My Shop, My Babies, My Serendipity
Back in 2013, my husband and I struggled with getting pregnant, including a miscarriage. Because of this I was too stressed to enjoy life. Also because of the language barrier, I wanted to isolate myself and stay at home all day. My husband encouraged me to open an Etsy shop, hoping it could help me connect with the outside world. I started by making hair bows and other simple crafts, and named my shop TwinkleMingle because of the variety of cute items I offered.
I felt so relaxed when making bows, they are simple yet delicate. My unique designs, such as bows with tails, pearls in the center, and knot centers, made my bows stand out on Etsy. During my busiest season, our first child was born and I had to close my shop temporarily to focus on my baby.
When I came back, I felt inspired to make new types of crafts after having come out of depression. One day, a customer asked me if I could make a special bowtie for her dog to match her own hair bow. I figured I could make a white collar underneath the bowtie to make it look more formal. There were other bowties for dogs on the market, but none had the shirt collar. I created a custom order and uploaded pictures to my shop to see if others would like it too. I received orders the very next day and was surprised by the popularity of my dog collar.
I have added new products to my store based on customer requests. This includes a buckle that attaches to the leash, a bowtie bandana for dogs who don't like full clothing, and an expanded collection of fabrics in special colors. These custom products have become popular in my store, and I would like to thank my customers for helping me develop my store to its current state.
Over the years, my business has grown and I now have two beautiful children. Life is very busy for me, but I am ready for new challenges. Because I LOVE what I'm doing: putting a smile on peoples’ faces when they see my lovely little crafts.
