Meet Etsy Seller HelensCrafts

Today we would like to introduce you to Helen

and her Etsy shop Helen's Crafts

Helen's Crafts has been selling on Etsy since August 2010, she specialize in making adorable crochet baby hats with quality yarn and threads. Today she is sharing a little about her shop and selling handmade items.

What motivated you to start your shop? 

I learned to crochet, knit, and sew as a child. Craft was a big part of my childhood, and my mom encouraged creativity in her children. I worked professionally for several years in the sewing and crochet world, where I learned how to present crafts to the public. For a long while my friend Donna encouraged me to share my crochet skills by opening an Etsy shop.  In 2010 I finally took the plunge and opened Helen's Crafts. I have chosen to make baby and children's hats, using my four beautiful grandchildren as inspiration for my creations. 

What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?

The biggest surprise was how much time is required to maintain my shop. I had not realized the time necessary to list the items, work on photography, get orders through the "shipping department," etc., etc. There is always something behind the scenes that needs to be attended to. It takes almost as much time to keep the shop running as it does to make products for the shop.

What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?

Trying to keep on top of SEO (search engine optimization). It is a constant struggle to try and keep my shop relevant. And there is always something to learn about how to get my shop "found." There are so many good shops on Etsy, that if you don't keep on top of it, your shop will quickly drop through the cracks. 

What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?

I believe in giving my customers a quality product at the very best price. I try to treat all my customers as I would like to be treated. One of my pet peeves is when I order something online and it takes weeks to receive my order. I make it a priority to get orders in the mail within a maximum of 3 days.

How would someone (other then you) describe you?

I have been described as competent, self assured, and artistic. My family often call me stubborn!

What do you do when you aren't working?

When I'm not working on my Etsy shop I often find myself crocheting owl hats for my grandchildren. I have four grandchildren, and they are always letting granny know what colors they would like for their new hats. If there is time left after all the owl hats, I have a passion for knitting socks for myself. 

Anything else you'd like to tell us or share?

One of the most rewarding aspects of my Etsy shop is when a customer sends me a picture of their precious baby wearing one of my creations.

Helen's Crafts is offering 15% discount to our blog reader.  To use the coupon, visit her etsy store and enter code 'ETSYKIDS15' at checkout. The voucher is valid until Friday 22nd February 2013.

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EtsyKids Design Challenge: We have a Winner!

We are happy to announce the winner of our last month's challenge - Heart banner/ garland/ bunting by LullabyMobiles!

"This beautiful hearts bunting/ garland/banner is completely hand cut and hand stitched by me with white thread, and a total of 15 eco-friendly felt hearts in bright pink, grey, snow white and threaded with white ribbon. Each heart has been stuffed with hobby fill to create a cute plump effect."

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LullabyMobiles offers an absolutely adorable selection of nursery decor.  It's filled with unique mobiles and banners in delightful array of patterns and designs, all hand made by a talented stay at home mom.  Please be sure to check it out here!

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Tutorial:: Swaddling Blanket

By Grace, of Fun Little Things

Grace of Fun Little Things, shares her tutorial for making swaddling blankets.  For our non-sewers, Grace offers similar blankets for sale in her Etsy Shop.

These blankets are one square yard, flannel on one side, cotton on the other, bias tape around the outside.  Each one is different depending on which fabric (or fabrics, let's be serious) I'm loving at the time, but I love them all.  I will be honest here.  I realize I'm in the business to actually sell the things I make, but when anyone at the farmers market actually picks up one of these blankets, my excitement at the prospect of a sale is tempered a little by my love of the blanket and not wanting to see it go.  I am aware that this is totally ridiculous, but it is the truth.  

They are prefect for wrapping up a new little baby to keep them warm, putting over them in the stroller on a breezy day, or as my wonderful friend Liz recently posted on FLT's facebook page, lying out on the ground outside or at other people's houses for your baby to lie on and not have to touch the dirty, germy floor.  

Materials: 

• 1 yard beautiful flannel fabric of your choosing
• 1 yard beautiful cotton or voile fabric of your choosing 
• 2 packages of Dritz double-fold bias tape in a matching or coordinating color or 4 yards bias tape if you are buying it by the yard.  
• Matching or coordinating thread
• Pins
• Sewing machine or needle

Easy Step-by-Step:

Step 1: For those who may be new to this, step 1 is to always wash and dry the fabric.  This way any pre-shrinking and machine washing weirdness will happen before you painstakingly measure, cut and sew; making your end product machine washable too!  A must for baby items. 

Step 2:  Put flannel and cotton wrong sides together (so the good side of the pattern, or right sides, are showing on the outside for both of them.  A big table helps, but it isn't a necessity.  You can always use your bed, or a clean section of the floor.  

Step 3:  To make it into a perfect square, instead of an imperfect rectangle, all you have to do is take one of the straight edges and fold it into a triangle - like towards one of the side edges.  Cut off the long skinny strip on one end and straighten up the other edge if the lady at the fabric store did a less than stellar cutting job on your fabric.  

Step 4:  Start at any corner and put the bias tape along the edges.  When you open the bias tape, if you haven't used it before you will realize how easy this is, even if it seems mysterious.  Just put the two layers of flannel and cotton between the two sides of the bias tape, right up to the fold.  Pin the tape in place at least 5 places along each edge - more if it will make you feel safe when sewing.  

  

Step 5:  You have two options at the corner.  The best, and most professional looking option is to fold the bias tape so it overlaps and has a diagonal like right at the corner.   

The other option and what you will have to do at the 2nd and 4th corners between the two packages of bias tape, is to cut the bias tape off at the edge of the fabric and start it again going down the other side.  

Step 6: Put your pinned blanket next to your sewing machine, take a little break, grab a beverage, maybe check your facebook.

Step 7:  Sew straight around all 4 edges.  Take out the pins!  Cut off the little strings left at the beginning and end (if all went well, these should be on the same corner). 

Step 8:  You are done!  Snuggle with it!  Wrap up your baby in it.  Text pictures of it to your family and friends so they can reply with things like, "omg!" and "so cute!".  Post a picture of your completed blanket to FLT facebook page.

Grace's Etsy Shop funlittlethings carries sweet and simple handsewn and embroidered items to make you or someone you love smile.  You can get to know her and see her creative process by following her blog, Fun Little Things.  

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National Pancake Day

Happy National Pancake Day!!
Hope you are enjoying some pancakes for dessert tonight. Why not try a new recipe for super fluffy pancakes?

Ingredients: (makes about 30 small pancakes)
280g Self-raising flour
50g Caster sugar
2 Eggs
300ml Milk
Pinch of bicarbonate of soda
Pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Mix the flour, sugar, bicarbonate of soda and salt in a big bowl.
2. Mix the eggs and milk together in a separate bowl.
3. Make a well in the flour mix and add 1/3 of the milk mix. Mix it all up and keep adding more of the milk mix slowly so you don't get any nasty lumps!
4. Once it is all mixed together you can decide if you want to add extras (like raisins, lemon juice & zest, blueberries etc)
5. Dip a kitchen towel into some oil and wipe the bottom of a frying pan with it. You really need very little oil for these pancakes! I oil the pan once at the start only, no need to do it more.
6. Heat the frying pan over the lowest heat on your stove. Using a dessert spoon, spoon 3 lots of pancake mix into the frying pan to make 3 small separate pancakes (you may be able to fit 4 in at once if you have a large frying pan).
7. Leave the mix alone (really don't touch it!) When the tops of your pancakes are all covered in bubbles (usually 2-3 mins), carefully flip your pancake.
8. Leave for another minute or so. To test if they are done try nudging them gently with your spoon, if they move freely they are done, else give them a bit more time.
9. Dress with chocolate sauce or maple syrup and enjoy!!

Thank you Stephanie from Toastie Studio for sharing this yummy recipe, we hope you enjoy your pancakes!!

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Chevron Chic

Chevron Minky Baby Blanket from BabyBeanzy

Waterproof Wipeable Bib from BurpieBundles

Teal & Black Chevron Dress from WearYouGo

Book Sling, 47" long from BoogieSmallsBoutique

Short Sleeve Boys Navy Tee w/ Chevron Tie from brownowldesign 

Red and Pink Chevron Headband from LeahsLittleBowtique

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Girls "Heart" Valentines Day

Valentine's Dress Black ... WearYouGo $29.95	Boutique Bows Turquoise ... loveinbloombou... $10.00	Red and Aqua Ruched an... ChewChewsClose... $26.00	Red Felt Heart with White... SweetbeanzBout... $7.00
Love Hearts Bunting Party... toastiestudio $12.00	Shortall in Bright Hearts - ... OverallBaby $48.00	LSBV Heart Purse LittleSnugglie... $21.95	Ponytail holders - Red and ... MomNMiaQuilts $3.25
Ruffled Apron, Girls Size 5,... ccooperdesigns $25.00	Valentine's Day Button B... ThatsTheCutest... $12.00	Custom Girls Long Sleeve ... SweetChildofMi... $22.99	Valentine Tutu Dress Size... craftybeever $25.00
Valentine XOXO Hugs an... JustJoshinKids $35.00	Valentine's Day Custom I... PinkStripe $55.00	Personalized Valentines ... CutiesTieDyeBo... $18.00	Big Sister Necklace with Pe... pickledbeads $27.50

Thank you to team member HarmonyGirlsClothing for creating this lovely Valentines inspired treasury featuring some lovely items from our members.
Who will be your Valentines this year?

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EtsyKids Design Challenge: It's time to Vote!

It's time to vote for your favorite item! Voting will be open until January 27th. This month, EtsyKids members were challenged to create an exciting new item based on a theme "Be Mine". We received a lot of fantastic entries, please vote for your favorite from the list below.

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