It's Sunday - Let's Get to Know each other thread

[Former_Member]

Haven't seen one, so here it is - chitter chatter, let's get to know each other thread.
Seeing as we're doing a lot of promoting, treasuring and linking - how about a little of friendly conversation?

Grab your -insert beverage of choice- and tell us about yourself :)
I'll even go first
-----------------

Hi, I'm Elle - pauses for the crowd to say "Hiiii Elleeeee"-
I'm 24, I live in beautiful countryside in Poland with my parents ( actually I moved in with them this past summer) and our seven dogs and a cat.
I've been making jewelry since I was 19 ( oh my - time flies). In 2007 I opened my 1st etsy shop LimeStudio, but it disintegrated pretty quickly due to my University studies and day-job ( English tutor).
My other passions include graphic design, photography - still a n00b in that field and dog training.

-sips coffee and waits for other people to show up-

[Former_Member]

Hi Elleeeee! Nice to meet you! I have to say though it's weird to hear "time flies" from a 24 year old :))
My name is Yana. I live in the beautiful Napa Valley, California, USA. I have a day job of teaching blind people how to get around safely and stay oriented with limited or no vision. I love my job and the flexible schedule that I have allows time for other activities! I love traveling, dancing, photography, scrapbooking, jewelry making, creating home decor items. So here I am. Nice to meet you :)

[Former_Member]

Nice to meet you Yana =) What time is over there now, 2am?
Your job sounds interesting - and I'm not just saying that, it really does.
Are you playing the chain treasury game?

[Former_Member]

Hi Elleeeee and Yana~ :) nice to meet you~
Yana your day job is very noble~


I'm the Chi of BonΧ, Bon's my hubby~ We live in Southern California at the moment. My current day job is Etsy~ Bon and I love to play volleyball and watch soccer/football (We are Barca supporters!) I also love karaoke! X3

*grabs some hot chocolate*

[cherishedcabinquilts]

Elleee, Yana and Chi, so nice to meet you!

I am Janeen and live at the foot of the Rockies in Loveland, CO (sweetheart capitol of the world). I am a Mom to 3 boys, 11,14 and 22. I was a Manager in the corp. world until this latest recession, then graciously laid off. I saw an article about FUN-employment and here I am, 2 yrs later. I have been selling my quilts for years locally, but now have gone global. I have never been happier in my life! The best thing about my fun-employment is I never miss any of my kids sporting events or family time.
let me give another a turn and refill my coffee....

[Former_Member]

Hi Elleee, Yana, Chi and Janeen so nice to meet you!

I am Monique - I love to play with all sorts of material but gravitate towards glass mostly I like to experiment and use different materials to make things I like - it is always a bonus for me when other people like them too.
I live in Florida in the US at the moment but am originally from South Africa.
Still trying to find my feet with online selling I sell a lot offline but seem to struggle here.
Nice to meet you all

[Former_Member]

Hi! this is a great idea. I am trying to learn how to be more visible and in touch! You see--I am severely techno challenged still.. I was happy (and lucky) to stay at home to raise my children. As a 14 year member of The Lovett School ,Friends of the Arts Board, I was very engaged in all aspects of hands on art and support for the kids' programs--but I was the only member without e-mail! I liked the phone communication better , but secretary said that I had to get over it!So I am trying! I never used a computer at work (an RN by profession) because that was 1983! My hands have always been busy with creative endeavors, and I love making jewelry! My kids are 27, 22, and 1st grandchild (heaven on earth) The cat is blind and has 3 1/2 legs, but is my faithful assistant while making jewelry, scattering beads everywhere
which have been inspirational ideas!

[Bellastarrhats]

My name is Michelle, I'm married with two kids a boy who is 7 and a girl who is 4. I've been sewing since I was 8 years old and my mother was a fashion designer. I'm a Career Center Director at Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. I live in sunny CA in the Orange County area.

[OliveLoafDesign]

hi guys. {thanks again bellastarrvintage for including my paper mache heart on your treasury}.

i am presently in south central kentucky after decades in nyc & chicago....fell in love with a country boy what can i say!

i started crafting hardcore as therapy after my experience in the world trade center on 9/11/01.
{if you'd like to read about my survivor experince i wrote about it on my blog a few years ago:

http://oliveloafdesign.wordpress.com/2008/09/11/istillloveyounewyork/ }

anyhooooooo...being arty/crafty is the only thing that makes me sane. and now that i live in the middle of nowhere - i would really love to focus on it and make a living at it. so i thought it was high time to network & get inspiration from like-minded lovelies like you all!

oh - so i'm a newlywed {a boy from high school after we reconnected on facebook!} & he's a musician and he has a delightful daughter {11} who is now my partner in craftiness....they are both very supportive and i'm not even missing city life at all!

take care! {i must get to food prep for the bears/packers game!} =)

[DebandBryCreations]

hi! Nice ta meetcha :)
Im Deb. I was born and raised in New Yawk and and moved to sunny south florida when I left my husband 13 yrs ago (and lost my heavy New York accent too) . When I moved here I was at loose ends, I had owned a chocolate company in NY and left that behind as well. MY dad who lives here, is a potter, and I just started claying with him.. and realized I loved it and the rest is etsy history :)

[OliveLoafDesign]

oh i forgot @cherishedcabinquilts! your story is inspiring as i'd like to have fun-employment as well! i grew up on the western slope in a little town called cedaredge! i'll be making a drive through next july from denver to dolores...you'll have to tell me where i can see your quilts! =)

[Rabbithollowprims]

Hi I'm Sue. I am a teacher by day. Teach full time 6th grade math and science. I have a hubby who also teaches and 2 small boys 8 and 6. We live in Hope Mills NC with our kids and 4 cats all Siamese except 1 Alley special my fave all Black cat and our Dog a Dalmation named Zoe. I opened shop about 5 years ago and things seemed to have taken off for me in the past couple years to the point if I could I would quit my day job but for now I'll settle for both :) Nice to meet everyone....Oh and my kids keep reminding me how OLD i am as I turn the big 4-0 this May

[Former_Member]

Hi guys!

Mine's a very english cup of tea...sip..

Well I'm Kate, one half of BarSoap. We're pretty new to Etsy we launched the last week in December so its all very exciting. I love the commutity feel between fellow sellers.

Unfortunately its just a part time venture at the moment. I'm a lawyer by day, deep sigh... lol

Yeah the dream is to make soaping our life. We're in Manchester, North England.

We have no pets as yet but I'd really like a cat and a beagle.

Loving the Handmadeology team spirit :D

:)

[jewelrybyNaLa]

Hello Team!

I'm NaLa, and I hail from Chicago (Go Hawks, Go Cubs Go Bears!). Lots of roads brought me to the world of jewelry making, and a friend introduced me to the world of Etsy.

I love being part of the caring and sharing handmade community. I started Handmade Harbor on Facebook to help handmade artists from all over the web network and make new friends. If you love handmade as I do, I invite you all to join: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=139995785046

Oh, and last but not least, thanks Tim, for all the helpful, informative articles! I just don't know how you do all you do for everyone ...

[Former_Member]

I've joined NaLa :)

[Former_Member]

Hello All...
well my name is Rachel... mother to two monkeys... we call them Bip and Bop... I am originally from the UK but now married to the MOMD and living in The States... Im not gonna say how old I am..lol... lets just say Ive had my 21st birthday
I think my shop says a lot about me... and what I do... Im a bit of a vintage junkie...and I like Barsoap am a tea lover

[Former_Member]

Hi, nice to meet you all! Great to see quite a few tea lovers in here. I’m a fan of tea myself but wouldn’t mind some of Chi’s (from BonAndChi ) hot chocolate :)

[Former_Member]

Allo Everyone!

My name is Molly, but plenty of folks call me simply M. I've been making jewelry for many many years, and people had been pressuring me to sell on Etsy, but it had taken me forever to get on with it. It wasn't until I had taken up silk painting that I really was inspired to open up shop. Since the recession's been beating me up for the past 5 years (downsized 4 times in that time), I figured it was time to do something different. So here I am, trying to build a business into my livelihood.

[Former_Member]

Very nice to "meet" you all. I have three rugrats (all girls)- 8yrs, 5yrs, and 9mo. I was a teacher until being laid off last year. Now I stay at home with my girls. My mother was a seamstress, and I sewed with her as a child. Now I have a sickness- the... I think I can do it all sickness... I see a handmade item and think to myself..."I can make that." Bcause of this sickness, I have made hair bows, then started sewig dolls, baby bibs (and oher baby items- tag blankets and so on). I still plan to try my hand at pottery and ploymer clay, photography, and who knows what else? I think I want to do some painting too. I majoed in Liberal Studies in college for my teaching career, but I had a concentration in Art, so I have done lots of different types of art. I get bored easily, so I have to do different things to keep me occupied.

I'll let someone else go now...

[Former_Member]

I love reading the stories behind the ID's!

My name is Monique. I'm an Aussie who bought a piece of vintage fabric from an American 2.5 years ago on ebay, we got chatting and 3 months ago I moved to the US and we got married (hang on... counting) 5 weeks ago!

I was a Career Counsellor for 15+ years but was taught to sew, knit, crochet, etc by my Mum (sorry, Mom). I've always made things but thought I would try my hand at etsy. I still haven't found the right 'fit' for me... I've been selling items in Oz for a number of years but change my mind all the time about what I make. I think I should just stick to something - it confuses me so I'm sure it confuses buyers.

I have 2 kids (adults now) - daughter who is 22 (going on 3!) and son who is 20. My daughter commences College in a month (Sociology) after working for a number of years and my son is in his last year of his Chef apprenticeship. I'm proud of them both!

Thanks for reading :)

[Former_Member]

Hi everybody!!..nice to meeting you all!!..my name is Laura,i am originally from Spain.I moved here a few years ago after marrying my husband,he is in the navy.

I have always loved painting more than anything,but I grow up watching my mom sewing all day long.I used to help her form time to time and one day I found out that I knew how to sew!!!

when I moved to the states I started making pillow for my own living room,and bedroom.And since I am a housewife full time,I don't have children and I was getting pretty boring around here I decided to opened and Etsy shop!

[ZurDesigns]

Hi Everyone! Great to meet new peeps and see some familiar handmade friends as well! My name is Deb and I live in Western Massachusetts in a tiny little paradise called The Berkshires. People come from all over the world to visit right here where I am fortunate to make my home.

I've been creative all my life...writing, photography, music, etc. and my family was always in the jewelry trade so it only seemed natural to start creating jewelry a couple of years ago, open up an Etsy shop and join this rich and vibrant community. YAY!

I too am a part of Handmade Harbor...one of NaLa's wingmen...erm women and I am co-founder of Indie Junction, a community where indie artisans across all genres form a synergy that helps each individual achieve their goals within the handmade industry.

I've been using Handmadeology as a resource for several years so I was really excited about the Etsy Team! Gotta go...I am falling behind in the Chain Game!! :)

[UnicornHill]

Hi everyone, I've enjoyed reading all your stories :) My name is Heather, I stay home with my two kids- a bright 6 year old boy and a chubby little baby girl. I am surprised to find myself living in the DC suburbs, with a mortgage and everything. I've been an artist my whole life, and a little over a month ago I opened shop to sell my paintings and art quilts. I really love the community atmosphere on Etsy and I'm enjoying focusing on my work- although it's been really hard to juggle everything, I'm trying :) it's great to meet you all!

[Former_Member]

It's so nice to meet everybody! Let’s give a round of applause to our newlyweds OliveLoafDesign and Monique (OriginalMischief)! Congratulations!

[Former_Member]

Well, hello all, Cynthia here. I will be married to my husband for a whole year this April and I'm mom to a quirky 4 year old cat Fred. By day, I am an art director in the beautilful ozarks for a Michigan based shopper marketing agency, and by night, I sell personalized family trees here on Etsy. I've been open for half a year and still trying to get my footing but I am loving every step of the way.