Interview With Amy Sagan
Posted by SiteAdmin in Featured
Interview with talented artist and designer Amy from Starzraven
Ricaso: Tell us a bit about yourself
Amy: A simple person with big ambitions! I love helping others and I am just hoping that all of my hard work at Zazzle will pay off for my family. I have finally found my niche and love what I do!
Ricaso: How did you find Zazzle?
Amy: I found Zazzle a year ago while looking for options to stay home with my children, disappointed that my educated fields would always keep me from home and seeing my kids. I didn’t start to realize the potential of Zazzle until earlier this year.
Ricaso: How do you create your art?
Amy: I create most of my art on my computer using Photoshop. I invested in a tablet notebook so I could draw right on my computer screen to help me with some of my illustrations.
Ricaso: Have you made friends, true friends through Zazzle?
Amy: I really do believe I have. I never thought I would have the friends (my Zazzle family) that I have today. I am very grateful.
Ricaso: Favorite design and why?
That’s a really difficult question! I love so many of the designs I create. But perhaps one of the first items that comes to mind is my Message From a Bottle ~ Beach Wedding Invitation. It has been a customer favorite too! It was the first glass item (bottle) that I ever drew and I was happy it turned out like I had hoped.
Message from a Bottle ~ Wedding invitations by starzraven
Make a custom printed invitation on zazzle
Ricaso: In an ideal world what product(s) would you like to see Zazzle offer?
Amy: Pocket folders, a 3-hole punch option for flyers and/or letterhead, pillowcases, scarfs, and I know I’ve thought of other things that I can’t think of right now.
Ricaso: What feature would you like to see Zazzle bring in?
Amy: 3 hole punch for flyers. (this would accommodate my recipe pages) Simpler shipping costs.
Ricaso: What would you be doing now if you had never of heard of Zazzle?
Amy: Feeling lost in not doing what I was meant to do.
Ricaso: What do you like to do when not Zazzling?
Amy: Spending time with my family, watching movies, and I used to like playing video games. I still do, but now it’s become a choice; Zazzle or video games.
Ricaso: What is your favorite Zazzle feature?
Amy: The ability to customize products to the extent we can.
Ricaso: If you won the lottery, would you still design for Zazzle?
Amy: I have actually thought about this and yes, I certainly would! A person has to keep busy with things that keep them happy.
Ricaso: What one piece of advice would you give about Zazzling?
Amy: Patience. If you’re able to be successful and making a decent living, it will not be overnight. Also, if I may, be you and promote your style! Add your flavor to trends to satisfy public wants while keeping true to yourself.
Ricaso: How can friends/fans/customers find/follow you away from Zazzle?
http://www.starzraven.com/
http://www.facebook.com/Starzraven
http://twitter.com/Starzraven
read comments (0)Interview With Steve Benson
Posted by SiteAdmin in Featured
Interview with Steve Benson the creater of Twisted World Designs
Ricaso: Tell us a bit about yourself
Steve: Hi my name is Steve and I’m a design-a-holic ( crowd repeats back ..Hi Steve ) .. ok icebreaker is over 
I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember , and other than my style & in some cases quality, my subject matter hasn’t changed much in the last 35+ years, always been a bit odd, creepy, strange & different and so has my art . Since I have yet to hit that sweet spot all artists strive for which is to be able to do what I love (draw) and make a suitable living at it, I work full time and draw and design in my free time ( which is not nearly as often as I’d like ) but day in and day out I see potential designs & characters everywhere I go and with everything I do .
Ricaso: How did you find Zazzle?
Steve: Purely by accident, a friend tried to encourage me to sell some of my older designs as prints on line and just stumbled across Zazzle in a search.
Ricaso: How do you create your art?
Steve: Lol, pretty old school . Pencil and paper . I actually sketch my designs out on paper, ink them up by hand, scan them in to my comp and then using a very archaic software ( Paint Shop 8 ..ok stop laughing I like it ) I color them up as best I can.
Ricaso: Have you made friends, true friends through Zazzle?
Steve: I’d like to think so .
Ricaso: Favorite design and why?
Steve: My Irish Twins
I think because historically St Patrick’s Day has always been my best selling season on Zazzle , and because cute & fuzzy is really not my area of expertise , this design allowed me to take a purely cute design that I had done and make it perverse , which always helps me sleep at night
Ricaso: In an ideal world what product(s) would you like to see Zazzle offer?
Steve: Dolls, stuffed designs
Ricaso: What feature would you like to see Zazzle bring in?
Steve: I think they do a pretty bang up job lately, but if I had to choose .. maybe more Gallery Design options ( on a simpler level ) something to make gallery navigation not quite so cumbersome. I don’t know specifically what would help it .. I just know I have trouble myself sometimes getting through all my stuff to get to what I’m looking for …
Ricaso: What would you be doing now if you had never of heard of Zazzle?
Steve: Honestly, I would’ve walked away from my art all together had I not found a place to showcase and sell my designs .
Ricaso: What do you like to do when not Zazzling?
Steve: Sleep ! Nah, spending time with my girls
Ricaso: What is your favorite Zazzle feature?
Steve: Being able to tweak placement and layering of designs in the item creation screen , gives me alot more freedom to get the final product the way I want it.
Ricaso: If you won the lottery, would you still design for Zazzle?
Steve: Yup ….maybe not as often ..but definitely YUP
Ricaso: What one piece of advice would you give about Zazzling?
Steve: Don’t get discouraged !
Ricaso: How can friends/fans/customers find/follow you away from Zazzle?
Facebook, Twitter , My Website, My blog ( if I ever get around to finish setting it up )
http://www.twistedworlddesigns.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Twisted-World-Designs/57708278781
http://www.twitter.com/Cimmerrian
Also check out I Broke My Crayon store
And no Cimmerrian post would be complete without my all time favorite design .. Shave me Elmo
Thanks Steve
Interview With Kirsten Edwards
Posted by SiteAdmin in Featured
Today’s interview is with the talented artist and author Kirsten Edwards
Ricaso: Tell us a bit about yourself
Kirsten: I am a self taught artist. I have been able to teach myself with cartooning and art books and videos on you tube. I have been married to Dennis for 13 years, but we have been together 20 years. I have 4 cats. I love cats! They are so funny and like my children. My favorite show is Merlin. I hope to be able to travel over to France someday soon to see and maybe meet all the actors and to walk around the castle.
Ricaso: How did you find Zazzle?
Kirsten: I was watching Good Morning America and they mentioned it.
Ricaso: How do you create your art?
Kirsten: I have been drawing digitally with a tablet laptop, but have switched over to a Wacom table that I love love love! I do sometimes draw with pencil and paper then scan to computer and finish up in Illustrator and PS.
I enjoy doing fantasy art the most. And using items like leaves twigs and such that I scan to my computer, clean them up and manipulate in PS to give my art more realism and 3D look.
Ricaso: Have you made friends, true friends through Zazzle?
Kirsten: Yes, I like to think that I have made some good true friends.
Ricaso: Favorite design and why?
Kirsten: My favorite design is my Queen faery on a unicorn. It shows how much I have progressed with drawing and shading and I think she and the unicorn are just so pretty!
Ricaso: In an ideal world what product(s) would you like to see Zazzle offer?
Kirsten: V-neck plus size tshirts so I can wear some of my art!
Ricaso: What feature would you like to see Zazzle bring in?
Kirsten: I would love for them to make all the image category squares show up when you are adding an image when creating a product, instead of having to click on “view all” and wait for it to load.
Ricaso: What would you be doing now if you had never of heard of Zazzle?
Kirsten: Probably still writing. And of course doing my art, and learning my animation.
Ricaso: What do you like to do when not Zazzling?
Kirsten: Read, sleep, face book, tv and movies
Ricaso: What is your favorite Zazzle feature?
Kirsten: Quick create! Keeps me from duplicating products! LOL
Ricaso: If you won the lottery, would you still design for Zazzle?
Kirsten: Yes!
Ricaso: What one piece of advice would you give about Zazzling?
Kirsten: Don’t be stealing other artists’ art. Create what makes your heart sing.
Ricaso: How can friends/fans/customers find/follow you away from Zazzle?
http://www.hinterlandharmony.com/
kleighe@hinterlandharmony.com
Interview With Sandy Buckley
Posted by SiteAdmin in Uncategorized
Interview with the very talented photographer, artist and designer Sandy Buckley
Ricaso: Tell us a bit about yourself
Sandy: My name is Sandy Buckley and I am a graphic designer living in a small little island community called Friday Harbor. We moved here back in 2005 when I was employed by an insurance broker in Fairfax VA and had been working with insurance programs for long term care facilities for the past 20 years. The island immediately inspired me to get more in touch with “my creative side,” so I began taking photos and dabbling in drawing….a pastime which has become so much more than a hobby!
Ricaso: How did you find Zazzle?
Sandy: Hmmm, I found Zazzle when I was looking for an outlet to sell photography from the islands. It seemed interesting and easy to use- so that’s how I got my start here.
Ricaso: How do you create your art?
Sandy: Within months of our move, I had collected many photos of seascapes, orca whales and wildlife and turned to the internet to see what options existed for sharing the beauty I had discovered. Just three years out of the beta mode, Zazzle seemed like a great place to see if the world would share my enthusiasm. I joined the community in 2006, never expecting to find a world of innovative artists and a spirit of entrepreneurship which would become “empowering” to me.
Meeting so many celebrated artists and infusing yourself with far greater than “recommended daily allowances” of creativity in a positive and nurturing atmosphere is one of the reasons why I have continued as a loyal designer at Zazzle.
Ricaso: Have you made friends, true friends through Zazzle?
Sandy: I have actually made several really good friends here at Zazzle, Not only do I find the group very inspirational but sharing ideas and visions has really forced em to think outside of the box I can sometimes find myself. Just recently, I actually had the honor of having a fellow Zazzler visit me here on the island and we had the opportunity to share lots of ideas and strategies. When I head back to the east coast for a visit this winter, I’m hoping to catch up with some of the other really great people I have met here.
Ricaso: Favorite design and why?
Sandy: I recently was hired to create several stock designs for some scientists in British Columbia at the north end of Vancouver Island. The project wound up lasting about 5 months during which I was honored to witness the far-reaching scope of their science and tireless efforts – both of which really inspired me in a profound way. During the course of these interactions, I created a design embracing the fragility of our environment which is one of my favorites. It sort of became a tribute to piece for the selfless work of scientists to protect and preserve the natural beauty we take for granted each day.
Ricaso: In an ideal world what product(s) would you like to see Zazzle offer?
Sandy: I’d love to see a wider selection of tote bags (shoulder bags and/or knapsacks)- cool ones that is. I really think they could be a popular offering if there was a wider selection of hip styles. That and magnets for cars- I get lots of requests for car magnets for companies trying to promote their businesses. While we’re at it, smiles…I’m hoping that Zazzle one day enhances their offerings in the business solution realm- marketing materials like folders, a suite of offerings would be very cool.
Ricaso: What feature would you like to see Zazzle bring in?
Sandy: Better sales reports for the sellers. An absolute MUST!
Ricaso: What would you be doing now if you had never of heard of Zazzle?
Sandy: Traveling to nursing homes advising owners on safety practices for employees and residents. Nuff said.
Ricaso: What do you like to do when not Zazzling?
Sandy: Watch the whales and marvel at the beauty of this region, volunteer for a lot of scientific groups in the region, hike, and spend lots of time with my kids- a yellow lab, a black lab and two striped kitties.
Ricaso: What is your favorite Zazzle feature?
Sandy: I love the changes that were recently introduced such as the layering of designs (send to back etc) and rotating fonts. It is amazing how much time that saves- not having to do EVERYTHING in photoshop!
Ricaso: If you won the lottery, would you still design for Zazzle?
Sandy: I dont think I could go a day without designing so I am pretty sure I’d still be online! It has truly become an addiction for me and I doubt that the cha ching would cure me.
Ricaso: What one piece of advice would you give about Zazzling?
Sandy: Learn the platform and do your homework before creating products. Once you spend some time getting used to the program itself, recognize it will take time to make money and the bottom line requires creative designs that the public will like.
Ricaso: How can friends/fans/customers find/follow you away from Zazzle?
Sandy: Oh gosh, I think I am everywhere at this point! LOL. Facebook, Imagekind, Blogger, Linkedin, Twitter, Posterous—to name a few. Or just send me an email to limekilnwhalewatcher@yahoo.com!
Huge savings
Posted by SiteAdmin in Uncategorized
SAVE 75% off Harry Potter T-shirts .. SAVE $20 off iPhone and iPad cases .. SAVE 50% off the price of all mugs … SAVE $10 off Avery bindersm …. SAVE 70% off holiday cards and invitation .. SAVE 50% off Christmas ornaments .. SAVE 75% off business cards .. SAVE 65% off posters .. SAVE $8.80 off $0.44 postage stamps … SAVE 50% off ALL T-Shirts … Then watch for a repeat of the most popular sale of the day
Friday, November 26, 2010 (PST)
| 12:01 AM | 50% Off All Mugs | |
| 2:01 AM | $10 Off All Custom Binders | |
| 4:01 AM | 75% Off Harry Potter T-Shirts | |
| 6:01 AM | 70% Off Holiday Cards and Invites | |
| 8:01 AM | 50% Off Christmas Ornaments | |
| 10:01 AM | $20 Off iPhone & iPad Cases | |
| 12:01 PM | 75% Off Business Cards | |
| 2:01 PM | 65% Off All Posters | |
| 4:01 PM | $8.80 Off $0.44 Postage Sheets | |
| 6:01 PM | 50% Off All T-Shirts | |
| 8:01 PM | Friday’s Favorite Deal Repeat | |
| 10:01 PM | Friday’s Favorite Deal Repeat |
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