Hot Shop of the Week: CrazyForCollars!

Congratulations to Suzanne from CrazyForCollars -- she has been selected as our Hot Shop of the Week! So sit back, grab a cup of coffee or a glass of iced tea, and enjoy Suzanne's interview and a few of her lovely creations.


Who is CrazyForCollars?
My name is Suzanne and I live in Abilene, TX. I actually grew up here, went to college locally, met my wonderful hubby of 33 years here, and raised 2 amazing children right here in Abilene.


Do you have any other shops on Etsy? If so, please tell us a bit about them as well.
I actually have had 3 shops at once on Etsy, but when "Crazy" became the mainstay, I placed the other 2 on vacation. My other shops were venues for my other various crafts (Suzanne's Perfect Treasures) and for my vintage finds (A Joyful Find).

What do you create and how long have you been doing it?
I create collars and apparel for pets--mainly dogs. I also have written several "how-to" tutorials for the items that I produce. I started making dog collars over 6 years ago, selling them locally at craft shows and in my "pet boutique" booth at a craft mall. I actually began making collars at that time because our family included 7 dogs (not all living at home with us, luckily). My daughter wanted matching collars from some ribbon she had seen. Well, the next thing you know, I'm making collars by the hundreds!


Where do you find your inspiration?
Every fabric I see can be an inspiration, ribbons too! The fabric's print must be something that will work on a small visible 3/4" area, so that can be a challenge. I love creating "holiday themed" collars, so I guess the yearly calendar could be considered one of my inspirations, as well.


What is your favorite medium?
I prefer a great quality quilter's cotton for my designs. Unfortunately, Abilene is "fabric store challenged", so I frequently visit quilt shops whenever we are in larger cities. I love grosgrain ribbon for my bows. My button bows have become my "trademark". They are time intensive, but customers seem to be drawn to them.


Is selling on Etsy your full time job, or just a side project?
Selling my pet related items is my "day job" now. I do help some in my husband's medical office, but as little as possible. I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to make things that I love, share them with others, and make a little money at the same time.

What is your favorite thing to do with the Etsy Texas Crafters team?
I really enjoy the Design Challenges. I have only participated once, but I love seeing everyone's entries. I also love to participate in the various sales: First Monday, $5 Fifth Monday, etc.

"Summer Magic Pet Collar", Received 1st Place in ETC's July Summer Magic Design Challenge!

Any tips for other Artists / Crafters?
a. Make things that you love.
b. Set aside time where you can spend quality time doing your craft.
c. Never throw out anything that might be useful in a future craft! I know that sounds ridiculous but if you can, then save it, at least until your next garage sale!


Tell me a Secret about yourself.
I had a facelift at age 40 (my husband did it)! Now at age 56, it is probably time for another....



Thank you, Suzanne, for such a great interview! We love getting to know our team members better and checking out their fabulous creations!

If you would like to be considered for next week's Hot Shop of the Week, simply go to CrazyForCollars and pick out your favorite item. Post back here with the link to the item & why it was your favorite -- and don't forget to post your shop name as well! And if you have more than one favorite item, it is perfectly fine to post multiple times, as long as you post all the requested information each time. Then, I'll use a random number generator to pick a new Hot Shop for next week from everyone who has commented on this post by 6pm on Thursday, 12/17, and will post the next interview on Sunday, 12/20.

NOTES:

>> EVERYONE is welcome to comment on this article, but only ETC members will be eligible for selection as a Hot Shop. Thanks for understanding!

>> Comments by ETC members that do not include the requested information (link to favorite item, why it's your favorite, and your shop name), will not be eligible for selection.