Do what you love, love what you do!
It was as a random request from a facebook friend in 2010, looking for someone who could create a custom birthday invitation for her daughter's first birthday. I was just getting into digital scrapbooking at the time and thought, hey, I could do that. So I volunteered 'my services'. Her invitation was well received and she suggested I check out Etsy, that I might be able to make a little side gig out of it. I didn't really know much about Etsy then, but quickly realized my relationship with Etsy was going to be lasting! What an amazing venue! And what a valuable resource for both buyers AND sellers! I'd found an outlet that not only fulfilled my creative ambitions, but also provided a source of income for our family at the same time.
I've come a long way since that first invitation. I've learned so much, gained valuable experience, met a lot of amazing people, made many new friends a long the way, and most importantly, I'm working from home, with my family by my side. I started with a 4 year old and a newborn tugging at my sleeves and sleeping in my arms, but fast forward over a decade and they're now independent teenagers that don't really tug at my sleeves anymore - unless they're hungry, which is all always! Time certainly flies, but I still LOVE my little side gig.
My business has evolved over the years and has ebbed and flowed with the busy-ness of life, but that's the great thing about Etsy. It's the ability to control the amount of work you want to take on at any given time, to be able to step back when needed, and not completely lose everything you've worked so hard to build for so long. Thank you to all of my family, friends, and amazing customers around the world for making this possible!
♥ Caitlin
