Meet Sharon from Flaunt The Name

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 Sharon from Flaunt The Name

Personalized Baby Girl Birth Announcement
Blanket with Birth Stats $25

What inspired you to begin a shop featuring your own designs?
A friend told me about Etsy and was encouraging me to put some items up so she could show some of her friends my designs and so I did it on a whim. 

How long have you been practicing your art/craft?
I have been embroidering for 4 years.
 
 

Baby Boy Monogrammed Burp Cloth Set $18

What training have you had or are you self-taught?
I am self-taught in both sewing and embroidery. I have learned everything that I know within the last 4 years. 

What is your favorite material to craft with?
My favorite material to craft with would have to be the baby burp cloths. I love making new sets to put in my shop and I love the challenge of creating a set to match a nursery or baby theme of a couple.

Girl Easter Tee Shirt with Easter Basket
and Colorful Easter Eggs $20

What has been the hardest aspect of creating a hobby into a business?
The hardest part, for me, about creating a hobby into a business is the time management aspect. I have 2 little ones and sometimes I get so busy that I have a hard time keeping a balance between motherhood and my shop and most of the time, I end up being working until the early morning hours on orders.

Any advice for other Etsy sellers?
My advice to other Etsy sellers is to allow custom orders if at all possible. Many of my most popular designs have been color or fabric combinations that a customer put together and combinations that I never would have thought to try together.

What do you enjoy doing in your off time?
In my off time I spend most of my time with my 2 amazing kids and my wonderful husband.

Baby Girl Bib and Burp Cloth Set Hot Pink and Green $15

Describe a typical day in your life.
A typical day for me consists of taking my son to school. When I get home from dropping him off, I spend about 1 – ½ hours designing new orders and mailing out orders that I completed the night before or embroidering. I might be able to squeeze a little embroidering in when my son gets home from school between 3-5 if my son and daughter play nicely together (which they usually do). After dinner , bath and bed, I am in my sewing room for the remainder of the night creating and embroidering orders.

Where can we find your products online? My products can be found online in my Etsy shop, (which is about 90% of my business). I also have a Facebook page.

Meet Elizabeth from Little Elephant 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 throughout March, we will be interviewing shop owners, to get a glimpse of the designer behind those adorable baby products!

Meet Elizabeth from Little Elephant Crafts

Custom "Bun in the Oven" Pregnancy Announcements,
Baby Shower Invitations, Gender Reveals - Hand Sculpted $7

What inspired you to begin a shop featuring your own designs?
Two years ago I was working three jobs, longing to have a baby with my husband, and we were struggling financially to make ends meet as a newly married couple - I was frazzled and burnt out from working too hard.
One of my favorite pastimes was sketching out creative and unusual ideas for pregnancy announcements (for the time when we'd someday get to break the happy news to our families). As I came up with more and more beautiful and unusual ideas, I started thinking, "These are pretty adorable! I'll bet I could sell these on Etsy!"
After product research, many prototypes, photo shoots, technical logistics, and scrounging enough money together to get things started, Little Elephant Crafts was born right after Mother's Day in 2012! Since then, the past two years have been a whirlwind and a blessing, with Little Elephant Crafts thriving beyond my modest hopes for it.

Connie from Connie's Crochet

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 Connie from Connie's Crochet

Marine baby clothes USMC baby hat and pants
you pick the size colors
Hobbyist License 11324  $55+

What inspired you to begin a shop featuring your own designs?
My children, my faith and my love for creating

How long have you been practicing your art/craft?
On and off for 44 years, non stop 4.5 years

What training have you had or are you self-taught?
My foster introduced me to crochet but most is self taught

What is your favorite material to craft with? Yarn and a hook

Crochet cowboy hat boots and vest
set you pick the colors and size $80+

What has been the hardest aspect of creating a hobby into a business?
Not taking on more then I can handle and learning to say no to customers
 


Any advice for other Etsy sellers?
Do lots of research and do not under value your self and your work by under pricing it. Go the extra mile to please your customer, say thank you a lot and don't stress. 


What do you enjoy doing in your off time?
Going to church, relaxing with the husband, spending time with the grand kids and playing games.

 
    

Dr Seuss birthday hat photo
prop diaper cover and tie included $55

Describe a typical day in your life.
My typical day anymore seems to be working on orders or emails 12-15 hours a day at least. I am up about 6:30 AM after coffee, emails and facebook of course, I start on orders for that day. I usually plan on creating 3-5 per day. I work on these orders and emails until about 4:00 PM. Then I get these orders ready to go to the post office. I do take little breaks throughout the day to eat a bit and get dressed. After the post office a take a 2-3 hour break and then its back to creating and planning the next days work. I want to slow down a bit on evenings and weekends but that is not usually possible. 

Where can we find your products online?  Connie's Crochet

Meet Brittany from Simply Thursday

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 Brittany from Simply Thursday

Crochet Turtle $40

What inspired you to begin a shop featuring your own designs?
I was inspired to design by the birth of my daughter, Ava. She is such a beautiful, delightful little girl. I decided I wanted to dress her in clothing and accessories that are unique. 

How long have you been practicing your art/craft?
I have been crocheting for well over a decade. I started designing in November of 2011.

What training have you had or are you self-taught?
When I was younger a schoolteacher taught me the basics of crochet. I taught myself the more advance techniques, recently I have also dabbled in sewing!

Golden Bell Hand Crochet
Princess Tutu Dress $35+

What is your favorite material to craft with?
 I love using soft, acrylic yarn. It is machine washable and dry-able, so it's easy to launder. My favorite brand is Hobby Lobby's I Love This Yarn. 

What has been the hardest aspect of creating a hobby into a business?
The largest challenge I've faced as an entrepreneur is marketing myself, and finding people interested in handmade. 

Any advice for other Etsy sellers?
Use all your tags when listing an item; have nice, well lit, clear pictures. 

Rags to Riches Hand Crochet
Princess Tutu Dress (Child) $45+

What do you enjoy doing in your off time?
In my off time I crochet! It's my hobby, my stress reliever, my livelihood, and my creative outlet.

Describe a typical day in your life. Typically I wake up and care for my children. During naptime, or when the kids are occupied, I crochet. 
 
Where can we find your products online? You can find my products on  Facebook , instagram , twitter , and on Etsy

Meet Natalie from Owesley

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 Natalie from Owesley
My name is Natalie Sularski. I am the owner, maker and designer of Owesley, a colorful blanket boutique. I spend my days and nights raising my two rambunctious little boys, Owen and Wesley, and fulfilling my dream of having my own business. My boys are my heart and soul and definitely my inspiration. After all, the shop is named after them! You can find us at www.etsy.com/shop/owesley

Large Baby/Toddler Blanket, Green Trees with
White Minky Swirl, Ready to Ship $54

What inspired you to begin a shop featuring your own designs?
One of many things that bring me joy is giving a great gift -- a gift that has thought and meaning behind it. While I was pregnant with Wes I started making blankets for my pregnant friends. It was something I have always loved doing and had not had time for -- in what seemed like ages! I threw myself into my craft and before I knew it, I had more blankets than friends with babies! With the support of my family and friends, I decided to open up my shop. 

Extra Large Youth Blanket, Morning Flower
with Ivory Minky Swirl, Ready to Ship $90

 How long have you been practicing your art/craft &
what training have you had or are you self-taught?
My mother taught me to sew when I was younger and still continues to give me advice. I definitely could not have accomplished what I have without her knowledge. Her support and faith in me has gotten me to the place I am today. 

Large Baby/Toddler Blanket, Lil' Cowgirl with Pony
Minky and Brown Satin Trim, Ready to Ship $60

What is your favorite material to craft with?
I love picking out fabrics and matching patterns and designs. Shopping for fabric is a major weakness for me, but sewing and creating with my purchases is a huge reward. The best part is seeing an Owesley blanket being used and well loved. 





What has been the hardest aspect of creating a hobby into a business?
Turning my hobby into my business has been so rewarding. Not a day goes by when I don’t browse other shops on Etsy. I am in awe of the amazing people who have accomplished so much by doing something they love -- all while providing for their families. Etsy is an amazing environment and marketplace. I am beyond proud to be a part of it. 

Baby Blanket, Blue and Grey Dots with
Blue Minky Swirl, Ready to Ship $44

What do you enjoy doing in your off time?  Describe a typical day in your life.
As a mother to young children, “off time” is rare. I enjoy a good book and a date night every once in a while with my husband. Mostly though, a good night sleep would be amazing! A typical day in the Sularski house starts with trying to get everyone up, cleaned, dressed, fed, out the door, and Owen to school. All with coffee in hand. Running errands ensues and then back for Wesley’s nap and my time to work on Owesley. After nap, it’s time to get Owen and take him to swim, soccer or whatever activity he has scheduled. Then we head home for dinner, baths, play and bedtime. After spending some time with my amazing husband I likely head back to work on whatever adventures Owesley has brought my way. I love to be busy and wouldn’t have it any other way. I feel that while pursuing my dreams I am teaching my kids the value of hard work.  
Where can we find your products online? You can find our cozy blankets on Etsy
Also, you can follow us on facebook and twitter for updates, new listings and events.

Meet Beth from Hooked4Babies

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 Beth from Hooked4Babies

White shoes booties with yellow flowers for baby girl in
sizes preemie-12 months (shoe size 0-5). Great as gifts
and photography props too! $11

What inspired you to begin a shop featuring your own designs?
I was inspired to begin a shop featuring my own designs after selling on eBay for a while.

How long have you been practicing your art/craft?
I have been crocheting since 1990. 

Beautiful gray shoes / boots with pink flowers for baby girl.
Size 0-3 months (shoe size 1-2). Great as gifts and
photography props too! $9.50

What training have you had or are you self-taught?
Everything I know about crocheting is self taught. 



What is your favorite material to craft with?
My favorite material to craft with is yarn.

Gray & white shoes booties loafers
for baby boy  $11

What has been the hardest aspect of creating a hobby into a business?
Competition and similar item availability is the hardest aspect of maintaining my hobby as a business.

Any advice for other Etsy sellers?
I am so new that I am the one in need of advice from other Etsy sellers.

What do you enjoy doing in your off time?
I enjoy crocheting in my off time.

Describe a typical day in your life.
A typical day in my life is crafting my handmade baby items.

Where can we find your products online? My handmade items and patterns can be found online in my Etsy shop @ Hooked4Babies

Meet Sara from Purple Zebra Stuffies

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 Sara from  Purple Zebra Stuffies

Handmade sock animal - stuffed animal
Pretty in Pink glove puppy $22.50

What inspired you to begin a shop featuring your own designs?
One year for Christmas, I decided to make sock animals for all the kids instead of buying presents. I got a ton of requests from friends, family and coworkers for custom animals. After several months of word of mouth orders I decided to open a shop!

How long have you been practicing your art/craft?
My grandmother taught me to sew when I was 5 when she gave me my 1st sewing machine! I didn't start making sock animals until 2 years ago.

Handmade sock animal -
stuffed animal  Fuzzy
black and green bunny
ballerina $29.99

What training have you had or are you self-taught?
I taught myself to make sock animals. I started using patterns but then created my own.

 

What is your favorite material to craft with?
Socks of course :)


What has been the hardest aspect of creating a hobby into a business?
The business aspect. There is a lot that goes into it, especially when you are crafting items for children! I'm honestly still trying to figure it all out!





Any advice for other Etsy sellers?
Keep at it! Some months can be frustrating, some can be overwhelming. As long as you love what you are doing, be persistent! It'll pay off in the end.

 

Handmade sock animal - stuffed animal
tan and orange polka dot sock giraffe $29.99

What do you enjoy doing in your off time?
What is off time? 
 


Describe a typical day in your life.
Most of my day is spent with my 4 year old, baby and 2 dogs! It's non stop busy most days!
When the girls are sleeping at the same time (insert laughter), I work on custom orders, new items for the shop and other business stuff.
Currently I'm working on a line of mini stuffies made from baby socks! 







  

Handmade sock animal - stuffed animal
Cute brown sock monkey $25

 


Where can we find your products online? Etsy, Facebook and our webpage!
Etsy
purplezebra-stuffies
Facebook