NC Triangle Etsians

Continuing on with my November features we have Bonnie from Hello Crafty.
Again this is another wildly successful etsian right in my backyard. She has been an etsy member since August and as of today has 126 sales. Not bad for 3 months I say. So here I present to you: Bonnie!

Tell us about yourself..kids...hubby...favorite things.
*I've been with my wonderful husband for almost 10 years (married for 2 1/2), we have four cats who are our "kids". He is a graphic designer, I am a Legal Nurse Consultant. I love independent movies & music, reading, gardening, napping and making up songs to sing to my cats.
When did you get started with your craft?
*I first began making cold process soap back in 1999 and was instantly addicted to it! my first business, "Lunar Lather", was in operation until 2004 at which point I really needed to concentrate on my career so I put it to rest. By the summer of 2007, I felt like my career was where I wanted it to be and so I reignited my creative spark and began making soaps, clocks and magnets. I no longer have the time or space to make cold process soaps and was thrilled to find all natural soap bases that contain the same ingredients I would use in my CP soaps (coconut oil, castor oil, cocoa butter)without a bunch of chemicals. Ingredients are extremely important to me and I want my products to be as natural as possible.
Since this is for etsy readers mostly--- How do you price your items?
*My pricing has been the same since 2002 so I really don't remember how I came up with it! The soap bases I use cost a little bit more than some others do because of the purity of the ingredients. For clocks, the price is based on the cost of the clock works & hands. Magnets are usually based on the amount of time it takes me to make them. The ceramic tile ones are a bit more than my marble magnets because I have to buy the tiles and then coat them with multiple layers of glaze, which takes a couple of days. I don't make any money from this at all!
How often do YOU list?
*As often as I can! I try to list every day but some weeks I just can't. Not because I don't have tons of stuff, but because I haven't had time to take all those photos!
How do you promote on etsy?
*I love the ETC forum and I'll occasionally post in the Promotions forum as well. I try to keep it low key though; I'm mostly there to have fun!
How do you promote off etsy?
*I hand out my business cards, give away free samples, give my products as gifts, when I have time I might do something on myspace or something.
How long did it take for your first sale on etsy?
*I was lucky--only about 8 hours! An online friend of mine from Michigan bought some magnets from me the evening I opened shop. I was so excited I could barely sleep!
And how long before your sales were steady?
*My first sale to someone I'm not related to or didn't go to high school with occurred about one week after I opened and that was really validating. Since then, I've sold pretty steadily most weeks. There was a week where I didn't post in the forum or list anything and, needless to say, I didn't sell anything that week. But most weeks I sell a few things and maybe get some special orders too.
What is the number one advice you have for etsy sellers?
*Have fun! There are so many amazing people on Etsy and I've had such a great time "meeting" them online and some I've even met in person! It's a great community and I'm so proud to be a part of it!
Anything else you want to tell us?
*I'm working on a solid shampoo bar right now--I've been using it for the last few days and love it! I hope to be listing them later this week.
Viva la Etsy!