Hall of Fame {Uncorked + Polarity}

Hello everyone! I hope you're enjoying this Cyber Monday and getting some online shopping done. Take a little break to meet the ever sweet Cat of Etsy shops Uncorked and Polarity, and writer of the witty and inspirational blog, Olivebites.

Cat has a passion for "using repurposed, recycled and sustainable materials in new, unique and beautiful ways." Her work truly is unique and beautiful. You'd never think that her lovely little lockets came from an auto part! Or that the cork used in her necklaces is made from a centuries-old tradition in the forests of Portugal and Spain!

Keep reading to learn a little more about her, and get in on your chance to win one of her creations!

What inspires you?
I am inspired by flea markets and junk heaps, crowds, time alone, things my daughter discovers because she has a great eye for the unusual with her camera

Where do you call home? Are you from there originally?
I live in central New Jersey, about 5 minutes from the ocean. I have lived in NJ my entire life (sniffle).

Name something unique to where you live.
Actually, although NJ gets a bad rep- we are actually super-close to 2 wonderful cities- and have the beach and the mountains and a very eclectic mix of people from everywhere.

Share an interesting fact about yourself.
Believe it or not, I used to be a bank manager.
If you had to describe yourself in a word, what would that word be?
Hmm, that's a toughie- I may have to leave it at - hmmm

What made you decide to open up shop?
I had a cart in a local mall during the holidays and summers (selling collages and prints) and was very burned out and my face hurt from smiling all the time (I am totally serious). I loved Etsy as soon as I saw it and just had to be a part of it.

How did you come up with your shop names? Any special significance?
Uncorked- I thought was clever because you would 'uncork' the test tube, but often people search for my name under cork and can't find me, so I'm not sure how clever I was with that one. Polarity just seemed perfect immediately.

Tell us why using repurposed, recycled and sustainable materials is so important to you.
Well, I have a very strong need to create things, but a bit of guilt about the entire process of production, sales and the inevitable disposing of those creations. If I am going to create things- I need those things to be made responsibly and I need them to have beauty and purpose.
Name your favorite thing about selling handmade.
My favorite thing about handmade is to be able to be imperfect with it- handmade doesn't seek to look manufactured or flawless - it just seeks to make a connection. Seeking connection is a huge life lesson for a wannabe hermit like me.

Do you have a day job or sell on Etsy full-time?
I am a full-timer.

Give us a little glimpse into what a typical day in your life looks like.
I am an early bird- up usually between 5 and 6. I need tea immediately and do family things. Then I check convos and print the day's postage labels and lay out on my shipping table copies of the day's orders. I make most things to order so am making things every day. If the weather is bad and I have to do the transfer process for the cork indoors, which involves chemicals that I wish it didn't- I use an upstairs extra room at the far end of the house (which isn't that far since my house is not very big). I solder and stain cedar on Wednesdays at my husband's shop. I am currently doing wholesale orders on the weekends, but am hoping to get this all a bit more under control after the holidays so I have more time for things other than work. I blog at night after everyone is in bed. I am currently at the point where everything is just impossible and change is inevitable.
Share with us a favorite Etsy purchase or shop.
My favorite Etsy purchase is my moo card necklace from 3squares - super clever, I think

List a few of your most favorite pastimes.
Flea market shopping (or window shopping), antiquing, composting (I get a lot of satisfaction stirring compost for some strange reason), cooking soups and breads, reading, making things out of other things

Read any good books lately?
I just finished the new Dan Brown which I thought was timely and interesting, but definitely written with a very gory movie in mind, I've recently read a David Sedaris short story collection - hysterical as always, The Garden of Last Days, Losing Alice

What is your most prized possession?
A photo book my daughter just gave me of our vacation pictures that she made with an online service- I look at it everyday and dream of the wild ponies and North Carolina
What are three of your favorite foods?
Guacamole (can't eat it too much), diet pepsi (have quit it twice in the past year, but can't seem to stay away), any pasta dish, but ravioli in particular

What would you like to learn to do?
I have to relearn to knit because I have forgotten and I really want to learn the potter's wheel because my earlier attempts were pretty sad...

What are you listening to right now?
Vampire Weekend and Regina Spektor
Name one place you must visit in your lifetime and why.
Norway- my dad was born in Norway and my sister and I always promise each other we will take a trip there together

Anything else you'd like to share?
Well...I'd love to share the turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce on my special homemade cranapple bread that I am eating as I write this, but you all probably have your own .... I hope


Cat, thank you so much for stopping by to share with us. It was a pleasure getting to know you better.

If you'd like to learn even more about Cat and her work, read her featured seller interview over on Etsy {here}.

Please take a moment to visit her shops. She has a special in both shops that ends TODAY! So hurry!

Time for a Giveaway!
Cat is so generously giving one reader their choice of ANY LOCKET from her shop, Polarity! Sweet!!

To enter, just leave a comment on this post with which locket you will choose from Polarity if you are the lucky winner. Don't forget to include your name and email address or Etsy username!

Good luck!

For extra entries you can:
Tweet this giveaway: 2 additional entries
Follow my blog and/or Cat's blog - Olivebites : 5 additional entries
Blog about this interview/contest: 7 additional entries
Purchase from Uncorked or Polarity: 10 additional entries

(Please include this info, if applicable, with your comment for additional entries. You do not need to leave separate comments for additional entries. Important: Don't forget to include your name and contact info!)

Contest ends Sunday, December 6th at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be chosen by traditional drawing and will be announced Monday, December 7th.