Mis 2 Manos: Made by My Hands: Featured Craft artist of the Week: Astrid R.

I would like to welcome Astrid R.

from AnAstridEndeavor. She is the first Featured Craft artist of the Week! If you love and hand embroidered jewelry and hand made cards, then you need to stop by AnAstridEndeavor. Astrid has graciously provided all of us a Discount Coupon for 10% OFF her entire shop, so keep reading and find out how you can get the discount.

1.What would you like us to know about you?
I'm so happy to be on this blog, and so thankful for the opportunity. It's amazing to have such a wonderful, supportive community of crafters and creators. That's been one of the greatest gifts Etsy has given me. I just love it!
As for me, I'm a full time mom, wife and employee at a hospital where I work with children providing them with pyscho-social-develepmental support for their illness or disease. I am also working towards my licensure for my Marriage and Family Therapy license. So, I am a busy bee, but that's okay- that's how I like it. I am passionate about life, people, creativity and all the beautiful and interesting things this world has to offer.
Coming from a family of creators, I've been making things for as long as I can remember. I get this from my mom, grandma and aunties- all of whom are crafters and artists themselves.

2.When did you discover Etsy?
I really discovered Etsy a few years back when I started my family and my steady job and found less time to go shopping like before. Etsy was a great way to discover items online that I searched for and found that were particular to my style.

3.What prompted you to open an Etsy Shop?
I've been participating in craft fairs and sales for many years, but since having a family it's been really hard to set aside time to make up a large inventory. Etsy is perfect for me, in that I can create items here and there when I have the time, which is usually at night when my little one is sleeping!

4.What do you sell?
Right now I am really into bright colors and shapes. I love making interesting jewelry- my inner anthropologist comes out as I have always been attracted to the history of jewelry and ornamentation across the globe and throughout the years.
I also sell hand embroidered ornaments and cards that celebrate adoption and the birth continent of my little one- Africa, specifically Ethiopia.

5.How did you come up with your shop name?
An Astrid Endeavor seemed like the perfect name since I'm always embarking on a different project or art medium. Jewelry is always the constant, but I didn't want my name to somehow "trap" me into just one art form. I've worked with clay, glass, weaving, paper, paint, fabric, wood- you name it! My Grandmother recently passed away and left a spinning wheel for me, so I do believe spinning is in my near future! I really do love to embark on all creative endeavors and see where it takes me!

6.How would you describe your shop?
My shop is an eclectic mix of unique hand made jewelry and ornamentation and items that celebrate adoption, Africa, and Ethiopia.

7.What inspires / motivates you?
People and the natural world- jeez- everything! I just got hooked on Pinterest and it's been so addicting- the images are like candy for my eyes! I have also been so inspired by so much beauty being created on Etsy, in my community, and across the world that I've been able to experience in person and right on the web!

8.How has Etsy changed your life?
I think this goes along with what motivates me- Etsy is such a wonderful outlet for my creative expression. I feel better when I am creating. I am also eternally grateful for the feeling of community and camaraderie that exists here. I mean, to be able to go online any time- day or night, and chat with team mates and other creative people around the world, knowing they are doing the same thing as me- sitting in their little craft space and doing what they love- it's amazing.

9.Where else can we find you? Do you have a website or blog outside of Etsy?

www.facebook.com/AnAstridEndeavor
pinterest.com/AstridEndeavor/

10.Is there anything else you would like to share?

I would just like to express my gratitude for your interest and thank you so much for taking a look at my shop!!

11. When you get a new idea, how long does it take you to execute and list it?

A new idea might come immediately or take a few weeks to really form. Once I have the idea- creating it can take anywhere between 2- 5 hours (sometimes more!). Listing the item has been getting faster as I am really trying to hone my photographing skills, and I can now use the body of previous listing text so I don't have to completely start from scratch.

12. How much time do you spend on your shop take each week?
At least two hours every day. On my days off, a bit more.

Tips you might give other thinking of opening an online shop:

13. How do you promote your shop?
My Facebook page is a great way to start. Getting involved with blogs, such as this one. Pinterest and Wanelo, and spending a lot of time getting to know the people within my "circles" on Etsy, and being an active participant in lots of my Etsy teams.

14. How important is social media for your shop?
So far, I think it's been helpful. I am right at the beginning stage of learning about social media. I am a consumer myself, so I try to think of what I would like too.

Also please let me know if you have any coupon code, and or sales going on in your shop that you would like to share.

Please enjoy a 10% discount off at my store using the code: BLOGLOVE10