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Monday, June 28, 2010

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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The Storque: Sweets and Hearts on Jet-Setting in Style

Here's a new article for Etsy's blog, written by EtsyU's own team leader and founder,
Erica of Sweets and Hearts!

Check out "EtsyU Abroad: A Student's Guide to Jet-Setting in Style" in The Storque!

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Member Spotlight: Cleaner Science

Meet Sara of Cleaner Science!

Taking a little inspiration from the science lab, Sara makes quirky, scented petri dish soaps!

1. What school do you attend?

Texas Tech School University Health Sciences Center, School of Pharmacy.

2. What are you currently studying?

I’m currently finishing up my first year as a Pharm. D. student.

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

Man, this might take an entire paragraph just to list some courses. Let’s see… Last semester we were taking biochemistry, immunology, anatomy and physiology, introduction to pharmacy practice, drug information clerkship, introduction to clinical immunization and administration, pharmacy practice and education, and drug delivery systems. This semester we’re diving into physiology, principles of drug action, principles of disease, herbals, integumentary, pharmaceutical care, drug delivery systems II and III, and drug delivery systems lab… WOW that looks like a lot now that I put it all in one paragraph lol.


My favorites so far have been biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, and pharmaceutical care. Anatomy was amazing because we are one of only about 3 pharmacy schools in the US that also have a gross anatomy cadaver lab. We went to Lubbock every other weekend in the fall semester to have our lab. It was just absolutely amazing to be able to learn from those who have donated their bodies to science.

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

Of course, I’d like to become a pharmacist, but I’m still trying to decide on what specialty I’d like to focus on. I’m really interested in pediatrics right now, but in general, I’d like to practice in a hospital setting.

5. What are some of your interests and hobbies?

It seems I have been creating things my whole life! I’ve also been in school my entire life, and I absolutely love learning as much as I can. I also played percussion in high school, and even marched in a couple drum and bugle corps, playing in the front ensemble.

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

I just like that college is more versatile and is always interesting. I’m not sure if I even have ONE absolute favorite thing or anything… My favorite thing about pharmacy school so far is the amount of support we all get from each other and from faculty. It is really quite different from anything I’ve had in the past.

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

School obviously comes first… and I think my Etsy shop sometimes suffers because of it. I always get orders shipped out very quickly, but I can’t list things until I already have them made… or else I would probably be making soap for like a week straight! So that’s always hard, because I have so many ideas for the shop, but it just takes a little longer than expected to get them going.


I’m usually up super early every day of the week, and I’m lately I've been going to sleep past midnight . I try to get to the post office during the tiny breaks we have during the day. After classes are done at about 4 pm, I’m home again and it seems like I’m studying the entire night. When I have to make some new soaps, the day seems to be quite hectic, and I feel like a chicken with my head cut off running around… but somehow I try to keep cool.

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

School first, school first, school first! Most important is just to not lose your focus. It’s very hard while you’re selling on Etsy, because you’re usually making things that you’re passionate about. It’s very easy to get carried away.

Word of mouth from friends and family can be so huge! There are also so many opportunities within the college community… use them while you can!


To learn more about Cleaner Science, you can visit these links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Flickr



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