An Interview with Ami from Pamper Me, Baby! Designs

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 Ami from Pamper Me, Baby! Designs

What inspired you to begin a shop featuring your own designs?  I was pregnant with my first child, a daughter, and I starting making dresses and jumpers for her before she was born. After she came, I found myself less concerned with her clothing and very disappointed with the quality and functionality of many of the generic baby items I was using. There had to be a better solution to changing diapers in a public place! I was taking my diaper bag into the restroom and being forced to place it on the dirty floor or just searching all through it to find all the things I needed to change her diaper. I needed something that had everything all together and I could just grab and go without needing the entire diaper bag. So after many many prototypes, along came my All-in-One Diaper Clutch! As time went along I found many more issues with baby products, I found solutions for those as well. Most of my products are the answer to a common problem with many big chain store bought baby products. I thrive on organizing and functionality and my products reflect that. And as a bonus, they are cute too!!

How long have you been practicing your art/craft? I learned to sew in high school in 1997 and continued to do small things through the years. But I picked it up again for these more extensive projects in Aug 2009.

What training have you had or are you self-taught? My first training with a sewing machine was with my grandmother as she was an avid sewer. I had more structured training in a Home Economics class in high school. However, many of the techniques I know today have been self-taught over the last few years.

What is your favorite material to craft with? I love working with good old fashioned (and unbelievably cute!) cotton apparel fabric. I have an addiction to fabric and am constantly trying to find a storage solution for the copious amounts that I have in my craft room. 

What has been the hardest aspect of creating a hobby into a business?  Definitely for me it would be finding the time. Up until today (May 31st), I had a full time job, I also have a 2-yr old, and have been taking classes for entrance into a nursing program. It has been challenging to find the right balance. There are definitely many late nights, but it has been well worth it. My mother, Toni, has been a huge help and does most of my cutting and pinning, which helped out more than I can say.

Any advice for other Etsy sellers?  First and foremost, your product must be very high quality. This is extremely important, so take pride in your work and make it beautiful and durable. Secondly, take the time and take good pics. This is HUGE! Use a neutral background and take good close ups. You don't need a fancy camera, a simple point and shoot will do. Take advantage of natural light and avoid shadows. Thirdly, list, list, list!! And be sure you use all your tags and they are relevant. These are important to getting your items to the top of the search and will eventually translate to sales. Don't give up!! It took me several months to get the sales going.

What do you enjoy doing in your off time? In my free time, I love playing outside and reading with my daughter. I also enjoy going to movies and sporting events with my wonderful and patient husband. We are huge sports fans and love to support the local teams. I also love crafting other things and scrap booking. I am a creator at heart and that is what I love to do in work and play.

Describe a typical day in your life... Well my last day of full time work is today, so while I was working a typical day would go something like this: Wake up around 5:45 a.m., get myself and my daughter ready for work and school, drive 1 hr to work, drop my daughter off at daycare, work until around 3:30 p.m., pick my daughter up and make the 1 hr trek home, play with my daughter and spend time with my husband until 6:30p.m., then eat dinner, give a bath to my daughter and put her to bed around 7-7:30. I would then go upstairs to my sewing room and begin on the orders that are on the schedule for that night. I would typically do this about 4 days of the work week and spend about 6-10 hrs each weekend day working on orders if there were many for that week or I had a show to build inventory for. Now that I will no longer be working (at least until I start nursing school full time in the Fall) I hope to spend both more time with my family and a lot more time working on and expanding my craft.

Where can we find your products online? You can find my products for purchase on my Etsy page or at my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Pampermebabydesigns . I also have a website with Fabric Options and Product Information at www.pampermebabydesigns.com . I am also on Pinterest which is linked on my website and Twitter @PamperMeBabyDes 

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

An Interview with Shelly from 2 Sprouts Stitchery

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 Shelly from 2 Sprouts Stitchery

What inspired you to begin a shop featuring your own designs?  I’d love to say it was a way to find my creative side again but honestly it was a much more practical reason. My husband lost his job right after our 2nd child was born and I needed to find a way to help support our family other than my full time job. I had a ceramics studio business before I had my children that I ended to start our family, so starting another craft business seemed like a way I could help. Sewing was something I was already doing for my children, family, and friends, I decided it was something I could do in my home and something I absolutely loved doing.

 What is your favorite material to craft with? Designer Cottons – I love all of the colors and patterns that offer endless amazing combinations.

 

How long have you been practicing your art/craft?  Since I was about 5, I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have a sewing machine and fabric.
 

What training have you had or are you self-taught? I have a fine arts degree in Ceramics, but I was taught to sew by my Grandmother. I also worked in several fabric stores throughout High School and College.

What has been the hardest aspect of turning a hobby into a business? The hardest thing yet is finding different places to carry my designs - not only online but locally in stores (I’m pretty new at this part- I had been doing craft shows only). Also, promoting my designs and being “found” I guess you could say, I used to be a very shy person and getting over that was one of the hardest things I have done.

Any advice for other Etsy sellers?  Learn and research your target market. Use every available tool you can find to reach out to your audience and get to know your customer. Also customer service, providing great customer service keeps your customers coming back and recommending you to their friends.

  

 

What do you enjoy doing in your off time?  Any time I get to spend with my husband and 2 children is time off enjoyment for me. We love being together, doing anything.

 

Describe a typical day in your life...  I wake up at 6:00am get myself ready, wake up my daughter for school, pack her lunch, get my son ready for day care. Drop off at day care and at my job in accounting by 7:00am, work until quitting time about 4:00. Run to pick up my daughter from school and maybe a trip to pick up my son if my husband works late. When we get home it’s time for snack, play time, cleaning, homework, and dinner at 6 or 6:30. Then we move to evening routines, more play time, a little television, baths, books, and bedtime by 9:30 for the kids. Then time for us to go downstairs to work in my sewing room (my husband helps with cutting and ironing fabric –but shh he hates when I share that) until about 12:30-1:00am, then I get some sleep and turn around and do it again.

 Where can we find your products online? 
Facebook  etsy - 2sproutsstitchery website - 2sproutsstitchery

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

An Interview with Stacy from The Little Chick

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 Stacy from The Little Chick

What inspired you to begin a shop featuring your own designs?
My daughter and the need to stay home with her. 

How long have you been practicing your art/craft?
Approx. 15 years

What training have you had or are you self-taught?
I am self-taught and also taught by my mother who is an amazing seamstress.

 

 

 

What is your favorite material to craft with?
Anything soft, cuddly and shabby chic inspired.  

What has been the hardest aspect of creating a hobby into a business?
Bookkeeping.....I hate it!!!!!

 

 

 

Any advice for other Etsy sellers?
Remember that it is something that you love, but if you want it to be a business and not a hobby, you have to make money. Don't price your items below what they are worth and remember to count your time as well as materials.

What do you enjoy doing in your off time?
Spending time with my family, running and antique shopping. 

  

Describe a typical day in your life... I try to wake up before my two year old, get my cup of coffee and answer emails, do a little bookkeeping (seems to not be so bad in the morning), clean a little and then get her up. We have breakfast together and play on the days she does not go to mothers day out. On the days I drop her off to MDO, I come home and start sewing and getting out as many orders as I can. I also have my items in a shop in town so I head over there to replenish and make sure things look decent. I try to get in a run here and there, make dinner, clean some more, bath time, bedtime and then a little more work on the nights my husband works late.....or some down time and TV with him......Whew, I'm tired just writing about it all. But, I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Where can we find your products online?
You can find my products at my Etsy site: thelittlechick or at thelittlechick. If you happen to live in the Little Rock area, you can find me at the Shoppes on Woodlawn.  
 

 

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

An Interview with Robyn from Clare's Clothesline...

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 Robyn from Clare's Clothesline

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

I was making burp cloths as baby gifts for friends and when one friend asked me where I bought them, I was so flattered! The fact that they thought it was purchased inspired me to sell them!

How long have you been practicing your art/craft?

I have been sewing on and off since home ec class in 8th grade. But I have really only started making the burp cloths since I had my second baby in July 2011.

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

I am self-taught with the exception of home ec class and some pointers from my mom.

What is your favorite material to craft with?  

Flannel fabric and other cuddly baby fabrics.

What has been the hardest aspect of creating a hobby into a business? 
Finding the time to really focus on marketing the shop. I have two kids, work part-time in retail (non-craft related) and creating the product takes up all of my time.

Any advice for other Etsy sellers?

Do your research. read as much as you can from the Etsy forums, the sellers handbook, etc. There is so much information out there if you take the time to research.

What do you enjoy doing in your off time? Time off? Funny! Actually, I love going to the beach with my girls and going to the fabric shop for inspiration.

Describe a typical day in your life... 

Wake up with the baby around 6am; check computer for etsy stats, emails, facebook, etc; get girls ready for the day; one goes to preschool and the other naps so I get to work on my shop; errands or play dates; try to accomplish a little more for the shop while the older one watches a t.v. show and the younger one naps; get dinner ready; couple of nights a week go to work; come home and work on the shop some more! Aim for bed by 9:30, but lately it's been 11 as I get sucked into Facebook or Etsy.

Where can we find your products online?  

Check out my facebook page www.facebook.com/claresclothesline 

and of course my Etsy shop www.claresclothesline.etsy.com

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

EtsyBABY Featured Shop: LuLusWoobies

Blankets, bibs, burp cloths, and knit hats are a few of the delightful things you can find in the shop of LuLusWoobies. Tobi creates stylish baby blankets using designer cotton fabrics and some of the softest minky fabric your little one will love. You'll find a variety of fabric choices from owls, bears, birds and surf boards for girls and boys. You'll also find the cutest knit hats that resemble animals; a lamb, a fox, and a pig are just a few.

"My hope is that each of LuLu's Woobies become someone small's cherished friend."

Take a look inside LuLusWoobies shop and find great stylish gifts every baby should have!

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade LuLusWoobies.etsy.com