Annie has been a great source for inspiration for me.  I’ve learned alot business wise from her.  She’s always there for me, can be totally hilarious, and is always ready for anything.

1. What is your business name?
Annie Howes Keepsakes

2. What is your business about?
My business began being about personalizing pendants and charms and has evolved into helping others create their own keepsakes. I am more of a facilitator in the business of jewelry, and I strive to make it a simple and beautiful process.

3. How did you start selling on etsy?
My mother-in-law sent me an article out of Newsweek Magazine that was about Etsy and so I decided to open a second online shop to see how I would do on Etsy. It was a very slow start, but one of the best business decision I could make.

4. Where do your inspirations come from?
My inspirations come from the people around me. My customers, my friends, my family…I’m inspired by what’s said, and quite often by what’s not said.

5. Is your family supportive of your etsy business?
Absolutely! In fact, my husband has recently renovated my 100+ sqft studio to over 350+ sqft! He wouldn’t have sacrificed a week of vacation and 1/3 of the garage to my business if he wasn’t supportive of it.

6. What was the strangest/weirdest experience you’ve ever had when being inspired with a new item or new business venture?
Weirder than moving to Central Kentucky? LOL! I can’t say I’ve had any weird experiences, however I can say I’ve had some fabulous ideas, mainly the collection of DIY Kits. I woke up one morning and just knew where I wanted to take my business and I’m still blazing a trail with them.

7. What is the most rewarding aspect of the etsy community for you and your business?
Being part of a great team of moms, the Fabulous Artistic Moms of Etsy (FAM of Etsy). I have drawn so much strength when it’s been rough for me, and I’ve seen fantastic growth in and amongst the team members. Yeah, FAM! I love you all! )

8.  I would love to share my blog: https://anniehoweskeepsakes.blogspot.com because that’s where I make all my announcements and share the personal side of my life. I can also be found online at these sites:

http://www.anniehowes.com
http://www.anniehowes.etsy.com
http://www.trunkt.org/anniehowes
http://www.flickr.com/photos/anniehowes/
http://www.twitter.com/AnnieHowes

Tags : annie, annie howes, etsy, EtsyFAME, fame, feature, howes

LJ Photo Design is a wonderfully artistic etsy shop.  She takes such stunning photos and is a wonderful person.  I asked her to answer a few questions about her business and her life and here is what she had to say.

1. What is your business name?

LJ Design Photo. The LJ is for Lorissa June, I like to use my middle name because it was my grandmothers and she was very important to me.

2. What is your business about?

I’m a Fine Art Photographer. My subjects include Desert Landscapes, Route 66, Ghost Towns, Motherhood, flowers and nature

3. How did you start selling on etsy?

A friend told me about the site. She requested a few pieces for a show in FL to raise money for the La Leche League and after we were talking about venues for art. After checking it out I feel in love. I’ve always kept myself busy doing crafts and making art, but I decided to concentrate on my Fine Art photography for my shop.

4. Where do your inspirations come from?

Sometimes it is just something I see.
Part of my ghost town series has to do with the way man leaves so much behind when they are done, and the way nature takes it over for it own. Some things like old wood, some metals, and glass can look really beautiful as they degrade, but it takes so long. I don’t think man always realizes the impact they have on the landscape, even with all the environmental stuff in the news lately.
My nature and flower photos are just because they are beautiful and I try to show the personality of each flower.
Motherhood started with my own strong feelings after my daughter was born. It is based on the emotions that mothers go though and I’m always trying to add to the series with real mothers and their children.
Route 66 is because of my love of travel, road trips, and history. It is Americana that is slowly fading and I try to capture it every chance I get.

5. Is your family supportive of your etsy business?

Yes, very much so. I know they would love to see my efforts pay off, but photography on Etsy is very competitive, just like it is everywhere.

6. What was the strangest experience you’ve ever had when taking a photo?

Wow this is a difficult question. A few things come to mind, but the most recent was when I went out with a friend who was 7 months pregnant to get photos of her in the middle of a dry lake bed. We decided to stop at some small ruins by the side of the dirt road and get some shots first and when we went to get back in the car we realized it was locked with everything in it but my camera and us. Not cell phone, no keys, no jackets for when the sun went down, miles down a dirt road and kind of in the middle of now where. On top of that we discovered that someone had gotten out and used the side of the road as a toilet right where we had pulled over and were now stuck. Yuck. (Did I want to tell this story?) Right as we decided which window we are going to break on her car we see another car driving down the road. We waved down a very nice man who let us use his phone and stayed with us until my husband arrived (he was closer then hers and could get a sitter faster.) We did get some shot in the location we were stuck in, but never made it out to the dry lakebed.

7. What is the most rewarding aspect of the etsy community for you and your business?

My favorite thing is my street teams and the interaction with so many wonderful moms in the FAM team. I look forward to chatting a bit each day with an online friend. I also get a lot of inspiration from the different artist and crafts people on the site.

8. Anything else you would like to share?

I’d like to mention that I have a blog at http://ljdesignphoto.blogspot.com and a website of more photos at http://www.ljdesignphoto.com. You can also find my work at Talent Database http://www.talentdatabase.com/channels/16-Photography/profiles/1407201-ljdesignphoto and Flicker http://flickr.com/photos/ljdesignphoto/. And I love comments, so if you stop by let me know. Thanks.

Tags : etsy, fame, feature, LJ Design Photo, promo