Meet Etsy seller Kelsey from Silver Rose Sewing and extra giveaway entries!!

Where are you from and tell us a little about yourself? 
I’m originally from Washington State, but I now live in Massachusetts just outside of Boston. I’m a 25 year old early childhood teacher. I’ve recently been laid off, so I began sewing to give myself something positive to do during my job search. I also enjoy reading, music, traveling, and going to zoos, museums and car shows with my boyfriend. We’re trying to go to as many New England zoos as we can this year!

Why did you start your Etsy shop? 
I started sewing clothes for myself, and I got a lot of compliments from friends and former coworkers. They suggested that I make clothes for other people. I wasn’t quite as confident to make clothes for people I couldn’t measure myself, so I thought about what I would want to buy…stuffed animals! I tried a couple of times using patterns before I made my own pattern modeled after my childhood bear, and it’s sort of gone from there. I found Etsy through someone mentioning it on facebook…my store is still pretty new, so I’m slowly populating it with my latest projects.

How did you come up with your Etsy shop name?
A combination of one of my favorite bands and my middle name.

What is your favorite item in your shop and why?
Probably Ruby, the ‘Roo. She’s so darn cute! She came about as an accident, trying to make a dog with a 3D nose…she just didn’t look like a dog, she looked like a kangaroo! So I added a little pouch and a long, thin tail. She’s inspired me to try to make an elephant, a zebra and a koala…they’re soon to come!

Do any of your pieces have a memorable story behind them?
My first one, the yellow bear, was modeled after my first childhood bear, Pookie. I’ve had him since before I was born. He’s a very meaningful plushie to me and I’m excited to share him with someone who will make new memories with him! The yellow bear was my first big success with plushies, so that meant a lot.

If you had to choose one other medium in which to display your “creativity”, what would that be, and why?
Dance, although I haven’t been able to dance for a while because of a back injury. I danced for 9 years, and choreographed for my dance team in high school. Although I cannot dance anymore, I still choreograph in my head when I hear a great song.

What aspect of creating your art/craft do you find the most enjoyable?
When what you had envisioned in your mind becomes a reality. I felt the same way with dance, when my team performed a dance I choreographed. I get so excited to see the end product when I’m sewing! I love combining patterns, colors and textures when making my plushies, and it’s really fun to have that creative freedom.

How did you decide what medium you wanted to work with?
I started sewing to alter some of my own pants, and then realized all of the things I could make if I tried. Now when I look through fashion magazines, I’m thinking of how I can make my own shirt, instead of where I can buy it.


What led you to start creating your art/craft?
I sprained my back in January and spent 2 months in bed, 2 more months at home recovering, and then was laid off when I was able to go back to work. I was so bored being at home that I decided to just take up this new craft and go with it! It has given me a very positive way to spend my time at home while I’m searching for a new job.


What message, if any, do you want to convey with your art/craft?
Perhaps to just have fun! My plushies have a lot of whimsical colors and patterns, and that’s what it has meant to me…having fun creating something new.

Any other sites you can be found on?
My blog, silverrosesewing.blogspot.com and facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Silver-Rose-Sewing/136630649700140

Anything else you would like us to know?
I offer custom plushie orders and have been working to expand my product line to include a series of emotion bears (happy, excited, sad, sleepy, etc), more varieties of brocades, and new animals (zebra, elephant, koala).

**Please take a moment to visit Silver Rose Sewing’ shop.  If you comeback here and leave a comment with your favorite item you can have a total of five extra entries to leave on any or a combination of my current giveaways.  You MUST leave the comments for the extra entries on the giveaways you would like to be entered into.  This offer ends on  9/18 at midnight.