Last month I did a feature on BEad ECLECTIC and I thought it turned out so well that I decided to start doing it on a regular basis. So now this is a thing and the thing is called…
Yes! I created a button too! So it’s really a thing, right? For the time being, I’m planning on doing it bi-weekly. After we move, I think I’m going to start doing it on a weekly basis.
Anyway, enough of that. Let’s get to this week’s featured Etsy seller, Roundabout. When Trisha contacted me about featuring her shop, I was so excited. First, her upcycled items fit in perfectly to the Spring Greening feature I’m doing. Additionally, I absolutely love her work. Love it! Browsing through her Etsy shop, there’s such a feeling of serendipity in everything she makes. Whether it’s an eco-felt owl tote (more about those later!) or confetti made from romance novels, a sense of whimsy comes shining through. Some people start Etsy shops solely to make extra money while others do it because they have a passion–Roundabout is clearly a product of love!
I interviewed Trisha about her Etsy shop and her blog, also named Roundabout. Make sure you stop by and check them out–if you do, you’ll have the chance to win a supercute owl tote!
Tell us a little bit about Roundabout–both your Etsy store and your blog.
I started my store last summer. My youngest was going off to Kindergarten in the fall & I knew I’d have some time during the day to devote to my shop. I’ve always had a love of bringing something home from the thrift shop & giving it a new life. My shop gave me an outlet to sell my creations to a bigger audience. I started blogging about the same time. I thought it would be a great way to share tutorials of items I’m upcycling or projects I’m working on. I also share recipes, décor ideas and everyday crazy family life!
You mention in your Etsy profile that you started making jewelry as a teenager. How exactly did that evolve into what you’re doing now?
I think I was always crafting something as a kid. As teen I really got into making earrings & necklaces. I decided to try selling at craft shows & loved it! But as I grew I continued finding new interests, such as sewing, crochet & repurposing thrift store items. I like to do a little bit of everything that way I don’t get bored & it’s not so repetitive. There’s something very satisfying about taking someone’s cast away & turn it into something usable again! While my girls are in school I’m able to hunt the thrift stores, work on items, and list them in my shop.
Can you explain a little bit about upcycling, for those who haven’t heard the term before?
Upcycling is a way to prevent wasting potentially useful materials by making use of existing ones. This reduces the consumption of new raw materials when creating new a new item. Giving an old product a new life.
What makes your Etsy shop stand out from all the others that are out there?
I’m not sure what I would say that makes my shop stand out from the others? I do know that every item in my shop is something I love. If you love what your creating it shows in the end result. I’m also a big believer in customer service. Communication is very important.
Do you focus on thinking of ways that you can upcycle or adhere to a green philosophy in your work? Or does the type of work you prefer to do just happen to be green?
A little of both. I get the most fulfillment from being able to repurpose an item. Even when I’m making something like a tote I still try to use green items. All the felt used to make the shapes on my totes are made from eco felt which is 100% post consumer water bottles. I enjoy knitting, crochet,and sewing but I feel most creative trying to make something out of nothing. It’s a lot of fun to see what an item can become!
Where do you get your ideas from?
I come from a family that loves to “customize” things. I think its in my blood to look at an item & see its possibilities for another life. A day at the thrift store can produce loads of ideas! I also love flipping through magazines & blogs for daily inspirations.
What are your favorite items in your shop? And what items are your best sellers?
I have certain items I focus on seasonally along with my the items I make through out the year. With spring on the way my favorite item to make is my tea cup bird feeders. But my number one has always been my book page wreath. It also is one of my best sellers. No matter how many I’ve made, I truly enjoy creating them. I‘m still in awe of the end result.
Where do you see Roundabout in two years? Or where would you like to see it?
I hope to see my shop continue to grow. I’d love to make this a full time job. Some day I would love to add furniture that I have redone to my shop as well.
What words of wisdom do you have for readers who are considering opening a shop on Etsy?
Etsy has been such a great avenue for me. Once you have time & enough product to devote to your shop, jump in with both feet & see where it takes you! Love what you make & others will love it to. When you open your shop, make sure your photos are interesting & descriptive. And don’t forget to have fun with your written description!
Trisha has generously offered to give one Type A Housewife reader an owl tote in any color from her Etsy shop! They are perfect for those weekend trips to the farmers market, not to mention work and school. Follow the instructions below for your chance to win.
Enter a separate comment for each method of entry. Do the mandatory entry first–if your email address isn’t in your Blogger profile, include it in this comment. Please know that I will delete comments that don’t answer the mandatory entry question, so comments like “that’s great,” “enter me,” etc. will be deleted.
Mandatory Entry: Go to the Roundabout Etsy store and tell me an item other than the owl tote that you love!
Bonus Entries:
- Follow Roundabout on Google Friend Connect +1
- Heart Roundabout on Etsy (put username in comment) +1
- Follow me on Google Friend Connect (see sidebar). +1
- Follow me on Twitter (@ohkeeka). +1
- “Like” The Type A Housewife on Facebook. +1
- Subscribe to my blog via reader or email (see sidebar). You can do both of these, but you only get one entry. +1
- Tweet about this giveaway ONCE (not daily, not hourly) +1: RT @ohkeeka Enter to #win an owl tote bag from the Etsy shop Roundabout on The Type A Housewife http://bit.ly/fqJNVd #giveaway
Things You Should Know:
- One winner will receive an eco-felt owl tote (your choice of color) from Roundabout.
- Entry open to anyone 18 years of age and over.
- Open to those in the US only.
- Giveaway ends on Friday, March 18 at 9pm CST.
- Winner will be chosen via random.org
- Because I know emails can get lost in the ether, I will email the winner twice. If I don’t hear from you within 24 hours of the first email, I’ll try again. If, after 48 hours, I still haven’t heard from you, another winner will be chosen.
- Winner will be announced in a separate post on my blog.
- I will check to make sure the winner did not cheat by entering under multiple accounts/email addresses. So really, don’t even try it. Cheating is not a good look.
- Disclosure: I received no compensation in return for this feature.
Thank you to Roundabout for sponsoring this giveaway!
