Etsy's Handmade Blog
About Us: Amy aka amydec

Amy DeCicco, a.k.a. amydec, joined the Etsy Admin in April of 2009. She comes to us via National Public Radio and brings her expertise as a librarian. Amy will be working on Etsy's taxonomy, specifically the organization of the Etsy Categories and how they relate to tagging.

Fun Facts:

  • In college, Amy wanted to be a sociologist or anthropologist, but decided academia wasn't for her.
  • According to her former boss at NPR, "When Amy is upset and disagrees with something, she sends her boss memos so well written, so clear, specific and precise outlining her disagreements that her boss has no choice but agree with her!"
  • Her first gig at NPR was interning for the music librarian, which has to be one of the best jobs ever. That's where she fell in love with opera. Which brings us to our next Fun Facts...
  • Her favorite opera singers are Enrico Caruso and Juan Diego Flores.
  • Her former NPR boss weighed in on the opera theme too, "She has been known to travel to the suburbs to catch the Met Opera simulcast in HD.  (On public transportation, of course!)"
  • She's a good cook and likes to host dinner parties.
  • Her celebrity look-alike is Brittany Murphy.
  • She grew up in the Blueberry Capital of the World in South Jersey (Exit 28, Expressway).
  • Amy dreams of joining a marching band.
  • From looking at her flickr stream, I got the feeling she's into shoes. This Fun Fact has been verified by her NPR blog post about librarian fashion. She also told me her taxonomy inspiration is Endless.com.
  • She has worked as a barista, florist, cheese monger, research coordinator, and news librarian. No, she is not a taxidermist.
  • Her To Do List for the year includes organizing a double-dutch jump rope team and learning to play the xylophone.
  • She can drink wine seven nights a week with little or no after-effect.
  • Amy can write backwards in cursive.
  • She's an example of the reason why you shouldn't get a tattoo in high school. She wouldn't spill the beans until I guessed what it was on the first try! Now I'm sworn to secrecy.
  • Don't challenge her to a game of dice.
  • According to other folks on the Product Team, Amy is preparing to blow everyone else in the "messy desk contest" out of the water.
  • Her first concert was Faith No More and Helmet.

Amy (on the right) gives Tara a run for her big-haired money. I love how the bouffants seem to be casting shadows along the far wall.


Amy got into karaoke before everyone else, way back when blue shag carpet, Mr. Potato Head, and — as Eric put it — "Burt and Ernie shirts" were de rigeur. Amy, "You should be dancin', yeah!"


Etsy has had quite a growth spurt in the past year, and we have the awkward pictures to prove it. We've been posting a series of About Us pieces to help you get to know the Etsy admin (and since many of us work remotely, for the admin to get to know each other!). You've seen the admin badge, and maybe you're a bit curious about the person behind it! For more on Etsy's mission and about the company, please see our About page (the link is in the little blue footer of every Etsy page).

Some of Amy's favorites below...

Tags About Us, admin, amydec, Amy DeCicco, categories, employee, ETC, librarian, staff, tagging, taxonomy
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76 comments     Login to add your own!

May 15, 2009 at 1:41 p.m. LaveMeSoapCo

hi amy!

May 15, 2009 at 1:44 p.m. novadesigns

Hi and welcome to Etsy!

May 15, 2009 at 1:48 p.m. qwynwyn

Welcome to etsy! Tagging and categorizing - sounds like a fun challenge!

May 15, 2009 at 1:49 p.m. PoleStar

A butterfly?

May 15, 2009 at 1:52 p.m. SusanFaye

Love that bouffant! I'm campaigning for a main category of "Custom and Personalized Gifts"...What do you think?

May 15, 2009 at 1:53 p.m. FrucciDesign

Caruso eh!?
old school opera!

May 15, 2009 at 1:54 p.m. Vanessa

Amy, welcome to the team! It's great to have a fellow shoe-hound in the house.

May 15, 2009 at 1:58 p.m. VintageEye

the big hair photo is awesome!
there is something about opera, isn't there?

May 15, 2009 at 2:06 p.m. moonovermaize

Hi! I can definitely see the Brittany Murphy in you!

How have I only just found out about 'The Storque'? This is great....now I have to go read all the previous articles :)

May 15, 2009 at 2:08 p.m. EJPcreations

HI AMY!!!!

May 15, 2009 at 2:10 p.m. lovelygifts

Congrats Amy! I spent my summers at the Jersey shore! I also like some opera and confess that one of my most moving moments was hearing Pavarotti in concert when he was at his peak.

May 15, 2009 at 2:11 p.m. SilverSynergy

Hi! Welcome to Etsy.

May 15, 2009 at 2:24 p.m. BululuStudio

Welcome to Etsy Amy!

May 15, 2009 at 2:32 p.m. IcingOnTheCupcake

Welcome Amy!

May 15, 2009 at 2:50 p.m. adam

1. You need to bring back that hairdo.
2. Nice handwriting!
3. I'm thinking butterfly, dolphin, fairy, or ex-boyfriend's name. Lower back region.
3. Craps, on the roof, 6 p.m. Bring some $1's.

May 15, 2009 at 2:52 p.m. worksofwhimsy

Welcome.Cheese monger? What an interesting resume you must have. Living in the blueberry capitol sounds delicious!

May 15, 2009 at 3:02 p.m. ButtonsAndSocks

Welcome Amy! I'm excited about the new ideas you are bringing to this great company.

May 15, 2009 at 3:06 p.m. FlanneryCrane

Welcome Amy!

May 15, 2009 at 3:20 p.m. AnaStella

Yay, another Jersey Girl! Welcome!

May 15, 2009 at 3:28 p.m. TheCottageCheese

Nice meeting you, welcome Amy! And you're a fellow baseball fan...

May 15, 2009 at 3:36 p.m. Chesterella

holy moly Amy, we looked EXACTLY alike in the one of you singing!!!

May 15, 2009 at 4:07 p.m. That70sShoppe

Welcome!

May 15, 2009 at 4:08 p.m. BlueNostalgia

Welcome AMY! I thought you looked familiar! Brittany Murphy....seriously!

May 15, 2009 at 4:20 p.m. SundraSandrusi

Welcome Amy!

May 15, 2009 at 4:20 p.m. vilte

welcome :)

May 15, 2009 at 4:25 p.m. kotibeth

Thanks for featuring my paperclip bookmark! Welcome to Etsy!

May 15, 2009 at 4:56 p.m. weirdwolf

Amy singing to the Bee Gees record is adorable!

May 15, 2009 at 5:02 p.m. objecked

snazzy handwriting! snazzier hairdo! my guess for the tattoo is TAZ from Looney Tunes.

I hereby challenge you to a cursive writing contest!

May 15, 2009 at 5:16 p.m. recycledwares

I wish you all the luck with the esty categories. Thanks for sharing those pictures - they bring back memories of my own childhood.

May 15, 2009 at 5:23 p.m. CutieDynamite

Super cute! Loving the big hair!

May 15, 2009 at 5:26 p.m. ireneagh

Welcome Amy! :)

May 15, 2009 at 5:28 p.m. friedasophie

I learned how to dance disco to the Bee Gees record, very cute

May 15, 2009 at 5:42 p.m. TianaCHE

Hi, Amy! Welcome to Etsy!

May 15, 2009 at 5:44 p.m. amydec

Hi Everyone!

Thanks for the warm welcome. I'm really happy to be here!

--Amy

May 15, 2009 at 6:38 p.m. MothHouse

Hi Amy! Thanks for featuring my opera glasses :)

May 15, 2009 at 6:54 p.m. VintageJamie

Hi, Amy~ It's nice to know you.

May 15, 2009 at 8:16 p.m. Ozknits

Hi Amy- from another fan of the opera.

May 15, 2009 at 8:38 p.m. HangsaLittleLeft

Hi Amy! Nice to meet you :)

May 15, 2009 at 8:51 p.m. whitemetal

Welcome :)

May 15, 2009 at 10:19 p.m. MegnificentCo

Hi Amy! Isn't it fun how us Jerseyans identify ourselves by exit numbers? I'm Exit 153, nice to meet you!

May 16, 2009 at 12:11 a.m. bddesigns

I love Amy already!!! Your interview is CLASSIC!!! ;)

May 16, 2009 at 12:16 a.m. PipocaHandmade

Super! Welcome + Enjoy!

May 16, 2009 at 12:29 a.m. wovenstones

Glad you are here, Amy! Can't wait to see what you have in store - sorry for the pun - for us with the category searches. While I am sorry for NPR's loss, its truly our gain!

May 16, 2009 at 12:47 a.m. michon

Hi Amy, welcome!

May 16, 2009 at 1:08 a.m. aimeesarmoire

That's it... I'm growin' the hair, breaking out the Aqua Net, and having a BIG HAIR FREE-FOR-ALL. Amy, you've inspired this Aimee (who was once a librarian!).

May 16, 2009 at 3:47 a.m. littlepinkpebble

Hi Amy *wave*
welcome and many wonderful years ahead.
Visit my shop too *giggle*

May 16, 2009 at 4:38 a.m. LushPunk

hmmm - regretting a tatt from high school days...

I'm also gonna go with a ex's name!

May 16, 2009 at 8:28 a.m. truLuxe

Amy, I can appreciate how hard you had to work for that hair. I personally know it involved starting the blow-dry with your head up-side down. And a lot of product. I mean a lot.

May 16, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. Morado

Hey AMy! Welcome to the family ..hehe

May 16, 2009 at 12:38 p.m. baconsquarefarm

Hello Amy, great pictures of you~ enjoyed the article about your life thus far. Welcome to this big family.

May 16, 2009 at 12:55 p.m. violetjulia

Amy, we need you. Edit away!

May 16, 2009 at 1:07 p.m. mojospastyle

Hi Amy,

So there are more people working on making Etsy better. Really like the items you chose. I love buying T-shirts too.

May 16, 2009 at 2:25 p.m. littlealouette

welcome love! xoxoxo rock on!

May 16, 2009 at 4:04 p.m. RabbitHoleArt

Hi Amy, welcome to Etsy!

May 16, 2009 at 9:51 p.m. ClareBears

Wow Amy, that's quite a first gig line-up!

May 17, 2009 at 12:58 a.m. sirenedelmare

This is great! Congrats and welcome to Etsy!

May 17, 2009 at 5:17 a.m. Rokemet

Juan Diego Florez IS the greatest bel canto tenor. And the cutest! if you love him your heart IS in the right place. Welcome!

May 17, 2009 at 12:06 p.m. littlemoandfriends

What a crazy wondrous selection! the kidneys in a jar is pretty cool!

May 17, 2009 at 3:24 p.m. spongetta

Welcome Amy!

May 17, 2009 at 8:12 p.m. PuzzleBoBuzzles

Yea Librarian!

May 17, 2009 at 9:44 p.m. Mymothersgarden

Hi Amy! Welcome! Hope you have a blast here at etsy! I'm looking forward to seeing the improvements and changes to categories and searching. Interesting favorites!

May 17, 2009 at 9:53 p.m. mloartwear

What a great idea to hire a librarian. Etsy really needs some help with the art categories. Thank you and welcome Amy!

May 18, 2009 at 8:43 a.m. heronkate

Welcome Amy, love that hair-so!!
The fine art categories really need some tweaking. Hope you can find a way to separate original paintings from prints of original paintings. Thank you.

May 18, 2009 at 9:33 a.m. orcapeppa

Hi Amy!! Welcome to Etsy!

May 18, 2009 at 9:34 a.m. Art2ArtColorado

Congrats and Welcome!
*it's great to have you here

May 18, 2009 at 9:52 a.m. Furiousdreams

Welcome, welcome Amy- we are so happy to have a real live librarian on board.

One challenge for the Art Category is how to separate multiples of any kind (reproductions, prints) from original works of art. Hope you can help make that happen!

-Victoria

May 18, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. Furiousdreams

Sorry, did not mean to imply above that hand-pulled prints are not originals. My issue is with unlimited editions of prints, either digitally produced from a home computer or offset.
Not with original handmade prints!

May 18, 2009 at 12:22 p.m. MysticSilks

Welcome Amy,

Taxconomy, that is a real word--WOW! At 1st I thought it said, taxidermist, and I wondered why etsy had hired someone who had experience in stuffing and mounting animals?--:)

Now, someone who knows how to orginize--that is special!

And do please make sence out of our 'fine arts' category, as to what is an 'original painting', and what can be tagged as an 'original painting'--that would help serious buyers of 'fine arts' to find the 'fine artist's' work on etsy---:)

MysticSilks

May 18, 2009 at 1:15 p.m. ablemabel

Welcome Amy!! Glad to have you aboard!

May 18, 2009 at 3:36 p.m. debhillart

This is exciting! Welcome Amy, Your mission should you choose to accept it.....................:) We are only anticipating a minor miracle in the tagging and category area so just relax........no really, it's great to know someone is going to put their focus on this area of Etsy!!! Especially the fine artists here.

May 18, 2009 at 8:01 p.m. LGraceOriginals

Welcome Amy .Yes, Please help the fine arts on Etsy!

May 18, 2009 at 8:45 p.m. bazketmakr

wow, Amy, welcome! I am sure you will have lots of constructive ideas on how to help us out!

May 19, 2009 at 12:05 a.m. WindandHoney

Welcome Amy. I look forward to seeing how you might help the fine artist of esty to get more exposure. Thanks in advance.

May 19, 2009 at 6:35 p.m. workingforpeanuts

Hello Amy!

May 22, 2009 at 5:32 p.m. sealmaiden

love blueberries and the hair, welcome!!

June 13, 2009 at 10:53 a.m. HighDesertRose

i love blueberries! just wanted to say hey to a fellow Jersey girl, now transplanted....I grew up in Piscataway, not too far from Rutgers.
Piscataway used to be called New Market, but the name was changed in the 1960s to honor the Piscataquaw Indians (at least that's what we kids were told.)

thanks for coming aboard, I am sure you'll enjoy using your mad skills here.

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