Thursday, January 27, 2011

Feature Friday - When Love Happens

It's Friday! That means we get to meet a new Sensation Shop! This week, we'll meet Joan from When Love Happens. I just LOVE her handmade weddings items, especially her sashes. So take a peek and enjoy!
1. How did you get into crafting?
I've always loved crafting. When I was young, I used to make handmade cards for birthdays, weddings and graduations. I experimented with woodworking, paper and scrapbooking, paint and sewing. All through my 20's, I enjoyed working with paper. I scrapbooked, made paper goods and cards and books.
2. How did your Etsy shop come to be?
My husband and I got married in June 2010 and during the year we were engaged, I decided that all the things I wanted for my wedding, I could make for half the cost. I spent that year crafting everything -- escort cards, menus, conversation starting books, ringbearer book, a sash for my wedding dress, fascinators for my entire wedding party and survival kits for my bridesmaids. I enjoyed myself so much and loved being involved in making a lovely wedding that I decided I could make quality wedding related items for a much more reasonable cost than other wedding vendors. I was already familiar with Etsy so I thought this would be the perfect place to showcase my items.
3. What is your favorite part about being creative?
My favorite part is experimenting with color, texture and design. I love figuring out how to make new items and creating new combinations. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I also love spending hours and hours at fabric shops looking through the various materials and fabrics they have.
4. Are you a full time crafter or do you have a "day job?"
I am a 4th grade teacher in California and have been teaching for 5 years. Etsy allows me to do two things I love - teach and craft. If there were more hours in a day, I could do a lot more of both!
5. If someone were to buy you a birthday gift on Etsy, what 3 words would they use in their search?
Romantic because I'm a closet sucker for romance. Love because it's one of the most important things in my life - showing love to everyone around me. And...Hello Kitty. Can that just count as one word? I can leave out the space so that it's just one work. I never grew out of HelloKitty, but my students and I have something in common through our love for Hello Kitty.
6. How do you create your designs?
I've mastered how to create six different types of flowers. I use basic artistic principles such as composition, color and size to help my create my designs. But, I stick with my instincts. If I'm not happy with something, I'll stop and work on it until I get it right. A lot of it is trial and error. If I come up with a solid design, I'll try it out in different colors, then tweak little things here and there to change the look of it.
7. What's in your Soundtrack to Sewing?
I like to listen to mellow music while I'm crafting. I don't like to feel rushed. I want to take my time to make something that's beautiful for my customer. So I listen to a lot of Coldplay, John Mayer, Jack Johnson and John Legend.
8. Favorite spots for inspiration?
I find inspiration in many places, but I am an avid wedding blog and home design blog reader. I also love going to stores like Pottery Barn, William Sonoma, West Elm and Anthropologie.
9. Who inspires you?
I know it sounds cliche, but my husband! He was the one who encouraged my talent and craftiness. He would talk up the things I made to our friends and family and finally suggested that I find a way to bring my items to the public. He challenges me to constantly become a better version of myself. His high opinion of me makes me think I really am that great!
10. If you had to choose one item in your shop as a signature piece, what would it be and why?
I'd have to say that this sash in taupe, coral and ivory is my signature piece because it encapsulates my aesthetic well - airy, romantic and sweet. You'll find a variety of pieces in my shop because I know that there are brides with varied tastes, but if I had to pick one, this one is it. I wear it to weddings, special events and even over my favorite casual dress or cardigan to add a little sweetness to my everyday outfit.

Thanks so much, Joan, for sharing your story! Don't forget to check out Joan's blog, which documents her wedding and her creations as well. 

I had hoped to have a project to share with you this week, but the back is acting up something fierce! It better get its act together by Monday, because that is when I start my new job as a nanny. When I DO feel better, I am going to make a skirt or a top with a zipper...yep, a zipper! Woohoo! 

4 comments:

  1. Good luck with your new job! Thanks for feature, Joan sounds amazing, and she has such gorgeous items!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks so much for featuring me on your blog Kelsey!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love all of Joan's featured items! Her taste is very much like my own. I putting her on my favorites in Etsy!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow.... Joan is amazing-- I love all of her beautiful items!!
    (And I hope your back feels 100% better soon!)

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for visiting! I love to hear feedback!