Thanks to @elenamurzello for sharing how you’re using our products. We love how you’ve used our Citus Cord Minder as a pencil holder – we hadn’t thought of that. And in the background is our Macbook Pro sleeve.
http://www.oroxleather.com/collections/tech-goods/products/macbook-13-sleeve-pro-air-tan
Yay! I can’t wait to put everything to good use!
ELENA:)
Check out the best Valentine’s outfit ever! Kate Spade coat, Eddie Borgo choker, Jimmy Choo shoes and The Love List clutch. The Love List clutch was made by Mrs. Chaplin from Etsy. Thanks Voguers!
ELENA:)
Remember the 200 Etsy hearts from Heck Yeah Party Shop? Well, it took me a good 8 hours to unwrap and tie the hearts with the USBs to the postcards. It was tedious but all worth it. The postcards were for the Brunch for Better put on by Janine Just and her team for the Creeds Collective final event to build awareness for Global Citizen in Soho. The event was a huge success, and the likes of Phillip Bloch attended!
ELENA:)
What does 200 felt hearts from Etsy have to do with The Love List? You’ll soon find out in Dec! For now, check out this interview I did with Lynsey, the owner of the fabulous Heck Yeah Party Shop where you can get everything from cake toppers to balloons. I really love Etsy for bringing artisans together; it’s like visiting a craft fair whenever you want.
Here is 5 minutes/5 questions with the friendly, crafty and sweet Lynsey Stewart:
1) How long have you lived in Toronto?
I was born and raised in Toronto, leaving only for short periods to attend University in Halifax and then a little later in life when I moved just outside of Whistler in BC. I loved both locations but, for me, Toronto is home. And where my family and friends are!
2) When did you decide to start up your Etsy party shop?
I’ve always been a creative and independent person. I began a career as an Event Coordinator to fulfill my creative side but found it was missing something. I started curating and creating my own products, inspired by items I felt were missing from the market place. Etsy was the perfect location to start my online shop as fees for sellers are minimal and the marketplace concept makes it incredibly easy for customers to find the items they are looking for.
3) What has been your most unique custom order/ custom request?
I was recently asked to assist a fellow Event Coordinator in New York State. She was planning a big Halloween bash for children whose parent(s) were incarcerated. In the past I have felt conflicted over my career path, often thinking what I do is frivolous, but having the opportunity to donate items that may have brought a little joy to children who truly deserve it, was an amazing opportunity.
4) What is your advice for new artists on how to make a successful online shop?
Diversify the products you offer but don’t loose track of your overall goal. It’s natural to adjust from your initial business plan or grow your business with new and different products but it’s really easy to get caught up in it. Ending up with items that may not make sense in the same store can affect your business and confuse your shoppers, especially in an Etsy shop where all of your items are listed together in a basic store layout.
5) What are the top three characteristics on your Love List (characteristics or qualities you are looking for in a potential mate or your current mate)?
The top three things I look for in a mate are sense of humor and adventure, a caring nature, and patience.
ELENA:)
I adore Olympia Le-Tan clutches (the workmanship is amazing), but not the price tag unfortunately. Check them out on Net-a-porter. I found a wonderful lady on Etsy, by the name of Tatiana Kononova. Her shop, Mrs. Chaplin sells handcrafted clutch purses for a fraction of the price.
Through our interactions, I asked her if I could interview her. Here is 5 questions/5 minutes with Mrs. Chaplin herself, the talented, Tatiana Kononova.
1) How long have you lived in Moscow?
For almost 30 years now as (I was born here).
2) How did you start making clutches?
I came across an Olympia Le-Tan clutch in some fashion magazine and really fell in love with the idea. After a shock from seeing its price had passed I started thinking whether there was a way I could make something similar myself. I googled some DIYs but wasn’t entirely happy with the final results they offered. So I decided I should come up with my own method. I had some sewing experience before but frankly speaking it was the first time I tried embroidery)) The first clutch I made was a Russian translation of a Tove Jansson’s book called “What’s next?” (which actually reflected my mood at the time as I was between jobs). It wasn’t flawless but all my friends were amazed when they saw it and suggested I should start a small book-clutch business. I thought “Why not?”).
3) What is your favourite thing about embroidery clutches for people around the world?
I’ve always loved books and not only just reading them – simply holding them in my hands felt a little bit like magic. Now I like looking for interesting covers that I think might look nice as clutches. Transferring a picture onto a canvas with felt and thread is kind of a challenge but really exciting one. And of course it’s very inspiring to know that people from so many different countries are interested in my work.
4) How did you come up with your shop name, Mrs. Chaplin?
I wish I had a nice story about this but the truth is that I simply don’t remember where it came from) I recall that when I was setting up my iPhone a couple of years ago I needed to name it somehow for the account settings and Mrs.Chaplin was a first thought from the top of my head. How I came up with it is still a mystery to me.
5) Name three characteristics (in no particular order) on your Love List? (characteristics or qualities you are looking for in a potential mate or your current mate)
I guess these would be:
– intelligence (I think this is the main quality for two people to have something to talk about if they decide to be together for the entire life and not just for one night);
– tolerance (I can be a real pain in the ass sometimes and I’m grateful to my husband that he is usually wise enough to let my craziness slide without starting an unnecessary fight);
– love of life (I am a kind of person who enjoys simple pleasures in life like finding another good restaurant or seeing an interesting movie. My husband is pretty much the same so it helps us not get bored by the daily routine).
ELENA:)