Friday, December 18, 2009

{Featured Artist: DeerLola}

This giveaway is now closed!



Here at
Gussy has a lot to say we love to look at all things beautiful.
Beautiful wall art, beautiful accessories, beautiful stories about family life.

Today marks week #6 of my series on featured Etsy artists. It is my goal to introduce some drool-worthy eye-candy. Over the next few months I'll be showcasing hand-selected Etsy artists that offer products that I think will appeal to you, my readers :)

Please join me in welcoming Ina at
DeerLola.


***

What inspires you? Lots. First and probably foremost all people that are close to me. Also, I find a lot of inspiration in other artists and events or sights I stumble across in my everyday life.

Where do you call home? Are you from there originally? I live in Rotselaar, a small town about 30 minutes from Belgium’s capital Brussels. I grew up in another province until I was 18 and moved away to study elsewhere. After my studies, it just felt weird moving ‘back home’ because I had found a new home. So I stayed put, found a job and later on a husband here as well. Although I must admit that when visiting family and my parents in my home town and province, it still feels like coming home…




Name something unique to where you live. There is hardly anything ‘unique’ around here. I consider our home a very unique place. Still lots of green, nature and trees. The perfect place to come home to!

Share an interesting fact about yourself. At the moment, that interesting fact would be that I am 6 months pregnant with our second child :)

How did you come up with your shop name? And just who is Ina? I’m married, have a lovely daughter and by day I work as a full-time communications specialist in an IT company. In the evenings and weekends I love to create jewelry. When I decided to start my own shop, I wanted to do so with a catchy name. So I went with my daughter Dolores’ nickname Lola. And Lola loves deer...




If you had to describe yourself in a word, what would that word be? Inquisitive

What made you decide to open up shop? I’d been creating jewelry as a hobby for almost a year and was giving away the jewelry I made to my niece, sister, friends, family... but I was creating more jewelry than all these people could wear together, even if they changed jewelry three times a day ;) When I discovered Etsy, I was amazed by all the great artists and the variety of designs, creativity and products ! So I decided to try and sell my own designs as well. Sometimes I wish I could spend more time promoting my shop but I simply lack the time with a full-time job.




Name your favorite thing about selling handmade. Getting feedback on my work! I’m a real perfectionist so each time I send out a package with a piece of jewelry, I always double-check if everything is okay. It has to be perfect. When a buyer leaves feedback and they love what they purchased, that really makes my day!

Do you have a day job or sell on Etsy full-time? I have a full-time day job so my Etsy time and the time I can spend on crafting is limited to the evenings and weekends, mostly. Although I have to admit I will check in on my shop occasionally during the day. I’ve also joined the Etsy European Street Team, which is a fun, kindred-spirited, talented and very supportive group of artists on Etsy. We have a very busy thread and it’s difficult to keep up at times but it makes my Etsy experience a very fun one!!




Give us a little glimpse into what a typical day in your life looks like. During the week I will get up at about 7 AM. We’ll have breakfast and get our daughter ready for school. My husband will bring her to school in the mornings. I will pick Lola up after school, will prepare dinner and get her ready for bed. I have a very flexible work schedule. Some days I will work from home, some days I will go to the office to catch up at the coffee machine and for meetings. I love my job and although I sometimes wish I would have more time to spend on other things, I couldn’t miss my job which I actually love a lot!

Share with us a favorite Etsy purchase or shop. I create jewelry but am not a jewelry person myself. I will wear simple silver earrings and I wear rings. Both you can find plenty on Etsy! I will spoil myself with an Etsy purchase every now and then but keep discovering so many incredible handmade things on Etsy every day. My wish list only gets longer and longer...




List a few of your most favorite pastimes. Spending time with my family and friends, being outdoors and of course... crafting!

Read any good books lately? When I read a book, I want to finish it in one go. I can’t just read a few pages and then continue the next day... So most of the time, unfortunately, reading books is limited to my vacation... One of my favorite books is The House of Sleep by Jonathan Coe.

What is your most prized possession? I’m not materialistic at all so I don’t value ‘possessions’. I can’t really think of anything I own or possess that I couldn’t live without.




What are three of your favorite foods? I love food. I like to eat. I enjoy eating good and healthy food. So naming three of my favorite foods is a challenge ;) Anything that is fresh. The dish doesn’t have to be complicated, as long as the ingredients are fresh, I’m happy. Anything which is authentic Italian food, I love ! When we travel (which has been to Italy the past couple of years), we always look for Slow Food restaurants. Slow Food is an international organization, founded in Italy in the eighties, that encourages good, authentic and fair food. I also like ice cream and could eat sushi every single day...

What would you like to learn to do? Silversmithing ! I would love to create jewelry from scratch. I’d also like to learn Italian. Properly. So more than the few words and one-liners I picked up from spending my vacation there...

What are you listening to right now? I absolutely love soul and R&B. I love Angie Stone and Erykah Badu. Also love to listen to Bill Withers, Barry White and Sinatra. My all time favorite song which always lifts my spirits is Fly me to the moon’ by Sinatra!




Name one place you must visit in your lifetime and why. I’ve had the privilege and pleasure to travel quite a lot but have never been to Africa. So if I could... one day... I’d like to travel to Africa, discover a few countries there and probably totally fall in love with this fascinating continent!


***

Now for something fabulous!
Ina has offered to give away this wooden acorn necklace:


***

To enter:

Leave a comment with why you'd like to win something from her shop!


For additional entries {leave a separate comment}:

-Comment that you follow my blog

-Comment that you follow me on Twitter

-Tweet about this {leave a comment with your Tweet}

-Blog about this {leave a comment with your post URL}



RULES:
  • The giveaway will close Sunday, December 21 at 10 pm CST, and the winner will be announced the following day
  • You ABSOLUTELY have to have an email address listed on your blog profile, blog, or the comment you leave. Don't make me hunt you down {'cuz I'll pick someone else!}


Please check back Friday, January 1 for another featured artist post!

72 comments:

Meg said...

Good Morning Gussy! Okay, I went to her shop and it is empty, so I went through all of her feedback/sold items and I happen to love the one that is featured as her giveaway, the acorn necklace! My email is now on my blog, (thanks to you)!

xoxo~Meg

Meg said...

I follow you Gussy!! And by the way, what a neat idea, featuring a new artist every week, how clever!

xoxo~Meg

Christy @ MCH PHOTOGRAPHY said...

I couldn't get into her shop either. But I love the yellow flower earrings shown in your post

Christy @ MCH PHOTOGRAPHY said...

Thx! for the giveaway! I am a follower!

Christy @ MCH PHOTOGRAPHY said...

also I follow you on twitter!!

m.chphotography@hotmail.com

:)

Christy @ MCH PHOTOGRAPHY said...

also I follow you on twitter!!

m.chphotography@hotmail.com

:)

Jingle said...

I love the Copper Necklace with Little Globe Beads! Gorgeous! (It was in the sold section)

Jingle said...

I follow your blog!

Jingle said...

I follow you on Twitter!

jaquelyn {mama thoughts} said...

I like these Turquoise Earrings:
http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=20623949

jaquelyn {mama thoughts} said...

Blog follower, too! :)

jaquelyn {mama thoughts} said...

And a Twitter follower! @thesweetpetunia

The Chubby Dove said...

Her shop is empty. Poo!

The Chubby Dove said...

The Chubby Doves follows the Goose on twitter

The Chubby Dove said...

following your blog....

Lisa said...

I couldn't get into her shop...so this necklace is my favorite!

Lisa said...

and I follow your blog.

Annie said...

I follow your blog - my favorite piece is her red earrings in the picture above - I love red & they are stunning!

Chelsey said...

What beautiful things you have created! I have to say what you are giving away is my favorite. Im nuts about nuts ha! That was a-corny joke I know.

Chelsey said...

Gussy I also follow your blog! and love it :)

TLF said...

Oh, I'd love to win something from her shop.. Everything is fabulous & beautiful! I love the colors she uses!

TLF said...

I'm already a follower of your blog. ;)

Cindy said...

I want to win something from DeerLola because her jewelry is feminine, but not foo foo girlie. Every piece is so lovely and easy to wear. I really like that! :)

clogzilla(at)yahoo(dot)com

Cindy said...

I follow your blog.

clogzilla(at)yahoo(dot)com

Cindy said...

I'm following you on Twitter via @hellcatvintage

clogzilla(at)yahoo(dot)com

littledeadmommy said...

I would like to win something from her shop because she makes great looking jewelry. I had to look at previous sales and I liked almost everything. She obviously does a good job considering she has gotten nothing but great feedback so far.

littledeadmommy@gmail.com

littledeadmommy said...

I follow your blog.

littledeadmommy@gmail.com

Being Tazim said...

I really love Oxidized Copper Earrings with Ivory Colored Beads! lovely and unique!

tazimd@gmail.com

Ginger said...

Great review and interview!! I love all of her unique creations. The Acorn necklace is adorable!! I also like the Black Lava Fur Bead Necklace. It could be worn with jeans or dress up:)

cyclona66(at)aol(dot)comm

Damla said...

I think I'd like to win something because of the absolute secrecy of the shop :)

annabell_lee_dk (at) yahoo.com

Damla said...

I blogged: http://sweepstakelover.blogcu.com/necklace-giveaway/6585377

annabell_lee_dk (at) yahoo.com

DeerLola said...

First of all, thank you Gussy for this wonderful feature :) So sorry my shop was offline for a few days but I was unexpectedly admitted to hospital on Wednesday with some pregnancy complications. Back home since this morning ! All stable now, hopefully untill the end of the pregnancy... Thanks again Gussy and everyone for your nice compliments on my work :-)

karuski said...

So nice to learn more about Ina, a fellow Etsy team member! I love these simply and beautiful earrings in her shop: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23680494

-minna

Unknown said...

I love the Shabby Chic White and Emerald Green Earrings! They are very pretty.

PerfectBlueMoon said...

I would love to win something from DeerLola's shop because everything is so unique and inspirational. I particularely love the Vintage Gold and Black Braclete!

Anna- Perfectbluemoon@#gmail[dot]com

Katjamaria said...

I love the Sterling Silver Soft Purple Bead Necklace! Just amazing, romantic and cute.

haltiapolku(at)gmail.com

Lindsay - Pen and Paint said...

Oh, do you think she would give me EVERYTHING!? No probably not.
I love the big fat green necklace. Big fat necklaces are my style.


I don't think I have answered the question...I would love to win something from her shop b/c everything is fabulous.

Lindsay - Pen and Paint said...

Gussy's favorite follower :)

Katjamaria said...

I tweeted: http://twitter.com/Katjamarian (haha, not having followers yet)

Heidi said...

I just love her creations. I'd like to win something of hers because I love the artistic nature of the jewelry and how the careful selected colors really compliment the pieces. Beautiful!

writeme@heidimail.com

va said...

i would like the fuschia and black sterling silver earrings -
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24860979.
tumblemumbo/at/gmail/dot/com

va said...

I follow your blog .
tumblemumbo/at/gmail/dot/com

Anonymous said...

The Fuchsia Fish Earrings are fun!teresa@thesoapcorner.com

Anonymous said...

I am a follower!teresa@thesoapcorner.com

Jenn Milt Art said...

I would love to win this necklace because it's original!

:)

jrerwin6 at gmail dot com

Jenn Milt Art said...

I follow!

jrerwin6 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I love the Gold and Black Copper Earrings and the Sterling Silver Black and Grey Acorn Earrings. The first one are just beautiful and the second ones are a miy of silver and fabric, which I both love.
ghainskom at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

I'm a follower
ghainskom at yahoo dot com

mim said...

i'd love to win because i really love the aesthetic of her pieces--there's a sensitivity to the combinations of textures as well as colors, and a vintage-y/natural feel.
i'd love to win because winning a pretty necklace is always awesome!

mim said...

i follow your blog!

RR said...

I really like the Wooden Bead and Brown Silk Ribbon Necklace. So beautiful!

minishoes1 said...

I love the gold and black copper earrings. so pretty! great giveaway! Thanks! jacquecurl1@gmail.com

minishoes1 said...

I follow. jacquecurl1@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Her creations are so unique and original. They are beautiful!

mnewton1985[at]AOL[dot]com

Unknown said...

New Follower! Amazing!

Katie
eklaramore@gmail.com

Unknown said...

New Tweeter Follower!

Katie
Eklaramore@gmail.com

Desi @ Wee Share said...

I would love to win something from her shop because quite simply, it is beautiful! Also, my home was broken into October 27 and all of my jewelry was stolen. So, I am slowly trying to get some more :)

Desi
weeshareblog@gmail.com
http://weeshare.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I would love to win something from her shop as it is full of amazing items but I especially love the Silver earrings with freshwater pearls!

lankylegslass(at)hotmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I follow your blog.

lankylegslass(at)hotmail(dot)com

SheilaC said...

Beautiful necklace, I would love to win it!!

Thank you for the chance to enter,

SheilaC

Anonymous said...

It's allo beautiful...I'd like the "Long Necklace with Goldenrod Flower"

contact: a.spigno@hotmail.it

Anonymous said...

I follow your blog!

Kim van Waardenburg said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kim van Waardenburg said...

What a nice intervieuw!!!!
Ina's work is fabolous!


Kim
I forgot my name in my previous comment so I deleted that one, hihihihi

www.viltalakim.etsy.com

Aik said...

I'd love to win the wooden acorn necklace because it is so pretty!

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Aik said...

Tweeted:

http://twitter.com/aikchien/status/6860152147

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Aik said...

I follow you on Twitter @aikchien

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Michelle Frame said...

I like the red and white mint candy necklace.

Katie | FashionFrugality.com said...

I'd love to win something from her shop because A) everything is SO pretty and B) I prefer to buy/wear items that are handmade!
kkondek at gmail.com

Katie | FashionFrugality.com said...

Tweet! http://twitter.com/ktkatherine/status/6865791352
kkondek at gmail.com

kraplap said...

I would love to win something from DeerLola, because she is such a sweet girl in real life !!!!!

Chris and Sarah said...

I would love to win because she has beautiful things in her shop. I love the Lampwork Beads on Sterling Silver Hoops earrings.


arewethereyetla5[at]verizon[dot]net