Etsy Interview with Ritziecat

I'm the creator of ritziecat, an online Etsy shop. Six years ago I moved to Kansas City when I married my husband, we have 3 boys that keep me very busy. I love Kansas City it is so pretty and just the perfect pace of living for me. I am a stay at home mom but I also assist my husband in running his company and any free time I have I make jewelry.

How did you start making jewelry and your other items?

I find it very difficult to stay still while sitting so I tried a number of different things before I realized jewelry was what I really loved making, I tried cross stitch, sewing, stamping, clay, etc. My mom started making jewelry so I decided to give it a shot as well and I have loved it ever since.

When and how did you originally find Etsy?

A few years ago my parents saw a news broadcast with one of the Etsy creators. They told me about it because they knew I was interested in trying to sell my stuff however at the time I was making ornaments from Christmas bulbs and polymer clay. That is what I originally sold in my Etsy store but ornaments are not so popular year round, which is what made me look for something that would be good for year round.

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

I have tried selling on a few different websites and I have to say what I like best about Etsy is it is so easy to use. I love how you can display your top items at the top of your shop, you can re-list your items whenever you want so they get a lot of attention. Etsy gives lots of advertising option as well which is also a very nice tool.

What inspires you most in regards to your creations?

My MOM. My mom gives me so much inspiration, I look at her work and I am so amazed. Even though most of the work my mom does is with beads and most of the work I do is with resin I just can't get over the unique things she does. Sometimes I get stuck and I can't figure out how to do something or what to do next and she is always giving me the exact answer I need. When I started working with resin I was so amazed at all of the things people were doing with it on Etsy but I wanted to do something different, and that is when she suggested that I start making mustard seed jewelry, which has been my biggest seller.

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

My favorite piece that I have created is a bezel cup bracelet that has a special glow in the dark plastic background and a bunch of miscellaneous medal object in it, the resin really makes the medal object stand out. I have made a couple different ones now and I have not been disappointed yet but my first one is my favorite. My other favorite things I make is the mustard seed pennies, it is something different that I created and people seem to really like them.

What do you hope to accomplish with your online shop?

I would really like to sell regularly and I do pretty well in the fall - spring but it tends to slow down in the Summer time. One of my goals is to try and keep my mustard seed jewelry at an affordable price because I think it has such a good message.

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

I have a few beaded creations in the works, I can't wait to get them posted once my kids head back to school.