Etsy817 Artist Spotlight - Studio Longoria

I'm excited to be stepping in today to do the artist spotlight so we can feature Stephanie and her shop, Studio Longoria! 


What are your Etsy shop name and link?We are now officially Studio Longoria, www.StudioLongoria.etsy.com

What do you make and sell in this shop?I design and sew dolls and pillows, notebooks, and t-shirts.

Are you known by any other business names? If so, what are they?I have a second shop, XY Factory. In this shop I sell baby, toddler and maternity rock-n-roll t-shirts.

Where else can we find you online or off?Online you can find me at SourpussClothing.com
Offline you can find me at Chick & Chica in Houston, TX.

What inspires you to create your art?
My art is inspired by my culture. I am Latina, born and raised in South Texas. My upbringing and culture play a huge part in my inspiration. My children also greatly influence my work.

When did you start your business and what inspired you to do so?
I started my first business, XY Factory, in 2006, when I was pregnant with my youngest son. I really wanted cooler maternity shirts and t-shirts for my kids.

Have your friends and family supported your dream?
My family and friend have been a huge support. They have been by my side every step of the way. My friends are some of my biggest customers.

What are the positives and negatives about being your own boss?The best thing about being my own boss is being able to determine which projects I’d like to work on. The worst part is having to pull all nighters to get orders out in a timely matter.

Where do you work from?I work from my home studio and I love it. It is the brightest most colorful room in my home. I have photos and artwork all over the walls. It is the perfect environment for creativity.

Have you been using social media to grow your business?I use Facebook to keep in contact with my customers. I like to give them sneak peaks at projects I’m working on.

What's the best piece of business advice you’ve ever been given?Make sure you pay yourself for the work you are doing.

What memorable responses have you had to your work?A complete stranger come up and hugged me and told me she was proud of me. She was excited to see that I was carrying on cultural traditions with my work. I tear up when I think about that conversation.

What do you like about your work?I love being able to take my drawings and bring them to life as little dolls.

Professionally, what’s your goal?My goal professionally is to have my products in more shops.

What is your favorite product or service that you offer?My favorite product has got to be my Muerto Dolls. I love Dia De Los Muertos, and my dolls really show that.

What is your best-selling item?My best selling item is the La Sirena Loteria Card pillow. I think people love it because it reminds them of playing the game when they were younger.

What’s your favorite color?Hands down it’s got to be Hot Pink!

What superpower would you want to have and why?If I could have any super hero power it would probably have to be the ability to fly. It would be so much fun to be able to fly anywhere anytime. Plus I wouldn’t have to put gas in my car, I really hate having to fill up.

Name something you love, and why.I have an unnatural love for glitter. There is just something about the sparkle glitter adds to things that I absolutely love.

Thanks Stephanie for letting us get to know you better! 

Etsy 817 Artist Spotlight- Coco and Cocoa

This week Etsy817 has the pleasure of introducing you to one of our dedicated leaders Julie of Coco and Cocoa.

What are your Etsy shop name and link?

Coco and Cocoa (http://www.etsy.com/shop/CocoCocoa)

What do you make and sell in these shops? 

Hand knit and crochet accessories

When did you start your business and what inspired you to do so?

I’ve been knitting for almost 10 years, but I started my business 2 years ago. A friend and I took the plunge together. We had heard of Etsy and decided to give it a try. 

What has been your biggest obstacle so far and how did you overcome it?

My own shyness. I’m still working on it. 

Have your friends and family supported your dream?

My family has been very supportive. They come to my shows and are very encouraging. 

Where do you work from?

I work from my couch! I do some knitting in the afternoon while my toddler naps and then I do more in the evenings after I put the kids to bed. 

Have you been using social media to grow your business?

I have a blog, Facebook fan page, and Twitter (@CocoandCocoa)

Who are your entrepreneurial role models? What is inspiring about them?

My grandparents. My grandfather was a carpenter and my grandmother sculpted miniatures out of clay. I remember she would travel all over the country doing shows. 

How did you learn and acquire the skills you use to make your business successful and/or how do you continue to grow and learn?

After I had my twins I wanted to learn how to crochet. A friend gave me some basic pointers and then I bought a book to teach myself more. After I had made a couple of items I decided that I also wanted to learn how to knit. My husband went out and bought me a teach yourself to knit book and I sat on our bed with some knitting needles, yarn, and that book until I figured it out. There was a lot of muttering and throwing needles. 

What do you like about your work?

I love seeing the colors and textures come together. And it’s very relaxing. 

What is your dream project?

So many things! Just today I was thinking I’d like to knit a skirt. 

What is your favorite product or service that you offer?

Customization. I love hearing what colors customers want or what custom made items they are interested in. 

What is your best-selling item?

My owl hats

What superpower would you want to have and why?

To be able to fly. So that I could travel and see the world. 

Name something you love, and why.

The serious answer, my family. They get all my weirdness and they still love me. 

The silly answer, my blue jeans. They are comfy and versatile.  

What jobs have you done other than being an artist?

A wide variety. From a utility billing clerk for a city government to the person who made the gelato at a gelateria.

Etsy 817 Artist Spotlight- Love Who

Etsy 817 is pleased to introduce Love Who

What is your Etsy shop name and link?
Love Who http://lovewho.etsy.com The category “The Tofu Shoppe” is a branch for my younger sister.

What do you make and sell in these shops?
I make plushies and polymer clay accessories (such as charms or jewelry). My sister focuses mainly on tofu charms.

Where else can we find you online or off?
Online: http://love-who.deviantart.com
Offline: I started selling at anime conventions this year, which has been a success! I was previously at A-kon22 and AnimeFest’11. I have no shows scheduled at this time.

What inspires you to create your art?
Anything and everything! Sometimes I’ll be eating something and suddenly think how cute it would be as a plush or charm. Other times I pull things randomly out of a conversation with someone. Many of the times I daydream.

When did you start your business and what inspired you to do so?
I honestly started in 2008 under Oanhderbread, but it was very short lived. Being away from crafts for two years made me miss it and so I returned last summer as Love Who and haven’t looked back since. The inspiration to continue is my love for crafting.

What were you doing career wise when you decided to create your own business?
College student. Still am!

What has been your biggest obstacle so far and how did you overcome it?
Fear. Fear of a lot of things. Fear of failing, fear of people not liking what I offer, fear of how I come across at a vendor event. Haha.  The only way to really overcome any of that was to get in there and take it one step at a time. Learn that some people will hate what I make and some will love it.

Have your friends and family supported your dream?
Yes! It was a pleasant surprise. Sometimes they’re the ones who push me when I’m in a slump. I love all the support they give and appreciate it so very much!

Where do you work from?
Everything I do is from home. There is fabric and supplies everywhere.

Have you been using social media to grow your business?
I’m trying. I update on my DeviantArt page often (www.love-who.deviantart.com) and recently started up a Facebook Fanpage (www.facebook.com/ck.lovewho)

What do you like about your work?
I love that it’s so random and there’s no telling what idea will spurt out into plush or charm form. I find my items unique and I love offering varieties of one thing.

Professionally, what’s your goal?
Although crafting is my dream, my goal in life is to obtain an MD.



What is your best-selling item?
Poo and toilet paper couples/BFF charms.

Silly, fun questions:
What’s your favorite color? Pink!

What jobs have you done other than being an artist?



I have been a jr high tutor, a medical technician, a sales intern, and have volunteered for the library and animal shelter.