1. Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Jennifer Tan and I live in Davis, CA with my husband and three children. I am a fiber artist who loves to teach workshops, classes and hold teleseminars on handwork and homeschooling. I am a retired school principal, aromatherapist, prenatal yoga instructor, college professor, homeschooling consultant, flutist and wedding officiant. Spinning yarn and crocheting brings balance to my eclectic, busy lifestyle! My blog is www.syrendell.blogspot.com, and our workshop site is www.syrendellacademy.com.
2. What made you open your shop and why Etsy?
We started our first Etsy shop to sell my crocheted scarves and patterns www.tlwoldc.etsy.com. Then, we opened a second shop to feature products that might appeal to homeschoolers, Waldorf schoolers and others - handspun yarns, naturally dyed silks, wood figurines and more www.syrendell.etsy.com. We sold our items to people we knew and everyone would say, "You need to sell these online!". We sold on eBay for a couple of years before we found Etsy. Etsy is a wonderful venue...easy to list, inexpensive, and a wonderful network of artists. I enjoy buying from others on Etsy, too!
3. Do you sell your items anywhere else?
In person at workshops and at Fig Tree Alley in Sacramento, CA. Our eBooks are available on our blog and website.
4. What are your favourite things to do?
Besides fiber arts, I love playing musical instruments, reading, gardening and collecting Nancy Drew books!
5. What inspires you?
Natural parenting/birthing, camping and nature, Waldorf classrooms (the artwork!), www.ravelry.com, my amazing artist/musician Husband
6. Of all the different craft items in your shop which do you enjoy making the most?
Our streamer sticks! I naturally dyed the silk ribbons and my husband handcrafts the wood sticks. We love working on these together, and we especially love that people purchase them for kids, birthdays, Preschools, day cares, and for weddings!
7. What is your most popular item?
Overall, our yarns sell the best. People love high-quality, handspun yarns for handwork projects.
8. If you could learn one new craft what would it be?
Tatting and bobbin lace are next on my list! I would love to learn how to make lace with a tatting shuttle or bobbins.
9. Which handmade possession given to you do you cherish?
A beautiful, hand-knitted afghan from my great-grandmother. She came from Croatia to the US, and made it for me soon after I was born.
10. Name 3 other Etsy shops you love to visit.
Oakmoss Fabulous soaps and candles!
Pearlk2 My favorite flower hair pins!
Ancient Hearth Beautiful needlefelted creations!
Thank you to Syrendell for being my featured favourite Etsy shop this week. So many great natural crafts in one shop. I love how they use all natural dyes in their items. Actually looking through this shop I find a little bit of all my favourite things, aromatherapy, classical music, handspun yarn, natural fibres, fun activities to do with children and wooden goodies. If your into any of these things or have always wanted to learn more about natural products then you need to take a look at this shop. You wont be disappointed.
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2 comments:
Thank you for featuring us on your wonderful blog!
That was an amazing interview! We just love the Tan family and our homeschool is stocked with Syrendell silks and Sprites from their amazing etsy shop! I also love her ebooks. Jennifer is not only an amazing source of information and talent, but she's also a wonderful, warm soul. So nice to see her featured on your blog! Thank you for sharing this!
Jen
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