I heard about Etsy seller WitAndWhistle via this recent Etsy.com homepage feature of the shop.

I’m not going to lie, I got pretty darn jealous when I saw Amanda’s cool workspace photo in the feature:

What a great looking space, right!? Makes me want to completely gut my workspace area!

“I’m Amanda. I love asparagus, my arms are too long for my body, and the tip of my nose wiggles when I talk,” Amanda said in her Etsy feature. “My husband and I live in a quirky A-frame house in Cary, North Carolina with our two dogs, Oliver and Mabel. I studied graphic design at the NC State College of Design and graduated in 2006. After working at a design firm for a few years, I felt like I was squandering my creative juices on clients with limited imaginations. Thanks to my husband’s prompting, I set up shop in our basement and have been happily creating ever since.”

You can read more of Amanda’s feature here – it’s worth checking out!  Here are some other items from her Etsy shop that I really liked:

- Jackie

Meet Etsy seller Kotryna Zukauskaite, the creator behind the shop KataKiosK!  I first met Kotryna via my Etsy Item of the Day shop submission page.  If you sell items on Etsy, I’d encourage you to share it with me here!

Kotryna is a professional illustrator.  She was born in 1987, educated in Vilnius, Moscow, and London, and is paying bills by working on children book/school book, editorial, and advertising assignments.

“But my goal is my own small illustrated products brand KATA KIOSK which I’ve started this year,” she told me.

“I’m inspired by symbols and metaphors, Aesopian Language, fairy-tales, folk tradition, crafts, ornaments, Hieronymus Bosch and European art of his life-time, education, school of thought by Christopher Hitchens, diversity of human capacities and talents, brain explorations, statistics and other data, hour-long interviews with famous people on Charlie Rose show, languages, literature, politics, social and cultural issues, history, especially history of propaganda in XXc., and living in different countries,“ Kotryna told me.

“I try to find time to read somewhere in the airport between Vilnius and Moscow,” she continued.

My favorite item in Kotryna’s cute Etsy shop are her tea-inspired cards, which feature teapots and teacups.  My absolutely favorite set of cards are the ones pictured at the top of this feature!

When I asked Kotryna which other shops she enjoys on Etsy.com, she told me about ARTISANIEeurope.

“I love these architectural miniatures by ARTISANIEeurope because the banal theme is expressed in not such banal way it just seems that the shop owner has a really good aesthetic taste,” she said.

Kotryna’s advice for those new to selling their handmade items on Etsy is simple, yet something everyone needs to be reminded of:

“I guess the best thing I could advice is: Work hard. Play hard. Don’t wait for Friday,” she said.

Kotryna says we can all look forward to more card designs in January 2012 and spring 2012.  She is also going to list products for children – “probably illustrated souvenirs in theme of Vilnius and Lithuania, for now” she told me.   Kotryna told me she is also looking for retailers, brainstorming and most important – creating.

“As I’ve just started etsy’ing, I really need a big traffic boost for it for a bigger start, so I would now if Etsy is a real possibility for me and my small business,” she said.

Loving Kotryna’s work as much as I do?  Check her out online on Facebook, Twitter @kata_illustrate, her blog, and view her website here.

- Jackie

Meet Angela, the crafter behind the Etsy shop ThePinkDillo.  There are so many great things in this shop, but I wanted to share my favorite thing listed – these cute place cards!  With Thanksgiving approaching (as well as other autumn feast occasions), these place cards would make a perfect addition!

I heard about Angela and her shop via my Etsy Item of the Day shop submission form.

“Hi! My name is Angela, and I live in Austin, Texas with my boyfriend and our adorable chihuahua, Scar,” she told me. “I make a variety of paper goods and magnets, and love using fun patterns, colorful combinations, and cute paper punches, stamps, and embellishments. I first discovered Etsy the summer of 2009 and immediately knew I wanted to open up a shop, to support my creative side that until then, I didn’t really have an outlet for. I love creating things, and always have way more ideas swirling around inside my head than I have time to actually make, and I would love one day to make this a full-time venture. Until then, I’m grateful that my current day job supports my crafting addiction!”

Angela told me that it’s pretty rare for her to not be doing Etsy or craft related activities.  But when the time comes for a break, she says she loves to cook and try out new recipes.

“I also enjoy reading, Yoga and Pilates, spending time with my boyfriend and our dog, and catching up with friends over happy hours and dinners,” she said.  ”I wish I had more time and opportunity to travel, and would love to return to Europe one day and visit Santorini, Portugal, and Ireland (just a few of the places on my long list).”

Here are some other great items from Angela’s Etsy shop that I wanted to share with you guys:

When Angela heads to Etsy.com to shop, she really spreads the love.

“I don’t think there’s one shop in particular that I frequent all the time, and I try to share the love by supporting a variety of artists and shops,” she told me.  ”One of the things I buy the most on Etsy, though, are bath and body products, as evidenced by the large stockpile of soaps stored in my bathroom.”

“Some of my favorite B&B sellers are Dennis Anderson (just LOVE his whipped soaps), Ophelia’s Apothecary [I featured this seller here!], and OrangeThyme,” Angela said.  ”I love the wonderful nature of handmade soaps and the amazing variety, and always get a little excited when I get to open up a new product to use at home.”

If you’re new to selling handmade on Etsy.com, Angela has some great advice for you:

“I spent a few months preparing and researching before I actually opened up shop, and I scoured the Etsy forums for advice, tips, and other helpful suggestions about how to run a shop. I highly suggest other new sellers do the same,” she suggests.

“I gathered a lot of information about photography, the convenience of PayPal shipping, how to brand your business, discovered some great suppliers, the importance of completing your profile, policies, and shop announcement, and much more,” she continued.  ”It made me really stop and think about all the business aspects of selling online, rather then just listing a few creations and expecting to make sales. It takes a lot of time and work to do this, which I think a lot of brand new sellers don’t necessarily realize at first.”

Angela is anticipating a busy holiday season at her Etsy shop!

“I hope to also have a busier shop this year for the holidays, and am currently trying to prepare and stock up on supplies and packaging materials, as well as discover new ways to get my shop out there and discovered by more and more people. Overall, as cheesy as it sounds, I just want to continue doing what I love and hope that others love what I do as well,” she said.

This shop has some really great items listed – be sure to check it out by clicking the shop link (ThePinkDillo) at the top of this feature.  You can also peep this seller on Tumblr and Pinterest!

- Jackie

Want to mix it up a little bit next time you are wishing someone a happy birthday?  Do it in French thanks to Etsy seller Joanna from a shop called SkribblyKids!

I am in love with this cute “Bonne Fete” card listed in Joanna’s shop.  I first met this seller via an Etsy Item of the Day shop submission, and her shop is chalk full of amazing cards.  Here’s a little sampling:

Cute stuff, right?!

Joanna is a self-described cartoonist, illustrator, animator, and craftsperson.

“I just love to draw!” she told me.  ”My day job is as a Motion Graphics/ Visual Effects artist. I work mostly on movies and TV shows.  In my spare time illustration keeps me very busy with custom logo designs, portraits, and cartoons. My inspiration seems to feed off of keeping creative at all times.”

Joanna’s shop not only has darling greeting cards, but invitations, prints, and much more!

When she’s not working on new things for her shop on Etsy.com, Joanna told me she loves playing soccer.

“The thrill of the game (even if its low-level play) is just so exciting. It makes for great exercise too!” she said.

When Joanna is browsing on Etsy.com, she told me she likes to check out a shop called MatteArt.

“His style is so retro, yet unique,” she explained. “He has a great use of colors too.”

Wow, this recommendation is a great one – thanks Joanna!

Joanna has great advice to sellers on Etsy:

“Don’t give up. It’s a very hard and competitive business. Those who stay in there and have quality items are the ones who (eventually) succeed!” she said.

So what’s coming up next for Joanna’s shop SkribblyKids?

“I’m planning on setting up monthly photo contests to help promote my site. Each winner will get a free digital print of their pet or loved one,” she said.  ”I’m hoping to get some great pictures and great inspiration from this!”

It looks like this new project is underway!  Interested in getting involved and entering to win?  You can learn more on Joanna’s Facebook page or her website!

- Jackie