Whole Parenting Family

Etsy Spotlight: Call Her Happy’s Tiny Bitty Embroidery Hoop Necklaces

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When you meet wonderfully awesome ladies on the internet, and no, not in the mail-order-bride sort of way, and you discover you have tons in common, including etsy’ing in up, and they also love to eat copious amounts of olive oil on their baguettes, you know it’s time to feature their sweet etsy shop! Jenna of Call Her Happy {wonderful blogging} is also an artisan. You’ve simply got to check out her beautiful necklaces. They’re truly lovely.

To get to know her & her shoppe better, I whipped out a few questions from my I-guess-I’m-a-wanna-be-journalist-not-lawyer back pocket. Check it, and order yours with the code CALLHERMAMA for 20% for Mother’s Day! Don’t think I haven’t already used my coupon!

SHOP HERE!

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Jenna, you have a talent with a needle few can boast. Your beautiful needlepoint also brings needlepoint into the 21st century from the 19th!! No longer associated with our grandmothers, you’re bringing it back. Tell us a little about your craft, how you got started on creating, and why you love it.

I think you underestimate just how granny I can be! But, I am going to take all of your kind words and run with them. Anyway, I started with embroidery after Sam was born (so a little less than a year ago). I have always loved creating, but once I had two kids, time for that was less than minimal. I discovered that embroidery was easy enough to pick up and put down when someone fell off the couch or needed me to wipe her butt. The reason I started and the reason I love it are one in the same. I’m also super into anything that is simple, charming and beautiful. I find embroidery to be all of these things.

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Your etsy shop has been open for a little while now, and you’ve made lots of sales. What was your strategy in creating your particular necklaces? Did you start with a grand plan or have things evolved over time?

When I immerse myself in a creative project, I start thinking in terms of that project. Everything I look at has potential to be embroidered. My sister-in-law is a beekeeper, so, a bee necklace! I saw a peacock at the zoo the other day, so, peacock necklace! My mom wears big, thick frames, so, glasses necklace! It is an ever-evolving process; things get added as I get inspired. But, I started out with 10 or so designs to open the shop.

Where do you get your inspiration for your hand-drawn needlepoint? Do you dabble in art in other areas?

I am a chronic side project person. I have a steady stream of WIPs that will never end. Embroidery, sewing, jewelry making, baking, cupcake decorating, knitting & crocheting (although those didn’t stick!), writing, painting, sculpting. It’s like Pinterest inside my head some days.

 

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What’s been the most enjoyable part of running your own little shoppe? What’s been the most challenging?

The most enjoyable part of running my shop is seeing my creations find a home. I love stitching, but a lot of times, it just ends up in a pile in the basement. So, by selling on Etsy, my work is on display instead of in a hole under my house. But, the hardest part of all of it is marketing. While not many people have a product like mine, I still need to get the word out. It’s hard with two littles, but bloggers like you make my life a breezy breeze!call her happy4

Parting advice for any etsy artisans, or hopefuls: what do you wish you’d know before you started, and what have you learned along the way?

The best things I have learned along the way:

     – Get familiar with search terms and keywords that fit your shop; they will help you optimize your sales.
     – Don’t get burned out. If you don’t feel like creating for a few days, take a break. Otherwise you will resent your craft.
     – Pick a product/design that you don’t mind making over and over and over and over again.
     – Print your shipping labels from Etsy – much cheaper!
     – Get friendly with your postal workers; it’s nice to have them on your side!

2 Comments

  1. Jenna@CallHerHappy on May 7, 2014 at 5:53 pm

    Thank you kindly for being such a super star! xxoo



    • Natural Mama Nell on May 7, 2014 at 8:01 pm

      You make such beautiful things! What a treat to share them with the world!