Belle Pivoine

As the New Year begins, I wanted you to be able to see one of the most gorgeous shops we have. Belle Pivoine's items are light, romantic, and many will stop you in your tracks. Fransisca, the shop owner, clearly transfers her personality to the pieces in her shop. 

Etsy Paper:  Tell us a little about yourself.
Fransisca:  My name is Fransisca. I’m from Indonesia, living in Pringy, France with my husband; Guillaume, and our 4 feet kids; Boubou (a dog) and Chacha (a rabbit). I love living in France even though I miss Indonesia. Those are really two very different countries. 

Art Print

Etsy Paper:  When did you open your shop on Etsy?
Fransisca:  I opened our Etsy shop in Dec 2014 with help from Guillaume, 4 months before we got married. Actually I thought to open one a couple of years before but I was still studying French intensively everyday and didn’t have lot of time to do it. So, in 2014 I finished my study and start to open Belle Pivoine on Etsy. We started when we wanted keep our love story in an illustration that we will cherish forever; our illustration couple and our wedding invitation.

Etsy Paper:  Tell us about your shop.
Fransisca:  Belle Pivoine creates designs, illustrations, handmade cards, invitations, art prints and paper goods. We love to make it personalized or customize it, we always love something that is personal. All our products are made by hand with care and love. We are committed to provide excellent quality handmade products that evoke or celebrate key moments in people's lives, products that could inspire them, give them joy and good humor. All our products, from design, illustration, printing, cutting, folding and packaging are made by hand with love in our apartment based in France. We use high quality materials to obtain well-made and beautiful products.

Card

Etsy Paper:  Why did you decide to become on Etsy seller?
Fransisca:  Since I was young I love to draw, and have some experience working as designer in a stationery shop at Jakarta. After that, I wanted make my own stationery shop and have my own business. I read a lot of reviews about Etsy and articles about shops that grow their businesses and started at Etsy. So when I get married and moved to France, I had lot of time to think about opening a shop on Etsy and have my husband support me, so we decide to become Etsy sellers.

Etsy Paper:  How did your shop get its name?
Fransisca:  I really love flowers, romantic, beautiful and pretty things. One of my favorite flowers is peony, and I chose to write it in French because, for me, French sounds so beautiful and romantic. I wanted a name that reflected the style of our product too. So I felt Belle Pivoine was perfect. 

Wedding Set

Etsy Paper:  Do you have a favorite quote to share?
Fransisca:  Dreams do come true. Yes. "Dreams really come true when you really believe it with all your heart, believe you have received, and feel the things that you want as already yours, feel good, be grateful". I experience it when I come to Paris for the first time, found and married my true love, Guillaume. 

Etsy Paper:  What is your favorite thing about Etsy?
Fransisca:  It’s not a massive product, it’s handmade. They sell and buy direct from the artist, that’s why items in there are unique. 

Etsy Paper:  Where do you feel at peace, free from all the pressure of family and work?
Fransisca:  In a garden full of flowers, green grass and blue sky, I feel peaceful and alive. Smell the flowers, lie on green grass and take a deep breath under the blue sky, there is happiness. I dream to have Belle Pivoine’s studio in the middle of a garden.

Etsy Paper:  What is your favorite item to make, the one that makes you smile just thinking about working on it?
Fransisca:  Custom couple Illustration; I really love drawing two people in love. When it’s finished, I take time looking at it and feel happy before packaging and sending it to our client. 

Custom Couple

Etsy Paper:  What has been your favorite comment from purchasers about your product?
Fransisca:  It was from Claire in UK, she’s a mother and she ordered a personalized print “Little Princess Dream BIG" Personalized Art Print for her daughter. She said: “I am so pleased with this print. It is just gorgeous. Fransisca was amazing. She listened to my requirements and made sure I was 100% happy with the final version. A beautiful print that I know my daughter will cherish forever.” Yes, we want our client feel 100% happy with our product, and we want create beautiful goods that people will cherish forever and her comment is a proof that we accomplish that. I'm so thankful.

That is what most Etsy sellers work to accomplish, items people will cherish forever. What an amazing shop! In such a busy world, it's nice to see something a little more refreshing than the usual.

Until next time,
Jenni
Etsy Paper 
Team Captain

SnowdonPrints

This month I couldn't resist featuring a long time Etsy Paper Team member. Little did I know, the shop owner of SnowdonPrints lives a highly creative life.

Etsy Paper: Tell us a little about yourself.
Alexandra: My name is Alexandra Snowdon. I live just outside Manchester in the north of England, right next to the Peak District National Park. It's a lovely area with lots of beautiful countryside but I do enjoy having the buzz of the city close by! I live here with my husband Charlie who has his own hand printed T-Shirt business 'Chucks Original Tees'. He also sells on Etsy so it's a pretty creative household. When we're not printing and drawing we love to go hiking, biking and traveling and that's the inspiration for much of my work.

Bike Print

Etsy Paper: When did you open your shop on Etsy?
Alexandra: I opened my Etsy print shop in 2012, but I didn't actually put any products in it until 2013! I've got another shop on Etsy (https://www.etsy.com/shop/Snowdon) selling hand printed bags and cards and I had my prints in that shop at first but I knew that sooner or later I'd need to separate them out. I eventually got around to doing that in early 2013 and I have to say the print shop now gets most of my attention, that's where my heart lies. 

Etsy Paper: Tell us about your shop.
Alexandra: I sell prints of my hand lettered and illustrated designs. I started off doing mostly screen prints but the house was bursting at the seams with mine and Charlie's screens so I decided to invest in a giclée printer. I love that it's so easy to be able to offer my designs in different sizes to suit all wall spaces and budgets and it also makes it easier to do custom orders too. I still love hand printing but I mostly save that for limited editions these days.

Etsy Paper: When do you find/make time for your crafting?
Alexandra: I'm lucky enough to be doing this full time and I can't tell you how happy that makes me! I was a studio based graphic designer for over 20 years and all that time I secretly yearned to be a self employed illustrator. I finally went back to uni in my late thirties to do an illustration degree, fitting it in around my graphic design job. It changed my life. Two years after graduating I was so busy selling my illustrations on prints, cards and bags that I was able to leave my job. I've never looked back.

Fresh Start Print

Etsy Paper: What do you have on while you're creating, if anything, and is it tuned to something specific?
Alexandra: I love to listen to music while I'm creating, I find it really inspiring. I'm based in the UK and love listening to Steve Wright in the afternoon on Radio 2. I also enjoy the occasional podcast, especially from Elizabeth Gilbert (Author of Eat, Pray Love and Big Magic) she's so inspiring and Lisa Congdon, I love that she came to illustration later in life and made a huge success of it.

Etsy Paper: Where do you go to find new ideas/products to make?
Alexandra: I find most of my inspiration when I'm travelling and doing outdoorsy things like hiking and biking, they're my favourite things to do after drawing! I've been all over the world but I keep getting drawn back to the US. I love the big American cities and the National Parks there are just breathtaking. Charlie and I love going hiking in the US and heading off on long road trips. 

Campers Print

Etsy Paper: How do you get the word out about your products?
Alexandra: I have to admit I'm a bit of a social media addict! But I think that works in my favour. When I'm working on a new design I often post 'work in progress' pics on my Facebook, Instagram, Flickr and Pinterest pages and I do the same again when I've just uploaded a new print to my Etsy shop. I really love getting feedback on my work, and I've had a lot of illustration commissions from greetings card companies and book publishers who've seen my work on social media, so I would say it definitely pays to get your work out there.

Etsy Paper: Do you have a favorite quote to share?
Alexandra: I do! I love inspirational quotes and they tend to feature a lot in my work. It's hard to pick a favourite but one I've always liked is 'The best way to predict your future is to create it' by Abraham Lincoln. I'm a big believer in creating your own destiny, I don't believe in fate.

Etsy Paper: When your creativity gets blocked/clogged, what do you do or where do you go to get inspired and create again?
Alexandra: If I'm really stuck about finding an idea or progressing one I'm already working on I find getting out of the house and doing some exercise helps. Whether it's a quick run in the nearby countryside or a trip to the gym, I always come back buzzing with endorphins and new ideas.

Alexandra Snowdon

Etsy Paper: What have you learned the most about life from your craft?
Alexandra: You get out of it what you put into it.

I leave you with that amazing statement. As an Etsy shop owner, I can testify no truer words have ever been spoken. I can also say Alexandra and Charlie would agree: A couple that crafts together, stays together. 

Until next time,
Jenni
Etsy paper 
Team Captain

AbbyDoraDesign

This month I want to introduce you to an Etsy shop that is filled with unique children's finds. I want you to welcome Abby from AbbyDoraDesign.

Etsy Paper:  Tell us a little about yourself.
Abby:  Hi all! I'm Abby Dening and I'm an artist and book designer living and working in Rochester, NY. I share a home with my husband, Dennis. When I'm not creating art or running AbbyDora Design I find myself in the kitchen cooking and baking—a specialty of mine are Blueberry Orange Scones. To reenergize, I practice yoga, hike, and enjoy listening to live Blues music. My husband and I are even known to do a little East Coast style swing dancing, too. 

Abby 

Etsy Paper:  When did you open your shop on Etsy?
Abby:  I opened my shop in the Fall of 2010 in time for the holiday season with a few cards and prints.

Fall Notecards

Etsy Paper:  Tell us about your shop.
Abby:  AbbyDora Design’s artwork and paper goods are directed toward children and the young at heart. There’s a playful touch to my paintings, art prints, and handmade cards.

A large portion of my shop features high-quality art prints of my children’s illustrations. My paintings are created by combining watercolor and gouache paints with colored pencil. I aim to create images that draw you in and tell a story. To mention a few pieces, if you peak in my Etsy Shop you'll find: 5 Little Speckled Frogs, a Cake Baker decorating a GIANT pink cake, and a Mama Giraffe standing in the middle of the alphabet nibbling on the letter G. 

Giraffe Print

Quality is important to me. My reproduction art prints are produced on digital watercolor paper, so they retain the intensity of color and texture of the original paintings. I offer a variety of sizes of prints. I welcome custom orders as well.

I also sell handmade baby cards, holiday cards, and thank you notes that feature either my own mixed media artwork or my graphic silk-screen style, which emphasizes shape and color. 

I create, print, and assemble all paper products myself in my studio. I like to say that I'm the Creative Director, Artist, and Chief Paper Cutter. 
Etsy Paper:  What inspires you?
Abby:  A good story. I love stories—written stories, verbal stories, or visual stories. I also find all sorts of inspiration from songs, and nursery rhymes, nature, my own childhood memories, interacting with family and friends, and being observant in my daily life.
Etsy Paper:  What is it about paper that draws you to create with it?
Abby:  The physicality of the paper and its texture, especially. Most of my artwork is created on cold press watercolor paper with Windsor & Newton gouache and watercolor paints. I find joy in filling my paintbrush with pigment and pulling it across the rough cold pressed paper. There's a subtle tug of the bristles on the paper that connects me directly with the painting. 

Children's Art

Etsy Paper:  Do you have a special space for your crafting, or does the kitchen table do double duty?
Abby:  Yes, I have a studio at last! My space is large enough for half of it to house my painting table and art supplies and the other half to be for my computer area. My art table faces a large window, so the studio gets wonderful natural light. When creativity hits me I get obsessed with seeing my idea come to life on paper, so my studio gets very messy. Imagine stacks of colored paper sheets, photos, sketches, and tracing paper scraps all over my painting table. There will be groups of colored pencils and brushes placed around my watercolor block painting, too. Amazingly, in all the chaos, I'm able to find what I need to make a painting. It's a very fun process.

The other half of my studio accommodates shelves for different papers/envelopes and a desk for my computer, scanner, and Epson printer. When I started my company I knew I needed a permanent space to work and to separate my business life from my personal life. I spend the day in my studio (taking breaks for lunch of course), but I don't let myself use the other areas of our home. This helps me maintain a better balance of personal life and work.
Etsy Paper:  Do you have a day job? If so are you up all night crafting?
Abby:  What keeps me motivated at running AbbyDora Design is that my company offers paintings, prints, cards, and other paper goods for direct sale AND I also offer book design services for publishers and self-publishers. When I'm not painting, I'm still being creative by designing books. I specialize in children's book design. 

Bunny Print

Etsy Paper:  How do you get the word out about your products?
Abby:  AbbyDora Design has a Facebook page and a blog on our website:www.abbydoradesign.com. I also send out a newsletter every few months too to alert my clients of special upcoming events, like new art, sales, and craft shows I’ll be attending. If people are interested they can head over our website to join the mailing list.
Etsy Paper:  Do you have a favorite quote to share?
Abby:  On the AbbyDora Design blog I was sharing several quotes that I found inspirational. Based on these posts, this Fall I actually started a new quotation print series called HAPPY THOUGHTS: A print collection of Visual Inspiration & Positive Intention. One of the quotes in this collection I have pinned to my bulletin board in my studio: "Creativity Takes Courage —Henri Matisse". It rings true for me. 
Etsy Paper:  What have you learned the most about life from your craft?
Abby:  Art isn't linear and neither is life. Sometimes you have to back track to get to the place where you need to be and that's perfectly fine.

What a great shop to find a gift for a child in.  Abby's art is original and has a classic look to it.  

Until next time,
Jenni
Etsy Paper
Team Captain

ElloLovey

This month I have an Etsy Paper team member whose shop  has grown into a success since she joined the team.  She is an inspiration to all.
Rhianna's shop ElloLovey is fun, cute, and up-lifting.  Here is my interview with her.

Etsy Paper:  Tell us a little about yourself.

Rhianna:  Hello everyone! I'm Rhianna Wurman, the owner, designer and illustrator for Ello Lovey! My husband and I moved to the lovely mountain town of Asheville, NC all the way from Dallas, TX a couple of years ago and we are loving it so much. We have a super sweet and adorable Golden Retriever named Radley. We love being outdoors, so in our free time you will find us hiking in the mountains, camping and stargazing. The woodland environment that surrounds our home gives me endless inspiration for my design work.

Rhianna, ElloLovey Shop Owner

Etsy Paper:  When did you open your shop on Etsy?

Rhianna:  I opened Ello Lovey in March of 2011 but it took me until June of 2011 to prepare and list my first products. I wanted to have at least a full page of products before I started selling.

Etsy Paper:  Tell us about your shop.

Rhianna:  Ello Lovey is full of whimsically illustrated prints and cards. My drawings are inspired by so many things- my British heritage, woodland creatures, my positive spirit and love for hand-lettering. I've experimented with illustrated earrings and brooches, ornaments and gift tags as well as prints and cards. I'm currently working to include t-shirts to my shop as well.

8X10 Art Print

Etsy Paper:  How did your shop get its name?

Rhianna:  When I was trying to think of a name for my shop, I wanted it to reflect who I was but I had a hard time finding something that was just right. I wrote names down on a sheet of paper and thought about it for at least a week. I came up with names that are so silly when I look back at them now. When I really started thinking about what inspired me to create, I kept being called back to my family. My Grandmother in particular was a huge inspiration to me. She was born in England and after meeting my Grandpa, who was a U.S. soldier in World War II at the time, married him and moved to the U.S. She endured so much through her life and was always so giving of herself to others. She inspired me with her passion for making things by hand, whether it was breads, pies, canned fruits and vegetables or sewing projects. I wanted to honor her and my British heritage. I played around with British sayings and the term "Ello Lovey" popped into my head. I wrote it down and said it out loud a few times and I loved the sound of it. It reminded me of her. This simple British greeting was speaking volumes to my spirit and so I went with it! I'm so happy I did because I still love it.

Blank Card

Etsy Paper:  Are you a clean or messy crafter?

Rhianna:  My husband will tell you that I am a "hot mess" and he's probably right. I have a tendency to spread my pens, markers and sketchbooks all over the house. I have my own small studio space, but I like to work at the kitchen table from time to time and I will cover it with my supplies until it disappears. A stranger walking into our home could clearly tell that artists live in it. For the most part, I know right where everything is, but I always seem to lose my pens!

Blank Card

Etsy Paper:  How do you get the word out about your products?

Rhianna:  I try to promote everywhere I can about new items in my shop. As soon as I list a new item, I head over to my Etsy teams and post it in the forums for new listings. I love seeing what everyone else is posting and it's a great way to share what I've been creating. I also promote on my Facebook Page, Pinterest and my favorite social media outlet, Instagram. Instagram has been such a huge factor in the success of my shop. It connects me directly to my customers and those that might become future customers.

Etsy Paper:  What software do you use?

Rhianna:  I use Photoshop and Illustrator. Most of the time I draw my illustrations by hand, then I scan them in digitally. Once I have them scanned in, I clean my drawings up in Photoshop. Sometimes I digitally color them in Photoshop and I'm done but when I need a really clean look, I take them in to Illustrator and use the image trace tool. I love the vector aspect of Illustrator. I can scale images without losing quality. Recently I've been using the Paper app by FiftyThree to create some of my drawings. Using the Pencil stylus on my iPad, I can make a digital drawing that can be sent straight to Photoshop or Illustrator to be cleaned up and made into prints or cards. I'm really enjoying creating with the program.

Etsy Paper:  What equipment/ supplies do you use?

Rhianna:  This is the most popular question I receive! For my drawing, I use a variety of pens and markers. My favorites are from Tombow, which can be found on jetpens.com. I use their Fudenosuke Brush Pens and Dual Brush Pen sets on a regular basis. I love the variation in line width you get from them. They are great for lettering and doodling. I use good old Crayola markers sometimes for lettering or filling in large shapes of color. Whatever marker, pen or pencil I have on hand, I make it work!

5x7 Art Print

Etsy Paper:  Why do you do what you do?

Rhianna:  I love to constantly create. It's in the fiber of my being. I make my prints and cards because I want to make people smile. I want to be able to lift someone's spirits with a whimsical illustration or inspirational quote. Most of the quotes I make into prints are rooted from an experience I've learned from or something I need to remind myself of. I want to share those lessons and reminders with everyone because I feel like we all need a little motivation, a little pick me up to get through our days.

8x10 Art Print

Thank you for letting me share a bit of my life as a maker with you! Cheers!

As you can see, Rhianna is one of the many talented members of our team.  Browsing ElloLovey, I noticed each item gives a new feeling or inspiration.  So many great finds!

Until next time,
Jenni
Etsy Paper
Team Captain

TiramisuPaperie

TiramisuPaperie has a variety of items including printable items, pillows, and rubber stamps.  It has a modern look with a touch of vintage styles and humor.  When I saw the Tooth Fairy Receipts, I knew I had to interview the owner, Lisa.

Etsy Paper:  Tell us a little about yourself.
Lisa:  Greetings! I am Lisa Sarmento, owner and creator of Tiramisu Paperie! I am located in Nashville, Tennessee with my husband and we have one child. I have been in the design industry for many moons and having this type of shop was a natural progression for me. I started out in Advertising back in the mid 90's as a designer and designed my way to where I am today. I have a BFA in Studio Art and MFA in Graphic Design. In addition to Tiramisu Paperie, I freelance as a designer and teach Graphic Design at The Art Institute of Tennessee-Nashville. 

Tooth Fairy Receipt

Etsy Paper:  When did you open your shop on Etsy? 

Lisa:  I opened my Etsy Shop in 2010 and had a few changes from when I started. My first shop was Lisa Marie Invitations and Design. I just didn't plan it out and went both feet in. Then after some thinking I realized it was not me, I changed my name and gave myself a brand over haul and TIRAMISU PAPERIE was born.

Etsy Paper:  Tell us about your shop.

Lisa:  Tiramisu Paperie is a paper good and gift shop that has one purpose and that is lift someone's spirit. In Italian tiramisu means "a little pick me up" and well we all know it is a delish dessert too. I started out selling notecards and little enclosure cards but knew it needed to more than that, so I added pillows, notepads, totes and more. Each product has a sarcastic touch and honest feel that is a lot like me. 

Blank Card

Etsy Paper:  What is it about paper that draws you to create with it?

Lisa:  I love paper! Its tangible and unlike digital it is final. Because I teach Graphic Design I tell my students that paper can add a layer of magic to their work. The paper's texture can give an idea more depth and tell more of the story. I constantly hear "print is dead", and I laugh because the person who says that obviously doesn't want a birthday card. 

Etsy Paper:  Are you a clean or messy crafter?

Lisa:  I am a VERY MESSY crafter. My workspace is a total mess but yet I know where most things are, it drives my husband nuts. I have little pockets of messes in each corner, my desk looks like an explosion and I have additional messes throughout my house. I have completely taken over the front living room of our house to spread out. 

Workspace

Etsy Paper:  When your creativity gets blocked/clogged, what do you do or where do you go to get inspired and create again?

Lisa:  I get blocked from time to time, everyone does. In order to get this wall of bricks in my brain down I work out. People look at me strange but it works, in addition to this, I teach Zumba twice a week to get me in shape and inspire me as well. This works a different part of my brain and I let the endorphins do their thing which makes me happy. More ideas come when I am driving home from those classes. 

Etsy Paper:  What do you have on while you're creating, if anything, and is it tuned to something specific? 

Lisa:  When the time comes to create I always have on music! Its a strange range of music trust me, some days is Latin music, others may be Louis Prima and Edith Piaf, then sometimes its Old School Hip Hop to Florence and the Machine. Then the one person who gets me in my groove is Stevie Ray Vaughn. Told you it was a range. 

Etsy Paper:  What inspires you?

Lisa:  Letterpress type, all type really. Andy Warhol illustrations, Edgar Degas, old movies, memories of my grandmothers, my childhood, dancing, my son, art galleries, office supplies, paper, screen printing process, Man-Ray, Diane Arbus, 1940's, anything Italian!

Pillow

Etsy Paper:  Why do you do what you do?

Lisa:  I have to create first and foremost. I am a maker and a doer, I just can't sit and tell someone what to do. I have known since about 14 years old that I wanted a life that evolved art in some way. My step father was an interior designer and had all these graphic design supplies from college. I would just take them and make things left and right, drove him nuts when he couldn't find them. There is connections to put ideas on to paper and seeing them come to birth. I do this with my paintings, my type, my pillow and more. 

Then the other reason is because I want to make someone smile. Pretty simple I know, but a few years back I lost my mom and my grandmother within a few months of each other and I was crushed. These women raised me to who I am today and my pain was deep. All I wanted to do after that is smile again, have a little laugh and not cry for one day. So I decided that was going to be my mission for others who have had bad days, devastating blows and loss that crushed their spirits to make them smile again!

Notepad

Etsy Paper:  Who is your biggest fan?

Lisa:  My family and friends. They have been amazing, especially my aunt Vickie who has been a huge cheerleader. When I do craft shows she usually goes with me and of course my husband. He wants to see me grow this to something larger. I think he wants to be a stay at home dad. And my friends Kristen, Christina, Susanna and Alleyne. They are my loudest cheerleaders and best sounding board of advice! Love them!

Wow, surely Lisa stays busy.  I love how honest she is about her workspace, I can relate.  Browse her shop and read more about her here.

Until next time,

Jenni

Etsy Paper

Team Captain

Monopache

This month I thought I'd show you a cute shop containing all printable items.  We all catch ourselves needing some original last minute ideas.  Monopache has a unique selection for parties, games, and a variety of other related items. 


Etsy Paper:  Tell us a little about yourself.
Monopache:  Our names are Pilar and Noa; we live in Aranjuez, a Spanish city designated by UNESCO as "World Heritage Site". We love riding bikes and have two cats: Ifrit and Momo. They make us laugh everyday.

Etsy Paper:  When did you open your shop on Etsy?
Monopache:  We opened on April 16, 2013. We had already worked as a freelance team on designing creative wedding invitations, therefore we decided to create a whole line of downloadable products for sale.

Pirate Party Set

Etsy Paper:  Tell us about your shop.
Monopache:  We mainly sell printable party sets for kids, including standard elements as party banners, invitations, posters, labels... But we love to add original and funny stuff, as costumes, boxes, games. All is designed ready to be printed and we make customizable items as far as possible.

Domino Set

Etsy Paper:  How did your shop get its name?
Monopache:  Monopache is an invented word which is composed of two animals: monkey and raccoon. In Spanish, they are "mono + mapache". They are our totems, they represent us. And, logically, when a monkey and a raccoon come together, only nice and funny things can come out.

Etsy Paper:  Name top (3-5) items that you cannot live without.
Monopache:  Cutter, ruler, scoring and folding tool, pencil and paper. We try to create elements that don´t need any glue or adhesive tape.

Etsy Paper:  Do you remember the first item you made, and if so, do you still have it?
Monopache:  Maybe, it was a customized birthday gift that we made for a friend. It consisted of a big box and, inside, there were several character paper-toys, and all of them were caricatures of our friend in funny costumes and situations. They had interchangeable accessories and some quotes that he used to say. Whenever he wants, he has more printed copies to cut and assemble by himself inside the box.
It was the moment we realized that we could make amazing things together.

"First" Item

Etsy Paper:  What do you have on while you're creating, if anything, and is it tuned to something specific? 
Monopache:  It depends on how much concentration we need, we usually listen to indie music, sometimes 80's hits, a podcast, radio... Or we watch some chapters of a TV series (a one that we don't care if we miss a thing, but interesting enough).

Etsy Paper:  What software do you use?
Monopache:  We do a lot of drawings, paintings and sketches by hand. Then, we mainly use Photoshop and Illustrator. Sometimes a bit of Flash, sometimes a bit of InDesign layout too.

Crazy Science Cup Decor

Etsy Paper:  How much planning do you do before you create?
Monopache:  We usually spend a lot of time in our planning process because matching elements and illustrations is important for us. We have to create something coherent and, at the same time, each piece must work by itself.
Despite of that, some part of the work changes during the creation process because new ideas arise, and there are always new challenges, new problems to be solved...


I love Monopache and I'm sure you do too.  
What a creative couple!

Until next time,
Jenni
Etsy Paper
Team Captain