Featured Etsian... 2SweetThings!

Sally: What brought you to Etsy?

Mandy: I ran into etsy from another blog (I'm not even sure which one!), and I was immediately hooked! I signed up for an account on that first day, even though it was almost a year before I began selling. It kind of felt like 'home' and I found myself spending hours just searching and sort of drinking in all the amazing shops and products.

Sally: Who or what  inspires your creations?

Mandy: Mostly I am inspired by my darling little ones, Remy, who is almost 4, and Halle, who is 1. I also find inspiration in random things like a Josh Groban song, a dress from an Audrey Hepburn movie, or a favorite Psalm. I find that God waits to inspire anytime I'm willing to listen!

Sally: What time of day do you work best and why?

Mandy: Usually I find the time to create during nap time and/or after their bedtime. I am truly a morning person and love to work early, but out of necessity I work when I can keep little fingers away from my supplies.

Sally: Who do you market to? Who do you see buying your work?

Mandy: My items are great for parents who want to be a little bit bold and funky in their baby gear but don't want to spend a ton of money or lose the functionality of the piece. I have sold a lot to young, new moms and also those buying gifts for new babies. I am finding that people think my items make great gifts so I try to incorporate great packaging into the items as well.

Sally: What item do you like to work on the most and why?

Mandy: I love working on all my items, truthfully, especially new items. Baby things make pretty quick projects because they are so small, and that is gratifying. Right now I am working on patterns for dresses that will be coming in the spring, choosing fabrics and making sketches, and that is really exciting to me!

Sally: What is your favorite beverage while you work?

Mandy: Coffee. I drink gallons of coffee!

Sally: What is something that you don’t do well that you’d like to do better?

Mandy: I have a really hard time valuing my work, as do I think a lot of hand-makers.. I wish it were easier to find the kind of confidence to really see the items for what they are!

Sally: If you could interview your main influence who would it be and what would you ask?

Mandy: I have a hard time pin-pointing this one because so many things influence me!

Sally: What do you listen to while you work? While you don’t work?

Mandy: During nap time I usually have soap operas on... I know, I know, smut, but it's my guilty pleasure! Otherwise I listen to a lot of silly songs with my littles=). I also adore Josh Groban, Frank Sinatra and Doris Day- I really think I was born in the wrong era!