Meet Etsy Seller WeildHairAccessories

Today we would like to introduce you to

Etsy shop WeildHairAccessories

WeildHairAccessories has been selling on Etsy since August 2013, she sell handmade fun and colorful chunky necklaces for children and adults! Today she is sharing a little about her shop and selling handmade items.


What is the story behind your shop name?
I had the hardest time coming up with my shop name.  I was trying to play off my first name, Jodi, and came up with things like Jodi's Bow-dis and Bow-dis by Jodi, but I quickly realized that wouldn't leave me any room for expanding my product line (and it sounded pretty cheesy).  I switched gears and came up with W(e)il'd Hair once I decided to use my last name, Weil.  When I first started selling, I was only making hair products, but I soon added chunky necklaces to my shop and it was easy to change my shop name to include my new accessory line.  Hence, W(e)il'd Hair & Accessories!

What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?
The time it takes to market yourself and your business.  I have a creative side but not much of a background in marketing and business, unless you count that Introduction to Business class I took my freshman year of college almost 14 years ago!  I didn't realize that I would have to spend almost as much time marketing, networking and advertising every day as I do creating my product.

What is your favourite creations from your shop?
I enjoyed adding my current range of chunky necklaces to my etsy shop, those are always fun to make.

What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?
Standing out from the crowd.  There are a lot of other sellers who create chunky necklaces.  I make sure I post quality pictures and descriptive listings – I feel that this communicates to potential buyers that I take my craft seriously and stresses the quality and durability of my products.

What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?
I want my customers to be happy and 100% satisfied with their purchase.  I want them to have a smile on their face and feel beautiful when they, their friend, or loved one wears their necklace.

What do you do when you aren't working?
When I'm not working, I'm mom to a 4.5 year old girl and a 22 month old boy, as well as wife to my husband of almost 6 years.  I also like to go to the gym, read, and watch home decorating shows, food shows and other mindless television.

Anything else you'd like to tell us or share?
You would think that my daughter, a girl who is up before the sun and wakes me up to ask if she can wear a leotard and tutu, would be a walking model for my products, but alas, she refuses to try on my items most of the time, so my handsome little son is my guinea pig.  He loves chunky necklaces!

Tweet

Meet Etsy Seller Ebony Shae Designs

Today we would like to introduce you to

Etsy shop Ebony Shae Designs

Ebony Shae Designs has been selling on Etsy since September 2011, she sell PDF patterns for making children's animal masks! Today she is sharing a little about her shop and selling on Etsy.


What motivated you to start your shop?
I fell in love with masks as a teenager when I went to see Phantom of the Opera for the first time. The masquerade scene stayed with me for years. I am also a hopeless craft addict, and will try my hand at anything – whether I know what I am doing or not. So as a young married woman, I started making leather masquerade masks. I still have most of them, with no idea what I will ever do with them.
Then along came children, and the process of curing, working the leather, and painting it within a certain time-frame became impossible. Unfortunately the love of masks and creating did not leave. Fortunately kids LOVE dressing up and playing make believe. So I started making a few masks to represent the story characters we were reading about. Friends and relatives started making requests and I couldn't keep up!
It took me a while to realize that I could teach my friends to make their own and the idea of making and selling patterns was born.

What is the story behind your shop name?
When we were waiting for our second daughter to arrive, the difficult process of choosing ANOTHER girls name resulted in many round table discussions.  After all, we had already chosen the best girls name the first time around, hadn't we???  Where the first time we agreed easily, the second time the discussions were endless!  I really loved the name Ebony Shae, but the hubby was adamant.  So when I opened my Etsy store, I simply used the name I loved.

What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?
I am constantly surprised that my personal favourite masks are not the most popular.  Not by far!  I am also constantly surprised by what custom orders come in, they are never what I expect.

What is your favourite creations from your shop?
My all time favourite mask is still the lady bug.  I simply love the way it sits and is shaped.  It is also adorable on.  I think it ranks about 10th or less in my best sellers.  The elephant is always the most popular.

What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?
Trying to communicate in obvious ways.  I STILL have people ask for finished masks for $4.00 US, despite having 'pattern' written on the picture, a picture of a PDF icon on the first picture, pattern in the title, and reference to the item being a pattern 3 times in the descriptions!  (If anyone has any other suggestions, I'm all ears).

What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?
Our motto is: Make Masks.  Make Believe.  Make Memories.
I believe our time as mothers at home with the kids should be considered sacred (no matter how much or little of it you get).  We will never get it again.  They will never be the age they are today ever, ever again.
I am so fortunate to have a hubby that supports me to stay home and share this time with our kids, and I am even more fortunate that I love it.

What do you do when you aren't working?
I am a stay at home mum who home schools our 2 darling daughters, (we also have a 6 month old boy, but he is a little young for school yet)!  If I ever get time to myself (usually when the hubby is driving the car) you will find me knitting, doing crochet, sewing (ok, so that doesn't happen in the car) or generally avoiding housework in some other fashion!

Please tell us a little about the children's items market / handmade movement in your Country? 
I feel that the children's market in Australia is strong, but piecemeal.  There are markets for used items, there are markets for new items, there are general markets that always have kids stalls, there are craft markets that some of us fit into, then there are craft markets that we don't.
The handmade movement is getting stronger in all areas.  When I became a founding member of our knitting group which started 10 years ago, many of my work colleagues laughed, now many are picking up some sort of craft and realizing the benefits.

Anything else you'd like to tell us or share?
Being a part of teams on Etsy has really made the experience for me.  To have a community to go to to celebrate, commiserate, and ask questions of makes selling on Etsy so much more enjoyable.  Thanks to the EtsyKids team and coordinators for their part in making my job so much more fun!

Ebony Shae Designs is offering a 20% off any purchases, including her pdf pattern combo deals. To use the coupon visit her etsy store and enter code "ETSYKIDS1" at checkout. 

Tweet

Meet Etsy Seller MyFunnyBuddy

Today we would like to introduce you to

Etsy shop MyFunnyBuddy

MyFunnyBuddy has been selling on Etsy since November 2012, she sell fun and easy PDF sewing patterns to make your own soft toys! Today she is sharing a little about her shop and selling on Etsy.


What motivated you to start your shop?
I loved stuffed animals as a kid! Then when I had my daughter, and dropped multiple "surface wash" only toys in parking lots, I wanted to give her toys that were washable. It's been great, she is my best tester! She is only 3 1/2 but she is proud to show off toys her Mommy made.

What is the story behind your shop name?
I had a doll that didn't turn out quite right so I was calling her "Funny Doll." When I started making animals, I wanted to be more general, so switched to My Funny Buddy. I still need to write up that "Funny Doll" pattern. My teenage babysitters think she's cute and funky.

What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?
I never would have guessed that I would make so many friends and meet such wonderful people through my shop. My patterns are meant to be quick to make so they lend themselves to people who sew toys for donations. My very first customer was Dona from Sewing Miles of Smiles. She has now become a wonderful friend. I'm inspired by all the work she does. Kristy from Hopeful Threads is another sewing friend who does great work for charity.

What is your favourite creations from your shop?
That's a tough one. Hmm, I might have to say my monster. It comes with happy and sad faces which can be placed on opposite sides of head, or made as two separate monsters. It is my therapy toy. I love how it can be used for kids to show their feelings or to be a buddy that empathizes with them.

What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?
Marketing is something I didn't know much about. I thought Search Engine Optimization would be the hard part and only way to get the word out about my shop. I didn't realize how big a role social networking plays. Currently, I'm only on Facebook, Pinterest, and have my own website, www.myfunnybuddy.com. I feel like I need to do more social networking, though it's all to easy to spend too much time on the computer and Facebook when I should be sewing and designing.

What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?
Designing toys that are easy to make and with personality. I love designing faces that have funky or cute expressions. And I like hearing about beginners who try out my patterns. I would like to do more to get kids (or adults) interested in sewing. It's a great skill that teaches principles beyond sewing. Actually, I feel that way about most arts and crafts. Learning to follow instructions, and learning that you can't just press a button to "Undo" or "Delete" a mistake are valuable. Don't get me wrong, I love my computer. I used to be a computer programmer, and I have to say that all my years of doing crafts made me the most careful programmer on my team!

What do you do when you aren't working?
Playing with my daughter, doing other art projects, sometimes both at once. Also, I'm toying with fabric design. Though honestly, for the past year, any extra time has been spent on my shop. And I've loved it!

MyFunnyBuddy is offering a 20% discount in her shop. To use the coupon visit her etsy store and enter code "ETSYKIDS20" at checkout. Valid until 16th February 2014.

Tweet

Meet Etsy Seller Little Tadpole Designs

Today we would like to introduce you to

Etsy shop Little Tadpole Designs

Little Tadpole Designs has been selling on Etsy since January 2011, she sell toddler belts, soft-soled baby slippers, custom mitten & MAM pacifier clips, crocheted toys & dolls all handmade in Canada!  Today she is sharing a little about her shop and selling handmade items.


What motivated you to start your shop?
When my oldest child was about 6 months old, I found that I didn't care for or couldn't find a lot of the store-bought accessories that I really wanted.  Being a do-it-yourself kind of person, I thought about what it would take to make something that fit perfectly for my needs... and then I made it.  I made and sold a variety of items on a small scale while developing and testing my main product, my Snap! Belts for preschoolers, and once I had perfected the design the way I envisioned, I opened my shop here on Etsy!  Since then, my shop has continued to grow, just as my family has.

What is the story behind your shop name?
When I was a child, my siblings and cousins and I had many fun hours in our grandparent's backyard where my grandpa had a lovely man-made pond and garden.  In the spring, we would catch the tadpoles and watch over the days and weeks that they would turn into little toads.  Those little things taught me a lot and it remains a very fond memory for me.  I knew when I started my shop that my shop would grow and change as my children would... just like those little tadpoles.

What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?
I've been surprised by how much my shop has come to mean to me.  I put a lot of time and pride into making each and every item I design, as I do with making my shop here on Etsy as professional as I'd want if I was one of my customers instead of the designer/creator!  I didn't realize when I started out that I would still be going strong three years later, let alone could I have guessed that I would have taken some of the steps I have into expanding on my interests and skills into areas of design.  I'm excited about what the future may bring!

What is your favourite creations from your shop?
This is a tough question... I love my Snap Belts so much because the design came from such a need that all three of my skinny little kids have and they have grown in that I am not designing the elastic that I use from them by hand by myself!  I'm immensely proud of this achievement!  In terms of fun though... my dolls are my favorite to create.  I don't use a pattern when I make a doll and they sort of design themselves as I go, which is just so rewarding when the hours and hours that go into each doll result in a totally unique doll with it's own personality.  I just love them!

What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?
One of the most challenging things I find is pricing.  I love to create, but it does all cost money and, for some items especially, also a great deal of time!  By the time you consider your concrete costs like materials, fees, and shipping... it's hard to wrap your head around the more ambiguous costs including wage and profit.  What about those business cards, or the time it takes to package the items?  What about the cost of that yarn or thread that isn't so easy to judge how much has been used?  And then there is the greater picture... how to price to show that you value yourself and your product as deserved, as well as fit properly in place with all the other items of similar quality or technique that are being created by others?  In the end, it is about being confident and comfortable with how you've come up with your prices and how you know your items are worth as much or more than what they are priced at... but I still find this aspect very challenging and one of the areas of being an Etsy seller that I continually need to work on.

What do you do when you aren't working?
Well, with three kids under age 5... I'm usually cleaning up some sort of mess!

Tweet

Meet Etsy Seller RansomLetterHandmade

Today we would like to introduce you to

Etsy shop RansomLetterHandmade

RansomLetterHandmade has been selling on Etsy since October 2012, she sell handmade hair bows, hair bands and cute gifts for kids! Today she is sharing a little about her shop and selling handmade items.


What motivated you to start your shop?
Boredom. I am a librarian by profession, but when I stopped working to stay home with my children, I found that I had more personal time to be creative.  I have so many ideas and I just can't keep them to myself. Plus, I love the feedback I get from my customers. It makes me feel good.

What is the story behind your shop name?
I have no idea. I like the way it sounds. Ransom Letter Handmade Boutique sounds edgy and a little tough. My husband says it is because I hold customers purchases ransom until I receive payment! Ha!

What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?
That customers are buying my stuff! I am so flattered that my customers spend their very hard earned dollars on gift items that were once my idea, design, or creation.

What is your favourite creations from your shop?
I love to sew! I love my sewing machine. Everything in my shop that is sewn comes from my own patterns. I love sewing together various colors and textures to make one of a kind wearables, such as my wrist cuffs and headbands.

What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?
The bookkeeping. If I remember correctly, I attempted Accounting 101 three times and dropped it every semester. Too many rules, I suspect. Now that I'm an Etsy seller, accounting has come back to haunt me once more.

What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?
To have fun. When I stop having fun playing on Etsy then I'll move on to another adventure.

Tweet

Meet Etsy Seller Fun Little Things

Today we would like to introduce you to

Etsy shop funlittlethings

funlittlethings has been selling on Etsy since August 2011, she sell handmade baby bibs, onesies and other cute items for kids! Today she is sharing a little about her shop and selling handmade items.


What motivated you to start your shop?
I started my shop as a fun, on the side, creative outlet while teaching kindergarten full time. I also hoped making a little money would help support my fabric buying habit! Bit by bit I got more and more excited by what I was making and what was going on in my shop. When I was laid off due to the state budget in 2011, when I happened to be 6 months pregnant, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to really put all of my efforts into making my Etsy shop a real business.

What is the story behind your shop name?
The up until now secret story behind my shop name (that so far only my husband and my mom know) is that I don't really like my shop name. Not really thinking that my shop would be a full time job/ real business, I was in kind of a rush to set up my shop, and thinking up names as I filled out the online forms. I wanted Pretty Little Things, but that was taken, so Fun Little Things seemed like the next best option. I do like that it gives me the freedom to make more than just items for babies (although that is obviously my primary focus.) I can make anything I get excited about creating and it will fit with the name of the shop. And now that I have a professionally graphic designed logo that is on woven, sew-in tags, business cards, mailing labels and stickers, and a Fun Little Things blog, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram I have definitely missed the boat on changing it!

What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?
I have definitely been the most surprised by the amazing online crafting community. I love getting glimpses into the lives, creations and creative processes of other Etsy sellers, bloggers, quilters, fabric shop owners and all sorts of other amazing women and men creating real community and sharing their passions online.
 
What is your favourite creations from your shop?
My favorite creation is always my newest creation! I love the excitement I get while planning a new project. Sometimes I am inspired by beautiful new fabrics, sometimes by a need I see in the little people I love, but whatever it is, I love really using my brain to work out the details, do some math and some drawing and then getting out the scissors and getting to work. Right now, my newest creation is my fledgling clothing line! Dresses, rompers and bloomers all sewn with incredible Nani Iro Double Gauze and Liberty of London Tana Lawn fabrics.
I am also pretty excited about everything in my Holiday shop section right now, Christmas bibs and onesies, and hand-stitched felt ornaments!

What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?
For me, the most challenging part of being an Etsy seller (and creative small business owner) is promoting my own work. I love all of the items I am creating. I love giving them as gifts at such exciting times in the lives of those I love. I love writing about them on my blog, because I am genuinely stoked on my creative process and the beautiful materials I use. But because there are just so many Etsy sellers, a big part of having a successful shop is finding a way to make sure my items are getting seen. This means reaching out to more successful bloggers and shop owners. I have no problem talking to even the most remote strangers (I am a total social butterfly) but for me to say, hey, look at these bibs, or these amazing baby dresses I designed and sewed with gorgeous materials, is so unnatural and uncomfortable! Luckily for me, I joined this great team, and we can help promote each other!

What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?
My personal philosophy when it comes to my shop and my creations is that it is all about love! Every item in my shop was originally made to share love with people in my life and bring a smile to their faces. Whether it is having a new baby, getting married, moving into a new house or celebrating a birthday or other holiday, exciting times in life call for something special and personal and I love being able to create something new thinking about that person and their exciting times. Those new items become items for sale in my shop and I then get to spread that love and those smiles with strangers around the country - such an incredibly rewarding experience!

What do you do when you aren't working?
My number one job is being a stay at home mom to my ten month old little girl! We spend our days cuddling kittens, reading books, making messes, walking the dog, making friends at the swings or the library or music class and growing teeth (ok, maybe that one is more her than me). We also like hiking, going to the beach and cooking and eating yummy food with Dad when he is home from work, and I try to get myself to yoga as much as possible! All of the sewing and blogging and shop work happens during naps or after bedtime. I have gotten really good at getting right to work whenever I have a chance!

What makes the coming holiday season special for you?
My daughter's first Christmas! I can't wait to see the look in her eyes and hear her cooing at all the holiday lights and decorations and to feed her all the amazing food my family cooks every year. For the last few years I have been making as many presents as possible for those I love and this year, with my little girl to make for, all my planning and sewing and creating will be extra special.

funlittlethings is offering a 10% discount in her shop. To use the coupon visit her etsy store and enter code "NEWYEAR10" at checkout. Valid on January 1st 2014.

Tweet