Happy Friday All! Here is an interview with the shop owner of Baby Button Tops and a giveaway!
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a 29 year old mom, wife, and full-time employee at a healthcare facility. I grew up in a small town (population 100) with very crafty grandmas, who taught me how to sew and quilt. I would sit at the farm with them on cold days and listen to all of the women in their sewing group talk and methodically sew away and it was intriguing to me.
I am a 29 year old mom, wife, and full-time employee at a healthcare facility. I grew up in a small town (population 100) with very crafty grandmas, who taught me how to sew and quilt. I would sit at the farm with them on cold days and listen to all of the women in their sewing group talk and methodically sew away and it was intriguing to me.
I have two sisters who are two of my best friends, who are also very artistic and crafty as well. We all have something different that we like to make so it is fun to show each other our new products too. My sister Shannon owns Red’s Attic, so her and I team up to do a lot of PR and shows together.
My son is 21 months old, he is full of energy from sun up to well past sun down! My husband works full-time as well, so we try to get as much family time in as we can after work.
I love to spend time outside, reading, and enjoying my family.
What made you want to become an artist?
Our son was born 6 weeks early and spent the first four weeks in the NICU with Respiratory issues before he could come home. He was so touchy with getting sick and we were told to cover his ears up so he wouldn’t get sick. So, where-ever I looked for a hat that would fit him, I always came up empty handed.
Our son was born 6 weeks early and spent the first four weeks in the NICU with Respiratory issues before he could come home. He was so touchy with getting sick and we were told to cover his ears up so he wouldn’t get sick. So, where-ever I looked for a hat that would fit him, I always came up empty handed.
One of my friends showed me a picture of a cute baby with a hat that had his name on it. A light bulb went off in my head saying “Melissa, why don’t you make Easton
What is your favorite item to create?
Any personalized order is my favorite. I love to create a hat that is specific to that child, because I know that only they will have that specific hat. I was at a local craft show in November and a 4 year old came up to me and asked if I could put Weezer on a hat for her. I smiled and asked why she would want that on a hat. Her big blue eyes lit up and she explained that her middle name is Louise and her nickname is Weezer. After I made the hat for her, she came back to the booth and her face lit up when she saw the hat.
Those are the times that I truly love what I do the most. Seeing that you made them so happy and they are so proud and excited to wear something you made them.
What advice would you give to new artists on Etsy?
Give it time and truly love what you do. If you love what you do, other people will see that in your product and will want to love your items too.
Give it time and truly love what you do. If you love what you do, other people will see that in your product and will want to love your items too.
I started out hand stitching all of the phrases on each hat that I would make until the last few months, I decided to purchase an embroidery machine. My fingers were so thankful. When making 100 hats for shows, my fingers would get pretty mad at me. I just had faith that my business would grow and I would then grow along with it. I just gave it some time.
facebook: www.facebook.com/babybuttontops, local shops, craft shows, and word of mouth definitely.
Currently, BBT’s hats are in 3 local shops as well as 2 other shops in North Dakota and 1 in South Dakota, so a total of 6 different shops. This has been so great to be able to connect with these shops and have our hats there. It gives you another outlet to explore what works and what doesn’t work for customers.
Do you have any websites connected to your shop (blog, facebook, twitter)?
I have a facebook account: www.facebook.com/babybuttontops
My blog, I am just starting on it, I have created one, but it’s not up to date – that I have kind of neglected since I have been getting busier.
What is the inspiration for your work?
Easton
Do any of your items go toward a special cause?
Yes, this winter I made fleece hats and I donated about 20 of them to a pregnancy center for young women in a near-by community. I have also met some mom’s of infants/toddlers who are going through something medically that I have given hats to as well.
Yes, this winter I made fleece hats and I donated about 20 of them to a pregnancy center for young women in a near-by community. I have also met some mom’s of infants/toddlers who are going through something medically that I have given hats to as well.
I will be heading to my sister’s in the Eastern part of North Dakota and I will also be donating several items such as blankets and hats to a shelter there as well.
Do you have a job outside of Etsy? How do you handle both?
I work full-time at a healthcare facility in the Human Resources department. What is nice is that my hours are the same Monday through Friday, so I have my evenings and weekends off to have family time and also get my orders completed. To handle both some days can be quite challenging, more so getting my family time in. Some nights, Easton might be on my lap while I am sewing (he is in awe of my sewing machine), or I might wait until I put him to bed and then go down to my room for the night and work away.
I work full-time at a healthcare facility in the Human Resources department. What is nice is that my hours are the same Monday through Friday, so I have my evenings and weekends off to have family time and also get my orders completed. To handle both some days can be quite challenging, more so getting my family time in. Some nights, Easton might be on my lap while I am sewing (he is in awe of my sewing machine), or I might wait until I put him to bed and then go down to my room for the night and work away.
It can be a challenge at times, but I just make sure that I can manage it all together: family, work, and Baby Button Tops. Thankfully my husband is very supportive, so he helps out if I need packaging or tagging done.
Where do you create?
When I first started making my hats, I started sewing in our living room on a large table, until Easton
Now, I have my own sewing room and it is jammed full of ideas, pictures for inspiration, product to make, and supplies to finish everything.
What are your goals for your shop?
My goals are simple: to keep loving what I am doing and to make fun, unique, and quality hats for children. I would also like to expand into several different shops, aside from the 6 that BBT is currently in now.
My goals are simple: to keep loving what I am doing and to make fun, unique, and quality hats for children. I would also like to expand into several different shops, aside from the 6 that BBT is currently in now.
Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
A few quotes my sister’s and I like:
“You’ll never soar like an Eagle when you’re hanging with the chickens.” Don’t be afraid to take chances and push yourself to the greatness you can be, otherwise you will never get to where you want to be.
“To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.”
You can win your choice of any one hat from Baby Button Top's shop!If you don't want to wait for this giveaway to be over you can buy it now here!
(Use coupon code SPRING15 for 15% off!)
This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all who entered and congrats to the winner!
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