November16
Item: Custom Logo Stamp
Seller: RebeccasWhims
Meet Etsy seller Rebecca Fitkin, an artisan I met via my Etsy Item of the Day shop submission page. When I visited Rebecca’s Etsy shop (called RebeccasWhims), I fell in love with her listing for a custom logo stamp. This would be often-used for my budding small business I launched January 2011!
“My name is Rebecca. I call my shop, Rebecca’s Whims, because I am constantly trying to mediums to practice my creativity with,” she told me. “Once I learn something, I usually abandon it for something new, but there are a few things that continue to rotate through the wheels in my head. I love to paint, but find little time to commit to it, with four children to chase around. One of my children is severely disabled and requires constant monitoring. I have to be able to tend him at the drop of a hat. My youngest is a fourteen month old cyclone! Luckily he spends the night with Grandma and Grandpa once a week! I work at night when everyone is asleep, and ‘between the rain drops’ as my husband says. I love all aspects of running a business, save for the constant need to market my wares from my home. If people could just see my things, they would sell themselves! I love making jewelry too. I am frequently surprised that I made something so pretty! Maybe I’m just easily impressed!”
“I love having the opportunity to create from my home, and I love having the ability to market online. I love my customers and really love special orders!” she added.
Rebecca’s Etsy shop has a wide variety of items – from great gift items for teens to art and sundry supplies. With all this crafting, I wondered what Rebecca liked to do in her free time – if she has any!
“I love to walk with my daughter and our cameras. I love to instruct her on composition and lighting,” she told me. “I write, but am putting my writing aside, to get this business off of the ground. I love to chat with my friends and I love to pour over artwork by the masters. I love to read, and escape in a good love story. I love stories of great humanity and struggle, and I love when I feel as if I have learned a life lesson from a novel. I love to learn new things, and I am always looking for the next project. I’m a ‘glass is half full’ kinda woman, and I’m always trying to see the best in everything and everyone. I’m a bit naive and idealistic… but that makes my creations a little whimsical!”
Rebecca shared a great list of Etsy.com shops that she likes to frequent. Be sure to check these shops out – supporting local artists is really important to Rebecca. ”Eugene has a gazillion jewelers, painters, and potters!” she said.
She also loves to look to Etsy for inspiration and things for her family. ”Good handmade components inspire and and dimension to my creations! And because I have to buy things for myself and my family sometimes!” she said.
Here’s the list:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/dinglewear – This is a local Etsy seller living in Rebecca’s city Eugene, OR.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/danielsfamilypottery
http://www.etsy.com/shop/BROOMCHICK
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ickadybag – Rebecca says this seller is really friendly to work with.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/casienipper
http://www.etsy.com/shop/GardanneBeads
http://www.etsy.com/shop/UnkamenSupplies
http://www.etsy.com/shop/abbyandellie – This Etsy shop has tons of hand-dyed ribbons if you are looking for supplies!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SLArtisanAccents
http://www.etsy.com/shop/pontomimi – “Lovely family owned farm with chickens and twins and a beloved german sheppard,” Rebecca told me.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/momsblankies – Rebecca likes to shop here for sweet shoes for her disabled and wheelchair-bound son.
Rebecca’s advice to sellers is simple, but really valuable to sellers of all handmade products:
“Use quality components. Take terrific pictures,” she suggests. ”Be recognizable – use the same image on all of your online accounts. Brand, brand, brand!”
So what’s next for Rebecca’s shop (called RebeccasWhims)?
“I plan on phasing out some of the less expensive items, and am going to introduce more sterling silver and genuine and semi precious stones in my jewelry!” she told me.
It looks like she has already started to list great jewelry. You can find some of these items in her “Bec’s Boutique” section of her Etsy shop. Just click the shop link at the top of this post (RebeccasWhims) at the top of this feature to peep the shop!
Long term goals for her pretty shop? ”I hope to be able to introduce more paintings at this time next year, when the youngest heads off to preschool!” she told me.
Be sure to connect with Rebecca online! Check out her blog here, visit her Facebook page, and follow her on Twitter at @LilMissChevy! Why get to know Rebecca? Well, judging from her awesome list of favorite Etsy shops listed above, it seems that she’s a great Etsy friend, supporter, and shopper!
- Jackie
