SpoonerZ
Hello and thanks for stopping in. I opened shop in 2008 after dabbling in jewelry fabrication from expensive sterling silver sheet and wire. I mainly wanted to make family members some neat and personalized gifts. Well, not only was the sterling silver expensive but so were all the tools that came with it.
Here in my hometown, Temecula - CA, we have a very neat 'Old Town' rich in California history and LOTS of antique shops. After dropping my 4 kids off at school I would find great therapy in strolling through these shops. Take note my fellow antiquers: the best items are down low and hiding. This is where I found a large box of vintage silverplate silverware, 300 pieces to be exact, and get this, I paid $25. I marveled at the variety of super neat patterns. It wasn't my lightbulb moment, it was my A-bomb to the brain moment. I grabbed the box and didn't bother to stroll further. The ideas bombarding my head caused excitement off the charts. My first creation was the personalized spoon end bracelet. It took a few passes but the finished product was amazing.
My sister loved it and wears it all the time to this day. She asked if I thought about selling on ETSY? Whatsy? I replied :) I navigated myself to this weirdly named handmade community and began instantly building my banner and icon. I couldn't believe how easy it was. I listed a few items skeptically and by golly had a sale in the first 3 days. OMG...that made me neurotic with ideas, thus, listing 20+ more items. My 'Fork It Over' fork money clip was a hit, as well as my spoon end necklaces. I really was on cloud 9. Not more than a year later I was honored to become 'Featured Seller' right before Mother's Day 2009. At that same time the Charlotte Observer put a huge picture of my spoon end bracelet in their Mother's Day Promo. Oh Lordy, I learned business administration overnight, as well as production, supply ordering, logistics, communication, etc... all while wearing my most important title - MOM.
ETSY has been very good to me over the years with many other features and promotions. It's definitely not the same as when I began but I've always been open to change. It's important to stay on top of your game and never take things for granted. The number one trait to be found in self made people is that they never procrastinate.
Some of my best products have been ideas of my clients. If you have any ideas please share, that is what is SO great about the ETSY community - meeting some really genuine and creative people.
STAY CALM and STAMP ON!!!
