Member Spotlight: Mane Message

Meet Olivia of Mane Message!

Olivia makes bohemian chic hair accessories inspired by her life in California. She specializes in tie-dyed hair ties and headbands.

1. What school do you attend?

I go to Pitzer College. It’s part of the Claremont College Consortium in Los Angeles, California.

2. What are you currently studying?

I’m double majoring in Media Studies and Studio Art.

3. What types of classes do you get to take? Which one is your favorite, and why?

My main focus has been in digital art and media, which means I end up taking a lot of classes in computer labs. I’ve taken many production classes, such as video editing, photography, digital imaging and graphic design for my studio art major. The geeky academic side of me is fed by my media theory courses that require analyzing and dissecting media texts. The classes I most enjoy are the ones that incorporate both art and media theory. An example of this is a class I took last semester called “Media and Sexuality”. We grappled with complex ideas surrounding popular culture, pornography and cyberspace. All in all, my college experience has been both academically challenging and extremely fun.

4. What do you want to do when you get out of school?

My Etsy shop has actually taught me a lot about what I want to do when I graduate. I have known for a long time that I want to do something creative that involves computers. I’ve always been open to what field I might enter in the future, however, it wasn’t until I started Mane Message that I realized that I enjoy running a small business and hope I can continue to work for myself.

5. What are some of your interests and hobbies?

I love to bake. I’ve been on a bread baking kick the last few months. There’s something very peaceful about baking bread from scratch and as a college student I need that outlet.

6. What is your favorite thing about college so far?

Wow, that’s a hard question! There are so many things about being a college student that I love and try not to take for granted. At my school everyone pretty much lives on campus all four years, which means everyone eats together in the dining hall. There’s something special about the sense of community that happens in the dining hall. Everyone’s together talking, being goofy, sharing what they learned in class that day and eating. I think I will miss the mealtime moments the most when I graduate.

7. How do you manage your school work and Etsy shop?

It’s a juggling act for sure. I make strict to-do lists and try to follow them. I will normally wake up early and do reading for class then stay up late doing things for Mane Message. Honestly, there are times when I don’t go out with my friends because I need to do things for my shop. It doesn’t bother me though. My work on Etsy is very fulfilling and I love every minute of it.

8. What is the best advice you can offer to a fellow college student crafter?

I would say make sure you’re passionate about what you’re doing because in the end it makes everything easier. Also, try not to obsess. I’m completely guilty of that and it feels weird giving that as advice, but I’m starting to learn that checking Google Analytics every 10 minutes and staying on the computer all day checking in on things isn’t the way to go. Sales and traffic fluctuate and at the end of the day everything will be okay. Enjoy the ride and follow your gut.

To learn more about Olivia and Mane Message, you can visit these links:
Website | Twitter | Facebook

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Member Spotlight: Blue Heart Boutique

Meet Jessica of Blue Heart Boutique!

Jessica's shop offers a lovely variety of handmade clothing, accessories, and journals.

1. What school do you attend?

I'm a student at the University of Kentucky.

2. What are you currently studying?

I'm an Accounting major and I'm also studying marketing and financial analysis.

3. What types of classes do you get to take? Which one is your favorite, and why?

I really love my economics and main accounting classes because the focus is on so many of the things that I'm going to be taking with me for my career and there are a lot of real world applications.

4. What do you want to do when you get out of school?

I plan to start out working at an accounting firm, or maybe move up at the bank I currently work at. Once I've saved up some money to invest I would like to open a brick & mortar store that features not only handmade things of my own (like in my shop) but work of other artists/crafters that are either local or fellow Etsy sellers. I'd also love for the store to have collections of vintage finds. That's the dream.

5. What are some of your interests and hobbies?

Of course I love sewing and creating things with my hands, but I also love dancing. In high school I was a majorette and I miss it aElot now. I like posting on my blog and finding inspiration from Etsy and other design/craft blogs.

6. What is your favorite thing about college so far?

Making new friends has been fun, and I also love the 'college environment'', being on my own and able to come and go as I please. My least favorite thing is definitely the food I have eat!

7. How do you manage your school work and Etsy shop?

Sometimes it gets really difficult to focus on school whenever I have Etsy right at my fingertips, so I try to keep them separate or take breaks from studying every so often. As for making inventory for my shop, I save that for weekends only. Otherwise I would never get school work done.

8. What is the best advice you can offer to a fellow college student crafter?

Of course there is the "let school come before your shop" speech, but the best advice I can give is to not let it become stressful. School work and being a 'newbie' at being on your own can be stressful enough, your etsy shop shouldn't add to that stress, but it can most definately help relieve it if you focus on the positives and don't bit off more than you can chew.

To learn more about Jessica and Blue Heart Boutique, you can visit these links:
Blog | Twitter

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