Search results (tags) for: "relationships"

Etsy Love Stories: HendersonPipes and SofterFire

2009-02-11T11:15:00-05:00

We don't want the Season of Love to ever end over here at the Etsy blog! There many sweet Etsy love stories, and many folks will relate to this one, as it centers on the tension between gaming and crafting. While many people have been brought together by their mutual geekiness and craftiness — alas, in this love story, craftiness vanquishes!

Starting with an Atari, I have always been a video game player. That's how most of my free time was spent before meeting Jessica (aka SofterFire and umlauf).

As our wedding approached, I was stressing about money, so I took all of my video games and machines and sold them for some extra cash. On February 15th of 2008, I married my dream girl. She's smart, beautiful, and incredibly creative. I didn't mind selling off my gaming machines if it meant a nicer wedding. I adore her, after all (and I also had games on my computer!).

I watched her start up her Etsy shops, having so much fun creating and working in her free time while I sat at the computer playing my games. I got a bit envious of the fun she was having while accomplishing so much. I knew she wasn't exactly thrilled with all the time I was spending online, taking over fake worlds and crafting starship engines, though she didn't complain.

That's how I got started thinking about what I could make, and HendersonPipes was born. What could I create in the real world? Within the week of making my first pipe, I canceled my subscription to the multiplayer online game I was a member of, put the rest of my games away, and haven't played once since I started.

We have so much fun together working on our Etsy shops! Every day we get to show one another our new creations, talk about our views and hearts, and celebrate each others' sales. Christmas was awesome, buying each other equipment and supplies for our shops.

Our first year of marriage has been GREAT, and Etsy has played a big part in that.

Check out more Etsy Love Stories here!

Season of Love Posts | Season of Love Gift Guides

Etsy Love Stories: VerreEncore

2009-02-04T16:00:00-05:00

We're getting into the Season of Love spirit here on the Etsy blog, and we're searching the community for Etsy love stories. The second story we're sharing with you this year (and it's so sweet!) chronicles the love story of VerreEncore and her man.

Patrick and I attended the same high school. He was cute, artsy, and two classes my senior, which means we didn't talk a great deal back then.

Time passed, I graduated both high school and undergrad. In early spring of 2008, 6 years after high school, I found myself needing an emergency letter of recommendation. I went to the high school office where Patrick's mom works. His mom and I chatted about what I was up to (running VerreEncore and applying to graduate schools) and what Patrick was doing. He sounded like a dream. Of course we lived 150 miles apart, so I figured he would stay that way, a dream. Turns out Patrick's mom gave him my Etsy business card. He bought his at-the-time girlfriend a necklace from my shop. (I promise, not as scandalous as it sounds!) At any rate, that was our first time being in contact in over 8 years.

Patrick noticed my flickr account and added me as a contact. We had more in common than we would have imagined, which we were soon to find out in the months to follow. Conversation was kept to a simple "glad to see you're doing well" kind of dialogue… Until he and his girlfriend ended their relationship.

It was a couple months later that we started sending brief messages on Facebook, a comment or two. Those small comments turned into daily long emails, and I looked forward to every message. Each time we shared a little more about ourselves… Not 20 questions; more like 2,000 questions. With every email, I felt as if he were really too good to be true; funny, smart, interesting, passionate, adventurous. Surely this was a dream...

He finally stated the obvious, that we didn't have each others' phone numbers, but we should. He found an excuse to make a trip to our hometown, and asked me out on a date Mother's Day weekend. I could have cried, I was so nervous and excited.

If I wasn't nervous enough for our date that night, Patrick ordered 3 necklaces for his mom, sister, and grandmother for Mother's Day, and with little notice he headed over to my house. I was busy in my studio working and was not looking my best. He walked in and we saw each other for the first time in years. I was wearing old jeans, a Hoosier sweatshirt, striped clogs, safety goggles and a respirator. I turned red, and to offset my ridiculous attire, I immediately showed him my flawed pile of enameled pieces. But he didn't mind that I made mistakes, and he didn't mind that I looked like a complete mess. He smiled and told me how amazing I was.

Our date night was perfect, and I'll spare you the mushy details, but we talked and laughed the whole night, staying out from 5 in the evening till 3 in the morning, doing everything from going to an art opening and having a lovely dinner, to buying a lotto ticket (since we were feeling lucky).

We've been together now for almost 8 months, and I cherish each day! Although I'm away at graduate school, and the miles between us have increased, our love holds us close together. (He's even going to be starting an Etsy shop soon with his illustrations!)

Long story short: Patrick and I would not have been reunited if it weren't for the amazing opportunity Etsy has given me to run a gratifying handmade business! THANKS ETSY! I am with the man of my dreams, we love each other and each day I'm thankful for the chance of being reconnected after so many years.

Check out more Etsy Love Stories here!

Season of Love Posts | Season of Love Gift Guides

Guest Curator: Glamour Magazine's Joanna Goddard

2009-02-04T15:09:00-05:00

Joanna Goddard is the relationships blogger for Smitten at Glamour Magazine, so she spends her days thinking about love and weddings (as well as breakups and bad dates). She also writes the design blog, Cup of Jo. Joanna lives in Manhattan with her boyfriend, lots of vintage furniture, and a few water-starved plants.

Eek, February 14th is fast approaching. For this Valentine's Day, here are some treats for guys and girls that will make your heart go pitter patter....

Vintage paper-doll brooches

These paper doll brooches are fabulous! From yaelfran, $14.

Search results (tags) for: "relationships"

Etsy Love Stories: HendersonPipes and SofterFire

Etsy Love Stories: VerreEncore

Guest Curator: Glamour Magazine's Joanna Goddard

When You Don't Like Your Mom...

My First Crush: The Handmade Art and Animation of Julia Pott