Meet the HOSTies - soulinchains

Soul In Chains

If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be?
A donkey of course , they work hard and carry the load of the world and still smile.

Fruit or chocolate?
Fruit, watermelon or strawberries.

Your favorite meal?
My very favorite meal is wheat bulgar with garlic and butter with oven roasted chicken baked in onions and green peppers, along with a nice salad and a piece of cheesecake.

City break or weekend in the country?
I really dislike city life , country.

Why did you join HOST?
I like to do things for others and all items sold in my shop I usually donate back to others by buying things from people needing sales and stuff like that.

How did you first get interested in what you do?
I have always been crafty since birth i guess.

Tell us about your shop.

It is a mix of what ever I happen to have made. I like to loom the mini bags they are not knitted they are made on a jenny loom. Each one is different and I really enjoy creating them. I like to make fun one of kind items and strange items ... nothing normal here.

What do you love most about selling on Etsy?
I like getting Positive feedback; it's the thrill of having someone like my item. I have met a lot of really nice people on etsy.

Where else can we find you?
Just on Etsy and facebook. We also have several websites : www.usenergyindependence.com Our green energy site. My partner is a Inventor/aerospace engineer. www.renewablethermodynamics.com Our other Green energy site and site for our inventions www.appliedthermodynamics.com Our engineering site.

I am also a ham radio Operator and maintain our Club website.
www.yates-arc.com

Any advice you would like to share with others that might read this?

Always follow your gut feelings. Do what is right for you not what
is right for them. Be proud of who you are and take pride in your work.

Meet the HOSTies - Zzazz

http://Zzazz.etsy.com

If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be?
A miniature schnauzer.

Fruit or chocolate?
I love both'

City break or weekend in the country?
Well, if its in the city then the theatre is the place to go. If in the country, a nice little Inn or scenic place.

Why did you join HOST?
I needed some help and they gave it willingly. And I liked the people I met there.

How did you first get interested in what you do?
I was taught to crochet while in the 6th grade and loved making Christmas gifts. We were so poor we could never really buy any, so we all chipped in and made stuff for each other. And I've been crocheting ever since. As far as sewing goes, I used to make my girls all their items until they were preteens. Now I just sew my little heart out for everyone.

Tell us about your shop.
Zzazz is a colorful shop. Pillow covers, placemats, napkins, and now adding bookcovers, checkbook covers, business card holders and eyeglass covers. I wanted a style of my own for this shop. Something just a little different than what others make. I love using colorful and decorative fabrics. So when I see a fabric that catches my eye, it speaks to me and tells me what it wants to be. I'm hoping to add more items soon, and that sales will pick up so I can afford to keep making some beautiful designs.

What do you love most about selling on Etsy?
The joy my items bring to others. If it pleases them and brings a smile to someones face, then I've done my job well.

Where else can we find you?
I'm on Twitter as ZZAZZ, my blogspace is Arrets Place, and I'm just plain old me on Facebook.

Any advice you would like to share with others that might read this?
Whatever your craft, create it as though it were for a member of your family. Add your own little touches to make it your style. And always treat customers with a smile and communicate with them often.

I'd like to add ... If the casual buyer would just understand our craft is not just something you pick up in a store. We tend to each item to make it genuine not production line. We spend time searching for the right fabric and supplies, the time involved in preparation and creating the items, and them listing and promoting them. We all give a lot of thought and love to each piece.

HOST update

You may have noticed recently that we have been doing a lot to promote HOST and to tell other Etsy members about the team and what we do. This week, we started the first of our planned Etsy promo threads for the HOST shop and blog... We met up with old friends - and some new - and were truly delighted when donations for the shop were offered through that same thread! We are hoping to repeat this weekly, so look out for us and remember to tell your friends to stop by and join us for some chit chat.

One of our members is slowly reopening her own Etsy shop - check it out at http://melaniesoriginals.etsy.com - and had the fantastic idea of featuring interviews of HOST members on her blog! She has just posted her first in this series - an interview with our lovely Michelle of http://fireandicedesigns.etsy.com Go read the interview at http://melaniesoriginals.blogspot.com/ and keep an eye out for the next HOSTie seller to be featured :)

Another of our members was also lucky enough to snag a treasury west today - yay crochetmaggie! Check out her lovely shop at http://crochetmaggie.etsy.com/
We have pasted the treasury in here in case you don't catch it while it's live (just click on the image for the larger version):

All of these are HOST shop items that were

generously donated by Etsy members.

You can view the rest of our listings at http://HOST.etsy.com

We also wanted to give you a little update on the shop: so far for June, we have sold 10 items - yay!!! We would like to pass on our biggest HOST (((((hugs))))) to everyone who has purchased something from us this month - also (((((hugs))))) and our sincere thanks to all of you who have donated items to the shop (including those of you who have made items specially for this purpose :) We want you to know that your generosity is hugely appreciated and your support of HOST really keeps us motivated to do the best job we can. Remember to share this blog with your friends and we would love to read your comments and feedback on here too!

Thanks for stopping by today :)

maisyh