Whats your story.....

[#1]

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:)

[Former_Member]

Sorry to hear that Amy, I hope you enjoy ETSY as much as I do so you can continue doing what you love from home!

I started making headbands since my daughter was born 2 years ago. But didn't decide to sell them until November of last year after my husband convinced me to! lol
My grandma was a seamstress and left me a bunchhhh of vintage stuff so I've gone crazy using them!
I bought myself a BIG SHOT machine so I can cut shapes even faster! I was even cutting circles by hand which was no fun...
Anywho, love our store! Hearting it at the moment. I think the drawings are really original.

[Former_Member]

Amy, I'm so sorry to hear that :( I actually herniated four discs in my back and ruptured three last year so that's the reason I started my Etsy store. It's been a rocky road not being able to work but I'm happy my accident brought forth my creativity again.

Great post and happy wishes to everyone :)

[Former_Member]

My reasons for starting a business and an esty store has to probably be my mother. My mom was a published beaded jewelry designer. She died March 21st 2011. I was always a fan of handmade jewelry (for men). any twisted leather, or chainmail, but there is always a special place in my heart for what my mother did. I have been slowly trying to take over her work and continue what she started. As a previous small business owner I used to try and coach my mom in what to do and what not to do as she was starting her business. Before she died she was JUST starting to sell publicly to local bead stores and at craft shows. I am using Etsy as just the begining to bring my mothers work to the world. My store is only at 12 items just to test the water. I have over 100 different beaded jewelry designs to list. So I am a little half and half. Half of me wants it to be super successful for her as validation that she was great. The other half just wants to give it away, becaus half the reward is seeing what people come up with based on her patterns.

Btw this is my first post. Hi guys!

[LamplighterJewelry]

Thanks for starting this thread Amy, it's so inspirational reading everyone's stories. My best to you on your recovery.

My story like so many others revolves around a disability: I was a successful recovery auditor, loved my work and worked hard to get where I was. In 2003 my husband became ill...had 2 surgeries but was not getting any better. Later diagnosed with MS, is now in advanced stages and needs around the clock care. In 2008 I gave up my career to stay home and take care of my husband. Last year I returned to a favorite hobby...making jewelry and with much encouragement from family and friends, I started my jewelry business. I now teach classes, sell at local art shows, donate to my favorite causes and sell (try to) on Etsy. I have a tough task master in my cat Willow who gets up with me every morning and sits with me while I work until my husband and 5 year daughter wake up. I usually resume work again later in the evening once everyone is settled down.

[Former_Member]

I started my shop as a way to honor my grandmother, who passed away in 1998 when I was nine years old. She and my grandfather were in a car accident; he walked away, she did not. Some of my favorite, most tender memories from childhood are times when she would teach me things about sewing--including the foundation of any sewing career: threading a needle. I took what she taught me and taught myself the rest in the last few years, and decided to start a shop to honor her. She was my world, and even with having had just nine years with her, she changed my life tremendously. Honoring her with

A few years ago, not long after I started teaching myself to sew, my grandpa gave me a box of Grandma's old sewing things--mostly fabric, but there were a few other small items in there, including a pattern and a button foot. There was even a pattern still pinned onto a sheet of fabric--a project she never finished. None of these items had been touched since the 70s when she packed them up to move cross country. I cried the first time I looked through the box. It reminded me that sewing is something my grandma and I share, even if we never got to do it together since I didn't learn until she'd been gone for ten years. This is something that's between just me and her, since no one else in the family really sews much, if at all. Sewing is special to me in that way, so I want to make sure I honor her memory with my shop. It makes me feel close to her, like she's still with me, helping me with every stitch. It's nice.

[ThekawaiiOD]

Well I have always been artistic, but had no idea how to harness it into something tangible. I have a dark past that kept me from finding myself and what I was meant to do. When I had my daughter it all seemed to come together for me, and I found a medium that I could connect with. When I found ETSY for the first time I was so inspired by everything here I felt like I would burst at the seams. My dream is to stay at home create wonderful things and see my daughter grow before my eyes,and that is why I made my ESTY shop. I love this site.

[lipmeister]

Speedy recovery Amy. So many touching stories and most are all handmade. My love is vintage. I am in the Entertainment biz and when I wasn't working, I knew I couldn't keep shopping retail, so I hit thrift stores. This way, I would feel less guilty. I have always scoured flea markets, antique stores, garage sales and thrift stores. I accumulated so many things over the years, I decided to give etsy a try. I became obsessed with all aspects of having a store. The best part is the shopping but then I also love the research, the photography, listing and even the packing and going to the post office. The postal workers have become friendly faces that my dogs and I love to see. I am still in the entertainment business and spend many nights and weekends adding to my store. My views have grown, as have my sales. It all feels so rewarding. When I get wonderful feedback, it makes me day. My friends crack up when i show them my comments proudly.
I wish all of you much success and lots of sales!!

[FarmAndSimple]

It's so fun to hear everyone's stories, I'm happy to have run across this thread!

I spent my 15+ year career as a software developer, mainly doing web and database development - plus some SEO and blog work - and for most of those years, I owned my own small business. I *loved* my job. I loved getting up in the morning and going to work, and I adored the people that I worked with, I made so many close friends in those years!

Like many other stories here, my chronic illness (chronic migraines and headaches - which now appear to be related to MS) made it too difficult for me to continue working out of the house. And worse yet, I can't spend hours in front of a computer anymore! Luckily, I have always loved to knit. All my relatives and friends have always received birthday gifts, Christmas and Hanukkah gifts and baby shower gifts from me that were hand knit.

But now that I'm home all the time, it's become out of control. :-) There is yarn everywhere (literally! you should see pictures!). It's in every room of our house, under the bed, in the kids' rooms, and in random drawers. And I'm knitting way too many things to just give to people we know! :-) So my husband and I decided that I should start selling my hand knits - in part so that I could share my talents with the world. But I think even more importantly than that, so I can continue waking up in the morning and feeling like I have a purpose... a goal to work toward.

So far, it's been fantastic. I love the knitting, I love the etsy community, and it's definitely effective. Every morning I wake up and feel like getting right to it - working on my little etsy shop the best I can! :-)

Best to all of you, thanks for letting me share! ~~syd

[KittenKabooses]

I started my shop when I was put on bed rest during my first pregnancy. I am a busy person and have never not worked. The boredom was killing me! I wanted to find photo props for when she was born but was short on cash, so I got into creative mode... I got hooked on creating cute stuff and couldn't stop. My husband told me I should try selling stuff to make a little extra income.

Now not only do I have a beautiful daughter, but a business where I can help others make their little ones look adorable! I sell on Etsy and in several boutiques and consignment shops.

[Former_Member]

I tripped into my business idea. I have always loved creating things and one Christmas season wanted to make something handmade for all the children in my family. After tooling around on the internet, I found this great idea to make personalized soap and I was off. A few months later a friend suggested starting this as a business and here I am. I love this particular business because I not only get some instant gratification from my product but I get to play with office supplies when I customize my tags. Its just a win-win for me. Thanks for asking! Its fun to hear the back stories.

[Former_Member]

I started my shop shortly after I graduated from art school. I knew in college I wanted to make a living off of my art and be my own boss. It brings a huge level of personal satisfaction and taking full responsibility for my life. I was working a dead end job and decided to quit and open my shop. Its been a rough start up, not too many sales but I'm growing slow and steady. I've had to take a few side jobs in between to help along the way but things feel like their going in the right direction.

I enjoy the freedom that every day brings, and to choose what I will do. One of the best parts is I can devote myself to making delicious, organic raw and non-raw meals for myself and my boyfriend. Also I have the time to keep a clean and tidy house. I'm a bit of an old fashioned housewife at heart, minus the kids.

[Former_Member]

So many lovely stories, its great to see how we all have our own special stories its lovely to hear them all :)

[Former_Member]

I started out because I am coming to the end of my college degree, and I hated it... I felt like I was having a mid-life crisis, everyone around me wanted me to go to uni and become a doctor, but my heart really wasn't in it, I always wanted to run a business instead and become a foster carer, so when someone told me I was good at making earrings I decided to look into it - and an old friend pointed me in the direction of Etsy. I have depression and it has been really hard, but since putting all my feelings into creative things I have started to feel better, and Amy, I am so glad your back is better, It must have been horrible and so frightening xx

[Former_Member]

At least your doing something you enjoy now :), it will work out for you your stuff is lovely :), It was extremely scary but I'm bolted back together, it isn't doing too bad it just makes it so difficult t have a proper job and income so i came to etsy, hopefully it will start to pick up soon :)

[Former_Member]

Im certain it will :) we are only newbies after all, plenty of time to get it up and running, I wont be able to be on here for the next few weeks due to being back at college to finnish up the year so I hope while im away someone will take an interest in my shop, and its good that you are feeling better, and i bet it was terrifying especially since your so young xx But yes your shop is gorgeous and you should believe in yourself :)

[Former_Member]

Im sure you'll be fine while your away, just pop on when you can if you can :), it was terrifying but its over with now just need to get on with it and make myself back to normal :). Thanks yours is lovely too if i had the money i would buy lots from your shop :)!

[ParadiseChicJewelry]

I was actually encouraged by a friend and didn't know that Etsy existed. I love to make jewelry and I was trying to make a little extra income. Although, I work fulltime I had some huge bills out of my control and so here I am. But I just mainly enjoy seeing so many talented people and what they can do! :)

[Former_Member]

My story is kinda long LOL

For several years until 2010 I was living in San Francisco and was a self employed Barbie makeover artist...I worked long and hard at that business and became one of the best in the world and was able to sell regularly and had my creations going all over the world.

On one of my trips back home, my mum suggested we go to a mill shop at one of the local silk mills & I found a treasure trove of beautiful tie silks and I bought a bunch....some for me to use in doll clothing, other fabrics I sold to fellow doll customisers.

Flash forward to the end of 2010 & I found myself diagnosed HIV+ and going through a divorce, so I decided to move back home to the UK as I didn't have health insurance & couldn't afford $1000 a month for meds. I spent over a year readjusting and going through episodes of severe depression, unsure what to do with my life.

To bring a bit of money in, I started going to the mill shop again on a regular basis and buying tie silks to resell on Etsy and started making some money. I'd not been doing any sewing in a long time (I'd lost my mojo with the dolls due to burn out & all the crap that had happened) and decided to make some project bags for knitters out of the silks, as well as a handful of bow ties, which I started in the Fall of last year.

The project bags took off (mostly to people I knew on Ravelry) and the bow ties kinda fell to the wayside, partly as I didn't have time, partly as I'd not found the right sort of findings for the silks. I got a little burnt out by the bags as they were a lot of work for the money I was able to charge and that business has kind of died off, for which I'm grateful.

Earlier this year I finally was able to track down bow tie tape & the tee hooks that are used bny the professionals, and had amassed more tie silks than I could shake a stick at, as I'd been stashing all the time. So about six weeks ago things seemed to click in to place and I've been working my butt off to get this project off the ground.

The best news is that through all this I've finally managed to figure out what I want to be when I grow up! I hope to start having silks woven for me later this year, using designs from the mill's archives, then by next year to have my own designs made up, which is dearer and requires a larger minimum purchase. When that happens, I'll start branching out into neckties, with a view to eventually having my stuff sold in high end department stores, and I'll be in charge of the marketing & deisgns side of things, and the actual production will be outsourced. By the time that happens, of course, I'll no longer be selling on etsy, so for me, etsy is a launching pad...

Told you it was a long story! ;-p

[TheDarkFen]

wow. such inspiring stories!!

i stumbled onto etsy in 2007 by browsing google for "bellydance" costumes. :P i had started my own shop about a year later selling beaded jewelry (not this one currently) and then i opened 2 other shops and a supply shop. now i'm still at 3 shops but all my old shops i closed because i changed direction and the usernames were all wonky and you couldn't change them back then. hehe. i've probably sold several thousand items on etsy just scatttered amongst my like 7 shops :P

i off and on do etsy full time. i'm currently attempting it at full time right now. but when things get tight i always get a job doing tech stuff or retail just to get by. nothing too inspiring on my end. i just wish i could find the best methods to doing this hardcore and making real money to support my dreams of building a cob house :P

[TheDarkFen]

Daniel Lee from VaVaSilkBowTies says

My story is kinda long LOL

For several years until 2010 I was living in San Francisco and was a self employed Barbie makeover artist...I worked long and hard at that business and became one of the best in the world and was able to sell regularly and had my creations going all over the world.

---

WOW! do you have pics of your barbie makeovers? :P that IS definitely interesting.

[Former_Member]

Great thread idea, Amy!

I have been working in corporate America since graduating college a bunch of years ago. In January I realized that I need to find a way to fulfill my creative side (sitting at a desk all day is NOT cutting it for my creative spirit; it's only helping me pay my bills at the moment). Together with that, I realized that a) I like to sew and b) I love animals (especially cats!) That's where Bax Cat & Co. started. The shop is named after a great cat friend of mine named Baxter; he would have loved the idea, I'm sure of it :)

So far I have made a handful of sales (I am so thankful for each one, it's exciting!) - I am hopeful that if I keep pressing ahead I will be able to bring cats some fun and joy, one toy/accessory at a time!

Keep the stories coming! These are great!

[Former_Member]

My grandfather passed away last year. He left behind a gift for me. I never - I mean never did fashion design before. He was everywhere when he first died and kept saying save the environment. I started to see potential in every piece of garbage. I have been a national level swimmer and coach my whole life so this is very new to me. I am listening to my grandfather and opened my store a week ago. PS he was a sniper in WW2 and liberated many jewish concentration camps. I am very proud of him. No I am not jewish..

[Former_Member]

Katie - you can see my work at http://www.wideeyedgirls.com/

[Former_Member]

This is an awesome thread......awesome stories :) No story here though, it's just what I do.

[BabyGiftsByKarla]

I have enjoyed reading everyone story and visiting your shops...I'm retired and have always loved to sew so I opened a shop on Etsy. It keeps me busy and it overwhelms me at times. My passion is sewing for babies and I'm hoping one day (before I'm too old) I will have grand-kids to sew for:)

Good luck to everyone!!