Back in Action

Sunday - Coffee and Cake
weekly musings, articles and mostly babble...


Back In Action It's been a busy few days, and for a change I feel like I'm on track with things! Including doing some new stuff like furthering my web presence on the blog, getting more exposure for the Monday Magic-ers by bringing them into the Etsy Treasuries, even getting a few new prints on the go :) I also sold a copy of Coco Pink earlier in the week which brightened my spirits and a lot of my efforts in recent days have has really positive responses from all that have been involved (and especially the kind few that have returned kind gestures of their own!)
I thought to myself on Monday that it'd be great if I could bring more views in for the Monday people that manage to get featured and thought I'd see what would happen if I created an Etsy Treasury, themed on our newest stars to Etsy... and it has had a tremendous response, I have to say I am really pleased with the feedback so far and I have decided that every Monday Magic group will get inclusion in any treasury I manage to grab (you have to fight for the things!) from here on. I don't know how many people pay attention to the stats of sellers when they find shops and items through Etsy search, or even if anyone checks Etsy pounce regularly which I do try and do because you never know what little surprises you may find with the emerging talents as opposed to what is already known to be fabulous with the established Etsians. I think the treasury on top of the Monday Magic post, although only focusing on 12-16 sellers a week is a step in the right direction for giving the newbies a chance to shine and get acknowledged before they and their items get smothered under the increasing amount of items and sellers adding themselves to Etsy every day. It's something anyway!
A couple of people got in touch with me with lovely kind gestures of their own which I thought was very nice of them, and wanted to give them a shout out because they're so lovely!
TurcoArts, a fellow photographer may I add sent me a message thanking me for showing interest in their work and offering 10% off any purchases, not only for me but anyone that I refer to his store in the future. I told him I'd mention this in the blog which I know made him quite happy and to remind anyone that visits his store from the link on here that plans to buy a photograph, to let him know that you had a referal from moonangelnay! Also I wanted to share a gesture from Wintergarden on Etsy whom kindly included my print Against the Grain in her gorgeous spotlight on byhand.me which is well worth checking out, its a stunning collection of items as is her store of beautiful knitted flowers! Thanks ever so much for that!
So regarding the community my fingers have been very busy on my keyboard! In my own little world however when not chasing my son and being booted from the inside by the baby.. and housework, I have somehow found the time to get a couple of new prints and like I said earlier, get some further word out about things like the blog and also my store... Infact I made an interesting discovery earlier whilst checking out the vault on CraftCults heart-o-matic site and found out that my print Twilight Rose had made the front page on Etsy on September the 18th 2009!!!! LOL! I never knew! I wish Etsy would tell people when they make the front page! At least I know why it's had a zillion views!

Anyways I'll leave the rambling at that as I have a new week to focus on after this and more newbies to find!

moonangelnay x

FRIDAY - Friday Finds... SOiNTOiT

Friday Finds... SOiNTOiT


This is my 12th interview of the amazing not-so-well-known artists of Etsy, and my first one since the End of November! Eeek! Don't worry though I'm in better health now and Christmas is nice as far away from being able to disrupt too much of my blogging for now :)

Today I am posting an interview with Pam, a carvedboard artist known on Etsy as SOiNTOiT! By nature I am quite the hippy and I do tend to feel attracted to things that burst with color, contain spiritual undertones or have a very naturalistic feel to them. So for me to stumble across Pam's store was a wonderful find in my hunt for my usual Monday Magic-ers funnily enough! But her work is so unique and beautiful. I love the way they have a very ethnic feel to them, as well as the way they reach out to you (quite literally!) and the colors of the rainbow dance around each piece! I had to ask if she would be interested in an interview about her work and store. And obviously very pleased that she wanted to, so I am very pleased to share on my blog this week another very new and talented artist on Etsy that deserves all the exposure and interest I suspect she'll get in the future on Etsy :)


(Just click the images to go direct to the listings)



Tell me a bit about you. (Name, Age, Location, and give us a random fact whilst you’re at it.) My name is Pam Reinhardt. I’m 56. I live at a lovely lake in Northern California. I’m married, a mom and ‘gramma’. Random fact: Colors 60 feet below the surface in warm, tropical waters are indescribably and breathtakingly vivid.

What is your business about then? I don’t have a business! I do, however, have a passion and I enjoy directing that passion. So, I guess that’s my business. The direction of my passion right now, is my artwork. My artwork is uniquely mine and that is empowering. (I suppose I could organize my closets or clean out the junk drawer---nah!) I also like putting myself in situations that bring on extreme learning mode as I seem to thrive on learning. Putting my artwork out there is extreme for me. It’s inherently satisfying.

How did etsy come into your life? I’m running out of wall space! AND I like the etsy community AND I like learning new skills and I like art exposure and meeting talented and creative people.

Are you working a day job, too? Big smile! Sigh! I’m a recently retired public school band director and classroom music teacher. I’ve stepped into a perpetual weekend mode and my husband and I can come and go as we please. I am blessed!

How long has the artist in you been ‘unleashed’? I’ve not had the luxury of uninterrupted time before. For me, creativity is time for exploration and experimentation and time to follow my ideas to a satisfactory completion. I’m fortunate to have a supportive and understanding husband who knows how to serve a good meal!

What has been the inspiration behind your business? It’s such a charge to follow a dream. It’s scary and I like stepping out into new territory.

If you could describe your products in 3 words, what would you tell me? Colorful. Unique. Eclectic.

What would an average working day for you be like from dawn til dusk? Wake up when I feel like it. Cup of coffee in front of the fire and check out the weather and the bird feeders. Do a check-in with my husband and rough out a day plan (looks like a good ski day tomorrow, hon….that kind of thing). Check e-mails, the etsy shop and facebook, maybe call my kids. (I babysit my grand-daughter on Thursdays.) Head to the den where my desk and supplies are and play for a couple hours, or go for a walk. I’ve been doing a lot of breathing and being thankful to God. Piddle around the house or in the yard. Love to read. Might drive to town and explore. We live near two beautiful Sierra Foothill towns full of great restaurants, bookstores, art galleries and boutiques. Never at a loss for something to do. We own a 20 acre parcel on a hill overlooking our lake and sometimes we go up there and just sit, listening to the quiet and dreaming and talking over our house plans. Like I said, I’m blessed.

What’s your favorite material and techniques to work with? Acrylics, oil pastels, encaustic, collage, mixed media.

What is your ideal vision for the future for you and your work? To continue to have a lot of fun at my art desk. If someone can get enjoyment from viewing my work I’m tickled. I wasn’t actually expecting anyone to show any interest. I’m totally doing this for myself. I love that what I’m doing gets reactions from people and they want to let me know what their reaction is. I wasn’t expecting that.

Away from work, what do you like to do for fun or to wind down? Travel. Snow ski. Kayak. Hike. Camp. Scuba dive. Write. Visit with my kids.

What are you likely to search for on etsy? New artwork. Brightly and creatively arranged, colorful objects. Somebody doing something different.

Any last words? Yes! Watch for one of my CarveBoardArt pieces in the May 2010 issue of Somerset Studio Magazine. (The Exemplar feature.) And, of course, go to http://www.etsy.com/shop/SOiNTOiT and view my shop! This has been a fun interview! Thanks!