, 2008. Business has been encouraging and I’m even going to start wholesaling to a shop here in Minneapolis soon.

After about a month or so on Etsy, when I first started to get sales that weren’t family members, I started to see that it really does actually work! It takes a lot of patience and time and promotion, but there are buyers out there for handmade products.

3. What made you take the plunge?

The thing that made me take the plunge was mostly encouragement from my family and friends. I kept hearing great feedback about the bags I had made as gifts and a few people asked me to make custom bags.

4. What inspires you?

I’m inspired a lot by the fabrics and other materials that are out there. A lot of my designs are based on the fabrics that other designers have created, so I rely on them quite a bit. But I’m also inspired by what I see around me — in nature, in books, in photographs. Also, just the process of learning inspires me. I feel like I’m constantly learning new techniques and methods for construction and for creating images out of fabric. I’m also learning a lot about photography and taking good pictures. Good pictures are the centerpiece of a good online shop and I still have a lot to learn!

5. Any goals you’d like to share?

I’d love to be in the No Coast Craft Fair here in Minneapolis this winter. I have to work on my portfolio - but fortunately I have some time for that. I’d also like to get that home studio sorted out….

6. Share something totally frivolous that you’d love to do if time & money weren’t a factor.

It might sound sort of hokey, but I’m pretty happy doing what I’m doing right now. I love spending my days creating and designing and writing (my non-Etsy job). My husband and I get to spend a lot of time together, with family and working on our house and in the garden, so I can’t complain. Of course, crafting and writing aren’t very lucrative and at some point it might be nice to have some extra funds and to have the opportunity to travel a bit more often…. and to have rows and rows of fabrics and yarns at my fingertips.

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. This feature is called Fresh Etsy Pixx and for today’s installment I’d like to share the work of Joanna Rutter with you. Joanna joined Etsy last year in October and only started selling in January, although she is an accomplished jwelryy artist and has been designing and creating for three years. She uses rare gems, resins, felts and precious metals to craft her work and is inspired by contemporary surface design, illustration and natural form. You can shop her work in her Esty store or on her website.

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

I have an ETSY shop under my own name. I create hand crafted precious metal jewellery. A lot of my creative focus is on animals and illustrative pieces at the moment. I have always loved saw piercing silver and it plays a large part in my work.

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

I’ve been making and selling jewellery for the past 3 years. But I have only been selling on ETSY since January. I am based in the UK and the ETSY revolution is only just reaching us!

3. What made you take the plunge?

I was reading a lot of references to ETSY online and decided to check it out. I was (and still am) amazed by the vastness of it, and the variety of talent. I thought I would give it a try as a convenient way for Americans and other international buyers to see my work. I have found it to be a great venue so far.

4. What inspires you?

Contemporary illustration and surface design. I love pattern and line. I am also inspired by the making process. As I go along new ideas often present themselves to me.

5. Any goals you’d like to share?

I’m looking into casting at the moment. Casting involves making a master mold from wax and having that form replicated in silver. It would open up a few new possibilities for me!

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

Book: The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Music: Johnny Flynn

Film: The Edukators

Blog: Camilla Engman

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.