Etsy is a online craft community where people can buy and sell handmade items. I recently started a shop there,
http://www.idontmatch.etsy.com, where I sell clothing.
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I have also met a fellow etsian, Jen McKeogh, who sells jewellery at:
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Jen began making jewellery full-time about 4 years ago, but has been painting and drawing for just about as long as she could hold a pencil.
“I have always been really creative,” said Jen. “It all began when I was pregnant with my daughter, and got a bad case of that whole nesting instinct thing. A bag full of mismatched and oddly shaped squares later, I decided that knitting wasn’t for me, and I turned my attention to the fascinating world of beads…and I haven’t looked back since!”
Jen added that she nature inspires her art, “especially the ever changing moods of the sea,” she said, but she is also inspired by many other things, including the words of a poem, or a wonderful piece of music, or the need to create.
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Jen creates in a room just off the kitchen that she has taken over! “I get good light in there the whole day, and it also serves as an office space,” Jen said. “I recently (read- finally!) got some shelves put up to house my ever growing collection of books- I am a voracious reader. Its great not to have to put everything away at the end of the day. I also have a huge cd collection in there as well as I have to have music when I work.” (Jen listens to lots of types of music, including everything from heavy metal to classical to old 50’s classics. It depends on her mood.)
Although Jen loves to create jewellery , there is a downside to her craft.
“I like least that I can’t get the supplies I need here in my own country, and what is available is very expensive so I have to outsource my materials,” Jen explained.”
However, there’s also a positive side.
“What I like most is when I have finished a piece and that moment afterwards where you think ”yeah, I made that,’ and I also like it when someone buys a piece from me, and is totally delighted with their purchase- that always makes me feel good,” Jen said. “And finally I like the absolutely endless creative possibilities within the art of jewellery making- there are so many techniques to try and materials to play with- I love it.”
However, Jen’s best moment as a crafter was when she sold out of nearly everything I had brought with her to a jewellery party. “I had a lot of happy customers that night,” explained Jen, “and I was over the moon that I had sold so well, well enough that the same group of women now have me back twice a year for jewellery parties.”
So what advice does Jen have for upcoming crafters?
“I would say to anyone starting off, be prepared to work long and hard, crafting isn’t for the faint of heart. Believe in yourself and your talents and never give up, because it will happen. But this business is one where it takes time to build a reputation and you need to promote, promote, promote… I wasn’t really prepared for how hard it can be at times. And get yourself involved with local groups, or even an online one so that you have a good support network about you. And I would say the best of luck to anyone who wants to have a craft business because if you can make it work, it is really rewarding, on a personal level too- how many people do know that can honestly say that they love what they do?”
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