How did you get your start?
When I was very little I wanted to learn all the crafts my mom knew. So, when I was four years old she taught me to knit, crochet and sew. I loved doing all three so much that they became my life's work. After doing craft shows for years, my husband and I created and ran our own retail knitting shop. After 9 years we moved back to my little studio where I've worked ever since.
I opened my Etsy store for my knitted and crocheted goods in 2010 and concentrated on that for 2 years. After being given a set of knitting stitch markers that didn't work very well I decided that I could make my own - thus began my jewelry making! My knitting customers liked the markers so well they wanted to wear them as earrings. So, I started making earrings. And of course, I just had to make matching necklaces, then bracelets, too, and shawl pins, bookmarks and scissors fobs. Who knows where else this will lead? So, now I have two Etsy stores and my creativity knows no bounds.
I opened my Etsy store for my knitted and crocheted goods in 2010 and concentrated on that for 2 years. After being given a set of knitting stitch markers that didn't work very well I decided that I could make my own - thus began my jewelry making! My knitting customers liked the markers so well they wanted to wear them as earrings. So, I started making earrings. And of course, I just had to make matching necklaces, then bracelets, too, and shawl pins, bookmarks and scissors fobs. Who knows where else this will lead? So, now I have two Etsy stores and my creativity knows no bounds.
Where do you get your inspiration?
Mostly from the natural stones that I use. I don't always plan out my pieces - I let the stones tell me what they want to be. Sometimes what I've had in my head actually happens, but usually it's quite a surprise at the end. Often I'll just start putting stones on my worktable and see what they look like together. Sometimes I'll take everything but one stone away and create more out of it with just wire. My design process is very free-flowing.
I also get ideas from looking at what's on the internet. A certain shape, a way of swirling the wire, putting different stones together, all spark my own imagination. I've looked at pieces and thought to make something similar, but mine always turn out so completely differently that even I can't tell where the original idea came from.
What has been your biggest successful moment so far?
When I opened my first Etsy shop it seemed to take forever before I started selling anything. When I opened my Etsy jewelry shop, I sold an expensive necklace within 2 months of opening - that was extremely exciting! Then, the other morning I received that convo from you about being featured and that has eclipsed everything else that's happened so far!
What challenges do you face selling online?
Taking the best pictures possible and marketing (promoting). I could really use a better camera, but it just isn't going to happen soon. So, I spend a lot of time doing my best to show off my items, then photoshopping my pictures. I just created a background that I really like. My husband even commented on how much he likes it - that's success! That means re-doing lots of pictures, but it is worth it.
Marketing and promoting simply take so much time and energy, yet they're so important. Actually finding the time to do everything that needs doing is the hardest part of this endeavor. Balancing the time between all the different aspects is a job in itself and sometimes leaves me very frustrated. But then things begin to fall into place and it all works out just fine.
What advice would you give someone just starting out on Etsy?
Be sure to take the best pictures of your work that you can and plan to spend a large percentage of your work time on marketing. But, most of all, enjoy what you do!
Visit Trish's knitting and crocheting store on Etsy.
Thank you Trish for sharing your story with us. Next week we'll feature another Etsy artist. If you would like to be considered, just drop Zoica or me a note via Etsy convo.
Thanks for stopping by...
Until next time,
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