Introductions

[RefinedRetro]

Let's get to know each other!

Please tell us a little bit about yourself, your shop, how you found Etsy and what you are hoping to gain from belonging to a locality based Etsy Team.

[RefinedRetro]

I'll start off.

Hi I'm Nilene and I own Refined Retro a vintage shop that's getting ready to expand into handmade jewelry and other items.

I live in Livermore with my husband Norm and our two lap dogs Gizmo and Buddy. I am a retired Kitchen and Bath Designer and have made jewelry for myself and friends most of my life. When I retired I was bored and thought about selling my jewelry. My mentor, Nina Bagley, had (has) a shop on Etsy and I thought, why not? I had six shops at one point. Now I am focused on vintage costume jewelry and vintage inspired handmade jewelry.

I know from experience how uplifting like minds can be! I come home from our Team Meetings energized and excited. We each bring different strengths to the team and can help each other grow and thrive on Etsy. How is exciting is that?

[AndreaIJewelry]

Hi

I'm Andrea, recently retired from the financial services industry and loving the fact that I can play with beads all day long if I want to!

In 2009 I realized that I had made more jewelry than I could ever use, even after making stuff for relatives and friends. I stumbled upon Etsy & voila - Andrea I Jewelry was started. At this point, I have a 'self funding hobby', but with more focus I hope to make this a profitable enterprise. Day spas are not cheap!

Being a member of a local Etsy Team means I can meet and interact with real people in this online world of ours. I know this is going to be a great team & I hope to meet more of you soon!!

[BunnyStitches]

Hi,

I'm Joan and my shop is BunnyStitches. Many years ago I was very active in home boutiques and eventually sold my items in a store in Livermore. As often happens, life changes convinced me that I needed to reluctantly take a hiatus from crafting.

Fast forward to 2008--my daughter was doing some beading and was exploring the possibility of Etsy. I had never heard of it so I looked it up. My daughter never joined, but a month later I had a shop and was back to crafting!

I belong to a few teams, and the information and support a team can provide is amazingly helpful. I feel fortunate to be a part of a local team though. The energy, the give and take of questions and ideas, not to mention the fun social interaction give an added dimension to being a part of the larger whole. We're building a great team, come join us!

[thedots]

Hi ~ I'm Dorothy, I live in Castro Valley, and I've had my shop on etsy since July 2010. I sell very well-made, very colorful, very potent catnip toys. I love using unexpected fabric for the toys, so if a prospective buyer is looking for something with zombies, fantasy flowers, ancient pottery, stained glass, or black skulls, I have that!

I don't remember how I found out about etsy, but I'm glad I did.

I'm interested in what my fellow bay area creatives are creating, and I would be interested in meeting these same people at an event at some point.

[AndreaIJewelry]

Welcome Dorothy!

We have meetings very month or so and the next one is tomorrow evening.
The details are in a separate private thread titled "May Meeting".

Hope you can make it.

~Andrea