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This week we get to know Erica from P&E Collectibles, an Etsy shop full of vintage wonders including a wide range of jewellery and pins.
1. Tell us a bit about yourself and where the inspiration came from to start your Etsy shop.
My name is Erica and my shop is P&E Collectibles (PECollectibles). I sell vintage items from many different time periods with a focus on jewelry.The items in my shop are found at garage sales, estate sales, flea markets and rummage sales. I live in the suburbs and taught special education for seven years. Right now I am looking forward to becoming a full time stay at home mom. I’ve always enjoyed collecting vintage items with a focus on Lucille Ball and Grace Kelly memorabilia.
After having little to no financial success at flea markets and sales, a friend suggested selling on Etsy. I was inspired! I knew I had the ability to make this into a nice little part time business. My other hobbies include card making, seeing musicals and writing.
2. Do you have a favourite piece? Tell us about how you found it and why it is your favourite.
My favorite piece in my shop has to be a book called the Story of Mary’s Little Lamb by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ford. It is a rare book and quite unique. I love the fact that it is a cross collectible. I also love that it tells the true store of Mary’s Little Lamb that we all know so well. I found this book at a local flea market, I knew it was a great item the moment I saw it.
3. What is it that makes your shop unique?
I think my shop is unique because you’ll never know what you will find in it. I have everything from beautiful vintage jewelry to old books to kitchenware.
4. What’s next in the pipeline?
Right now, I’m thinking about opening a second shop with a focus on handmade and vintage children’s toys and learning materials. I’m still in the early development stages of this.
5. Tell us something about you or your shop that you haven’t previously shared!
On Fridays every week I write a blog entry for the Buffalo Etsy Team Blog about anything vintage related. You can read my entry along with other team members here: buffaloetsyteam.blogspot.com/
6. And finally, let us know where we can find you.
Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/PECollectibles
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/P-E-Collectibles/181426195283913
Twitter: www.twitter.com/elynn81
Thanks for sharing your shop with us, Erica. You have a wonderful selection of delights and I love that the nature of hunting for vintage goodies means that your collection will be ever changing!
I am writing this on Sunday afternoon after having spent the weekend trying to tidy up my jungle of a garden. It’s still far from perfect but I’m absolutely knackered so that will have to do for now! I’m definitely not much of a gardener but seeing as my neighbours on either side have immaculate gardens (they’re both retired so have all the time in the world to potter about outside) I felt like I was letting down the neighbourhood with my weedy mess.
Applecross Bay by L Grove
Next weekend however we will be getting ready to head off on our Summer holidays! We’re not jetting off abroad, but instead driving up to Applecross (on the west coast of Scotland on the mainland across from Skye) for a few days of camping, before heading towards the highlands for a couple of days in Rothiemurchus. I really can’t wait – we’ve had a busy and emotional few months so it’ll be nice to get a break and some peace and quiet. Depending on the weather we’re hoping to be able to sit on the beach at night (albeit wrapped up in jumpers) with a bucket barbeque and a bottle of wine while the sun goes down.
This week I’m not planning on doing too much on The Candy Tree. 
I’ve been working on a dragonfly cross stitch piece and have a new Red & Black Chunky Beaded Necklace but I doubt either of these will be in the shop before I go. My shop will remain open while I’m away and I should get some internet access to answer any queries. Any ready to post orders received up to Saturday afternoon (GMT) on 1st June will be posted as normal before I head off, whereas any made to order/custom orders will be dealt with on my return on Saturday 8th June.
So you won’t hear much from me next week apart from a Thursday Feature which I’ve already scheduled. However I’ll share some photos of our trip the week after.
This week I would like to introduce you to Diana from Skinplicity – the place to find organic handmade vegan soaps and natural skin care. The professionalism of Diana’s shop comes across in her wonderful photography and presentation skills and sleek packaging. You just know you are in safe hands when browsing her wonderful products!
1. Tell us a bit about yourself and where the inspiration came from to start your Etsy shop.
Hi! I’m Diana, owner of Skinplicity on Etsy. In my Etsy shop you will find artisan, luxury soap and natural skin care without the luxury price tag! These unique, one of a kind products are handmade from scratch the old fashioned way, using all natural, organic, vegan oils and butters, nourishing coconut milk, herbs, spices, fruits and flower based ingredients and “NO” animal fats or by-products.
I design and formulate each product to be a skin loving and nourishing treat! Who doesn’t love exquisite, lush natural body care?!
I receive my inspiration from nature and the art of aromatherapy. Aromatherapy offers us a chance to look to nature with all its benefits and beauty, and take advantage of the valuable wisdom of the ages.
2. Do you have a favourite piece? Tell us about the thought process involved in creating it and why it is your favourite.
My favorite item is my Shea Butter Body Balm. A rich moisturizing, fragrant body butter to soothe and soften even very dry skin and cracked heels. Packed with anti – oxidants and enriched with nourishing, skin healing Shea Butter and therapeutic oils, this rich, creamy butter will heal and regenerate your parched skin. A very concentrated formula so a little goes a long way.
Works wonders on hands, knees, elbows, etc. Great as a makeup remover, lip balm, and cuticle cream. I believe this product is so special because Shea Butter is the best known natural moisturizer you can use. It is nourishing, soothing and healing while protecting the skin from other elements, and is a natural protection against the ultra-violet rays that cause sunburn. Truly a miracle ingredient!
3. What is it that makes your shop unique?
I create unique, one of a kind body care products, lovely soap gifts and soap art. Each product has been formulated, created and tested by me to ensure consistent quality and perfection. I always include beautiful cohesive labeling that depicts my shops branding and beautiful packaging for your pleasure.
4. What’s next in the pipeline?
A self-sustaining Etsy shop, passion and happiness for your craft, have fun! Maybe one day a brick and mortar shop open to the public!
5. Tell us something about you or your shop that you haven’t previously shared!
I am a licensed skin care specialist addicted to luxury, earth friendly natural skin care and I fill my days with creating exquisite aromatherapy facial care products, and lush natural body care products………and I love to share!
6. And finally, let us know where we can find you.
Etsy Shops: www.etsy.com/shop/Skinplicity
www.etsy.com/shop/SkinplicityNaturals
Website: www.skinplicitynw.com/
Artfire: www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/skinplicity
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SkinplicityNW
Twitter: www.twitter.com/skinplicitynw
Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/skinplicitynw/
Diana has also been kind enough to share her Coupon Code with The Candy Tree 
readers. Sign up for Diana’s newsletter at www.eepurl.com/l8bP and receive 10% off your next purchase. The Coupon Code is listed on the sign up page!
Thank you for sharing your shop with us, Diana. Your passion for natural, organic products has brought you much success and I wish you plenty more!
So last week I was devastated to discover that The Bead Shop had 
closed it’s Edinburgh branch. It was in the perfect location for me to pop down during my lunch break and buy what I needed for a last minute order. I guess I’m going to have to be more organised from now on and make sure I have a good stock of the beads and findings I need for made to order items. Having said that, I placed an order through The Bead Shop’s website and my beady package arrived two days later – not too shabby at all!
So this week I am planning to make some new chunky beaded necklaces and carry on cross stitching more Christmas cards.
And here’s a sneak peek of new products!
Today we are getting to know Sarah from Finding Starlight, an Etsy shop featuring a wonderful selection of handmade earrings and crocheted headbands. I especially love Sarah’s headbands as they make a wonderful and versatile accessory!
1. Tell us a bit about yourself and where the inspiration came from to start your Etsy shop.
I first started crafting as a young girl. My mother was the one who first put a crochet hook in my hand and who bought me my first beading kit. I was seven years old when my mom taught me how to crochet, and I fell in love with it right away. My first ever project was a scarf. My mother taught me how to create my own patterns. She always says, “Why use someone else’s pattern when you can make your own?” When I was nine, she bought me my first “grown-up” beading kit, and I suddenly had a new and wonderful hobby. I spent my time creating bracelets and earrings for everyone I knew. Ever since then, crafting has been a passion of mine.
Many years later, I’m now a poor college student who does this in my spare time to try to make some extra money for necessities. But first and foremost, I do this because I love it. I love having a way to express my creativity. When I first discovered Etsy, I was so excited because up until then I had just been making things for my loved ones. But to have an opportunity to share my passion with the world is truly thrilling.
2. Do you have a favourite piece? Tell us about the thought process involved in creating it and why it is your favourite.
My favorite piece in my shop would have to be my “Something Blue Earrings.” When I look at them I instantly think of walking down a beach on a partly cloudy day (my favorite kind of day). It’s like I can almost feel the mist of the ocean on my skin and the wind blowing my hair in my face. When I was making them, the inspiration for them all started with the ear wires. I loved the seashells on them so much and I knew I had to make something with those. I’ve seriously considered on more than one occasion taking them down and keeping them for myself.
3. What is it that makes your shop unique?
I specialize in making quality handmade jewelry and accessories. But I also do my best to make them affordable as well. As I mentioned earlier, I’m a poor college student, so I understand wanting to be able to buy nice things for myself and as gifts, but not wanting to spend too much. So in addition to trying to keep my prices low, I frequently have coupons also.
I put my whole heart and soul into everything I make. And I never put something up for sale unless it’s something I would proudly wear myself. Also, in most of my listings, I put a quote in the description. And I do that because before I started selling on Etsy, I saw a listing once where someone did that. And it made me smile. And I started thinking that if I smiled from seeing that, then maybe other people do also. So when I opened my shop I started putting quotes in my descriptions as well. Because that’s who I am: I’m the girl who likes to make people smile.
4. What’s next in the pipeline?
Hopefully this summer you’ll start to see some brand new products in my shop. I really want to expand my crochet line that I have. So hopefully soon you’ll start seeing some new headband designs, some scarves, and some crochet flower hair clips.
5. Tell us something about you or your shop that you haven’t previously shared!
I’m going to let you all in on a secret. I’m going to tell you the meaning behind my shop name: Finding Starlight. To me, stars represent something beautiful that seems so close – like if we just reach out a little bit further we could touch them – but when in fact they’re far away. So to me, stars are sort of a metaphor for life. We’re always searching for something. Whether it’s love, friendship, a new career; we’re always on a journey to some sort of end goal. And that’s what Finding Starlight is all about. It’s about that beautiful journey we’re all on to make our dreams our reality. It’s about finding the starlight.
6. And finally, let us know where we can find you.
You can find me on my Etsy shop page at www.FindingStarlight.etsy.com. Or on my Facebook page where you can be the first to hear about coupons, sales, and giveaways! www.facebook.com/FindingStarlight
Sarah has also kindly offered The Candy Tree readers an exclusive 10% off coupon! Simply use coupon code 10FORSPRING13 at checkout!
Thanks for sharing your shop with us, Sarah – I especially love your explanation of where your shop name came from! Also, I’ve never been able to master crochet and I just adore your designs – I can’t wait to see your new products!
It seems mad to be working on Christmas cards in May, but I want to get my new series ready for the Christmas in July sale which Etsy holds every year. This is a great way to promote Christmas goodies and also encourages people to be super organised. After all, these Christmas cards are cross stitched by hand so they can take a bit of time to make!
I recently ordered more hand dyed embroidery thread from The Rainbow Girl and I just love the way the colours subtly blend into each other. I’m thinking of offering each design for sale individually, as well as part of a set – either the same design in a mix of colours or vice versa.
I’ve also made a start to my tartan cross stitch earrings, and as promised, here is a sneak preview of the Flower of Scotland pattern.
As is more often than not the case, tomorrow’s “Top Tip Tuesday” post is currently non-existent! I did have an idea of explaining how to effectively get the creases out of folded aida fabric, however I forgot to take any photos…!
If you have a top tip you would like to share, please get in touch!
Treasury tool supported by the dog house
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EmmaDickieDesign 