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Etsy Love Stories: HendersonPipes and SofterFire


Story by HendersonPipes Published on February 11, 2009 in This Handmade Life	Photo by HendersonPipes

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

Tags	Etsy Love Stories, Handmade Weddings, HendersonPipes, love, marriage, real weddings, relationships, Season of Love, SofterFire, umlauf

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67 comments Login to add your own!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 11:20 a.m.

LiamDesign

such a CUTE story!!!!makes me mushy inside!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 11:20 a.m.

ChelseaVanTol

awwww this is so cute. I wish my husband liked etsy, but alas, he likes sports.

Feb. 11, 2009 at 11:21 a.m.

AlloverArt

Awww, thanks for sharing! :)

Feb. 11, 2009 at 11:23 a.m.

JelliesJewelry

ahhhhh. A great story!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 11:25 a.m.

MomNMiaQuilts

Great story Andy - thanks for sharing. And HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 11:28 a.m.

Thepaperboat

Geeks rule!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 11:28 a.m.

CatherineMarissa

This reminds me of how much I love love. Seriously - how fun to be an Etsy couple (with so much talent!)!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 11:31 a.m.

thegratulatest

Nice pipes.

Feb. 11, 2009 at 11:33 a.m.

baconsquarefarm

Amazing Love story, wonderful read, Thanks for sharing it with all of us~!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 11:36 a.m.

BabbidgePatch

aww so sweet

Feb. 11, 2009 at 11:37 a.m.

gloilocksandbody

Aww, those two are adorable :D

Feb. 11, 2009 at 11:44 a.m.

vintageitville

That is so wonderful. It is such a bonus for anyone to be supported so much by the one they love.
I hope one day my hubs will see the joy I get from etsy.

Feb. 11, 2009 at 11:47 a.m.

EpicBones

sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

Feb. 11, 2009 at 11:48 a.m.

OrganicPanic

Perfect for valentines.

Feb. 11, 2009 at 12:05 p.m.

PeppermintDaydreams

super-cute!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 12:06 p.m.

4TheSparrowsNest

A man who sold off his beloved video games for his woman....wow. That's love! :o)

Feb. 11, 2009 at 12:12 p.m.

sushipie

omg! I absolutely cannot believe how so friggin cute you two are! Can I take you both home with me?

Feb. 11, 2009 at 12:23 p.m.

bellabijoujewellery

awe! You both look soo happy!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 12:35 p.m.

FlanneryCrane

I love the first B/W Photograph! Too cute, you guys...

Feb. 11, 2009 at 12:41 p.m.

patchylover

Soooo sweet! Congrats to you both and many years of love and happiness (and great success in your business too).

Feb. 11, 2009 at 12:44 p.m.

dogties

So cute...
And great items too!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 12:57 p.m.

LaireMarie

awww...what a sweet story. ;)

Feb. 11, 2009 at 1:09 p.m.

yllosubmarine

I would never want my boyfriend to give up his childhood love and one of his greatest joys (comics), but love does funny things to people. :) Great story! Love the pipes.

Feb. 11, 2009 at 1:20 p.m.

thestapeliacompany

So cute! It's great you two kids can share crafting... it's sorta rare. My love is in insurance...hahaha.

Feb. 11, 2009 at 1:30 p.m.

Earmark

oh etsy love - i agree it is fantastic working with the one you love!!! I couldn't imagine it any other way!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 1:34 p.m.

CutieDynamite

SO cute!!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 1:40 p.m.

redyellowandblueink

Aaaw shucks-that's just sweet...And hooray for victory of the art of craft!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 1:44 p.m.

JustJaynes

What a wonderful article Andy!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 1:53 p.m.

KalliopeGifts

♥ Awww, what a great love story! Crafting with your significant other is the best! ♥

Feb. 11, 2009 at 1:56 p.m.

mamafamilias

what a great story nd so happy to have found Hendersons Pipes. I don't think my husband will trade in his compter time for art, but he might like smoking a pipe while online:)

Feb. 11, 2009 at 1:57 p.m.

topsyturvydesign

R.I.P. World of Warcraft & Eve online :)

Feb. 11, 2009 at 2:04 p.m.

topsyturvydesign

Oh - My husband (a devout gamer) adds... At least Warcraft has the work "craft" in it :)

Feb. 11, 2009 at 2:32 p.m.

FancifulForm

My boyfriend and I play World Of Warcraft together (when I am not on etsy or in school or at work).

It's great for bonding. Hehe.

Feb. 11, 2009 at 2:52 p.m.

pumpkinhaus

awwww.... that is cute. and sweet.

My daughter was just telling me this morning that here little bro (1yo) was going to be like other boys and obsess over video games. I said No Way, my dear! He will have an etsy shop some day.... just like you!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 2:57 p.m.

BeadsInTheBelfry

oh that is just a wonderful story!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 3:01 p.m.

TigerTeeth

best storque article ever. you guys are so sweet!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 3:05 p.m.

nfall2rt

very heartwarming story! Get the kids off the computer and into making things:)

Feb. 11, 2009 at 3:14 p.m.

LaveMeSoapCo

awwwwwww

Feb. 11, 2009 at 3:41 p.m.

ronniegunn

Thanks for this, pipe guy. Etsy handmade love. :)

Feb. 11, 2009 at 3:46 p.m.

fernfiddlehead

"Christmas was awesome, buying each other equipment and supplies for our shops." Sounds perfect. Sweet.

Feb. 11, 2009 at 3:49 p.m.

phydeaux

Now THAT'S love ... for your honey and for Etsy! :D

Feb. 11, 2009 at 4:37 p.m.

laurabrownart

love it! what a great little story.

Feb. 11, 2009 at 5:48 p.m.

silverblayze

Adorable love story, and I'm excited to see you're both living in Michigan to boot!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 8:16 p.m.

breadandroses

Beautiful couple! 'Tis the season of love...sweet.

Feb. 11, 2009 at 8:43 p.m.

BlueCanvasStudios

I love it! Now off to check out your shops!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 8:54 p.m.

erinschock

So sweet! Im glad there was triumph over the power of the video game!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 11:26 p.m.

Corpseknit

ahhhh. . . so sweet :)
& I love the couple photos- especially the top one!

Feb. 11, 2009 at 11:47 p.m.

julieandco

What a wonderful love story! Great Michigan talent, too!!

Feb. 12, 2009 at 12:01 a.m.

2BellesBeads

Oh gosh, how cute is that?? Very sweet. :)

Feb. 12, 2009 at 1:37 a.m.

mylittlegnomies

I hope this will serve as inspiration to my husband. ;)

Feb. 12, 2009 at 4:13 a.m.

swellvintage

So adorable! I need a creative man! x

Feb. 12, 2009 at 7:47 a.m.

bbbennyandthejet

Can you do a full tutorial on how to rip a husband away from video games and start him crafting something?

honestly.

Feb. 12, 2009 at 8:08 a.m.

HendersonPipes

Awww, you all are so nice. Thanks for all of the sweet comments and messages.

This has been a great something extra for Valentine's/1st Anniversary. We'll be talking about this for many, many years.

Feb. 12, 2009 at 9:28 a.m.

shopgoodgrace

This is such a sweet, sweet article! Thank you for sharing it with us. :)

Feb. 12, 2009 at 9:41 a.m.

jodieflowers

♥ Awww!

Feb. 12, 2009 at 10:45 a.m.

MiaRae

That's my baby's, I love you too!

Feb. 12, 2009 at 11:36 a.m.

LOOKAjewelry

Really sweet story.. I love hearing love/success stories from the male prospective.

Congrats to both of you, way to go!!

Feb. 12, 2009 at 11:39 a.m.

redcrowgoods

Trading gaming for crafting that is something to celebrate...
Congratulations! Keep up the nice work.

Feb. 12, 2009 at 12:28 p.m.

necessityisthemother

What this?! Our all-time fabvorite pipe-making sensation! I love the part about selling the games and equipment for extra wedding cash... I was fortunate enough to have found Hendersonpipes before Christmas, and now my husband is addicted to checking H's new postings, dreaming of the day when he can add to his collection of one.

Huge Huge Fan.

Feb. 12, 2009 at 2:04 p.m.

scarecrow3331

great story. and great pipes!!!

Feb. 12, 2009 at 5:21 p.m.

mazedasastoat

Such a sweet story!

(Is there REALLY a place called kalamazoo? LOL)

Feb. 12, 2009 at 9:29 p.m.

bellasparty

How sweet! Thanks for sharing with us.

Feb. 24, 2009 at 2:08 a.m.

Signs

I aspire one day to have my own etsy love story...lol

Feb. 28, 2009 at 7:35 p.m.

Ailce500

That's a beautiful love story. It's hard for me to imagine any of the MMORPG gamers that I know giving up on games in favor of spending more time creating art with their spouses or significant others. Gaming can so often be a strong addiction...it must be a tremendous love that the two of you share. Congrats to that!

March 7, 2009 at 2:55 a.m.