Cool giveaway from theenchantedcupboard!

theenchantedcupboard is offering a free giveaway in support of the Queer Team!

The winner will receive their choice of an amazing wedding cake topper or family doll set, uniquely handmade by theenchantedcupboard. In order to enter, check out theenchantedcupboard's shop and leave a comment with contact information. You can also get an extra entry for tweeting, posting on facebook, and creating a blog post about the interview/giveaway. The giveaway will run until Friday April 30th, 2010.

VISIT theenchantedcupboard's shop to leave a comment!









Interview with Beccijo aka theenchantedcupboard

What sorts of things do you offer in your shop?
I started 2008 creating wooden toys and then moved into Cake Toppers. I started making these for my own children when all the information about the dangers of plastic worried me. It was hard but we got ride of all the plastic playsets they loved but I wanted them to still have the same enchanting fun. My toys were created out of a need for affordable natural toys. My toy lines such as The Fairy Ring, Mermaid Tales, Max in Space, and others were developed from my childhood memories or creations I made for my own children.

In 2009 I made my first set of Wedding Cake Toppers and then developed ones for birthday, etc.

When did you start selling on etsy? Can people buy your work anywhere else?
I started in the end of 2008 I was a buyer and then tried my hand at selling. I do wholesale to a local toy store and have a few other online shops but Etsy is my first love!

What inspired you to begin making wedding cake toppers?
These dolls started out with a request from someone my husband works with. At the time I hesitated because my only option was to make the female doll in a dress to look like a man with really wide leg pants. I started looking for someone who could make the male doll for me and the result was too rough. The rough male doll only proved itself to be good for pirates.

I was feeling defeated when all the stars in the heavens lined up and someone was offering them unfinished male doll on Etsy. I was on the phone calling all my supplies trying to find who was making these. At long last I had uncovered the secret and about a month later they were mine as well!

Do you consider yourself a LGBTQIQ supporter?
es, I have 2 gay brothers who have struggled with stepping out and being who they are. As a mother I work hard to make sure my children grow up to be excepting and respectful of others. In researching and making my Same-Sex Family Dolls as well as the Same-Sex Cake Toppers we got a chance to talk about how families can be different and how they are the same. It was great to see that they understood that it didn't matter the combination of the dolls just that there was love that connected them.

What are the future plans The Enchanted Cupboard?
I want to keep expanding my toy line and add more natural toys for boys. As my family grows so will my time to devote to my business but I most want to keep a health balance.

Queer Team Working with Trevor Project!

Big news! Beginning today, the Queer Etsy Street Team will be donating 100% of sales from our shop (less etsy and Paypal fees) to the Trevor Project! The Trevor Project is the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ youth).
Please help spread the word!

Spotlight on Queer Team member BackseatBettyBoutik

BackseatBettyBoutik interviewed by fauxsure

What sorts of things do you offer in your shop?
I currently offer Steampunk-inpired and handcrafted jewelry. There are a ton of things I'm learning and will be adding more variety in the near future, but *shhhh* it's a secret ;)

How did you first start selling on etsy? How long have you been selling? Do you sell anywhere else?
The instant I found Etsy, I became addicted. Etsy has seriously been unhealthy for me! So, of course, I decided to join. I'm a total newbie, so I'm still adjusting to everything. I'm also new at selling my jewelry so I have a lot to figure out.



Tell us a little about your typical creative process and how you go about making your work. What kinds of steps do you usually go through?
I'm thinking about creating pretty much 24/7. Every time I get a vision in my head during the day, or when I wake up at night, I write myself a little note. I frequently save pictures from other jewelry artists online which inspire me. When I'm ready to sit down and have time to make something, I pull from either my notes or visual inspiration. Depending on the materials I have on hand, I start with a specific idea in mind. Then it sort of evolves into its own monster from there.

What are your favorite materials to work with?
I love anything mixed media, which is why I love Steampunk so much. I'm having so much fun collecting watch parts and other random items. I really want to get into metal clay but my budget keeps telling me "you wish!"



Are there other creative projects you are involved in outside of your work in your etsy shop?
I'm a freelance writer so I get to be creative with yummy words all the time. I write poetry and other random diatribes when I'm not immersed in school work and studying.

Besides art/ crafty stuff, what else do you like doing in your free time?
dedicate a lot of my time to spreading the word about my side-project "Backseat Betty" (which is the mother identity to my Backseat Betty Boutik). Backseat Betty is my feminist identity/brand that I use to spread awareness and information about all feminist ideologies, including equality for everyone, ethnic & cultural studies, LGBTQ awareness, social constructionism, pop culture analysis, and sociology. Feminism is much more than discourse about women; for me it's a platform for re-thinking the world around us by resisting the patriarchal norm and implementing a more womyn-centered way of living in compassion.



Does your queer identity come into play in your work?
Since I identify as queer, it's impossible for my identity to not come into play. I create whatever speaks to me and whatever I like, which, in essence, is my identity. Does that mean that my work is geared specifically to queer peoples? Some items may be and others may not... I guess it just depends on the particular piece.

What are your hopes for the Queer Etsy Street Team? What brought you to join?
I love the idea of having a safe place for connection and networking with other queer-identified people on Etsy. Supporting each other is a great way to increase our visibility!