As promised, I have a great interview with Ginger from GoingPlaces2, who creates Inspirational Dog Prints. I stumbled across her Etsy shop while I was looking for a gift for a friend. I loved the combination of dogs and inspiration quotes! It wasn’t something I’ve seen before and her quotes and pictures were so good! Once I contacted her, we hit it off immediately. Not only did I end up making a custom print for my friend, I created one for myself too! And there are still more that I would love to buy.  ;-) For example, isn’t this one darling? If she had this one for sale, when I was purchasing…

Ginger was so sweet and offered a free Inspiration Dog Print for one of my readers! That is so kind! So here are the rules:

1. Look through her Etsy shop and comment below on your favorite  print

2. Twitter about this giveaway and mention @GoingPlacesToo. Also comment below so I can keep track.

3. Blog about this giveaway. Again, please comment below.

So you have three chances to win!  Please submit all comments by July 16th and I will select a winner on the 19th!

Now, onto the interview with Ginger!

You had mentioned to me that you graduated with a Fashion Merchandising Degree. How/Why did you transfer to Graphic Design?

I had been a stay at home mom for 3 years when a friend approached me about working with them as their graphic designer for their start up screen printing business. This was something I could do at home while the kids were napping or in bed for the night. I taught myself the art program CorelDraw and have used it ever since. Once the boys were in school full time, I was able to increase my hours and work onsite. It’s been a wonderful job and has allowed me to use the things I have learned for my own creative endeavors like GoingPlaces2.

How did you get started in Etsy?

I’ve been a buyer for years. I loved the idea of supporting creative people – whether artists, craftspeople, vintage or supply shops –each represents an individual who has a creative mind, hopes and dreams of using their creativity in a purposeful way and a passion for what they enjoy doing. Just like me! A blessing in disguise caused me to actually have the time to open my own shop. The downturn in the economy has reduced my working hours. I’ve used those lost hours to spend time on my computer to create the Inspirational Dog Print Series and open my own Etsy shop in March of this year.

Now Dogs and Inspirational quotes isn’t something that I would have put together normally. But you make it work perfectly! How did you come up with that combination?



I don’t really know how I came up with it! I was just playing around one day. But I do know that they are a combination of things I love as a person as well as an artist. I’ve been privileged to know and love many dogs in my lifetime. As I look around our home, that love has influenced the way I decorate.  I am also a collector of fonts as well as inspirational quotes and have always enjoyed finding just the right one(s) for my projects. As you can see by the photos, I have used an eclectic mixture of all kinds of dogs in my home décor, bright colors and even a quote in my kitchen. I guess at some point, all of those things came together!

Do you have a favorite dog?

I can’t pick one favorite.  But here’s my list: Miniature Schnauzer, Boxer, Lab and Wire Hair Fox Terrier.

Quote?

Yes’m, old friends is always best, ‘less you can catch a new one that’s fit to make an old one out of. ~Sarah Orne Jewett

Do you have any dogs at home?

Currently, my husband and I have two grand dogs – a black lab named Lofa and a yellow lab named Locker.  We get to pet sit every once in a while. We don’t have any grandchildren, but the same can be said of them – “All of the privileges and none of the mess.”

Now, I have a small struggling Etsy shop, do you have any advice for me or my readers on how to start up a shop and promote it get sales?

I have spent a lot of time reading the blogs and forums on Etsy which are filled with fantastic advice. Think of what kind of brick and mortar gift shops you like to go to. Try and make your Etsy shop the same. Attractive Sign (avatar & banner), a variety of gift items (large inventory), enticing displays (attractive photo props), bright lighting (color adjusted photos).  You can still have all of that and no visitors. The most important thing you can do is market – drive visitors to your online shop by Social Marketing – Facebook, Twitter, etc., add your store  link to your personal email, leave your business card wherever you can. The more people you have in your shop viewing your products each day, the more chances you will have a sale. There are many ways to promote and most are free! I use www.craftopolis.com to watch my page views and shop “hearts” each day. That site is filled with information about how well you are promoting your store.

Do you have any parting words or inspiration you’d like to leave with my readers?

Read blogs like ChickGeekDesigns and others. They are filled with wonderful information, ideas, thoughts, inspiration, photography and insight. They are written by women (men too) who are sharing their creative gifts with us – freely and willingly. If you feel you aren’t creative, become creative – it just takes a little research and practice!

Thanks for sharing this information with us Ginger! I really do appreciate it.

To see the full collection, please go to my Etsy site. What friend wouldn’t love receiving a card in the mail like this? It would make me smile!

Mini Soapsicle – $5

Turkish Coffee Graham Cracker – $5.50

Adobe Aroma – Was on One Kings Lane (no longer available)

Parma Violet – $6

Strawberry Chocolate Cupcake – $10

Chocolate Peppermint – $5.95

Isn’t it so nice and pretty? It got me thinking about Spring. Sigh. Such a nice thing to think about on these rainy dreary days! So I wanted to pull a collection of spring birds from Etsy. Here are my favorites.

My key to today and tomorrow is to THINK SPRING!

Images from West Elm, KrisBlues,  NaomiMurrell, OnceUponAPaper, RachelAustin, Aliette, Takenaga

Last year was the first time I have ever visited New York City and my goal was to visit everything I could. So I created a long list of all the ‘must visit’ and I made sure I checked everything off. It was a whirl-wind trip and we were exhausted at the end of every day. Of course the rain didn’t help the first two days. But I fell in love with the city and really want to go back. Now I know where to go back to spend more time. Of course we had our interesting experiences getting lost on the subway. Anyways, here’s my newest listing in Etsy. Please check it out as well as my other Etsy listings:

Photo taken by me and cannot be used without permission

Well I needed a monthly calender for work, and you know my love of photography so I found this one. Aren’t the photos just beautiful? I think they will cheer up my desk quite nicely. I got the calender from NDT Photo.

And here’s what I finally decided on from The Nebulous Kingdom. There’s just something about her eye that makes me feel like she’s speaking to me. Also I like the title, Papillions Bleus. Papillion meaning “butterfly”but my mom has two papillion dogs that are really cute (and spoiled rotten for the record. Sorry Mom! )

Lastly, I have been waitly patiently for this one to come back out for sale. I’m a coffee addict. Now I just need a place to hang all these pictures! This print comes from JenniferAmos also known as MadeByGirl.

I can’t wait until they all come! It’ll be like Christmas and give me something to look forward to this week and next.

If you like this photo – it is available at my Etsy shop.

Image taken by me and cannot be used without permission.

Images from The Nebulous Kingdom

The first ones are from Ali Design. Isn’t the owl so cute? He comes in a set of 8 and will be sent in a protective cello sheet so he will arrive in pristine condition.

This beautiful red tree comes in a set of 12 and is from A PunkinCardCompany. They will be sent in a chocolate box which you will be able to be reuse.

PaperandBling is having a 20% off sale! I love the variety of Christmas trees they use in this card. Each one may be slightly different depending on how the paper is cut but equally fun and unique.

This set of 6 Holiday Letterpress Ornaments is from Letterpress Light. What a beautiful combination of shapes and colors being used in the ornament. They have other Letterpress cards that are really nice also. So go take a look!

There is nothing sweeter than a black lab sitting in the snow. This set of 8 comes from Blomma. She has other black lab pictures in this series but you’ll have to look at them for yourself. This is Blomma’s favorite and I can see why.

This woodland deer is from InkDropDesigns. It is digitally placed on a wood grained texture from her original photography. This set of 8 also includes the beautiful brown pearlescent envelopes. InkDropDesigns is having a Thanksgiving Sale so glance at her home page to see which items are included!

I had another card all picked out from SweetBellaCards, but when I went to contact her about it, it was sold! Then I discovered this adorable Snowman. What is a Christmas Card without a snowman? SweetBellaCards will also do personal messages on the inside for you. You can also order matching custom return labels. It comes in a set of 10.

IttyBittyPress has a set of 6 of these beautiful silver snowflakes. Definitely not for your grey depressing nights. They will come packaged in clear kraft top box.

Fubabee has set the crystals in these starbursts by hand. What a fun holiday card to receive! This is a set of 12 and you will receive blue, chocolate and white envelopes. A nice variety to send out to all your friends and relatives.

These penguins are the original artwork of  VieiraGirl. If you don’t like the pink scarf, then she also has them in blue. She’s having a Holiday Sale and is offering free shipping until December 1.

I hope that helps you pick some holiday cards to send out to your friends!

I am featuring photos that I have taken in Italy, specifically Venice, Florence and Rome and then a variety of flower shots. I also have a section of blank greeting cards.

Here is a sneak peak of photos that you will see at my shop:

Until tomorrow!

~ The ChicGeek