whizbeff origin

this is copy&pasted from an etsy convo i am having with a journalist who is writing a piece on etsy sellers. she asked a few questions and my answers are what i'm saving.

I got started in etsy as just a buyer. I loved Christmas shopping especially on etsy because I could argue that all toys bought on etsy were elf made:). So after buying on etsy for almost two years my sister emailed me asking me what my etsy shop's name was. And I thought, "yeah! Why not?". So I began pretty small. Just a few things- the baby sling was my big seller at first. Then I started designing my babywearing pullover- and once I listed that in the shop it took off. The best advice I received from a fellow etsian was "join etsy teams". Once I started taking part in the etsy community in teams, in chat rooms, on message boards, my business increased. So it has been a fun ride. I really am proud to be an etsian.
Once I opened my shop I realized that I needed a permanent spot for my sewing machine. So I took over the guest bedroom. My kids now call it "the etsy room". I get up pretty early to get stuff done since we homeschool the oldest four. I work until someone wants me to cook breakfast then I lock the room so there is no hi jinx with the orders. I go to the fabric store about once or twice a week and also to the post office about as much. I've really gotten to know the people that work at both places rather well.:)
I think neccesity inspires my functional design. As far as embellishments I look to nature. I love trees, animals, landscapes. Also I browse on etsy and might spot a neat composition and that will get me dreaming. Sometimes my dreams feel like if they don't take shape soon they will explode- that's when I know that I must sew! Or sometimes just sketching it out in a notebook will suffice.

hopefully that will inspire anyone else out there to get into their own etsy shop. and let me know if you do- i'll come heart your shop(the more hearts the better!).