Meet Jennifer from Prettiest Print Shop

As many of you know, EtsyBABY team members are extremely talented. We wanted to take a peek at the person behind the creativity. All throughout March, we will be interviewing shop owners, to get a glimpse of the designer behind those adorable baby products!

Meet Jennifer from Prettiest Print Shop

Printable nursery art - Your birthday is
the happiest day of my life - Pink and gold -
First birthday party - Nursery decor -
Customizable $12

What inspired you to begin a shop featuring your own designs? 
I had been tossing around the idea for a couple of years, and just feeling unsure of how the entire Etsy thing worked and if it was possible to really make a living this way. Once I had my daughter in 2012, it was not financially possible for me to stay at home with her full-time and returning to work after maternity leave was devastating for me. I knew that I would need to find some way that I would be able to stay at home with her but also be able to help support my family. I have always been extremely crafty and am a graphic designer by trade, so it is only natural that I went all out when planning her 1st birthday party. I created all of the paper goods myself. With so many of these items designed, plus pictures of the party, I felt like it was finally the right time for me to try out the Etsy thing. I got my first large order for the complete party set about a week later and I was hooked! Things have steadily grown from there and I couldn't be more grateful!

An Interview with Nan from Bitty Bambino

As many of you know, EtsyBABY team members are extremely talented.  We wanted to take a peek at the person behind the creativity.  All throughout May we will be interviewing shop owners, to get a glimpse of the designer behind those adorable baby products!

 

Meet Nan from Bitty Bambino - Unique Handmade Baby Gift Sets and Diaper Cakes

What inspired you to begin a shop featuring your own designs?  Last summer I had a couple of friends who were expecting their first babies. So I decided to make them my diaper creations for their baby showers. My friends were thrilled and everyone at the baby showers just loved my diaper creations!
Right around the time of these baby showers, I was finishing up many many years of schooling and training in my profession and was planning on taking some time off to stay at home with my daughter. Crafting these diaper creations truly awoke my creative beast, who had lain dormant for so many decades buried under dry textbooks and schooling. My mind began bursting with new ideas and I discovered a kind of excitement and innovation that I never knew I had.

 What is your favorite material to craft with? Well, I guess you could say my favorite material is diapers! And other baby products, of course. But for my fabric items, I love minky fabric and micro fleece because of their luxurious softness. And recently I've found that I love the look and feel of quilted fabric. So I like quilt batting now too!

How long have you been practicing your art/craft?  Since August 2011.

 What training have you had or are you self-taught?  I am self-taught and have had some initial training in sewing from a family member.

What has been the hardest aspect of creating a hobby into a business?   The hardest aspect of creating a hobby into a business has definitely been the balancing act between Etsy and my family. It's been a learning curve, but now I make it a point to spend quality time with my husband and my daughter no matter how busy I am. And, of course, I also make a point to have my own time to unwind!

 

 

Any advice for other Etsy sellers?  Always give your best effort, but know that you are human at the end of the day. "It's far better to live your own path imperfectly, than to live another's perfectly." ~Bhagavad Gita.

  

 

 

What do you enjoy doing in your off time?  In my off time, I like to do relaxing things like soak in a hot bath, do calming yoga stretches, and go for walks. I've also started trying to meditate more. But it's much harder than you'd think! During my meditations I try to clear my mind, but often find that ideas for new creative projects dance around in my thoughts! 

 

 Describe a typical day in your life...  After breakfast, I'll typically run errands purchasing supplies for an order. When my two-year-old daughter finally naps in the afternoon (if I'm lucky for an hour!), I'll put the pedal to the metal and slave-drive my sewing machine to churn out bibs and burp cloths. For the rest of the afternoon I'll spend time with her either going on a play date, going to the park or doing a craft together. I love re-purposing things that we would otherwise throw away for toddler crafts, like paper rolls, light bulbs, milk cartons, paper bags, cardboard boxes, etc. Afterwards I clean up around the house and get dinner ready. When my husband comes home from work, we'll eat dinner and put her to bed. And before I put myself to bed, I'll either work on something for Bitty Bambino or spend some time with my husband.

 

 Where can we find your products online?  My main site is on Etsy, but you can also find my products on Ebay.com, Ecrater.com and Bitty Bambino's own website at www.bittybambino.webs.com.

 Thank you Nan, for taking the time out of your busy schedule to grant us an interview!

An Interview with Vicky from That's The Cutest Thing

As many of you know, EtsyBABY team members are extremely talented.  We wanted to take a peek at the person behind the creativity.  All throughout May we will be interviewing shop owners, to get a glimpse of the designer behind those adorable baby products!

  Meet Vicky from That's The Cutest Thing

What inspired you to begin a shop featuring your own designs?  I became a doting aunt to three nieces and three nephews in six years. Aunt Vicky had a very busy time of making coming-home-from-the-hospital outfits, security blankets, and afghans during that period of time! I found I really enjoyed the portability of handmade knit and crochet pieces for babies and children, and I had to find an outlet to sell my creations. In 2005 I began to sell at an annual craft show in Virginia. Customers immediately began to ask about placing custom orders, how to find my website, etc. I put off starting a true small business as I wasn't ready for my hobby to turn into a job. Each year I returned, my customers were more insistent and encouraging that I should have a year-round business outlet. I heard about Etsy from one of my customers in 2009, and after giving it a year's thought, I decided to try being a seller.

 

 What is your favorite material to craft with?  Baby or fine-gauge yarn, the more colorful, the better. I have much more than I should!

How long have you been practicing your art/craft?
 My wonderful grandmother taught me how to crochet and knit around the age of 6-7 years old. Let's just say it's been a long time!

 

 What training have you had or are you self-taught?  In addition to my grandmother's teaching, later in life I had to teach myself to read patterns as I'd not learned before. With that out of my way, I picked up my hook and needles and simply tried new stitches and projects. I learned a lot of new stitch patterns from making blankets for the babies and children in the pediatric intensive care unit where I worked. My renewed hobby took off and I haven't looked back since! When I began crafting with vintage buttons, I did take an introductory jewelry-making class. I'd love to take more advanced classes, but haven't had the time recently. 

 

What has been the hardest aspect of creating a hobby into a business?  Staying organized, by far. I can't just jump in and open up a sixth project anymore because it's impossible to keep track of everything all at once. I love creating new items and listing them, but bookkeeping is a drag!

 

Any advice for other Etsy sellers?  Do your research! I was really thankful that I spent six months learning about Etsy before I opened my shop; it helped me immensely in avoiding common seller mistakes.

 

 What do you enjoy doing in your off time?  Besides my full-time job as a nurse (the job that pays the bills!), most of my free time is channeled into my Etsy shop. Another passion of mine is to volunteer on international medial missions and in a local community low-cost clinic. I also love antique shopping and collecting, traveling, photography, baking, gardening, and watching movies.

 Describe a typical day in your life...  That sounds like an easy question to answer, but for me it's not--I don't think I have a "typical day"! On my days off, I'll get up at 7 AM and spend part of the morning online working on my shop and everything else that goes with it. I try to exercise daily before I get too involved in other projects. I've resisted setting a routine for myself as there always seems to be something that comes up to lay my plans to waste. For example, this morning I awoke to an Etsy convo from a local photographer. She wanted to know if certain photo props were ready for shipment as she had a photo shoot this afternoon, and could she come to pick them up as soon as possible? Needless to say, my morning accelerated from there! Instead of having a daily routine, I've recently started writing out goals for the week on Sundays. I list personal, work, crafting, and business goals to work toward over the course of the week. So far that's helping me organize my time better.

 

 Where can we find your products online?  I currently don't have a website other than Etsy. However, I'd love for you to visit my Facebook page and my Pinterest page ! I approach my Facebook page like a blog, so I'm always posting about my new creations, sampler crafting, business endeavors, and travels. I post fabulous dessert recipes as well!

 Thank you Vicky, for taking the time out of your busy schedule to grant us an interview!

An Interview with Barbara from UP TO MY KNEES IN CRAFTS

As many of you know, EtsyBABY team members are extremely talented.  We wanted to take a peek at the person behind the creativity.  All through May, we will be interviewing shop owners, to get a glimpse of the designer behind those adorable baby products!

Meet Barbara from UP TO MY KNEES IN CRAFTS

What inspired you to begin a shop featuring your own designs?

I started making clothing for my friends for baby showers and they all kept telling me I should open a shop. I finally decided to try it out.

How long have you been practicing your art/craft?

I have been sewing for almost 8 years now since I got married.

 

What training have you had or are you self-taught?

I am self taught mainly but I just started going to Martha Pullen's School of Art Fashion last year and will go in July again.

  
What is your favorite material to craft with?  

Fabric. I love mixing and matching all the colors and designs.  I sometimes am amazed but how cute my daughter looks in my outfits. 

What has been the hardest aspect of creating a hobby into a business? 

Getting known.  You have to sell yourself and I am too timid to say I am really good at what I do even though others have loved my work.
       

 
Any advice for other Etsy sellers?

Having lots of items in my shop have produced the most sales.  Use good pictures!!! I had a friend take really good pictures of my items and I started working with Boutique Beauties to get great photos of my stuff b/c honestly I could do it myself but then there goes more of my time to take and edit pictures. I'd rather give the product to the model for great pictures.  I have to design the stuff anyway and then I can check how the pattern sizes run against other kids.

   
 

  


What do you enjoy doing in your off time?

I love to read.  Although most of the time goes to spending it with the family.
 

Describe a typical day in your life...

Wake up, dress kids, do house work (I have a schedule) , take the kids out to play, lunch, nap time - which means I get to sew until they wake-up.  dinner then play with kids and then bedtime. Sewing time/ my time until I go to bed.

Where can we find your products online? 

uptomykneesincrafts

Thank you, Barbara for taking the time out of your busy schedule to grant us an interview!

EtsyBABY Shower 2011 Game Prize Sponsors

Today is the big day!  We will be hosting our EtsyBABY Baby Shower tonight in the Sun Room of the Etsy Virtual Labs at 6pm EST.  Baby Shower Games will start RIGHT HERE after the shower ends!  Below are the wonderful shops that are sponsoring the game prizes!

Whimbrella

jayceeoriginals

SevenAcreToys

TangoBabyStore

 

 

 

MyBarnyardBaby

 

EtsyBABY Baby Shower 2011 - Sponsors

Below are the wonderful 36 sponsors of the EtsyBABY Baby Shower!   53 new moms signed up and we are giving 54 baby gifts! One mom is having twins! Gifts will be given on Feb. 28th at 6pm est on Etsy.com in the Sun Room of the virtual labs!!

DanburyLane	LuLusWoobies	BabySmooches
thelittlechick	aboundingtreasures	GrannysKnits
Whimbrella	Zomsters	ConnieLouFabrics
cootiepants	GoldtoneDesigns	totzhatz
knitstyle	LaDyLaDuke	sugarbugboutiquebows
AliBeanBaby	sewsillydesigns	orangeberrybaby
iziwiziecological	Morockincreations	kryshasCreations
tadpolecreations	StrawberrieRose	moddiapercakes
sevenacretoys	AmyRoseDesigns	HattieDesigns
PreciousnProsper	TangoBabyStore	DivaBabyDesigns
MyBarnyardBaby	jayceeoriginals	CrochetTLC
fabiusmaximus	BabbidgePatch	TutuCuteandMoore