Featured Buyer: Rob's Mom, aka Carol Kalin Abedon

Wed, 07 May 2008 15:17:00 -0000

This week we have a very special Featured Buyer, just in time for Mother's Day: Carol Kalin Abedon, otherwise known as Rob's mother. Before Rokali founded Etsy and made it what it is today, he was but a kid with dreams, nurtured by his parents. Here's Carol.

Hi, my name is Carol Kalin Abedon and I am connected to Etsy by birth. Rob Kalin, aka Rokali, is my firstborn and founder of Etsy. This article is dedicated to my mom, Pauline Sonenshine, a proud Etsy seller herself (Sunshinejewelery) and the person who taught me what good taste is. This is also written as a joyful "thank you" to my three children, who have a passion for doing things differently from their progenitors. It is especially written for all the people who love Etsy and want to know more about my eldest son.

Before I show you my favorite items on Etsy, I am going to take advantage of this forum to tell you a bit about Rob and his life before Etsy.

As I reminisce and review the myriad of moments I have stored in my memory of life as a sister, daughter, and mother, I recall many anecdotes that Rob might not appreciate seeing in the Storque. For example, he would probably not want me to reveal to you that his favorite color used to be pink and all he wanted for his 4th birthday were lengths of pink ribbon in every possible hue, or how he would clasp the corners of the blue satin Batman cape I made him and jump off the jungle gym to see if he could fly (his little brother in close pursuit with his very own hand-made, red satin, Robin cape).

Rob was a fine side-armed pitcher in middle school and played a wicked game of tennis (still does). Did you know that in middle school, Rob could play a smooth, jazzy version of "Tequila" on the alto sax? I wonder how Rob would feel about me divulging the details of his nightly habit of carefully placing his high top sneakers facing opposite directions in front of his bedroom door, ostensibly to keep out the "evil spirits." Maybe Rob would think it was okay to tell you about the time he and a friend got into trouble with "the powers that be" while attempting to scale the famous CITGO sign in Kenmore Square, just to check out the neon workings up close and personal. On second thought, I'd better leave that one out.

It might be better to describe how I had to actually show my (shockingly honest) young son how to steal a cookie from the kitchen cabinet by dragging a chair over and climbing onto the counter…a further lesson was necessary to teach him to hide the purloined sweet as he walked by his parents. It is also amusing to remember the time that Rob decided to run away from home: he packed his entire baseball card collection in his suitcase, resulting in absolutely no room for clothes and a bag too heavy for him to carry further than the end of the driveway.

Since he definitely would not want me to tell you all those stories, I will recount the following anecdote which I am sure Rob does not remember, but of which he would approve. It was a dismal, dreary, rainy weekend in May, and all three siblings were stuck inside at home. All that could be heard throughout the house was bickering, teasing, whining, crying, and arguing. I became so annoyed and frustrated by my inability to get them to stop that I finally sent all three kids to temporary solitary confinement. Rob retreated to his woodshop, and Stefan and Laura to their respective quarters. Each child was forcefully told they could only show their face again once all conflicts had been peaceably resolved. I totally ignored their protests of "But Mo-o-om, how can we fix it if we can't see or even talk to each other??"

Once all their doors were closed, and it was finally quiet, I retreated to my room to read. Half an hour later, I began to hear the sound of doors gently opening and closing and the shuffling of papers. Eventually, Rob, Laura, and Stefan appeared at my door, lined up behind the oldest (Rob), who handed me three carefully written pages, personal manifestos, gifts of incredible value. I saved their words with other treasured memorabilia and will end this Mother's Day article with Rob's own words from a Mother's Day 15 years ago.

Now on to the real point of this article: to share some of my experiences on Etsy and specifically the things which I would love to receive for Mother's Day. Some of these things I have already been given as presents, and I use/wear them proudly.

[String Theory by bbusbyarts]

I have used quilts as a focal point in the rooms of my house, both as a bedcover and on walls. I love this quilt because of its detailed and subtle use of color to show movement, and I think purple is my favorite color.

[Stained Glass Silk Scarf by kjmSILKS]

The vibrant colors in this silk scarf remind me of the stained glass windows my daughter has made.

[Oceana End Table by paulus]

This would be absolutely perfect to complete a sitting area in my new home.

[The Cute Bag - Jungle Bird by thislittlebird]

I have to admit that I love this bag because I have seen my daughter's Etsy choices, and her good taste has rubbed off on me.

[Wild Bergamot - Stained Glass Sculpture by FeralGlass]

I would love to plant this along with the daffodils in my new garden!

[Walk This Way Wall Graphic by ellynelly]

This would spice up any room. I'd follow these guys anywhere.

[Horizontal Peapod Necklace by sudlow]

This necklace would make a great accessory to go with the peapod earrings that I already have. (Hint, hint!)

[Grey and Rainbow Shawl by TJTDesign]

I love to add to my famous collection of shawls, and this would certainly be unique among them.

[Kristen by johnclark - this particular piece was purchased, but other custom pieces are available!]

An amazingly personal, intriguing gift. I happen to know that this young woman is beautiful both in this representation and face-to-face. I also love this interesting form of art — I like the merger of image and words and being able to recognize which novels many of these pages came from.

[Silver Leaf Three by zippandesigns]

Absolutely stunning — imaginative flight of earrings. So sophisticated.

[Mobile Lustron by frithmobiles]

Mobiles bring motion and color to my house, reflecting light and breezes.

So this is where I am right now. More favorites will be found each day as I explore the ever-expanding inventory of listings. It brings me great "nachus" to be a part of Etsy, Rob's "baby." Happy Mother's Day!

Storque articles by carolgradkalin

Featured Buyer: Rob's Mom, aka Carol Kalin Abedon