EtsyStory:Bellaroo
From EtsyWiki
Hi Everyone!
For me, Etsy began as a way to keep sane after Hurricane Katrina. I am so sick of those two words I can't even tell you! The area I live in did not flood, and we had only minor wind damage. But for everyone living along the gulf coast, our lives are forever divided into "before and after Katrina." "Before Katrina" I worked as an artist selling paintings. "After Katrina", the act of painting seemed silly to me. Important things were objects you could use. Objects that made life possible. I would just stare at a blank panel and think, "so what?" Talk about depressing! New Orleans was out of the question as far as employment went. So I was in a strange, empty jobless place. I wanted to make things for the "every person" which also had a utilitarian function. So that winter I used the internet to learn crochet, and everyone I knew was bombarded with ugly hats.
I found Etsy one day while searching for yarn inspiration(thank you mmmfiber and gourmetamigurumi!) Suddenly, life seemed a little better. Next thing I knew I had a sewing machine and started making purses. I found a pretty decent way to combine creativity and functionality. Purses carry your stuff. I love that. I try to make purses that carry your stuff that are also very cute.
Etsy has helped me to begin a crazy and lovely career I didn't anticipate having. Through etsy I also found a community of kind, giving, often hilarious souls (tm is the bestest)*, some of which I now count as dear friends.
- very funny Mikey. I s'pose you're ok! :)
