Spotlight: vadjutka

I've mentioned before how one of my favorite aspects of being involved with Etsy is the amazing people I have been able to meet and build friendships with, not only locally but all around the world. This year in Spotlight I will be featuring many of these global friends to learn what challenges there may be for an international artist selling on an American-based site like Etsy, and to remember just how worldly this handmade community is.

Today we travel to Hungary and meet the talented Judit of vadjutka. Living two lives, one as a professional and the second as a crafter, she began creating jewelry in 2002 making small seed bead necklaces. She has continued to evolve her style over the years and has most recently begun incorporating fabric into her designs. Judit believes every piece of jewelry has its own personality, just as us humans do, and that one day every piece will find its owner, with whom it matches perfectly.

Read on to learn more about the origin of her shop name, her comical love of The Divine Comedy and what she listens to while she works. You can also enter to win one of her beautiful necklaces!

Where did you grow up and where do you currently live?
I grew up where I live at the moment, in Budapest, Hungary.

How long have you been selling on Etsy?
two years

What, if any, formal training have you had in your craft?

I did not get any formal training.

Judit with fleurfatale's Violet Cat

Do you sell on Etsy full time or do you have a day job?
I have a part time job. I am a market researcher specialized in media.

What made you decide to open up shop on Etsy?
I have been selling my jewelry in shops and via my newsletter before, and opening an own shop seemed to be the next step.

Where did your shop name come from?
It is my nickname. My family name is Wild, and it means "vad” in Hungarian. My first name is Judit, and "jutka” is a nickname version for Judit.

What do you like least about your craft?
Monotonity, repeating some steps again and again. But I can handle :)

Do you have any advice for other sellers on Etsy or those thinking about pursuing their craft?
I would say these to someone who wants to open a shop:
• Be patient and persistent
• Always look for the possibilities in every situation even if it seems bad
• Try to find your own way – and be prepared, it is not easy

Are there any challenges being an International seller on an American based site?
Challenges? I think it is a great chance to be an international seller on an American based site. It is not only chance for a wider audience, but also to learn a completley new culture, which is very different from the one I grew up in.

Five Etsy Shops you love
JKphotography
lilarubyking
fleurfatale
mariansmale
gretchenmist

Where is the coolest place you have ever been?
I had two big journies in my life so far, and one of them was to Southern China in 2005. We visited a beautiful river, named Li river. It is surrounded by sugarcane formed hills, and it is just amazing. You can find a few photos here.

What is your favorite leisure time activity?
Cooking, eating, hiking, photography, friends, dancing

What is the stupidest thing you have ever done?
I wrote this above the entrance of my parents’ flat: "Abandon hope all ye who enter here”.
We were studying the Divine Comedy from Dante in high school, and I was fascinated by this phrase. Well….they werent happy about it, and made me to erase it. :)

Share some of your favorite music
These are my fave songs – I collect their youtube versions:
Yesterday's Mistakes by Oi Va Voi
Sinnerman by Nina Simone
Gabriel by Lamb
Samson by Regina Spektor
Sing for the Moment by eminem
Bloody Sunday by U2

What does the future hold for you and your shop?
I hope many sales, many new ideas, and new, undiscovered ways of selling internationally :)

You can keep up with Judit and her work by visiting her blog and following her on Twitter.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Judit is offering the awesome necklace above to one lucky winner!

HERE'S HOW TO ENTER:
Please leave a comment with your favorite item from vadjutka AND ALSO what you would name the giveaway prize necklace.

You can enter once per day and YOU MUST INCLUDE your first name -AND- etsy username or email address with every entry. (If you are worried about email spam, you can spell out the 'at' and 'dot' rather than using the standard email format.)

Receive additional entries (one each) if you:

Follow or subscribe to this Blog, my Facebook or my Twitter

Twitter/Facebook/Blog about the giveaway

Please leave a separate comment for each additional entry.

You have until Sunday, February 28 at 10 pm (est) to enter and I will announce the winner Monday morning. Good luck!