Surprise! Another contest. You guys, my blog has been jam-packed with Etsy giveaway goodies these past couple of weeks! I love giving beautiful stuff away and sharing my love for handmade. And, I bet these giveaways are helping give you great ideas for Christmas presents this year, aren't they?
This next Etsy shop sharing with you today is definitely one of my favorites! I've promoted her stuff several times on the blog, but am so excited to share the creator behind the shop today. I also can't wait to show off
my favorite purchased items from this cute shop,
Knitty Bitties, and give you a chance to have some of your own Knitty Bitties goodness!
I would like to introduce you all to the lovely Andrea Taddicken, creator of
Knitty Bitties, an adorable Etsy shop filled with some of the most adorable ruffled accessories I've seen online. Her color and fabric combinations are going to blow you away. Seriously, I fell in love with this shop when I first laid eyes on it, and had to have some ruffled goodies for myself right away!
So, here are my personal Knitty Bitties that I use on a daily basis:
My "List Taker" is what I use to jot down everything I need to remember, whether it's blog stuff, personal to-dos, or a grocery list for the week. I love how there are pockets to keep my receipts, and even a slot for my pen! So genius and so adorable!
This is my lovely new wallet. It's small, but holds everything I need. There's even a spot for my loose cash, and it fits really nice in my back pocket. I get compliments from strangers every day when I whip this cute thing out!
Okay, back to Andrea and her lovely shop. I was able to interview her and find out more about her life as a business owner and the inside scoop behind Knitty Bitties:
So, give us a summary of your store and the handmade products you sell: My store is filled with a whole lot of happy. Each fabric is hand picked, cut and sewn by me to create something I love and think would brighten someone else's world too. There is a little bit of everything for babies on up to mamas.
What inspired you to start selling your products on Etsy, and how long have you had your shop? It all started with an adorable apron I sewed for my best friend over 3 years ago. My passion for sewing grew, as did the amount of 'gifts' I was sewing up. I started getting requests for handmade items and Etsy was a perfect fit. I started my shop, Knitty Bitties, a few months after I sewed that first apron.
What makes your product(s) stand out amongst the rest? I'd like to think it's my attention to quality and detail as well as an incredible value in a handmade item. I'm sure I undersell myself at times, but I try to make something that will fit every budget and while I might not gain as much financially, I think the experience and quality will bring customers back.
How much time a week do you spend on your business? Is this your job or just a hobby? As my one and only headed off to 1st grade this year, my 'business hours' suddenly multiplied. I'm still adjusting to my new schedule, but on average I'd say I spend 3-4 hours per day on the business. I still consider being a wife and mom my first job, but this is definitely more than a hobby :).
What first made you want to become an artist? I've always loved to create. Fresh crayons, coloring in the lines, poster paints in the living room (think a big ORANGE mess ... sorry Mom!) ... it followed me all through school and into college where I graduated with a BA in Graphic Design.
How did you decide to get into your craft? Well I kind of stumbled upon it. I've known the basics of sewing since my days of home ec. and watching/learning from my mom. But it wasn't until I made that apron (it sounds magical, doesn't it?) that I really loved creating something from fabric. My favorite thing about sewing is the almost instant gratification you can get by starting and finishing a project in a day.
What inspires you to be creative? Everything. Is that a cliché answer? It's true though ... color is all around us, print design come through our mailboxes and inboxes, blogs are filled with pictures, tutorials and inspiration ... really it's everywhere.
Aside from your Etsy shop, what other creative things interest you? In college I did a lot of watercolor painting which I loved, but sadly didn't continue. I hope to return to it someday. Designing my blogs (personal & business) is a great creative challenge. I used to scrapbook, a lot, before sewing took over. I still do it occasionally, but mostly I stick with making cards. I love the challenge of baking (is that creative?) and because of my love of baking have had to take up running ;).
What advice do you have for other Etsy sellers? I'd say if what you do is more of a hobby than a business, Etsy could be discouraging to you. It may take you a long time to get that first sale. Persistence is KEY and you have to be willing to invest a fair amount of time to make Etsy work for you. It's so much more than just listing your items and waiting.
What is your favorite product you've purchased from another Etsy seller? Oh that's tough. I'm on a necklace kick and you can see the post I did all about my favorite ones from Etsy here:
Let's get personal: where do you see yourself in ten years? I'd love to have another child. This is something we've 'worked' on for almost six years. I'd be happy to be doing exactly what I am today. Really, I love my life and am blessed beyond measure. If I can feel the same way I do now in 10 years, that will be a wonderful gift.
What is something really interesting about you that others should know? I love, love, love iced tea. Specifically Starbucks black iced tea. I drink it every single day. Now you can imagine that this would get expensive (uhm, yes ... really I should have told you that my Etsy shop pays for my husband and I's monthly Starbucks bill) so thank goodness Cooking.com sells the exact same Tazo blended iced tea in gallon size bags. So I make it at home for most of the time and treat myself a few times a week to the 'real' stuff :).
Now, for the contest. What is Andrea giving one of our lucky readers?
Oh, just a little somethin' somethin' that I really wish I could have all to myself:
{Everyday Simple Tote}
An adorable across-the-chest tote for a simple trip out. Perfect for a mom... or even if you aren't a mom! I absolutely love the Vespa print!
- Leave a comment telling me what you would use this tote for... and get creative, people! Let's make this fun!
- Comment that you voted for me on
- Comment that you joined Knitty Bitties
Blog.
- Comment that you are following Knitty Bitties on
Twitter.
This contest starts now and will run until Sunday, November 7th.
The winner will be announced the following Monday.
Also, check out Andrea's
"Handmade Holidays" promotion going on over at her blog right now. You're going to love it!
Good luck to everyone who enters, and have a great week!
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