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 Sabrina and Leslie from Neverland Nook

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 Sabrina and Leslie from Neverland Nook

What inspired you to begin a shop featuring your own designs?  When Leslie became a mom to a little girl she began making bows that people fell in love with. They began to "contract" her to make custom bows for their little girls as well. When I met Leslie, I knew I always wanted to start an Etsy shop because I loved to craft new things. When I found out that she made bows I knew we were a match made in heaven. She had mentioned looking for someone to make super hero capes for kids & I couldn't turn down the challenge to invent a set of my own. I asked her about starting up a business on Etsy & she loved the idea of working together.

  

 

What is your favorite material to craft with? Leslie: fun colorful grosgrain ribbons Sabrina: colorful designed fabrics

How long have you been practicing your art/craft?
We have been crafting for as long as we can remember!

  

 

What training have you had or are you self-taught? My mom and home economics really taught me how to sew and craft, but mostly Leslie and I are self taught.

What has been the hardest aspect of creating a hobby into a business? There are so many times we would love to sit down and come up with so many new creations we have floating around in our heads, but we have to focus on fulfilling orders and also the "paper" side of the business.

Any advice for other Etsy sellers?  Make sure you love what you are making or else it is not worth doing. We have a rule, if we start to not enjoy part of our job, then we brainstorm on new ideas to help make it interesting not only for us, but for the customer as well.

 







What do you enjoy doing in your off time?  Leslie LOVES to read and spend time with her husband, kids, and dog. I love to run, redo rooms in my house (too many times), and spend time with my husband and dog.

 

Describe a typical day in your life...  A typical day for Leslie is running around with her kids from school to extra curricular activities, cooking, laundry, and finding time in the middle and at night to fulfill orders. My typical day is trying to find time to fulfill orders while working another job, taking the dog for a run, doing the "paper" side of the business, and trying to keep my house clean.

 

  

Where can we find your products online?  You can find our products at neverlandnook on etsy and soon you will also be able to shop from our new website/blog

 Thank you Leslie & Sabrina, for taking the time out of your busy schedules to grant us an interview!

An Interview with Sherri Osborne from Tickled Toes

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 Sherri Osborne from Tickled Toes - Hand Painted Children's Shoes

What inspired you to begin a shop featuring your own designs?
I think I was going through a selfish phase. I felt like I focused my energies on my full time job as a designer, wife, mother, taxi-driver (ha-ha) etc. I didn’t feel complete without allowing my creative energy to flow. One day my daughters and I were talking about crafty things and how I have always had a passion for decorative painting. We came across a website of hand painted shoes and my ideas came FLYING! I couldn’t write all my shoe ideas down fast enough! I would wake up at night thinking of new ideas! Infant shoes appealed to me as nothing made me (and still does) smile more than those teeny, tiny shoes for those teeny, tiny feet! I knew nothing about running a business so I spent the first few months researching. I opened my business in September of 2009. From there on I have been going non-stop!

  What is your favorite material to craft with?
I believe my favorite material is acrylic paints. I LOVE bright colors and the paint is so easy to work with, dries fast and very forgiving!

 

How long have you been practicing your art/craft?
I have been painting for over 20 years.

 What training have you had and are you self taught? 
I started out taking decorative painting classes and then painted some furniture items, rooms, etc.

 

What has been the hardest aspect of creating a hobby into a business?
I believe the hardest aspect for me has been the business side of things. I'm not very business savvy so learning the right way to handle the funds, keep track of inventory, etc. has been a huge learning experience. I have been very fortunate to have friends in the business who I often ask for advice and very supportive family who helps as well.

 

Any advice for other Etsy sellers?
Don't be afraid to go for what you believe in! Business started out somewhat slow but I was very persistent and it has no started to blossom!! You have to be patient at first!

 What do you enjoy doing in your off time?
I have two beautiful twin daughters so in my off time I like to attend their travel softball games, relax with a good book, spend time with my awesome hubby and Project Life scrapbook as well!

 

Describe a typical day in your life...
I’m very conscientious about keeping both my jobs separate! Both my job as a designer/space planner and a shoe designer involve creative thinking and allow me to feel complete! I work at home full time as a space planner so having no commute allows me time early in the morning and late at night for filling my shoe orders. Early, early mornings are my favorite! Nothing is more relaxing to me than a cup of “joe” and my paint brush in hand!

 Where can we find your products online?
tickled-toes and tickledtoes (Etsy)

 Thank you Sherri, 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 Suzan from The Block 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 May we will be interviewing shop owners, to get a glimpse of the designer behind those adorable baby products!

 Meet Suzan from The Block Shop

 

What inspired you to begin a shop featuring your own designs? What inspired me was my son Anderson. I wanted to have a name block set for my son to match his theme monkey room and my new passion and shop was created from there.

 

 

 

What is your favorite material to craft with?
My favorite material is finding that perfect scrapbook paper to complete a set.

What training have you had or are you self-taught?
Everything I know has been self taught.

 

 

  What has been the hardest aspect of creating a hobby into a business? 
The hardest part of having my shop is working part time and being a mom full time. It's finding the time to organize my blocks and complete my orders as quick as i can to provide great service to my customers

How long have you been practicing your art/craft? 
My shop had been open since March 2011 but have been into arts and scrap booking for years

Any advice for other Etsy sellers? 
My advice to etsy sellers is never to give up. If your new store is starting off slow no worries keep patient. Also open a Facebook page for your etsy shop, that's a great way to promote your work:)

What do you enjoy doing in your off time?  I enjoy spending time with my son, photography, and enjoying the outdoors.

Describe a typical day in your life...
My typical day is being a mom from morning til eve then working on my blocks when my son is in bed.

   Where can we find your products online?
My products can be found through my etsy shop and also through my Facebook page

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

An Interview with Ida Mae from GPlay

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 Ida Mae from GPlay

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

My children

How long have you been practicing your art/craft?

We are brand spankin' new and have just been up and running for about a year.

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

Self taught :)

What is your favorite material to craft with?  

Organic cotton, but anything natural and pure intrigues me!

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

Trying not to take everything personal - because it is!

  
Any advice for other Etsy sellers?

Have fun with it, it shows in your work.

What do you enjoy doing in your off time?

Playing with my boys, camping, music and food!

Describe a typical day in your life...

Oh boy I have a one and three year old so my day revolves around them.  They wake early and are ready to eat of course - two boys!  Then I pretty much bounce between keeping them occupied and making sure the house doesn't catch fire.  If I can squeeze in anything work related it's a miracle.  Luckily, I've employed my eldest as the artist for my designs!  I'm really excited about our next print which will be a compilation of of his water designs - my little Pisces!

Where can we find your products online? 

gplay and Simply Lovable Organics

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

An Interview with Monica from The Hand Print Lady

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 Monica from The Hand Print Lady

What inspired you to begin a shop featuring your own designs?
I opened my shop in 2005 when ETSY first started out. I sold pottery. But in 2009, after a year of product development and testing, I invented my Prints By Mail kit, and wiped my shop clean and started all over featuring my hand print plaques and ornaments.

How long have you been practicing your art/craft? I started ceramics in 1997 so that is 15 years total.

What training have you had or are you self-taught?  I am completely self taught. I should have taken ceramics in college. I studied Physical Therapy in college. Go figure.

 




What is your favorite material to craft with?  My favorite material is by far porcelain clay. Soooooo soft!

What has been the hardest aspect of creating a hobby into a business?  Hardest aspect of taking a hobby to a business is not spending all my money on supplies. And bookkeeping. I hate bookkeeping.

  
Any advice for other Etsy sellers?  Don’t spend all your money you earn on supplies; be smart. Learn how to ship properly and know those rates by heart! Take great pictures (invest in a great camera, its worth it) and a good computer)!

What do you enjoy doing in your off time?  In my off time, I love to cook dinner, do laundry, take a shower, or go to the gym. I go to church on Sunday for 3 hours. Anything but ceramics or the computer!

 




Describe a typical day in your life... Get up at dawn. Make sure the older kids (all four at home) get to school, or drive them or pick them up. Get home so hubby can go to work. Work on computer until 4 yr old wakes. Get her dressed, fed, and potty’d. Feed the dog, the fish, and the hamster. Do more computer work. Try to eat, take a shower, and remember to brush my teeth and put on deodorant. Take 4 yr old to school for 3 hours. Unload or load kiln, paint, dip glaze, drill, thread ribbon, stamp clay, cut holes in clay, pour molds. Mail pickup at 1:30 pm, check mail and delivery. Pick up 4 yr old. Feed her. Start dinner. While cooking, do more computer work. Eat. Answer last email, turn off phone. Turn off computer. Check on kids homework. Give 4 yr old a bath. Get ready for bed, read to 4 yr old. Pass out.

Where can we find your products online? My blog is my biggest sales tool: http://www.handprintlady.blogspot.com http://www.handprintlady.com  http://www.etsy.com/shop/monicalasich   The Hand Print Lady

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