Whats your story.....

[Former_Member]

Last year i broke my back and it was really serious, nearly wasn't able to walk.
But now I'm on the mend and wanted to start selling my art work to people, i am now doing craft shows and my etsy shop as well as a degree to help my dreams of being able to work from home and live my life to the best i can :)

Whats your story?
Why did you start your etsy shop:)

[HausofAriella]

I've always loved making things, but I didn't start my Etsy shop until after I got engaged in January. My fiance and I are both huge Doctor Who fans and only have a $2,000 wedding budget, so I went into crafting overdrive. He told me I needed to start selling some of the things I was making, so I did :)

[Former_Member]

Oh wow, I am so sorry to hear that Amy! I hope Etsy is successful for you so that you can work from home and be comfortable!

Right now I am working full time at a book publishing company, and I am engaged to be married in October. I have been into art and design forever, but I started doing invitations after I created the ones for our wedding. I am trying to get Envelove to a point that makes enough money to supplement my fiance's income so I can stay home when we start to raise kids. That is the dream at least. :)

[Former_Member]

I love hearings everyones stories they're all so different congrats on both your weddings coming up :D!! Hope your planning goes well both of you. Your shops are both lovely! :)

[Former_Member]

I started my Etsy shop as an added extention to my gift basket business, Simple Pleasures Gift Creations!!

I just love creating!!

Please check out my blog, where you can actually have me design something for you!! Maybe your Mom for Mother's Day!
http://flowerpower-sharmon.blogspot.com/
Blessings to al!

[seemomster]

I developed De Quervains tensonyvitis (think carpal tunnel, but thumb)...and thought I wouldn't be able to go back to the garden center where I work, so I started my Etsy shop. Then work re-wrote my job description so I COULD come back (part-time.) Now I have the best of both worlds!

(edited for typos)

[Former_Member]

Thats great sounded like it worked out perfectly :)

[IstriaDesign]

I always loved creating, but was raised to believe you can't live off of art. So I graduated from college I hated, and worked many jobs I didn't like. After I moved to the States and my son was born, I decided I want to work from home, watch him grow and prove to my dad that you can make a living with arts and crafts lol.

So far, it's been a good ride :).

[Former_Member]

Amy- best wishes on your road to recovery!!
I've always loved creating handmade things and sharing them with others. A friend suggested that I try listing some items on Etsy and here I am. More recently my husband and I were told last year that we were not able to have biological children. We've started the adoption process, which is very exciting,but also very expensive. Etsy has been a great way to offset some of the costs of our new journey.

[Former_Member]

Thats great! At least your now doing what you love :)

[EllieMarieDesigns]

I have two kids in college and I'm homeschooling our third. My husband's state trooper salary doesn't go very far. Trying to raise money for textbooks.

[Former_Member]

thankyou, Aww how lovely hope you get everything you wish for, adopting children is a lovely thing wish you all the best :)

[Former_Member]

I've been making earrings for years, but last year I discovered working with wire. I made so many items and received such a positive response I thought I would try to open an online store.

[WildWildernessPhotos]

Moved to New Mexico 4 yrs ago from PA with my husband, worked as a school counselor, decided a year ago to pursue photography!

[MarpesiaAndCo]

I work in movies but it means that I'm either insanely busy or unemployed so I really needed something to do not just to make ends meet when I wasn't working but also to pay off the crazy loan for my studies. And I was bored. So I decided to teach myself how to make jewelery and I got it right 3 years ago. Just selling from home went really well and I've been an Etsy fan for ages so I thought I'd go for it when I had the time. A year later (11 days ago) I had the time! Currently unemployed and spend all the time staring at this screen, excited and hoping for my first sale to come.
I hope things work out for all of you (and hope you get better every day Amy).
xxx

[Former_Member]

So many lovely stories, sounds like everyones happy with what their doing :), thankyou martina :)

[Former_Member]

Here is mine. It is really long...it is the same story I include with my profile on etsy. I wrote it after Etsy Sypossium week...trying to "brand myself" by creating a back story. I would love to hear if you all think it is boring! I promise to not take it harsly

No, I am not Italian but my first love comes from 14th century Italy. And, no it was not lampworking that I feel in love with. However, lampworking did become popular in Murano, Italy during the 13rh century. Italy is still known for glass and that was my first love glass. Anything glass. The way it shined, I could not help but touch it. So, for my 21st Birthday my mom got be a glass on lampworking . Almost 10 years later I am still working with my same basic welder’s torch (wanting to upgrade soon).

Lampworking, also known as flameworking and tourchworking is a simple concept. Melt long rods of glass (the thickness of straws but closer to 2 feet long) using gas (MAPP, propane, propylene). As simple as the process is, it is complex as the artist wishes based on the artists designs.

But, that is only part of the complexity. The torch makes each rod glow orange and radiate heat. Then, the bead must cool in the bead blanket and it is a long tedious hour till the artist gets to see what he or she has created.

Wearing lampwork jewelry is not like wearing other jewelry it has a comfortable weight due to the glass and is cool to touch upon putting it on. Many of the beads will appear to change colors as you move indoors and outdoors. All beads are one of a kind (because they are truly HAND made) so it always looks like your just stepped out of an Italian boutique with the latest work of art on your hand or around your neck.

[OwlandWillows]

I have always loved creating, even as a child i was crafty. I sort of taught myself to sew, crochet, knit, etc..... I use to be obsessed with cross stitching but my eyesight has gotten to the point I can no longer to that so I started quilting. I now enjoy creating new items that I would use myself or give as gifts. I love making little felt Owls.... It is a project I can do while watching TV in the evenings.

I have always wanted to try and sell my products.... but didn't know where to start. I have made hundreds and hundreds of my FAMOUS HAND QUILTED COASTERS :) and given them to everyone I know for gifts. Everyone loves them and always told me I should sell them so .... that is how I started.. My Son told me about Etsy and I started with some of my coasters and sewing kits that I have also made for gifts and have expanded with a few more items. I have a large stash of fabric and buttons and get great enjoyment from my work.

I have been away from my business for a few months due to my elderly parents being ill. My Father was in and out of hospitals, rehab, nursing home and hospice house. He passed away this month. My mother is still at home but not well so a lot of my time is still spent with her. I am planning on trying to launch a few new products soon.

[Former_Member]

My story is similar to Melanie's. I have Fibromyalgia. Doing craft shows took a toll on me physically, so my mind started to wander toward online selling. I found out about Etsy and was intrigued. Feeling intimidated, it took my a while to "go for it". But when I did, I realized that by taking one step at a time, I can make it happen. I'm just about 2 months here at Etsy. So far, so good. Still on that learning curve. Still trying to learn all I can. It is so great to be free to work at my own pace, when it suits me best!

[Former_Member]

I started my first Etsy shop in 2007 as a way to offload some of the things I was creating. My husband threaten to cut off my "supply spending" if I didn't start bringing in an income LOL.
Now, after several very chaotic years, my Etsy shop is our only income. Its not doing GREAT but I manage to make enough to help pay the bills at least. I am getting ready to undergo open heart surgery on the 10th of May. I'm writing an operations manual so my family can keep my shop going while I"m recuperating.

[Former_Member]

I have always loved creating something. I got that from my mother who did oil paintings, quilting, decorating, she was so creative.

I have been away from etsy for quite some time, as I was helping to take are of my mom with Alzheimers. Brought her home to my house in December with the wonderful help of hospice, she passed on December 3. I know where she is and that helps. Her lifelong sayings were "Be Kind" and "Patience is a Virtue". She was the most kind and loving mother a child could have. Although the last few years were very difficult the "patience" thing tripped me up quite often. I often wonder if her saying of "patience is a virtue" was about the things to come for her.

Anyway, I became a first time grandmother to Jack in October and he was an awesome diversion for us during this time with my mom. The other diversion for me was when I was able to create jewelry, it took me away from all the thoughts in my head.

My hope is that a cure to Alzheimers is found quickly! My other hope is that I can leave a legacy of kindness and patience as my mother did. Although I don't think I am as good at it as she was.

Oh yeah, and I want to quite my day job!!!!!!!

[Former_Member]

Aside from my love for crafting that started when I was a toddler, I have four children and we needed some extra income. My husband's work hours were changing constantly, and we had no family in the area, so it was almost impossible for me to find a job that would work for us. Since I've always been crafty, my best friend suggested I start an Etsy shop.

There are so many different types of crafts I like to do, but at the time, we were making a lot of items for our daughters, so I decided to start with those and see how it went. I know some people see that I make tutus and hair accessories and think that what I do doesn't count as "art", but I love what I do. I put a lot of time, effort and heart into my work and I feel like that shows in my shop and in the quality of my items.

I also love that my creations often become part of a very important memory for my customers. Right now, I have orders for flower girl dresses, birthday tutus, a first birthday dress and tutu sets for newborn photos. I feel so honored that people allow me to be a small part of these special occasions, and that years from now, they'll look back on photos from these events and see my work. I feel like that means something.

I'd like to branch out eventually, open a second shop for another type of crafting that I'm passionate about. With four kids and not a lot of me time, this is what keeps me sane.

[Former_Member]

Wow Amy! Good one on your recovery, i'm sure that you will have success with your shop as you seem to be working so hard on it!

I decided to sell my flat in Scotland, scrap my campervan, cut off my dreadlocks and start a new (slightly more sensible) life in France. So here I am trying to get my business up and running, starting with my Etsy shop. Plus learning French so that I can talk to people...

Very busy but very happy.

[Former_Member]

Wow all such wonderful stories :), All your shops are so lovely too! Good luck to you all :)

[Former_Member]

I started my store a few months ago, because I am A. saving up for college and B. didn't know very many people with small children to give my things to, so I decided to open a store. I havent sold very much yet (1 item) but I hope soon I will get a few more sales! Good luck to you all hope you do really well!