How Etsy makes you HAPPY?!

[RainbowMittens]

Hey,Hey!
Happy Spring! :)

What is the best thing that ever happened to you on Etsy?!

[Former_Member]

What did I want to be when I grew up?
- photographer
- artist/creator
- writer
- marketer
- teacher
- veterinarian

I gave up on being a vet after about 5th grade; I actually became a teacher...and Etsy lets me do the rest. It makes me happy!

[livjewellery]

Etsy made it possible for me to stay home with my little girl and create beautiful things all day. What could be better than that?

[Former_Member]

The opportunity to showcase my passion!
What better gift!

[PearlesPainting]

Etsy made me Legit!
People would constantly nag me about getting a "real" job as I was doing craft fairs and selling out of galleries locally...
But then when I started my Etsy shop...people stopped.
Etsy made me Legit!
Thank you Etsy! ♥xoxox♥

[Former_Member]

Thank you for opening this thread and asking this question! I feel tremendous JOY when I'm on this site creating treasures, checking my shop stats, talking to other team members and an amazing sense of adventure when I go out 'treasure hunting' for my shop. I just opened my shop last month, have already made my first sale and am having more fun than I've ever had in my entire professional life. Thank you, Etsy, for providing this space for us!

[Former_Member]

Before Etsy (two months ago) I had never picked up a power tool - ever. Now I am cutting logs with an electric saw, drilling holes with a power drill, and using a sander.

Before Etsy, I had never been to a fire wood place as we don't have a fireplace. Now I can spot the difference between olive, oak, walnut, etc. and which would look best for what.

Before Etsy, I had never made any jewelry, now I am making earrings and I love it!

Before Etsy, had never made a centerpiece in my life. My kids and I just finished up an order for the centerpieces for a wedding across the country!

Before Etsy, I hadn't made many crafts, now everything I look at I am seeing the potential for it to become something else - something better.

I have had a whole new outlook on things and I love it. I love staying up late and creating things. I love coming home from work and going in the garage with my son and working on candles, I love spending time with my daughter making jewelry. I am having a ball! :)

[Former_Member]

I forgot to say:
- gift shop proprietor

(one of the things I wanted to be that Etsy provides)

[SassiChic]

Etsy allowed me to prove to haters that I could sell, and sell well :)

[Former_Member]

Etsy gave me a good retort when people make fun of me for knitting. The most common thing I hear is, what are you like 80 years old, hardy har har. Now I have a good comeback!

[ThePlaidPineconeCo]

Etsy gives me hope - hope that I can one day be a successful business owner and not be dependent on a mind-numbing desk job to pay the bills.

It also has given me a hobby. I had very few before this, and now I am a vintage collector and candle maker. It's fun to discover more things about myself through this process.

[Former_Member]

The best thing to happen to me on Etsy was having all of my wholesale buyers contact me through here---we never had to approach them.

Oh, and Etsy definitely had a hand in both of us being able to quit our day jobs.

[Former_Member]

Etsy has allowed me to make what I like and enjoy, not always making what friends request. It has been very fun to focus on how I like to put things together, and try new things as well.

[Former_Member]

i get good traffic for my products.

[Former_Member]

I have been on etsy since e2006.

Etsy has made me happy when I have sales of course, but it has given me a platform to connect with other sellers, artists, and to gain a wealth of knowledge to help my business.

Etsy has made me happy when I receive emails from grateful customers, find out that something they have given as a gift...made somebody's day or was special to them. That is the highlight to me...more than the money..someone loving something that I made. It brings me the truest joy.

[Former_Member]

I sold an ornament once, that a woman purchased for a friend going through cancer. It was her focal point, and she kept it with her the whole time she went through treatment. It was special to the friend and she said it helped her thorugh. That made my whole year!!!

[Former_Member]

i landed on the front page today...that made me pretty damn happy!

[zyzanna]

It makes it possible for me to have a SHOP which is available to EVERYONE ;)

And that kind of feeds into the fact that I feel I can archieve anything (although not straight away, but that nothing is impossible)

[Former_Member]

Congratulations Jamie Diehl

[drudruchu]

It makes me happy meeting so many likeminded, creative people on here. It's a whole part of the world I unfortunately don't see much when I go outside. I live in a big city and everyone around me seems to be so focussed on having careers, wearing expensive suits, and driving big cars. I don't want to be a part of that, and thanks to Etsy I know there are many people out there living a different kind of life, and it makes me happy to know that's possible too.

[damsontreepottery]

I love the whole international thing - my shop really took off this week - with my first sales outside UK and US - a wheel thrown bowl to Singapore and tiny earring to Australia - it's such fun parceling things up beautifully and posting them off like gifts!
Thanks to Etsy for this wonderful opportunity to do what I love and get paid for it so I can make more! I also love seeing the beautiful and fun things that others have made!
All the best to everyone - and keep happy!

[Former_Member]

My Etsy shop has given me a legitimate reason to buy a crap ton of fabric.

[wildwomanbeads]

Love being able to do what I love, and earn a (thus far, modest) living doing it. I have also met some wonderful people and made some great new friends. All of that makes me VERY happy.

[ShopDeliciousThreads]

Etsy lets me share my creativity with others. My shop is new, and I have only had a few sales so far (had my first international sale this week!), but it's an awesome feeling knowing that people are out there stitching up my designs. :D

[Former_Member]

I agree with so many of you...it helps us communicate with like-minded people and is also a way to reach so many new customers we normally wouldn't be able to come in contact with. I love etsy!