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Story by
Community,
Vanessa
Published on June 18, 2009 in This Handmade Life |
Photo by |
Christy Petterson, a.k.a. abardis, signed up for Etsy on June 19, 2005. She's a beloved member of the community — both on Etsy and in her local city, Atlanta, where she founded ICE, Indie Craft Experience.
My name is Christy Petterson, and I'm an Atlanta native, which is quite the rarity. My day job is in public relations, and I co-organize the Indie Craft Experience, a twice-a-year craft market in Atlanta.
I'm also an avid writer, and I'm secretly working on a project that I hope will turn into a book someday. My parents made me wait until I was 12 years old to get my ears pierced, which is the only explanation I can come up with for why I am so obsessed with earrings! I do not leave the house unless I'm wearing a pair, and they are pretty much all I make these days.June 18, 2005 was a big day! Not only was it the day Etsy launched, it was also the date of the very first Indie Craft Experience. Somehow I perked up from my exhaustion-induced coma on June 19th long enough to join Etsy! My Etsy ID is #116, which makes me the 21st person to sign up.
It's funny: I feel like I got a sneak peek of Etsy before it was Etsy. When Rob was developing the idea for it, he posted on GetCrafty.com to see who might be willing to chat with him about some of the logistics of the site. He and I ended up emailing a bit, and one result of that was the original Indie Craft Experience cotton tote bag. A tradition we've carried on throughout our events is to hand out swag bags to the first 500 attendees. So Etsy, before it even launched, volunteered to sponsor our event by printing these amazing, multi-colored tote bags. I think Matt and Rob printed them by hand, which probably just about killed them...they really went way, way, way above and beyond. It was one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for us, and I cherish my tote to this day!
How has what you create changed over the past few years, if at all?
It has changed so much! When Etsy launched I was sewing bags and purses out of recycled fabrics. Nowadays, I make earrings that I screenprint with my own designs. I also make hairpins out of fabric buttons. I design some of my fabric and have it printed on Spoonflower and the rest of the fabric I've picked up along the way. I'm a real sucker for fabric! So the hairpins allow me to keep in touch with my love of fabric, and the earrings allow me to keep up my love affair with printmaking. I'm proud of myself for learning how to incorporate my designs into my creations. One of my patterns that I use on earrings is based on a photo I took of the Atlanta skyline, and another is based on a photo I took of wallpaper in my grandmother's guest bathroom. It is straight from the 70s and an amazing floral design.
Yes, I plan on sticking around!
What have you learned about selling and shopping on Etsy?
Well, you'll notice I haven't sold much during my years on Etsy. Organizing the Indie Craft Experience (plus my day job, writing and spending time with my equally busy husband) takes up so much of my time that I don't have too much of a chance to sell. I have tried to support Etsy and its sellers by buying, though. So, I'll tell you what I've learned from buying and observing. Be nice. Be consistent. Have beautiful photos. Build relationships. Promote your shop whenever you can. And make a quality product.
What do you want for the future of Etsy?
My biggest wish for Etsy is staying power. I'd hate for the general public to look at buying handmade and Etsy as a trend. It's up to all of us to continue on the crusade of how important it is to buy handmade. I'm extremely hopeful!
Read more Old School Etsians Posts | Shop Local Atlanta
Are you an Old School Etsian? Leave your memories of the early days in the comments!
| Tags | Atlanta, Christy Petterson, Community, Georgia, ICE, Indie Craft Experience, members, Old School Etsians, This Handmade Life, THIS HANDMADE LIFE |
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114 comments Login to add your own!
IrinaPhotography
moonstr
PoPkO
Happy Birthday Etsy! Stolat!
Im happy to have been a part of this for as long as I have. THANKS!
beachhouseblues
I haven't sold very much on Etsy. Most of my sales happen with people who see my photographs and jewelry in person. When they buy I usually get repeat business!
That said, I do really enjoy being part of the Etsy Community. It's so interesting to read the stories and see the work made by other artists. It makes this life path less isolating!!
mazedasastoat
SquidInkKollective
thebestvintage
I think Etsy will continue to grow, It's a unique environment that allows artists from around the world to connect and share their stories.
And, it's a great place sell vintage!
Cance
love the fresh perspective of abardis!
and of course, happy birthday wishes to etsy.com (and here's to many, many more!)
juicychristians
4TheSparrowsNest
I only wish that I had known about Etsy years ago. If I had, I would have signed up right away. I didn't discover it until 2008, however, when I happened upon a blog that mentioned it. I missed out, but I am making up for it now! :o)
happyfamily
Wish we had joined back in the day! We browsed the shops, but were preoccupied in NOLA during '05. Just moved our studio to Atlanta though and can't wait to check out ICE!
circlesareforever
MrFilthyRotten
So glad I found etsy last year and I make sure wherever I go to spread the word!
aimeesarmoire
WHERE have I been all these years (oh yeah, that on-line marketplace with many grumpy people **shudders at memories**)
I'm so glad I found Etsy, or it found me. :-)
peaseblossomstudio
JosiesBeadedJewelry
Hurray for Christy! Thanks for another great ICE Atlanta show (I was booth #20).
baconsquarefarm
Nice to meet you christy and great story as well. Neato all the things you've done with the community~
undertheroot
we will march on, handmade has always been an artform, and it will continue to mutate and grow,
like dandelions on your neighbors' lawn.
thank you for sharing, Christy!
aBreathofFrenchair
KOALACaddie
I am always so impressed by people of vision like Christy and Rob. Kudos on believing in yourselves and doing the hard work. There's just nothing like something made by hand.
KisforCalligraphy
Hallelujah to handmade to infinity!
Thank you Christy for sharing your Etsy inspired experience.
And Hallelujah to all the incredibly talented Etsians featured in this post!
tascha
beccamari
So nice to here from you! I'm always looking for fabulous Indie shows to be a vendor at! Very exciting stuff!!!!
lovelygifts
smidgebox
what an awesome article! i wish i had been around for etsy's beginnings. i've now been shopping here for about a year, and just opened my shop last month! i love this community. keep it up!!
yaelfran
BlackStar
sandali
Awesome -- thanks for taking us back in time with you -- happy days -- I LOVE old fond memories -- happy days ;)
MyJunkyTrunk
beautifulbridget
tldgrainwear
missindie
LuttrellStudio
SweetwaterGifts
Great story - I didn't hear about Etsy until the end of 2008! Wish I knew about it way back when...
But forward we go...maybe someone will say the same of us in another 4 years!
bobnstitch
FluteTeacher
Cool! Very neat to read about someone who's been here since the beginning.
sugarcookie
PS - thank you for showcasing my Sleeping Bunny Necklace, too. ;) You are a true inspiration!
artwithallie
Hi Christy - how I wish I could check out the Indie Craft Experience!! One day if, no...when I make some 'real' Etsy money I may visit from Australia!
blendastudio
BirdhouseBlessings
Thank you for your story. I get inspired when I read how other artists fight to be successful and keep the joy.
asundrynotion
Great read & important point made about staying power for Etsy, instead of trendiness. And since this theme is 'old school', how about re-emphasizing the Indie, DIY ethic that got this all started, instead of trends.
Happy Birthday, Etsy!
sleepymoondesign
MintyFreshFusions
I'm another who was preoccupied with NOLA, and volunteering till August 'O6, then joining Etsy in July 'O7, 4 months after my daughter was born. Surely I would have heard of it sooner and joined if I didn't live in a tent without electricity for so long :]
Sweet story, and Happy Birthday Etsy!
poppyswickedgarden
Wow that's pretty great! I haven't been here quite as long but It will be my 3 year Etsyversary in July and I'm loving every minute of it!
EJPcreations
buttonarcade
Yay, Christy!
Happy birthday, Etsy! I can't believe it's been four years already! I still think of you as being a new site!
I joined right after hurricane Katrina, when CraftRevolution started their benefit shop. I stuck around because I saw Etsy as a great way to reach new customers.
DreamsandJewelry
misohappi
thanks for taking the plunge & paving the way for
newbies like me! i'm impressed with your tenacity
and creativity. buy etsy!!!
sinatrafan103
I've been around since 2006, and since then etsy has slowly managed to take over my life :) I don't know what I'd do without it!!
simpledream2
Impressive......since 2005. I'd love to be around for the long haul as Etsy is a great place to be.
gt5948c
I love this article! Christy - you are a modern pioneer of the craft world. You're so amazing in every way. Love you!!!
zeropumpkin
PomLove
This is so fascinating! I love how Etsy has grown, and how people are changing the way that they buy & sell because of this amazing site! I know people who do most of their shopping on Etsy & have pledged to be faithful buyers of handmade and it just makes me so proud of our not-so-little community!:) Happy Bday Etsy!
klacustomcreations
love hearing from people who have been w/ Etsy from the beginning!
micropolis
Enjoyed reading this interesting and inspirational article. Thanks!
AFarmersDaughter
Thank God for ETSY!!! so we can have jobs,money and all live the handmade life. I to organize a small market all of ETSY SELLERS in Vancouver BC. We pack about 3o of us in a small hall 3 times a year and sell our wares. Next one is Nov 21st.
If I am ever in the Brooklyn and see Rob on the street I just might give him a great big THANK YOU KISS. hahah
heatherjeany
Awesome article :) and happy birthday etsy!! July 11th will be my 3 year etsyversary. I remember looking at every item in the paper goods category, it didn't take long at all. Now it's almost 8000 pages long! It seemed like everyone in the forums knew each other, definitely fun times. The old days were great, but it's amazing to see how everyone (including etsy) has grown since then!
CrownBindery
Happy birthday ETSY! SO SO fun! I wish I had known about etsy back in the day! Glad my time finally did come! I love ETSY!
BeadFloraJewels
scrappysewsweet
Great Story! Hold my glass up to the handmade life. My glass of Diet Coke - my weakness!
bylynnkrestel
happy bday etsy! i wish i'd known about you in 2005..but so glad i do now!!
thanks etsy!!
OliviaClare
Somebody told me that I should sell my stuff on Etsy and when I asked, "what is Etsy and who buys on Etsy?" they told me people who sell on Etsy. I laughed and I thought that made no sense at all! Little did I know ;)
6 months later my Etsy shop is thriving and I am loving it! Happy Birthday Etsy!
vesselsandwares
Hi Christy! Happy Birthday to ICE and etsy!
Great to see Christy's interview. Looking forward to Holiday ICE this winter, and had a blast just a couple of weeks ago at Summer ICE.
brianslittlegirl
Yay! Christy is awesome. :) My last two years volunteering at ICE have been awesome, and it was great getting to hang out with some of the more "old school" etsy and indie folks this year. :) Those swag bags are crazy crazy popular... I was the mean person who had to make people wait for ICE to open when they got there 2 hours early, lol.
HomeStudio
Love this Old School Etsians article. Fantastic idea. Can't wait to read more of them.
littlepinkpebble
Sudstress
I was a vendor at that ICE festival at Centennial Olympic Park! That's where I met jimiyo - one of my favorite artists ever! That was pretty fun :)
Great article! One person makin' the Atlanta indie art scene bigger and better.
StudioCherie
steinschmuckdesign
zemphira
evihan
Iammie
MonjioCreations
fernfiddlehead
envellop
This was incredibly interesting. I really love the feeling of nostalgia it gave... Even though I have only known about Etsy for less than a year!
LaughingMoonCreation
Such a great story. Made me smile this early morning. Which is hard to do. Not a morning girl! Well done.
BeadinBabe
FlanneryCrane
I like her and her earring obsession.
Thank you for a great introduction and story.
stilettoheights
what a wonderful idea to highlight "old school" etsy members. As someone who has been here 3+ years and doing this full time for over 2.5 years, this is really appreciated. wonderful interview too.
nfall2rt
Wow, the 21st person to sign up! That begs the question who was the first?
livingstonandporter
Great article! Sweet stuff...LOVE ETSY...What would we do without ETSY?
Vanessa
nfall2rt
We did the first member last year. Here's the interview:
http://www.etsy.com/storque/handmade-...
fromthefigtree
Morado
FiddlyFingerWork
I love reading about other peoples' stories, how they make their art and what they're interested in.
Really enjoyed reading about Christy's interest in fabric and screen printing :)
chandistreasurechest
It's interesting to learn about the history and journey--andthe hurdles that others have. crossed. Thanks for sharing
abardis
I just re-read momentofstars's interview (http://www.etsy.com/storque/handmade-...) and I'm so happy to see that the tote bags actually helped Etsy get the word out! The first person to sign up learned about Etsy from the tote they got at the first ICE :)
Fawne, thanks for coming out to the first Indie Craft Experience!
lilworkerb
I wish I could get to know all the Etsians, all these stories are really great, and inspiring.
henatayeb
shecological
This is such an inspiring and heart-warming article! Thanks for sharing it with us! Nice to meet you!
FancyPantsAndMore
Very nice article. I am pretty much a newbie by these standards, but hoping to be here for the longhaul.
CustomCoffey
I had just found out about etsy in March of '09 and I was wondering when etsy started. Very interesting and informative article! Thanks!!
Angelheartdesigns
Nice article! I'm Cindy and I play with clay!I make all kinds of fun stuff!
anatomyofaskirt
woah, we joined on the same day! Yay for Etsy old-timers!
TheFancyLamb
I really love this new series about Etsy’s original residents. As a newbie, their stories inspire me to keep at it and not give up...thanks for paving the way!
TipsyTimeMachine
It's very interesting to hear about Etsy's early days.
Happy Birthday Etsy. No wonder I felt immediately drawn to your site, we're both Geminis!
VIKukA
intrinsicimagination
Thanks for sharing! I'm really glad to be a part of something that is so organized and well-known for being so new.
CutieDynamite
kimquinndotcom
PipocaHandmade
lifeinpinkhitops
dragonhouseofyuen
wonderful advice from Christy! a treat to read this article! thank you for bringing these 'old timers' out on show!!
jayleen7
Enjoyed the story! I will have to keep my eyes and ears open for the next Indie Craft Experience in Atlanta!!!
jodieflowers
SquaresOfFlair
michon
sweatshopbytiqcom
I always miss ICE when it comes around! I am defintely going to try to attend next year if I can
PristineCreations
knittingguru
Great article!
I started on Etsy in April, 2006, so I consider myself an old timer. Etsy was small then, so there have been a huge number of changes due to size and the internal changes to listings, sections, forums, teams, blog, etc.
Etsy has become a permanent part of my life. Do you hear that administrators? Keep Etsy going and growing :)
thedot
I've had the pleasure of meeting Christy and she is such a sweet, hardworking lady! I'm so glad she's helped keep the ATL craft scene alive and thriving with ICE and Kraftwork!
creativeladybug1
Hi Christy-
My old Agnes Scott friend. So many congrats on your designs- you are very inspiring! Hope you are doing well. Are you still in KY?
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