Friday Feature -- Urban Handiwork

Today's featured Etsy artist is Lindsay of Urban Handiwork. Her shop is full of beautiful images, neat stuff, and nifty crocheted items. I love this customizable shrug!

Enjoy the interview!

1. Please tell us about the items in your Etsy shop. What do you make? How did you learn your craft? What is involved in your creative process?

I sell crochet items and patterns, photography, and assorted home decoration. I've always loved to work with my hands to make my ideas come to life. I especially love crochet and photography. I developed my passion for handiwork when I was in middle school and my step-grandmother taught me how to crochet and sew. She patiently showed me how to make my designs and visions come to life. I never met my biological grandmother, but developed a connection to her by studying and gaining inspiration from her handiwork. Photography has been a hobby of mine since I was in elementary school and a family friend gave me my first Polaroid. I love bringing my (now Canon) with me everywhere, and capturing moments of beauty anywhere I go.



2. Tell us two (or more) other interesting things about you.

I am a high school biology teacher, and I have way more interests than time in the day! I have a huge passion for social justice, I love to dance, I have season tickets to college football and basketball games, I'm learning how to cook and really enjoy working with fresh seasonal ingredients, my dream "wedding" is a 3-month camping/road trip, and since I got my first place I've been a little obsessed with interior decoration.

3. To which Etsy Teams do you belong? SF Etsy Street Team, the Etsy D-Listers Street Team, and the Christian Artists Street Team

4. What inspires your creations?

I love to make things that I and my friends really love and really use. Most of my photography is hanging in my own apartment, I use my homemade cushions and planters, and I wear my homemade scarves/dresses/gloves/etc. I study my grandmother's work to learn stitches and pattern ideas, but as a city-girl, I always want to add some modern and urban style. I design and create something because I love it, and I think that means you'll love it too!



5. What is your biggest challenge related to your Etsy shop?

I discovered Etsy relatively recently, so my biggest challenge is getting my name out there. I don't have a lot of feedback or sales yet, and a lot of potential buyers (myself included) are more likely to trust a seller who has high feedback scores and sales. It's a vicious cycle! My second biggest challenge is just the number of hours in a day. I can easily prioritize custom orders and/or shipping, but it is hard to find the time to just sit peacefully and create something new. And the last few times I've done so, I've loved the item so much I kept it for myself! Time to get around to making another copy to share with all of you...

6. If money were no object for just one day, what would you do?

One day? That's so hard! I absolutely love to travel, so if you gave me a couple weeks, I'd go on a road trip, or to Greece or Australia, or back to Belize... But with just one day, I don't think I'd need your money. I'd just love to go to Dolores Park with my favorite people, bring wine and cheese and Real Simple and Catchphrase, and just relax. Follow it up with some super nachos, and maybe some Sex and the City reruns!

7. Give us some insight on how you personally, or your shop, gives back to your community.

Giving back to my community is my second biggest priority in life! I volunteer with childcare at my church. I love my students, and do my best to be there for them in any way they need me. I tutor them after school. I am a member of my school's Anti-Racist Teaching Committee; we take responsibility for our role in institutionalized racism, and do everything we can to reverse it within our school, and hopefully beyond. I am also our schools co-sponsor of San Francisco State's Spectrum club, with the mission statement of "Building pathways to biomedical research careers for girls and women of color." I also serve on my school's Committee Ensuring Student Success. And this summer, I am working with the iCLEM program, which you can learn about here.

8. Where else can we find out more about you and/or your creations?

http://www.facebook.com/urbanhandiwork
http://www.twitter.com/urbanhandiwork
http://www.donorschoose.org/lmpenrose

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If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!