Treasury Challenge Winner November – BeadsandThreadsbyAmy

Contributor post by Alicia of AliciasFindings

On Etsy many shop owners curate treasuries. A treasury is a curated shop gallery comprised of 16 items from any shop. Most of the time they are done by theme, color or anything you can imagine.

The ChristmasInJuly team has challenges to create treasuries centered on themes of our choosing. We then pick a winner based on views, creativity and the like.

The winner of the November challenge was CIJ Leader Amy Spock of BeadsandThreadsbyAmy.

She is an outgoing, fun type who loves embroidery and beading.

I sat down and asked her how she got started on Etsy and she said:

I started on Etsy in March 2013. I originally started on Ebay, but stumbled upon Etsy as a way to sell in a venue specializing in handmade and vintage. When I started, I listed the oodles of beaded Christmas ornament skirts I have made over the years. Gradually, I added embroidery items to my shop.

I wondered how did she learn her craft and she told me:

My friend Nancy taught me how to bead. Quickly, I found my favorite thing to bead is the ornament skirts. No two ever turn out the same. I enjoy mixing different colors and trying conventional and non-conventional color combinations.

My friend Velda dragged me, kicking and screaming, to a quilting class. I say kicking and screaming because I have never, much to my mother’s dismay, been able to sew a straight line with a sewing machine. I was hooked! I quickly had several quilts pieced together, and purchased a new machine with an embroidery unit. Hence, the embroidery side of my shop was born. I can’t figure out how to part with any of my quilts, as it takes me weeks and weeks to complete them (and I still dread binding them!). I can, however, sew in a straight line (well, with the quilting foot on, anyway!)

Seeing as how she has a good many sales, I was curious how social media helped her sell:

I get about the same number of views from Pinterest and from Facebook. I work on Pinterest, posting things from my shop and other’s shops, about once a month. I post to Facebook bi-weekly, and try to include postings other than just new items to my shop. I have found success posting treasuries, cleaning tips, and pet care tips on Facebook.

In order to sell you must have an inspiring work space right?

My craft space, at the moment, is still an absolute disaster from the holiday rush. However, it is in the sunniest room in the house. I have decorated it with pictures that inspire me. When it is all organized and put away, all the colors of thread on my thread rack are also inspiring to me.

I asked what new ideas or projects she had in the works:

I just returned from Joann’s and purchased some adorable material to make Personalized Travel Pet Beds. I am hoping to work on one next week, and get it listed in the next couple of weeks. I am also working on a small monogrammed purse to list, though that project is taking some time to get just right. I also have some new patterns for Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and Mother’s Day, as well.

I cannot wait to see what Amy comes up with next!