Hall of Fame {Lilly Queen}

Hi all and welcome back to The Sunshine Studio for this week's featured artist. As I have said before, I love learning about and meeting new Etsians and reading the diversity in their answers and how each interprets my questions. I do hope that you enjoy it too!

Meet Sara, the darling behind vintage inspired jewelry shop Lilly Queen.

Read a little about Sara, learn just who is this Lilly Queen, and get in on a double dose of goodness at the end.



What inspires you?
My supplies inspire me. I don't normally plan out what I'm going to make, I start making and keep building until I'm happy with what I have.

Where do you call home? Are you from there originally?
Southern Connecticut is where I've called home for the last 24 years. Warm summers and bitter cold winters, a typical New England year.

Name something unique to where you live.
It is the home of Pez Candy. It is the birthplace of the can opener. In Hartford, you may not, under any circumstances, cross the street walking on your hands! Connecticut is home to the first hamburger (1895), Polaroid camera (1934), helicopter (1939), and color television (1948).
Share an interesting fact about yourself.
Both my arms are double jointed.

If you had to describe yourself in a word, what would that word be?
Cautious

What made you decide to open up shop?
I found out about Etsy from Craftster.org. I have been making things since I was young and was always looking for a place to sell my things. Eventually I hope to open up my own storefront.
How did you come up with the name Lilly Queen? Any special significance?
My ferret's name is Lilly. Anytime I would come home from work I'd call out to her and ask where the queen of the house was... somehow "Lilly Queen" came out and decided it would be a cute name for my store.

Name your favorite thing about selling handmade.
Having people enjoy what I made.
Do you have a day job or sell on Etsy full-time?
I used to have a boring desk day job, but I was laid off a few weeks ago. It's been a bit of a blessing and a burden. I hated the job so much and wanted to do Etsy full time. So as of right now I'm working Etsy full time and I might go to hair dressing school and take a makeup class.
Give us a little glimpse into what a typical day in your life looks like.
I wake up on most days around 8, I get right onto my computer to see if I'd had any sales or convos. I'll respond and take care of what I need to. If I don't have anything new to post I'll try and relist a few items to keep my shop close to the top of the jewelry category.

I then start checking how many views my page got over night, how many hearts my shop and items got and then I check to see if I was featured anywhere. I also check the treasuries list. Then it's time for loads of coffee. Then back to my desk to make jewelry and list.

Around 4 my boyfriend gets out of work and I spend the rest of the evening with him. I go to bed really late and wake up early to do it all over again.
Share with us a favorite Etsy purchase or shop.
Every purchase I make is a favorite. I love supporting other shops on Etsy. Most of the time I spend all my money on supplies.

List a few of your most favorite pastimes.
Oddly enough, I like working on cars. My boyfriend has a crazy drift car and I like helping him work on it. My godfather used to race Porsches and I grew up on a racetrack, so I've always had cars and racing around me.

Read any good books lately?
No, I haven't had the patience to sit down and actually read lately. Just a bunch of gossip magazines, Vogue and Cosmo.

What is your most prized possession?
My growing Mac makeup collection. I know, it's a terrible (and expensive) obsession.
What are three of your favorite foods?
Beef Jerky, Steak, Coffee (it's not food, but it's a favorite!)

What would you like to learn to do?
Cut hair, do makeup, and learn a little more about cars.
What are you listening to right now?
Lots of dance and techno music.

Name one place you must visit in your lifetime and why.
I'd like to go to California. I know, it's not that special. I don't really like to travel.

It was so nice getting to know you, Sara! Thank you for sharing with us. Your jewelry is lovely!

Please take a minute to peruse Sara's shop and blog. She has some great sales going on right now, and an awesome 5 Dollar Section!

Time for a Giveaway!
And you're in for a special treat...

For the first time, there will not just be one winner, but two! Two readers have a chance to win one of the lovely pairs of earrings shown above! Either the Aqua Etch or Silver Baby Birds earrings. {Winner #1 will receive the aqua etch & #2 the baby bird}

To enter, please leave a comment on this post with your TWO favorite items from Sara's shop. Be sure to include your name and email address or Etsy username. Good luck!

For extra entries you can:
Tweet this giveaway: 2 additional entries (*NEW: Follow Lilly Queen on twitter for an extra entry!)
Follow my blog and/or Sara's blog : 5 additional entries
Blog about this interview/contest: 7 additional entries
Purchase from Lilly Queen: 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, September 6th at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be chosen by traditional drawing and will be announced Monday, September 7th.