As I was browsing through TotToppers shop I realized that I’m going to HAVE to get my girlies these for Christmas this year…so many adorable items! I hope you enjoy meeting her as much as I did!

Tell me a little bit about your background in arts and crafts. When did you first start creating things?
I started "rogue knitting" over a dozen ago! However, I really started knitting for sale, and designing my own patterns just over a year ago.

What were the first things you created? and how did your creativity progress from there?
I have always been into baby hats! I was given a pattern book of baby hats when I was pregnant with my oldest, so I started off making those. Well, I got so many compliments when my son was wearing them (and so many people who said they wanted to buy them) that I figured I'd start up something. SO then I made a big boo boo! I started a blog selling hats, and using the original designs from that book. The designer was SOOO very nice about the whole thing but informed me that her designs were copyright and I could not sell them. This hadn't even crossed my mind, and I felt so bad. I hadn't had any sales or anything but I immediately took those hats off my site. So for a day or so I thought my knit-sales were over before they began...then I thought, you know, I think I can DO my own designs...and there it went!

Is this your only business or do you do other things as well?
I'm finishing up a PhD in political science from the University of Florida and I'm a mom of 2 under 2! (sounds familiar…)

Do you still dream about making other things? If so, what?
I'm sort of just beginning as a designer. I started with hats, but now I've designed shorts/bloomers, paci leashes etc. I think I'll probably stay in knitting, but I know I will be doing lots more in the future!

How did you come up with your shop name?
Lots of brainstorming, then it hit me. I googled the heck out of the name to make sure it wasn't taken.

What are your favorite shops on etsy? Why do you like them?

PogoShop - she recycles old sweaters and makes toys! I have also met her in person at a craft fair and she is a wonderful person!

Caffaknitted - Beautiful and truly unique knit patterns for kids toys

How did you hear about Etsy?
People who heard I was selling knit hats kept asking me if I had a shop. I figured I needed to check it out

Any words of advice to others?
Designing should be fun, not "easy" or "hard" ...keep working on your designs until you are truly happy with them. For me, some happen really quick and work perfectly the first time. Others I have to mess with over and over, and rip out what I've done, and go back etc...I'm actually going back to some of my beginning designs and using my expanded experience to make them even better.

How will the new law by CPSIA affect you and your shop?
I'll be closed down if I am required to test my hats. I haven't been able to figure out if the dyed yarn I use counts as "natural"!

Make sure to take some time and browse through TotToppers shop and if you want to make your own TotToppers visit MakeTotToppers!

Today I am going to introduce you to another fabulous Team etsyBABY shop: Daisy Creek! Enjoy! Tell me a little bit about your background in arts and crafts.

** I have been doing arts and crafts since I can remember! In the town that I grew up in, we had a community organization that provided all sorts of activities for children during the school year, but especially during the summer. My mom always had me signed up for at least 3 or 4 things at a time to keep me busy over the summer and I always picked some sort of class where I could be creative. My need for a creative outlet continued in junior high school with sewing and other home economics classes that led to other classes in high school. Which ended up leading me to get my Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Design and Textiles.

When did you first start creating things?

** I first started creating Barbie clothes with my mom when I was about 6 or 7 years old. I think that my love for sewing steered me towards getting my degree in fashion design.What were the first things you created? and how did your creativity progress from there?

** The first things that I started creating on my own were pajama pants in junior high. Then, in my first college course that I took while still in high school, I started creating my own prom dresses and outfits out of unusual fabrics like ultra suede and velvet. My creativity was in full bloom when I started college and I unfortunately lost some of that there. I think the pressure of projects/assignments/grades really hurt my creative drive and I actually stopped sewing for years after getting my degree.

How did you come up with your shop's name?

**We bought 10 acres and have a little creek that runs near our property. When our daughter was born we would walk down to the creek and back every day. As she got older (and walking on her own), she would always point to the wildflowers and yell "daisy!" (They are my favorite flower, so she heard the word a lot). When I started the business, she would always ask to go to "daisy's creek" and it just seemed like a cute name.

Is this your only business or do you have another job as well?

** After finishing college, I realized that I didn't want to move to a big city and figured that was a prerequisite to becoming a fashion designer. After having taught gymnastics throughout college, I really felt a calling to go into teaching and that is what I pursued. I taught 3rd grade for 3 years in one district and have been teaching kindergarten for 8 years in the district that I currently work. I have loved teaching and it comes very naturally to me and I still have so many things that I would like to accomplish. But, while pregnant, I really started to create things again and started doing scrap booking (traditional and digital) and started sewing after my daughter was about a year old. And after making some Christmas gifts for people, I realized that I totally had the bug!!

Do you still dream about making other things? If so, what?

** Yes, yes, yes! I have so many ideas going on in my mind and things that I'd like to try. I'd love to do a clothing line and be able to market it to stores on the wholesale level. I'd also love to expand the kinds of accessories that I can do. I've always wanted to have my own store one day and I'm hoping that the cards will all fall into place on of these days.

How did you hear about Etsy?

** I was at a birthday party for a friend's daughter and saw the cutest little pinafore/apron and took a peek at the tag (I am an admitted tag peeker and look at the tags of the kids in my class all the time!!). I saw the website and at my first chance went online to check it out. That's where I found this incredible marketplace! I had been making my rhinestone tees as a business for about 4 months and was really nervous to sign up. It took me looking around at what other people had done for about 2 months before I gathered up the nerve to do it. And boy, am I glad that I did!!!

Do you sell your things outside of etsy? ** Yes, I sell in 2 stores locally, one hair and nail salon and online at http://www.daisycreekdesigns.com/

What's your absolute favorite thing in your shop?** That is so hard! I think that my favorite rhinestone tee would have to be the "Nana's Girl" one because it is the first tee that I did (although I have changed the font since then) when I started my business. The phrase is also the reason why I started my business - I had gone into a local boutique with my mom (Nana) and saw that shirt. My mom grabbed one right away for my daughter and after really looking at it, I kept saying to myself, "I can totally do that!" The rest is history!!

What is your favorite thing to make?

**I think that my favorite thing always changes. For me, my favorite thing is always the thing that I am focusing on more than other things. Right now I am doing a lot more sewing and creating new clothing items. I am really having a lot of fun making more "princess" types of things like wands and crowns - I have had a request from a local store for those, so it's been fun trying to find my own vision of those. With everything, I'm trying to find my own way and put my own mark on it so when someone sees it they will know it's one of my designs.

What shops do you admire on etsy?

** Wow! That's the hardest question of all!! When I first started on etsy, I marked a lot of shops as a favorite who made different clothing items because that was a direction that I wanted to take Daisy Creek Designs. Since joining etsybaby, etsymoms and etsykids, I have become more aware of so many more sellers and how amazingly creative and talented they are. It would take pages and pages to answer this question because I admire each of my team members for so many reasons - each one differently!

Any words of advice to others?

** If there is something that you'd like to do or try, to just jump right in and get involved! I was so nervous to join etsy and it's been such a great experience! And as I look back, it is so silly that I waited so long to join a team. I know that joining and being a part of these teams has made my experience on etsy SO much more worthwhile and has taught me so much!

How will the new law by CPSIA affect you and your shop?

** Since doing tees and clothing for younger children is really where I am at creatively, CPSIA would virtually make it impossible for me to continue. Most of what I do are one of a kind or in very small quantities and the enforcement of third party testing would make it impossible for me to continue financially.

I just want to thank Liz for taking the time to complete this interview with me! I just love hearing what inspires and motivates others along their etsy journey. I hope you decide to take a few minutes to browse her lovely store, www.daisycreek.etsy.com!