It is wonderful to have you join this coffee chat session! This series has been a genuine aspiration for me. When I launched my Etsy shop a few weeks ago, I really wanted to connect with fellow blogging friends to discuss my questions, which is how this interview series came to be. I feel truly honored that these busy shop owners and bloggers dedicated time to answer my inquiries. Today, they will share introductions and details about their handcrafted businesses.
Please pour a cup of coffee, and let us begin.
Day 1: Meeting the Instructors {Four Bloggers Share Their Handmade Business Journeys}
{bird graphic provided by Heather @ Sewing Daisies}
In my long-time reading of your blogs, I've met one of you recently. Could each of you introduce yourselves and explain how you began selling on Etsy?
Gina from Shabby Creek Cottage:
Greetings, I am Gina of The Shabby Creek Cottage & The Shabby Creek Shop. My blog began as a way to document the restoration of my childhood home. Starting in April 2009, reader encouragement led to opening my Etsy shop in October 2009; I have since transitioned to my dedicated site, TheShabbyCreekShop.com.
{Gina’s updated shop features an online catalog; it is truly lovely!}
Jami from Freckled Laundry:
Hello everyone! I am Jami, the writer behind the DIY Vintage Chic blog, freckled laundry, where I share my passion for crafting and decorating, alongside my path as an Etsy vendor and {future} textile designer. I am married to a dedicated man and have three young children—a 9 year-old son and 2 year-old boy/girl twins…
Here are Jaden, Edyn, and Grey. (Left to Right)
During my {brief} free time, I restore our small home in Upstate NY, blog, and work toward my {strong} goals for the more practical among us, for freckled laundry. This includes running an Etsy shop and eventually having both standalone online and physical stores. Etsy serves as my creative release and a solid means to boost income as a stay-at-home mother.
freckled laundry initially named my blog and later became my brand, hence the Etsy shop name! Inspired by other successful stay-at-home mothers and bloggers who became business owners, I launched my Etsy shop in November 2010, selling handmade baby shoes. I began making clay tags in February 2011, and everything changed!
{I admire Jami’s gorgeous photography and creations!}
Lisa from the Pennington Point
My shop has been operating for nearly 3 years. I had three motivations: 1) to supplement family income due to economic shifts, 2) to find a creative outlet, and 3) to involve my 4 daughters in the business, teaching them home-based management for their future careers. Although my shop has evolved, these initial goals remain consistent.
Having many interests made focusing the shop difficult. One day, I was dropping off towels for monogramming as a gift. I adore monograms and often visited this local shop but was frustrated by their limited creativity. I inquired about using two different fonts in a single word, which they seemed surprised by. So, I departed and explored alternatives, purchasing an embroidery machine to start monogramming myself. Friends loved my work and started commissioning pieces, leading us to focus on personalized items—turning a personal passion into the ideal business.
{Lisa’s family—she is a mother of 9!}
Aimee from My Pink Life
I am married to a wonderfully supportive husband and am a mother to 3 young children, all aged 5 or younger. They keep me very busy, yet I also enjoy creative expression through my blog and Etsy shop. While I have maintained an Etsy presence for several years, I became significantly more active about a year ago. I sell handpainted signs made from salvaged barn wood via my shop; it began when I created signs for my own house, which friends admired and ordered, leading to word-of-mouth growth!
{What a sweet family! Plus, they reside in a Pennsylvania location we have visited—I love that…}
I feel this gathering is just beginning, but it is time to conclude! To learn more about these wonderful women, please click on their names {located above each comment}. This will direct you to their respective blog sites to view more of their stunning work.
Tomorrow, we will continue our discussion focusing on product branding and graphic design. I look forward to seeing you then!
Connecting to Home Stories A through Z
