i'm really excited about participating in the first Blog Carnival through the Etsy Crest team. every month, we will share a little something about ourselves and what we love based on a specific topic. this months topic is How did you first get started in your craft/art?
it all started during my pregnancy with my daughter in the later part of 2006, one early morning, i was watching a DIY craft show on HGTV hosted by Vickie Howell. It was dedicated knitting & sometimes would share other crafts. i've always loved jewelry, but didn't really buy it as much. i seem to never really find what it was i was looking for specific. i seemed to always just settle for what was out there. if i needed something super quick for a special occasion, then i would just buy the piece of jewelry & be happy with what i had. after watching an episode of the show, i instantly thought how fun it would be to just make my own jewelry. so, i spent some time reading books and shopping around at the local bead shop for tools & supplies. it was like walking into a candy store. lots & lots of beautiful beads EVERYWHERE! i collected a lot of gemstones, glass, you name it. it was a crazy obsession! but then i got overwhelmed with the amount of bead supplies i had collected. after talking about my problem with a friend, she suggested that i try sellling some pieces online.
in March 2008, i opened my first Etsy shop & with the help of my husband, the name CT2 Designs (CT square Designs) began. CT stands for our first names, Cindy & Tim & the 2 for our children, Tyler & Corinne...corny, i know, but we like it!
after 8 months of selling online, jewelry took a backseat & i focused more on scrapbooking instead. it was hard to find a balance between family, staying within a monthly budget & taking on two crafts at the same time, especially having a little one that discovered how to walk.
during that time off, i had a nice conversation with an employee at the bead store, who was a part-time metalsmith & taught classes at the store. i took my first class & was hooked!! i put my Etsy shop on hold to learn more about metalsmithing. i took lots of classes on the weekends & gradualy bought the tools & supplies i needed with all the money i earned from scrapbooking. i was so intriqued by the art of formimg a piece of metal into something so beautiful. after spending the last 1.5 to 2 years learning about the craft, i reopened my shop.
well that about covers it in a nutshell...pretty simple. thanks for stopping & reading my story. you can read more stories of other Etsy artists by clicking on the links below...
Sewarty
The Twisted Cow
Birch Tree Jewelry
Sandi Volpe Handcrafted Jewelry
Purple Cover Art
