Meet Etsy Seller JoellaCrochet

JoellaCrochet has been selling on Etsy since September 2013, they sell beautiful handmade crochet hats, booties, photography props and more for babies and children! Today they are going to give us a little peak behind the scenes of their Etsy shop.


What motivated you to start your shop?
I decided to teach myself how to crochet out of the blue and when I became pregnant with my first child my son, I started making baby items for him and little baby shower gifts for friends and family. That is when I started to get the encouragement from my friends and family to try and sell my work. It wasn't until almost two years later that I would finally get the courage to start my own Etsy shop.

What is the story behind your shop name?
My shop name JoellaCrochet is a blend of my two children's names. First my 2 year old son Joseph’s name and then my 8 month old daughter Gabriella. I combined the two and JoellaCrochet was born!

What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?
I'm surprised about how much I really love having my own shop, I'm always trying to come up with new items to list! I really love making crochet pieces for others and it’s a great feeling when you make something that puts a smile on someone’s face. I'm also surprise at how having my own shop has helped me expand my skill, it has pushed me to learn new stitches and patterns I otherwise my not have.

What is your favourite creations from your shop?
I love to making my crochet photo props, especially the ones for newborn babies, they are so cute and small. I love coming up with new diaper cover sets for them especially the ones for twin babies. There are so many adorable combinations depending on their genders.

What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?
I like to put a lot of attention to detail in my work so that I can provide the best product that I can make. I also like providing something a little different and unique.

JoellaCrochet is offering a 15% discount in her shop. To use the coupon visit her etsy store and enter code "ETSYKIDS" at checkout.

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June Design Challenge Winner!

June's Design Challenge had the theme "Hold my paw and let's be adventurers!".
We had lots of lovely entries from our team member but the winning entry with the most votes was..

Red Riding Hood and Wolf Softie Sewing Pattern e Book PDF by DollsAndDaydreams

This PDF e-book consisting of 2 full step by step Photo Tutorial Sewing Patterns to make a Little Red Riding Hood Doll that is 16” (40.6 cm) and a Wolf Softie that is 19” (48.5 cm) tall from cotton and felt fabrics. Unlike the fairy tale ... they are the best of friends! Little Red loves her Wolfie and shares all of her cookies with him! 

Here are some more lovely items from DollsAndDaydreams.


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Treasury Challenge #37 - Dotted Lines

The theme for the EtsyKids Team treasury challenge #37 was "Dotted Lines".
Our team members created lots of beautiful treasuries featuring some amazing items, but the winner with a whooping 387 views is...

Etsy Kids Dotted Lines by MoonLitPrintables

Boutique bow- Chevron- Woodland- Photo prop- Baby headband- Toddler headband-EtsyKidsTeam-Animal Print- Childrens headband MajesticMums $8.00	Monogrammed Bib and Burp Cloth set - Navy Blue and Green - Stripes and Polka Dots - Etsykids Team - Personalized Baby Bib SweetSeraphina $26.00	Girls Faux Smocked Fish Ruffle Shirt InletKids $24.00	Striped What's In a Name Birthday Tee - LIMITED EDITION thenook $25.00
CUSTOM punk baby 4 piece MIXED PRINTS crib bedding set fabric Groovy Guitar Lagoon stripes dots chevron RockerByeBaby $225.00	SUPER Chunky Rainbow Girls Chunky Necklace - Rhinestones, Polka Dots - Chunky Beads Necklace - Bubblegum Beads - Summer Photo Props Birthday MasterpiecesOfFunArt $21.00	grey polka dot light switch cover SewSweetStitchesBaby $8.00	Reversible Car Seat ARM PAD Handle Cushion - Cute Red Chevron, Zig Zags Stripes SewABC $14.00
Pink and Brown Polka Dot Toddler Tote - Can Be Personalized TinyRoseBoutique $10.00	Blue or Pink Polka Dot Owl Pillow - Plush Owl Pillow tzburps $26.00	Pillowcase Dress CHEVRON Grey with Pink Dots baby toddler girl lilsweetieboutique $20.00	Personalized Bib Appliqued in Polka Dots for Baby by Tried and True Designs on Etsy TriedAndTrueDesigns $14.00
Girls Montessori Apron, Simple Kids' Apron, Preschool Apron, Striped Pastel Pink and Taupe, Fits 3-7 LilaKids $30.00	Custom Boutique Polka Dot Birthday Number Appliqued Tee Your choice of number christinamcdaniel $22.00

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Thank you MoonLitPrintables for creating such a lovely treasury!

MoonLitPrintables sells stickers, invitations and party favors We love her patterned baby month by month stickers. Visit her shop to see more of her wonderful creations.

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Meet Etsy Seller Melinda Bryant Photo

Today we would like to introduce you to

Etsy shop Melinda Bryant Photo

Melinda Bryant Photo has been selling on Etsy since September 2011, they sell party items, such as invites, decor items etc, plus some lovely photo art prints! Today they are going to give us a little peak behind the scenes of their Etsy shop.


What motivated you to start your shop?
My kids!
Our rowdy boys shared a bedroom and it just wasn't working.  We decided it was time for them, and us, to get some sleep.  They weren't happy about being separated so I offered to decorate their bedrooms in the themes of their choice.  That got them excited!  One son chose animals and the other chose dinosaurs.  So the three of us set out to take some pictures, which eventually became the first of many products offered in my shop.

What is the story behind your shop name?
I had already built a photography business under the decidedly un-creative name of Melinda Bryant Photography.  Titles aren't my thing.  When I went to open my Etsy, I decided to take advantage of the internet presence I'd already built.  Unfortunately it was too many characters for Etsy, so a truncated "Melinda Bryant Photo" was the perfect solution.  I kinda like it better anyway.

What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?
I think I have been more excited than surprised.  The idea that I have the freedom to create anything I can dream up, and offer it to the world is so thrilling!  The possibility inspires me.

What is your favourite creations from your shop?
I love my party animals.  Back when I only sold prints, I used to look at my ferocious dinosaurs and imagine them with monocles and top hats.  One night, as I lay in bed, my T-Rex wandered into my head wearing a party hat.  I loved it!  The next morning I put together the first of my birthday invitations.  I quickly realized that any animal is adorable with a party hat on :)

What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?
My biggest and best challenges are the custom order requests.  People have great creativity!  It used to worry me when I first started, that people would ask for things I didn't know how to make -- so of course it happened all the time.  I'm so glad!  It forced me to jump hurdles I would have avoided without the pressure of expectations.  Some of my best products have been the result of custom order requests.

What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?
Foremost I want everything I sell to be of the highest quality.  If I wouldn't buy it, I won't sell it.  Most of my products are print-at-home items, so ease of printing is also at the top of my list.

What do you do when you aren't working?
I'm a mom.  I drive carpool, volunteer at the school and church, and shuttle kids to games and practices -- meanwhile we eat ramen noodles for dinner and the clean laundry never gets put away.

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Re-Growing Vegetables Experiment

I was inspired recently by an article from  Wonder How To about how to re-grow vegetables.  It looked like a fun and easy experiment to do at home with my girls.

 We often have left over onion pieces at our home that I don't end up using so I thought this was a great opportunity to reuse it .  Other vegetables we have successfully re-grown in our home are celery, garlic, and romaine lettuce.

 There are several others examples for regrowing vegetables in the article such as carrots greens, mushrooms, and ginger that you might want to give a try.  The article has great photos of each vegetable so take a look if it's hard to imagine what the re-grown vegetable might look like.

Dorinda's shop, Raising Green Kids, offers eco-friendly products for your family. Follow her on Facebook and twitter and at her blog.

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June Design Challenge. It's time to Vote!

For June our Design Challenge theme was "Hold my paw and let's be adventurers!"
We have lots of lovely entries from our team members, browse down and vote for your favourite item!
Voting is open until 27th June.

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Meet Etsy Seller Baby Delights: A Children's Store

Today we would like to introduce you to

Etsy shop Baby Delights

Baby Delights has been selling on Etsy since October 2011, they sell unique baby gifts such as washcloth lollipops, bodysuit sundaes, and washcloth cupcakes! Today they are going to give us a little peak behind the scenes of their Etsy shop.


What motivated you to start your shop?
As a new stay at home mom, we had a tight budget and I wanted to make some extra cash, so I made a few items to sell at a craft show.  By the end of my first day, I had sold out on almost everything I had brought.  People were asking if I had a website and asked for a business card...neither of which I had at the time, since it was my first experience selling crafts.  I remember writing my email address on scraps of notebook paper...things developed from there!

What is the story behind your shop name?
I chose my shop's name with the intent of helping shoppers at craft shows know what I sold, so I wanted to put Children in the name.  I was drifting off to sleep one night and the name Baby Delights:  A Children's Store came to me.  I can remember being so excited that I jumped out of bed and wrote it down!

What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?
I am always surprised by the amount of time spent on the seemingly small stuff, like promoting online each day, or how long it takes to carefully package and ship items!

What is your favourite creations from your shop?
I love the washcloth lollipops.  Even after making hundreds of them, they still make me smile.   I love setting them out on my candy display at craft shows and seeing people stop and coo over them.

What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?
Taxes.  I was in for a rude awakening my first year, when I had to count every extra washcloth, bodysuit, sock, ribbon spool, yard of fabric, tape roll, box, etc.    Entering numbers into Excel spreadsheets, keeping up with receipts, paperwork for sales tax...I would love to give that job to someone else!

What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?
Items sold online should be perfection.   That means I wash my hands a hundred times to make sure things are perfect and stay perfect.  There is no room for flaws in my supplies or in my sewing/crafting.  My customers are counting on me to provide exactly what they see in the pictures.  They are looking for the perfect baby gift and I want each of my items to be perfect!

What do you do when you aren't working?
I take care of my 3 year old daughter and often times babysit my 2 nieces (ages 3 and 1).  My daughter loves art, so we spend a great deal of our day cutting, pasting, painting, and baking (when she's not making me be a mermaid or help her "look for treasure").  I am hoping she will be my craft show partner in a few years!

Baby Delights is offering a 10% discount in her shop. To use the coupon visit her etsy store and enter code "ETSYKIDS10" at checkout. Valid until July 31st 2014.
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