Remember a few weeks ago, when I posted a two-part tutorial on block printing? I realized about halfway through writing the second part of the tutorial that most of my regular readers are not going to take the time to learn that particular skill. (If you do, I’d love to hear from you!) I mean, I could barely get through writing it, and I’m passionate about this stuff! Let’s just say that some arts and crafts are easier than others.
While I was realizing this, I also realized how much I enjoy making these prints. So I decided to open an Etsy shop to allow me to keep making things I love, and so that you, dear readers, can have a chance to get your own block printed tea towels, without having to make them yourself! See? Win-win.
It’s insanely easy to open an Etsy shop. It’s not so easy to stock it, get it ready, and put all the marketing in place so people can find you. That’s why I’ve been a bit absent from the blog lately, but I think I’ve got a good start now, and can get back to juggling both.
(If you’ve never heard of Etsy.com before, you should check it out. It’s an amazing online marketplace for all sorts of handmade items. It is THE place to find cool, unique, artistic gifts and items for your house, or even just interesting and unusual things to look at.)
The hardest part (for me) of opening a store is picking a name. I stayed up nights thinking about this. (It’s OK. It beats all the other things I’m usually staying up thinking about.) I thought about using the blog’s name, but since this is a slightly different endeavor, I wanted something fresh and new. Something that evoked a feeling of home and permanency. Everything I do creatively is about making my house a home, and creating a comfortable, safe, and inspiring environment for my family. So I chose the name “Ever Evangeline” after the name of my street. This is home for me. And while it’s the name that describes my current physical home, it also goes all the way back to my Cajun family’s roots. “Evangeline” is the title of the epic poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow that traces part of the origin of the Cajun people. So I love the name for its past and current references to my own home.
Ever Evangeline is a shop dedicated to hand-block-printed tea towels and other decorative home items. For now, I’m concentrating on tea towels, but I hope to expand to all sorts of other printed pieces in the future. I design, carve, and print all the pieces myself. (I don’t make the actual tea towels – sewing is NOT one of my passions.) I really enjoy each part of the process, and I hope that joy somehow translates into the pieces themselves and blesses the homes of whoever buys them.
I’d love for you to drop by and take a look at the shop. I’ll be adding new designs all the time, as well as taking custom orders by request. So if you think of something you’d like to see, let me know. Also, I’d be so honored if you’d check out (and possibly “like”) my new facebook page dedicated to the shop, and share it with your friends. This is where I’ll be sharing shop updates, sales, specials, etc. It will be colorful and fun, and I promise not to bore you!
And finally… Thank you. Without your encouragement and feedback over the last couple of years, I don’t think I’d ever have gotten the courage to take on something like this. I truly appreciate each and every one of you!
CoachNotesBlog (@CoachNotesBlog)
Saturday 18th of October 2014
Congratulations, Meredith, on starting your new adventure. It's pretty courageous to not rely on your established blog name and instead choose a store name that reflects this facet of you. (Hats off!)
~ Vernessa Taylor (@CoachNotesBlog)
Meredith
Monday 20th of October 2014
Thanks Vernessa! The naming thing was hard, but in the end it boiled down to wanting to start something new. Hope it's not a mistake! :)
niekkamcdonald
Saturday 18th of October 2014
Congrats! Happy to see you do this. I am very familiar with Etsy. I don't know the process to get it up and running but still a step in the right direction for you.
Meredith
Monday 20th of October 2014
Thanks Niekka, I have a lot to learn!
Beth Niebuhr
Friday 17th of October 2014
I have friends that have Etsy stores but didn't really know how it works. Good for you to start your own.
Meredith
Monday 20th of October 2014
Thank you Beth!
Krystyna Lagowski
Friday 17th of October 2014
Congratulations on your Etsy store! Love the block printed tea towels, I think you've got a hit on your hands. I especially love the Airstream trailer - very cool and retro. We had an Etsy pop-up show here in Toronto a few weeks back, and the talent was phenomenal. I think it's the greatest concept ever - not only does it provide gifted people like yourself an avenue for selling your goods, it gives picky consumers like me a place to browse ... and dream ...
Meredith
Monday 20th of October 2014
Thank you Krystyna, that's very kind. I'm so inspired by all the things I see on Etsy. It really is an amazing place!
Welli
Friday 17th of October 2014
Congrats Meredith and all the best with your Etsy shop. New concept for me which I have learnt from you. I was not aware of that type of shop. I am inspired by your breaking out into doing something you love.
Meredith
Monday 20th of October 2014
Thank you Welli! Glad to introduce you to something new.