Favourite Etsy Shop Friday!!!!

Favourite Etsy Shop Feature

Manic Muffin Totes
www.ManicMuffinTotes.etsy.com

1. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am 36 years old, happily married for almost 19 years and have two wonderful daughters.
I feel very lucky that my husband and daughters were totally behind me when I decided to turn my Etsy shop into my full time job. I love what I do.

2. What made you decide to open your shop and why Etsy?

I had already been selling my items for years to the public, through craft shows.
I also hand quilt, so I had been making/selling/and repairing antique quilts for years and I kept getting told I needed to sell online. It was my daughter who introduced me to Etsy, she had seen other shops advertised on Myspace. I checked Etsy out, thought I would give it a try, and I am so glad I did.

3. How did you choose your shop name?

Seriously it was just a random name my daughter and I came up with. I thought I would make totes when I first started my shop. I got tired of sewing zippers in bags and purses. I hate fighting with zippers. So I just went back to the basics of what I love to do, and sew by hand, applique and quilt. I personally love pillows, I have tons of them. I just really love making pillows and quilts.

4. How long have you been creating/crafting?

My grandmother was a seamstress. My mother worked, I stayed with my grandmother for most of the summer, and every single weekend until I became a teenager. If you ever said you were bored, that was it, she put you to work. Your choices were help her, or twiddle your thumbs. Twiddling your thumbs for hours is not fun, so after a few times of doing that I started helping her. She still has the first pin cushion I made when I was about six. I really have been doing this for what seems like forever. I taught myself how to quilt. That was when I really fell in love with sewing. Before quilting I just knew how to sew, but didn’t really love it. Now, I don’t want to do anything else.

5. What are your other favourite things to do?

My favorite thing to do is quilt. It is relaxing and helps keep me centered. I also like to paint. I use to paint murals, and I have a huge weeping willow tree painted on my wall, in my living room. I also collect antique furniture and love to restore each piece back to it's former glory.


6. What inspires you?

Colors,texture,vintage fabrics, and my sketches. I am a compulsive sketcher. I have sketch books all over my house. I love the process of turning one of my sketches into a workable template.

7. Of all the items you make for you shop, what do you enjoy making the most?

My pip Squeaks and my Mushroom plushies.

8. What are you most popular items?

Both my lil Hoots and my Big Hoots.



9. You have wonderful colour combinations in your products. What is your favourite colour combination?

Butter cream yellow and pink. I love those two colors.

10. Name 3 other Etsy shops you love to visit.

Jenniesheirlooms.etsy.com

crankycats.etsy.com

MysteryPetz.etsy.com

I would like to thank Manic Muffin Totes for taking part in my Favourite Etsy Blog Feature. I just love all your sewing. I think my favourites have to be the Big and Lil Hoots. The fabrics are beautiful. The fact that all your items are hand stitched makes them even more special, Im sure there is love in every stitch.
I hope you have enjoyed reading this interview and check out this wonderful shop.