BESTeam feature: You Are My Sunshine

This week's BESTeam feature is on the shop You Are My Sunshine. She specializes "in handmade fabric flower brooches, fabric flower hair pins, rings, earrings, bracelets and statement necklaces in a rainbow of colors to bring sunshine to your day!" Isn't that a cute little summary? She has some awesome stuff in her shop, and has a lot of bright colors, which are my favorite (of course). For all you future brides, she has an excellent bridal section as well.

While you are looking at her cute stuff, be sure to also check out My Sunshine Vintage (her store full of vintage goodies!). Here is her interview:

What's your favorite color?
Pink

[click on images to go to their listing]

What inspires you?
Nature inspires me. The range of colors nature creates is more than anything I can ever imagine.
Vintage items, old relics that have a past inspires me. I would much rather own chair that is peeling with many coats of paint than an expensive chair bought from a store.
My son and I bought a book from the library a few weeks ago that features the ghost towns in the United States. The pictures are fascinating to both of us!

What do you love most about what you do?
I love experimenting with the jewelry I create. I love mixing different materials and styles. Best of all, I love bringing to life an idea that I have in my head. I quite literally smile when everything falls into place with a piece of jewelry I created!

Is Etsy part-time, full-time, or hobby for you? How do you balance it with everything else?
I do consulting work that may be a part time or full time effort. I try to fit Etsy in between. I wish I had more time to blog, more time for Twitter and Facebook. I have 2 sons, a husband and an extended family that like to get together every week so my days are full.
The way my husband and I try to balance it all is by trying to get our kids more involved in what we do. The day my 10 year old does a listing for me will be a big big milestone!

What are your top favorite blogs or websites?
I have many favorites but the one website I always "stalk" is the Etsy forums. There is a wealth of information in the forums both from a technical perspective as well as how people feel. The people in the forums are open and real and very helpful. Before I google a how to, I go to the Etsy forums first.

What are your current projects?
I have always wanted to make elaborate headbands and fabric bracelets. I bought about 60 pieces of antique lace strips from the early 1900's and I wanted to make cuff bracelets out of them. I also eventually want to make purses. I have bins and bins of fabric that are waiting for this project to get underway!

[love this bouquet. great idea!]

How did you get started w/your Etsy shop (what made you open it)?
I don't remember really. I started my handmade shop in 2007 and slowly added to it. Then I opened my vintage shop in 2008. I have a handmade and vintage shop on Artfire as well [see links below].

where to find You Are My Sunshine:
ETSY
ARTFIRE
1000 MARKETS
ETSY (VINTAGE)
ARTFIRE (VINTAGE)
FLICKR
FACEBOOK
TWITTER