Friday Feature: The Pink Camellia

Welcome to another edition of the Friday Feature. The Holiday season is right around the corner and Amy Cole owners of The Pink Camellia has some new goodies for her customers. She will be participating in the SF Etsy Indie Holiday Emporium 11/28 & 11/29 and her new products are going to debut there. She will also have treats for your K9 friends, so stop by and say hello!!!

1. What is your Shop Name and URL ?
www.thepinkcamellia.etsy.com

2. To which Etsy Teams do you belong?
SF Etsy Team, CCCOE Team, Etsians of Facebook

3. Please tell us about the items in your Etsy shop. What do you make? How did you learn your craft? What is involved in your creative process?
I primarily make one of a kind special occasion Swarovski hair pins & combs, as well as semi precious jewelry using both new gold/silver, semi precious gemstones, and upcycled vintage brooches.  I am self taught, and actually started on Etsy in 2009 by selling handmade baby gifts.  While I still incorporate some of these items, such as boutique style night lights and baby wipes cases into my shop, I have moved away from the other gifts to focus on my true passion; jewelry and accessories! 

I look for inspiration for my pieces at a few local suppliers, and it usually begins with an interesting finding or  stone, and blossoms from there. I prefer making mostly one of a kind pieces, but even those that I make more than one of are original, because each stone is different and unique!   I find the whole process really therapeutic, actually.

4. Tell us two (or more) other interesting things about you.
I am a devoted Wife, Daughter, Sister, Stepmom, and Auntie...those are the loves of my life and the purpose for everything!  I also work full time in addition to my Etsy Shop, though I don't just consider my shop a "hobby".   

As far as hobbies, I am an avid reader; I tend to devour books quickly & like to keep a list of books I read each year as a goal to improve that number the next year (42 last year, so we'll see what I come up with this year!)

I also LOVE to bake. And then I love to give it away! One favorite thing is I let each of our 3 kids pick any cupcake flavor they'd like each year for their birthdays, and I make that from scratch...whatever flavor that is (although the overall favorite has been a cookie dough cupcake that has a cookie dough center and brown sugar buttercream frosting).

5. Where else can we find out more about you and/or your creations?
www.facebook.com/thepinkcamellia
www.twitter.com/thepinkcamellia
www.instagram.com/thepinkcamellia

For a sneak peek at my new goodies, check out my Instagram and Facebook posts.
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6. What is your biggest challenge related to your Etsy shop?
I find the biggest challenge is getting everything I make listed & getting the photos correct to reflect the true colors of the stones & jewelry.  Often times the camera just doesn't do justice to the sparkle and deep tone of an item, so I spend quite a bit of time working on that.

7. What has been your biggest success and/or proudest moment since opening your Etsy shop?
There are so many!  I am so proud each time a previous customer comes back again to purchase, that tells me that the time I spend making my items, packaging, and shipping them out is really worth it!  Also, each new show I do really inspires me to keep going.  I am so inspired by all the other really talented makers in this group that I get to be a part of, and I'm really motivated by it.

​8. If you had to be an animal for one week, which animal would you choose to be? And what would you do?
I would be my dog, a Maltese/Shihtzu mix I rescued from Animal Control in SF.  Because she is spoiled rotten!  That dog lives the life, I tell you...

9. If money were no object for just one day, what would you do?
Honestly? I would pay off all of my bills, all of my family's bills, and we would all spend the day relaxing on a beach somewhere drinking margaritas!

10. Tell us about your first sale ever?
My first Etsy sale happened WHILE I was listing it!  I had literally just listed the item, and went into my shop to see how it looked, and it was gone.  Being a new seller, I was perplexed! I looked and looked, and couldn't find it.  Then I got an email notifying me of the sale, and I had to laugh. 

11. What's next for you?
I just finished up the Urban Air Market Hayes Valley, and will be at the Pacific Coast Fog Fest in Pacifica on September 26th & 27th.  After that, it's time to start preparing for Holiday shows, and I'm hoping to be a part of the SF Etsy Holiday Emporium again this year, it is my favorite show :)

12. Anything else you would like to add?
I just wanted to say that I am SO grateful to be a part of this amazing SF Etsy Team!  The support and encouragement I have received from the Leaders, and our fabulous Captain, have really encouraged me to get out and do more.  I cannot think of any other group that has done more for their members!  So many talented people in one group is hugely inspiring!

Friday Features are run by Raji of Red Kerria Designs. To see your own shop featured, please fill out the form here.