Featured shop: Vania's Art Shop

I am very honored and happy to feature Vania's Art Etsy Shop run by my best Etsy, Facebook and twitter friend, Val! Please take a moment to visit her FANTASTIC shop! You will be glad you did! Her shop features amazing art and very unique handmade jewelry designs!

Thank you very much, Val, for taking the time to answer a few questions about your etsy business: Vania's Art Shop - http://vaniasartshop.etsy.com

Q. How did you hear about Etsy?
A. I heard about Etsy though my sister (who is also an artist) - she convinced me to get a blog and also sell over Etsy, as eBay was getting a bit ridiculous with its restrictions and high selling fees/commissions. So I started blogging middle of last year and through all the various blogs I followed I was able to see various items being sold on Etsy - so I jumped in myself, both feet first :D

Q. What made you decide to sell on Etsy?
A. I loved the low listing fees, the low relisting fees, and the ease with which I was able to list an item - I found the site very user friendly. But most of all, I love the LARGE global audience/traffic!

Q. How did you originally get into art and jewelry design?
A. I started painting 2 years ago when my youngest child started primary school and I was left with lots of free time on my hands during the day. At first I only painted for myself, friends and family - then with demand and great feedback, I started selling my artwork online. Lately thought, I have veered away from art and started playing around with jewellery, which has become a bit of an obsession with me - I still love my art, but for the time being its jewellery - in a little while I know I will be back in my studio with my paints, canvases and paintbrushes.

Q. What motivates and inspires you to create?
A. My family first of all is my biggest inspiration - they are so proud of my creations that they inspire me to keep making more and more - also, all those lovely buyers who have my artwork hanging in their homes, all over he world, are a huge inspiration.

Q. What are your interests outside of Etsy?
A. Being a mom and wife and helping my husband run our 40 acre agricultural business.

Q. What is your best advice for new Etsy sellers?
A. Just hang in there - my sales were nowhere to be seen for the first 6 months but once my creations received a bit of exposure through Twitter, Etsy Treasuries, FaceBook and Blogger, the sales started happening :D - hold your chin up and just do what you enjoy doing, which is creating your lovely kind of art, and the rest will fall in place :D

Thank you very much, Val, for this wonderful interview!