Etsy for Animals Featured Artist

Etsy for Animals (EFA) is a group of Etsy artists who dedicate a portion of their sales to helping our animal friends. We are featuring an artist a month from the EFA group and are proud to feature our first artist, Ciara from the Etsy shop Ciara Loves You. You can visit Ciara and her lovely creations at www.ciaralovesyou.etsy.com . Here's more about Ciara.

1) Tell us your name and a little about you?

I'm Ciara and my store name is Ciara Loves You! I've been making my own clothing ever since high school, but only started selling crocheted, knitted and fabric designs in 2004. My style comes mostly from the northeast, where I grew up and went to school, but is also influenced by the tropical colors and climate where I live now, in Miami. My day job is travel writing, which is just as inspiring--I love to bring back handmade goods from all over the globe! And when I'm not at work in some far-off region, I'm at home, snuggling my kitties, reading, and eating way too much ice cream.

2) Where can we find your Etsy shop? Are there any other places we can see Ciara Loves you creations?

My Etsy shop is www.ciaralovesyou.etsy.com, and I also have blogs at Vox (ciaralovesyou.vox.com), Livejournal (ciaralovesyou.livejournal.com), Blogger (ciaralovesyou.blogger.com) and Myspace (www.myspace.com/shopciaralovesyou). I spend most of my day in front of my laptop, as you can plainly see. :)

3) What do you create and if multiple things, what is your favorite)?

I could never pick a favorite thing to create -- one of my favorites right now is my newest design, an asymmetrical tank top with dove detailing. I also really like making crocheted clutches -- they're a mix of granny chic and classic glamour, which is what I like to think is my own personal aesthetic. And I know my cats' favorite things are the cat toys I test out on them! I have a line of Kitty Monsters, little felty beasts with catnip inside, as well as Hairballs, crocheted, furry balls with bells and catnip inside.

4) Who or what inspires you?

It sounds cheesy, but I'm inspired by just about everything. I love to sit along a busy street with a sketchbook and watch people walk by, and just analyzing what I see and reworking it to make it my own. My day job takes me to the Caribbean a lot, and through my visits there I've discovered how much I love bright colors, as long as they're done in the right way. When I lived up north, I wore mostly black and grey -- I didn't know what I was missing! And when it comes to comfort, I'm my own inspiration. I'm always thinking, "would this be comfortable for me to wear?"; it's my number one priority, because I have no patience for itchy, annoying, uncomfortable clothing, no matter how good it may look to someone else.

5) How many pets do you have and what are their names (any interesting stories about how they came to be your pet)?

I have two cats. The oldest is named Mr. Manny Ramirez, Supercat, after the Red Sox player. He's a bit temperamental with other people, but with his mama, he's a total snugglebug. Every time I sit down to talk on the phone, he climbs right up onto my lap; I think he thinks I'm talking to him! The youngest is named Little Papi Ortiz, after David Ortiz, also of the Red Sox. He's still a kitten, so he keeps Manny on his toes. The weird thing about him is, he doesn't like to cuddle--he likes to play, 24-7. And he's a toe-licker; anyone walking around my apartment in bare feet will eventually feel a scratchy little kitty tongue on her/his toes! Weirdo. :)

6) How do you give back to our animal friends? What charities do you hold near and dear to your heart?

I donate cat toys to local shelters, and I try to give to as many animal-related charities as I can. One of my recent favorites is an organization called Feral Friends out in Dallas, TX. I met one of its volunteers on a trip, and he was really passionate about his work, and totally inspired me to check them out. More on Feral Friends is at www.feralfriends.org.


Thanks so much Ciara and thank you for all you do for our animal friends!