Irenethereforeiam Mini Feature & A Giveaway!
I am excited about today's Mini-Feature and Giveaway! Give us a summary of your store and the handmade products you sell:
I always feel a teeny bit funny about describing my products as ‘handmade’. I sell art – in the form of photographs, which I certainly take, but they’re not exactly handmade. I photograph everything I see, and the photos I think are prettiest or most interesting are the ones you get to see on Etsy.
What makes your product(s) stand out amongst the rest?
There are so many talented photographers on Etsy, it’s really amazing to me some days that I get noticed at all. One thing that I think I offer that is a little more unique is photo sets – I try to put together 3 or 4 photos that have a unifying theme (colour, location or subject) and list them as a group. A lot of times I’ll print a really beautiful 8x10 to frame and hang, but find I can’t quite figure out how it fits with a room. Sets make adding art to your décor so much easier. I am also in the process of adding some listings of panoramas that are made up of several individually framed photos – so each photo looks cool on it’s own, but when hung side by side, they form a larger picture for a greater visual impact.
Is this your job or just a hobby?
It’s both. Photography is my job – it’s the only income I have, but it’s also something I enjoy. I would keep photographing everything I see even if I completely stopped making money off it. Of course, I’d have less time for the hobby if I had to get an outside job, so please buy my photos! ;)
What inspires you to be creative?
I wish I knew! That’s something I haven’t figured out yet. Some of my prints are photos I took because I was out somewhere, saw something beautiful or interesting and took a picture of it. Some of my other shots are very deliberately set up, from ideas that just pop into my head. I try to observe detail very carefully – some of the most brilliant photos I’ve seen were of very everyday things, but viewed from a different angle.
Aside from your Etsy shop, what other creative things interest you?
I love music and theatre. I sing and play piano. A few years ago, my older son took violin lessons, and he was at school, I would borrow his teeny violin and go through his lessons, so I could learn to play too. I love to have creative projects going – I blog (www.r3n3.net) and give myself challenges there – for a while, I tried posting a photo a day, things like that.
What is your favorite product you've purchased from another Etsy seller?
Just before Christmas, I bought a carry all bag from Medium Control as a gift for someone. It looked good online, but in person, it was so much nicer – I love the cleanliness of their designs. Definitely one of my favourite shops.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Ten years is a long time. Career-wise, I would be quite happy to be doing what I am now – obviously with a few more sales under my belt. My kids will most likely be off doing their own things by then, and I can’t really say that I think I’ll still live in Ontario. There are so many more fascinating places to live. I’ve spent a lot of time in England lately – I could really see myself living there.
What is something really interesting about you that others should know?
I am appallingly bad at answering this sort of question. I’m of Dutch and Indonesian background, which is kind of cool. When I was younger, I was really into extreme… well, anything, and I dislocated my thumbs enough times that a doctor showed me how to set them myself. Besides English, I speak French, Dutch and Spanish. I learned Papiamento at one point, but it’s a little rusty these days. Tur kos ta bon, danki! ☺
Here is how you enter to win:
- Visit Irene's Shop & tell me what you would get with your $50
- Favorite her shop on Etsy
- Like Irene on Facebook
- Follow her blog
- Like jessicaNdesigns on Facebook
GOOD LUCK!
Enter by 4/18/11 Winner Announced on 4/19/11
