Handmade artists: Lillyella

Two weeks ago, Ureshii kicked off Phydelle's Handmade Artist series (thank you Emily and Amanda!).

I'm absolutely delighted today to share with you another handmade artist interview with you - this time we're talking with Nicole from Lillyella!

Many - if not all - of you are already familiar with Nicole's wonderful shop of lovely jewelry, as well as her fantastic blog, Lillyella. You might also be familiar with her penchant for Mexican food or her obsession (a healthy one!) with peanut butter! But I'll bet that you all might find a surprise or two in Nicole's fun peak into her life!

Be sure to read through the very end for an exclusive Lillyella discount for Phydelle readers AND a giveaway for your very own piece of Lillyella jewelry!

Your name: Nicole
Your shop name(s)/url(s): Lillyella (Etsy)
Your blog(s): Lillyella, Uniquely You
Your flickr/other photo website ID/url: flickr.com/photos/lillyella/sets
Your twitter account: Lillyella

Tell us a bit about you: who you are, who you want to be, what you make, what makes you unique?

I'm Nicole, I'm 30 years old and live on the outskirts of Cleveland, Ohio with my fiance and a small sampling of furry and feathered friends. I spent ten years of my life working as a graphic designer and photographer, which has always been and will always be a passion of mine. The most "glorious" days of that career were spent designing for the Cleveland Indians and shooting for a local business magazine. I "quit my day job" a little over a year ago to pursue my jewelry business, which has worked out better than I could have imagined. I've also been a dancer most of my life and continue to dance and teach today (tap and hip hop are my favorites!). I have no free time anymore, but when I used to, I spent it rock climbing, shooting and mostly working on overwhelming projects around the house. I work about 16 hours a day and usually sleep less than four, and I don't really know what happens to the rest, but I hope to figure it out someday. What makes me unique? That's hard. I guess maybe the fact that I own pointe shoes and a shotgun?

What do you think it is about you that makes your shop(s) successful?

My motivation and passion, definitely. I'd also like to believe my success has to do with my work and my designs, but I know it's the hard work and energy I put into every aspect of my business that has gotten me to where I am. When new sellers contact me for advice, I can tell just by the way they form their message, if they have what it takes to really make it. You can sense when someone has decided to put their entire heart and soul into something, and when they are just pretending to. It will make or break you. I'm also really paranoid about perfection in crafting my pieces, and I think that shows through.

Is Etsy your fulltime day job, or do you do this on top of a day job (and if you have a day job, what is it)?

Etsy is and has been my full time job for a little over a year now.

Do you have partner(s), employee(s) or family members who help with your business? If so, what roles do they fill and how do they make your life easier?

My fiance helps when he can, or when I make him. His jobs consist of drilling metal, cutting and restocking all of my packaging supplies and packing orders. During the holiday, my mom also helped out by printing shipping labels and orders. I'm planning on hiring an employee for this holiday season.

Which do you prefer: artist, artisan, crafter or other?

I kind of prefer superhero, thank you. But if I had to choose, I think I'm an artist at heart and with all of my interests, former career, etc., though I would call my current jewelry making a craft. Is there really a difference though?

How did you learn your particular art/craft form?

I've just taught myself over the years, starting with the most basic of beads and trying new things whenever I had the chance. I spent my childhood summers and weekends walking to the local craft store and finding something new to get my hands into. Making jewelry was the one thing that always stuck with me and trial and error is how I've come to learn most of what I know today.

What was the most difficult thing for you to learn when you initially set up your Etsy shop?

I remember when I had my first sale, I had no idea what to do! I didn't know if I would get an email, if I had to do something through my shop, how to find the information, what to do next! But aside from that, I was able to figure most everything out pretty quickly after starting up, from what I can remember.

What do you know now that you wish you’d known back when you set up your Etsy shop?

Oh boy, I find it crazy that i can't think of anything! I guess maybe learning about Endicia (online mailing service) sooner may have been helpful at times. Until recently, I had been taking all of my international packages to the post office and addressing them by hand. It was time consuming and much easier to do it all online now, but at the same time, those trips to the post office were the only time I left the house!

What was the smartest thing you did when you were a fledgling Etsy seller?

Saw the benefit of making treasuries and stuck with it. I also made some great friends that have really helped me get to where I am.

If you sold last holiday season, what was your biggest lesson learned?

Hmmmm, another hard one. The holiday season pretty much went how I imagined it would - insane and very unmerry. I knew what I needed to do to prepare, but did not have the time or resources to do it - hire a helper, make up some stock pieces (I usually make to order).

What stresses you out the most about your business?

Inconsistency. The ups and downs of traffic and sales. I should be used to it by now, there are slow times, then things always pick up again, but I just can't help but freak out when sales drop, thinking they will stay that way forever. I'm also uber paranoid about perfection and nervous about people not liking their jewelry or thinking it wasn't worth the money they spent on it. I spend a lot of time redoing things, rewrapping loops, etc., if I don't think they are perfect, and I scrap a lot of materials that I think have flaws. My fiance thinks I'm insane and can rarely see these "imperfections" I'm so paranoid about. He doesn't quite have the that eye I do, but I will admit I'm slightly obsessive about the whole thing.

What gets you the most excited?

Everytime I hear the ding of an incoming email, I still get butterflies in my stomach hoping for a sale, and I still get excited when it is. I don't think that will ever change. There are many days when I just stop and really think about what it is that I do, and how crazy and amazing it is that I can.

Tell us a little about how organize your workday and workplace?

I'm a little obsessive when it comes to organization. I make lists about what lists I need to make. I really think I need an intervention. But aside from that, I try to keep my workspace tidy with everything in its place, though I'm quickly outgrowing my little office (hence the "art barn!"). I do the same things everyday, though the order is always different, printing orders, printing labels, blogging, making jewelry, packing orders. I tend to be up on the computer most of the morning and afternoon, working on blog posts, listing items in my shop; it's the time when I get the most emails, convos, questions, requests, etc. and some days it's impossible to pull myself away. Then I'm up till 3am making jewelry and packing orders while everything else is quiet. I do eventually get to a point though when I'm too tired to keep making, and I go back to the computer and work on blog posts, order supplies, leave feedback, etc., until I fall asleep on my keyboard. I really love waking up with little squares and letters imprinted into the side of my face.

Tell us about how you manage to balance work with life?

I don't, and it's my biggest struggle. After a year of doing this, I'm starting to wonder if it's possible, though honestly, it kind of depresses me to think it may not be. I'm efficient, I'm organized, I'm motivated and I work really hard, so when I think about what I can do differently to give myself more free time, a more regular schedule, more of a life, I have yet to figure anything out (I say as I'm typing at 3am). I guess if I grow a bit more and can afford to hire a full time employee, or my fiance can quit his job and help full time, that may be a way to make it happen, but I'm just not quite there yet. I'll admit not a day goes by that I don't question whether it's all worth it, and the answer changes depending on how my day is going.

Share one of your personal guilty pleasures?

Eating peanut butter out of the jar, listening to a-ha, and shoe shopping. Not necessarily at the same time, though that would be sweet.

Do you shop handmade? If so, what was the last thing you purchased?

Of course! Whenever I can. The only new years resolution I made this year was to buy myself at least one item from Etsy every month. I've had NO trouble sticking with that resolution. :) Let's see, the last purchase I made was these two shirts from Replicca (here and here!).

What one piece of advice, tip or trick would you share with both new and more established sellers?

I'm struggling the most with this one. Up until a few months ago, my answer would have been to make treasuries, but since Etsy changed the way they work the front page and do more of their own thing, I'm not sure it's worth the time anymore. I guess my answer now would be to work at everything like your life depended on it.

Anything else you'd love to share or wish I'd asked?

After those questions, I have nothing else to say! But thank you :)

Thank you Nicole, for sharing with us, and for generously offering a special discount AND giveaway to Phydelle readers!

Discount: Enter "phydelle" in the message to seller at checkout for 10% off your order PLUS free shipping! This is valid any time, but is for ONE time use per customer!!!

Giveaway: Winner selects the piece of jewelry of her/his choice from Lillyella! To enter, in the comments below, share with us your favorite piece of jewelry in Nicole's shop. You must include your first name, Etsy shop (if you're a seller) and/or email address to be included in the drawing!

Bonus entries if you do the following!

1. Follow this blog (Phydelle)
2. Follow Nicole's blog
3. Subscribe to the Phydelle mailing list (top left corner of this web page)
4. Follow Nicole on Twitter
5. Blog about this interview and contest (and add the link to the comments below)

Entries end midnight PST on Thursday 6/18/09 and the winner will be announced on Saturday the 20th!