January31
Item: Vintage Map Coasters
Seller: allmappedout
I’m loving the vintage map coasters found in this Etsy.com shop called AllMappedOut. In particular, how cool is this set of Hawaii coasters from a 1949 map?
I met Candice, the seller behind this Etsy.com shop, via my Etsy Item of the Day shop submission page.
“I’m a ‘recovering academic’, having gotten my PhD in Geography (Cartography) and done a stint as a professor and researcher, only to be motivated to leave that all behind to ‘make stuff’. I’m now applying my love of maps and antiquing/thrifting/salvaging to create coaster sets from outdated/vintage maps,” Candice told me.
“I find great satisfaction in bringing cartography to coffee tables and enjoy tapping into the strong sense of place we all have associated with different locales we have called home, have vacationed, or dream of traveling to,” she said. “Maps are gender neutral and not age specific and I find my customers are from all walks of life and connect to all kinds of different places for different reasons. The stories I hear make my work that much more interesting.”
When she’s not making great things out of cool maps, Candice stays busy.
“Cuddling with my Boston Terrier definitely ranks high on the list, as well as exploring with my husband to find new local places to eat,” she told me. “I can’t go too many weeks without frequenting at least one thrift store, antique shop, or estate sale as you never know where or when there will be more vintage maps to rescue!”
I asked Candice where she shops on Etsy.com, and here’s what she said:
“First I’d have to say my mom’s vintage shop, lilandlou.etsy.com. I learned all of my thrifting/garage sale-ing/antiquing skills from my parents and since they live hundreds of miles away, watching her Etsy shop is how I discover their recent finds!” she said.
“My next favorites are citybird (how could I NOT love a shop that’s all about celebrating local geography? -in this case Detroit), meganleedesigns (simple state shapes and love for the midwest – where I’m from!), and blimpcat (because I can’t draw, and she most definitely can – thoughtful, hilarious, gorgeous prints!),” she said.
Here’s Candice’s great advice to other Etsy.com sellers:
“Just keep moving. Keep adding items, keep adjusting your descriptions, trying new photo backdrops, redesigning your logo. I design and edit everything so that I love it and am happy with it. I focus on pleasing myself, not every other possible customer or every piece of shop advice I read. You’ll go nuts if you try to follow everyone’s advice and tastes! Shop views, favorites, and purchases will come with time. Celebrate each milestone no matter how small – because if you celebrate the little ones, you’ll be celebrating often.”
So what’s next for Candice and her great Etsy shop?
“I hope to expand All Mapped Out into a line of geography and cartography themed products full of handmade, repurposed, and unique designs – for the map nerd in all of us,” she told me. “I’m currently working with a local screenprinter on producing my tshirt designs, so stay tuned!!”
Loving this great shop! Super geeky, but super chic and unique at the same time.
Connect with Candice online! Check her out on Facebook, Twitter @All_Mapped_Out, and on her website.
- Jackie
