Monday, November 26, 2012

Interview with Julie of Bebop's Place

Rico:
What's Your Name?


Julie



Rico:
List your shop(s) -


Julie:

Bebop's PlaceI chose this name because I love jazz and Bebop is one of my nicknames. The great percentage of products are based on my nature photography. I also do a little graphic design.

Bebops WeddingsI was offering complete wedding collections in my main store but found it hard to keep them organized. So I created Bebop's Weddings as an offshoot. It is devoted exclusively to complete weddings collections (invitations, other stationery, gifts, bags, etc.)



Rico:
How long have you been at Zazzle?


Julie:
2 1/2 years



Rico:
How did you find Zazzle?


Julie:
I belong to a photography website called Daily Pics (http://dailypics.ning.com/). Several photographers on the site were very enthusiastic about their Zazzle experience and I decided to give it a try.



Rico:
Are you a ProSeller?


Julie:
Yes



Rico:
What type of Holiday product(s) do you sell the most of? (ex: t-shirts, mugs, electronics, etc.)


Julie:
Cards



Rico:
What's your best selling Holiday Design?


Julie:


Country Church and Fence Christmas Greeting Card


This tasteful, elegant Christmas card creates a classic rural winter feeling...a fenced field and the country church just over the hill. The sky is blue against the pure white snow. The text reads: Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! It can be customized to suit your needs.



Rico:
What is your favorite Holiday?


Julie:
Summer Solstice



Rico:
What's your favorite Holiday tradition?


Julie:
Staying up with the sun on the day of the Summer Solstice



Rico:
What's the best advise you got when you were starting out?


Julie:
Be patient, add quality products, take time with the tags and descriptions.



Rico:
What was your first sale (include link)?


Julie:


Bunny Hat



Here comes Peter Cottontail on a hat! Fun for Easter or any time of year.



Rico:
What medium/tools do you use to create your designs?


Julie:
My number one tool is my Canon SX20 camera. I am never without it. From the raw photos, I do a lot of post-processing in Photoshop Elements.



Rico:
What is your favorite aspect about Zazzle?


Julie:
I am still thrilled each and every time someone likes one of my creations enough to purchase it. I feel I am sharing my love of beauty in that way.



Rico:
Who or what inspires you?


Julie:
The world of nature is my chief inspiration.



Rico:
Do you sell Holiday products all year or just in season?


Julie:
Mostly in season though there is the occasional out of season sale.



Rico:
What's the best advise you can give someone just starting out on Zazzle?


Julie:
The same advice I got: Be patient, add quality products, take time with the tags and descriptions. I would add taking time for promotion. Haunt the Zazzle Forum for opportunities!



Rico:
What do you like to do when you are not creating art?


Julie:
I have large vegetable and flower gardens and they keep me busy. I also love to read and hike the wild, natural areas near my house.



Rico:
For most each product or design they create is special. What is your most favorite design and why (include link)?


Julie:

Winter Wonderland 3 Ring Binder



I was wandering in the woods beyond our house after a winter storm. The sun had come out, the sky was pure blue, and snow was very deep. I came upon this lovely evergreen tree which seems to express the essence of the wonderment I was feeling. I took the photo and it came out just as I had hoped. I have this image on lots of products.



Rico:
Tell me 5 random things everyone should know about you?


Julie:

I'm a retired library worker.

I'm a mother.

I am the third generation of photographers in my family (my grandfather and father each had studios).

I love to cook.

I live on 20 acres in the wilds of upstate New York.



Rico:
Include links to 3 of your favorite Holiday designs you want me to feature. Tell me something about each design.


Julie:


Larch Cone Christmas Ornament



Our road is lined with larch trees and I just love the tiny cones they form. They remind me of wooden roses. I took this "portrait" of a larch cone and applied a white vignette filter in Photoshop Elements to achieve the dreamy effect.




Feasting Chipmunk Christmas Card



This chubby little chipmunk was eating bird seed on our back deck one snowy day. I was able to get this photo of him stuffing his cheeks with seeds. He is on lots of my products and is very popular.




Bunny Christmas Invitation




During a very heavy snowstorm I looked out the window and saw this bunny rabbit huddled under an evergreen tree getting shelter from the storm. I shot the photo right through the window and have since put the design on tons of products.



Rico:
If you could purchase any Holiday item (from another Zazzle store) what would it be? Why?


Julie:



Falling Blue Snowflakes Wall clock



That's a tough one. Lots of beautiful stuff to choose from. I am especially in love with this clock from an extremely talented Zazzle artist, M.M. Anderson. Her artwork is whimsical, colorful and always beautiful.



Rico:
Zazzle has helped many people meet goals that they otherwise wouldn’t have achieved. What has Zazzle helped you to achieve in your personal life?


Julie:
I guess the recognition I've gotten from the products I've created has helped me to have some confidence in my own creative abilities.



Rico:
Where else can our readers find you online? (Facebook, Twitter, other blog or website)


Julie:

Twitter

Blogs to which I post my products and other Zazzlers' products every day: 

Seeking Floral Beauty

Totes, Purses, Messenger Bags

Creatures of the Planet

The Daily Rainbow

Practical and Beautiful


3 comments:

  1. Wonderful interview, Julie! Thanks very much for mentioning my snowflake clock and the great things that you said about my work. I love your work too!

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  2. The chipmunk picture is just awesome :) That's a one in a million picture!

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  3. Thanks so much Rico for this opportunity!

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