Etsy Interview with Loubird Handmade

My name is Karley Ziegler Mott and I am live in upstate New York with my husband and our two sons, ages 5 and 6. I am a freelance writer and media consultant as well as a jewelry designer.

How and when did you start making jewelry and your other items?

I started making jewelry as a hobby very casually back in my 20s. I stopped and life took over--marriage, family, and my other business, KZM Facial Care Boutique, which closed in 2009. I only started getting serious about selling my jewelry right around the New Year. Loubird Handmade came to the internet in January 2010 and I started listing on Etsy this summer.

When and how did you originally find Etsy?

I started shopping on Etsy late in 2006. I came across the site actually while searching for graphic design services via a search engine.

What is unique about Etsy and what about the website do you like the most in regards to your shop?

Etsy is not the only selling venue for handmade (I sell on 1000 Markets), but Etsy is the most familiar at the present time. Something special is the fact that magazine editors are regularly scouting Etsy shops. Early on, when I had my facial care line, I was spotted on Etsy by a beauty editor at Martha Stewart BODY + SOUL magazine. My best-selling facial cream was in the October 2008 print magazine, which took my business to a whole new level. I moved on from Etsy as that business grew, but this is a good venue for my jewelry, especially since the jewelry market is so competitive.

What inspires you the most in regards to your creations?

I gain a lot of inspiration from old beauty ads and movies from decades ago. That sense of romance and femininity is something I use a great deal of in my work.

What is your favorite piece you've created and why?

My favorite is actually one of my simplest creations, the Retro Black earrings. They incorporate a lovely faceted vintage black bead from another era that I found neglected at an estate sale. I wear black often and love simplicity in my personal, daily style. I also like a bit of sparkle, so I had to add crystals to the center. Even though it's just a simple pair of earrings, they really reflect my personal style.

What do you want to accomplish with your online shop?

I really just want to continue having fun like I am now. My family is my top priority and I do a great deal of business at brick and mortar boutiques. I just want to enjoy this, do the best job I can, and keep a good balance.

Do you have any new creations in the works? If so, what can shoppers expect to see from you soon?

I absolutely have something new coming out! I will soon have a line of office accessories using many of the same materials I use now in my jewelry. My jewelry studio is something I spend so much time in that I made lots of pretty magnets, utensil holders, etc. for my supplies. They fit very much in the Loubird Handmade style and the line will debut early in the fall.

Where can readers find out about more information regarding your jewelry and other creations and possible special offers (including additional websites, blogs, facebook, etc)?

My jewelry can be found at the main Loubird Handmade website, on 1000 Markets, and customers can use Bixbe to shop with me right through Facebook.

My Facebook Fans page has frequent offers, too.

My jewelry can be found in several boutiques nationwide as well.

My blog is really a baby of mine. It is a project I've been doing for over three years. It's called Chic & Green.