An Interview with erikasayuri & Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed.

Happy Friday everyone!

Since we celebrate all the mamas this month I will be hosting giveaways for you moms out there in the month of May!

Today we meet Erika, shop owner of erikasayuri.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I'm a Brazilian girl with Japanese background and now I'm living in Quebec to do a pHD. on fungal genetics/plant pathology. Crazy, isn't it? It becomes worse when I study. I think in Portuguese (my native language), read in English (almost all scientific articles are in English) and speak in french (because Quebec is the french part of Canada)... and I want to learn Japanese, since I know only a few sentences and expressions in Japanese.

What made you want to become an artist?
I don't know exactly. I think I was slowly becoming then now I'm like this! I think I'm learning a lot, yet.

What is your favorite item to create?
My 'beautiful' and 'elegant' flowers I have on my etsy shop.

What advice would you give to new artists on Etsy?
Be persistent, be yourself, be creative, make things right and good things.

How do you promote your work?
I promote doing giveaways and reviews on blogs (I'm actually willing, since it is my first one!!!).

Do you have any websites connected to your shop (blog, facebook, twitter)?
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Kawaii-Sayuri/156940384369151

What is the inspiration for your work?
When I want something to wear helps me getting some inspiration. My Brazilian and Japanese origins helps either. And now from Quebec too. It is funny that when I study a lot to my pHD I have many ideas of crafts to do. Maybe it is connected to some place of my brain for creativity!

Do any of your items go toward a special cause?
No, but I would like to do it for Japan and Tibet. The problem is that I'm always afraid that the help doesn't go to the objective.

Do you have a job outside of Etsy? How do you handle both?
I consider my pHD. a job, since it demands a lot of me. I try to separate stuff. When I have a spare time, I do my crafts.

What are your goals for your shop?
Make better items, make my clients happy. Make progress on my sales and make more different and creative products.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
I would like to offer to your followers 10% off at my shop with the coupon code ARIGATO.

You all have a chance to win this beautiful mustard flower brooch!

What's even better is that it can be used as an alligator clip too!

Here's how to win:

(please read all instructions before entering)

Mandatory Entry:

 Visit erikasayuri's Etsy shop and tell me your favorite item!

Bonus Entries:

Each one of these is a contest entry. 

Please post a separate comment for each that you do with your email address.

Heart erikasayuri's Etsy shop.

Become erikasayuri's  Facebook fan and leave the name you are a fan under.

Blog, tweet, or post on Facebook about this giveaway and include the link where we can find it.

(one entry for each)

Become a follower of my blog.

Enter in another giveaway on this blog & let me know what giveaway you entered.

Comment on any non-giveaway posts on this blog & let me know which post you commented on.

Contest closes at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, May 20, 2011. 

Sunday, May 22, 2011 a winner will be randomly drawn from eligible entrants 

and notified by e-mail, and the winner's name will also be posted here. If no email is listed I will choose another winner. Winner has one week to respond to my email to claim his/her prize after initial contact. 

I am not responsible for the shipping of this prize.

Contest open to U.S. residents only.