SF Bay Area Etsy Street Team: Friday Feature

Happy Friday, Folks!

So, this week's Friday Feature is kind of a big deal. With over 13,000 (yep, thousand!) sales, Three Bird Nest has simply blown our minds! She creates some of the cutest headbands, sock, gloves, and other accessories, which can't seem to keep from flying off the shelves! It's difficult to imagine that the shop owner is anything but a magician. On the contrary, she's a local mother of three who's got the same zest for craft as you and I. Read on for a peek behind the scenes of a real success story!

knitted bow headband

1. What is your shop name and URL?

threebirdnest.etsy.com

2. To which Etsy Teams do you belong?

Etsy Success, Team Starfish, Hair Accessories Exclusive, and SF Etsy - all of which I really need to be more active in just haven't had a moment :)

3. 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?

My shop is a collection of headbands, scarves, dainty jewelry, and accessories for women with a nod to vintage style.

I grew up in an environment where my mom would pretty much make anything that we needed. She made flower arrangements, hair bows, etc., and sold at craft fairs with me and my sister as her helpers. So it's pretty much something I've always been a part of, the creative process. My shop started with just me making headbands and has quickly grown to be a collective shop made up of an amazing team of talented local staff.

sherbet flora infinity scarf

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

I have three kids under 7. i love pink...and 8 years ago I "invented" a baby sling when my son was born and started a company selling baby products, learned entrepreneurship the hard way and almost lost everything. Etsy and my customers have given me a new start and I really just cannot express how grateful and appreciative I am now for each and every order. Almost losing everything really humbles you and makes you appreciate what you have so much!!

5. How did you get involved with Etsy?

Let's see...I own a local clothing store and started making headbands for my store. I couldn't keep them in stock so I decided to put them on Etsy to help support the slower sales in my boutique. I originally was thinking I'd sell 5-10 a week. It really took off so fast that I had to play catch up. I hired someone to manage my store so I could focus completely on being able to fulfil my orders, getting help with shipping and processing the orders, and sewing.

6. What is your favorite item in your shop (currently for sale or previously sold)?

i love my new leg warmers!!

lacy knitted leg warmers

7. What crafting skill(s) do you wish you had or hope to learn someday?

I used to woodwork with my Grandpa as a kid (the wood block and knife style). Maybe because it's nostalgic to me & just reminds me of my Grandpa's shop but I'd like to hone my ability to carve a smooth duck from a piece of wood. So my answer would be woodworking, making wood sculptures from a piece of wood and a knife.

8. What has been your biggest success and/or proudest moment since opening your Etsy shop?

One of my items was featured on the cover of Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine. It was really surreal and amazing since I didn't even know it was going to happen!!

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

I'd rent Disneyland for a full day, fly there on a private jet and let my kids get anything and everything they wanted in the park. Ask me again in 5 years and my answer will be different but I most enjoy time with my family and we'd ALL love this!

roses wide headband

10. What is the craziest gift you have ever received?

Pooper scooper bags from my Amazing Great Aunt Helen (who was an SF resident since the early 30's)....and I didn't have a dog. I'm not sure if that was the best or the year she mailed me a jar of jelly for Christmas...glass jar via USPS = didn't fare well.

11. What does buying and selling local handmade mean to you, and how has it affected your life?

I just like knowing my money is going directly to someone, supporting a person, their craft, their dream, their hobby. Helping to improve their life somehow. It has given me the ability to really achieve my dreams, to feel like I have a place where people support what I do, want to do, and dream to do. It's just an overall great feeling to buy, sell, and support independent artists in all categories of life.