Featured Handmade Artist- Betsyandbess
Hello!!! I am super excited to introduce you to Elizabeth from Betsyandbess. Elizabeth creates eco friendly purses, handbags, and accessories, made from repurposed, upcycled, and recycled materials, down to the zippers, buttons, and pockets. Nothing goes to waste!
I love this Red Floral Shoulder Bag!
Check out some of her other great bags and accesories:
Hi Elizabeth! Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself?
I'm Elizabeth, I live in Murfreesboro, TN, just south of Nashville with my husband, a cat, a chameleon, and two fabulous Dobermans. By day I am a teacher, but I would LOVE to spend all hours sewing, making upcycled bags for my shop and presents for my friends.
What is the first craft project you remember making?
It is absolutely impossible for me to answer this question. I grew up in a house where being artistic and creative was encouraged and expected. We had an art cabinet with every material and tool any child could ask for. We made the stars for our Christmas trees, painted portraits, you name it. And we did it all right on the kitchen table. My childhood was filled with crafts.
Where does your inspiration come from?
I love browsing the web looking at vintage bags. I am inspired by their details.
Can you please describe some of your creative process?
I go fabric hunting nearly every weekend. I sometimes come home with three giant garbage bags full of clothes, belts, or other nifty things to use.
Once I decide what kind of bag to make, I have to pick the perfect fabric. Especially with larger bags, I am sometimes limited as to which items of clothing I can use. I can't simply just start cutting, but have to make sure all of the seams and other details of the clothing are laid out in an attractive way.
Finally, I always try to add a few details to the bags, some stripes, or rosettes, or other accent.
What is your most prized handmade possession?
A quilt that my great-grandmother made.
If you could give one piece of advice to a new etsy seller, what would it be?
My biggest piece of advice is READ. There is so much knowledge out there! Read, read, and read some more! If you have a question, it's probably already been answered somewhere by someone.
What are some of the ways you promote yourself and your shop?
I have a Facebook Fan Page - www.facebook.com/betsynbess
And of course, my shop - www.etsy.com/shop/betsyandbess
Name three websites you couldn’t live without.
Of all the questions, for some reason this one makes me think the hardest.
I read the headlines on our local newspaper's website several times a day. I don't know why, but I love reading local news. www.dnj.com (in case anyone is curious what's going on my random city!)
I'm also hooked on www.eatingwell.com. I love the healthy recipes and the food news.
Lately I've also been hooked on the updates from this blog - www.ohfransson.com. There is absolutely no way I have the patience or stamina for quilting, but her quilts are so beautiful it makes me wish I did.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Ten years? I would say, a mom to several beautiful children, and happy wife, and a success story. In ten years I would like to have my goods in every local shop, and a prominent online presence.
In my dream world, I live on a farm in an old house, my children spend their days running barefoot in the mud, I have an apron that I wipe my hands on constantly, and wear it 24/7. I fall asleep with all the windows open and the doors unlocked in the summer. But I don't milk cows.
If you could have one super power, what would it be and why?
I'm not sure if this is a super power or more like a fairy godmother kind of thing. I would like to bestow on people the ability to communicate. To talk without fear of being judged, to listen without getting defensive, and above all, to just be honest with each other. So many confrontations and tarnished relationships could be avoided if we could all be open and honest and embrace each other and our differences. Who knows, maybe we could even have world peace.
Thank you so much Elizabeth!!! Thanks for letting us get to know you and your shop!
Please be sure to stop by Betsyandbess and check out all of Elizabeth's fabulous eco-friendly creations!
betsyandbess.etsy.com
I love this Red Floral Shoulder Bag!
Check out some of her other great bags and accesories:
Hi Elizabeth! Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself?
I'm Elizabeth, I live in Murfreesboro, TN, just south of Nashville with my husband, a cat, a chameleon, and two fabulous Dobermans. By day I am a teacher, but I would LOVE to spend all hours sewing, making upcycled bags for my shop and presents for my friends.
What is the first craft project you remember making?
It is absolutely impossible for me to answer this question. I grew up in a house where being artistic and creative was encouraged and expected. We had an art cabinet with every material and tool any child could ask for. We made the stars for our Christmas trees, painted portraits, you name it. And we did it all right on the kitchen table. My childhood was filled with crafts.
Where does your inspiration come from?
I love browsing the web looking at vintage bags. I am inspired by their details.
Can you please describe some of your creative process?
I go fabric hunting nearly every weekend. I sometimes come home with three giant garbage bags full of clothes, belts, or other nifty things to use.
Once I decide what kind of bag to make, I have to pick the perfect fabric. Especially with larger bags, I am sometimes limited as to which items of clothing I can use. I can't simply just start cutting, but have to make sure all of the seams and other details of the clothing are laid out in an attractive way.
Finally, I always try to add a few details to the bags, some stripes, or rosettes, or other accent.
What is your most prized handmade possession?
A quilt that my great-grandmother made.
If you could give one piece of advice to a new etsy seller, what would it be?
My biggest piece of advice is READ. There is so much knowledge out there! Read, read, and read some more! If you have a question, it's probably already been answered somewhere by someone.
What are some of the ways you promote yourself and your shop?
I have a Facebook Fan Page - www.facebook.com/betsynbess
And of course, my shop - www.etsy.com/shop/betsyandbess
Name three websites you couldn’t live without.
Of all the questions, for some reason this one makes me think the hardest.
I read the headlines on our local newspaper's website several times a day. I don't know why, but I love reading local news. www.dnj.com (in case anyone is curious what's going on my random city!)
I'm also hooked on www.eatingwell.com. I love the healthy recipes and the food news.
Lately I've also been hooked on the updates from this blog - www.ohfransson.com. There is absolutely no way I have the patience or stamina for quilting, but her quilts are so beautiful it makes me wish I did.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Ten years? I would say, a mom to several beautiful children, and happy wife, and a success story. In ten years I would like to have my goods in every local shop, and a prominent online presence.
In my dream world, I live on a farm in an old house, my children spend their days running barefoot in the mud, I have an apron that I wipe my hands on constantly, and wear it 24/7. I fall asleep with all the windows open and the doors unlocked in the summer. But I don't milk cows.
If you could have one super power, what would it be and why?
I'm not sure if this is a super power or more like a fairy godmother kind of thing. I would like to bestow on people the ability to communicate. To talk without fear of being judged, to listen without getting defensive, and above all, to just be honest with each other. So many confrontations and tarnished relationships could be avoided if we could all be open and honest and embrace each other and our differences. Who knows, maybe we could even have world peace.
Thank you so much Elizabeth!!! Thanks for letting us get to know you and your shop!
Please be sure to stop by Betsyandbess and check out all of Elizabeth's fabulous eco-friendly creations!
betsyandbess.etsy.com