Winterville Wonders

Hope everyone is having a terrific Tuesday!  At least it's not evil Monday, right? :)  Let's start today off right with Winterville Wonders.  This shop is based out of Greenville, North Carolina.  A shop full of vintage items & of course, some handmade items.  One of my favorite items is the Green Glass Bead & Grey Pearl Beads necklace.

Q: How did you come up with your shop name?
A: I originally wanted RetroRenee but unfortunately it was taken.  So, I brain-stormed on a name that is catchy and broad enough for my handmade and vintage items and I live in Winterville so WintervilleWonders popped into my mind.

Q: Do you only sell on Etsy?
A: I mainly sell on Etsy, but two months ago delved slightly into eBay since I had a few items that I wasn't sure of their age and didn't want to break the 20 year vintage rule on Etsy.

Q: What inspires you?
A:  I am inspired by the beauty of nature, and love earth colors and anything that reminds me of the beach. I also love flowers, animals, music, and landscapes.

Q: What is the hardest part of what you do?
A:  I am pretty steadfast and patient, which is an asset for an online business. I just try to do a little to promote my shop every day or almost every day.  It is work, but it is rewarding, fun, and enjoyable.

Q: What is one of your favorite items from your shop?
A:  I have been enjoying making these bib necklaces recently.

Q: What made you decide to use Etsy instead of sites like ArtFire and MadeItMySelf?
A: I have not heard of ArtFire and MadeItMyself.  I had two friends on Etsy and they encouraged me to open a shop. I had been hearing about Etsy for several years. I very much enjoy the community part of Etsy and the positivity I feel from other sellers. It very much feels like a group of encouraging friends.

Q: Is Etsy your only "job", or is it something you do on the side?
A: Unfortunately I still have a 'real' job, (actually two!) but I am off during the summers and I look forward to the time when Etsy can be my only job!

Q: Are you attending any art shows in the future?
A:  I have a jewelry party coming up in the Fall and I do two or three large craft fairs every Spring.

Q: Any future projects?
A:  My project for the summer was doing several small paintings and making them into printed magnets, greeting cards, and bookmarks. I just got the first batch back from the printer yesterday, so I am anxious to photograph and get them on Etsy!

"Be patient, promote, tell friends, join teams on Etsy, take good photographs, and read all of the info for sellers that Etsy works hard to put together. It is work, but it is fun work!" - Renee