My daughter had told me several times to check out Etsy. She told me I would love it and that they sell the kind of stuff I like to make. I checked it out and have been hooked ever since. It was so easy to get started selling. And everyone is so friendly, with advise to offer or just to listen. I feel right at home. My sales have grown slowly but steady. I am very happy with my shop at Etsy.
The business part of my shop started in a spare bedroom in my home. It had always been the room that had a twin bed and my computer stuff. Then it became my office and where I did my not so messy work. To help me feel connected to nature while working, I brought a dead tree limb inside and attached it to the side of my desk. It is about six inches from the ceiling. I put fake leafs on it and all kinds of trinkets that I find, including windchimes.
I turned half of my garage into my work shop. This is where is do the messy work. I have plenty of room to make all my signs and flags, lots of storage areas and I can let the saw dust fly.
About a year ago we moved my dad from our garage apartment to our house. So I moved all my office into his old apartment. Now I have a real office and art studio. Everyone jokes that I might as well move in there because I just about live there now:). I love it.
I like to experiment with what is available or just something I have found to create my art work. When I see something that is old or is going to be thrown away, I can't help but think of what I could do with it. Old barn wood, tarnished old spoons, an old hub cap, rusted farm items, homemade salt dough, joint compound that my husband isn't going to use, laths torn out of old houses, just about anything that would be unique and fun. My main goal is to be as earth friendly as possible. Green, Green, Green!
I am the creator in my shop and work alone a good part of the time. I guess I'm somewhat of a hermit because I love it. I can get lost making a sign and not come out for hours.
But when I get swamped, my husband or my dad will step in to save the day. My husband cuts wood for me sometimes and he's been known to make several trips to the lumber yard because I don't want to stop working.
My dad is great at hunting up large boxes for shipping my orders. He also has a quick hand at painting laths or drilling holes. I have a picture of my dad painting some lathes for me and he looks like Santa's helper.
Both my husband and dad are very encouraging and patient with me. Thank heavens!
I would say that being willing to try to create what my clients want is what makes my style of work unique. If a person wants a flag of Canada on laths, a glow in the dark sign with skulls and dripping blood lettering, a sign of a Winny The Pooh saying with a beehive and bumble bees, all they need to do is let me know. I will do my best to make them happy with what I create. I created all of the above and had a blast. Creating is so much fun and so relaxing. I can work for hours in my shop without wanting to stop. It is addictive once I get started on something.
I like to talk to people like I already know them. It makes both of us more comfortable. Treating people like I like to be treated is a rule I like to follow. Responding promptly and being honest is also my policy.
My inspiration comes from other Etsy members, customers' special orders, a saying that just catches my eye or anything old that needs to be reclaimed. All these inspire me but I would say what gets my creativity flowing the most is to go out to an old barn that has been torn down or a house being demolished and see all the rusted old metal items or the weathered wood that is just going to be wasted if I don't do something with it.
I think everyone should have some talk on their walls, out in their garden or on the side of their barn. So what do you want your walls to say?