Re: LET'S GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER/ WHY YOU'RE HERE...

ViktoriousWords · ‎12-16-2016

Hi Everyone!

I think it's time to get to know the members of this lovely team, as well as welcome newcomers. Etsy is a community, and I want to make sure we all feel like we're all on the same team here, so let's get to know one another!

I'll go first!
I'm a professional copywriter, and I found my niche here, on Etsy, about a year ago. I've been copywriting and translating for about 3 years - I started out while I was still in university, getting my degree in Sociology, to make some extra cash, and have been passionate about my work ever since! I've always been a good writer, and even used to write short stories and poetry (I still do sometimes), so working as a writer was a no-brainer. I also wanted to use my Sociology degree for good - being a Soci major I definitely wanted to work with people every day - and I thought that I should just combine the two. Now, I get to work directly with clients to help them make the content on their websites/ in their Etsy shops interesting, sellable, and SEO-friendly, so that all the talented individuals sharing their art with the world have the tools they need to succeed!

I spend my free time doing all kinds of artsy stuff (this is why I was so drawn to Etsy - I feel like the artists here are kindred spirits) like photography (I'm a total amateur), painting, and creating elaborate, colorful make-up looks and lip art. I'm a total makeup addict by the way. I hoard it like crazy, and my boyfriend always puts his judgy pants on when he sees my lipstick collection. Ooooopssss.... :)
My boyfriend and I have two adorable kitties - Tako and Joseph - or Jojo, as we like to call him - and they're crazy and playful, and just so, so cute.

Sooooo, that was a lot about me! Now, I want to hear about you!
What kind of art do you make? What inspired you to start/ why do you keep going? What do you do outside of your crafting/artwork - do you have a day job? Do you like it? What are your other hobbies? Basically, write anything and everything - I want to get to know you!

Talk soon,

Viktoriya

NobbysNibs · ‎12-16-2016

Hello all,

Here's my story...

I've been known as 'Nobby' for as long as I can remember. Nearly 5 years ago, quite by chance, I had a previously unknown genetic heart condition diagnosed that resulted in open heart surgery. This resulted in a change of career and a re-think of my hobbies & passtimes.

Anyway, I rekindled an old interest in woodturning and spent many hours on my lathe in my shed accompanied by my dog, Glennie. My wife won a handmade wooden pen in a raffle and I thought, 'I could make those'. I was soon making pens as gifts for friends and family and it wasn't long before I was receiving orders for pens.

One day, one of my wifes colleagues suggested I try selling some of my pens on Etsy. I had never heard of it and, initially, I was unconvinced but opened a shop here anyway and listed a few pens just to test the water. A couple of years later, and I'm very happy with the way things are going. Although I specialise in making pens, I make bowls, candlesticks, razors etc. This is my main selling place, but I go to a few craft fairs each year..

This isn't my main source of income, it's more of a hobby that pays for itself and I work part time for a supermarket.

So, that's me

C4GiftsByJen · ‎12-16-2016

Hi guys, nice to meet you both :)

I'm Jen and I started this journey as a single mom with 3 kids, looking to supplement my income. I started out trying to set up and open an online dropshipping business but as you can imagine, with 3 young kids (one was a baby) I just didn't have enough time to invest in it. Over the years I met someone and we combined our families and I went from having 3 daughters, to having 5 daughters and 4 sons AND 8 grandchildren in a matter of 4 years. UGG Some are mine, some are his, one is ours and one is someone elses!(now mine) LOL

ANYWAY, that lended me to a whole new set of budgeting guidelines and I took to the internet (of course) to research homemade gifts for all of these kids, and ended up making them a whipped peppermint sugar scrub that they ALL raved about, even half way through summer still asking me to make them more. :D When my fiance found out I still had the domain name I bought all those years before for my business he encouraged me to open up a shop again, and this time I added in the sugar scrubs, body butters, lip balms and plan on adding face cream, foot scrubs, cuticle cream, etc.. I still list the dropshipped stuff on my main website, but my passion really is in making the skin care items. What's extra great is that the stuff I make is perfect for me and my kids because of our allergies to preservatives in store bought stuff. I always thought the lotions in the store smelled so amazing, but could never use them unless I wanted hives ICK.. so now, I make my own!

I enjoy being a stay at home mom because my kids need me (the youngest are still just 3 & 4), but with a family this large, the budget gets very tight.. I hope to make enough with this that I can continue to be home with my kids rather than finding a minimum wage job somewhere :D

I may have just opened my shop here, but I've been making spreadsheets, researching and testing recipes, finding the best ecommerce platforms, learning everything I can for well over a year now, just to make sure I had all the right bases in place so that once I opened, all I had to worry about was making things and advertising. :D I feel like it's been a super long journey, but well worth it!

And, that's me. LOL In all it's craziness

ViktoriousWords · ‎12-20-2016

Hi Nobby! Hi Jen!

It's awesome to meet you, and welcome to the team!

Feel free to check out other threads/ ask for a review/ add your own thread and continue to get to know all the lovely members of the team!

GertiesWreaths · ‎12-20-2016

Hello everyone,

My name is Tammy. Well my story is not as interesting as everyone else's but here it goes.

A couple of years ago my aunt gave me a wreath for Christmas and I loved it. And I thought it would be a lot of fun to make them. There are so many different types of wreaths to make for every season of the year. Of course, I can't keep 500 wreaths so I thought I would try to sell them. I must admit the first year was really tough. This year was better and I'm hoping next year will be even better.

I am terrible with technology and do not understand social media at all so my goal this new year is to figure out how to get my products on Pinterest, set up a Facebook page and try Twitter. Hopefully this will help my business.

I have a wonderful husband, a dog named Gertie (the namesake of my store), a cat and a rabbit. I work for a large health company in Oregon. Every year between April and June I am on a dragon boat team. It's the hardest thing I have ever done both mentally and physically but I absolutely love it.

Thanks for reading my story. And I look forward to reading everyone's story.

Former_Member · ‎02-07-2017

My name is Katie. I'm from Michigan and I have a fairly "normal" story. I've always been interested in art as a child and followed that passion through illustration until I discovered a knack for photography. 10 years later, I still love portraits and have invested myself in nature and landscapes too. In the past four years, I've discovered a love for painting. I went to acrylics first (for the ease and introductory level of it) and recently took to watercolors.

YEAHYELHSA · ‎05-10-2017

Hello everyone, it's nice to "meet" you all!

My name is Ashley. I'm from Pittsburgh and I just graduated a year ago with a degree in Graphic Design & Illustration. I mostly sell handmade paper goods including prints, notebooks, buttons and more!

I decided to open my shop because I was at a portfolio review last year and one of the judges said he could picture one of my illustrations on a throw pillow. I agreed, so I initially started a society6 shop but wasn't satisfied with the lack of personality I could achieve so I opened my Etsy shop shortly thereafter.

I'm loving Etsy so far but I have been trying to become a better part of the seller community and to also work on my SEO and such.

In the meantime, I freelance as a designer & illustrator and have recently been a vendor at local art markets. I also volunteer at a screenprinting resource center in the city where I assist people of the community in learning how to print things for themselves or their bands or projects.

Thanks for reading :)

NicolausDesign · ‎07-08-2018

Hello everyone!

My name is Anke. I'm living in the Lower Rhine Area in Germany and love to knit and to felt. I started some years ago creating some slippers für my 2 Kids, my Husband, Family and Friends and from then on i coudn't stop creating loverly things .

So i sold my knitted and felted slipper on local Christmas Markets. In 2014 I started to sell online on DaWanda. It was easy there to get the shop run well. Now DaWanda ist closing and I'm here - completly new to Etsy starting from the ground.

I'm very happy to find this team. I have to learn a lot about SEO and international selling.

Warm regards,
Anke

ViktoriousWords · ‎07-10-2018

HI Anke,

It's awesome to meet you, and welcome to the team!

NicolausDesign · ‎07-10-2018

Hello ViktoryaK,

thank you very much for your warm welcome!

MaryJaneCreations · ‎07-24-2018

Hello everyone, I'm Mary from Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK. Enjoy the countryside, with walks and visiting gardens as well as National Trust properties and coastal areas, near to home or further away. Have been making charmed items and pretty things for over 10 years. Though Etsy has been slower these past few months, as it is for many, still love it. Will keep trying to increase my reach with learning more about SEO. It is also about helping others and learning more as we go along. Enjoy your teams, Enjoy Etsy.