Hi! My name is Kirstin Demer and I am the owner of greentrikepress.etsy.com. I have always had a love of  books, stationary, journals…pretty much everything paper related! I just finished up my MFA from Columbia College Chicago in Interdisciplinary Arts. (The degree entailed everything related to bookbinding, papermaking, and letterpress.) [...]

Introducing Pamela Klaffke, owner of Pamela Klaffke Photography, Vintagevice and Vintagevice’s Paper Emporium on Etsy.

I swear I had a plan — I really did. In September 2007, I joined etsy in hopes of opening a shop to sell prints of my photography, which was starting to take off, especially with international buyers and I needed a central place and a way to process orders simply. A friend had told me about etsy some time back, and it seemed like the way to go. But you know what they say about the best laid plans, right?

By mid-month, my then six-year-old daughter was practically immobile, having suffered a bad break to her leg in a nasty bike accident. She was in a full leg cast and hopes of proceeding with my etsy shop were dashed.

Introducing Regina, owner of SandDance Designs on Etsy.

I have been married for 5 & 1/2 years to my incredible husband and am a SAHM to a wonderfully sassy 2 & 1/2 yr old daughter. We have our 2nd daughter on the way and is due in April. It has been a blessing to be able to be at home for my family. I was a career girl in every way until our daughter changed my life forever.

I started sewing 18 months ago as a hobby to fill free time. If my husband knew then what he would be starting, when he suggested I take up a hobby. I very quickly developed a passion and hunger to learn about sewing in every aspect. Within 6 months of my first sewing class, I bought my second sewing machine.

My name is Susan Ewing and I am a happily married thriving stay-at-home mom of two wonderful girls (5 and 18) and a caretaker of my 67 year old live- in mother. You may know me from my blog Susie’s Homemade where I explore the creative side of homemaking with my adventures in baking, cooking, entertaining and gardening. I am also the owner and operator of Susie’s Homemade Chocolate Shop on Etsy.com.

I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit and dreamed of having my own business. Unfortunately, with no capital to speak of, a brick and mortar business was out of the question. Then, I was inspired by my sister-in-law JoAnn. She made these cookie dough balls (cookie dough, minus the eggs so they are safe, rolled into balls and dipped in chocolate) for Christmas a couple years in a row and they are always the first to go.

Hi! I am Michele of Frugal Granola. Through my shop at FrugalGranola.Etsy.Com, I strive to create eco-friendly handmade items for gifts, home, baby, clothing, and accessories. As my shop tagline says:

“Creatively Transforming Unique Articles from the Brink of Disposal into a Joyful New Life of Sustainability & Beauty.”

Each article is handmade from reused materials. I rarely use such things as patterns or rulers; simply allowing the unique personality of the new item to develop organically. I measure very minimally, creating “by eye,” with attention to detail.

As if the horrible economy wasn’t enough, if you sell products for children ages 12 and under, whether as a business or to make extra money, be prepared to THROW AWAY these items come February 10th 2009, as you will no longer be able to sell them unless you comply to the CPSIA. Act now to help stop this from happening.