Interview-Goth Cupcake

Today's Interview is with Mary of Goth Cupcake

How did you choose the name of your shop and how long have you been a member of Etsy?

The name for my shop was also a username I came up with for a band forum I had joined. I wanted something that described my personality and my interests. I've always been interested in dark and spooky things and the goth aesthetic, but at the same time, I have a weakness for bright colors and cuteness so Gothcupcake is a mix of dark and sweet. I feel my creations reflect that as well. I've been a member of Etsy since December of 2007 when I finally got the courage up to open a shop.

What kinds of items do you sell in your shop and what inspired you to startcreating them?

I mainly sell jewelry and hair accessories, but occasionally I include clothing, art, and other fine art crafts and handmade items. Really whatever I am inspired to make usually ends up in my shop. I have always been crafty and enjoy working with my hands. From a very young age I made my own jewelry and when I learned how to sew, even made my own purses. I was inspired to start creating the items for my Gothcupcake line because I used to get compliments whenever I wore my own creations. My friends and family were really supportive too and soon I started making more creations to share with others and from there Gothcupcake was born.

Do you donate to any charities or do any volunteer work?


I donate to various charities when I can, specifically Bead For Life, Soldier's Angels, and a few animal rights organizations. I am a Soldier's Angel and a year ago adopted a soldier. Currently I'm on the Soldier's Angels Ladies of Liberty and Wounded Cards teams. I write letters and send small packages to female soldiers stationed abroad and send weekly cards to wounded soldiers in the US and abroad.

What are some of your favorite things about Etsy?

It's great being part of such a large community of talented artists and being in the midst of all of their creations. I have made a lot of friends through Etsy that I never would have met otherwise; one of my favorite things is definitely the atmosphere and community that Etsy is comprised of. Being a part of Etsy has also opened me up to an entire marketplace of handmade. I buy nearly everything handmade now--from small gifts and eco-friendly produce bags to vegan deodorant! It makes me feel good to be supporting individuals and their crafts.

Do you sell your items outside of Etsy, either online or in retail shops?

I have dabbled with eBay in the past as well as artfire.com, but currently I have put those other outlets on hold to focus more of my time and energy on my Etsy shop. I am also working with a local salon who may carry a line of my hair accessories soon as well.

Have you been featured anywhere?

I have been featured in a handful of on-line blogs including: allthingscupcake.com, omgcow.blogspot.com, blog.glamasaurus.com, and jenerek.blogspot.com as well as in issue 4 of Palaver magazine.

Do you have any future plans for your shop?

I do have a website in the works; (gothcupcake.com) which I hope will be a great counterpart to my Etsy shop. I also plan on adding a line of handbags, clutches and screen tees to my shop in the near future as well.What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have?I like to go hiking and geocaching when I'm not being artsy. I also LOVE baking vegan goodies--cakes, cookies, you name it!

Do you have any animal companions?

I recently moved away from home and left my kitty Kendra with my family. My boyfriend and I have a kitty named Boo--because she's a scaredy cat.

Do you have any websites besides your shop that you would like to tell us about?

Keep your eyes peeled for Gothcupcake.com soon, and feel free to check out my blog: gothcupcake.blogspot.com

How long have you been vegan and what made you go vegan?

I just had my 4 year vegan anniversary this month! I'd always been interested in vegetarianism, but I didn't really have the guts to take the leap until I met my friend Scott. Scott is vegan and talking with him about his diet and learning about why he became vegan made me seriously consider going veg myself. He was supportive and informative about veganism in a way that made me compelled to give it a go. His GoVeg.com hat actually got me reading up about PETA which lead me to other vegetarian literature. The more I read about animal cruelty and the ecological benefits of being vegetarian, the more it really gave me the drive to become a fully fledged vegan.

Do you have any favorite vegan things, like books, websites, stores, etc.?

Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero is by far one of the BEST baking cookbooks I've ever laid hands on, I highly recommend it to anyone who doesn't already own a copy! My favorite place to shop for food and other goodies is Pangea at veganstore.com, they have a wide selection of everything you need! Best place for veg shoes is mooshoes.com! I get my vegan deodorant on Etsy from spatherapyworks.etsy.com, because they carry a lot of really unique fun scents (like Pink Cupcake!). I also love the restaurant GREEN in Tempe, AZ; and Books and Books in Miami, FL has some great little vegan surprises on their menu.

What are your favorite foods?

I love BBQ seitan, vegan cupcakes, mashed potatoes, veggie sushi, flat bread pizza and vegan ice cream. I love trying new recipes though, so my favorite dishes are always changing!

Is there anything else you would like to add or share?

Random things about me: I love watching horror movies (even the cheesy B movies!). My favorite shoes are my veg-friendly knee high boots. I love bats.Letter writing is a dying art and I strive to keep it breathing. I love learning about other cultures and have fascinations specifically with India and Japan. One day I want to open my own vegan bakery.