Under The Tapestry ✽ Two Years on Etsy

It was just over two years ago that Daddy and I were on the way home from church and we got to talking about how I wanted to open an Etsy shop.

From the time I learned to knit, I would pretend to run "dress" shop for my sister's dolls; hats and burp rags, diaper bags and baby booties, and paper patterns were in "full demand". I was 14 when I got my tatting shuttle, and as I quickly taught myself how to tat and even started creating my own simple designs, Mama started talking about this site where I could sell things I made. I was very intrigued and started thinking of one day doing that; at that point I thought of this future shop as "Bri's Beautiful Bits"... haha!

I really wanted to open one, but had held back because I was afraid that maybe I'd be too busy and would have to close it because I couldn't keep up, or maybe I wouldn't sell anything and I'd be wasting my time. On our way home from church that day when everybody was at home sick (poor peeps) and there was nothing to interrupt us, Daddy made sure it was something I wanted and not something I just talked about because Mama mentioned it, and then within a few weeks he sat down with me and helped me set up my shop with my first listing; my Tatted Flower Bookmarks. And Under The Tapestry was a reality!

The name for my shop was inspired by the poem "The Master Weaver's Hand". I loved Corrie ten Boom's illustration/recitation of the poem, and how the Lord plans everything to His own glory; how even when we may only see the mess of "the under side" of the cloth (our sinful hearts and nature), He is using even this to create a beautiful picture of His Righteous knowledge and nature. And since the word "tapestry" can also signify many diverse "threads", or things, coming together to make a whole, I thought this was fitting for my shop, since I offer a little of everything ;).

 

The learning curve has been bigger than expected, if I'm honest. I took a course on Etsy selling last month and learned that I knew nothing about keywords, haha :). I've already seen a tremendous difference in getting seen since I fixed it, but some things you'll always be able to improve! My next step is to improve my photography. Selling on Etsy certainly isn't just crafting all day long, as nice as that would be; I think the technological side has taken about as much work (and certainly more learning)! But I love making things up for other people to give as gifts to give to those they love, and it's so special to make up a custom order so someone gets the exact thing they wanted!

I'm excited to continue this venture, though, and I want to thank each of you for your support! To celebrate this special day, any orders of $20.00 or more will be 25% off, from now until Monday, August 14th. And each purchase will come with a little gift and a code to get a discount on your next order :)!

And don't forget- today is the last day to enter the giveaway for beaded hair pins on
littlebitofsunshineweb.wordpress.com!