Featured Artist of the Week

Soap Deli, a fellow Virginian!



Rebecca of Soap Deli has agreed to be the first sponsor of my now Weekly Giveaway! Today you can get to know her and her products here through my interview. Come back tomorrow to find out about this week's prize in the Giveaway. It's very exciting and I'm so thankful to Rebecca for her sponsorship!

1. Tell us a little bit about who you are and your life up to this point in time.
Basically I'm a 32 wife and mother of one. I have a BA in Fine Art from Roanoke College where I studied a bit of everything including pottery, photography, and painting. I currently make lots of soap, which I sell primarily on my local farmer's market, and I love to read when there's time leftover.

2. Besides your fantasy creative life, what else are doing currently?
Actually my creative life is pretty much my life. I make and sell soap full time. I also created a site for my local farmer's market in my spare time and keep a little blog to go along with it. I take pics of new crafts, plants, and produce to let people know what we're offering. I also do restaurant reviews, and list special events. http://www.roanokefarmersmarket.com Additionally I also have a blog to promote my products at http://www.soapdelinews.com I post regular articles, how to's, bath & body recipes, and contests. In my free time I read. In between I do the normal household stuff which I'm always trying to put off a bit longer.

3. What do you offer in your Etsy Shop?
I sell shea butter soaps - all of which have an amazing lather - feel good lotions, sugar scrubs, and a little extra "other stuff" here and there.

4. Where do you create?
I mostly work out of my kitchen and my office.

5. Where do you get your inspiration from?
My inspiration comes from my sense of smell and of course input from other "smellers" I come in contact with.

6. How did you learn how to do your craft?
I am self taught and have been at my current craft since 2001.

7. How do you promote your wares?
I promote a lot through networking, my blog, and just seeing people face to face every week. I get a lot of new customers from recommendations made by my regular customers as well as from tourists who find me on the market downtown, like my stuff, and come back to etsy to order more.

8. What has been the most important lesson you've learned since you started selling your own creations?
That in order to get 100%, you must give 100%.

9. Is there any advice you can give others who are just starting out?
Just take the plunge. Give everything you can and you'll get back. Don't be shy about getting out there and talking to people about your products.

10.Do you have any favorite Etsy artists you'd like to promote here?
I have a ton of favorites but haven't had a chance to buy from them all. Here are a few I have purchased from and recommend.

I love the artwork at BellatrixArt.etsy.com
TheModernPet.etsy.com makes a great funky pet deodorizer.
Owlishly.etsy.com has the cutest patterns in the world.
Nanu.etsy.com makes a great natural laundry detergent.
I've gotten some really cool lampwork beads from margolampwork.etsy.com
HandmadebyMia.etsy.com has some awesome felted bags.
My son loves his nightmare snatcher by Spiderbite.etsy.com
jksdesigns.etsy.com always has beautiful jewelry.