Hot Shop of the Week!

Congratulations to Julie from StitchesByJulie -- 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 Julie's interview and a few of her lovely creations.


Who is StitchesByJulie?
I am a mother to 3 great, grown-up kids and 2 adorable grandsons....my greatest blessings. I have 3 cats and 2 dogs, all of whom were rescued from the streets or shelters. I was married for 21 yrs. but am single now and own my own small business. I am one of 9 children, grew up in the midwest and now reside in Corpus Christi, Tx. I have been creating for more years than I can remember, since I was little! And I am proud to say that I am a Breast Cancer SURVIVOR....12 yrs. this March!!!


Do you have any other shops on Etsy? If so, please tell us a bit about them as well.
I have my art store on Etsy....NatureInPastels. Most of my work is done in pastels and there's a couple of acrylic paintings.


Where else can you be found around the internet (blog, facebook, twitter, etc)?
I am on facebook, and I have my own site -- that's where I blog and post pics and promote my shop as well as others. If only I had more time, I could update it!

(Editorial note: Julie also has an Artfire shop)


What do you create and how long have you been doing it?
I do so many things but my main interest is in knitting and crocheting. I make things from New Born to Adult, from head to toe. I usually will make something because I've seen a picture and love it, many times coming up with my own patterns. Right now I'm making some "opera gloves" for my youngest daughter, I saw a picture, and I can't wait to see how they turn out.


Where do you find your inspiration?
My inspiration comes from God, His beautiful creation that surrounds me and all of us and from within. Another group at etsy that I'm a member of had a blog and asked a number of artists why they create, and you wouldn't believe how similar most of the answers were...."Because they have to...it's something inside of them that just has to come out"....that's the within part.


What is your favorite medium?
'd have to say yarn, I love the look of it, the feel of it and working with it and taking a loooooong piece of something and making it into something....it's just an awesome feeling to see the finished product. I've told my kids, I wish they could take one of those things filled with balls that kids jump in, and fill it with yarn....all colors and textures...I would jump in with the biggest smile on my face and it would be like heaven on earth. Then of course I would bag it all up, take it home and get to work making stuff! I'm getting excited just thinking about it! :))


Is selling on Etsy your full time job, or just a side project?
It seems like a full-time job but actually I could not pay the bills if it was. I have another small business that I run from my home which I enjoy, but only because I have to pay the bills! If it were up to me, my Etsy stores would keep me busy and happy aaaaall daaaaaay looooong.


What is your favorite thing to do with the Etsy Texas Crafters team?
I really enjoyed participating in the gift swap! It was fun to receive a variety of little gifts that someone else made and sending out my handmade stuff to them. The Hot Shop is also a great idea, focus on one vendor and promote them. When you know a little bit about someone, you form a relationship with them, buying, selling, convoing, encouraging. It all helps and makes you feel connected.


Any tips for other Artists / Crafters?
Most artists will tell you, you gotta do what you love! You want to sell it, but if you don't, it's ok because you loved doing it. I've given many things away to charities because they didn't sell and that brings just as much joy, if not more! And it's using the talents God blessed you with, to better the world. You'd be surprised, those gestures come back as blessings to you too! Sometimes, even in sales.

Tell me a Secret about yourself.
I really don't have to many secrets. "What you see is what you get" with me. And I don't mean that I just say what ever is on my mind without thought or care for others. I usually try to help someone to feel better about themselves, build them up and encourage them. With my kids, I tell them what I think they need to know and sometimes they don't "appreciate it', but it's not to hurt them, it's actually to help them. They won't see that sometimes until later. But as mothers, you never STOP being a mom.



Thank you, Julie, for such a wonderful interview! We love getting to know our team members better, especially our newer ones, 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 StitchesByJulie or NatureInPastels 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, Jan 31st, and will post the next interview on Sunday, 1/3. Yes, we are skipping next week, in honor of Christmas -- plus this gives you twice as long to get your posts submitted!

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.